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Reviews
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Brilliant!
This is truly an original piece of cinematic art. In an era of multi-million dollar Hollywood special effects Cannibal Holocaust gets it's point across in a direct, unflinching manner. Unfortunately this film has suffered from the hype that the film is hyper-violent, but then again isn't nature and the wild itself? My generation has seen Iraq, 9/11, and Colombine, so in actuality a fake docu-drama doesn't get me all the worked up.
Half way through the film one realizes the power of the film when it is revealed that the journalists themselves cause the cannibals to war and commit violent acts among each other. In an era where Marines are being tried for murder in Iraq, it does make you think, "I wonder who the cannibals really are?"
Septem8er Tapes (2004)
Not Bad, Don't believe other reviews
It's sad, but as much as I respect our troops I'm getting really tired of every army, marine, this or that commenting on war movies (i.e. jarhead) just because they were in the service. When you go to film school and study film, than I will listen to you.
This film is full of suspense, and in my beliefs "humanizes" to an extent the conflict in the middle east. Although the acting is not always top notch and neither is the dialog, the film truly picks up speed and ends on a high note. Most "war" films are seen from the large, forceful perspective of the U.S. Armed forces. This film however, really makes you see the little guy and the U.S. army is that witch is obscured. Definitely worth the money.
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005)
Not the greatest movie of all time, but worth seeing
The criticism of this film reminds me of that received for Jarhead. People said Jarhead was not a war movie, and the Get Rich or Die Trying had to little to do with rap. My question is, why doesn't this make it a bad film? And to make one last comparison, this film way out did anything 8 Mile attempted (much more of a social critique).
The strength in this film is derived from it's black and white presentation of the "dope game" and how for fifty it was either sleep in a cellar, or buy a Mercedes. Sheridan did a good depiction of how selling drugs is an easy escape, a way to make you feel like a man. The best and most powerful scene in this film is when someone slips a razor blade in his solitary cell in order for him to kill himself. He remarks, "I thought about it". I also enjoyed the non-romanticized violence, and how the drug game was not altogether glorified.
The downfall of this film is it's over dramatized scenes, and it may be a little to long, however, a good critique of Black Urban society, and well worth your 8 dollars.
Gravesend (1995)
gritty NY film good but not perfect
Gravesend takes place in a beaten down Brooklyn neighborhood near Coney Island. Immediately, it is clear that the young writer/director of this film takes all his energy and inspiration for his characters out of the streets for this film, and does so convincingly. Much of this films' buzz centered around the fact that the director was young and made the film at a very low-budget, adding to this films rough urban flavor. Many critics deplored the film because of its' repeatative non-stop pointless fights among the friends, however I believe they were an essential part of the film. We learn to dislike most of the characters, often glad that their lives aren't ours, and at times the dialog can be suprisingly humorous given the cynical nature of this film. Tony Tucci alone is reason enough to see this movie, playing a violent, rough, worthless twenty-something who is neither a good friend, good person, and more or less continually fails at what he does throughout the coarse of the night. With a better written plot and storyline, this film could have done what Mean Streets did for Martin Scorecese for this young director, but unfortunately falls short. However, to anyone interested in film and film making, highly recommended.