Garbage

Rating: 4/10 (1 January 2015)

Before I begin my review I would like to point out a few things about my movie preferences, yes, I don't mind watching mindless entertainment like Transformers, The Avengers, The Expendables etc. I also enjoy deeper viewing experiences like Apocalypse Now, The Dark Knight, Inception, Life of Pie, Schindler's List and books like Stranger in a Strange Land etc.
I'm fine with a movie that knows it isn't thought provoking or trying to convey a deep philosophical message and does nothing but try to take you for a fun ride (much like a theme park ride doesn't try to answer 'why are we here?').
I'm also fine with a movie that is making a statement about the human condition, is philosophical or tries to be more than 'fun'.
My issue is when a movie tries to be philosophical/deep, jams it's message down your throat and in doing so ignores character development/plot and is simultaneously boring.
I know exactly what certain people will think when they read this 'HE JUST Doesn't GET IT... MORON!'. So for those people I'll provide my reasoning why I disliked this movie and why I thinks it's all style and clever cinematography to convey a sense of 'intelligence', with no substance.
The philosophical messages of the film are free will VS conformity to societies morals (practically jammed down your throat and I think it's been done better and in more intelligent ways since it's release), youth rebellion and boredom, inherent human evilness, discovering yourself and social taboos.
The main character is completely unsympathetic and uninteresting. He is a jerk of the highest caliber and boring. Musical preference does not change this, attacking defenseless people is not scary, he is a thug and he's not intelligent. I'm fine with the whole 'some people are just bad' cliché but at least give them some type of noteworthy attributes e.g. The Jokers intelligence and deviousness. Simply having a twisted mind does not count and in my opinion, other than being a somewhat handsome guy he wasn't charismatic, although that's debatable.
Using risqué footage in your film doesn't automatically make it meaningful.
Relying on clever camera work to create a certain atmosphere around your character doesn't automatically make it meaningful.
If you removed the clever camera work, the musical score, the interesting set designs/costumes you would essentially have a soft core porno with an uninteresting story to match. Seriously watch the film again and try to imagine if these things were absent.
The story is, gang leader prays on the weak, gets caught, undergoes controversial treatment which is ultimately unsuccessful... THE END.