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Reviews
One Piece (2023)
It does not capture the 1,000+ Anime version
This live adaptation of One Piece does not capture the essence of the manga nor is it as fun to watch as the 1,000+ episodes and multiple movies. The live action Luffy character misses the mark entirely. He does not have the childhood wonder of the anime version. Each new discovery about himself does not have the anime "oh cool" attitude but rather is more one of arrogance. The other main characters also miss the mark. The casting seems to be more about diversity than acting ability. I expected changes in how the Luffy story was handled but it is confusing at best. Did the writers and director even watch the anime through the first 100 or so episodes? Any attempt to craft a series based on what has made One Piece so popular for 20 years?
Sorry, I watched the first episode and about half of the second before I gave up. I hope the next live action release will hire real actors, real writers and a competent director.
The Devil's Brigade (1968)
Their real moniker
The movie is kind of a re-run treat. It very closely follows the true story of the First Special Service Force. The commander is correctly identified as Lt. Colonel Robert Frederick and it did consist of both US and Canadian troops - about 500 Canadians and 1200 Americans. All were volunteers. The American criminal contingent is all Hollywood although as with all volunteer forces there will have been some with checkered pasts.
Training in the real unit was intense and the movie follows that training faithfully. The mountain assault really did happen that way. I have always considered the assault to be a highlight of cinematic combat action.
About the only thing missing is their real moniker - the Black Devils. In German it was the "Schwarzer Teufel" so named because of the black face paint used in night raids. They would attack and then flee into the night as if they were literal devils. The unit was disbanded on December 5, 1944 after only two years. All US special operations combat forces are said to be descended from this unit.
Cliff Robertson is masterful in the role of the Canadian commander. Jack Watson as Corporeal Peacock is one of my all time quirky characters.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
This was NOT an enjoyable movie.
I'm not sure what movie others were viewing but the Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban I saw was a badly disjointed cinematic effort which left my date totally confused. Those who have not read the books or at least seen the previous two movies had no chance to follow the storyline, if indeed there was a storyline. The seemingly endless movie was more of a series of out-of-context skits strung together for over two hours. The misery ended for me and I sincerely hope other Harry Potter fans avoid this one as a true stinker.
Defects included a failure to fully introduce two central characters, Herminone and Ron; failed to introduce other key characters like the Weasley twins and Mr. & Mrs. Weasly and why these characters are important to Harry. Professor McGonagal, a key figure in ALL of the Potter novels, is almost left out of the movie and the animosity and its back story between Malfoy and Harry is never explained. The new broom from Sirius was given midway through in the book and included a delightful side story but it was a toss away scene at the end of the movie. The director didn't even bother to explain the cloak of invincibility that was used in large parts of the movie, what it was and who it first belonged to and how Harry came into possession of it. The endless failure of the director to clue in newcomers to the Potter saga makes me wonder if he ever read the book himself.
If you must see this movie, Please, read the books first.