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The Birth of a Nation (1915)
I Am Not a Racist!
No I'm not! But I give this film ten out of ten. Why? Because it's a sickening masterpiece. The racism and stereotyping in this film is utterly obscene, there were a few moments in the film where I thought I would puke. I found myself thinking of my friends who are black, and some of my heroes (Dr. King, Nelson Mandela) and felt even worse. I couldn't believe a society could be so sick that it would turn out an ARTIST warped enough to create The Birth of a Nation. And yet. I am something of a film buff and consider my knowledge of early cinema slightly above average, and this is the greatest silent film I've seen. I barely stirred for three silent hours. The film is the most artistically advanced I've ever seen. It's absolutely riveting and absolutely horrifying. In the words of Roger Ebert "'The Birth of a Nation' is not a bad film because it argues for evil. Like Riefenstahl's 'The Triumph of the Will,' it is a great film that argues for evil. To understand how it does so is to learn a great deal about film, and even something about evil." I couldn't agree more. Is it wrong to love this film? I don't think so. I think it's important to see this as the great film it is, and even love it; you don't need to be a Klan nut to think it's incredible.
The Godfather Part III (1990)
So Underrated it's Unbelievable
This film does NOT have the calm perfection of the first two parts. It doesn't flow effortlessly, and there are certain little hitches. That said, it's perfect. It validates the first two films by adding an emotional depth rarely seen. I like to look at it this way: the first film was the body of the trilogy. It set the precedent and built a cracking narrative. The second film was the brain and heart of the trilogy. It developed the intellectual intensity of the films, as well as inspiring true care for the characters on screen. The third film was the soul of the trilogy. In watching it, we understand and love the characters of the entire series. Some people would see the emotional additions as cliché, but I feel that they are intentional. Michael is an old man now, obsessed with his troubled past, trying to live his life legitimately. The three films together form the greatest trilogy in cinematic history, and to ignore this film is an utter tragedy. What rating should this have? I say at LEAST 8.5, because this is an integral part of the trilogy, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.