March 25, 2010 - Turtles Can Fly; The Men Who Stare at Goats

Caught two pretty decent films today.

(63) Turtles Can Fly (2004): In the days leading up to the war, a village in northern Iraq prepares for the inevitable. The film centers around a group of kids, led by the very likable "Satellite", so named for his expertise in getting satellite television systems up and running in the villages. The kids are a collection of orphans, many of whom have been badly injured because of their primary means of income: digging up land mines and selling them to locals who then re-sell them to NATO forces. When it's all said and done the story is bleak and stark with an ending that makes it all worth while. Some tough moments to watch, but on the whole a very decent film. In Arabic with English subtitles.

3.5 Stars

(64) The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009): What a great title for a film, eh? This is story about an elite US military unit that was put together to be psychic warriors. The great cast includes Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, and Ewan McGregor. Clooney and Bridges are legit psychics who can actually do some amazing things with their minds. McGregor is a journalist writing about the story and tagging along with Clooney in Iraq, and Spacey is a fraud with no talents who somehow got into the unit because he could "bend" forks with his mind.

Overall, the film isn't too bad but it certainly could have been a lot more. Some of the best bits are in the trailer, but it's an interesting story, the likes of which I've never really seen before. I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it, but if the chance arises for you, take it. There are some great moments and some laugh out loud gags.

2 Stars