KnightMove Reviews

American History X (1998)

Powerful anti-racist movie, spoiling itself in a racist finish

[2/10 · 2 June 2004]

SPOILERS!

I don't know why so few people seem to realize it, but AHX is a self-contradicting, self-spoiling movie. In an intelligent way, it deals with racial problems and racism, condemning the latter. The main character, Derek, becomes a Nazi as his father is murdered by blacks, but has to realize to have made the wrong decision. This can be regarded as the message transported by the movie... till the finish, when the little brother of the main character is murdered by an "evil nigger" schoolmate for basically no reason. So in the end, this movie is confirming anti-black prejudice and doesn't make sense after all. It's even dangerous brainwashing. If even an anti-racist movie is racist, well, this attitude must be the right one...

Lost in Translation (2003)

The most boring movie since the invention of the Brazilian telenovela

[5/10 · 9 February 2004]

This movie is so much applauded for its sensitive characterization of two lonely persons and their friendship, born in loneliness. Yes, no debate about that. The point is, I don't like movies with no plot at all. "An aged US actor and a young US woman feel lost and lonely in Tokyo and befriend." That's the entire story. Nothing of importance happens, NOTHING! No plot, no suspense, no finish to wait for, no real character development, only the same situation again and again with some ups and downs. Whether you find the gags about shallow Japanese funny or racist, is your choice.

5/10

At First Sight (1999)

Actually underrated

[9/10 · 9 February 2004]

While this movie might not be what you cal a masterpiece, everything in it can be considered pretty good: A true, and also logical, touching story, realistic characters by good actors. If you compare this to a hyped movie like "Lost in Translation", you notice maybe worse and less detailed directing, but a basic difference: This movie has a PLOT. As I deem it terribly underrated, 9/10.

Es muss nicht immer Kaviar sein (1961)

Not a thriller - a hilarious comedy

[10/10 · 14 December 2003]

I don't understand how this one can be classified as a thriller. It is a comedy, and boy, a great one! We see O. W. Fischer playing a small English bank clerk and hobby cook at the onset of WW2. He is sent to Germany by his shady boss... and suddenly he finds himself on the parquet of international espionage, working as a multiple agent...

Even if the story seems to be serious sometimes, the humor is great, and all viewers will understand that everything will have a good end. Definitely worth a watch, one of the best (actually one of the very view good) German movies of the 60ies.

Memento (2000)

Coitus Interruptus

[6/10 · 15 October 2003]

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** Memento is what I call a Coitus Interruptus movie. It is so tensing, so fascinating, so brilliant. I have seldom been so enamoured while watching a movie. But in the end - a disappointment.

For a laud of the movie's qualities, check the other comments. I want to point out his weak point: The plot DOES NOT MAKE SENSE at all! Many people believe it DOES make sense, assuming that Teddy told Leonard the truth in the last scene, which is not the case (see below). Our only sources of information are a damaged, trustless memory, and a rascal liar. We don't know what happened, the details we KNOW to have happened, are not consistent.

• SPOILER -

If you think you got the plot, ask yourself the following questions: * Where did Leonard get the info that his man is named "John G."? * If Teddy's last statement is true, than Lenny's wife has survived. But in this case she could have witnessed there were two men, so there is nothing the police can doubt. Is this consistent with Teddy being the only policeman believing Leonard?