American History X

just saw it today and thought is one of the few "good" movies i've seen in my life.
Personally, i recomend watching it, only if your not squeamish, and if you don't mind constant swearing

I stayed up late last night and watched it. It's pretty good, different view points on life. I recommend it.

I like it because it shows that no point is ever the point of no return. There is always the chance for reform. There will always be a chance to be what your supposed to be, not what others want you to be.

Yeah, but at the same time, they are ALL past the point of no return. What happened to the black guy on the curb, what happend to norton, what happened to eddie furlong, all of these things are irreversible. Also, the relationship between the kids' mom and her jewish boyfriend is irrevocably affected.

So people are not beyond redemption, but in many ways there are a lot of "points of no return" in this movie.

Edit: Another movie in this vein of controversy, what about Apt Pupil? Been awhile since I saw it but I think it is pretty good. In the end the kid is far more lost than McKellen ever was, and the old man even kind of wins in the end. Very confusing as to what is to be taken away from that movie

Yeah, I agree with dwringer, the point is IMO to see how it is to live with the consequences of your actions (love the scene in the bath, were Norton covers up his tatoo), and what makes us tick, I rather enjoy introspective movies such as this one (it is also why I enjoyed more the Ang Lee´s Hulk, more thoughtful than the new Hulk).

On the "Apt pupil" one, totally, propaganda machine at work, albeit, I dont think the kid was more lost than McKellen, he was pretty gone as far as I remember, the march? the cat? Complete psicosis thanks to witnesing horrid events. I rather enjoyed how a vicious personality (McKellen) afected so deeply the other (the kid).

I didn't want to see it, because I hadn't seen the first 9.

But I've seen it anyway, it's very disturbing and powerful, as all films should be.

Originally Posted by Cúchulainn

But I've seen it anyway, it's very disturbing and powerful, as all films should be.

I agree completely, and excellent movie.

Haven't seen it for ages, but I still remember it, a good film about something other than "t3h Gunz".

Edward norton is a really really great actor. One of my favs.

this movie convinced me that ed norton is great

Primal Fear + American History X cemented Norton going on to become one of the best actors of his era...hell he doesnt get enough exposure. Besides Al Pacino no one can go from soft spoken, sane one moment to pure rage/insane then Norton. A-X is just a fantastic movie on so many levels. I liked (in that it was interesting and unique) that Derek was a true believer in his hate, you never see that in a movie on a topic like this. It makes the movie as he realizes his world and his views are bs because HE actually believes in it as opposed to those around him. It is actually kinda of scary when you think about it if people in the real world actually believed in this nonsense like he did but then I guess that is what gets you things like Nazi Germany.

Yeah, that was an interesting aspect; they didn't use any extravagant exaggerations about his beliefs, he was psychologically VERY similar to these people in real life; they didn't make him into some unrealistic movie bad guy or particularly vilify him. It was his choice to change, prior to his repentance there weren't really any arguments to make him change, he just had highly unacceptable or offensive views.

They showed it to us at school several years ago.
Awesome film.

Originally Posted by Danzig

It is actually kinda of scary when you think about it if people in the real world actually believed in this nonsense like he did but then I guess that is what gets you things like Nazi Germany.

If? people DO believe this crap, a lot of people, actually.

and they dont have to be nazi's in germany theres plenty of neo nazi right here in america.

Originally Posted by RZZZA

If? people DO believe this crap, a lot of people, actually.

and they dont have to be nazi's in germany theres plenty of neo nazi right here in america.

I meant on a wider scale, most of white supremacist types are more like the people around Norton's character in the movie then like he was. There is undoubtedly true believers like Derek irl but not enough to be a serious problems. Look at neonazi "rallies" in the US, or check out websites like stormfront etc...they are pathetic. Many basically young kids that if you got in their face and yelled boo they would pee their pants. People like Derek would be scary compared to jokes like say David Duke types, obviously people like Timothy Mcveigh (if one believes his motives were in fact that) are the dangerous ones.

Originally Posted by danzig

I meant on a wider scale, most of white supremacist types are more like the people around Norton's character in the movie then like he was. There is undoubtedly true believers like Derek irl but not enough to be a serious problems. Look at neonazi "rallies" in the US, or check out websites like stormfront etc...they are pathetic. Many basically young kids that if you got in their face and yelled boo they would pee their pants. People like Derek would be scary compared to jokes like say David Duke types, obviously people like Timothy Mcveigh (if one believes his motives were in fact that) are the dangerous ones.

go to the backwoods of wisconsin

thats all i have to say

to be honest i dont agree with you one bit

I think neo nazi groups are dangerous, many are militant, many are subversive.

There exist people like derek, people who took the neo nazi thing to its conclusion and realized what lay at the end of the road for them, and left their gangs, and those people have finally seen the light but...

mostly neo nazi's should be taken seriously and beaten back in the only way they can be beaten back: through the application of the law

Originally Posted by RZZZA

to be honest i dont agree with you one bit

I think neo nazi groups are dangerous, many are militant, many are subversive.

There exist people like derek, people who took the neo nazi thing to its conclusion and realized what lay at the end of the road for them, and left their gangs, and those people have finally seen the light but...

mostly neo nazi's should be taken seriously and beaten back in the only way they can be beaten back: through the application of the law

Fair enough Its not that Im saying there arent dangerous ones out there its just most are just morons, ever see the HBO documentary on them? Regardless I absolutely agree they should be challenged anytime they pop their head out and for most part they are its why they are often outnumbered at their little marches.

American History X is a very good film. The city I live in has done something great: they've sent every sixteen year old kid a free copy of American History X and Schindler's List.

A great film. The curbstomp still makes me cringe...