Change Your Image
yarkis
Reviews
Arahet (2005)
USA and immigration
This movie deals with an immigrant's sad story. The hero is transferred back and forth to his home country realizing that he has left his soul over there but struggles to stay in USA as there is little choice left for him anyway.
While driving on a Hollywood highway, he finds a narrow path that takes him straight to Armenia, his home country. He goes and comes back but his friends naturally don't believe his story.
Eventually he realizes that being a taxi driver in Hollywood is better than being called a "starving" intellectual at home.
A story of friendship with an American woman, other immigrant's' problems, changed habits in USA, hardship in home country, all sum up in a little bit long, slow-moving movie. There is some preaching, direct messages which I think hinder the effect of this movie. Out of the many notions, symbolic camera shots, the idea of "missing homeland" is most striking. Dual belonging creates an ongoing conflict within the mind of the immigrant and makes him less happy even if he earns enough money to live a god life and support his beloved ones.
Also the affair (or love)with the American woman (Jina) doesn't seem realistic and is done in a demonstrative and artificial way. I did not understand why only him out of many immigrants was able to take the path (Arahet) and reach his country....in the end he loses the path, this time around he sees the exact area where he is standing (somewhere in California).
Anyway, on average it is a good, low-budget movie, a bit different than the usual Hollywood movies, Janetta Chase as Jina was OK, with few acting scenes, the main actor was not bad either. I gave it 8/10.
Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak (2006)
This can't be called a movie
This "movie" is a pure Turkish propaganda with low budget actors and a more than obvious political agenda. It is anti-American, anti-Kurdish, anti-Jewish, anti-Christian, showing all non-turks as evils. On the contrary, the turk intelligence members are shown as men of honor, brave, courageous, killing all the "bad" Americans, Kurds and Arabs.
This is pure rubbish, The acting is very bad, the music,the cinematography look unprofessional, amateurish.
But the real scandal is the poor plot. Some of the "events" that we have HEARD about in the news during the war have been grossly exaggerated to make a point, Americans have come to kill (therefore they are bad) but turk agents infiltrated Iraq are the "good" ones (even tough they do a lot of killing). The reason for this Turkish antagonism is another "real" event when an American officer captures a Turkish small regiment and puts bags on their heads...ohhh what a shame...what an insult to Muslims...so let's go down to Iraq and kill the bas...ds...this is so cheap, and unbelievable.
I gave it a 1. it is enough, worth the effort made to put this cheap propaganda on the screen. as for the ones who are commenting here from Netherlands, Germany etc they are turks who still have hard feelings regarding Midnight Express of 1979, and as a "revenge" they are praising this crap and giving high grades. What a motivation to appraise a movie.
Avoid this one. 1/10
America America (1963)
Perfect Narration...about the land of Immigrants
This is a great movie narrating the life journey of individuals who start their way from their original homeland escaping Turkish massacres and ethnic cleansing to New York, the place of the "poor and the tired" ...everything is great...scenes, narration, events, acting.
This is a sensitive movie, with a good and impressive ending that tells a lot.
In summary, it is the history of America of Immigrants, the shelter of persecuted from the viewpoint of victims of Turkish massacres in the beginning of the 20th century. Based on its content, I can say that it is the life history of all immigrants in USA.
A good movie...worth 8/10!
Ararat (2002)
It has a Lesson...
Very good movie! It has a lesson...don't forget the past so that you don't repeat the same mistakes/misdeeds in the future...will the audiences get the message? From some of the turk-pro-turk messages posted here, I doubt it...the Armenian Genocide is still denied...in a weird, naive, cynical and stubborn way.
One simple fact is compelling: there were 2 million Armenians in 1915 in Eastern Anatolia (Western Armenia) and NOW there are virtually NONE! Why? where did they go? did they evaporate? did they emigrate from their historical fatherland....??? Every single Armenian family in the Diaspora has a story, a member of his family killed, or deported or raped or lost his property or lost his land, or ...
Shame on you, when you deny that such a GROSS event happened...when the consequences are obvious to the naked eye from empty, ruined and destroyed churches in modern day Turkey to empty, arable lands, to hundreds and thousands of Armenians living in diaspora with Turkish family names...and collective memory, and thousands of grand-dads and grand-moms remembering and bones/skulls in deserts of Syria...and US, British, German, consulate and officials' documents and memoirs....
Call it what you want...Genocide, Civil War, Deportation, Epidemic, Famine, etc...Ethnic Cleansing..the result is the same...Armenians were deprived of their LIVES and LANDS...
What a shame..."Ararat" shows only a sample of those atrocities, but when you cry the death of 3000 people on 9/11 but you deny the annihilation of an entire population , then IT'S A REAL SHAME.
Midnight Express (1978)
Good, Impressive Movie
This movie is strong, impressive, shocking and takes the watcher to Turkey of 1970s. Most of those who criticized the movie here are turks and hence they are biased and speak out of nationalistic point of view.
In the 1970s, Turkey was a BIG prison.Political opponents, criminals, etc..had filled the prisons, during the military regime of Kenan Evren, the press used to indicate that there were about 50, 000 political prisoners alone and the prison conditions are really very bad.
So, this movie presents a REAL story within this historic context. The prison guards are cruel,they use primitive torturing methods and of course the famous rape...
I agree with the movie-maker that the country was a backward place, corrupt prison guards, torturing, political unrest, drug trafficking, etc.Those who feel offended should do some self-evaluation and work towards improving Turkey's human rights conditions instead of bashing a movie and denying historic facts such as the Armenian Genocide and the occupation of Cyprus and persecution of the kurds, and the torturing of prisoners.
Reality hurts, a movie will not make a difference except for mirroring a certain situation in an artistic, "hollywoodean" way.
I give this movie 7 out of 10.
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Fun, action, shallow theme and Cameron shaking her ...ass all the time!
Well...what is all this fuss about? Matrix, Sci Fi or not..its just entertainment and cinema is based on personal taste. Some people didnot like this movie and some did.
I liked it and I give it 6 out of 10. -Its cheerful (songs, dancing, bright colors, action, fast moving pictures, outdoors, etc) -Cameron Diaz kind of plays the role of a stupid blonde who is also a loyal friend and has naive simplicity and "muscles" .. -Drew Barrymore is deeper in character...and shows some tendencies (towards opposite sex) that are her weakness and at the same time are derived from... some sort of psychological effects. -The subject and some scenes are ridiculous but you can watch it and swallow the unbelievebale ...
It is better than James Bond movies in creativity and cinematography but worse in plots and acting...although both show us hard to believe scenes...
Cameron is successful in being the cheerful, funny, dynamic and friendly, warm heroine...who dances all the time and shakes her ass in front of the camera and seats on the toilet ...etc...
Drew gets most of the beating..I did not understand why..whe was being punched and kicked and tortured and yet not a single bruise could be seen on her face except for blood coming from her mouth...!!!
What a violence against such a sexy beauty...
You can watch this movie the once and then watch it again after 5-6 years with your teenage boys/girls!
Patriot Games (1992)
unrealistic scenes and ...good/bad story
This is an average action-thriller movie about an IRA freedom-fighter who wants to take revenge for his brother's death. An ex-CIA guy interferes in a "killing affair" in London and becomes the target of Miller's fury.... Here again..the CIA and Ford represent the good guys and the IRA and Miller are vicious, bloodthirsty family-killers...and of course Ford does what he does in the movie to "protect his family".
Miller's angry, hateful and revengeful character is well reflected. Ford also impersonated the calm family man successfuly. However, unrealistic scenes, like car bombings on the bridge, Ford's wife's and child's escape from death, and the last chase scenes seem exaggerations (not to mention the targeting of terrorist camps in libya)...with some unnecessary propaganda, the movie loses significant value. Overall...5.5/10
Lion of the Desert (1980)
a great historical movie
The "Lion"'s story is real, symbolic and reflects the freedom fight against one of the ugliest colonial rules of the 20th century.It speaks about poor, Libyan peasants fighting against Italian colonizers during the era of Italian dictator Mussolini.
The good sides of the movie are the great acting by Anthony Quinn and Oliver Reed, wonderful views of the desert and the mountains, burning villages, good scenario, good directing and perfect theme.
Anthony Quinn is wonderful in his role. This movie can be paralelled to great historic movies such as King of Kings, The Rise and Fall of Roman Empire, and it surpasses The Ten Commandments and Ben Hurr.
I give it 7.5 out of 10.
Should have won at least One Oscar for Best Actor (Anthony Quinn).
Wolf (1994)
wonderful movie
The "Wolf" is a great movie...It would have been great if people were gifted a strong "smelling" and "hearing" senses...they would have uncovered horrors of human hypocrisy and betrayal... The "Wolf" shows our realities and manages to relay a message! Jack Nicholson and Michele Pfeiffer are just great! I give 7.5/10
Sangre y arena (1989)
A Sad Story, Good Setting and Average Acting
In fact, this movie is a touching drama. I have watched it three times between 1993 and 2003 and still like it.
Here, I would like to write about five elements:
1-The subject, a story of a cocky young man, who dreams of glory, fame, adventure and fortune...plus true friendship, love and family relations by parents and wife who remain faithful to the hero until the end...whereas the fans who applauded for the brave "matador" will forget him very fast. Its an interesting phenomenon...sometimes people run after those who will hurt them and ignore those real persons who care for them! Another idea is that people should remain humble, modest and satisfy themselves with what they have in life, like say, loving woman, warm family, a job, etc, if you seek for more and don't appreciate the existing "things" then you may lose everything! Another idea is people's mentality...so unstable in their relationships and they approach you when you are BIG, at your height, rich etc and DUMP you the moment you fail...that goes right for women as well...well SOME women. Also the symbol of vicious, destructive woman is represented well thanks to Sharon Stone's acting skills.
The Spanish simple life, colorful scenes and cultural sites,religious atmosphere and family ties are reflected well in this movie. The music is good, touching and suitable to the subject and scenes.
No 2 below is a sort of SPOILER>>>>>>>>>SPOILER
2-Christoper Riddle doesnot convince us sometimes in his acting...It was not so convincing to see him change so quickly and go after alcohol addiction...why? Was it necessary..or he was tormented between Carmen's love and Sol's alluring sex appeal...??
3-Sharon Stone's acting, as usual..but particularly in such roles, gives a huge boost to the movie. She is the typical sexy woman, without values, having fun and recklessly playing with other's destiny with her unbeatable weapons...beauty, eyes and sexy presence.
4-Carmen is great also in her role as a faithful wife and supporting partner and a person who suffers silently for the sake of his man... Juan's mother is a success so is his step father, who is an opportunist and nagging old man...with not much to do in life.
5-This movie seems very realistic, it could happen to anyone in different environments and settings (not necessarily a matador)...its the usual struggle of man to have more, to have everything and on the way to achieve that he/she loses himself/herself...
Some of the dialogue is preaching...courage, fame, etc...but nevertheless, there are some good quotes like Sol's definition of men, and Juan's definition of his struggle with bulls (others including women)...and also Sol's "convincing" and "consoling" words to Carmen about having back her man forever..they sound real.
I gave the movie 6/10, and I give Sharon Stone 8/10, the panoramic views 9/10 and the music 10/10 You may watch it and say "Ole'" ...