theodorapilates Well maybe I should have watched this when it came out to be as impressed as most viewers here, but I was 6 so even if I did I don't remember it. But I do remember the hype about it. I only watched it in 2018 because so many people reviewing Angelina Jolie's First They Killed My Father kept insisting that this is THE movie to watch if you want to know more about the Cambodian genocide. And that Jolie's movie was uninformative and cheesy. Well, this one is equally uninformative and way more cheesy! Maybe reviewers preferred the story being told my a guy rather than a girl? I have no idea. At least FTKMF left me intrigued to find out more about the situation and I was also immersed in its atmosphere. I can't say the same for this one. It looked like a poor man's Empire of the Sun. Such important stories that need to be told, but it doesn't work every time just because of the shock value. Lastly, as few others already mentioned, this movie was in need of editing. Too long with little substance. Sorry!

Jackson Booth-Millard From Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated director Roland Joffé (The Mission, Captivity), this film features in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, I didn't know much about it, apart from one of the cast members, so I just hoped it would be worth the five stars out of five critics give it. Basically in 1973, American journalist Sydney Schanberg (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Sam Waterston) is a foreign correspondent for the New York Times, he has been sent to Cambodia to cover the civil war between the Cambodian national army and communists the Khmer Rouge, a result of the Vietnam War. Schanberg is joined by local representative Dith Pran (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning Haing S. Ngor) as his guide and interpreter, they also meet a number of times with photographer Al Rockoff (John Malkovich), who gives them updates on the latest situations. Over the subsequent years Schanberg and Pran, with Pran's family, become friends, the bond between two men largely due to watching out for each other during potentially deadly situations. Schanberg is able to secure evacuation from the country for Pran's family, when western powers believe an escalation in the war will bring imminent indiscriminate bloodshed. The Khmer Rouge ultimately take over the country in 1975, Schanberg and other members of the western media make it out of the country in April, Schanberg returns to New York, but attempts to evacuate Pran failed, his life is in danger, every western-friendly Cambodian journalist captured has been killed. Schanberg leaves the U.S. begins what becomes a four and a half year campaign to get Pran out of the country, with no knowledge of the atrocities he may have suffered from the Khmer Rouge and/or their North Vietnamese allies, and no knowledge if Pran is still alive. This campaign for Schanberg ends up being a mission out of guilt, he feels largely responsible for Pran's predicament, he receives acclaim during his reporting of the conflict, in the end Schanberg calls Pran's family with the news that he is alive and safe, Schanberg and Pran reunite at the he Red Cross camp, they embrace with a hug. Also starring Julian Sands as Jon Swain, Craig T. Nelson as Military Attaché, Spalding Gray as U.S. Consul, Bill Paterson as Dr. MacEntire, Athol Fugard as Dr. Sundesval, Graham Kennedy as Dougal, Katherine Krapum Chey as Ser Moeum (Pran's Wife), Oliver Pierpaoli as Titony (Pran's Son) and Lambool Dtangpaibool as Phat's Son. Waterston gives a good performance as the journalist filled with both shame and ambition, Malkovich does well in his many moments, but the best performance is indeed newcomer and deserved award winner Ngor, at the time he was a gynaecologist and obstetrician, he is a fantastic embodiment of all emotions of the time, sadly Ngor was murdered in 1996. I didn't know anything about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia myself before this film, I read it was a genocide initiated by Pol Pot, it was also known as Year Zero, the film shows both the humanity and the agony of the time, based on the experiences of the real-life characters, the most gripping moments are obviously those filled with conflict and suffering, all in all I found it an interesting biographical war drama. It won the Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing, and it was nominated for Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, it won the BAFTAs for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Most Outstanding Newcomer to Film for Haing S. Ngor, Best Production Design/Art Direction and Best Sound, and it was nominated for Best Make Up Artist, Best Score for Mike Oldfield and Best Special Visual Effects, and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Screenplay and Best Original Score. Good!

videorama-759-859391 This great Salvadorian type movie for me was one cinematic experience, as I was two months shy of my fifteenth birthday. I had seen it with my folks. I opted to see Beverley Hills Cop, my Mum opted for Places In The Heart. Dad opted for this. He won, and I'm glad he did. I had overheard an old woman saying "Fancy letting a kid like that into a film like this". All I can say, is I'm glad I was, as this film opened my eyes to the realities and horror of war. Although more a political film, than a war movie, The Killing Fields has some stark and confronting images, one I never got out of my head, was that blood being swept off the top of that staircase like rubbish. The Killing Fields is a biographical account of two tight journalists, one who's really experienced war, up close, a first hand witness to the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge. Unfortunately this journo, Dith Pran ( wonderfully played by the "much left us too soon actor" Haing S 'Ngor who really puts real life into the role- Oscar naturel) becomes a hostage, but manages to escape, another haunting scene has him wading quietly through a canal of skulls. It really becomes a vital want for audience through gruelling suspense to see this guy get back with his journalist mate. We really fear for him. The film has a surprise cast, none more than Graham Kennedy, while Waterston still, I believe, did his best work here in the lead as Pran's hot shot journo mate, while unearthed here too, was the great John Malcovich, and obscure star, then, Julian Sands, completing the chain of journo's. But what I love about the film, is it's more real, than movie, It really follows through on the facts, and what unfolds is a film of excellence by any measure. See this film if just once, please.

aocontreras The film is a drama about Cambodia war, which last from 1967 to 1975. Action takes place in the last years of the conflict. Sydney (Sam Waterston) is an American journalist covering the war at the peak of the violence displayed by the government: the Khmer rouge. The plot is based on Sydney's friend: Dith Pran (Haing S. Nor). He is a Cambodian photographer and journalist. Both of them usually face risky situations in different cities where the government is killing innocent people. For instance, a city called Neak Luong, which is destroyed, by mistake, by the American air force in 1973. The ruling party decides to expel foreigners and this represents a twist in the story. Both characters are forced to be separated; and facing opposite situations. Dith has to live in a concentration camp. In this place all the citizens were forced to work and to accept the party's ideas. If they did not obey, then they were killed. On the other hand, Sydney returns to a safe America. He begins the search of his friend and colleague in hopes of finding him alive. I enjoyed the film. However, the plot is sad and sometimes cruel. I highly recommend it because the story is still relevant.