madisonwisconsinite Reviews

Immortals (2011)

I quite liked this film, but racial ethnicity was inappropriately broad

[8/10 · 29 July 2015]

I often find myself wondering "what's the dark-skinned person doing in a film about _______?" In this case, it is Greek mythology, but there are Negros and Indians in it. This is European history or proto-history or mythology, however you want to look at it, and that does not mean African or Indian Subcontinent stories. It is a bit like all of the old American westerns with Europeans playing the American Indians. That's just not really right. Then, too, Chinese detective Charlie Chan was never played by an Asian actor. Putting black men and Indian women into this story just isn't right. They are as out of place as the pumpkins in the recent miniseries about Pharaoh Tutankhamen. All of that said, it was a very entertaining story, well-acted by appealing lead actors, of some ancient mythology. I did find the vast numbers of Titans at the end a bit much. The gods kept doing them in, and more and more and more kept on coming at them. I may be wrong, but in my recollection, there were twelve Titans, who, among them, spawned 15 Titanic children. The film is very well worth watching, and if you have a penchant for very handsome men showing a bit of skin, it will appeal to you on that count, too.

Judge Judy (1996–2021)

The Queen of Mean paid millions to berate the poor

[2/10 · 18 June 2015]

The scowling Judith Sheindlin is paid a very substantial amount of money to be mean and rude to poor people. Never before had anyone been paid SO much money to be so mean to so many people who have so little money. She looks very happy and friendly, smiling in the photo they show on the advertising to watch her show, but she says things to the "contestants" in her courtroom which we certainly would NOT tolerate if they were said by publicly paid judges. The insults we hear her hurl are often very offensive. "Shhhh!!!" and "just a second," she often admonishes the parties politely; but it doesn't take much for her to move on to her more natural rudeness. While she admonishes contestants not to use their own vernacular as the try to tell her their stories, she has no hesitation using Yiddish words that many or most of them don't understand. I wonder how often people are puzzled at the possible meaning of "kerfuffle." I do have to confess, I wouldn't mind hearing her explain to many of them that "axe" is not the way to pronounce "ask." Still, if you enjoy watching the wicked witch of the west in a nicer looking form, as she berates poor people, Judge Judy may be for you. I just don't think it is right for society to so substantially enrich an already wealthy woman who seems to so much enjoy being nasty to people.

Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

good humor, sometimes HILARITY, without raunchiness

[8/10 · 5 June 2015]

Personally, my ONLY criticism to this film is the rampant heterosexism it shows. Plenty of female scantily clad characters, but do we get much of a look at the sexy Andrew McCarthy shirtless? No. I got nine genuine belly laughs while watching this movie, for only the second time. First saw it within a year of it coming out. Just watched it again in 2015, and it was still fresh in the quality of the story, and Bernie's refusal to . . . well, what Bernie "refuses" to do, you'll have to find out from watching it. Andrew, you were one of my first serious actor crushes as a teen, thanks for entertaining me. This film also features shooters that shoot more than six times - by who, and at what, you must watch to find out. I would also have to say that the film probably doesn't need to take two whole hours to tell its story. The scene with the speedboat dodging around the channel markers was a hoot.

Pathfinder (1987)

This film is a MUST SEE for anyone who wants to exercise the mind

[10/10 · 25 May 2014]

This is a story about the Sámi people, to enlighten my reader, here's the beginning of a wikipedia article about them: "The Sami people, also spelled Sámi or Saami, are the indigenous Finno-Ugric people inhabiting the Arctic area of Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway."

The English title, Pathfinder, is rendered as Ofelaš in the Sámi language, and the film is also known as Veiviseren in Norwegian. Around the 1000 CE a warlike people called Tchudes (or Tsjuderen?), pillage and plunder from others in northern Scandinavia. As they brutally exterminate a Sámi family in a remote area, teenage son Aigin the last of his family being dragged to a hole in the ice and plunged under, but escapes the slaughter. He evades capture and killing at the hands of these marauders and skis overland to a far-off Sámi camp. Alas, his hosts are worried he might not have been able to hide his tracks, and fearful of these bloodthirsty people, the Sámi decide to flee to the coast. Aigin stays to avenge his family's murder. Unfortunately, the Tschudes capture him before he can do anything, and force him to lead them to the other Sámi.

Although forced to guide them, Aigin has a surprise plan to annihilate these savage people before they can reach the Saami camp. This ancient coming-of-age story is very well told, with the main dialog in Sámi, translated to the viewer's language, while the words of the Tschudes, not translated, are left for the viewer to contemplate..

People who lack any experience with indigenous original peoples who remain evolved with the land that has supported them for millennia, NEED to experience this look at life from the perspective of a culture unpolluted by the corruption of external forces and religion.

"Raste," a Noaidi of the Sámi village where Aigin escapes to, speaks to the young man about his anger and desire to avenge himself and his family against the Tchudes who killed them: Raste: Thoughts of revenge are darkening your mind. Remember, we are but parts of the whole, parts of the infinite brotherhood. The Tchudes have forgotten it. Don't you forget, lad. Aigin: I'm not part of any brotherhood, I am alone. Raste: You may feel that way now, but trust me, you too are bound to this infinite brotherhood . . . . with unbreakable bonds. Listen and remember what I say. This morning, I saw the reindeer bull for the third time in my life. The first time I saw it, I was your age. The second time I was in the prime of my life; and today is the third time. Listen now, and remember. The reindeer has come for the last time. Aigin: And what does that mean? Raste disappears.

I recommend a read of wikipedia's article on the Sámi/Saami people, the English version has links to the article in sixty-four other languages, including Suomi, and the unrelated regional languages Svenska, Norsk nynorsk, Norsk bokmål, Nederlands, and Dansk.

Laws of Gravity (1992)

Great American Film unsuitable for broadcast/cable/satellite airing

[9/10 · 9 September 2013]

For starters, this film really makes you feel like you are right there on the streets of Brooklyn. It is a period piece, as you see the twin towers of the WTC still clearly sticking up on the horizon at far left at one of the frequent hangouts for the main characters. However, this film is a classic example of what is very badly wrong with America today: our government is so overly concerned with censoring out bad words in everyday speech, that more than 10% of the dialog is BLEEPED out, and you cannot follow what the BLEEP is happening in the BLEEPING movie so you have to go and get a different BLEEPING copy from the BLEEPING library to get an idea of what the BLEEP was being talked about in the movie. So well constructed, you would think people followed these characters around with HD cameras neatly concealed on them, capturing all of the daily lives of a collection of low level criminal miscreants in 1990s New York. But don't bother trying to watch it through some pay broadcasting, if you hear even one BLEEP early on, you'll only get angry that you can't tell what the BLEEP the characters are angry about. I doubt that it would be sold to you with no censorship in the USA, so either rent it on DVD, or better get it free from your local library, and enjoy hearing what real Americans talk like in that place and time and mindset.

Jeopardy! (1984– )

Jeopardy! not as good as it used to be

[4/10 · 25 March 2013]

I remember when I was young and Art Fleming hosted a program that truly tested the smartness and savvy of viewers and contestants, with a serious challenge of their knowledge about useful and practical information. Science, History, Geography, Politics, these were the kind of categories that would come up to test the minds of the contestants. The new program has become all-too-much a test of how much pop junk info you've got in your head, what celebrity married whom, which Shakespeare play has a redheaded man who wears black shoes and brown socks, which sports team did such and such or which athlete lost or won what contest. I was talking to one of my brothers the other day, and he summed it up that today's society has got to place too high a value on useless information, and become too little concerned about teaching young people things that will benefit them throughout their lives. If it would be of absolutely ZERO value to you if you were marooned on a desert island, you might be less brilliant, and more of the other kind of "maroon" à la Bugs Bunny, to know the latest about the Kardashians, Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears; who killed Roger Rabbit?, and which country won the most medals for synchronized swimming at the 2004 Olympics (were there Olympics in 2004?); than if you know the significance 3.14159, that there are 2.2 pounds in a kilogram, 5,280 feet in a mile, that -40C = -40F, that the USA is a Constitutional Republic and not a Democracy, what the Federal Reserve System is, or other actually useful information. Shame on those who have taken a great and classic game show, and dumbed it down. I've also noticed that, historically, men were much, MUCH more likely to win the game than women; and have heard recently that there are or were allegations that Jeopardy! altered the clues in some way to favor female contestants. I don't know if they did, or didn't, but there have been an increasing number of women winning on Jeopardy, with certain characteristics in common. Finally, I also have a problem with the change that allows a winner to keep being a winner, for days, weeks, even longer if he/she is "good" enough. Think what it would be like, you've waited two and a half years for your chance to get on the show. You've paid for your airfare out to Los Angeles, you're in a hotel, you've got your good clothes all dry-cleaned, and it isn't even until the fourth day you've reported to the studio that you get your chance, and you go out onto the set only to find yourself facing a champion who has been on the show for three weeks and has got the method of buzzing in down pat. You don't stand much of a chance. You wind up in third place, and get $1,000.00 for your appearance. Alas, you spent a lot more than that getting out there and staying in your hotel, but hey, you get to say that you were on Jeopardy!

Comanche (1956)

classic "boston tea party" Cavalry versus Indians movie

[1/10 · 11 January 2010]

There's nothing like seeing close-ups of actors portraying Native Americas / American Indians, who have blue eyes. The huge "buck" who throws a man off a cliff (when he's actually at the top of a sloping hill) is somewhat familiar Austro-Hungarian actor Mike Mazurki. The movie is really lame, just another celebration of the story of European subjugation of a continent through complete lack of respect for other cultures. And we wonder why Muslims don't love us? Might be worth watching by film students who want to learn how NOT to make a movie. If you don't grasp my meaning by my summary, maybe you would like this film. Granted, the production values are high, but the overwhelming white-bias that the film typifies should not be lost on viewers. Quanah Parker in a headdress with bison horns is typical Hollywood fluff. The most ethnic of actors portraying characters of any significance in this film is Nestor Paiva, whose role include such distinguished native portrayals as a Po-Ho chief and a Native Guide, on the animated series, Jonny Quest. Comanche is worth watching if you are bored and have nothing else to do, but don't pay money to rent it! I will grant, for the sake of full disclosure, the following: (1) I am NOT an American Indian, and (2) I DO have a degree in American Indian Studies from the University of Wisconsin.

Death Warrant (1990)

Great plot, good action, can be taken serious, but . . .

[8/10 · 23 December 2009]

I really get tired of fight-action films where men keep getting pummeled to within an inch of their lives, then, the next minute, they're back up and running and ready for the fight to continue, as though they'd just finished warming up. When the Sandman was sent into the firey furnace near the end, you just KNEW he was going to climb back out, in this case, flaming on fire, but his hair wasn't burned, and it would be the first thing to flame away. Come on, Hollywood or "canadawood," quit with all the malarkey of this sort, make the fighting scenes realistic and believable, and don't make us have to adjust our brains with this kind of un-killable warriors. It was a great film, but the intense fighting scenes just push beyond the limit.

Islam: What the West Needs to Know (2006)

NOT an objective presentation

[2/10 · 20 December 2009]

It is not obvious from viewing this film (so I recommend viewers research the people who present their case in it) but this presentation on the realities of Islam, and its encouragement of violence and intolerance against all non-Muslims is lacking objectiveness, and also completely fails to factor in the human condition. It is one thing to document that the Koran says many things about how a devout Muslim is required to interact with non-Muslims, but any realist is able to realize that not every human who feels himself or herself to be a follower of Islam, will agree with and comply with all tenets of that faith and system. There is reason to call much about the presenters into question, such that viewers need to see the presentation with a healthy skepticism; don't swallow it all, hook, line, and sinker, without some thinking of your own.

One specific, for instance, is researching the person Walid Shoebat; who claims to be a former Muslim who perpetrated an act of terrorism in Bethlehem. There are many wise people in the world who believe neither of these assertions. I am not nor have I ever been a Muslim. I have never read the Koran. I am not a Christian, nor a member of _any_ faith. But I am an intelligent and discerning human. While the film is quite disturbing, in its presentation of how SOME Muslims view their obligation to Islam; I remind you that there is more to Islam than the views of the fundamentalists. Just as their are fundamentalists and evangelical Christians, so, too, there are variations in the intensity of belief and obligation among Jews and Muslims.

When you watch this film, you need to have the salt shaker on hand. One grain will not be enough, you'll need more. Please use your own mind and think for yourself, research what is presented, and evaluate the state of the world and how Islam fits within it based on more than what is said in 98 minutes of video. There is a common thread of political affiliation among those who put this film together, indicating a definite bias. Be your own brain.

The Marine (2006)

GENUINE Decorated Marine comments on "the Marine"

[3/10 · 26 December 2008]

Well, I served in the Marine Corps for 8 years, four of them were in South Carolina. I left with a Rifle Expert 10th Awd, Pistol Expert 4th Awd, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Marine Corps Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service, Air Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and other basic service awards. I also had a car with South Carolina license plate NAH-339 - and then, as now, they only put them on the BACK of a vehicle. This movie was lame, I mean, REALLY lame. Aside from the fact that clearly none of the film ever spent ANY time even close to the South Carolina setting it purported to have, it was unrealistically ludicrous throughout, and almost without merit as decent viewing material. I waited more than one year for my turn to see a copy from my library on DVD. It was definitely NOT worth the wait, but since I saw it without paying, I have no regrets. If you paid to see it, IMHO you did not get your money's worth. When they got the the reference of the terminator, and the bad guy refused to die, I would have just ejected the DVD if I weren't watching the movie with another person who I was embarrassed to have attempted to entertain with it.

The People's Court (1997–2023)

Curt Chaplin should keep his hands off of people

[8/10 · 12 June 2008]

Has anyone else noticed how the reporter, Curt Chaplin, is always putting his hands on people to align them with the camera? Why don't they put something on the floor to guide people to? And he says some things that are clearly geared to embarrassing to litigants, too. I hope people get paid enough for it to be worth it, and mean-spirited as you may think I am, I'd really like someone to slap Curt for "glomming" onto them with his hand. I think it is very inappropriate. I also think that Judge Milian has come to be a little bit too much like Judge Judy, haranguing people isn't what I want to see. Still, it's a great court TV show. Curt, if you ever read this, keep your hands off of strangers!

The Big Sleep (1946)

This film is over-rated

[2/10 · 8 June 2008]

I don't see how so many people can rate this film so highly, when it is all but impossible to follow who is who and who did what where and when, less yet why. My mom and I watched it last night, and found it very disappointing. Watching films mostly for the sake of seeing some of the "greats" acting just isn't enough reason to spend 115 minutes looking at a television set. Once was enough, I'd never waste my time seeing the film again.

Now for starters, don't make the mistake of assuming we have a problem with black-and-white, I've got dozens of non-color films in my library. But how can you follow who all of the characters are, what their motivations are, why certain people who fall into the big sleep, do that? Why did the "little man" have to be poisoned, and what sort of poison is so powerful it puts you into the big sleep in less than a minute? Why does Bogart keep pulling on his ear all of them time? Why is it that nearly every woman in the film flirts with Bogart the way they do? Sadly, when I began writing this, I had said all I wanted to say, and found I could not submit for lack of enough lines. Making enough was a challenge, as there isn't much more to say, to me, than that I just can't see how anyone follows the film and understands a story in it.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

segue segue segue segue, this film is over-edited

[3/10 · 12 April 2008]

I got about one hour into this film and just had to stop watching, in spite of the fact I'd just bought it. I daresay there must be THOUSANDS of seques (how do you spell "SEG-ways?") in it, with most "scenes" lasting about a second each. It is dizzying, distracting, and considering the intensity and frequency, this over-editing is ridiculous. Combine that with the extent to which the film displays unbelievably frightening techno-ability, which I find INCREDULOUS, and it's a film you have got to have good reasons to want to watch. At present, I think I'll just have to be either really bored, or in just the right mood, to be willing to return to trying to watch it.

Yeah, sure, it IS action-packed, but the camera changes with the frequency of an automated revolving door.

The Living Planet (1984)

Attenborough at his best!

[10/10 · 13 September 2006]

IMDb won't let me update this title, so it is complete. I also cannot figure out how to add information about the titles of the twelve episodes, so, I will put it here, in this thread:

The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 1, The Building of the Earth The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 2,The Frozen World The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 3, The Northern Forests The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 4, Jungle The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 5, Seas of Grass The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 6, The Baking Deserts The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 7, The Community of the Skies The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 8, Sweet Fresh Water The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 9, The Margins of the Land The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 10, Worlds Apart The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 11, Open Ocean The Living planet: A Portrait of the Earth. Episode 12, New Worlds

My library system has multiple copies of the series on both VHS cassette, where each episode is its own cassette; and on DVD, which consists of a total of four DVDs. It is a great series. David Attenborough is always good for the most pleasant and intense cranial massage, getting the brain going and thinking.

The Business of Fancydancing (2002)

If you did not like this movie, chances are, you don't understand either Indians or being gay

[10/10 · 6 March 2006]

The summary line pretty much says it all. "Indian humor" is a little hard to understand, although _I_ personally think it is easier to relate to than a lot of British humor is. But if you just don't get it, or just don't like it, it would probably be more fair to reflect on whether it is because the film is bad, or because your understanding of the American Indians and their place in a world turned upside down, is, well, inadequate. Further, in a world and (in the United States, at least) a society that presumes heterosexuality, few people, even among gay people, can really relate to and understand what it means to truly be non-heterosexual in the modern world. Sherman Alexie shows a special ability to understand and relate to how people can be inherently members of such minorities. The film is entertaining and laughable. Evan Adams is amazing in the role of Seymour Polatkin. I HIGHLY recommend you read Alexie's work.

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

lousy movie, I fell asleep twice

[3/10 · 11 February 2006]

For at least the first 30 minutes, it is nearly impossible to see where the film is going. If I had not been with a friend when watching it, I would have fallen asleep at 8:30 in the evening, and not woke up until, well, who knows when? I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I am surprised anyone could justify the expense of making it. On the other hand, my friend said that he enjoyed it, perhaps I "just don't understand?" I could sum up what I think about this film in one word: "lame." I don't understand why Sandler's character spent MORE to get his frequent flier miles than he had to - if he had bought the $1.79 items instead of the $2.** items, he would have got as many miles but spent less to get them. An interesting hi-light was "the brothers," who appear actually to have been portrayed by actual brothers, or at least relatives. And what the heck was the point of the keyboard? Nobody seems to have known what to call it, I don't even know what it was. It sounded like an accordian. Finally, how did that car or truck fly up into the air and blow up near the beginning of the film? It really went nowhere in a big hurry. I just didn't understand. I'd give three thumbs down, but I've only got two thumbs.

E-Ring (2005–2006)

These people are just TOO unrealistic

[7 December 2005]

MSgt Jocelyn Pierce (E8) is portrayed by Aunjanue Ellis, who was born 21 Feb 1969. There certainly were no 36-year-old master sergeants in the USMC when I served. I recall a black Gunnery Sergeant, but he was 42.

Benjamin Bratt is six years older than Aunjanue, born 16 Dec 1963 but he is only a Major which is an O4. At the age of 42, he ought to be at least a LtCol, especially since he is such "hot stuff" to be a part of the team he is on.

Dennis Hopper was born 17 May 1936 and in spite of being 27 years older than Bratt's character, he is only TWO ranks higher than Bratt's Major Tisnewski. Aged nearly 70 years, he is doubtless older than the overwhelming majority of "real" active duty service personnel, and CERTAINLY too old to be a mere active duty colonel. He has had 50 years of adult life to serve in the military, and they just would NOT keep him if he could not have made it to the flag officer ranks (Generals, who wear stars, are referred to as flag officers) by that time. I knew a Marine LtCol who was promoted to Colonel at the age of 45, and he was an average guy. Colonel Eli McNulty is working in a place for the best the military has to offer, and should not be portrayed by an old man - no offense to Mr Hopper.

I saw a character tonight who was wearing a Joint Chiefs of Staff badge in the wrong place on her uniform. Well, maybe they've had a bizarre change of mind since I served the Joint Chiefs, but I doubt it; the badge should have been worn over a breast pocket, but was above all of the service member's personal awards.

They just have not done their homework to make this series a realistic one, and frankly, I find it offensive to myself as a veteran, and to our current service personnel, that actors are portraying us who really don't do us justice. My money says that the only black female master sergeant aged 36 in the history of the Marine Corps is a woman on television. Now mind you, I don't suggest that I personally believe that that is how is _should_ be, I'm just saying that that is how it is. I would really appreciate a little more realism and believability in my television viewing. When I want fictitious blahblah programming, I can watch cartoons.

Alexander (2004)

This could have been much better

[4/10 · 22 November 2005]

Frequent segues badly interrupt the chronology of an already complicated story. The military action is confusing, cloudy, not explained, and with poor sound which prevents the viewer from hearing what is yelled above the excessive din of battle. The story leaves out a number of events in Alexander's life which I'm surprised to see left out. Typical of modern films, the sex is exclusively heterosexual in spite of Alexander's well-known appetite for men, two of whom featured in the film: Hephaestion and Bagoas. In fairness, we do see Colin (or a double) naked, showing a bare butt and balls while getting into bed, with an implication that someone male is going to accompany him, but this is vaguely implied, and only an informed viewer would be aware that the male companion is Bagoas. It isn't necessary to excessively glorify the beauty of gay relationships, but why so significantly avoid them in one of history's greatest personages who was undeniably gay? I further have to wonder why key characters were played by actors who had to dye their hair to play the roles - are there no blonds who could have played Alexander if it was essential that he be blond? Farrell certainly looked hot, but blond hair with black eyebrows has always looked a little bit weird to me. Even the boy who plays the young Alexander has the wrong color hair, and must have worn a wig and had his hair dyed. And why have Jonathan Rhys Meyers just standing in the background all the time? He hardly had any dialog in the film - what a waste of talent. The final analysis for me comes out of the fact that I collect films with several actors who I have a strong interest in. These include Rhys Meyers, Farrell, and Leto, but even with all three in this film, I have no plan to buy it or even make a copy of it. ALEXANDROS (imdb don't support his name in Greek) deserved something much better than this, and I found the film quite disappointing. What a waste of talent.

The Maker (1997)

more or less lame

[4/10 · 14 October 2005]

For the most part, the only things that brought me through the whole film are that it was very difficult to get the loan of a copy of the film via interlibrary loan, and it has Rhys Meyers (as he spelled it for this film) in it, who is always nice to look at. Although there is a good premise for an interesting film and story, there was not enough continuity and plot development to keep me interested and engaged. There were a number of subplots and minor characters which and who really didn't add anything of value to the story. I think that if you are a fan of Rhys-Myers or Modine, you may want to see the film in order to get to see them in an unreleased-for-theaters film, but otherwise, it really isn't work your time or trouble. If you're planning to enjoy looking at Rhys-Myers' skin, you can do a lot better with some of his other work. Tangled may not be an excellent film, either, but he drops his pants for you in it, and that is worth something you won't get out of "The Maker."

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

reismark's remarks about film, and "renting" versus library

[10/10 · 30 September 2005]

I wholeheartedly agree with reismark's review of the film. It is excellent. I want to note, however, as the treasurer of a library system, that people should remember that rental and purchasing are not the only options. If you learn about your local libraries, you'll find that many of them, perhaps most of them, have collections of video on VHS and DVD which rival rental stores. In most instances, these materials circulate without charge, although some libraries charge a nominal fee to rent very recent titles. In the library system to which I belong, even rental titles are potentially available free, since we insist that there must be at least ONE copy in the system which circulates without a fee.

The Chorus (2004)

Boys who motivate the emotions and pluck the heartstrings of sympathy and empathy

[10/10 · 29 September 2005]

I have seen the film in three distinctly different ways. The first two times were in Germany, where I first viewed it in French, which I do not understand very well, and then in German, which I understand a little bit better. The DVD I purchased did not feature subtitles, so all I could avail myself of was choice of language. This gave me an unusual opportunity to see what the film is able to convey without its dialog. I have since obtained an American copy, and watched the film in French with English subtitles. I was deeply moved. The music alone makes the film precious. The contrasting character of kindly adults (Clément Mathieu), unkind and uncaring adults (Rachin), good-intentioned adults (La Comtesse) and adults as victims (the older man who is injured by Le Querrec's prank), is well thought out and well brought out. Then there are the children, whose lifestyle and hopes and dreams are well conveyed in the music which Monsieur Mathieu teaches them to sing. It seems that all of the music was written by a 20th century French composer, with the exception of the Baroque composition, La Nuit, of Jean Philippe Rameau. I've read criticism that the boys seem to learn to sing overnight, but would people really like to see twenty minutes worth of really bad singing so that we can hear them going from bad to good? Each time I see the film it brings up a wellspring of emotion in me, with intense feelings of joy and sadness. I feel sorry for anyone who does not feel great emotion from viewing this film.