Snow Falling on Cedars
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Movie Reviews of Snow Falling on Cedars
Movie Review: Putting on the ending
Summary: 5 Stars
The director of this film has produced an amazing work filled with a vivid imagery that flows well with the original storyline of the novel. The film was underrated and under appreciated by many professional critics. It explores into a frightening complexity and depth the level of racial aggression and apprehension that existed between Japanese-Americans and the Caucasian-Americans in the western United States at the end of WWII. Hawke is wonderful as Ishmael Chambers. He is, as usual, not appreciated by the film public for his understated mastery of emotion. He plays the bitter and resentful veteran well. Piling blame and disappointment onto the old love that he had for Hatsue... yet still clinging to that love. The show was really stolen away by the wonderful visual imagery and poetic cinematics of the film though.
The movie takes a step beyond the novel, providing us with a more comfotable and liveable ending. Putting the final cap on a wonderful film.
Movie Review: some interesting parallels
Summary: 5 Stars
I haven't seen mentioned in any of the reviews (I will admit I haven't read them all) the parallel between Snow Falling on Cedars and To Kill a Mockingbird. The basic premise and setting a courtroom drama and justice in the face of racial prejudice is exactly the same. One particular scene stood out where the Japanese bow to Ishmel out of respect for his help.One reviewer wrote:
"The only character I really felt for was Ishmael. The girl he loved had treated him with such insensitivity and cruelity, Yes, i know this was back in the early 1900s' but if u really love someone, no boundary should come between you and your love."
I think this is missing some really important points i.e. love does not always win in the real world. This girl he loved was insensitive? Wow, we certainly were sensitive to the Japanese as we took away their rights as US citizens because they looked like the enemy. One of the darkest spots in US history.
Movie Review: Beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
There are different movies meant to be watched when you're in a specific mood. This is an excellent drama. The atmosphere of the whole movie is rather slow, but you wouldn't be watching this movie if you wanted guts and gore. The cinematography in Snow Falling On Cedars is breathtaking. The camera itself almost takes on its own character. I especially liked how Scott Hicks used special directing techniques such as overlapping dialogue to build the emotional impact at certain parts of the movie. The story itself is very moving as well, and I'm glad that ending is actually believable. Starting out after World War II, a Japanese American is accused of murder. The majority of the movie is told through flashbacks, and it tells of the relationship between an American man and a Japanese-American woman just before World War II. I highly recommend this movie, and the DVD, along with a great transfer, has a good amount of extras.Movie Review: One of the Greatest films ever made.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very well made film. I hated watching it, but it was very well done. I hated it because it made me feel; as a good movie will do. It brought out love, obsession, fear, hatred, self-pity, pride, predjudice, and shame. This film is set in one of America's darkest moments. During WWII and post WWII our country and our people were ruled by fear and prejudice. The sins we committed against our own citizens were attrocious. This is at a deeper level, a love story. This is the struggle of one man to deal with the past and conquer his own introversion. He must find a way to come out of the shadow of his father and the tyranny of lost love. The acting is believable, so much so that it was as if I fell in love with the girl. And I felt every emotion the main character feels. It still haunts me as though it were my own memory.Movie Review: Review of Snow Falling on Cedars"
Summary: 5 Stars
The film "Snow falling on cedars" by Scott Hicks, which was released in May 2000,
Is about a murder trial in the US. The trial is influenced by prejudice and the clash of culture, between the Americans and Japanese people.
The movie transfers the flashback, which also appears in the book, pretty good by different camera devices, light effects and e.g. the echo of Hatsue's voice. The scenes are linked in a impressive way, so you can easily understand the plot.
You are overwhelmed by the flood of pictures from world war II or how the Japanese people are treated.
The cast is pretty good with actors like Ethan Hawke, Youki Kudoh, Reeve Carney.
A must, for everyone, who love love-story's and exciting movies about prejudice segregation and ww II.