The Siege of Jadotville (2016) Ireland, South Africa

The Irish entry to the modern warfare.

Genre:

Action, Thriller, War.

Length:

Approximately 6-minute read.


Review:
     The Irish war film based on the book of the same name, which was originally inspired by the real battle of the Irish army during the UN's peacekeeping mission in the central Africa. Directed by a first timer and a well done job. I have seen lots of Irish film, but this was like I have never seen one before. Obviously, for being a war themed film about their first battle ever in the modern world. Between the start and the end, everything happened so quickly. You will love it if you like fast paced narration. Particularly if you are a war film fan, this is not to be missed.

     First of all it was not a World War II film. It was about the cold war, and its consequences, that's too far from the land those who are involved. It sets in the Congo basin in the early 60s, when the Irish army arrived representing the UN, the Katangese forces charged them from all the corner. With the limited resources, how these inexperienced men fought against the outnumbered opponents is what this film revealed. Truly a thrilling film is it.

     The Non-Aligned Nations' forces like from India and Sweden for UN peacekeeping mission who were present around at the time, could not assist the Irish troop either from crossing an important bridge or through the air. These nearly 160 soldiers fought bravely, especially being away from home for the first time, which makes them in an unfavourable condition. This film covered everything from the Irish perspective, but the other way around like how the UN officials failed in their part was also focused on the side.

 No plan survives contact with the enemy. 

     It was all about the natural resources found in this African region. So basically no one wants to back off, that means those from the cold war nations sent their mercenaries to fight out any obstacles. The five day battle that the Ireland never forgets, but initially it was not recognised by its own nation, until the recent time. Especially the UN who thought they had lost their reputation with this warfare which is really a shameful behavious for such organisation.

     It was an English language film, despite an Irish film. That's not new to me, because most of the Irish film I have seen were direct English films. The actors were good, but no one was particularly focused, except the commandant. It opened with him preparing to leave country and ends with him returning. It was a non-stop war film. A series of attacks for the five days with a little gap between the assault to prepare for another. In reality, the Ireland's entry to the warfare was in an unfortunate circumstance, but their opponents underestimated them to use full force.

     Its a less story, more action film. The war sequences were awesomely made. Though it reminded me the recent Hollywood film '13 Hours'. Mark Strong was in a small part, though he looked different with a wig. I think it was one of the best war films in the recent time. It's not about the heroism, but inspires how they responded to the situation. They did everything they could and they would have achieved even bigger, only if they had everything they wanted. That makes it one of the rare film about the rare warfare where the world failed to acknowledge their effort. So a big thanks to the filmmakers for bringing it to the big screen. Now you should try it if you haven't seen it yet.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
13 Hours, 71 Into the Fire, 9th Company, 1944, Anthropoid, Lone Survivor, American Sniper.


External link(s):
      

WCA geolocation:
Right now we're in

Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014): UK, Germany, South Africa, Canada

Chase your life (dream), don't let it chase you away.

Genre:

Adventure, Comedy, Drama.

Tagline:

"Sometimes to find yourself, you need to get a little lost."

What's in:

On-topic, Off-topic, Spoilers, Dialogues, Comparison, Revealing my theory on unexplained.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.

Review:

     A multinationally produced film product. The story as well won't take place in one place, but travels around the different continents. It is when 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' meets 'The Ultimate Gift'. A very inspiring theme, made by 'Serendipity' director which is his first film since last five years. Looks like it is his career best, at least in my perspective it is. The film talks about the different human moods, especially about the search for happiness as the title suggest.

     Being I am a movie fanatic, I won't watch great flicks every day. It is not easy to come by, sometimes I have to go through 5 movies, sometimes 10 and sometimes a month long wait. In my recent watch I liked so many flicks, but never considered them as my favourites until this one. Like I said its been months and I am super excited with this film.

     As usual, my nemesis, the critics led it to the box office flop. I am saying the same thing that it's definitely not suit for critics, but families (excluding kids) and mainly middle-aged people. It will be too early for children to understand the movie and there is a nudity, but no sex scenes. The old people can enjoy watching it, but won't inspire them like 'The Bucket List' did.

 Do you have any children, doctor? My husband and I, it was our only regret. We couldn't. But, you know what? It was bloody good fun trying.

     Usually for the western countries, self-discover means visiting India. We have seen movies like 'The Darjeeling Limited', 'Eat Pray Love' and many more that focuses on the similar subjects. This film gets rid of that so called cliche and goes ahead with different locations. The title character Hector goes for a such mission looking for happiness through self-discovery, meets different people and their cultures. Even he undergoes several life threatening situations and also meets his past (people) only to clear his head.

     Hector was a very fond of Tintin comic books, he kind of imagines that he's Tintin and his dog as Snowy, but there's no confirmation in this regard in the movie. The adventure he takes exactly depicts what Tintin stories do. Looks his mood was kind of affect since his childhood. In the opening scene, he loses his dog which represented his 'Happiness'. Also, where the 'Unhappiness' (probably his girlfriend in his real world) rose above and tailed him since. These are simply my theory considering unexplained things or trying to crack down the hidden messages.

     I won't deny that some of the ideas were borrowed from the other flicks. It might not be as fancy as 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty', but it had some of its own great momentum like, laughs, craziness, emotions, romance and adventures. I have not seen Simon Pegg's all the movies, but in this he was never seen before avatar. I'll definitely remember it for him as long as I'll be in this film watching business. I was expecting his usual comedy, but I was absolutely blown away for witnessing an uplifting movie. If you focus deeply on the narration, you could virtually experience passing through all those provinces shown in the film. Definitely one of the top 10 films from the year 2014. I highly recommend it, certainly a must watch.

Similar movies:
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Ultimate Gift, The Darjeeling Limited, The Bucket List.


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


External link(s):
   

The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) South Korea

At war, it's not all about manpower, but strategy.

Genre:

Action, Adventure, Biography, History, War.

Original title:

Myeongryang (Korean)

What's in:

As always on-topic, A very few off-topic, Not much spoilers, Dialogues.

Length:

Approximately 6-minute read.

Review:

     The highest domestic box office ever as well as internationally as a Korean movie. Based on the naval wars of Japanese invasion of Korea that took place in the last decade of the 1500s. The battle was fought for six long years, but this film focuses only the final one called 'Battle of Myeongnyang' in the year 1597. The famous face from the Korean filmdom, Choi Min-sik can be seen in the title role. For the international market, he was badly needed than the role wanted him. But I don't say that, he was amazing as always, like the character was specially created for him.

     As an important historical subject of the Korea, it was a very carefully made flick. But the product was more commercialised than being practical, especially in the battle scenes. You can't expect logic and accurate historical account, but entertainment is promised as the film's main intention. Awesome visuals, but as I said lacks the reality. Not a bad film either, because a very much acceptable for having interesting tiny bits in the battle. The first half was more a drama and as we are viewers, there is a chance to lose the focus. Barely generates any interest, kind of a setback to the movie. Not even the character constructive was handled that better in those sections where it should have been.

     Exactly after the first hour the pace picks up as the war commenced. Then it was a non-stop action, one must buckle up his seat belt for onwards to enjoy. Mostly never seen before style, because it was exhibited in the Korean style of a sea battle. It involves some kind of oceanography like the second half of the title say, 'Roaring Currents'. But not in a theoretical calculation rather a practical by observing the pattern and executing the plans like any old civilization was doing in any field. In one of the dialogue, the admiral uses the word 'virus' about fears spreading among his men. I don't think so the virus was discovered not before the late 19th century.

 Fear does not discriminate, it can equally affect our enemy.

     It may be a Korean answer to the '300: Rise of an Empire'. There are no similarities, one is a fictional war and the other one is a biographical war film, but deals on the same theme. Especially when the hundreds of soldiers fight against the thousands, definitely reminds '300'. Actually, it was 12 Korean warships against the 330 Japanese fleets. There are so many characters, the editing was much better to give space for everyone to show their parts in this 2 long hour run. The music was equally matched to the visuals. It includes some emotional segments too, but not the appealing one like you are going to have tears rather the narration demanded it and it worked.

     In the last two decades, Korean filmmakers going after the untouched territories and their success were inevitable. The quality of graphics in the world cinema is the revolution. Something is sure that now it does not belong to Hollywood alone. Because of this technology the world cinemas can compete with Hollywood. When I was a kid, my frequent question was 'why its so gloomy?'. The one thing I liked in this film was they were not afraid to create the battleground (atmosphere in the sea) in the daylight. You can see sunshine, shadows as well as gloomy as the clouds passing by. This film was a spectacular piece, that does not mean I said it a masterpiece. Like I always say, knowing/learning history through the films are easier than the textbooks. Hope there is a part 2, seems I want one.



Similar movies:
300: Rise of an Empire, Master and Commander, Pirates of the Caribbean.


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


External link(s):
      

Zulu (2013) South Africa, France

A suspense-thriller that set in South African soil. 

Genre:

Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller.

Review:

     It is not a remake of the '64 movie because of having the same name, but a story based on a novel of the same name. It is about the secret ethical war waged by the militant party against the Nelson Mandela's national party that set in the present South Africa. As per my knowledge the theme was kind of true, but not the story which is totally a fictional. The movie talks about the unclassified mission, which is planned to solve the issue by a gang. As a socio-political suspense movie, does it fulfill what we expect? The answer is yes only if you do not desire for much bigger level like 'Bourne' movies.

     A young boy Sokhela who witnessed the murder of his father escapes from the scene. After the years later the country is forgotten what happened in the past, the racism is abolished. The 50 year-old Sokhela is now a police officer live with his mother. He is assigned to a recent homicide case. He and his men follow the clue which leads them to a drug dealer, which changes the plan and pace of the movie and appears to be a bigger conspiracy than they had expected. Along with the crucial battle between cops and gangster the movie also focuses to tell the story of the personal lives of the lead characters like marital problem and sexual struggle. Fixing the trouble in a relationship, sacrifice, revenge, all comes in the later parts.

‘‘If you want to make peace with your enemies,
work with your enemies. Then they become your partners.’’

     Good to see Orlando Bloom back in such a heavy role. If there is a sequel to it, then he's going to take the lead. I am praying for that because he has done a wonderful job in this movie. Could have anyone performed better than Forest Whitaker in a role he played? I don't think so, he was so incredible like always. A life giver for the characters he plays. Initially like all the detective stories the murder mystery was created enough curiosity about the upcoming events including the opening scene. Carried out well till the halfway, when it reveals so the gun fights takes the lead. The second half was a little stumble, but the pace was its advantage. I felt it was better than the recent Hollywood's cop movies like '3 Days to Kill', 'Shadow Recruit' etc. Overall a decent movie, which mostly favors because it was executed better.

Similar movies:
Man on Fire, Welcome to the Punch, Shadow Recruit, 2 Guns, The Bourne Legacy, Homefront.


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


External link(s):