Hans-Robert_van_Amstel Reviews

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Case for Euthanasia?

[10/10 · 20 January 2008]

Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris' (Morgan Freeman) role as narrator is appropriately done and his soothing almost monotonous voice carries the film well. The character Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is exceptional and I believe a good example of a person in the boxing industry and certainly representative of men's reaction to women in the sport (if indeed if can be called that because it really is licensed mutilation and assault)! Maggie Fitzgerald (Hillary Swank) is a star even before she wins in the ring just from her attitude to life and how she handles her ungrateful family. I really enjoyed the film and was taken into its world as if I were a fly on all the respective walls. Another great film from Clint Eastwood and friends and although late I am glad I finally got to see it.

In the Netherlands we don't let people linger on in a state of abject misery and live a life without function or value however to ask another human especially a friend and father figure to end one's life is a tall ask! I believe that three independent Doctors are required to sign for Euthanasia in Nederland so the burden is dramatically reduced on family and friends plus there are checks and balances.

I hope I am never asked to do this as I am currently in Australia and also hope that I do NOT ask anyone else for this last favour, so I'd better be in Holland if the time comes!

The Unforgiven (1960)

Review

[5/10 · 2 February 2007]

Glorification of the American way that white is right seems to be a theme and that Native Americans have no rights especially to their stolen children in fact a lot like the sentiments of whites in Australia at the time. Peace is never on the agenda and hanging innocent men is a mere fact of life, with righteous plus religious justification, also without repentance. Sad indictment of the way people treat other human beings especially those who were resident in the country long before settlers took the land from them. It would have been a better thing to let the stolen child return to her people and family but of course then this would have saved a lot of unnecessary bloodshed and been a happier plus just ending. It appears the geese are the hope for the future!!!

Arlington Road (1999)

Precis of Arlington Road

[9/10 · 26 January 2007]

A tumultuous ending to a film that has one entrapped as much as the main character. A film showing that gullibility can be exploited to further an agenda that manipulating groups can have. Be ye not projected as an instrument of another's ideology is the message of this film however it shows how easy it is to be put into a situation where one thinks that one is doing the right thing but can actually be playing in to the hands of others. Sometimes one can be too close to the action to see the trees from the wood and it takes more than we are to break off and look from afar as we can all be obsessive when engaged in a subject too close to the heart.

Worthy of watching ;-)

A Majority of One (1961)

review

[8/10 · 19 January 2007]

On the movie A Majority of One it must be stated for the time it was made there is nothing racist in the plot at all.

We cannot apply our ideology from now to the past other than to say we would produce it differently! Acting is what it s all about that is Alec Guiness is acting the part of a Japanese man.

He is not supposed to be a Japanese man but is acting the part and therein lies the subtle difference.

My wife enjoyed the movie in its entirety and what patches I glimpsed between trips in from out back of the house! A Majority of One is a movie that is worth watching in entirety