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Reviews
Tenet (2020)
Nolan Does James Bond
This would have made a brilliant James Bond movie if it weren't for the fact most Bond fans would likely have not been able to follow the story line. Which is a real shame, as the story line is a perfect Bond story line, contrary to some reviewers' claims of no plot at all. As for being confusing - hardly. For myself, there were only one or two moments where I thought more explanation or detailed setup would have not gone amiss, but did not detract from my enjoyment. What a pleasure it is to watch a movie the viewer actually has to pay attention to and think about, all while being entertained!
As for the craft of the work, I would love to see Nolan's storyboarding and flowcharting of the action. I could just imagine there being two storyboards, one each for the direction of time so that the craftsmen creating this brilliant work could keep track of the dailies.
I am not a major Nolan fanboy, but I do recognize and appreciate his artistry. When I am up for a cinematic experience, there are a few directors I look for, and Nolan is one of them.
1 Angry Black Man (2018)
Some Problems With Characterizations
For the bulk of this movie there are some excellent conversations between the students when they are discussing the various books of literature assigned by the instructor. However, there were portions that made me angry. There was one point where Trump was discussed and the stereotypes came to the forefront. The one Republican student was making the point of how terrible Clinton was as a candidate. He queried the other students on who they voted for on the primary and every one of them said Bernie. To which he acted all triumphant in his defence of Trump. But of course, none of the other students grilled the Republican on who *he* voted for in the primary, nor on his defence of someone as deplorable as Trump.
And so, because the writer/director allowed this occurrence (possibly showing his leanings?), I found it difficult to accept any more conversations from the whiny simp Liberal students who were outsmarted by a loud, smarmy Republican.
I did, however, agree with this student and the teacher on free speech with regards to Milo speaking on campus. Such speakers, no matter how vile, should be allowed to speak, for only in this way can they be exposed. Students can protest, but schools should not shut down a speaker. There is too much silencing of voices by both sides, whether it be a speaker on campus or a book in a school library.
100 Vaginas (2019)
Men Truly Are Stupid
Sometimes I am deeply ashamed of being a man. Given many of the reviews here (no doubt by men), and seeing their behaviour on the greater world stage, I am constantly, painfully reminded of just how stupid men truly are.
I hate always being the smartest man in the room, because that isn't any great leap. And I'm not talking about being able to exploit and make money and squander resources. I mean deep thinking. I mean appreciating the pain and suffering of others, beyond the point of how such pain and suffering can be bent to one's advantage.
Anyway, this is a film about women and the issues they face at the hands of the other half of the population. You know. The stupid ones.
Alien (1979)
Unequaled
I saw Alien on first release. I was in high school. Up until then I had never truly seen a film that frightened me so much, not even Jaws (although that had it's share of jumps). No, Alien had me cowering behind the seat in front of me.
I watch it now, and within the first 15 minutes I'm thinking "Why can't anyone make movies like this any more?" I mean just the simple atmosphere of the Nostromo slowly waking up is so majestic.
The more recent Alien movies, like Star Wars, eschew that majesty for quick edits and big set pieces. I don't know what happened. All I can think of is the quote from Aliens: "Did IQs just drop sharply while I was away?"