Battle Historian

Reviews and other content aren't verified by Google

This show is surprisingly good (warning--some spoilers). When I saw the first few minutes of the first episode, I wasn't convinced it was something I would be interested in. However, I gave it a try and ended up enjoying the six-part series, in large part because it was not predictable. Make no mistake, this is not about how to get in shape. There are very few tips, tricks, or details about Will's fitness regimen. Instead, the show evolves into an expose into the psychology behind Will's ambition and fame--and the toll it has taken. It includes some real, valuable lessons of life, anxiety, the effects of family trauma, as well as the emotional stress of managing a public image. Among the series' best parts are the psychologist's comments about how Will's obsession to win public approval--and succeed (or win) in all endeavors--carries a weight that will lead a person to break down if not carefully balanced. This is heartbreakingly captured in Will's story about refusing a fan's request to record a video on the man's phone during a few precious minutes of personal time at a gym. Having to tell the fan "no" was the right thing for Will's emotional health at that moment (he had only 30 minutes to unwind at the gym after numerous hours of work), but disappointing his fan caused him to break down later at his hotel. These elements reveal the human side of a larger-than life persona we see on screen; and they will hopefully remind viewers that entertainers have the same need for privacy, personal time, and space as every other person. There are numerous other lessons viewers can take from the series, and Will is such a beloved entertainer that any sort of show focused on him is enjoyable. Yet, one thing bothered me...it is the reason I gave it four instead of five stars. For all of its value--its humor, its honesty, its authenticity--the show is still a bit of an exercise in hubris. Everything in, for, and about the show is centered on Will. While he opens up about his life, about embarrassing and painful elements of his past, his insecurities, and reveals very personal revelations in a therapeutic way, it is still in front of a camera with an audience around him. Almost every scene involves Will talking about himself to someone else. Even when he is sitting alone for an interview, the scenes frequently switch to other cameras to show the crew in the room all there and all focused on him. He reads his memoirs to his family, the focus being HIS experience and HIS thoughts, even when it is about them. Will is THE subject; everyone else is an object. These shots underscore the fact that this is not a man engaging in a private quest for self discovery, but a celebrity capturing--even demanding--the attention of everyone around him, even if it gets behind his usual public image. This critique is not unexpected, nor is it a real problem for the show, because there is no question that the series is all about Will Smith. There is just a bit of irony in the fact that this unexpected delve into an entertainer's mind behind the mask was still a matter of performance. Fortunately--despite the performance--the show has much authenticity and value.

Best Shape of My Life

2 likes

This film has so much promise, but ultimately struggled to excel. (Warning: some spoilers) Its strengths lie in its focus on the Dutch experience of German occupation. The filmmakers do a masterful job recreating the sights, sounds, and foreboding tension of a civilian population trying to survive Nazi rule. Perhaps the movie's best character is Dr. Visser (brilliantly portrayed by Jan Bijvoe)--a physician and community figure desperately trying to maintain control and humanity. His efforts to compromise with German authorities comes across as naive and ultimately fails, showing the real struggle many Europeans faced trying to manage the chaos around them. The Dutch resistance is present, but never developed in the film. This may have been intended to provide the viewer a sense of mystery, as the resistance fighters were by necessity hidden to most of the public. But the result for the film is a lack of investment or concern for the resistance fighters themselves. This leads to the movie's biggest weakness--insufficient character development. The film tries to follow three separate people for three different experiences that only briefly come together at the end. While it broadens the historical view of the events and types of people involved in the battle for these Dutch islands, it also prevents any real sense of continuity or emotional attachment to a single story line or character. For World War II movie fans, it is akin to the difference (or weakness) of "The Pacific" compared to "Band of Brothers." The acting is quite good in the film, so I do not fault the actors themselves. Instead, viewers will have a hard time really connecting to any single character due to the disjointed story lines, underdeveloped back stories, and the relative lack of dialogue (especially for the Dutch-born German soldier). Another unfortunate character issue involves the British airborne troops. The film does not present these soldiers in a favorable fashion. Airborne troops were trained to fight while surrounded behind enemy lines, only relying upon each other. Yet, in this movie, at least one British glider soldier advocated surrendering almost immediately, and two of them (nearly half of the group) showed virtually no sense of camaraderie or respect for their fellow soldiers in this life-and-death situation, ultimately deserting. While none of those actions were truly unbelievable for a wartime experience, the portrayal does not reflect the guts and personal sacrifice of some 10,000 British and Polish airborne troops who went 60 miles behind enemy lines during Operation MARKET GARDEN, losing nearly 8,000 killed or captured after vicious fighting. Overall, the movie is excellent for its visuals and for featuring underrepresented people, communities, and stories of the Second World War. It is extremely valuable for those reasons alone. In fact, it introduces elements of history that I wanted to know more about. And that is where it falls short--it just doesn't offer enough about those characters and those storylines to make them relatable or satisfying.

The Forgotten Battle

42 likes