Shake Hands with the Devil

Shake Hand with the Devil, a true Canadian film based off of the story of general Romeo Dallaire's persistence to help end the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda. The film premiered in 2007, but was based originally from the book of the same title. The film stars Roy Dupuis who played an excellent reenactment of Gen. Romeo Dallaire. 

Throughout the film, it held many elements which assisted in contributing to the power and message this movie was trying to send across. 

Personally I did enjoy this film, but definitely not as much as I enjoyed Hotel Rwanda. I found this specific film to base itself too much off of the government's point of view, as suppose to the people. Contrary to majority opinion I found this movie did not grab enough of the audiences emotions, and made it seem more as a biography on what the Canadians did to help the genocide from continuing.

Although, I have to admit this movie was definitely amazing, with strong actors, scripts and very real settings. The acting, and how the people portrayed the actual victims was very well done, and must receive credit for that. 

I without a dout do believe that this movie portrayed the overall genocide very real, and very raw. Specifically the scene where the woman slips, and only after realized she had slipped in blood does it become real that this horrendous event is taking place right in front of the worlds eyes. 

Shake Hands with the Devil did an excellent job in portraying the genocide, while still showing how the world looked, and took very little interest in what was truly going on.

Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda, the devastating yet true story about the Rwandan genocide that occurred throughout 1994. The film follows the true story of the manager of the Hotel Des Mille Collines, Paul Rusesabagina. Rusesabagina's bravery led to the saving of over 800 rwandans who would have been killed if he hadn't protected and cared for them. The film is an American drama non-fiction film, directed by Terry George in the year 2004. 

Throughout this film the viewer is introduced and made aware of the genocide that occurred, how political corruption influences peoples actions, and the repercussions of violence on society. 

Genocide is represented through the character's and how they speak and act towards the segregated groups of the Tutsis, and Hutus. Because this is based on a true story one can see the efforts that the Hutus made to kill off the Tutsis through the language and media that they used to communicate. Such things like "Kill all the tall trees" and "Get the cockroaches" were ways used to un-personify a person, and make them seem like they are less, or aren't a person at all. 

This film definitely portrays the political corruption that was happening through the time by the way they spoke about the military and how they represented the beginning of the whole event. The audience is taken into the lives, but more into the hearts of the people and how they were scared for their lives and all they wanted was someone to reach out and help them. They felt alone with not even the government to support and protect them.

In my opinion this film did a great job in introducing to the world what a small act of corruption could cost people, and their country. This film also introduced the viewer onto a situation which did not get much attention, or help as it happened. 

Hotel Rwanda demonstrates genocide and the effect of genocide very well through the real looking, and sometimes authentic footage that they used. The viewers got their hearts tugged at and their mind twisted while struggling to come to peace with why this happened, and why nobody interfered and fully stopped it. 

Although the ending did have a bit too much "Hollywood" in it, I personally believe that it portrays a nice message and hope for the end. The ending shows the Rusesabagina's walking off into the sunset with several children, as well as their own. It gives the message of hope, and a bright future for the people of Rwanda.

Overall I found this movie beyond depressing, not because of how they showed it, but because it was based on a real life event which showed how evil and heartless this world can be. We see this happening in the news, but sadly nobody really tried to stop it. 

Godzilla-The Original

Godzilla, a movie about a giant lizard like monster which was mutated by the radiation from the atomic bomb which destroyed parts of Japan. The movie brought back many horrifying memories of the nuclear disastor which the Japanese people experienced first hand in 1945.

The original version of Godzilla was directed by Ishiro Honda, starring Akira Takarda, Momoko Kochi, Takahi Shimura, and Akihiko Hirata in November of 1954. The movie was made in original black and white, with quite amazing special effects considering that it was produced in the 1950's, before film had developed to what it is today.
The entire movie is spoken in Japanese with the convenience of English subtitles for the understanding of non-japanese speaking people. The sub-titles posed an issue for many viewers as it becomes quite difficult to have to read a movie when this generation is so used to having a movie bluntly explain everything going on.

Since the original premiere of Godzilla in 1954, there have been many re-makes to suit the North American audience, but not one could compare to the original version.
The movie definitely relayed the intended message, while still adding in a few annoying characters, such as Momoko Kōchi who played Emiko the lover of the main charecter. Already by the begining of the film audience members, such as myself wanted Godzilla to take a nice little bite out of her. Overall the acting was done relatively well for the time period and the basis of the story.

The film enhanced the viewers experience and really introduced them to the feelings that the people in Japan were experiencing after their horrific encounter with the bombs and the fears that they had regarding radiation poisoning.

Personally I did not enjoy this movie to the extent that many people would. I did not necessarily enjoy the foreign aspects but I definitely had appreciation toward the art, skills and techniques which were used, and how the language the actors were speaking added to the intensity of the overall film.