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Reviews
Nankyoku monogatari (1983)
A true story that touches the heart.
I saw this film a few years ago and was much taken by it, but only came to realize how good it really is after comparing it to Disney's remake, "Eight Below."
God bless the Japanese crew for telling the story in a straightforward, economic manner, yet missing none of its innate poignancy. So unlike Disney which cheapens the excellent story material with unneeded frills and irrelevant, formulaic add-ons. Not even mentioning the extra doses of cuteness and sentimentality in depicting the dogs' behavior. Yes, dogs are capable of strong emotions and acts of loyalty, but that can be shown without overdone cuteness.
I warmly recommend "Antarctica" to viewers of "Eight Below." It would be difficult to find a better illustration of the difference between Hollywood slop and honest, unadorned storytelling.
Naqoyqatsi (2002)
A unique experience, but not for everyone.
This is the third "qatsi" movie following Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqqatsi. It's the most uneven in the series and the richness of its imagery is overpowering sometimes. Moreover, it's a deeply disturbing depiction of the human condition in our age. It shows a world overcrowded by humans and ruled by violence, shallow pomposity and senseless striving; a world where technology is king and all meaning has vanished and where even animals of the wild seem strangely out of place.
Having said this, if you appreciate this genre, don't miss Naqoyqatsi. It powerful images and haunting music will stay with you for a long time.
4 * out of 5
People of the Wind (1976)
A masterpiece
One of the most beautiful film productions and the very greatest documentary I've ever seen. Perfection all the way: the story, the music, the cinematography, the narration, the direction. What can I say? I don't often use a 10 rating, but giving "People of the Wind" anything less than that would be gross injustice.
Anand (1971)
Is something wrong with me?
I checked out this movie from NetFix on the strength of user comments like "it gets tears to my eyes," "sheer poetry in motion," "I was totally blown away by this film" along with it's 8.6 IMDb rating. To make a long story short, it was was one of the greatest disappointments I ever had with a film. If you want to hear my opinion, it is a third-rate tear-jerker, a formulaic melodrama with weak acting and stagy direction.
Could it be some kind of cultural blockage that prevented me from seeing "Anand's" greatness? I doubt it. I certainly didn't experience a cultural handicap appreciating Satyajit Ray's superb works or more recent Indian masterpieces like Deepa Mehta's "Earth" or Mira Nair's delightful and highly entertaining "Monsoon Wedding," - to mention only a few.
There's no accounting for taste, I guess...
Bless the Beasts & Children (1971)
A moving and grossly underrated movie
Although often bypassed in the critics' reviews of Kramer's best movies, "Bless the Beasts and the Children" (1971) shows Kramer's compassion of the underdog and his dislike of injustice with great emotional impact. Kramer directed many outstanding films including such classics as "High Noon," "Inherit the Wind," "The Defiant Ones," and "Judgment at Nuremberg" to mention only a few, but I believe that "Bless the Beasts and the Children" deserves to be listed along with them.