The Stoning of Soraya M.

Movie: The Stoning of Soraya M.

Cast: Shohreh Aghdashloo, James Caviezel and Mozhan Marnò

Genre: Drama

I saw it on: July 18, 2009

Synopsis: This is a drama set in 1986 Iran and is based on the novel of the same name.  It is told from the standpoint of a man whose car has broken down in a small Iranian village.  As he waits for his car to be repaired, he learns the story of Soraya from her aunt.  Basically, Soraya’s husband wanted a divorce.  When she balked – she had no means of support – he manipulated the village into stoning her to death.

My two cents: One of the most powerful movies I have ever seen.  From my perspective, what happened in this village is beyond comprehension.  This poor girl did nothing wrong.  It really brings home just how different our cultures are.

I have seen a lot of violent movies and a lot of horror movies, but the segment in this movie that shows the actual stoning is the most horrific and hard-to-watch scene I have ever seen in a movie.

This movie is well-worth seeing.  Even if it is hard to watch at times, it is worth the effort.

The Warrior's Way

Movie: The Warrior's Way

Cast: Dong-gun Jang, Kate Bosworth and Geoffrey Rush

Genre: western, martial-arts

I saw it on: December 6, 2010

Synopsis: Yang is the best swordsman in the history of the world.  When he fails to complete his assignment of killing every last member of an enemy clan, his own clan sets out to kill him.  Like good old Kwai Chang Caine, Yang heads to the American west (seems to be late 1800’s).  There, he runs a laundry in an almost-ghost town full of circus performers.  Then it gets weird.

My two cents: This movie definitely dances to the march of a different drummer.  If the screenwriters of “Kung Fu” had been dropping acid, the series might have looked like this.  I would wait for the movie to come to HBO to see it.