inferno0020 Reviews

The Experiment (2001)

A lesson for all humans

[9/10 · 1 October 2005]

Without fancy tricks and clichés, this movie tells us why riots occurs, why hatred spreads, and how to solve it.

In the beginning of this movie, the main character (prisoner no.77), an ex-journalist who hopes to take his job back, participates in a experiment in a mock prison for 2 weeks in order to record down this story, and publish it on the newspaper. Furthermore, he taunts and insults mock prison guards who are also the participants in this experiment so that he can make this story more interesting. However, things become worse and worse...

I am really surprised that this movie doesn't either glorify main characters, nor malign bad guys. Everyone has their characteristics, and their interaction is cruel but practical. We can see how the whole thing becomes worse. Don't stereotype this German story as a reflection of Nazism, because this movie is a warning for every culture which the power is overused. I am really glad that German dares to make this movie without too much clichés and fancy tricks. If you are tired of clichés in Hollywood films, this is a great movie for you.

Crash (I) (2004)

Overrating-This movie doesn't even scratch the surface

[5/10 · 27 September 2005]

I believe that Mr. Haggis tries to make a movie about racism with multi-storyline. It is a successful directing because those story lines are clear. Unfortunateluy, the theme of this movie cannot even hold a candle to this controversial issue in the United States.

Maybe many audiences think this movie discuss every ethnics in LA, including Asians, Middle Easterns,Latinos, African Americans and Caucasian American. However, the whole story focuses on white/black slur, which are old stories without any new purpose and point of view. Compared to American History X which every event is shocking and powerful, the prejudice between white/black is too shallow and childish in Crash.

The plot in story lines of Asians, Middle Easterners and Latinos are awful. This movie only provides us stereotyping characters in those ethnics. Being an Asian American, and knowing many Iran and Latino students, I know that there are a lot of problems about those ethnics. However, Haggis use a illogical way to describe those unrealistic problems. In the ending, I even think he is a racist because he makes Latino as passive characters, Iranians as violent murderers, and Asians as a group of slaves which have no voice. I don't know whether the storyline of Iranians/Latino is based on true event, but the whole story is about those ethnics are distort.

I give it 5 out of 10 for Haggis directing, However the plot itself is bad because I don't think anyone will start accepting other ethnics after watching this movie which shows prejudice against different ethnics. Furthermore, if you are an Asian or a Middle Easterner, I don't advise you to watch this film because this film does not even care about those ethnics.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Watch this movie as a drama, not just a martial art film

[8/10 · 30 August 2005]

The English title of this movie is really hilarious. "Wo Hu Cang Long" is a slang, it actually means "a true masters (about everything, not only martial art) are pretend themselves instead of being showy." Maybe "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" sounds more "chinese" for Westerners who has a stereotyping about dragons for Chinese people.

Being an Chinese-speaking person who knows more about the culture background about this story, I have discussed this movie with many people in the United States.

I find out most of people appreciate the amazing martial arts and ignore the in-depth analyzing of this story.

If you think this story is only a story about martial art, I think i should ask you guys a question: Woule you only treat The Lord of The Rings as a fairy tale, or City of God as a disturbing film? The whole story deals with betrayal and redemption about Jiao Long's life of martial art under Chinese culture. That is all I can say for people who have never seen this movie.

If you have seen this movie once and love those amazing scenes, I recommend you to watch it again and enjoy characteristics and interactions in that movie; if you have never watched it, I think my comment will be useful for you.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

One of the most overrating film I have ever seen

[4/10 · 29 August 2005]

I don't know why a lot of people dare to call this movie "good." This movie is totally overrating.

Of course this story got a original idea, but many exaggerated elements screws up the whole story. Even though the story has a strong storyline for Kutcher to save his sweetheart, his childhood, which is based on a lot of clichés such as child pornography, explosion, animal abuse and a stupid "Se7en" performance, is too long and shallow. It is too violent, but does not show any in-depth analyze about little Evan and other characters

When Evan grows up, there are still too much trivia for me to focus on the story. It makes his tragedy, such as going to jail, meeting Kayleigh as a hooker, or committing suicide slow without too much surprise. Even the ending is too predictable. Finally, does Evan learn anything? No, he just gives up saving his sweetheart because craps like ultra-violence, prison rape, drug, happens when he tries to "help" someone with violence and cheesy conversation.

Most of all, characters are usually stereotyping ones. Kutcher's performance is too clumsy for me to sympathize his condition. He doesn't even looks sad in his scene of meeting Kayleigh as a hooker. Compared to "12 Monkeys," which has a in-depth analyze about the mental problems and effect of time travel, "Butterfly Effect" is like a soap opera, which add too much Hollywood cliché.

It is a movie for someone who had never watched dramas. If you had watched many movies without Hollywood formulas. Sorry, this movie is not for you.