Movies You Can Use

Syriana
The jumbling script by Traffic writer and now director morphs this confusing cast into a stark reality. The taut dialogue is on point; it never misses a beat. Carted around the world is marvelous. What’s more exciting: to eavesdrop on how the world of politics game is played. It’s nasty, cold and frightening. It may even scare to believe this actually is happening.

Dear Wendy
A masterful stroke by a foreigner on America’s aggression displays the America’s pacific nature. The U.S. claims to be a pacifier, spreading peace, but does so with a horrible military history and an onslaught of a massive weapons technology. None of this is said and that’s the beauty. It’s a story about kids who obtain guns and soon cause a stir in their small town, Child’s Play indeed. The kids are the peace keepers, vigilantes almost, set on protecting the town’s people. What happens is quite the opposite. Armed with guns while touting the prosperity of peace, the kids soon contradict their ideals and began a fatal shootout. Lesson learned? Not a chance.

Paradise Now
A story about two Palestians who signed up to be martyrs, but had other things going, takes you into a place you’d never want to go. Soon they are sent for. Decisions await them, much more than the average person would imagine. Evoking the definitions of terrorism and showing the lives of martyrs questions appear such as, are they much different than soldiers? Brainwashed, in need of an outlet and “patriotic” these two do not seem far off. Also the possibility of a disagreement of what is being done has been seldom mentioned during these times of “terror”. A must see if you want to have a say about what’s going on.

War Within
Similar to Paradise Now but set in America. This reminded me of the what went on pre 911 and what may be going on right now: terrorist cells inside the U.S. War Within along with Paradise Now do not whine for justification yet depict a situation that seldom is discussed. Terrorists are evil? Maybe so, but they are still human and cope with their task at hand.

Bowling for Columbine
Michael Moore’s documentary on America’s gun control issue and their militaristic history are explored in a sometimes funny, somber and insightful movie.

Why We Fight
Another documentary based off an outgoing presidential speech by Dwight D. Eisenhower explaining the military-industrial complex. The gist: America found a way to make money off weapons and thus lobbyists for such businesses clamor Washington to start fictitous wars around the globe. Not to mention, the cronies in public office play musical chairs with these big weapons companies. Intriguing to say the least and it will leave you wondering where your tax paying money is going and why you may support wars.

Lord of War
The only movie I can recommend by Nic Cage. He’s such an asshole. But this time his character works and coupled with the topic, it’s an entertaining movie into the black market of weapons. Cage is a weapons dealer in the black market and sells to warring and civil war countries. The thought of him lending his hand in death to many innocent victims in war torn Africa would dampen the spirits of most, but not Nic’s – not until later, until it’s too late.

Dr. Strangelove
A complete satire that may bore most is a great view of the dawn of nuclear era. And when you realize it was done in the 60s it all the more better. From the cowboy pilot, to the Russian ambassador and to the two mad generals the characters along with the story are pure hilarity. The odd part though is it is not laugh out loud funny, yet you’re left with a proud, satisfied smirk.