Due to the length of time that has passed since I viewed Kite Runner and Eragon I feel that a full review would be lacking. Therefore, I'll review them here, along with Charlie Wilson's War.
Review: The Kite Runner: 2007/PG-13/Drama
What I appreciated most about this movie was the cross-cultural universal themes. Bullying, competition, and patriotism are often considered to be primarily American ideals. I often forget that these things occur in other countries. The portrayal of them in Afghanistan was incredibly believable and opened up a new understanding of the people who lived there. Additionally, there was a sense of fidelity and manhood that is missing in our culture that we would do well to emulate.
One of the major reasons I appreciated this film was the consistency that it showed in the character flaw with one of the main characters. In the back story (which was far to lengthy) he is shown as a coward. When he finally shows some courage in living out the fidelity that he was taught he still reverts to his cowardly ways. The moment was so real and believable yet shocking because I was expecting this film to be "Americanized" as so many are.
There is one disturbing scene where the action is suggested rather than shown. Overall:
3 out of 5 stars.
Review: Eragon 2006/PG/Fantasy
Puh-Leez! There was a lot of "trying" in Eragon. Eragon was trying to be a fantasy film. Names and titles are so important in fantasy! Nearly all of the character's name fell short of what was desired (with the possible exception of the Vlern). First, the movie is about dragons and the title character's name is "dragon" with an E and sounds so much like one of the more famous fantasy characters in literature (Aragon from The Lord of the Rings). Not only that, but the antagonist has some unpronounceable name (Galbatorix). I was trying not to laugh as one of the most eloquent speakers in film (Jeremy Irons) shared the screen with a man who has difficulty speaking like the rest of us (no, not Christopher Walken, but John Malkovich)!
The movie was trying to be a classic hero story (unknown beginnings, mentor, prophecy, death of mentor, coming into his own) but it was so cookie-cutter obvious and forced! The villain (Durza) is some type of wizard who was trying really hard to be a wizard villain.
Truthfully, it was almost painful.
1 out of 5 stars.
Review: Charlie Wilson's War 2007/R/Drama
If you liked Thirteen Days you will love Charlie Wilson's War. It's an international drama riddled with intrigue and covert operations that stars Tom Hanks as a down home Texas boy Congressman with a drinking problem. Philip Seymour Hoffman (who seems to never miss) adds an Oscar caliber supporting performance as the somewhat rogue CIA operative who helps Charlie obtain the weapons necessary to run his war.
This film made an interesting point that the original design for our support of the Afghani people was to give them just enough help to force the Soviets to send more and more soldiers to fight in the war, just as we did in Vietnam. It wasn't until Wilson visits a refugee camp in Pakistan that he realizes the urgency of "shooting down the helicopters." While preventing the Soviets from gaining a foothold in that region of the world was important to protect the oil supplies there, it was funded due to the humanitarian concerns of those who controlled the money.
A lesson this movie put forth, that we would do well to listen to, is portrayed at the end. The Soviets have retreated and Charlie is trying to get $1 million to rebuild some schools in Afghanistan. They had just spent over $1 billion to fight the war, yet they wouldn't give him the $1 million he asked for for the schools. We didn't help rebuild their country. The Talaban came in and took over and we then had to go in and dispose them as they fought us with the weapons we provided them. I don't think I need to specify the parallels that currently exist in the world.
Wittily written and masterfully performed, (with the exception of Julia Roberts poor excuse for a Texas accent) Charlie Wilson's War is a movie I recommend not missing.
4.5 out of 5 stars
4 comments:
Did you like Eragon more than PofHappiness? It was given 1 star, PoH .5.
Correct. Even though both were predictable, I could stomach the dragon growing into an adult the minute it took flight please-let-me-be-taken-seriously-even-though-I'm-an-incredibly-jeuvenile-movie-that's-obviously-being-set-up-to-have-at-least-one-sequel Eragon more than the uber-depressing-every-irresponsible-decision-he-made-is-acceptable-because-he-got-rich-in-the-end Crappyness. I felt bad for the makers of Eragon for about an hour after I had finished the movie, I felt bad, period, for about two days after watching Crappyness. My rating was intentional.
When Marc asked me what I thought of Charlie Wilson's War, I told him that the timing was appropriate. Obviously, we're fighting again in Afghanistan and wondering if we should pull out or stay to help rebuild. CWW is sending out an almost anti-Hollywood message though - we've got to stay and build it back up - who knows what could happen if we don't? The very last quote of the movie was much appreciated, as was the story Gust told of a boy who got a horse. I'd highly recommend the movie - just be prepared for a few boob shots in the first 10 minutes!
Eragon sure has been Running with Wilson a long time... L.
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