Cheap The Riflemen [Region 2] (DVD) (Jean-Luc Godard) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Riflemen [Region 2]

An irritating anti-war fable...
Similar to Ingmar Bergman's 'Shame' is Godard's powerful parable of war, 'The Riflemen.' <
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>Godard has stated that 'In dealing with war, I followed a very simple rule. I assumed I had to explain to children not only what war is, but what all wars have been from the barbarian invasions to Korean and Algeria, by way of Fontenoy, Trafalgar, and Gettysburg.' <
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>Michelange and Ulysse leave the women when the king's officers come enlist them... They are offered everything... 'Can we loot, burn, rape etc. etc... 'Yes. You can do anything you want,' they are assured... So with rifles on their backs they are off to war... <
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>Like Bergman's film there is no enemy... Both sides wear the same uniform, talk the same language and have the same objectives... Nothing is left out of the film, the hate, the humiliation, the rape, but above all we are impressed by the unending and unrelieved scenery of destruction... There is nothing that is natural or alive in the world of rubble... <
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Is All Fair In Love & War?
Jean-Luc Godard's "Les Carabiniers" (AKA "The Rifleman) was made in 1963 but wasn't released in the U.S. until 1968, and how fitting that is. Here is a movie that pretty much says war is a senseless act and at the time wars were being fought in Vietnam and Algiers. <
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> Godard's film is about as politcal as "Fahrenheit 9\11" and for some reason I enjoyed it. I always thought of Godard as a radical who's tastes seemed to slant towards the left. Sometimes that bothered me. Usually I describe Godard as pretentious. I don't find him to be as simulating as other directors. I find his ideas juvenile. And I've always thought he had trouble resolving his stories. They usually end in death and I feel that is a cop out because now Godard has let himself of the hook and doesn't need to come to a conclusion on how to end these characters. If you don't believe me watch "Breathless", "My Life To Live", "Contempt", "A Woman Is A Woman" or "Weekend". <
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> But "Les Carabiniers" is a different matter. It is amazing how well the story works in modern times. Everything that Godard argue could still be argued today. <
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> The movie tells the story of two men; Michel-Ange (Albert Juross) and Ulysses (Marino Mase) who are told if they join the army they will be giving rich rewards, they will see the world and meet beautiful women. After getting their hopes up so high the two decide to leave their girlfriends, Cleopatre (Catherine Ribeiro) and Venus (Genevieve Galea) and head off to war on behalf of the King of an unknown country. <
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>So the two men go off and kill innocent people, because they were told they could do so, as long as it was done in the name of their country, all but rape women, again, they were told they could do so as long as it was done in the name of their country, and steal. You'd have to be blind not to know what Godard is saying. People committ terrible crimes in times of war and if these actions were done at any other time they would be considered criminals, but because these actions are done for one's country they are forgiven. <
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> I imagine a lot of people, including those on amazon, may not like this movie because of what Godard is saying. But, if you are a Godard fan you should know what to expect and should be aware of his views. Those who aren't familiar I wouldn't be surprised if you became offended by the movie. Particularly those with opposite political views. But have things really gotten so bad that movies or people are no longer allowed to express different opinions? <
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> "Les Carabiniers" may push some people's buttons the way his other film such as "Tout va bien" did, but to my surprise I'm going to defend Godard and his films. If you enjoyed the directors other works I think you'll find this film just as pleasing. <
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> Something that surprised me even more than the film was the fact that Robert Rossellini apparently worked on the screenplay. Rossellini, for those who don't know, directed such films as "Germany Year Zero" and "Paisan". <
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> Bottom-line: To me one of Godard's best films. May be a bit too political for some but still an effective worthwhile effort.

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When a good idea vanishes!
Sans souffle would be the most appropiate title to intend describe the efforts made for Godard in this film built with a very good proposal that soon it decays in the boreness due the lack of intention . <
>Imagine a flight without any plan . This picture describes the merciless behavior of the war , but Godard emphasizes the insanity of this social phenomen abusing of cliche . <
>The script is extremely flat and predictable . And really nothing happens . A dissapointed movie in the filmography of one of the New Wave pioneers who gave with this issue the first signals of lack of creativity concerned with the world in that age .