Munich (R, 2005)

Breathtaking. Absolutly breathtaking. Very violent but one of the greatest movies you will ever see. The actors played their role with perfection and put on a simply unforgettable show.

"Munich" is a cold, cold, cold film. It describes the infamous 1972 Munich Olympic killings in very little detail, opting more to unwrap the events that followed. Those included men on assignment to kill the terrorists who planned Munich. It also poses a moral agenda: revenge doesn't solve anything. Moreover, it leaves all those involved bruised and battered and hollow for their life. "Munich" is a stylistic film, as Steven Spielberg is a visual artist. There are many shots less about the scene than the camerawork itself, which is dazzlingly done, and it adds a lot of tension. The film is a dark, bleak, and shattering piece, much more so than the epic that earned him a name as a legend: "Schindler's List." The 1993 film is better in ways, but this one packs a harder punch in many ways, and still holds it own, deserving the Best Picture nod it got. Eric Bana turns in a brooding, saddening, and amazing performance as Avner, the leader of the group sent out to kill the men behind the killings of Munich. These men are "employed" by Ephraim (Geoffrey Rush), but are really sent out by the Israeli government, including Prime Minister Golda Meir (Lynn Cohen). The other notable stars in the film are Daniel Craig as Steve, another member in the unit, and Mathieu Almaric as Louis, the group's unreliable source. Anyways, the group starts out killing by gun and escalates into bombs and other explosives (the most heart-pounding moment involves a telephone explosive rig). But the bigger the artillery and the more fatalities, the more goes wrong. Spielberg's film illustrates an illogical battle, one awfully played out, one in which the hearts of men are torn apart on the scene. It is a disturbing character study, mostly of Avner's caving in on the job, and a film of historical significance. "Munich" is unflinching, murky, and saturated, well-made, acted, and crafted, Spielberg's best film since "List," a piece of cinema that is not easy to forget. A (15+)

Munich is one of the best emotionaly driven movies I've watched in a long while. But I would reccomend this movie for older teens and adults for three major reasons. First, the complex movie and lack of continuous action would most likely bore younger viewers. Also, the graphic violence and intense moments might frighten some viewers. Finally, there are some scenes that reference nudity and sexual dialogue. But all in all, Munich can be a helpful in inspiring views of life and the choices you make. 5 stars!

Wonderful movie for adults. Not a great movie for kids. I think this mostly because of the graphic violance that is shown through out the movie. I really don't think this is a film kids would be intrested in any way.

Being 16 years old guy, most people would immediately write me off as not being able to take this movie seriously but I think mature teens like myself can. The violence in this movie is certainly on par with an intense R-rating, making this film deeply unsettling and raw, especially making the connection that this was, more or less, reality. Sexuality is not as bad as I thought it was, and language is reality mild compared to a number of other R-rated movies. Overall any teenage who is concerned about the state of the world, and the ideas behind violence and bloodshed than this is the film for them. The message in this film, I believe, makes you wonder if revenge is ever justified, and makes you think if we can ever escape the "eye-for-an-eye" mentality. I think that if we cannot, peace will never be achieved. Steven Spielberg along with a talented cast delivers one of 2005s best films.