Popcorn vs Kernel

5 Popcorns = Must see!
4 Popcorns = You'll probably like it.
3 Popcorns = Go in the morning when there are cheaper ticket prices.
2 Popcorns = Maybe rent it.
1 Popcorn = Wait for a friend to rent it and watch it with them.
Kernel = Don't see it at all. Ever.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

The Birth of a Nation (2016)






Directed by: Nate Parker

Written by: Nate Parker & Jean McGianni Celestin

Starring: Nate Parker





Unlike the 1915 version, this film follows the slaves’ point of view rather than their white masters. 

Nate Parker, director, writer, and star of the film, did a superb job.  I definitely think this film should be nominated for the Golden Globes and Academy Awards.  If you don’t know, it shows the uprising of slaves against their masters in an attempt to become free.  The preacher Nat Turner, leads them after witnessing various events that persuade him that they way they are living is not how they are meant to be.

It’s interesting to see the 101 years difference between the original and the remake.  The differences including point of view, perspective, director, the technicalities, etc… If you’re interested, you can watch the original on YouTube.  It’s about 3 hours long.

Anyway, I liked how it showed the gruesomeness that you don’t usually see it movies like this.  In others, there aren’t close ups of the slaves’ expressions even if it’s from their point of view.  Parker was able to provide more emotion than others. 

Despite this praise, there needed to be more of a balance between Nat’s personal life and the war he was fighting.  I understand that Parker was trying to incorporate both, but it seemed that towards the end, his personal life was pushed aside.  There were barely any more scenes of him and his family.  I also would have liked to know what happened to the other slaves that were with him as well as Sam’s mother. 

Nevertheless it was good.  4 popcorns.

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