Rolling Thunder (1977)

4 / 5 May '10
Tagline: Major Charles Rane Is Coming Home To War!
Directed by: John Flynn
Written by:  Paul Schrader, Haywood Gould
Actors include: William Devane, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Haynes
Genre: Thriller
Length: 95 minutes
Banned: Norway, Finland

Review:
I expected an exciting thriller out of this but instead was treated to a disturbing revenge drama which works too, it's just not what I thought. William Devane plays Major Charles Rane, a fellow who finally gets to return home after over 2000 days of being tortured during the war. As a reward he was given 2000+ silver dollars, one for each day of his torment. When he returns, his Son doesn't recognize him, and his Wife has moved on to another man. Soon a group of violent thugs turn up at Charles' door demanding the silver dollars, but when he won't cave they torture the heck out of him (it's hard to watch). Finally his Wife and Child return home in time to tell them where the money is. After some recouping Charles goes on a mission to find the men who did this to him. Soon a "groupie" starts to follow him about and ends up on a road trip with her after he finds the culprits. It's a different kind of revenge film that has a very dramatic middle section, it's a slow moving film but it's purposeful and touching. It does have some exciting and violence but it's not filled with it, still a very effective picture though.

Availability:  not on DVD, only VHS currently

In A Glass Cage (1987) aka Tras El Cristal

4.5 / 5 Nov '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Agustí Villaronga
Written by: Agustí Villaronga
Actors include: Günter Meisner, David Sust, Marisa Paredes
Genre: Horror, Drama, War, Thriller
Length: 105 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Egads, this must have been the feel bad movie of the year. That being said, it's really an amazing picture about the atrocities of war and their lasting effects even after and it's told in a different way then I've ever seen before. It's so bleak and difficult to watch in places, this one will test and disturb, I doubt I'll ever forget it. The story is about a former Nazi/pedophile named Klaus who tormented little boys but is now clinging to life at home in an iron lung. His wife seems harsh and awful as well, and their poor little girl Rena lives with them too. A young Man called Angelo shows up at their house wanting to take care of Klaus but something isn't quite right with this arrangement. It's brutal, violent, explicit, humorless and in no way should this be watched by everyone. Still it's an impressively made and acted film that leaves one hell of an impression and does more than makes it's point. It's rare to see such a combination of exploitation/drama and horror but this is effective and worthwhile to the right viewer.

Availability:  On DVD

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

5 / 5
Tagline:  Vietnam can kill me, but it can't make me care
Directed by:  Stanley Kubrick
Written by:  Stanley Kubrick, Gustav Hasford
Actors include:  Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Matthew Modine
Genre:  War, Drama, Action
Length:  116 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review: 
If you only ever watch one war film, I think this should be it.  It's not typical in many ways but I think that's why it's so unique and disturbingly wonderful.  It very much focuses on the soldiers and develops personalities for them, it deals very much on the emotional level of war.  The first half of the movie we watch the soldiers go through training in the Marine corps and the taunting and humiliation of a particular recruit named Pyle.  See Pyle is a bit slower than the others so they are mercilessly cruel to him which leads him to the snapping point.  Then the second half of the film follows another recruit by the name of Joker who joined the military for one reason, to write but it ends up that he has to kill of course.  As the soldiers are thrust into Vietnam we see how hellish the environment must have been and the atrocities within.  It really does cover everything and demonstrate that war is hell in a clear and shocking yet entertaining manner.  If only more war films were like this one, so very impactful, shocking and unforgettable.

Availability:  On Blu-Ray & DVD

First Blood (1982)

4 / 5
Tagline:  One war against one man.
Directed by:  Ted Kotcheff
Written by:  David Morrell, Michael Kozoll
Actors include:  Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy
Genre:  Action 
Length:  93 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:
For those times when you just want to see everyone get decimated...  I wasn't sure this would be the film for me but it was actually beautifully filmed out in B.C. with views from the mountains.  It also did have a paper thin plot that was easy to follow, but it didn't matter because it jumps right in with the action and doesn't let up until the end.  Sylvester Stallone plays John Rambo, an ex Green Beret who wanders into a quiet town only to be pushed out by the Police.  He doesn't want to leave, so once they try to force him things get bloody.  He wages war with the Force killing or maiming everyone in his path during a thrilling adventure hiding out in the mountains.  It's got violence out the wazoo of course, it's beyond simple and nobody is really in the right there though of course you are going to want to side with Rambo.  I haven't seen any of the sequels yet but I probably will after this, a better made film than I had anticipated.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

Inglorious Basterds (2009)

4.5 / 5
Tagline:  "We're in the Nazi killin' business and cousin, business is a-boomin'."
Directed by:  Quentin Tarantino
Written by:  Quentin Tarantino
Actors include:  Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth
Genre:  Drama, War, Action
Length:  153 minutes
Banned:  Nope
Country:  USA/Germany

Review: 

To be honest I wasn't too sure about watching this as I have barely any interest towards new movies and well Brad Pitt isn't my favorite.  Still seeing as how this is a Quentin Tarantino venture I gave it a try, and I actually thought it was very good.  Consider the fact that this is over two and a half hours long it's very exciting and crams a lot in so it doesn't feel very long at all.  It's segmented into chapters, the first being about  "The Jew Hunter" coming to find a family of missing jews at the home of a diary farmer.  The second chapter being about the group of Nazi killers called the Inglourious Basterds which is led by Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt).  Now this part is extremely bloody and gratuitous which I liked but it may but some weaker stomached folks off.  The third chapter is about a young woman who runs a cinema in Paris who is asked to hold a Nazi film premiere.  The fourth chapter has all sorts of drama leading up to the film festival including the Besterds plotting to attack the premiere.  Lastly of course is everything coming to a-head during the Premiere.  Now of course I've left out many important details and everything winds together in a neat little blood soaked manner.  It's such a well put together picture and every detail counts, it's no wonder so many hail this to be one of the best!  I guess it all depends on what you are looking for, but if you want an interesting war time revenge epic this should have everything one could hope to find.  It even has many nods to various famous filmmakers that film buffs should enjoy.  If you are looking for typical predictable Hollywood fare, then you will probably want to look elsewhere.  I'm very curious how much of the plot of this film is taken from the original but hopefully I'll watch that very soon.  Definitely a really fun venture that I liked, perhaps there is hope in modern cinema afterall?

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray