Movies

I have always been a movie lover, but now that I am out of school, I seem to have more time to spend watching movies. Although 2009 just began, I have had the opportunity to see some very great and powerful movies. Here are my thoughts on three of them:

I went into this movie with no idea what it was really about and sort of indifferent towards seeing it. I'm glad I did though! If you are sensitive to cursing, then this is certainly not the film for you. Honestly, I am usually opposed to so much cursing and offensive stereotypes in a movie, but Eastwood depicts an unfortunate reality in this film. Eastwood's character is a Korean War Vet and still harbors serious racism against those of Asian descent. This was sad to me, especially when I realize that there are so many people just like him who are racist still today in America. Although Eastwood's character is very rough around the edges, and is not appropriate for children and younger teenagers, the movie does an excellent job of depicting the power of transformation that comes out of having compassion and kindness. It takes a very unlikely person to make Walt (Eastwood) change his views about others and about himself. A Chinese teenage girl who lives next door decides that she is not going to give up on Walt, no matter how terrible he is towards her. Walt ends up protecting her family on many occasions, and teaching her brother how to be a man. Without giving away the ending, I will just say that this film has a variety of redemptive qualities and it depicts the power of grace and sacrificial love in a way that no other film ever has.

Now this is an incredible film! Defiance is the story of Jewish brothers living in Europe during World War 2 who come home to their murdered family, and realize that they must escape to survive the Germans. The movie doesn't focus much on the war itself, and it certainly doesn't glamorize war, it depicts some very tragic and graphic realities. Rather, it tells the true story of brothers who start a community in the woods to avoid their German attackers. They take the responsibility of protecting and leading all the Jewish escapees who join them in the woods. They are constantly on guard, and often on the movie to avoid being discovered. This movie is an incredible commmentary on human suffering and overcoming obstacles that I can't even begin to imagine. This movie tells a story of hope in the midst of a hopeless situation. One of the most powerful lines in the film for me is when Daniel Craig's character is speaking to all the Jews in the group and he says, "We may be hunted like animals, but we must not become like animals." The journey of these people depicted in the film chronicles their desire to do just this, maintain their humanity. This true story is incredibly powerful, especially because it seems as if stories like this one aren't often told. I would highly recommend this film.

Also, a great movie. Tom Cruise was excellent in this film about a secret mission to kill Hitler. Not only is this movie very entertaining, but it is also incredible to hear yet another story about World War 2 that seems to be hidden from history. I know a thing or two about history, so I knew the outcome of this mission, but the film still had a way of keeping me in suspense.