Traumatic and powerful

Rating: 8/10 (31 July 2012)

This is a war movie that will stick with you and leave a impact. There is so many depressing and sorrowful moments in this movie. The audiences is going to have a difficult time holding back their tears for this one. The main reason I decided to watch this movie is because it has Christian Bale in it cause I might have passed on this one if it didn't feature him in this. But I am glad I didn't let this movie just pass by. This movie takes place in 1937 and revolves around WW2 and Japanese invasion of China with the Nanking Massacre. Although the Japanese government might be trying to cover up a horrifying past and war crimes they have committed in the past. Can you imagine something very terrible done to you and your family and the culprit just denies because of reputation sake? This movie shows the brutality and pain of war, especially when it has invaders that doesn't have a conscience. The Japanese were barbaric and despicable during their invasion, they didn't just shoot people they tortured and raped their victims continuously. And this movie shows a vivid portrayal of so much pain and emotion that a bunch of Chinese women and girls had to go through. That even within the chaos there are people willing to love and sacrifice. In fact this movie has more to do with the emotional part during the invasion over showing a lot of the atrocities committed during the Rape of Nanking. Now Christian Bale was okay in this, he could have done better though in my opinion since I know he has some good acting chops by watching his past movies. He plays a man that may seem like just a stupid drunk at first but deep down he has compassion and morals. He becomes a guardian protector for the weak and oppressed...And no he is not Batman. The plot is basically about a man a mortician pretending to be a priest to protect the female Chinese students and prostitutes. The relationship that builds between the students and prostitutes is touching. Some may look down on prostitutes but the background of some of the prostitutes in this movie, it just hits right at the core of the heart. It's a simple story told in a emotional and powerful way and realistically, none of that Hollywood stuff. Although the production for this movie is really good. By the time this movie and ends and the credits roll I could not forget about this film, it stuck with me for quite a while. I had a difficult time sleeping as well. Overall this is a traumatic and powerful movie that needs to be watched at least once.
8/10