Review: The Departed

The Departed is the lame gangster film about the Irish mob, and, its many rats and finks. Matt and Leo play opposite characters to the truly cruel and mad Jack, who is still Jack no matter what role you put him in. Leo is the poor, rough, and mean. A small time no body sent under cover to spy on a Irish mob boss. Matt is the good boy who was raised up by said mob boss and goes into the police to spy for the mob. and Jack is the mob boss, and, a FBI informant. The movie is a bit to dull to have been nominated for anything, let alone, "Best Picture". A lame duck film, could possibly be a cult film. How it got into the Oscar nomination, I'll never know.

I give it a Half-A-Brain.

(Rating system: No Brainer = Bad, Half-a-brain = Ok, Skull = great)

Review: Letters From Iwo Jima

Letters from Iwo Jima takes place in the late 1944, wear Japanese soldiers prepare to fight to the death. One powerful performance after another. The sheer determination of the Japanese soldiers to fight to the death, regardless of how painful and cruel their demise. This is a truly brutal film which is extremely historically accurate; from the cruelty of the Japanese drill masters, to the fanatic suicidal mentality of the Japanese soldier. This is a great movie, along the lines of "Saving Private Ryan". Easily Oscar worthy.

I give this movie a 'Skull'!
(Rating system: No Brainer = Bad, Half-a-brain = Ok, Skull = great)

Review: Pan's Labyrinth

Pan's Labyrinth takes place in 1940's Spain, were a Fascist Captain takes refuge in a old farm, and his stepdaughter is brought along with his wife. Soon, the young girl is told by a Satyr that she is a princes, and may leave her world of pain and hurt if she performs three tasks before the next full moon. Pan's Labyrinth is a beautiful, heart breaking, and truly unique film, with a deep, and dark ending, which leaves the viewers a powerful and deep choice; Do you believe the fairy tale, have faith, and make it a happy ending or is it the bitter sweaty delusion of a dead end.

Pan's Labyrinth is truly Oscar worthy. I give it a skull!

(Rating system: No Brainer = Bad, Half-a-brain = Ok, Skull = great)

Review: Children of Men

Children of Men is yet another futuristic Fascist oppressed British drama, in which their is, alas, a dictatorship in Britain, wear their country is the only one left after a futuristic and far fetched tragedy.

In the future, the world is ravaged by massive sterility. There have been no children born in 18 years. the protagonist finds himself being kidnapped by, who else, his ex-wife, who leads a band of rebels who fight for immigrant rights (in the future, England is being swamped by immigrants, apparently, a all-to-obvious political reversal). He sets out on a journey to help the expecting mother get to the "Human Project".

The story is bogged down with political messages witch contradict the anti-political story message that book tried to convey. Children of men is a gigantic missed opportunity, filled with so much potential, destroyed by political influence. it appears the newest thing in Europe is criticize America threw the "Future scenario". The Japanese have been doing this for decades, but White men in suits is far more subtler then this new type of political assault. Frankly, never sabotage a movie by making it more political then need be.

I give this film a 'Half-a-brain'.

(Rating system: No Brainer = Bad, Half-a-brain = Ok, Skull = great)