blatt-vatn Reviews

Secrets of War (2014)

My new favorite movie

[10/10 · 4 August 2018]

I ran across this movie while going through Amazon Prime movies. I have never been a real fan of Dutch movies, but this is absolutely the most incredible movie I have ever seen -- my new no. 1 favorite. It had me sobbing at the end. So sensitively done. Shows how friendship -- enduring friendship -- can continue whether separated by place or even death. I'll never forget this one.

The Cokeville Miracle (2015)

Ignorant reviewers! Shame on some of you!

[10/10 · 26 October 2015]

Shame on you all who have written derogatory things about these people, their religions (yes, the Catholics and Protestant kids who were have mentioned being offended that you all ignore them and focus this event on the LDS). We have a summer cabin in this area and I personally know some of these people. They're not liars. In all my reading of these reviews, I haven't read one piece of good evidence that it's NOT true. Shame on you for crapping on my friends! Focus on the film more and less on your prejudices. If IMDb lets all your prejudice be published on their site, I surely hope they will my urging for you to be kinder and less judgmental, spiteful, or hateful in your remarks, especially of the people, their religions (that is the kind of stuff that shouldn't be published), and just focus on the film, not so much to belittle others' beliefs and intentions. You don't even know these people. How could you possibly judge? Again, shame on some of you!

Resistance Movement (2013)

Great movie

[10/10 · 15 June 2013]

I really love this story. I have seen a play on it at Brigham Young University years ago. Screenplay was written by a guy named Rogers, if I remember correctly. I do believe there is much more to to be told about this story than this particular rendition tells us. There was supposed to be a Hollywood movie starring Haley Osmet and Max von Sydrow, which I have been looking forward to for a long time, but have not seen it (it was supposed to have come out in 2011). I also saw a documentary on it, which I felt was much better. It drew a few tears. I just hope that if someone does do a full-blown movie on this subject that it is done properly. One thing I felt about this one was that it could have shown more about Wobbe and Schnibbe after the trial and their encounters in prison. Both of them wrote autobiographies and these should be consulted more. Additionally, although I believe they were terrified of what was going to happen to them, the books show that they were much more heroic than would appear to be the case in this movie. They seem more terrified than heroic here. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful story and this movie still is a great rendition. These boys deserve more respect than has been given them by many reviewers, even if the movie could have been better. I'm actually surprised at the anti-religious sentiment among them. This country (USA and others) are supposed to have been places of religious tolerance. So I am very surprised that people would get bent out of shape by such things. These boys were Mormons and their faith and church is actually what drew them together. The equipment at the church house was what was actually used and I feel that religion probably actually played more of a role than is shown here. I was actually surprised that it wasn't more a part of this movie, since it is so central to the story. The branch president was actually pro-Nazi and felt it was better that the group be taken to preserve the congregation from any negativity the Nazis might direct toward them. I feel that a whole lot more could have been added to make the story more full, exciting, poignant, etc. In spite of that, this is a very good movie. Also, do yourself a favor. Get the documentary: Truth and conviction : the Helmuth Hübener story, 2002 directed by Matt Whitaker.

The Happening (2008)

Wonderful film!

[10/10 · 22 March 2012]

I really loved this film. M. Night Shyamalan is one of my favorite producers/writers and I liked this film best of all. The one thing I didn't like is the R rating. I believe the same effect could have been achieved with a PG-13, just with deaths not so graphic. Then it would have been more suitable for my teenage kids. Nevertheless, I thought it was a creative, well thought out idea that was the premise for the movie. I love Night's other movies, as well, although not the most popular ones (Unbreakable and The Sixth Sense). I loved Signs, The Village, The Happening, Devil. I would recommend this film to anyone. I won't spoil anything by giving out spoilers, but will just let you experience it for yourself. I know many have negative opinions of the movie, but then I don't nit-pick at films and TV shows. I see them from a more holistic point of view. It isn't just a film about ecology or strange apocalyptic ideas. It's a film about love between friends and family. It's a creative film. It's not supposed fit someone's idea of a perfectly formed movie in some way, I don't believe. I think it was just meant to be a fun and suspenseful and creative way to look an apocalyptic idea in a different way.