cannibalchuck

This movie also has to go on my "desert island" list. What most people will say is that the first hour is about as exciting as watching paint dry, which is true to a point. But wars are often played like chess, and if you don't know the board you'll never understand the game. It's therefore necessary, though somewhat tedious, to show the situation, terrain, weather, and overall political climate to get to the historical charge. The Germans are played perhaps a little too stiffly, and the one Aussie who couldn't shoot a human and became a medic was perhaps given a little too much screen time. As for the charge itself, you can hear your heart beating faster as you literally smell the sweat from the horses. The two-mile charge against an entrenched enemy supported with machine gun, razor wire, and cannon is intense beyond words, and stands as some of the most awesome cinematography I've ever seen. Actual casualty stats are listed, which are surprisingly low. As for how the horses were handled, not one was injured-a feat you'll scarcely believe after having seen the charge. The Lighthorsemen, unlike Gallipoli, is well worth a look. -Chuck

The early 80's seemed too soon for a movie like "Das Boot." The few old men who fought there that live today were more plentiful then, and there was a feeling when I saw the marquee that this would open old wounds. By gleaning actual events from the journals of the men who served on these boats, Peterson caught the attention of the world by setting their stories on one ship. From the bad-luck sinking of a vessel under sail to the suicide of one captain, Peterson showed us an eerie slice of life as it was on a submarine, regardless of which side you were on. The ever-present filth was almost palpable, as was the stark contrast of rations between submariners and regular ships. The ending was necessarily tragic. Though the subtitles can be difficult, it is well worth seeing the director's cut. Perhaps "Das Boot" will disprove the axiom about how history is always written by the victor. -Chuck

It's been a few years since I've seen "Flap," and admittedly the memory is perhaps a little fuzzy in places. Though I've never read Huffaker's "Nobody Likes a Drunken Indian," the movie still stands out as a character study which needed to be told. Showing both sides of life on a remote, post-war reservation, its characters displayed bits and pieces of people I've known on and around a nearby reservation in this region. Also, the destruction of the bulldozer, subsequent bender with its owner, and the theft of a railroad car provided much needed moments of comedy to the ever present backdrop of the plight of the natives. Though few are likely to have heard of this movie, and though I've heard it is currently out of print, I feel it is long overdue for a remake and yes- some improvements. Still, it's one of those films that is well worth a look. -Chuck