Movie notes

Considering my new found freedom, I have been catching up on movies. After all, paying Netflix dues month after month and not using it should be a crime.

I find myself more and more into independent and foreign films. I do live very close to a movie theatre that plays only independent and foreign films, but I have liked what I have seen so far, and I am just tired of the same old plots with different actors and actresses who are overpaid and under-talented. Most mainstream movies do not interest me, unless there's more to it, more oomph!

Well, here are a few movies I was finally able to see, and here's what I think about them:

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno): This film comes from Spain, but the director, Guillermo del Toro is Mexican. I am not usually interested in movies with fantastic beings and weird creatures, but in this movie, it did not bother me as much. The little girl, Ofelia, was great, the music at the end still gives me the chills and makes me want to cry, and the actress playing Mercedes was very empowering. I was truly shocked that it did not win Best Foreign Film, that is, until I saw the film that did win...

The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen): the film that did win. This film comes from Germany. It's about a writer in East Berlin in the mid 80s, a few years before the wall came down. You cannot help but fall in love with the idealistic writer, the true artist committed to his art and his ideals and beliefs. On the other hand, the other main character is despised in the beginning, and slowly he evolves throughout the movie. Suddenly, at the end, you find yourself liking him and slightly feeling sorry for him. This movie is a must see.

The Syrian Bride: Obviously, this one has a little special place in my heart. My guess is that you would not like it if you have no idea what the history is behind the Golan Heights. But I would say, give it a chance. I have been to the Syrian-Israeli border by the Golan Heights, and it just makes a world of difference to have grown up there and known the country.

Syriana: Fast-paced and confusing, so make sure if you watch it to be capable of paying attention. No alcohol with this movie, please. It's quite an eye-opener, and I am sure not too different from the truth of what really goes on. If you are bothered by how much oil controls what our government does, this will be a good movie to watch. George Clooney did a great job, and the Oscar he took home last year for this movie was definitely well-deserved.

Good Night, and Good Luck: Good movie, and well acted. However, having already known most of the events of this movie, I did not get much more out of it. But, if you don't know too much about Ed Murrow and the McCarthy Era, that's OK, the movie will show you all you need to know. Still, the movie was So-So.