Movie Talk

by

SS Lau

Oct. 26,1997

"Devil's Advocate"--- the expectation was high for this movie. After a lot of grand standing by Al Pacino, a lot of profanity,some nudity, it was not up to the expectation. Worst yet, this movie had a moral which was supposed to teach the audience something about life. We all know the what the problem has always been, just don't know how to overcome it. Don't need the director to tell me that.

" 7 years in Tibet"---since this is Brad Pitt movie, the expectation was quite low. However, it came out okay in spite of Brad Pitt. The movie was largely filmed in Argentina.I discussed the movie with a colleague who has seen the movie and has also been to Tibet, he said there are three things not quite right in the movie: the streets are dirtier in Lhasa, there are more wild dogs in Lhasa, and the soldiers are younger. Other than that everything seemed pretty authentic. The "palace" is now a museum, the bed room of Dalai Lama in the movie looked just as the real thing. The movie tried to entertain, but could not help but sneak in some political statements, which my other colleagues from China resent. On reflection , Hong Kong is lucky. China could have sent in very
young soldiers with sub-machine guns patrolling the streets of Hong Kong.

" Boogie Nights"--- this movie is about a bunch people in the 70s and 80s in LA making porno movies. It is a sad movie, but well-made. Even Burt Reynolds is pretty good in it. It brings back memories of LA of that time period.

I don't think I wanted to see any of the three again, but I think I would see " LA confidential" again.