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Reviews
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008)
Compelling analysis of oppression and RAF
Let me start by saying that, before this title, I have not yet studied/or read any content relating to the RAF (in school or otherwise) so I can merely comment on the films content itself.
The film starts with a protest against the war which is the main element to the rest of the feature. This scene details in an exquisite manner just why these teenagers decided to rebel and protest against the government. They commit bank robberies and bombings "for the cause" and they are soon seen as terrorists by the government. It is then that it starts to go horrible wrong for the RAF as they are then shot point blank by police and are fighting to remain out of prison.
Their plans and thoughts were not (intentionally) bad, there fight against oppression is a compelling one and Uli Edel portrays this magnificently. I had originally been a bit sceptical about this feature but I was gripped throughout. Johanna Wokalek was outstanding as Gudrun Ensslin.
I felt the plot was entertaining and well written. The story is portrayed mostly from the "terrorists" side and is made to make them look like the good guys over the government but that is what I think makes this film. You side with the terrorists and hope that it is there cause that will win.
In the end, the film portrays how a cause that can be seen as timid has been blown out of proportion and turned into something it was never intended to be. The 2nd and 3rd generation RAF, seem to fight for a different cause.
There were of course some negative points about this movie. I am going to be typically British and say there was far too much nudity for such a serious portrayal. But it was quite entertaining when the arrogant Baader says: "Shooting is like f*****g!" at the army camp.
The main point of why I would not give this film ten stars is the 2nd and 3rd generation RAF members. Once the prison element has been put into the film it is as if the main point has been lost. Although it is intriguing to see the views of the 2nd generation, these characters (apart from one) are not in it very long so the viewers are not able to relate to the characters.
All in all I would say that I cannot wait for this title to be on DVD and will be doing more research into the RAF now. It also makes me quite glad that I did not experience any of this first hand. If you are from the UK, then this is one subtitled movie that I would highly recommend watching!
Robot Chicken: Star Wars (2007)
Not long ago in a galaxy not far away ...
Will you accept a collect call from ... Darth Vader? I had never seen the Robot Chicken episodes prior to watching this episode and now I can't get enough of watching this series. If you love Star Wars (and any spin off's such as the recent Family Guy: Blue Harvest episode) then this is an episode for you.
This episode keeps to the same format as the Robot Chicken series (written by Seth Green) by showing short clips and skits of each of the six Star Wars movies. I believe this is what makes it stand out from any other Star Wars spin offs as there is no outlined story.
With classic skits like the Admiral Achkbar cereal, President Bush and President Washington in a Jedi death match, with Boba Fett & his Han Solo fetish, a builder named Ray and a not so dead Jar Jar.
With a star cast of voices including Mark Hamill, George Lukas, Seth Green and Seth Mcfarlene this episode delivers a great level of comedy you would expect from such comic geniuses.
The flaw of this short episode? It's exactly that. Too short.