Munich [R]

[jamison]

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Official Website (http://www.munichmovie.com/splash.html)

Pretty good movie, definately worth the $ 10. As for Oscar consideration, I think Syriana might have been a more interesting, thought-provoking film, but- Spielberg being Spielberg- this movie is extremely well-done.

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/munich/_group_photos/ayelet_july_zurer6.jpg

There is a lot of talk about it being provacative, etc...but it's really more about what the people involved went through on an emotional level than the global politics of Israel. The politics of it all are discussed and debated, of course, but at it's heart the movie is about what being involved in avenging something like Munich did to the people tasked with doing it. For Israel, then as now, the debate over whether or not they were going to avenge the attacks was always destined to be a short one. Of course they'd avenge it. Spending too much time dwelling on the "if" would be pointless.

Spielberg spends the first half of the movie in thriller format, covering the tragedy through the all too familiar ritual of watching it on TV (the way we now get our news when something like this happens), and laying out the blueprint for revenge. The second half of the movie then revisits the "if" by showing what the characters must go through to accomplish it, and basically the movie ends with the lingering question of whether revenge is the right answer.

Schindler's List is still a better film, but this is clearly Spielberg's best work since Saving Private Ryan (though not quite as good as that, unfortunately).

I don't think Eric Bana is winning an Oscar here, but he is quite good. Ciaran Hinds is also pretty interesting.

[Bob Morocco]

I felt the cathartic humping scene at the end was a bit forced. Did anyone else feel like they knew where the camera would end up on the New York skyline at the end? Overall I liked it and felt that it brought up some interesting implications for today.

[Ghost]

Mild thumbs down from me. Enjoyed the spy-film assassination set pieces for a while.I think the movie simplifies the conflict so that Spielberg can hint at "solutions," -- it's more about stroking his ego and maintaining his illusion of power as a director than actually saying anything truly productive.

While I like Syriana as a whole, both films have a problem accounting for the passion/fanaticism that marks the conflict. In Syriana's leftist take, the terrorists are treated as the castoffs of global capitalism rather than authentically overcommitted religionists.

Likewise, I had difficulty believing that the Israelis would have anywhere near the doubts that they had so soon after Munich. Only Daniel Craig kills with any (over)commitment, and he's the freaking driver. They should have gone further overboard rather than have doubts. But that would leave Spielberg with no likable hero, so obviously that wasn't a possibility.

Plus, I couldn't thumbs-up anything with that despicable sex scene at the end. Horrendously disrespectful.

[PoshSpur]

I've seen the trailer and that looks good, although I did say the same thing about Arlington Road.

The film will be released in Cyprus within the next two weeks. I will go and see it and report back on my findings.

[obie]

I felt the cathartic humping scene at the end was a bit forced.Boy, is that an understatement. Did anyone else feel like they knew where the camera would end up on the New York skyline at the end? I did, but interestingly my wife says she didn't even notice it. She was focused on the U.N., where she's been working as a contractor -- she said that when Bana's character says that only diplomacy will work, the shot tracks to show the secretariat in the background. When Rush's character begins to argue with him, the shot tracks away, eventually leading to the final scene.

It's not bad, and it does bring up many good questions about the aftermath (though rightists who are complaining that Spielberg is sympathetic to the Palestinians here clearly haven't seen the film), but character development is sorely lacking. The seeding-of-Israel scene pretty much killed it for me.

[Sine Pari]

The book this is based on, Vengance by George Jonas, is widely held to be pure fantasy

Just an FYI

[metroflip73]

Wasn't there a HBO movie that covered this? Steven Bauer, (the wife of Jack Bauer from 24), and Michael York.

Sword of Gideon I think it was called? Mid 80s release?

[Amerikaki]

I thought that the movie was incredible. As far as it being pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian, I think that it was neither.

It really highlites the difference between humane people (the israelis) and simple terrorists just looking to kill and do nothing more. I won't go into detail bec. I don't want to ruin the movie for anybody else.

[Lanky134]

I agree that the sex scene wasn't necessary, but I wouldn't have minded it if there was a gratuitous tit shot.

[lilcookie]

I So Wanna Watch That!!!