Reviews

The Coen Brothers films are all great, and for those who prefer their more "satisfying" films, this one, while not at all syrupy or overly sentimental, certainly fits the bill.

This film will be remembered years hence as one of the great westerns.

I never felt I was watching a remake. I never had the feeling it made any cheesy references, or tried to be anything other than the best possible film portrayal of the original material from the novel by Charles Portis, and it achieves that goal with superior excellence.

The performances are all quite incredible, Jeff Bridges should win another Oscar for best actor, and Matt Damon for supporting. Of course the sensational Hailee Steinfeld steals the show with an incredibly touching performance as the spunky, smart, capable young Mattie Ross, forging her way in a man's world in order to avenge her father's murder. If she is not at least nominated for best supporting actress it would be a shame.

A perfect balance of humor, realism, suspense and action make this an all around crowd pleaser. Although there is no overt romance, Mattie's innocence, pluck and verve in a world of dark forces provide a romantic quality of good vs. evil that is stunning to behold, and is felt deeply.

Of course as an old timer myself, who remembers well the original film version with the great John Wayne, I can say this film is a perfect addition to the record, and somehow pays tribute to the old master without trivializing or even giving a conscious nod. The fact that the film was done in the western tradition, and done so well, is the best tribute one could hope for to Wayne. And Mr. Bridges does that as perfectly and masterfully as could be expected from any actor on Earth.

This highly entertaining film carries its own weight and carries one along in its story with such force that conscious comparisons and critiques to the original are all but forgotten while viewing.

But too many comparisons are burdensome, and this film stands completely on its own.

This is a wonderfully made film, truly "The Perfect Movie" and perfect for the holidays to leave audiences satisfied and yet longing for the day when men and women may act again with honor and True Grit.

For fans of the book, this second part in the trilogy by Stieg Larsson is faithful to the material and highly entertaining.

In addition, Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist bring their characters to life perfectly. They are both pleasing to the eye, and yet have the depth and intensity to pull you into the movie experience.

However it did not earn the 10 I gave to the first. I think the only reason is that there so much great material in the book that it is probably difficult to decide how much to cut and what to high light in the movie.

I thought given this difficulty the makers did an awesome job and I enjoyed the film immensely.

For some who refer to this as a sequel, I think that is a misnomer. I think of a sequel as a second thought that is added on after an initial success. At any rate, all three films were shot before the first release, so it is more like one film divided into three parts.

This movie is better than any current American made film currently playing so save your money on the standard Hollywood drivel and place your bets on a fine movie-going experience that will also enlighten.

How can they call it the history channel? They should call it the fiction channel. What I can't figure is why every historic association in the country isn't up in arms condemning it. So many misnomers, misstatements, over simplifications and distortions I can't begin to describe here how misguided this unmitigated piece of crap is.

Oh well, what do you expect from the Hitler channel.

To say that Steve Jobs and bill gates were responsible for the computer revolution is complete bull manure.

The microchip was invented in 1959, IBM perfected it. IBM invented the PC, not bill gates. Not to tout IBM as some kind of hero, but that is just the fact. There were so many inventors and others responsible for the computer revolution before Jobs and Gates, this film does a disservice to them.

The film harps on from some puritanical perspective about the excesses of the hippies and their 'selfish' behavior and the stereotypical descriptions of their oh so terrible descent into indulgence of drugs. What simplistic moronic fools that produced this right wing piece of smelly propaganda.

This film seems to have been completed in almost every way from a strictly puritanical standpoint, that the hippies are not the norm, and that when the "norm" was (supposedly) re- established (I think they imply sometime after 1979), all was well with the world again.

I think it was produced by a bunch of right wing biblical fundamentalists trying to look cool and to downplay the most radically positive social revolution of the 20th century, and perhaps since the American revolution.

And I suppose the saddest part to me is that so many young people will watch this drivel and know nothing better than to believe it.