finex Reviews

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

A powerful work that Americans just don't seem to "get"...

[10/10 · 6 January 2003]

I have seen this film a couple of times and have talked to a few American friends about it. Here's the problem as I see it: Many American citizens seem to blame anything but themselves for the state they find themselves in. Be it Sept 11th, being overweight, the way they are perceived overseas, it's always the fault of someone else.

So it seems to be with guns and gun control. A classic example is demonstrated in the film. Canada has the same number of guns per capita as the US, yet the US has a 6000% higher gun death rate. However, Canada also has free healthcare, unemployment and sickness benefit, free education and access to childcare for working parents. As one of the Canadian politicians puts it, "You don't get a functional society by kicking people when they are down."

Moore goes on to demonstrate the media obsession with shock tactics and the overstating of the dangers in society. America has had a falling crime rate for several years now, but to watch the nightly news you would think that the country was being overrun with black men with guns. Never mind the fact that white men in shirts have defrauded the country of billions over the last few years, let's show another car chase.

This should be required viewing for any American that wants to try and understand how the rest of the world sees their society. Unfortunately I don't think that many will want to.

Schindler's List (1993)

Everyone should watch this film

[10/10 · 18 July 2001]

This is almost certainly the finest film I have seen to date, with Saving Private Ryan, another Spielberg film coming a fairly close second. Everything about this film is designed to try and raise awareness of actual events in their gruesome detail. Spielberg should be credited for using moderation to get the message across. There are scenes of violence, but overall the film is all the more effective for the implication of what is to come. Fiennes is chilling as the camp commandant, doubly so when you realise that this was an actual person who actually did the things shown, and all this less than a lifetime ago. Cinematography was superb throughout, and the brave decision to shoot in black and white adds to the authentic feel of the film. The final scenes are particularly emotional, and many people in the cinema were crying at the end. This film should be required viewing for any holocaust denier types, or just to those who have no concept of how evil men can be to their fellow man. Many people in Germany were left shocked after watching this film, because it's not the sort of thing that is discussed in depth over there (according to my German friend). 10/10

Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996 TV Movie)

Bitchiness, double-dealing and backstabbing. I loved it!

[10/10 · 20 February 2001]

A classic return to all the money grabbing and power struggles of the Eighties. It was great to see the crew back in action. Most of them haven't aged a bit.

Watching the verbal scraps between JR and Cliff Barnes brought it all flooding back. Damn it was good!