Tuesday, July 25, 2017

"Son of Saul" (2015)

A-

"Khartoum" (1966)

A+/A

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

"The Last Legion" (2007)

"The Last Ship: 3rd Season" (2017)

A-

Friday, June 30, 2017

"Megan Leavy" (2017) Movie Review

Mr. P.s Grade: A-

Based on the true story of decorated U.S. Marine K-9 Dog Handler Corporal Megan Leavy, this movie chronicles a troubled teen who eventually joins the Corps.  Now with purpose in life, the Marine is part of a unsung group of heroes that saves lives by locating IEDs and explosives.  It is a giving of oneself for others at its finest, but it is particularly highlighted by a female heroine figure in a male dominated profession like the military.  Movie could have omitted the one-night stand implications to advance plot.  Possible social engineering of the military and politicization of bringing her dog, Rex, home with a U.S. senator, but if these are intended by the directors they are overshadowed by a well-deserved recognization scene at the end where Corporal Leavy is honored.  A scene showing Rex's burial after his death could havr advanced the movie further as the audience was connected with the main character's passion for her combat dog.  Thank you, Megan, for your service fighting the evils of our time and fighting the threats to our freedom!

"1911" (2011) Movie Review

Grade: A/A+

"1911" attempts to accurately depict the end of 2,000 years of monarchy and the rise of the Republic of China.  Heroes Huang, Sun and fellow revolutionaries manifest the virtues of patriotism and laying down one's life in the face of overwhelming odds.

Sun keeps his word as a modern statesman by eventually resigning his presidency.  Huang settles to raise a family.  Both characters experience character development through the movie and grow; however, the audience should have seen character development in ordinary people like the father who died and left a note for his unborn son and the woman at the beginning and end of the movie who was beheaded as a heroine figure.  Also, Huang's love needed deeper interweaving into the plot as a heroine.  All these are needed for a higher grade rating.  The European investment bankers should be commended for their actions, albeit with economic motives, and with econmic motives mutually beneficial for those involved.

Finally, a non-politically savvy audience could have easily mixed this revolution with the Communist revolution in China in 1949(?), so clarity is needed there.  At the end of the movie, it was stated that the Communist Party was inspired by the 1911 Revolution.  These two revolutions are not to be confused!  The rise of the Republic was inspired by freedom and principles of democracy, but the rise of Communist (the People's Republic) is built on violent Marxism and centralized dominance.

On an unrelated note, the acting was excellent, and this was the first time I've seen Jackie Chan perform a more serious role.  The fight scene onboard the ship was definitely a tip of the hat to Jackie's martial arts background but with just the right tone.

Monday, June 26, 2017

"Warlords" (2010): Movie Review

Mr. P.'s Grade: A/A-

Based on the true story of the life of General Pang before he was mysteriously assassinated in 1870, the movie's three main parts provides reflection for military ethics:

1) Even after betrayal by another general, Pang returns to battle his enemies by joining 2 other leaders thus demonstrating virtues of honor and loyalty.  A blood pact is formed among the 3 such that when one harms the other, that one deserves death.

2) After victoriously taking on a force of 4000 with a mere 800, Pang and his blood brothers demonstrate their courage in the face of overwhelming odds.  Yet they are victorious after a few men lead a suicidal front line charge.  The suicide unit provided a glimer of hope for victory.  Later, however, in the next great battle with more troops and fresh supplies, the issue of killing 4000 combat troops that surrender was depicted.  Pang said that they were soliders, and his army only had food for themselves, so he wanted to kill them all.  But if just war doctrine means that surrendered soliders are noncombatants as part of jus in bello criteria, then an alternative to mass killing surrendered soliders should have been examined.  One of the blood brothers protests to keep his word, but 2 of the brothers overrule him, not without resentment on the protesting brother's part.  This forms the backdrop to the final scene.

3) Pang betrays his brother's by pursuing an illicit relationship with one of their mistresses, and she is later killed as a threat to the blood brotherhood.  I was grateful that physical intimacy scenes were not needed to advance the plot.  She bears a Cross around her neck that was found off of a dead solider.  Pang also has one of his blood brothers killed.  The movie's thesis is that political motives led to the eventual death of Pang, aided by the surviving blood pact brother.  By the end of the movie, Pang asks the other blood brother to quickly kill him as he lay dying by gunshot wounds.  This request seems a redemptive value and growth in one of the main characters, Pang.  With this, he seems remorseful displayed honor to his word.

As a side note, Jet Li's acting was superb.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

"Homeland (4th Season)": Movie Review

Mr. P's Grade: B-/C+

While I personally love the genre, from a literary philosophical viewpoint, the basic premise of the series is Hobbesian and Machiavellian.  The ends justifies the means of fighting the evils of terrorism.  The brutish, short, nasty and violent world comes emerges in American foreign policy as morally acceptible.  For example, the main character seduces an informant to obtain intel and she also was willing to kill her former boss.  The principle of double effect as an in bello criteria should he explicitly stated in the film.  I did not find maim characters growing in traditional virtues, other than the fine soliders and agents killed in action.  Finally, the film really should remove the sex scenes which amount to a type of soft porn as unnnecessary to advance the plot.  Pagan ethics should not drive America's foreign and military policy, and traditional virtue ethics will help improve the movie.

Monday, March 20, 2017

Monday, January 23, 2017

"Coriolanus" (2011) Movie Review

Coriolanus (2011)
Grade: A+


SPOILER ALERT!  (Read no further if you do not want to know the ending)


Shakespeare's modified General Martius, military hero of Rome, is betrayed by his own people.  They banish him, but he silences those who condemn him, "I...banish...you!"  He is a type of Christ-like figure who will return in glory to be Judge of the living and the dead.

While in exile, he later allies himself with a former enemy to seek revenge against Rome, only to be swayed from his revenge by his mother and wife.  While not intended by Shakespeare, this image is reminiscent of the Second Coming and Christ's Mother role pleading for mercy for God's weak people.

In the end, his former enemy betrays him once again and slays him.  In sense, the Christ-like figure of General Martius -- Coriolanus -- lays down his life for his weak people showing that a soldier lives and died with honor for the people.

Movie merits a strong A+ life and death scene and depiction of heavy military ethos of honor, courage tempered with mercy, and laying down one's life for others.

(Magnificent acting by Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, and Vanessa Redgrave.)