Keep in mind that you'll probably find the review below a bit too opinionated for your own good, but then remind yourself that this is MY blog so... Yeah.
I'll start with the ending because this movie became much more bothersome for me to watch towards the end. Spielberg chooses to end
Munich with a still shot of the Twin Towers. We're not talking a split second or even a hot minute. You leave the theater with that image in mind. Now, one has to wonder - if the Munich Olympics were in 1972 and the Twin Towers were only completed in 1973, than what the hell are they doing there? Ahhh. A little birdie calls coincidence tells me that there is a strong possibility Spielberg and Tony Kushner may have been siding with the extremists that claimed that if it wasn't for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this whole 9/11 thing never would have happened. These people may have not gotten too much attention, but yes, they did exist. So if you think those tall ass buildings just randomly happen to appear in the ending shot, then you my friend, are a tad bit naive.
As for Eric Bana and the rest of these fictional Mossad agents - Hate to break it to you, but these are
hardly the typical Mossad guys. I only allow myself to say that because I know what they are like. They're not clumsy. They don't blow themselves up. And, In REALITY - the real Mossad agents never died! Spielberg kills almost all of them. Please. As for those who say the Israelis did admit to wrongful killings following Munich - that was only
one incident and yes, it was a
horrible, huge mistake. Ironically, that's not even the one featured in the movie. "Inspired by real events" takes on a whole other meaning, doesn't it? Lets try and stick to the facts people.
Now lets talk about Brooklyn for a second. Sure, any average moviegoer may not see the big deal about the Mossad agent ending up in Brooklyn (after feeling betrayed and abandoned by his own county of course). The average Israeli however, will tell you that Israel wasn't chosen to be the Jewish State just because its close to the mediterranean ocean. That's just a nice bonus. There's an incredible amount of history in that tiny little place. Regardless of this, Israelis and Jews can obviously live wherever they want (I for example am typing this as I overlook my view of the Hollywood sign). But when it comes to those who represent and work for the government the story is a bit different. By the way, Mossad agents don't really leave their families for almost a year either. Or end up in Brooklyn. Or Seattle for that matter. So what's my theory on this one? Well, here's another thing you probably didn't know. In an interview to the
Times of London Tony Kushner had actually said that
"the founding of the State of Israel was for the Jewish people a historical, moral, political calamity.... I wish modern Israel hadn't been born." Still think its a coincidence Bana ends up in Brooklyn? As one of the editors of the Washington Post bluntly points out - this is supposedly the true home of a conscience Jew. It baffles me that a man who says such things (there's plenty more where that came from, by the way) goes on to make millions off of the slaughter of 11 Israelis. Argh.
The bottom line is, we all like to go see fictional movies. BUT, you have a certain obligation to get the story right when you call a movie Munich and base it on such tragedy. Instead, the victims are used as props for political agenda (let alone for the political agenda of those who killed them, oops).
I have gotten into a few disagreements about this movie ever since it has come out. People will constantly tell me "How sad it is" and how its "Such a shame you guys can't get along." You know, we are dealing with terrorists here. Like hellooo, they don't really listen. Apparently, its hard to get this point across to even the smartest and most understanding people. The things you do to protect your life, family or country may not be the ideal ones in a perfect world, but we have to keep doing them so that maybe one day our kids won't have to worry about this bananas.
Brokeback Mountain is so winning anyways. You know you can't quit them.
