Munich

[phit_demon]

I went to see this tonight and was bitterly disappointed.
Did anyone else find it unbearabley chessy and pointless? Daniel Craig's performance deserves a Razzie nomination!

[Zens7s]

I went to see this tonight and was bitterly disappointed.
Did anyone else find it unbearabley chessy and pointless? Daniel Craig's performance deserves a Razzie nomination!
I kept meaning to go see it, but I knew it would be one of those movies that takes a lot out of you. Usually we go to the movies before heading out as a group, and movies with a whole Shindler-like quality don't make anyone want to party-hardy. What I didn't know is that it sucked. I don't know anyone who has seen it, and only read the critical reviews (which all seemed to rave).

I DO love the score however. John Williams is bad-ass.

[karmattack]

I had the converse reaction, phit. I liked Munich a lot -- thought it was a great movie. The portrayal of the events between Black September and the Israeli Olimpic team was handled a lot like the beach storming at Normandy in Saving Private Ryan; I felt involved, like I was there and experienced it firsthand. It doesn't relent either (no bloody stumps traded for walkie talkies). It raised the important questions about terrorism, human nature, and politics without trying to force an answer. The acting and directing were top notch, and Daniel Craig was one of my favorite pieces. He just looks like someone from that era. He looks like Steve McQueen.

Zen, it sounds to be like your expectations are spot on.

[phit_demon]

I had the converse reaction, phit. I liked Munich a lot -- thought it was a great movie.

----------------------*SPOILER ALERT*-----------------------------









I've talked to a few friends and I've pretty much had this response from them all. I think a big reason why I didn't like it was the fact that the plot was pretty much laid out from the start: 11 men on a list, and a team of men that need to work they're way through that list.
I felt the same way about the new Harry Potter movie, with the three trials plot set up fairly early on.
It just seemed to leave little room for surprises in the story, and as a result I lost interest.

The one moment in whole movie I liked was when Eric Bana hears his daughter say "Dada" on the phone and just breaks down. I welled up a little bit, his reaction seemed so genuine.

I guess the old adage that no two people ever see the same movie rings true in this case.

[karmattack]

****POSSIBLE Spoilers ******


Well, I think the part of the plot layout you mentioned didn't matter much to me because I already knew the whole story, in a factual sense. It all happened. History states the numbers of Palestinians, who lived, who died. I think that's also probably why Spielberg never tried to play or rely on any of those moments as twists or suprises. The suprises are in the how, when, and by whom. And the tenue of the story is in its humanity, like the other moment you mentioned.

*****/*****

*****DEFINITE Spoilers******


As a mostly liberal person, I left focusing on Bana's paranoia and that he's going to have it for the rest of his life. It's the feeling that retaliation never stops, conflicted by the understanding that SOMETHING had to be done. I mean, we always get to see the Jews getting beaten down in films and they're standing up in this one. Even still, we're not left pumping fists feeling it was the right thing, or holding our heads like it was wrong. It's a powerful moment near the end when he's left asking what it solved. It made me think about what terrorism is, and what is heroically defending one's country. Where are the lines, and how involved in it can you be before you start losing your humanity? It affected me, and I thought it was an appropriate way to portray that moment in history.

*****/*****


But like you said, it might not be for everybody.

[phit_demon]

I think the part of the plot layout you mentioned didn't matter much to me because I already knew the whole story
That's probably it.
I knew very little about the Munich incident itself and nothing about the retribution. It all happened before I was born, and I so I would have prefered it to have played out like a regular tale.

Oh well, roll on Indy 4 (http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=22529)!!

[ILovePapaSmurf]

I loved, loved, loved Munich! Thought it was a great film. However, it was a little one-sided and I was confused on one certain part, but overall, it was a great movie!

And, how dare you talk about Daniel Craig like that! He is an awesome actor - and so damn hot! ;)

[phit_demon]

And, how dare you talk about Daniel Craig like that! He is an awesome actor - and so damn hot!
I thought he was embarrassingly bad throughout the entire film.
There were people in the theatre sniggering at his performance, so I'm not alone.
But by all means, enjoy the eye candy. I did the same with Bana's wife...;)

[FanGirl]

I'm refusing to pay to see it after Spielberg said that no movie could bring peace to the middle east, but his movie is sure going to try. Ugh. Someone's been reading their own press releases.

[karmattack]

You know, I don't actually think that's a very pompous thing to say. Now, if he'd said, "Munich might very well bring peace to the Middle East"...someone needs a deflation. But I think he's just admitting that Munich is an anti-terrorism movie that he wishes could cause peace, even though he knows it won't.

[Christopher]

Great flick, well written, the directing was ok, and by that i mean it could have been better as far as keeping the audience in the closet a couple times. You usually catch the crap you missed the first time. The editing was fine except for the music has a tendacy to outweigh the shot during conversations a bit. The plot, i liked because it was based on a piece of history. Worth seeing in my opinion.

[Mighty Wingman]

****POSSIBLE Spoilers ******


Well, I think the part of the plot layout you mentioned didn't matter much to me because I already knew the whole story, in a factual sense. It all happened. History states the numbers of Palestinians, who lived, who died. I think that's also probably why Spielberg never tried to play or rely on any of those moments as twists or suprises. The suprises are in the how, when, and by whom. And the tenue of the story is in its humanity, like the other moment you mentioned.

*****/*****

*****DEFINITE Spoilers******


As a mostly liberal person, I left focusing on Bana's paranoia and that he's going to have it for the rest of his life. It's the feeling that retaliation never stops, conflicted by the understanding that SOMETHING had to be done. I mean, we always get to see the Jews getting beaten down in films and they're standing up in this one. Even still, we're not left pumping fists feeling it was the right thing, or holding our heads like it was wrong. It's a powerful moment near the end when he's left asking what it solved. It made me think about what terrorism is, and what is heroically defending one's country. Where are the lines, and how involved in it can you be before you start losing your humanity? It affected me, and I thought it was an appropriate way to portray that moment in history.

*****/*****


But like you said, it might not be for everybody.

I caught this on DVD recently, and liked it alot. While it's certainly not a "feel good" movie, the point was well worth making. I was somewhat aware of the events at the '72 Olympics -- just from off-hand comments here and there-- but knew nothing of the retribution. What moved me most was the movies final scene and those famous structures in the backdrop during that final conversation.
Not exactly sure what Speilberg meant by it .
But I took it to mean " An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."

[BizarroPunisher]

I'm confused. Why didn't Bana go all Hulk on the Israelis? All kidding aside, I didn't love it, but it's not the worst thing I've seen recently.

[marvelfre@K]

well i dont know about the rest of you but i really liked it, but i ahve a strange taste in movies.
well at least the acting wasent bad

[phit_demon]

well i dont know about the rest of you but i really liked it, but i ahve a strange taste in movies.
well at least the acting wasent bad
Now I know you're a fool.