caroeb

It's a gloomy story about gloomy people. I was fed up with all of these characters by episode 4 but I stayed with it out of morbid curiosity since it's a short series. None of the characters have any zest for life and none of them are very likable. They make excuses for themselves and with few exceptions don't seem to have very much affection for each other. Charlie Vickers, playing the central character of Kieran, creates a brooding presence that successfully grounds the story but his character is neither likable nor unlikable. The story is about him and his "mates" (long time friends) none of whom have enough enthusiasm to be tempting to have a beer with. The story is that a tragedy many years ago has deeply affected them and their parents and siblings. When Kieran comes home after a long absence the tragedy replays in everyone's minds. As if that wasn't depressing enough for the writers the players also cope with mysteries about a missing person and a murder, which cause the police and everyone else to point fingers first at this person and then at that person that they all know and love. I can say that it's a well done dose of unlikable humans and their tragedies. I couldn't sympathize with any of them. 5 stars for consistency.

I've been informed that U. S. Marine Ron Kovic served three tours of duty in Vietnam. And that Vietnam vets Kovic and Oliver Stone wrote the script of the movie together.

As depicted in the movie, Kovic's inner thoughts consisted of straightforward memories of the war but no insights or convictions. What a tragedy it is that watching this movie you would think that neither those who served in Vietnam nor those who protested the war, nor Ron Kovic in either case, had any deep convictions. Perhaps the tripe required to be included in a Hollywood movie interfered with more meaningful content. Hollywood movies have to include at least one fist fight - check - this time between two men in wheel chairs. For good Hollywood measure, an extended thoughtless romp through Mexican houses of prostitution.

The movie does successfully contrast the smug politicians and the desperate anti-war protesters of that time.

The theme is Far Eastern politics, but the Song of the Bandits is like an American Western movie! It reminded me of many of those. There are the frontier towns, the railroad being built across the desolate land, the farmers trying to eke out a living, bandits on horseback, a stagecoach making a run with the money, lone riders, gunslingers (and sword fighters), shoot-em-ups (with Lugers instead of Colts) and punch-em-ups, ... And Spanish guitar in the background in many scenes! Bloody mayhem on a frontier. And then the series ends abruptly. I was intrigued by what reviewer Z1nu calls "the cowboy style of the series" and I'm glad I watched to the odd end.