Ampers Reviews

Patch Adams (1998)

You'll either love it or hate it...

[10 October 2004]

...but then, there are lots of films like that.

No Spoilers

The film is very sentimental and concerns a real character, Dr 'Patch' Adams who feels that more humour should be used to help make patients time in hospital easier, and that doctors should try and get closer to their patients.

Robin Williams plays Doctor "Patch" Adams, and does tend to go 'over the top' a little. However he acts well, and this is an ideal film for the entire family to watch. (There is a murder that is glossed over - in fact you don't see it, and only hear about it later).

But I implore you. if you like Robbin Williams, don't decide never to watch him again. This would be cutting your nose off to spite your face.

Dangerous Ground (1997)

Bad Direction

[17 March 2004]

Enjoyed the film, although nothing to write home about, and actually thought Liz Hurley played her part well, although I don't like her very much.

I know a little Zulu and one scene fascinated me. It was at a funeral in the kraal of Ice Cube's family. He is supposed to be a Xhosa (ko-sa), but I swear the others were speaking in Zulu. I may be wrong, but if right, this is extremely amusing as the Zulus and Xhosas tend to start killing each other from the age of around twelve!

I wondered why, when they were supposed to be at a funeral, they seemed to be laughing, perhaps they saw the funny side. :-)

If I am right, then the producer and director ought to be shot for employing zulu actors playing Xhosa people, yet speaking Zulu.

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Not bad, some interesting points

[16 February 2003]

The first point I found interesting is that it was evident they used real South Africans as extras in the film. In one scene one of the extras called out "Jou Moer" to our intrepid heroes.

"Jou Moer" translates into English, quite unmistakenly, as "You C*nt". As this was still in it, years later, when I just saw it for the second time, I feel that nobody in America check unidentified words for their true meaning.

This has given many South Africans high amusement over the years and they may not be well disposed towards me for spilling the beans.

Another thing was that Patsy Kensit played the part of an Afrikaaner (A Dutch descent South African and, whilst an English descent South African might say she (or he) hates his country, an Afrikaaner would never say that. He or she might say they hate the government but they would NEVER say they hate their country.

But apart from that, a good film, and it gave me so much amusement to see they hadn't cut out the offending word.

From an English rooinek.

Andrew

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Terrible language in the film

[3 December 2002]

I was amazed at the language. It is evident that they used real Afrikaans actors, possibly those who have emigrated to America?

Anyway, to have one of them shout out Jou Moer which means You c*nt came as a bit of a shock. It was probably the Afrikaans actors ad libbing because they were annoyed at the Afrikaaners being the villains :-)