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luyendao
Reviews
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
A movie that will never see the light of day (in the US)
I find it a sign of the times, and really disappointing as far as cultural diversity, free speech goes, that this fine film has garnered so little attention at the box office, since it hardly played anywhere.
It is doubly strange that it should be nominated however for a few Oscar nods! I live up in Canada, and this movie was picked up by famous players, one of the two big cinema companies up here.
This movie is no doubt 'uncomfortable' for some Americans, i can totally understand that, and i wouldn't blame anybody for not liking it, but i think during these times, when everything can be labelled "un-american" or "un-patriotic", it's important to look at things that make us squirm a bit.
Sort of like the Borat movie, but in a more serious way.
Overall i greatly enjoyed this movie, i thought it could have been an even deeper movie, if Mr.eastwood hadn't tried so hard to bring some sort of moral cohesion, moral balance to the story. In that sense, i thought it was a bit forced at times - maybe if the film was 30 mins longer. But overall, a great achievement in content, and delivery.
Crash (2004)
Enjoyed the movie...but felt it lacked finish
I thought overall this was a very good movie, it tackled some very deep and thoughtful stereotypes, something that definitely exists, but sometimes doesn't get addressed on, shall we say more subtler levels.
It certainly makes you think twice about how you perceive things, and puts people into the right perspective, a larger, more humanitarian context.
*possible spoiler* I think however, this movie really lacked finish - the ending, was too neat almost, a little too forced, try to reach some sort of conclusion, not quite a happy ending, but something like it.
It's not so much a criticism of the ending itself maybe, but rather the way the ending took place, scene after scene...just seemed a bit too rushed.
But overall, a very enjoyable movie, everyone should see it, it's like looking into a mirror with lots of people in it.
Gajok (2004)
a powerful film
I don't know so many Korean movies have a 'gangster' element in them, I sometimes wonder if that's really that way in Korea.
Regardless, this film is so powerful because of the relationship between father and daughter, and how they finally come to terms with each other. This is a great movie, because we can all relate to riffs in the family, and this doesn't sugar coat anything, but comes across quite raw, and sure to tug on your heart-strings.
I sincerely recommend this movie to anyone to the Korean-movie watcher or to someone who's never seen Korean movies before. It's one of the best Korean films i've seen in a while.
Aneun yeoja (2004)
A wonderful movie
Korean movies somehow manage, successfully, to skirt the line between drama and comedy all at the same time. There are times in this movie, you'd wonder if you're watching a comedy, or a drama? Somehow it goes from one to the other quite well, and the comedy is more circumstantial, then "i'm going to do something that will make you laugh".
I really liked this movie, and just remember that whole 'romantic-comedy' idea came from Hollywood. Korea movies for one, have a different take on what it means to them, and for some reason, strikes home a bit better.
Ahobsal insaeng (2004)
Wonderful movie
I have to say that the children acting in this movie were wonderful - i felt like i was watching adult actors rather than kids, and maybe that's a testimony to how kids grow up in Korea.
I really enjoyed this movie, it reminds, particularly in poorer parts of any country, how hard things are, and how unfortunately, being tough, also means surviving, and that's certainly true of Korean society and the way kids were raised before.
There were many poignant moments in this movie, of separation, love, jealousy, conflict - i can't remember the last time i watched such a well made movie, with almost all children actors.
The cinematography was really good, and if you've ever been to Korea, it's still like that in many parts, frozen in time almost.