tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764012408379457724.post5528208137407341316..comments2023-07-05T11:50:31.188-04:00Comments on wilsonblog: Movie Reviews - End of the World EditionWilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10258825059275756221noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764012408379457724.post-66860293880941677102010-08-04T15:30:01.066-04:002010-08-04T15:30:01.066-04:00Finally got a chance to watch The Road again. I mu...Finally got a chance to watch The Road again. I must say that your comments helped. After reading what you wrote the boy character made a lot more sense to me. Depressing, but I agree with you the movie is worth seeing.James Nontenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764012408379457724.post-84684340609305971282010-07-21T22:02:50.113-04:002010-07-21T22:02:50.113-04:00After reading what you said about the boy characte...After reading what you said about the boy character I think I will watch The Road again. You have given me some things to think about! I like that! Good post!James Nontenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764012408379457724.post-51584790462364056502010-07-21T08:02:44.014-04:002010-07-21T08:02:44.014-04:00You can like them both, I do! I guess the point th...You can like them both, I do! I guess the point that I was making with my previous longwinded post was The Road is a movie worth seeing...Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10258825059275756221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764012408379457724.post-47763310294304738072010-07-20T22:00:19.324-04:002010-07-20T22:00:19.324-04:00You make some good points about the road but i sti...You make some good points about the road but i still like the book of eli better. guess i'm shallow.Cornholionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764012408379457724.post-37557697379526244622010-07-20T15:57:49.228-04:002010-07-20T15:57:49.228-04:00Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed The Book of Eli...Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed The Book of Eli but it is more of a “popcorn” movie while The Road is different kind of experience.<br /><br />Since my original review I have watched The Road a couple more times and have come to appreciate it more after each viewing. I have discussed the movie with friends and coworkers and even at a gun forum I regularly visit. In the discussions several recurring themes have come up, you brought up a couple yourself…<br /><br />First the movie is dark and depressing, “gloomy”, you can’t get around that fact and it is probably the main reason that many don’t like the film and why it didn’t do very well at the box office. The Road will never be “popcorn”. <br /><br />Also, despite the film’s trailer trying to make you believe otherwise, The Road is not an action movie. The man only has a gun with two bullets in it and he only uses one of them during the whole movie! If a film’s value to you is solely based on its action and thrills you will undoubtedly be disappointed with The Road.<br /><br />You brought up another common complaint, the boy, many thought he was too old for the part (because of the book) and wasn’t very realistic. Let me say that I have not read The Road (yet) but even if I had I really hate trying to compare a book to a movie, they’re not the same. A book is a book and a movie is a movie, and the movie is all that I am discussing here. I know (because I have heard it over and over) that the boy in the book was much younger than in the film. I know (because I have heard it over and over) that a kid his age wouldn’t act like that in the real world. But in the context of the movie I must say that his character just seems authentic to me. The boy was born after “the end” and spent his entire life secluded and protected from the outside world. Yes, he was hungry and cold but he never knew any of the real horrors that were waiting out there. He was smothered by his parents and if anything was overprotected and babied. Emotionally he was a baby. So here is this 10 year old acting much younger than his age, even to the point of carrying around a baby toy thru most of the film. They even bathed him like a baby! Then once they leave the (relative) safety of their home the father is forced to try to get the son to grow up fast so that he could take care of himself. <br /><br />The boy (played by Kodi Smit-McPhee) did an excellent job and I thought he brought a genuineness to the character. He is an exceptional child actor (I didn’t even realize that he was Australian until watching the “making of” feature afterwards) and he, along with Viggo Montensen, are the main reasons to watch this film. Their performances are incredible and I have no idea why they didn’t get a nomination for their work here. The real story of The Road is the relationship between father and son and the love they have for one another. Mortensen and Smit-McPhee give that story life.<br /><br />So to summarize:<br /><br />If you’re looking for lighthearted “popcorn” don’t watch The Road.<br />If you’re looking for non-stop action don’t watch The Road.<br />If you’re looking for a heartfelt and emotionally powerful story about the enduring love between a father and son The Road is a movie you must see.Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10258825059275756221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764012408379457724.post-33387227724855233532010-07-20T09:36:35.770-04:002010-07-20T09:36:35.770-04:00Great reviews! I just watched Book of Eli a few da...Great reviews! I just watched Book of Eli a few days ago and really liked it. I also saw The Road a couple of months ago when it first came out on DVD. You are right, The Road is a gloomy film but I think it is well worth seeing. It is just like you said, you might not like it but you will not forget it. I “liked” it well enough but I must say that I didn’t entirely buy the character of the boy. I have to admit that he is a good little actor but he seemed to old for the part he was playing. Still the story about the father and son was good and I am glad that I watched it.James Nontenoreply@blogger.com