Standard Operating Procedure

Standard Operating Procedure is a graphic, eye-opening, and provocative documentary dealing with the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. This documentary starts out with the terrible volumes upon volumes of photographs taken and the comments of the soldiers stationed at the prison. Standard Operation Procedure forces the audience to look outside the frame of the photos. One line spoken by a civilian interrogator sums up all of our impressions of the lurid acts of the soldiers, " It's disgusting what these schmuck, idiot MPs did." Standard Operating Procedure is a very well edited film. Sometimes painful and onerous to watch, but a film that must be viewed.

Before the Rains

Before the Rains is a tale of lust, love, and tragedy. This motion picture is an account of a British man's affair with his Indian soubrette. The film's conflicts are numerous. The British man is a striving entrepreneur trying to complete a road for the purpose of transporting desired herbs and spices. While taking on this immense project, he becomes embroiled in a controversy of the traditions and politics of the local tribes. After his paramour commits suicide, the tribe goes on an unflagging search for her. In the end, the British man escapes from the villagers and the woman receives a proper burial. In conclusion, this motion picture is well-acted, visually gorgeous, and truly a masterpiece.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a follow up to the trilogy that showed audiences the excitement of history. It is nineteen years later and the political and social landscapes are vastly different, but Henry Jones Jr. remains the same. The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is not a good movie or a bad movie, but rather it is enjoyable. Although, there was too many "oh, come on" moments, due to the absurdity of the plot. There are a few stupendous scenes, and a couple of performances that deserve recognition and merit. However, the unprecedented blend of tomfoolery and action that made these films more fun than any other adventure series is mostly gone. All in all, it is a bitter-sweet conclusion to a historic series.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian is an exciting adventure for children and families, yet it tries to be much more. Based on the second novel in C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of Narnia series, this motion picture has much more action than its predecessor, and unfortunately much less substance. Prince Caspian is an epic battle between good and evil in a fanciful land. This sequel holds and employs many of the same elements as the first, such as the infamous White Witch and Aslan the deific lion. The protagonists are four pensive youngsters who save this land for a second time in a manner that is twice as jejune.