MovieChat Forums > Brothers in Arms (2005) Discussion > It's More Surreal Than Real...

It's More Surreal Than Real...


I have not seen this movie yet, but I plan on watching it at some point in the future. I'll spare some of you the reason why I'm (aparently) a masochist. I haven't seen the film, but I did talk to someone who is quite familiar with it... and here's what I can tell you.

Reading through these viewer posted comments has made me think that most of the people who watched it didn't know what it was when they rented it (as it never went to the theaters). This movie is supposed to be somewhat non-sensical. It is NOT historical fiction. It's NOT about any particular era. It is also NOT a "serious" film. To try to classify it as such is just setting yourself up for disappointment in viewing it.

You can't watch this movie with any preconcieved notions. It's a modern twist to a tired genre, and it is to be watched with a grain of salt in one hand and reality harnessed tightly in the other hand. Shelve your common sense for a moment. Keep an open mind and let yourself be entertained... or at least TRY.

For those of you who don't like movies that don't seem like they could have happened, I figure you probably won't like this movie.

If this movie is like what I imagine, it might be a lot like Donny Darko, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, or Army of Darkness... movies with no relavent basis to them. A movie like this is either a hit or a long-shot miss for different people. Bear in mind, I didn't really like any of the movies I just rattled off... but as far as I'm concerned, they served their purpose of entertainment or distraction while I was working on something else...

So... if you can set aside reality and judgement for a couple hours for some non-sensical entertainment-- why not give the movie a shot?

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I rented the film a couple weekends ago. It wasn't too bad, but it wasn't too great either. I put it on while baking & frosting sugar cookies and just couldn't get into the film-- but at least I had cookies!

While the plot seemed to parallel the western flick "American Outlaws" in some ways, it focused on the main and final event of the bank heist. I didn't particularly care for the over dramatization-- characters "flipping out" and the like. The machismo felt a little cheezy and a lot overdone... and in the end, there really was no clear "winner". I was a little disappointed... and would have been even more disappointed if a certain character hadn't expired.

It would have been a better movie if it wasn't so "over the top" and, despite being billed as a different sort of western, and if they'd have gotten rid of some of the clichés associated with westerns, such as having a macho gang leader who looks out for his men no matter what, that one gang member who flips out, or a ruthless despot who will do anything to stay in power.

... as far as the genre of western goes, I'd recommend "Unforgiven", the over the top "The Quick and the Dead" remake with Gene Hackman, or even the cinema flop "Bad Girls" as an alternative. Those at least had more substance to the plot.

Strangely enough, I did get my moneys worth out of the film as it did "entertain" me.

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Are you on medication?

*Don't stress. You'll live longer.* =D!

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Man, this move is a crap sandwich. Jadewik, I totally get your point about "not your typical western" and allowing the guys some artistic license, but this movie was still awful. Actions by characters don't make sense. They freak out for no reason, then almost instantly calm down (I had a girlfriend like that once...). "Reverend" randomly shoots the girl AFTER she lets go of the little boy. The sheriff sacrifices her life for the main character, including this big deal where she brings in a bunch of horses and gets in a mini fire fight, so HE CAN GO BACK INSIDE? If they really wanted to shoot the guy right there, they wouldn't have sat there and wait for them to finish their convo without firing a shot. Speaking of the sheriff, what was the point of her female deputy's role? To creep me the F out by staring? Mission accomplished! Her job is to stand next to the sheriff, and when the sheriff walks a way, stare at some guy for a minute before she follows her. Must be some tough cue cards. And let's not forget the pièce de résistance, the last little fire fight at the end, put to the tune of some slow jam R&B song. Classically awful. Jadewik, you're right. This movie is non-sensical. But that's a totally different thing than entertaining and imaginative.

Avoid this movie like the plague. This is 85 minutes of your life that you will never get back again.

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