War

So You Think War Is a Game? Watch Warfare

From Silence to Fire: The Evolution of ‘Incendies’ from Play to Film

It wasn’t until a few days ago, when a publishing house sent me a copy of a play collection titled Littoral & Incendies, that I realized Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies—a film I deeply admire—was actually adapted from a stage play of the same name. The playwright is Wajdi Mouawad, a renowned Lebanon-born Canadian citizen as well as a France-based dramatist. In April 2016, he began residing in France and became the artistic director of Paris’s La Colline National Theatre (Théâtre national de la Coll

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From Silence to Fire: The Evolution of ‘Incendies’ from Play to Film

What Civil War Did Wrong That Warfare Can Do Right

I believe it was Leo Tolstoy who first said, "War, what is it good for?" Either that or I've watched too much Seinfeld. Either way, the answer remains: War is good for movies! Of all the genres, war movies must have one of the best good-to-bad ratios. On April 11, we get the next addition to the pantheon of war stories. Even better, it's an A24 movie! Warfare reunites Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, who will co-direct this Iraq War flick set in 2006. These two last worked together in 2024 on Civil

Lucas.: The Warfare trailer goes crazy. I can't wait to see it

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What Civil War Did Wrong That Warfare Can Do Right

Okinawa in Movies: Ryukyu Islands, Mass Suicides, U.S. Army and Shamisen(Part 1)

A few weeks ago, I spent 10 days wandering around Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands that belongs to said prefecture. Although I didn’t attend any film festival or visit any cinema, I rediscovered the rare joy of encountering unfamiliar yet surprising films while on the road. Through these films which spanned different historical periods of this Pacific island chain, I deepened my understanding of the Ryukyu Kingdom (former name of Okinawa), the Battle of Okinawa at the end of World War II, the era

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Okinawa in Movies: Ryukyu Islands, Mass Suicides, U.S. Army and Shamisen(Part 1)

🏆 Oscar Winners: War Is All about Food / All Quiet on the Western Front

The 2022 version of All Quiet on the Western Front is attempting to shoot a 2.5-hour encyclopedia of World War I. One thing it does very boldly is that the soldiers were never dehumanized, neither by the enemy nor by themselves. They were human from the beginning and not changed by the war. The soldiers' lives did not revolve around combats but centered on one thing - "food. In the film, they ate when they could, grabbed all the time to eat, ate from the beginning to the end, and finally lost th

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🏆 Oscar Winners: War Is All about Food / All Quiet on the Western Front

Exploring the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: 8 Revealing Documentaries

1. The Gatekeepers, 2012 "The Gatekeepers" is a documentary about the Israeli intelligence and security organization, Shin Bet. Shin Bet is an institution in Israel that operates independently from the military and directly reports to the President. This organization is often called the "invisible shield" and is an integral part of the Israeli system. "The Gatekeepers" follows the stories of six former leaders of Shin Bet and explores Israeli history since 1967, shedding light on lesser-known st

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Exploring the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: 8 Revealing Documentaries

"Days of Glory": A Remarkable Tale of Freedom and Dignity

"Days of Glory" is not a typical war movie. If you're expecting relentless bloodshed and unrelenting combat, you might be disappointed. This film has a unique approach. It's not primarily an anti-war movie, even though it unfolds during the turbulent years of World War II, with its stark depiction of the harsh realities of battle. Instead, it resonates with a resounding message of freedom and dignity. It is a revealing portrait of an era that echoes something we all fervently champion: freedom.

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"Days of Glory": A Remarkable Tale of Freedom and Dignity

Stanley Kubrick's Unmade Epic: Inside “Napoleon”

Stanley Kubrick, positioned at number eight in the "Sight & Sound" magazine's 2012 list of "The Greatest Directors in Film History," obtained 157 votes from 864 critics and film scholars, barely trailing behind John Ford and Carl Theodor Dreyer by a single vote. Reflecting on this ranking, one might argue that Kubrick's oeuvre fell short due to the scarcity of his output compared to the prolific works of directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Godard, and John Ford, who established an extensive body of

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Stanley Kubrick's Unmade Epic: Inside “Napoleon”

Son of Saul: A Glimpse into the Depths of Holocaust Horror

The film about the Nazi massacre of Jews is abundant, ranging from the vivid and horrifying memories depicted in "The Pianist" to the faint glimmer of light in the darkness portrayed in "Schindler's List" and the celebration of love's greatness in "Life is Beautiful." Despite these notable works, "Son of Saul" takes a unique approach, offering an unprecedented perspective and style. It doesn't glorify heroes or reflect on history; instead, it aims to convey that the terror of that era is somethi

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Son of Saul: A Glimpse into the Depths of Holocaust Horror

"Napoleon": A Regrettable Gimmick

Considering Martin Scorsese's recent failure, I had significantly lowered my expectations for Ridley Scott's latest film. I had been eagerly anticipating it for almost three years. Unfortunately, it still fell far short of expectations. If "Killers of the Flower Moon" was a overlong mediocre work, then "Napoleon" feels like an ill-conceived attempt. As a non-doctrinaire fan of Napoleon, I don't mind adaptations altering historical facts or emphasizing specific aspects of a personality. After all

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The Restoration Marathon of "Napoleon": Reshaping the Lost Arms of Venus

During the third edition of the "World Memory" restoration film festival held by the French Film Archive (La Cinémathèque française) in early 2015, the organizers officially signed a contract with American Zoetrope, led by Francis Ford Coppola to initiate the latest and perhaps the ultimate restoration of "Napoléon" (1927). Thus began a new phase in the six-year-long preparation, with the restoration expected to be completed in 2017, marking the film's ninetieth-anniversary premiere and becoming

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The Restoration Marathon of "Napoleon": Reshaping the Lost Arms of Venus

The Discrepancies Between 'Hacksaw Ridge' and the Real Historical Conscientious Objector Incident

Renowned for his realistic and gritty style, director Mel Gibson returned to the spotlight in 2016 with the adrenaline-pumping "Hacksaw Ridge." The film departed from extensive green-screen CGI techniques, opting for a solid portrayal of every explosion and the visceral aftermath of severed arteries. Employing traditional filming methods, Gibson unfolds the plot gradually, evoking nostalgia for the golden era of war films. It's a taste of that long-missed classical intensity! Based on an actual

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The Discrepancies Between 'Hacksaw Ridge' and the Real Historical Conscientious Objector Incident

The Rwandan Genocide

After watching "Hotel Rwanda," a movie based on true events and a form of memorial for the Rwandan Genocide, my inner turmoil lingers. In 1994, Rwanda witnessed a shameful genocide, where the Hutus ruthlessly massacred nearly 800,000 to 1 million Tutsis in just three months, accounting for about one-eighth of the country's population. The film recounts the story of Paul, a hotel manager, and how he, with wisdom and courage, saved over 1,200 refugees during the massacre. The movie is an outstandi

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20 Days in Mariupol, how do we watch the battlefield?

It was March 9, 2022, the 14th day of the Siege of Mariupol. The sky is overcast. Mstyslav Chernov, a special correspondent for the Associated Press in Ukraine and his colleague Evgeniy Maloletka returned to Emergency Hospital No.2. On the makeshift ground outside the building, a trench had been dug, and workers were swiftly placing black body bags into it. In a calm tone tinged with sadness, Chernov, in the voiceover of the documentary "20 Days in Mariupol," said, " Somewhere among these black

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20 Days in Mariupol, how do we watch the battlefield?

How should we evaluate the film “Napoleon” directed by Ridley Scott?

At the end of the film “Napoleon”, the final words of Napoleon Bonaparte, the former Emperor of the First French Empire, are displayed in subtitles: “France... Army... Josephine...” These words represent what Napoleon cared about the most in his life - his country, his war achievements, and his wife. This would be the right way to appreciate the film “Napoleon”. Ridley Scott, one of the few master directors still active in Hollywood, has presented us with a very typical yet unique epic film. It

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How should we evaluate the film “Napoleon” directed by Ridley Scott?

Mendoza, Seven Years in Tibet

I am well adapted to high altitudes, and love alpine skiing, but I am bad at drinking. In the winter, I came to Mendoza, the world-famous region that produces Malbec wine. Scaling the mountain peak, hitting the slopes, or touring wineries— what activities should I engage in to kill time? In 2016, the southern hemisphere experienced a mild winter. By late June, even the high-altitude ski resorts in southern Argentina had not opened, let alone those in central Mendoza. Thirsty for knowledge, I dec

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'Lincoln': Examining Abraham Lincoln's Controversial Path to Emancipation

There is a striking line from "Lincoln": "I believe the Constitution gives me war powers, and I believe I have the authority to emancipate the enslaved people held by the rebels, considering it a part of the confiscation of property during wartime. This might lead people to suspect that I am in league with them, as they view enslaved people as personal property, a view I vehemently oppose. I intend to use legal instruments to confiscate war property, understanding that these laws apply only to g

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'Lincoln': Examining Abraham Lincoln's Controversial Path to Emancipation

"Masters of the Air" or "Band of Brothers"

The American series "Band of Brothers" premiered in 2001, and 13 years later, the "World War II Trilogy" by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks finally ended. The first two episodes of "Masters of the Air" evoke nostalgia for the era when "Band of Brothers" was considered aground-breaking series. Series Background Some critics have noted that the first two episodes of "Masters of the Air" may come across as dull to some viewers. However, this approach might be necessary as the series sets the stage b

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"Masters of the Air" or "Band of Brothers"

The Oscars: Personal Winners Predictions

Towards the end of August 2023, after watching Oppenheimer I was pleasantly surprised by Robert Downey Jr.'s performance. Since then, I have been convinced that he will sweep all the awards during the early 2024 award season. In summary, I believe Oppenheimer will emerge as the biggest winner; the Best Actress category will be the most anticipated (will it be Emma Stone or Lily Gladstone?); Barbie will receive its due compensation award due to unique factors amid media scrutiny; while Bradley Co

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