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asimov13647
Reviews
Sampo (1959)
Quirky
My only exposure to Sampo (aka The Day the Earth Froze) comes by way of Mystery Science Theater 3000. I have an extensive collection of MST3K movies (almost 200) and of those the Russo-Finnish movies (Sampo, The Sword and Dragon, Jack Frost, et al) are among my favorites. They lend themselves to Mystification but are entertaining and, (dare I say it?) absorbing in and of themselves. They contain a quaint charm and stark moral values and despite their quirkiness, are entertaining. In a day and age in which we find serial killer 'good guys' and ambiguous moral lessons the old Russo-Finnish fairy tales are the preferred entertainment for this century's jaded child. This review is not about The Day the Earth Froze SPECIFICALLY but is merely a comment on the simple moral tales of the good-old-days. R.I.P.
The First Wives Club (1996)
A new and exciting concept
I won't recap First Wives Club here. You have either seen the movie or have read a summary already. I limit my comments to my impression of the movie. As a divorced male, I found the notion that women were capable of spite, wrath, extortion, and greed beyond my experience. This film gave me pause to wonder why it was that the early Church debated so many years as to whether women did or did not have souls. When the depth their perfidity could sink no lower, the women-as-victims portrayed in FWC slapped a bit or moral duct tape on their scheme ("if we do this we are no better than they are") and laundered their ill-gotten funds through a women's half way house. I found the financial damage done by these harpies to a trio of pampered and self-indulgent males trivial and rather pathetic compared to the hurt a truly motivated shrew can do in a divorce to a man of limited means. After watching the movie I took the time to read some of the IMDB viewer comments. I expected an overall rating between 4.8 and 5.2, an average elevated by those women who took time off from filing their teeth to rank First Wives Club an 8 or 9.
The Patriot (2000)
An excellent movie with a flawed viewership
I really liked The Patriot but I could see at least four serious problems with it: it expressed American patriotism and love of country; it had a character that was God-fearing and devout; it featured an actor that is both patriotic and devout; and it played to a generation that is largely without love of America (even if American) and which prefers not to be reminded of the possibility that there exists things greater than oneself: God, country, and duty. You are free to choose any one or all three over which to take offense. Viewers who enjoyed this film are likely to know what I am talking about. I did not watch this movie hoping for a history lesson. I watched because it promised two things: a patriot and Mel Gibson. It delivered well on both. It did not glorify war but it did glorify those who did their duty and fought in war, as is only fair. I believe I will give it as a gift to my World War II-era mother who will enjoy the film's message.