Disappointed

Rating: 4/10 (22 December 2005)

What disappointed me the most was that the director mishandled the subject and made it into an action/thriller film rather than a thought-provoking drama. Terrence Malick would have been a wonderful choice. Throughout the whole film, I kept wondering if I were watching Munich or Mission: Impossible and Godfather flicks.
I also had problems with Mr. Spielberg's portraying of violence on the screen. Obviously, he didn't believe the philosophy of "less is more" as he depicted the killings full on. Most of the adult audience gasped whenever a violent deed was committed on the screen. I didn't think that thoughts rather than fears were provoked as we were wondering when, where and how the next one was going to hit the screen.
The film score also presented a problem to me. It reminded me so much of Schindler's List. I guess that Mr. William ran out of ideas and simply recycle his old scores.
The climax at the end (intercutting of a "domestic event" and the Munich tragedy) was really uncalled for and tasteless. It was disrespectful to draw such parallel.
However, I find Mr. Spielberg was courageous setting the tone of the film, neither Pro- Israel nor Anti-Palestine. The question of "does retribution or an-eye-for-an-eye policy toward peace really work" was constantly brought up through out the film. 30 years after the Munich tragedy, we all know the result (albeit it's a sad truth).
I only wish Mr. Spielberg made this film the way Terrence Malick made The Thin Red Line: subtle, philosophical yet thought-provoking.