MovieChat Forums > John Rabe (2009) Discussion > One of the most UNDER-RATED films of the...

One of the most UNDER-RATED films of the past 10 years.

posted 12 years ago by Alectreveiyan006
2 replies | jump to latest

Is it just me, or is this movie unbelievably under-rated and under-ranked in popularity and rating, respectively?

Please share your thoughts as to why this movie isn't regarded anywhere near as highly as the Pianist, Schindler's List, or even Grave of the Fireflies.

There was only thing I didn't like about this movie: Music, or lack thereof. There was not one recognizable score or musical theme. If a director's cut ever comes out, which I hope it does, they should just overdub John's piano playing on some of those emotional, yet empty and frail, scenes like those of the Chinese prisoner face montages.

Only one other suggestion for the Director's Cut. Change the tagline from the unquestionably bland "History needs extraordinary heroes." to "China's Oscar Schindler." That will raise some brows.

[–] AquaExecution 8 years ago

Call me paranoid, but I have a feeling that this movie is deliberately being shunned due to current geopolitical situations. Japan is now an ally with Americans, whereas China, despite being a large trading partner, is still being portrayed as a rogue nation in popular culture. This movie dares to defy that order and show history as it happened and therefore it's unpopular with Western audience, even though this film takes place in 1937 and China at this time has absolutely nothing to do with the current People's Republic (estiblished in 1949) I mean, how dare they show Chinese as victims instead of uncivilized aggressors? Lol

Oh and this film is banned in Japan. That might have something to do with it too.

[–] the-volleyballer 8 years ago

The same reasons we don't see more movies about Westerners saving lives in Korea & Vietnam, the inherent racism of the Left. When White people save other White people, it's Hollywood-worthy. When Black, Yellow, or Brown people are being saved by White people, the Left suppresses it to push the image of the White people as warmonger. When Western democracies go to war, it ain't for conquest but to save lives & help; in this case 1 man (or a small committee if you like) made a difference to save 200,000. But the lives saved weren't White, so the Pavlovianally-trained Hollywood audience goes 'huh'?