kevincantwait08

"Wild Wild West" will always be one of my favorite movies of all time, let alone, one that stars Will Smith. Perhaps, the people who don't like this remake were big fans of the original series. Well, I was born in the mid-80s, and have zero knowledge of what the original series was about, or who was in it, so I'm only judging this film individually on its own merits.

After 20+ years of watching this one over and over again, I still find it just as hilarious as I did when it first premiered. Not only is Will Smith as "Jim West" extremely cool and comfortable playing the role of a western cowboy, but his comedic chemistry with Kevin Kline is perfect. They constantly feed off of each others humor and maintain the flow of a very blunt, dry style of comedy.

Additionally, and most importantly, I want to praise the performance of Kenneth Branagh, who I absolutely love as "Dr. Arliss Loveless." He is not only the perfect antagonist opposite of Will Smith, who constantly roast one another in crude (typically, racist ways) throughout the film, but his unique ability to be sitting in a wheelchair with no legs, use a Deep South accent, deliver hilarious one-liners and be an evil villain genius ruining people's lives simultaneously is exactly what made me enjoy the movie more than anything.

Oh, by the way, Kevin Kline playing the dual role of "Artemis Gordon" and President Ulysses S. Grant was very impressive. Also, having the sultry and sexy, but very innocent, Selma Hayek on the screen definitely added an extra spice to the film.

So regardless of what the haters may think of this remake of "Wild Wild West," I more than enjoyed it, because the individual performances were excellent, and they all played together very well in a pretty funny storyline.

Jon Cryer's willingness to portray himself as injured, in the most uncomfortable way possible, makes this episode absolutely hilarious.

While the other storyline in the episode isn't nearly as funny (but entertaining, nevertheless), it still keeps does enough to make it one of my favorites.

Tears of the Sun has always stood out to me-not just as a war film, but as a rare example of one that tries (even if imperfectly) to grapple with humanity, morality, and emotional restraint. I've grown more politically left-leaning and anti-war as I've gotten older, so I'm the first to call out military propaganda when I see it. But this film still hits me hard for reasons that go beyond ideology.

Yes, it has action. Yes, it fits the post-9/11 mold of heroic U. S. intervention. But beneath that surface is something deeper. The SEALs in this film, led by Bruce Willis's stoic LT Waters, operate with near-emotionless precision-contrasted brilliantly by the raw pain and resilience of the Nigerian refugees they're trying to save. That contrast-between silence and screams, detachment and desperation-is what stuck with me since I first saw this in theaters in 2003.

Over the years, I've come to appreciate all the little moments: the non-verbal communication between the SEALs, the way Fuqua films their faces in total silence during the debriefing, or the way grief plays out wordlessly in the jungle. And then there's the final sequence-refugees celebrating as the surviving SEALs stand in near-catatonic silence. It's brutal, emotional, and real in a way most action-heavy war films aren't.

The film isn't perfect. The "white savior" angle is definitely there (reportedly due to studio interference), and you can feel the tension between Fuqua's intent and Bruce Willis's expectations as a big-budget action star. But even knowing that, I still think Fuqua did what he could to give voice to the African experience-and for a mainstream Hollywood movie in 2003, that says something.

As the title states, I consider Tears of the Sun an imperfect masterpiece. It's gritty, restrained, and more thoughtful than it's often given credit for. Even with my strong anti-war views, I still find this film incredibly moving-and that's saying a lot.