Comments on: Munich http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/01/27/munich/ Sinéad Gleeson's blog Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:34:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: frankp http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/01/27/munich/#comment-1414 frankp Fri, 10 Feb 2006 12:38:35 +0000 http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/01/27/munich/#comment-1414 ok, I keep reading this thing about "no mention of Ahmed Bouchiki, the Moroccan waiter, who was mistaken for Ali Hassan Salameh and murdered" Was that event in the book Vengeance? I don't know, but it seems a lot of the reviewers/reporters who mention it don't either. It was clearly stated in the film that Avners team was not the only team out there. If the event was in the book Vengeance, and it was Avner's team that killed him then yes, it's a very odd ommission. But if it was not in the book then there is no reason why it should have a place in the film. Also, I really liked Spielberg's response to criticisms of 'humanising terrorists' he pointed out that it was never acceptable for him to dehumanise anybody in his films. I did see the film, I liked it a lot, and I have to admit I didn't even notice the twin towers at the end. ok, I keep reading this thing about “no mention of Ahmed Bouchiki, the Moroccan waiter, who was mistaken for Ali Hassan Salameh and murdered”

Was that event in the book Vengeance? I don’t know, but it seems a lot of the reviewers/reporters who mention it don’t either.

It was clearly stated in the film that Avners team was not the only team out there. If the event was in the book Vengeance, and it was Avner’s team that killed him then yes, it’s a very odd ommission.

But if it was not in the book then there is no reason why it should have a place in the film.

Also, I really liked Spielberg’s response to criticisms of ‘humanising terrorists’ he pointed out that it was never acceptable for him to dehumanise anybody in his films.

I did see the film, I liked it a lot, and I have to admit I didn’t even notice the twin towers at the end.

]]> By: Sinead http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/01/27/munich/#comment-1245 Sinead Mon, 30 Jan 2006 09:46:46 +0000 http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/01/27/munich/#comment-1245 Pete, with all due respect to people for whom the image of the twin towers means something, I personally thought the final image was quite tacky. From a cinematography point of view, it's also presented as a slightly different colour to the rest of the skyline. Paler, ghostly even. The point you've mentioned about terrorism/violence is one of the issues I have with the film. Spielberg could have made this point subtly and in a 'show don't' tell' way - but he can't resist spoonfeeding dialogue to the characters about the pointless cycle of killing. The final image is the same, forcing conclusions on to the audience rather than letting them make up their own minds. That said, it is superbly acted, riveting, and - in spite of the subject matter - an entertaing, if harrowing film. I'd recommend it and would be interested to hear your thoughts on it. Pete, with all due respect to people for whom the image of the twin towers means something, I personally thought the final image was quite tacky. From a cinematography point of view, it’s also presented as a slightly different colour to the rest of the skyline. Paler, ghostly even.

The point you’ve mentioned about terrorism/violence is one of the issues I have with the film. Spielberg could have made this point subtly and in a ’show don’t’ tell’ way - but he can’t resist spoonfeeding dialogue to the characters about the pointless cycle of killing. The final image is the same, forcing conclusions on to the audience rather than letting them make up their own minds.

That said, it is superbly acted, riveting, and - in spite of the subject matter - an entertaing, if harrowing film. I’d recommend it and would be interested to hear your thoughts on it.

]]> By: peteb http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/01/27/munich/#comment-1244 peteb Sun, 29 Jan 2006 22:21:57 +0000 http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/01/27/munich/#comment-1244 Hmm.. I should make it clear that I haven't seen the film, Sinéad.. and I may not for some time.. I'm unlikely to deliberately seek it out.. that should, I guess, preclude me from commenting, but a couple of things worry me about the film from your review. The first is "Spielberg instructs the audience in the mantra that terrorism begets terrorism and violence breeds more violence.." Do I, or anyone else, need to be instructed in that, or any other, mantra.. surely an accomplished film-maker, which Spielberg undoubtedly is, should seek to go beyond the mantra, and bring a new insight into the conversation they are conducting? The second is the final shot of the Twin Towers.. it just sounds terrible heavy-handed. Hmm.. I should make it clear that I haven’t seen the film, Sinéad.. and I may not for some time.. I’m unlikely to deliberately seek it out.. that should, I guess, preclude me from commenting, but a couple of things worry me about the film from your review.

The first is “Spielberg instructs the audience in the mantra that terrorism begets terrorism and violence breeds more violence..” Do I, or anyone else, need to be instructed in that, or any other, mantra.. surely an accomplished film-maker, which Spielberg undoubtedly is, should seek to go beyond the mantra, and bring a new insight into the conversation they are conducting?

The second is the final shot of the Twin Towers.. it just sounds terrible heavy-handed.

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