dreamingescapist

'Broken Arrow' is a wonderful Western classic starring James Stewart, Jeff Chandler and Debra Paget. This movie can be seen as a romantic story, or a story about moral integrity. Film is based on historical figures, but the events are heavily dramatized - some can say that the film was too naive and overly romanticized, but no one can argue that it is a well made movie. How anyone will perceive it, it will say more about the viewer than about the movie itself.

'Broken Arrow' is one of the first major Westerns since Second World War to delve into Indian lifestyle and portray Indians positively balanced way, although most of the Indians were played by white actors. Movie follows Tom Jeffords (James Stewart), an ex-Union soldier who comes across with wounded Apache boy dying from gunshot wounds. Jeffords nourishes the boy back to health. When the boy's tribesmen appear, hostile at first, they allow Jeffords to leave for the appreciation for his help. Jeffords, tired of war and killings, studies the ways of Apache, and plans to meet the Apache war chief Cochise (Jeff Chandler). The hostility of Cochise towards Jeffords grows into respect and an ex-Army officer becomes the main proxy between Indians and white men in negotiations for peace. Jeffords falls in love with an Indian girl Sonseeahray (Debra Paget), and with very little opposition the two marry. This love story arc might first seem too obvious and sappy, but it is well tied into the main event, and it nicely supports the film message.

'Broken Arrow' might not be the greatest Westerns out there, but it is still fantastic movie with masterful acting and direction, accompanied with magnificent scenery, and what's most important is the film's beautiful message - can't we just all live like brothers. And the question it raises - who are the real savages at the end? Very different movie from that era, but nonetheless a great one.

This series tells the story of a small country in the turmoils of WWII through the eyes of the employees of an elite brothel. The premise is quite interesting, and as I like unconventional heroes, I was sold. Plus, the show got plenty oh hype about the extensive research and preparations to capture the essence of that period. And yet, the show doesn't live up to its hype, although with interesting setting and subject matter, the show feels uninspired and unimaginative most of the time. The first couple of episodes were quite dull and boring, with wooden acting and static directing (throughout the show there were moments were camera sat still, and then suddenly started to move, almost like the director got a sudden flash of, oh we got to move the camera or the picture feels static). The characters developed over time and became more lively changing the wooden dolls with real humane characters, but still, only a few characters got some more extra layers added to them, while the rest stayed as talking heads with trivial conversations. The story also developed, but many plot devices and nuances were underused, or not used at all. Most of all, the show failed to create any proper mood or atmosphere. Too many important events weren't shown but told instead by other characters' unpassionate newscaster's manner. I understand that low budget set some restrictions, but that's why the show feels safe (and here I don't mean lack of raunchy scenes considering the placing of the bulk of the story) and uncreative. I guess the creators of the show could have spent more energy on script and atmosphere than historical accuracy of some minor knick-knacks - beauty lies in the details, I know, but sometimes you have to hone those things that are not always visible at first sight.

Not the greatest historical shows in television history, and despite its many flaws, the show still manages to build some mild interest and sympathy. But if you are not very into the political situation of WWII, then it is very easy to move on as the show simply isn't that exciting. There are rumors about the second season, and how the last episode ended, one can expect the continuation of the story. The only hope is that the makers will be more bold with the second season (if they ever decide to make it).

'The Predator' is an example of what happens when a talented writer/director turns into a hack. The screenplay seems rushed, there is no development in characters, neither in the story. Just bunch of people running around from scene to scene while exchanging cheesy lines. I guess the first two 'Predator' movies used up all the ideas where the franchise could grow because everything that came after the second one where all (although seemingly promising) trivial, and forgettable. Lines, although sometimes seemingly deliberate, were too horrible. Characters were just faces with names attached. What a waste of capable cast.

'The Predator' offers some nice B-movie thrills, and special effects are good, but one is justified to expect much more from a movie with a famous title, talented cast and budget nearly $90 million. 'The Predator' has run out of steam.