Mandatory Awards Season Movie Reviews

I always like getting my sister to contribute on the blog. It adds another voice and opinion and she’s got a different perspective on many topics. She and her friend Brad, who is currently known for his frequent comments and grammar Nazi-style, see more movies in a few months than I do in years. Since it’s Oscar/awards show season, I have invited them to write some move reviews, which they have done for: Babel, Pursuit of Happyness, Children of Men, and The Last King of Scotland. All thoughts and opinions expressed below are those of the two authors.

Jenny’s Review:

Babel: This movie starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett caught my eye from the first time I saw the previews for it. I love going to a movie where you connect with the characters and are rooting for them. It’s really the story of how a simple gift connect four groups of people around the world. I like how the movie jumps back and forth between characters and how it doesn’t have a typical cheesy Hollywood ending. It’s definitely worth seeing in the theatres, the acting is amazing. My 2 favourite characters were the illegal Mexican nanny and the Morrocan tour guide. I have to admit tears came to my eyes on more then once occasion and afterwards really felt the urge to travel to Morrocco.

Pursuit of Happyness: I had higher expectations for this movie. I found the storyline a bit bland and and unexciting. Generally a ‘good’ movie but wasn’t moved or inspired by it.

The Last King of Scotland: Having not originally planned to see this movie (we arrived at the wrong time to see Children of men) I didn’t know what to expect. The guy in the line behind us said it was worth checking out, so we did. I have to say, thanks for the recommendation because it was fabulous. It’s not an easy movie to watch especially knowing that it was based on actual events. It was just another reminder of the injustice faced by hundreds of thousands of people in other parts of the world. Essentially it takes place when a young Scottish doctor randomly takes off for Uganda in the 70’s and ends up as the private Doctor for then ‘president/tyrant’ Amin. We follow him through his experiences at the time and what he went through. I’d highly recommend checking it out if you don’t mind violence.

Brad’s Review:

Children of Men: Once in a while a movie comes along thats makes you go WTF? Id have to say Children Of Men would have to fall into that category. Not due to the complexity of the story, not due to confusing cinematography or dialogue but mostly because its a movie that is really hard to explain, very unique and quite frankly… is unlike any move you have seen. I along with 4 of my friends left not exactly sure how to feel about the movie but we all agreed it was a good movie.

One of the unique qualities about the movie is its soundtrack. Or should I say lack of soundtrack. I can think of maybe two instances where music was used in the scenes. The rest of the movie was just background noises and dialogue. I noticed this right away and thought it was strange, but I must admit that after the movie was over it actually seemed better without the music! It brought a lot more realism and power to the scenes somehow in some inexplicable way. It almost made you feel part of the action I guess.

The only way I can really describe this movie is a cross between Mad Max and 12 Monkeys. Without “spoiling” the movie, it’s set in the year 2028 and mankind has tampered with science and nature too much and the entire planet has become STERILE (unlike Maple Ridge, har har jk). The youngest person in the world is 18 years old and is treated as a living god almost. Humanity in a sense has fallen apart which leads to chaos, unlawfulness and flat out discrimination, segregation and racism. A very primitive society in a very high tech world so to speak. You might possibly leave the movie theatre wondering if this is truly the path mankind is on right now with all our experiments and tampering with nature. Thought provoking indeed.

Conspiracies, Traitors, Secret Societies, Corruption and Hope for mankind all combined make for an interesting movie. Throw in a few humorous moments and perhaps one of the best battle scenes I’ve ever seen set in a war torn city and this movie got my praise.

Once again I cant really compare this movie to anything I’ve ever seen before. Its an original story. A lot of loose ends and a very sudden ending, reek of a sequel perhaps in the future.

At times like this I wish I was born in Chernobyl so I could give this THREE thumbs up, but alas I’m stuck with “normal” appendages.

Children of Men. Go see it.