Brilliant Depiction of a Dark Tragedy, Haing S. Ngor Rules!

Rating: 9/10 (25 January 2005)

Director Roland Joffe artfully depicts this horrific tragedy in his 1984 classic "The Killing Fields." The movie brilliant displays the chaos, confusion, and utter desperation to flee Cambodia as the Khmer Rouge unmercifully seize control. The movie covers all aspects and perceptions of the killings from the Cambodian victims, to the unmerciful killers (Khmer Rouge), and even to American involvement and interest through the journalist and photographers. It is filled with enough historical insight and knowledge to fill an Encyclopedia. The Killing Fields follows the end of the Vietnam War as America begins unwarned bombing and involvement in Cambodia to prevent North Vietnamese invasion. The director does a splendid job showing emotion and friendship in an otherwise dreadful and ruthless situation. It follows the lives of Sydney Schanberg ,a New York Times journalist covering the horrific killings and bombings and Dith Pran, is Cambodian translater and friend who aids him in his quest for understanding. Sydney Schanberg becomes aware of U.S. involvement and interest only after they begin bombing. He is played by Sam Waterson who gives a brilliant and emotional performance. Dith Pran and Sydney grow very close over the four years to the similarity of brothers. DIth Pran is played by Dr. Haing S. Ngor and is the perfect actor for a role with such depth, emotion, and hardship. Ngor Rules. "The Killing Fields" isn't just a knowledgeable and important movie from a historical standpoint but it also displays such deep characteristics as emotion, friendship, and perseverance. John Malkovich portrays an American photographer following the story in Cambodia and is sure to "rock" your socks "off" as Al Rockoff. OVerall its a brilliant and informative movie, which really gives you a sense of the brutality and disregard for human life that the Khmer Rouge had.