Rating: 
Summary: A Riveting Motion Picture.
Review: "Midnight Express" is one of Alan Parker's best films. It's an intense and effective experience from the first shot to the last. The screenplay by Oliver Stone is fantastically written and never lets us relax, his characters can be believed and everything is frighteningly realistic. Of course it is! This is a true story. The cinematography is rich and gritty. The music by Giorgio Moroder is moving and exhilarating. "Midnight Express" is a gripping film because it's realistic and in the end, has a message about fooling around with drugs or anything else that's dangerous in an area you don't know well or understand very much. I can't believe some other reviewers were dogging the film over stupid issues. The only Turks that are shown in a negative light are the ones who horribly treated Billy Hayes in the prison and lets not forget the good-for nothing lawyer. It seems like it's writing the Turks in a bad light because the film is self-contained in the prisons and jail cells and court rooms. It never goes out. Still, "Midnight Express" is riveting filmmaking. It proves that without a huge budget and special effects, a film can hold its own on story, mood, writing and performances.
Rating:
Summary: Turkish paranoia
Review: This was a great film due to its acting, cinematography, and intense storyline. I am surprised that many reviewers (many of Turkish origin?) have taken on such a defensive stance due to what others may think of the country itself. To me, it is a simple prison movie with universal themes of brutality, lonliness, and remorse. Then again, Turkey is a country that DID commit a Genocide against its Armenian citizens in 1915 and has been roundly condemed for denying it. It's no wonder that unfavorable reviews are on the basis of Turkish paranoia rather than the merits of the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: EFFECTIVE BUT...
Review: OK, if you can sympathize with an idiot who would strap several kilos of hash to his body to smuggle them from a country where penalties for such crimes are often met with DEATH, then you can go with this slick, atmospheric and incredibly violent movie. Admittedly, it gets under your skin, and Brad Davis was mightily effective in the role of Billy Hayes, and John Hurt embodies creepily the stoned out prison mate Billy befriends during his harrowing odyssey. But this movie, directed with typical stylish flair by visual master Alan Parker, never places the blame squarely on Billy's shoulders, poor dumb guy. And while his torturous stay in the Turkish prisons practically smells, it is so dense and well-captured, it did nothing for the image of Turkey, the country -- it is uncompromising and brutally vicious in its depiction of virtually every Turkish location, character and idea, for that matter. If Turkey was such a pit of despair, why did Billy decide to buy his hash there? This movie revolves around a character who is unrepentant and foolish, and while no one should have to endure such human indignation, it is hard to escape that simple fact. Parker's movie, taken on its own terms, has an almost poetic quality at times, though Billy's dismissal of the Swede's advances actually made me laugh out loud, and, by the way, was consummated in the book. With so much depravity at every turn, and hellish imprisonment your destiny, why wouldn't Billy seek another human, even if he happens to be a man?
Rating: 
Summary: Get real
Review: I've read the majority of the reviews posted and I can tell that most if not all of the reviewers never read the book. I, on the other hand, did. With the exception of the ending (which is, in fact, more harrowing than the movie's) the film is very loyal to William Hayes' book. I have never been to Turkey but would love to, regardless of this film. I believe anyone with an I.Q. higher than doorknob's understands that Mr. Hayes experience was extremely isolated and does not reflect an entire nation and its people. After all, he was caught attempting to smuggle Hashish out of the country and was punished accordingly. Billy Hayes was no innocent, despite Oliver Stone's or Alan Parker's attempts to portray him as a victim of a brutal regime yet he was hardly a hardened criminal, either. Whether what transpired within the walls of that prison was true is anybody's guess. Only William Hayes can say for sure and unless one the reviewers actually did time in a Turkish prison, whether they be a Turkish national or a foreigner, no one can truly question the authenticity of the experience. A very frightening and dramatically taut film about one man's trials and tribulations in a foreign penal system. Brad Davis and John Hurt were equally fantastic and the Giorgio Moroder score was also first rate. An all-around gripping film.
Rating: 
Summary: Technically Genious,Politically Incorrect
Review: I had heard such praise about this film from critics so I went ahead and bought it second hand. Great acting,good story,good sound,good cinematography, and great music, but...... The first half hour of the film is great movie making. When he tries to smuggle the hashish,gets caught,thrown in prison. As I kept watching I couldn't keep thinking of all the rascism directed towards Turkish people. There's not even one nice Turkish person in the film.In the end I found the film biased, racist, and not even engrossing because honestly,I did not feel sorry for the main character.I heard that half of the factuality in the film was exaggerated and twisted for dramatic effect. I returned the film the next day. Definately one of the most controversial films of all time.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping, excellent drama
Review: Well, obviously Turks hate this movie. I guess it hasn't done much to encourage tourism. Politics and allegations aside, this is a well-crafted, intense drama. Wonderful performances from Brad Davis, John Hurt and a young Randy Quaid. This film kept me on the edge of my seat! Reminiscent of "In the Name of the Father."
Rating: 
Summary: THIS MOVIE DOESN'T SHOW ANY REALITIES!
Review: I know that many of you impressed with this movie. However,let me tell you that you impressed for a movie which is made by people who hate Turkey. Why does the story takes place in Turkey? Do you think it would be different if you were caught in somewhere else with drugs? I don't think so. I suggest all of you to visit Turkey, and see what the heaven(not the hell) looks like. Instead of wasting your money to buy these kind of movies, save it for a nice trip to Turkey!
Rating:
Summary: Feel sorry for Alan...
Review: I am sorry for Alan Parker for doing such a stupid movie. He has based his film on exaggerating and I think he just wanted to make a movie that shows Turks dumb and sadistic. Besides, I doubt if he has ever been to Türkiye... As a person living in Türkiye (NOT TURKEY - thats the animal) I am worried that some people still believe that is the real Türkiye - IT IS NOT COME AND SEE WITH YOUR EYES!PS: Lately, the main character (whom was supposed to live all these bullsht) also admitted that they were all fake, in an interview with him.
Rating:
Summary: Not a movie to see if you're already deeply depressed
Review: An awe-inspiring and horrifying depiction of existence in a Turkish prison. Considering the other opinions presented here, I don't really know if the depiction is truthful and accurate, but I don't intend to find out the hard way! Good acting by the now-deceased Brad Davis is presented here. You do have to be in the right frame of mind to watch this video.
Rating:
Summary: Slanted, yes, but why?
Review: I read all the reviews on this page before I found a place that carried Midnight Express and rented it. I'm no more racist towards Turks than I was after viewing "Lawrence of Arabia.' Yes, it's somewhat exaggerated, but why? Because these guys had nothing better to do than sit around and say "I hate Turkey"? The movie's purpose, as I see it, is to discourage the use/sale of drugs of any sort, because this is the sort of situation you'll wind up in. Another purpose, to show the value of human life, life of any sort, and that people should be forgiven. (Though I would have enjoyed seeing the smugglers of "French Connection" end up in this hellhole.) On another note, why must all movies be political statements? This stands on its own as a fine dramatic piece, regardless of any "attitude" it might have. If Parker were racist, would he have directed "Mississippi Burning" ten years later? It's a good movie, with good intentions.
|
