jcapogrossi Reviews

Why We Fight (1942)

Truly shows the high stakes involved in World War II...riveting!

[10/10 · 18 November 2009]

I originally heard of this film from watching a (now) favorite documentary about the history of editing ("The Cutting Edge")- I decided to watch "Why we fight" just to see it for it's artistic importance as an influential part of US film history.

It is- This film, even though from the 40's, is well made and is, without a doubt, NOT "boring" in any sense. This film moves forward and never lets up. I think what makes this film riveting moreso than other documentaries is that this one was made in the middle of the actual conflict. The outcome of world war II had not yet arrived at the time of this film...the Allies did not know if they would be able to win or not. The plan of attack of the Axis, as outlined in this film through well done animation from Disney, showed that if the U.S. didn't act quickly, soon it would be us versus the rest of the world, under the control of the Axis. Unlike other WWII documentaries, which tell the story from the perspective of history, this one is right in the middle of everything.

Especially this chapter, prelude to war, shows the terrifying history of the Nazi's rise to power, and the Imperialist Japan's rise as well. I think for all the danger the U.S. faced at that time, the most chilling, perhaps, to U.S. audiences would be the Nazi regime.

If anyone ever doubted how scary the Nazis were, just watch this film. Especially enlightening are facts that many of us likely didn't know or remember,-the fact that the Nazi's were not only anti-Semetic. Hitler's takeover of Germany soon became a decidedly anti-Christian "religion". The Nazi party actually removed crosses off of churches and replaced them with swastikas, and in speeches the Nazi's cast Hitler's words as "Germany's religion". Many Christian ministers and even priests and nuns were jailed.

The most eerie was the scene where the children in Germany were made to sing songs like "Hitler is our Lord" etc... CHILLING.

Many have called this film slanted, and U.S. propaganda, and this may be true...but I still think it's a great piece of historical film-making.

I feel more than other films I have seen, this one really makes us in 2009 realize the seriousness of World War II (The slave world of Hitler vs the free world), and how high the stakes were.

It makes me thankful to live in America, and for me also brings about a newfound respect for our senior citizens who lived through that very challenging era of history, especially those who served as soldiers.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

A scaled back "Indiana Jones" for an older and wiser Harrison Ford

[7/10 · 27 May 2008]

Pretty good movie. It was cool, but that's about it.

First off, not as much action as in the former films, but that makes sense. If anything, Spielberg tries to have realistic details added to his adventure films, and having fight scene after fight scene, chase after chase, like temple of Doom, would not be too realistic with a 65 Year old Indiana Jones (and, likewise, a 65 year old Harrison Ford.)

I think Spielberg wanted to bring Indy Jones into the Atomic Age, and he did that. Having an older and wiser Indy who has to use his brain more than the whip, also makes sense. This film had more slow sequences than the original three, and while watching the move, I had to realize that with the lead actor's age (and the character's age) this is to be expected. Many people disliked the refrigerator scene and I could agree and say it strained credibility, but then, Indiana Jones as a series is a serial adventure... Meantime, the details, the locations, and the very realistic tombs and ancient South American temples were really well done.

However, as mentioned, don't expect the non stop action of "Raiders" or "Temple of Doom"..."jumping out of a plane in a raft, to slide down the mountain, go off the cliff, land in the river rapids, etc...mine car chases, being dragged from trucks, running from boulders, etc etc" ...Indiana Jones is back.... but takes more breathers...

This film had it's cool moments...Some may disagree, but to me, the fire ants were one standout, also, the chase scene with the motorcycle had some ond fashioned stunt work and was cool...but, once again, much more scaled back action compared to the original films. William Hurt's character was at times annoying, as the professor who has (temporarily) lost touch with reality due to the effects of the Skull, but Hurt mostly pulled it off...Karen Allen's appearance was decent, but I don't know if she was as invested in this film as she could have been...Her performance in "Raiders" is a classic and it's hard to beat that...

As for Shia Lebouf, Uh, Nope.. I don't think he'll take over the series. Lebouf played, pretty much, "himself"...with a few 50's-isms thrown in...he didn't ruin the movie, though, he did a decent job...Also, the George Lucas-isms of gofers, monkeys, etc were OK...they lasted a few seconds and were over (get over it, Lucas haters)

To me, as I left this film, the question to me is not "Who will replace Indiana Jones?"... The question is, "Who will create the next "Indiana Jones?" in the film world, as in who can bring to the screen a whole new adventure that is the same caliber as these films?"

Spielberg and Lucas created an action/adventure series that is pretty much "one of a kind". Looking at more recent "blockbuster action films" like Transformers, Speed Racer, etc we can soon see that, so far, not many films are matching up in acting/sets/stunts/humor/action with these movies made back then. It isn't the CGI- it's the heart that is needed in the films of 2008.

We gotta keep in mind that, just as Harrison Ford may soon retire, at some point in the not too distant future, Steve Spielberg will retire...and those are some big shoes to fill. This movie left me thinking about the future of movies, but not necessarily hoping for any more Indiana Jones films.

Jot (1967– )

the coolest Christian cartoon ever made

[10/10 · 2 April 2008]

I first saw Jot cartoons in the 1980's on a local Christian TV station when I was in high school...Yes, Jot was meant for kids, but I still remember I instantly grabbed a VHS tape and started recording, because it was one of the most awesome styles of animation I had ever seen... the whole abstract nature of the animation with the more detailed but still abstract backgrounds was very cool...I had accepted Jesus as my Saviour already at that time, and so I understood the truths that were being taught in the cartoon, and those are remembered also, like when Jot felt guilty for staling the other kids toy and gave it back, etc .... I believe this cartoon is one of the best examples of how Christians can be VERY creative and original and still glorify God...this cartoon is awesome, I want to buy it on DVD