kyleuhland

21 May 2013

Reuben James, a name from US history

The choice of Reuben James as the name of Denzel Washington's characteris surely not a coincidence. In 1804, during the Barbary Wars, US Sailor Reuben James, positionedhimself between his captain, Stephen Decatur, and a pirate; taking thesword blows directed at Decatur.In October, 1941, before the US entered WW2, the first USS ReubenJames, a destroyer on convoy duty in the North Atlantic, positionedherself between an ammunition ship and the known location of a GermanU-Boat. Struck by a torpedo which ignited her magazine, the ReubenJames sank in five minutes. Two thirds of her crew perished. WoodyGuthrie wrote a song "The Sinking of the Reuben James".Denzel Washington's character, Reuben James, likewise, positionshimself in harm's way to protect others. ,

20 May 2013

Denzel fan here...

This review is from: For Queen and Country (DVD) If you appreciate Denzel's greatness as an actor, you should enjoy this film as I did. It's old, but it's a good story with great acting. It's also neat to see a young Denzel that I never knew existed. He was just as talented in this early film, as he has been in all of his films. Worth getting a copy for the collection...

celebrityplum

16 May 2013

Confused ..... but Delighted

Before viewing this film, I watched the trailer to get a quick glimpse,and immediately I classified this film as a comedy, but after actuallyviewing the film I realized the seriousness of the piece. DenzelWashington startled me with his "decent" British accent and his abilityto remain consistent throughout the film. I, in no way, can relate tothe plight of the protagonist yet I understand the feeling of betrayal,therefore I was rooting for him all the way. The plot was definitelylong-winded and I was lost a few times, but surprisingly it all cametogether at the end. Even though he met his demise at the end, I washappy to see one of the many antagonist (the crooked police officer)killed off (this is where the sheer delight comes in). Overall themovie was pretty good and kept my attention. However, I found certainsegments of the film unnecessary. Will I view again? Probably not.

steve.barry

16 May 2013

A Heroes Welcome?

The first time I saw this film was back in the early Nineties, and I hadn'treally heard of Denzel Washington either, therefore I presumed I waswatching a low budget film about a Falklands Veteran returning to life inCivvy Street.What I actually got was an eye opener about Life within Her Majesty's ArmedForces versus Life on the outside. Reuben, having been discharged from 2Para, returns to London after a tour of duty in Northern Ireland and theFalklands, where he was decorated as a war Hero. However, given hisvocationto his country, he finds interviews for jobs surprisingly difficult toarrange, even though they were sorted out by his careers officers in thearmy. Within time, he realises his illustrious army record holds no sway ineveryday life.This film makes you realise how easy it is to fall into the criminal sideoflife as Reuben becomes a body guard to a drug dealer. The ending is as grimas his life has become, therefore don't expect a smart, streetwise, cockycharacter to race through the film avoiding trouble. This is a Gritty urbanDrama. I felt that as you watch Reuben's hopes for the future fade away,there truly is no justice for the little man.Washington's British accent is impeccable, you would believe he was born,and lived his life in Milwall or Bermondsey. I read an interview that helearnt the native accent by getting drunk for a fortnight inLondon.

savee

15 May 2013

Britain from a quite different perspective

I never intended to see the movie - in fact I'd never heard of it - butaccidentally I turned on the TV just as it was beginning, I saw DenzelWashington (come on, guys, he IS gorgeous) and decided to see what it'sgoing to be about. And jeez, I was stunned. It was Britain showed from atotally different angle that I used to know (as a tourist and an exchangestudent). At moments, I must admit, the picture that emerged was thatnegative that I started suspecting it must be very much one-sided.But coming back to the story: a veteran (Northern Ireland and theFalklands)comes back to the part of London where he used to live only to find theworld from which he tried to escape unchanged - probably even worse. Hisformer buddies, with whom he used to get into troubles, continue to do so,only with much graver consequences. He tries to keep away from them, find adecent job, find a girlfriend, but it turns out that no one in this countryneeds a black war veteran. The only thing he has is his "honour and pride"from having served "his" country.What is amazing for me in this movie was probably the inevitability of hisfate. Returning home means for him returning to people who got stuck inthisghetto, since it is a kind of a ghetto, deprived of any future, of any hopefor better future. Drug dealers, thieves, war veterans, their women andchildren - they are all thrown into the same category of common criminals,the so-called social margin, from whom it's best to keep away. The funnything - sending the police to fight them does not really solve the problem,quite the contrary, leads to an open war. Yet this is how the problem isbeing dealt with in most countries.All in all, a very good movie, one worth seeing not only because of DenzelWashington :))), but also because of the social problems mentioned... Andreally, is Britain such a racist country?Just one final remark - I wonder what makes D. Washington such a good pickfor roles of soldiers (and ex-soldiers). Huh?

maxlondon1

15 May 2013

Brilliant

An excellent film. Reuben(DW) returns from serving two tours abroadfighting and risking his life for his country UK. He is originally fromSt Louisha, not sure if I have spelt that right. He can't get a job; isconsistently, racially harassed by the police and goes back to an areawhich he tried to escape from by joining the army in the first place,hoping that on his return there would be some improvements. Alas thereare none. The action starts when he decides to go on holiday with hisnew found girlfriend and when he trys to obtain a passport HE ISREFUSED! on the basis that since he had been away at war, his countryof origin had gained independence and therefore he was not entitled toa British passport. The film is not slow moving but definitely veryprovocative and there are some commanding performances from all,including DW, (with the exception of his accent!) Things for peoplethat have served in the British army have changed since and I am surethat this film played a part albeit minor.

silkwell

12 May 2013

A great performance by Denzel Washington!!

I have to disagree with the previous commentator's opinion.Washington's accent was about as spot on for a "Yank" as was we'll sayPitt's was in "Snatch" to an Irish tinker's. The movie while obviouslylow-budget (no different than we'll say "My Beautiful Laundrette" or"Mona Lisa" at this particular time in UK productions), yet itsconcentration on the inherent drama of a confused and conflictedex-Para in a non-empathetic society totally over-rode its budgetarylimitations. This was an above-average movie (and a rare one) of its genre andadequately displays Washington's versatility as an actor.

12 May 2013

For Queen and Country

This review is from: For Queen and Country (DVD) I chose this rating because my husband likes Denzel movies. Every year I buy him movies that he doesn't have. I recommend this to all Denzel fans!

raywentland

05 May 2013

Awful film

If you are in need of a cliché ridden, stereotypical trawl through afantasy England, then this is the film for you.Most of my time watching the film was wondering how the writers andproducers managed to convince anyone to make this tripe. DenzelWashington produces, at most times, passable, mockney accent althoughthere are times when he lapses into American.Apart from Denyel Washington, who I like a lot, the acting is woodenand comical. How anyone could describe this as gritty is beyond me.There is a word approximating to that which is far more valid.From the first scene to the last the script does not disappoint as itbecomes ever more bizarre in what I can only assume is an attempt totrawl the lowest common denominators.If its a choice between watching paint dry and this, enjoy the paint.

04 May 2013

a waste of time,

I am very disapponted with this movie. The acting was so so, plot was weak, and action scenes weren't so good either. Don't waste your time on this movie.

Boxingmad

02 May 2013

A bleak future after the army

This film is a harsh reality of life after the army. The British Paras arean elite fighting force, but they are there to kill the enemy. You don'treally have a trade when you leave, except how to jump out of planes &kill.However, the British Army today has an excellent support sytem, unlike themid 1980s when this film was set. This is highlighted in the movie as weseeReuben returning after leaving the Paras, during which he did a tour inNorthern Ireland and fought in the 1982 Falklands war. We see himstrugglingto get any meaningful employment until he links up with a criminal friend.His mate Fish, who was wounded in the Falklands, is living on disabilityallowance, and is suffering too, being in a wheelchair. It is a sad,grittylook at life at the lower end of the scale in a run-down urban councilestate in London. Having served his country with pride as a Britishparatrooper, he is left with nothing except the prospect of drifting intocrime.

01 May 2013

Dont buy this Movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This review is from: For Queen and Country (DVD) This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The story line sound really good, but it was stupid and boring!!! Don't waste your money on For Queen and Country.

26 April 2013

Denzel

This review is from: For Queen and Country (DVD) My Denzel collection is almost complete. It arrived in record time and is of exceptional quality! Your customer service skills are commendable. I am definitely satisfied.

babydivine2001

26 April 2013

Amanda Redman is the best thing about this film

Although this film is by no means great, it is worth watching forAmanda Redman's performance as Stacey. Redman is almost unrecognizablewith her short brown hair and bright blue eighties suit (complete withmatching eye shadow). Her character is very different to herbetter-known characters (Alison in At Home With the Braithwaites andSandra in New Tricks) and demonstrates her talent and versatility as anactress.Sadly even a brilliant actress like Amanda Redman is not enough to savethis film from being a bore. The plot is very slow to unfold and theunending scenes of poverty and hopelessness make for a depressingviewing. However, it was refreshing to see a film about a war hero thatwas not swamped by war footage, allowing us to concentrate on Rueben'sand his struggle to cope with his new life as a civilian.

George Parker

25 April 2013

For Queen, Country, and the dustbin

"For Queen and Country" sticks Washington in the center of a bunch ofcharacters as a deadpan British vet of the Falkland Islands war whose comehome to find less than a hero's welcome. The film spends the first thirdfleshing out everyone but the centerpiece and then doesn't give him anydepth as he stumbles through his thick cockney mumblings from one costar tothe next. The film doesn't really begin to move until close to the end whenit winds up and down in about 20 minutes with a less than desirableconclusion. Given the typically British austerity of the film, an illfocusedand bleak story, an almost complete absence of passion, and what are by filmstandards rather sublunary events with no payoff in the end, this flick wasbarely tolerable. Not recommendable. (C-)Note - I watched this film back to back with another British film "TheFourth Angel" which didn't receive rave reviews but was still head andshoulders above "For Queen and Country".

25 April 2013

A Good Movie but an Unfortunate Edit

I originally saw this movie about 8 years ago on late night cable. I was flipping channels when I saw Denzel and began to watch this movie. I thought it was a good movie and then in a love scene Denzel (before he was a huge star) was naked. That in my opinion made the movie go from good to GREAT!! When I saw that the movie had been released on DVD I bought it immediately only to get it home and find that they edited the nude scene from the DVD. I was very dissapointed which is why I gave the movie 4 stars instead of 5. The plus side is that Denzel does have a pretty good British accent and that his acting is so good that he makes the character believable. A god choice for avid Denzel collectors.

imdbmykl

08 April 2013

Slow paced, but captures the feel very well

I really didn't know what to expect when some friends and I hired this DVD.Denzel Washington plays Rueben James, a retired English Paratrooper,returning home to the housing estate he grew up in as a child. Here he findsthat not much has changed since he left about 10 years beforehand. Many of Rueben's friends are still involved in 'less than legal'occupations, and the poverty and wretchedness of the estate seems even worsethan when he lived there before. He needs to decide just where he fits inback home, and what direction his life will take. Despite trying to make anew life for himself, obstacles from past and present seem to always get inthe way. While I did find this movie slow paced, it captured the dismal feel of thiscommunity excellently. It also avoided using simplistic general stereotypes(for example, police are portrayed both in a very positive and very negativelight). I would recommend this movie if you're in the mood for a bit of grittyrealism, but don't expect to feel particularly upbeat afterward!

07 April 2013

Received in time for Christmas.

This review is from: For Queen and Country (DVD) It was delivered on time for Christmas, which I was afraid it wasn't going to be because I purchased it the week of Christmas. However, the DVD was moving around in the case before I opened it. I don't know if it was during shipment or what, but at some point the part that clicks the DVD into place had broken. Thankfully, it was not scratched. No complaint's because I'm sure it wasn't intentionally done.

06 April 2013

Denzel fan here...

If you appreciate Denzel's greatness as an actor, you should enjoy this film as I did. It's old, but it's a good story with great acting. It's also neat to see a young Denzel that I never knew existed. He was just as talented in this early film, as he has been in all of his films. Worth getting a copy for the collection...

Theo Robertson

05 April 2013

Too Low Budget And Unconvincing

A hero returning from war and finding that he`s no longer wanted isn`t oneof the most original ideas for a screenplay but it is one of the best .Unfortunately FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRY is one of the weaker of these types offilms . The budget doesn`t help because the scenario of the Falklands War isrelegated to a brief scene to a bunch of soldiers looking out of a shipdoorway seeing flashes of gunfire away in the distance , and that`s theextent the film paints of the Falklands War . It`s not only this scene thatirritates , I couldn`t help noticing that many of the interiors look likethey were filmed in a film studio . But perhaps the most unconvincing thingabout the film is Denzil Washington`s London accent , I can`t believe somepeople think its any good because I find it as irritating as Dick Van Dyke`sin MARY POPPINS . And let`s not forget that when this film was madeWashington wasn`t the double Oscar winning mega star he is today but wasbest known as a TV star due to ST ELSEWHERE . Indeed FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRYfeels like an overproduced TV play similar to the excellent PLAY FOR TODAYthat the BBC produced in the 1970s but not as well written . The ending isjust too coincidental . I know it`s trying to be bitter and ironic but iscompletely contrived ." Soldiers don`t fight and die for Queen and country. They fight and die forone another" Major Chris Kebble . 2 Para