Comandante (2003)

Sorry, this movie sucks

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Oliver Stone, probably one of the most relevant filmmakers of the last decades in the United States, has been trying to get the American public –one of the most ignorant and alienated populations among developed countries– into alternative sides of what in the USA has been called the "official story". Comandante is not an exception in that aim, and it may approach the viewers to some topics that big media corporations and the military-industrial complex have been boycotting through the years in order to avoid the public to ask their government about some big questions. Stone's filmography evidences his own interest in the last half of the recent century –the half he was born in and the events, after WW2, that bring the United States to become what we know today–, and the plots that –in his own words– diminished individual freedom and democratic values in "the land of the free and the home of the brave!" Position for which he has often been criticized "for promoting conspiracy theories and alleged historical inaccuracies." This documentary is an important effort, now that Fidel Castro –one of the 10 most influential politicians of the last century– is probably close to the end of his life. Some analysts have said that the 20th Century will have officially ended after Castro's death.

I got Comandante from a second-hand DVD shop in my town. From the summary on the back of the case it sounds great. I've an interest in the different 'dictators' of the world and the way this film was described made it sound right up my street.How wrong I was. I expected nice long, insightful interviews with Castro. Instead, I got shaky, horribly-edited interviews about nothing of any real interest. We never get any chance to actually see the 'real' Castro through these interviews because Director Oliver Stone seems to have chopped out any good material he may have filmed over the three days they were in Cuba.On top of all that, the concept of presenting the whole thing with the black-and-white "COMANDANTE" opening scene and such, to make the film look sort of like an old Commie propaganda video, just failed abysmally. Comandante was almost like a bad, unamusing parody of Communist propaganda films, with Fidel being like a cartoon version of himself throughout. Just rubbish.

All men that kidnap a country for their own game, should not be call leader, There is not freedom of speech, not Freedom to travel, not Freedom to be you, not Freedom to grow and let your mind fly and take you places u have never dream about, Not freedom of press, not Freedom to stand up for urself. that what Castro gave to 10 mill people in the last 50 years. but there is "free medical, free school" let see medical help is free because he pay u in pesos and sell the service to other country for dollars. school is free because u go to the coffee bean plantations andpick up coffee and he sell it for dollars. u get free school n medical because the aveg salary its $20 a months, i guess we need to thanks him for that because with $20 salary a month no even a dog can live. Sad that the film don't show the other side of the coin from the people in cuba. Are you free.?

It warms my heart to discover that there are human beings in charge on some parts of the planet. Stone's documentary, although annoyingly pop videoish in places shows us the human side of Castro. I do not care where your politics lie, who can argue with a policy of housing, education and health care for all. Castro is portrayed by the US in an uncomplimentary light, well its good to know not all Americans feel that he is a ruthless dictator.I want to know what Bush would say about crime, prostitution, religion, war and torture. He would not only deny it he would outright claim his country to be perfect. well nobody or country is perfect, and a least Castro can admit this. I just think of all he has achieved with one hand tied behind his back, it put's the West to shame, if his democracy is different to our's, who are we to say he is wrong!