Rating: Summary: GREAT flick! Review: A great film that shows the reality of racial violence from both sides of the spectrum! "Brutally" entertaining. Unfortunately, too many consider movies such as this as promoting prejudice & violence.
Rating: Summary: Ignore the hype - see the film Review: So much has been said about Romper Stomper (even on these pages) and it seems a little pointless to say more - but what is so offensive about it is the mis-infomation that seems to pop up all the time. People's personal ideas about Daniel's death, comments like 'I think the film is racist', talk of 'Real Skins' not being racist (well they are in my town), 'why is it blue?' (Shot on Super-16mm in 1991, when the film stocks were not perfected - a bit like asking why Charlie Chaplin made his films in Black and White), all seem to show up people who have not the open mind to sit down and deal with what is possibly one of the greatest films in Australia's history. And be sure that Mr. Crowe considers this one of his greatest works. This film really deserves to be released on DVD to take full advantage of the stunning sound design.If you liked it - try getting hold of Geoffrey Wright's next film "Metal Skin". Along with his short film "Loverboy", these three form a trilogy of life in Melbourne's Western suburbs.
Rating: Summary: Er...Boring Review: This film does start off with a lot of energy and a kinetic visual style. And it convincingly portrays the textures of skinhead life, both the squalor and stupidity and the brief moments of euphoria. It does all this without the judgemental finger-waggling you see in most "message" films. But the director went too far in eschewing a moral or sociological context. With nothing to think about except the boneheaded war against the Asians and the cliche'd love triangle, the violence becomes soooooooo boring! I didn't even care what happened in any of these endless brawls, because the characterizations were so shallow that no one in the film seemed real, or in danger. The main skins were ciphers, the heroine was a stale wild-girl cartoon (oh, of course, she's epileptic too), and the molester-film director was straight out of a comic book. And it's a little cheap and predictable that all these punk/skinhead films (AmHistX, Suburbia...) have to end with a little bald kid getting whacked to whip up your outrage. I guess the director deserves credit for not force-feeding us an agenda, but it's sad that so much research and cinematic savvy was wasted on what is really an artsy, 1950's-style B-Movie throwaway. And did they catch the person who spilled all that blue ink all over the film stock?
Rating: Summary: Disturbing and mesmerising Review: I highly recommend this film. The film does not bow to PC. It doesn't condem or condon racism. It just shows you the subject. As for the actions of hando's gang going unpunished, this is not altogether true. By the end of the film you could hardly say they all get off lightly. Hando seems to dominate most of his gang, much like hitler did with the whole of germany, dragging in the young, reluctant and the sheep. I think Russell Crowe should not be ashamed of his role in this film (if he is at all) as he portrays a charasmatic violent leader extremely well. This got the film in trouble to which the director answers "Wasn't hitler also charasmatic?". A good anti-racism film even if it doesn't blatantly tell you this over and over again. As for this skinhead issue, I shave my hair down extremely short as I am losing my hair anyway. So maybe that was a little unfair, but it does add well to the menacing appearance of hando and his gang.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Review: this movie was excellent - a great but disturbing look into the white supremacist movement in another country. Gory at times, but still a great movie - really makes you think
Rating: Summary: Romper Stomper: Give 'em the boot! At least the Boneheads. Review: Ah, Romper Stomper. One of my favorite movies outside of the sleaze/horror genre, and yet...and yet....it's a two-edged sword. One one hand, it shows how destructive, ignorant and basically worthless Bonheads can be. On the other hand, like any OTHER movie involving skinheads, the writer/director once again ignore the fact that Traditional skins and SHARPS exsist, much less the fact that they make up the majority of the skinhead population. American History X, another movie I *almost* loved, suffered from the same fatal flaw. As long as the media perpetuates the idea that skinheads (and in my mind, the only true skinheads are Traditional non-racists) are Nazis, then the public will continue to believe it.On the other hand, Russell Crowe gives an incredible performance as Hando, the leader of the Nazi skins. He's beautiful. He's monsterous. He's probably better-read and more intelligent than any actual Bonehead. Be that as it may, his performance is compelling. I definitely suggest this movie to anyone interested in the negative effects racism has on the punk/skinhead scene...but while you're at it, do a little research. Try reading ''$The Spirit of '69: A Skinhead Bible,'' or check out many of the fine Oi! band documentaries still circulating.''NO TRUE SKINHEAD IS RACIST.''
Rating: Summary: LET'S STOMP ON THIS RACIST NONSENSE! Review: As an Australian I am deeply embarrassed to see this cow of a movie being offered for sale in the US and Canada. Not to put too fine a point on it, this movie stinks. Deeply disturbing, overblown to the point of self-parody this movie virtually endorses the sick rantings of extreme racists and homophobes. There is no sign of condemnation of their activities, this movie shows a happy community oblivious to society's disapproval. The fact that one of the lead actors committed suicide one month after the movie's release in Australia probably says it all. Russell Crowe is still trying to live this down. A year after RS (oh, how appropriate!) came out he played an openly gay man in The Sum of Us and went on TV in Australia to try and soften his image. Thankfully he has gone on to bigger and better things (Virtuosity, LA Confidential, etc). Take my advice and give Romper Stomper a big miss.
Rating: Summary: This movie is strait forward and i love it Review: Like i said its a strait forward movie but if your one of those people who can't handle the truth as it is i wouldn't recamend it! its fairly violent but not enough to make my stomach turn! anyway you should watch it to expand your horizons or just because!
Rating: Summary: Good movie. Lots of violence. Review: Good movie about a bunch of Boneheads beatin people up and turning on themselves. Didn't much like how that whiney blonde girl pretty much got away with murder, but she'll get hers. Traitors always do. Anyway, good movie, although full of the cliche Skinhead sterotypes (blah blah blah) but unless ur a SHARP, you might actually like this one. Good sounding Oi! soundtrack too. Not for the light of heart or head.
Rating: Summary: Brilliant, Gritty Drama Review: I thought Romper Stomper was great. It worked as a documentary in way that it exposed a different side of Australian culture. But it also has an interesting unpredictable plot with the Asians getting revenge on the skin heads and the love triangle between Hando Gabe and Davie. Acting is superb particularly from Jacqueline McKenzie, Russel Crowe, and Daniel Pollock who sadly died from a drug overdose before the film's release. It is an action/drama which works on many levels. It is brilliantly directed by Geoffrey Wright and while it is quite violent, turns out to be an incredibly interesting film.
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