Buy it!

Would you recommend it? Definitely. In fact, I think most of us in the Western World are so in the dark about water, I think this documentary should be required watching.

Technically any good? While it does come across as very heavy-handed and preachy and doesn’t try too hard to present any opposing view points (though it does try), the facts it presents are undeniable and incredibly disturbing. It’s downright scary how much power big business has over the water in the ground. And just think about how important water is to commerce–as a result, water ends up being the number 3 commodity behind oil and electricity. Yeah. I didn’t know that either. Another fact it presents is that humans account for just 10% of the water use in the world. The rest is split unevenly between agriculture and business–the majority of which goes to business.

How did it leave me feeling? Angry, for two reasons. First, because no one seems to be aware of or have a problem with these giant companies using and controlling so much water. Second because the film pretends that a few isolated victories against these corporations means that we can stop them. Protests have stopped some companies from essentially stealing water, but Coca-Cola, for instance, is a huge company. They didn’t lose that battle in India, they just put their resources someplace else instead of wasting time with a bunch of protesters. So, I could have done without the corny, “speak truth to power” BS and stuck with the fear-mongering since that’s what is needed.

Would you sit through it again? YES! I want to go over the facts presented again and try to pick up on things I missed the first time through. This docu is jammed with interesting stuff and interesting people.

Seriously, watch this movie!!

Buy it!

Would you recommend this? Definitely, if you’re looking for a sweet movie that’s maybe just a bit darker than you’d expect. It’s not dark, but wasn’t as warm and light as I thought it would be.

Technically any good? There’s only a bit toward the end where the script starts to let us down–it’s just a slow patch where I found myself confused as to what the heck the movie was doing. However, everything around that slow patch is pretty solid. The movie is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play and it shows in the witty dialogue and ironic situations. The acting is as spot-on as you’d expect. However, I found Jimmy Stewart’s pantomime to be a bit less convincing than I would have liked, though I’m sure it was fine for the day and certainly didn’t knock me out of the movie.

How did it leave me feeling? Warm and fuzzy inside. I usually don’t like to feel that way, so I give the movie even more credit for making me not mind. Three-cheers for being a bit darker, too. I’m sure if someone ever (god forbid) remade this movie it would be a good deal lighter.

Would you sit through it again? I would sit through it again, but it’s one of those movies that does a great job–so good that I don’t think I’d want to sit through it again for a while.

Buy it!

Positive Experience/Entertaining? Geh… kind of. I guess. But annoying as hell, too.

Technically any good? ARG! NO! It meanders all over the place and is frustrating at every turn. The characters in the movie do everything against logic yet somehow (duh, because the writer wants it) they are able to get away with their rock-stupid choices.

Seriously, at almost every point of this movie, there is a character that is doing something ill-advised, illogical, or downright STUPID and yet, fate (the writer) allows things to generally work out for the characters in the end.

I think the film was trying to be some sort of fable, but ends up being very uneven and contrived.

The acting was perfectly reasonable, but no amount of good acting could undo the rest of the flaws of this film.

How did it leave me feeling? FRUSTRATED. I had to have one of my venting sessions afterwards because it was just a mess. I really like Tom Tykwer as a director–I loved Run Lola Run and enjoyed Winter Sleepers quite a lot. However, The Princess and the Warrior was just annoying as hell to sit through.

Buy it!

Positive Experience/Entertaining? Wow–this movie is pretty incredible. Sadly, it’s also got some major flaws that aren’t entirely the director’s fault.

Technically any good? This is one of those rare occasions where I will include what I’d consider a mild spoiler. So here, I offer a SPOILER WARNING. That’s not to say that I’m about to divulge a plot point or anything that might ruin the movie for you. However, this might change the way you view the film or it might even influence you to not bother seeing the movie. So, please keep that in mind as you read the next paragraph. YOU HAVE BEEN SPOILER(ish) WARNED!

SPOILER(ish): This film was to be the first of a series of films based on a huge novel. Sadly, the sequels were never made. As a result, there are quite a few plot lines that are never actually resolved. One MAJOR plot line is included in that, sadly. END SPOILER(ish).

This is very frustrating as this film is really amazing. The acting is superb from almost everyone in the cast and Nakadai, in particular, is INCREDIBLE. Sadly, the ending is simply not satisfying, but keep in mind that just about every other damn thing in the movie is.

FX, for the period, are spot-on. Most of the time, I found myself visually convinced the lead was really slicing into his enemies and sometimes really grinding that blade in there, too. Yikes! OH and the fights were all REALISTIC. None of this BS wire-work that is way to common place now. No gravity leaps or super-powered limbs. Just good, old fashioned (literally) sword fighting.

How did it leave me feeling? Disappointed (see spoiler) but definitely entertained. If films as good as this were still made today, I’d love to see a remake done and perhaps a sequel or two. :)