Black Sheep's latest reviews

Hello fellow online film critics. Here are my latest reviews:

MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA

THE DUCHESS

DVD REVIEW: SEX AND THE CITY

Enjoy!

Clint Eastwood's "Iwo Jima" Films

Clint Eastwood directed Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima, both released in 2006 as complementary war films about the Battle of Iwo Jima. I saw Letters in the theater a month after its general release and Flags just last night on DVD. I now have my own quick reviews of each film (Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima).

Since each review focuses only on that film, I thought I'd post this thread to share my additional thoughts on these films when considering them side by side. If you have seen both films, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. If you've haven't seen both films, check them out, because they're very good.

I really like the idea of separate but complementary films about different sides of the same war. After seeing Flags of Our Fathers, I could finally see how both films overlap in scenery, even though they don't share the same living characters on screen. The camera shots of American battleships approaching Iwo Jima are neat to see from each side. "Flags" shows the Americans as they're riding along while "Letters" provides a distant view from the caves where the Japanese are hiding out. Another notable crossover is a group of Japanese soldiers who commit suicide. "Letters" shows them performing the act while "Flags" shows their corpses as the Americans stumble onto them.

In addition, each film tells a different kind of story. When you think of war films, you think of the despair during the battles themselves. "Letters" focuses on that, and that's good because such a story is more dramatic when it involves the side who ultimately loses the war (though you could argue that everyone loses in any war). "Flags," on the other hand, talks about the victory of war, or rather the perception of it. If both films were about how soldiers on each side suffered, there's no point in watching both films because they would be about the same thing. Fortunately, if you watch one of these films, you have a reason to watch the other one. Best of all, the story for one country can apply to the other. In other words, all people are the same.

The only thing I want to comment on is which movie I liked better. Obviously, since I've given each film a 10/10, I like them both. Yet, I thought Letters From Iwo Jima had a much stronger emotional impact. Again, it's because the horrors of war are more vividly portrayed by the side who has more casualties. Plus, I like a war movie that presents the other side. It's the same reason I enjoyed K-19: The Widowmaker, a drama with Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson as Soviets on a nuclear submarine.

So do you have any thoughts on Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima? It doesn't matter if you've seen one, both, or neither. Comments are welcome from anyone. :-)

David's "Igor" review

Here.

I'm hoping to review "Choke" this weekend if it opens here in Muncie. If it doesn't then I'll either do "Miracle at St. Anna," "Lakeview Terrace," "Ghost Town," or "Righteous Kill."

Black Sheep's Director Series: Fernando Meirelles

In honour of the soon to be released, BLINDNESS, Black Sheep has gone back for a look at director, Fernando Meirelles recent accomplishments ... BLACK SHEEP REVIEWS' DIRECTOR SERIES: FERNANDO MEIRELLES.

I think this party needs to get bigger.

Hey everyone, I was thinking maybe we should invite more critics onto the blog so that we can keep more content and enrich the discussion a bit. Do you guys have any suggestions of people to invite?

MSN Article: Criticizing the Critics

Sometime back, I made a blog post about whether film criticism is supposed to be about analyzing the artistic elements of a film, commenting about whether the movie is entertaining, or both. Well, I saw this MSN article today that also goes into that but in a rather sarcastic way. Maybe too sarcastic.

Anyway, check it out and share your thoughts. :-)

http://movies.msn.com/movies/moviesfeature/dvd/critics/?icid=MOVIES3&GT1=MOVIES3

David's "Burn After Reading" review

Here.

Black Sheep is Burnt After Reading

I was fortunate enough to drop forty dollars on the North American preview of BURN AFTER READING at the Toronto Int'l Film Fest. I got to see the back of Brad Pitt's head; I got to sit on an ungodly angle to watch the film; and the Coens were as curt as they were at this year's Oscars. I had a fricking fantastic time! Anyhow, click below to read my Burn After Reading review.

BLACK SHEEP REVIEWS: BURN AFTER READING

David's "Traitor" review

Here.

I tend not to like thrillers. It's just a problematic genre.

David's "Traitor" review should be posted anytime

I submitted it yesterday and it's not up yet but I'll link to it as soon as it's up. I gave it a C.

Jane's "September Contest Slam"

I'm being swallowed up by all the DVDs in my office, so I'm doing a September Contest Slam and giving something away every day in September. Call me crazy. Any links appreciated.

Jane's "Bangkok Dangerous" Review

Here.

Save this one for when you're surfing around at 3 a.m. some night.

David's Bite Size review of "Hercules"

Here.

David's "Disaster Movie" review

Please forgive me father for I have sinned. I gave a positive review to a Friedberg-Seltzer parody comedy. There must be something horribly wrong with me.

Here.