Jay Lagare

I’ve always had an interest in the history of religion, particularly that of the Roman Catholic Church. It is one of the most powerful unifying and at the same time one of the most divisive forces known to mankind. Empires had risen and fallen. Wars had been fought, won, and lost. All because of religion.

Something as powerful as that would be a natural subject for writers of both fiction and non-fiction. I got started on the latter through the encyclopedia where I got my fill of the Church, the Crusades, the Knight Templars, etc. I got started on the former through David Morrell’s Fraternity of the Stone and Covenant of the Flame. The books, with their with shadowy militant religious orders, captured my imagination. Thus, when Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code came out, I immediately read it and found it reasonably good. It was also controversial because of its subject.

Of course, it’s just a matter of time when movie version comes out. But when it did, I was reluctant about watching it for two reasons: it has Tom Hanks (don’t ask me why) and I’ve already read the book. But I eventually relented for the sake of camaraderie :P

From what I’ve seen, it seems the movie would be a little confusing for those who did not read the book. On the flipside, it is too like the book. So much so that it got a bit dragging and somehow succeeded in becoming boring. Hank’s wooden performance didn’t help either.

Notwithstanding those who always compare the movies to the book and how the movie should be completely faithful to the book, this movie is an argument for keeping the two distinct. The book is a book, the movie is a movie.

One good thing about watching the movie though is that you get to see the things and places in Paris and London mentioned in the book. But that’s about it.

Rating: 2/5

Remember, remember, the fifth of November.

I don’t know about the fifth of November but I sure will remember this movie.

Coming from the Wachowski brothers of the awesome The Matrix and the not-so-awesome Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions, you would expect V for Vendetta to be a great action-packed movie. But that is not really the case. There was not a really spectacular action scene except towards the end when the protagonist eviscerates a bunch of the British Gestapo in a few seconds. Okay so it was slowed down, but that’s for the benefit of the viewers :P

This is not to say the movie is not good. in fact it is very good. But for other reasons. Aside from a being a bit of an action movie and a not-so-quite-love story, it is also an almost political movie. An oppressive regime, a diabolic scheme to gain and maintain power, a vengeance seeking freedom fighter (or terrorist depending on who you talk to), the use of the media for political purposes, inspiring the reluctant into taking action against oppression, … It was actually this side of the movie that I liked best. Parallels to the current situation in this country? You be the judge. For that you need to watch this movie. So go!

Rating: 5/5

Scarcely a few weeks have passed from seeing Syriana when I get to watch another movie on evil corporations. In Lord of War it’s the military and the arms industry, the so-called military-industrial complex. Nicholas Cage is Yuri Orlov, a big if not the biggest player in the arms trade industry. As usual, Cage is great though at times I forget that this is a rather serious movie. I think he has played one too many comedies :P

In the movie, Orlov narrates how he got started on the industry, starting with a few Israeli Uzi to truckloads of Russian AK-47s and even to tanks and helicopters. He tells how work has affected him: how he lost his wife, son, brother, his humanity… But this is not just about the story of a lost soul, it is also an expose on the industry. Throughout his story, the movie shows the ugly side of the industry (is there a pretty side?): people killing, people dying. And not just ordinary people but children. The movie also showed the drugs and the conflict diamonds which are frequently used as payments for arms are shown to complete the picture of how evil the trade is.

Unexpectedly a pretty interesting movie.

Rating: 4/5

Most of us had at one time or the other become cynical enough to suspect of the great evil of the mega-corporations and their lap dog, the government. Syriana gives those suspicions visual and aural life. A more watchable Farenheit 911, it is the story of an oil company intent on taking control of an oil field at all costs, a progressive Arab prince intent on doing right, standing on their way, a CIA agent manipulated into something he had no idea of. The stories of these men and more are spun and weaved together into a thought-provoking oil business/political thriller. If you don’t believe the mega-corporations (or at least the oil companies) are evil, this will at least make you think twice. An absolutely great watch!

Rating: 5/5

If you are familiar with the killing of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists at Munich during the 1972 Olympics, you would think Munich is a movie about that event. You will partly be right as this movie uses that event as a backdrop. But mainly, it focuses on the Israeli reprisal operation against the brains behind the attack. The story has almost the same storyline as Sword of Gideon, an HBO movie. This is understandable since they are based on the same book, Vengeance. Of course, there are some differences with Munich. A notable one being the extra effort taken by Spielberg to show Palestinians airing their side of the issue. Of course, you really shouldn’t expect a movie to make things clearer on this complicated issue. Also, they did not explain either why they prefer attacking innocent civilians. Another notable difference is that Munich delves on the experience of killing, how it changes people, what kind of person you need to be. It also delves on the moral question of assassination as a tool: Are such reprisals immoral? Doesn’t it bring you down to the same level as your enemies? I think not, but it’s up to you to judge for yourself.

Rating: 5/5