Jacob's Ladder
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Movie Reviews of Jacob's Ladder
Movie Review: I've lost respect for Leonard Maltin
Summary: 5 Stars
There are only a handful of movies I find myself watching over and over again. Jacob's Ladder, so much so, I've worn out my VHS completely and am now awaiting the release of the DVD. This movie is one of the most thought provoking, intelligent films made in my life time. The fact that Leonard Maltin did not understand it's content and found the ending "like a bad shaggy-dog joke--[negating] the entire film," awakens me as to why all modern films are written and marketed for the "stupid" movie goer. Leonard, the ending doesn't negate the story, it is the reason for the story. Jacob Singer's (Tim Robbins) journey to death is a battle for his soul. He finds out why he died, how he died, when he died and who is responible but never realizes he is dead. So the battle ensues. He is protected by his chiropractor/gaurdian angel (Danny Aiello) fending against demons like his girlfriend (Elizabeth Pena). Jacob never returns from Vietnam, as the flashbacks to Vietnam indicate. They say when you die, your life flashes before eyes. This movie suggests much more. The past, the present, the future, the imagination, the senses, the afterworld. Once he comes to grips with death, he can release his soul to heaven and leave the demons behind. While Leonard Maltin left the movie befuddled and confused, I wept. If you have not seen this movie, see it. If you have seen it and did not understand it's meaning, see it again.Movie Review: Between heaven and hell
Summary: 5 Stars
I first watched this film alone in a movie theatre upon it's release in 1991. I walked into a completely empty auditorium, sat down, watched the trailers, the movie, the credits and walked out without seeing one single human being in there! As you can imagine, that made the experience of the film the most psycholigically disturbing and thought provoking of my life. I was still churning the whole thing around in my mind 2 weeks later. Did it all really happen? ...or did I imagine it?A true masterpiece of the film-makers art, Jacob's ladder will utterly fixate you from beginning to end with masterful cinematography, perfect casting and a gloomy world of uncertainty that twists and turns though the corridors of the human mind.
This is a film that each person will interpret differently depending on your psyche. It will make you question the workings of your own mind in a way no film has done so before. Several people have given me their interpretation after seeing the film - and who's to say which one is accurate? Is it perhaps, that in the twilight world of Jacob's drug-induced mind, his life ebbing away in that feild hospital in Vietnam, he stood on he ladder looking both up and down to see glimpses of heaven and hell? His final destination is something of a surprise and provides a fitting end to this incredible film. Be warned you won't know where this film will take your mind. That is I think the true triumph of this work.
Movie Review: The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of life
Summary: 5 Stars
Jacobs Ladder is one of those rare films that throws you and your mind about like a ragdoll before giving you a bitter conclusion that turns everything upside down again. Jacobs Ladder provides an experience so intimidating, brutal, wonderful and beautiful unparalleled to this day. This is something you have never seen or experienced before in film, and will probably never experience again.
Jacob Singer is a postal worker, who, through the brutal effects of Vietnam, mentally breaks down, and starts seeing demons following him, killing his friends, raping his wife...... Make no mistake, Jacobs Ladder is a grim film but behind its dark mask lies an uplifting message of hope, freedom and mental release. I wont say anymore, because spoiling the plot for you would be extremely horrible of me, who am i to take away the magic of seeing the film from you.
I'm not going to say that this is accessible to everyone, its not in the least. A lot of people will not like this, because they will expect, like with most films, to have all the answers served to them on a plate. Jacobs Ladder requires the viewer to do the thinking, letting them have their own perceptions of the film rather then being fed that of the directors. If you do choose to climb Jacobs ladder with him be warned, it wont always be pretty, but you will come out of it gratified that for once in film you have the freedom to think for yourself.
Movie Review: Not as crazy as real world , the one...we want to forget...
Summary: 5 Stars
Alan Parker , Luis Bunuel , Andrey Tarkovskiy , Alexandr Sakurov , Wachowski brothers , J.P.Jeunet , Roman Planski ... all the best and most twisted ? directors . The best ones .The reality of craziness of the world , which should be real ... The surrealism of grayness of everyday nothingness...The twisted odiotism of people in charge of the people , who surrundered... The nothingness of emptyness in human givingupness ...
Some of us go on top of it , joint the ride of fake happyness untill diving in endless world...of fake reality ...
This kind of films was born on a realism of unfearness of a world we live in , on the great soil of surrealism of fake believes ...
In reality of everyday life - leave us alone , men ! We do not want to know , how missarable we are ! We are happy ! If we are not ?! Someone WILL make us happy ... so we can die broke and lonly ...
But someone keap fighting for our world of fake happiness ... Or they fighting for our chance to fight ? For our chance of realising unrealisible ... They just give us a light ... what we are going to do with it ? ... It is up to us ... I hope so ?!?
If you have no idea , what I am talking about - DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM...You are going to fell asleep in ampty happiness of nothing ...
Movie Review: A truly GREAT movie---as underrated as any has ever been...
Summary: 5 Stars
I have loved this movie since seeing it upon its' initial theatrical release. Many sleepless nights (and views) later, I was able to begin to make some sense out what Jacob Singer was going through. As listed in the other reviews, this is not a movie for the 'casual' film-watcher, as it requires the viewers' full attention. The imagery is amazingly suggestive without being overt, and is one of my favorite elements---what you 'think' you see may sometimes be more psychologically terrifying than what you actually see...
But, this is NOT a horror film in the strictest sense, although it is horrifying, considering what Jacob Singer experiences. I am amazed, even here in 2007 how well this movie holds up in story, cinematography, acting, and general flow. It works itself into your brain and sets off a bomb inside, making you "live" through the mind of the protagonist, feeling his "ascension"...
If you've not seen this movie, then you've missed a real treat, but prepare yourself---don't watch it until you're mentally prepared, and certainly don't watch it if you're depressed already---this ain't no "feel good", "happy times" movie...
And, if you've not seen it in several years, then watch it again and take your own climb...or descent????