|
Paradise Now | 
 enlarge | Studio: Warner Independent Pictures
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $4.30
New (1) Used (14) from $4.30
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 30577
Format: Full Length
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 91
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 012569806207
EAN: 0012569806207
ASIN: B000IXQ2Q0
Publication Date: 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Item in Very Good condition. MAY NOT contain all original artwork and materials. Case/artwork MAY show wear and/or have stickers affixed. 30 day guarantee!
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
"The year's most insightful and unvarnished look at the motivations of terrorism." John Anderson, NEWSDAY
|
| Customer Reviews:
 It will shed some light August 5, 2008
By now, the Palestine-Isareali conflict isn't as big of a news as it was once, but still "Paradise Now" is still relevant because it has to do with perceptions and realities. The notion that a Peaceful solution is the way to go is really hard to sell when you exist like the two young men in this movie Said and Khaled. There's nothing but rubble, bombs and check points and the daily grind of trying to exist. This movie doesn't take sides and it's really hard to understand how people who co-existed in this region for hundreds of years are now mortal enemies. Where do you start to understand. This movie doesn't try either but rather it attempts to put a face to these young men whom you are used to seeing in the media. After going thru with the preparation for Jihad Said and Khaled hit a snag and had to turn back which gives these two time to think about wether they really want to go thru with this. The tension and suspense leading up to the conclusion is both sad and telling. For one of them, the reason for doing it is to erase the shame of his father being a colaborator and the shame of having to live like a common animal under occupation. It is a very sad movie but one has to watch it just to gain a little understanding about two groups of people and a conflict that none of us in our life time will see the end to.
FANTASTIC July 18, 2008
This was one of the best movies I have ever seen. It was touching, breath taking, intense and dramatic. It was simply an excellent and well done movie. The acting and directing were sharp and thrilling. I would not make it a date movie, but it is certainly worth watching. Enjoy!
 Interesting thriller, faulty on facts and objectivity October 16, 2006
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
As a film, Paradise Now is a suspenceful masterpiece. The most evil of characters, suicide bombers become human and sympathetical to the viewer. Lives are explored and scenes of a degraded West Bank life are constantly in perspective of the viewer. Said and Khaled, the 2 friends who are recurited by a terror group to carry out the killings are interesting characters in their own right. As a film I greatly enjoyed watching this work.
Now for the problems that I found with this film. Politics-wise (lets face it, we cant talk about this film without mentioning politics or history), there are many errors and simple omissions of historical facts, vis a vis Israelis and Palestinians. For one, Israelis themselves become nothing more than faceless, oppressive monsters from another dimension, whose only goal is to hurt and humiliate the Palestinians shown in the film. In one of the scenes where Khaled is videotaping his 'martyrdom' video, he mentions that Israel rejected a 2-state solution, when in fact the only rejection came from Palestinian terror groups, whose stated goal is written clearly for everyone to see, a complete and utter destruction of Israel (read the official Hamas charter), not some dreamy and heroic struggle of occupation. This fact in essence dooms the film's factual basis, compounded with other numerous half truths and allegations.
I do not want to insist on a powerful film such as this to go over every minute detail of the conflict, so I will say this; watch this film with a grain of salt. It is without a doubt a powerful,emotional and very well made film by talented film makers, and the 2 main actos (Said and Khaled) are simply superb in their roles. Politics aside, as hard as that may be, the film is an excellent work.
Boundaries, Checkpoints, and Martyrdom October 11, 2006
PARADISE NOW opens windows of information to those of us who do not live in the Middle East and who toil over understanding the strife that daily bitterly continues, bruising the lives of both ends of the polarity that separates the peoples of the region. Are there ever to be answers or solutions to the crises? For this viewer watching and absorbing PARADISE NOW is illuminating in that it removes the expected political preaching to focus on the minds of the people living under the daily stress of life at its most difficult. Taking us there, making ideas into people with all the convictions and rebelliousness and fragility, writer/director Hany Abu-Assad (with Bero Beyer) offers invaluable insights and in the end we are left with a story about humanity and the consequences of decisions, and the desperate need for peace.
Said (Kais Nashef) and Khaled (Ali Suliman) are childhood friends in Palestine who have been elected to be suicide bombers in an attack on Tel Aviv. Their election to be martyrs for the destruction of the 'invaders' is considered an honor: their deaths will bring glory to their country, their families, and guarantee them instant entry into heaven. We see the two men as citizens living in the dusty hovels, facing barricades and checkpoints that make their lives ones of constant stress. Martyrdom will bring them peace and eternal rest. The entire process of preparing the elected martyrs, from making farewell videotapes for their parents, to having their hair cut short, to having the bombs strapped to their bodies, to dressing them in black suits for the 'wedding' they are instructed to claim to attend in Tel Aviv, to sending them off at the designated spot is relentlessly filmed. Said and Khaled accept their roles although with varying degrees of emotional commitment. At the point where the lads are to begin their martyrdom venture they are separated and the story is how each continues living, each now alone.
The families and the perpetrators of the scheme are well drawn by a strong cast, with one female role Suha (Lubna Azabal) as a voice of reason and peace standing out particularly strongly. The sensitivity of the actors Kais Nashef and Ali Suliman keeps this drama from sinking into politicism and instead allows us to understand the inner turmoil of the two men they portray as they cope with their duties and their lives.
This is a powerful document that serves as a plea for peace wherever terrorism is a factor - and now that is global. If more of us could watch and absorb films such as PARADISE NOW perhaps the itinerant boundaries separating mankind by misunderstanding could be reduced without the need for war. Highly Recommended. In Arabic with English subtitles. Grady Harp, October 06
|
|
|
|
 |
24-Volt Tools,
36 Volt Tools,
Autism,
Bb Rifles,
Blu-Ray Movies,
Bmx Bikes,
Carry On Luggage,
Coleman Powermate,
Dewalt 18-Volt,
Duffel Bag,
Livescribe,
Mountain Bikes,
Mybook,
Mypassport,
Road Bikes,
Weber,
Uniden,
Cordless Phones,
Scanners,
Loving Family ,
Razor ,
Trail Ripper,
Heavy Duty,
Pasta Maker,
Can Openers,
Wine Openers,
Wine Stoppers,
Wine Racks,
Wine Glasses,
Champagne Glasses,
Wine Cooler,
Puzzle Rings,
Kettle,
Ice Tea Maker,
Can Openers,
Knife,
Cutlery,
Cutlery Sets,
Martini Glass,
Margarita Glasses,
Teakettles,
Juicers,
Espresso Machines,
Ice-Cream Machines,
Ceiling Rack,
Pot Racks,
Coffee Brewer ,
Stand Mixers,
Hand Mixers,
Spice Rack,
Jar Spice Rack,
Cookie Jars,
Porcelain Fairy Dolls,
Miniature Dolls,
Ethnic Dolls,
Food Steamer,
Pressure Canner,
Electric Breast Pump,
Phiten Necklace,
Ice Shaver,
Electric Ice Crusher,
Snickers Candy Bars,
Speer Bullets,
Oster Clippers,
Magic Bullet Blender,
Kitchenaid Blender,
Oster Blender,
Vitamix Blenders,
Sierra Bullets,
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker,
Sonicare Toothbrush,
Electric Toothbrush,
Dog Grooming Tools,
Quit Smoking Patches,
Commit Nicotine Lozenge,
Nicotine Gum,
Nicorette Gum,
Swimming Pool Toys,
Banzai Water Slides,
Inflatable Water Slides,
Plastic Kiddie Pools,
Rubber Ducks,
Water Toys,
Baffin Shoes,
Victorinox Knives,
Hunting Knives,
Survival Knives,
Camping Lantern,
Camping Food, |
|
|
| |
