The film 'MUNICH' - what did you think of it?

Question

Having read the book, 'Vengeance' that the film was based on, I found the movie rather disappointing. The book w as very moving, but the film far less so, somehow...

Anyone agree/disagree and if so, why?

Am really interested in your views.

BRYAN: The reason the Palestinians weren't shown doubting their actions is because they never did doubt. There was much glee on their part over their massacre of the innocent Israeli athletes.

MSAFWAT: Firstly, I never said I 'hated' anything about the film. I merely noted that the book was superior, in my own, subjective opinion. Secondly, why did you feel the need to take my perfectly polite question, and twist it to imply that I 'hated' seeing anything positive about Palestinians??? You are bang out of order for twisting things in this way. Cheers for introducing tension into what was a perfectly nice discussion. If you answer any of my future posts, kindly be less spiteful.

KOSHER: I'm afraid you are wrong on one thing: two or more of the Mossad agents WERE killed by enemy agents during the mission. You can find the details in the book written by one of the surviving Israeli agents, 'Vengeance'.

Answer 1

i didnt read the book nor see the movie, i try to avoid books movies that tell about real events through someone's interpretation, we get too much of that in the papers and on tv.
but generally, most movies that are based on books can never capture the entirety of the plot, they squash your imaginative power and make a diluted version of a part of the book.

Answer 2

Yes. The people who organised the attacks were not just theorists; they were all career terrorists and had been responsible for numerous suicide bombings in Israel, killing many innocent women, men and children. What the Israelis did was fair; they went after the terrorists who organised all these killings - better than what the UK and USA are doing now to fight Al Queda etc, presumably? What 'Munich' did NOT show was the way in which the Israeli athletes were tortured before they were killed. They were stabbed numerous times and there were other things also. If you know about Munich properly, you will also know what the Germans did; they ensured that the terrorists who actually killed the Israelis got away in a German plane and thus they TOTALLY escaped. Perhaps a more relevant question: Was the world right to just happily continue with the Olympic games, even as the corpses of the dead Israeli athletes were still lying on the apartment floor, yards away?

Answer 3

I really enjoyed the diversity of viewpoints. There seemed to be heartfelt sympathy for the points of view of both Palestinians and Israelis.

I liked that various Israelis found themselves questioning the morality of some of the things that they were doing; I wish the Palestinians could have been depicted with the same care.

Not having read the book, I can't compare it. However, overall I was pleased that Mr. Spielberg could show this degree of nuance in a mainstream film.

Answer 4

I thought the movie was ok - what bothered me about the film some of the dramatic license movies like that take. The scene with the murder of the female agent for example I understand was all created for dramatic effect. It reminded me of the movie years ago called "The Longest Day" where a US solder was shown gunning down German solders during the battle of D-Day who were surrendering at the time. It led to many protest by for US Ranger solders who claimed (and proved) no such thing had happened. As a historian I am always troubled by movies that try to depict historic events and then add in historic fictions for dramatic effects.

Getting back to Munich I know much of the feel acurately reflected many things that occured, but that just annoys me more because it makes some of the false events to the minds of others to be actual events.

Good Luck!!!

for those who didn't see the movie check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_%28film%29

Good luck!!!!

Answer 5

I don't agree with war at all. But a so called humane war would be soldier killing soldier not killing innocent civilians. I was deeply sadened by the movie. For the most part is that the olympics is the idea of bringing the world together competing in a healthy way. And forgetting in that time that we hate each other normally. On both sides innocent civilians get killed everyday. My wish is that the youth in Israel/Palestine will learn to accept each other , have tolerance and somehow change the mistakes of their grandfathers.

Answer 6

Hi firstly i dont know anything about the book so to me your question seems perfectly legitamate, one thing i always say is , if you read the book first , may as well not watch the movie, itis never as good as the book after all how can they match your own power of imagination?

Answer 7

I enjoyed the film but have not read the other book you mention. I guess it was more documentorial than entertainment. The film Raid on Entebbe on the other hand was full of action!

Answer 8

I haven't read the book, but I found the film very moving, and very sad.

Why can't these people set aside their differences and get on with each other?

Answer 9

I actually liked the movie very much.

Maybe you were disappointed becasue it dealt with the issue from a practical and human perspective. Showing that Israelis and Palestinians at the end are both Human beings whose reactions are moulded in accordance with the pressures they fall under.

Maybe you hated seeing the Human face of the Palestinians, and the real motives behind their despair, and what practically pushes them to become "Terrorists". To you they should just be seen through the general stereotype of being heartless, blood thirsty barbarians motivated only by their uncomprehensible and impulsive hate to "Jews". Your comment to Bryan shows what I mean, how did you judge those Palestinians and read their true intentions unless by using that same old stereotype?

Maybe you hated seeing the Human face of the Israeli agent too, whose concsience ached when he had to kill innocent civilians or politicians to achieve nothing but "revenge". To you they should just be seen also as the infaliable heroes, innnvincible, strong and remorsless in their quest to exterminate the Palestinian Barbarians mentioned above.

Maybe you just hated the balanced view of the movie to both sides of the conflict.

But again this is not a tale from DC comics where the super hero (absolute good) always defeats the super villain (absolute evil). This is the real world... not just black and white, but rather endless shades of grays.

I admire Steven Spielberg and commend him for this great work which has shown that he is truly a respectable artist who knows how to take his work far above and beyond all religious and nationalistic bias.

Edit to paperback: Well I see you are over-reacting. I haven' used any abusive language, I only said I see in this movie the human face of Both Israelis and Palestinians. What is wrong with that? Do you want me to praise the Israelis only? what if I don't agree to this? Is this what makes me spiteful?

Any way, I just tried to share my honest oppinion... I personally think the "other" oppinion always enriches discussions and makes them more interesting, Don't you think so?

Another relevant question was posted here:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkW1iOU_Two.dJIby5TNXRXsy6IX?qid=20070827025618AArGWBz

Edit to paperback: Just another thought, If your intentions were "totally polite and innocent" as you claim, why did you choose to post your question about a movie dealing with the ME issue in the "Israel" category instead of the "Movies" category? To me it looked like an invitation for a political debate. I just accepted your invitation and in politics opposition should be tolerated. Don't you agree?

Answer 10

I believe that no matter what the crime, no matter whom it is committed against, a person is due his day in court. The people who killed the athletes certainly could not have won their case in jurisdiction where law is upheld and they would have been punished in accordance with the law.

The willful assassination of those who committed the criminal acts at Munich is as much a crime as the act of murdering the Israeli athletes. Murder, committed by anyone, is not justifiable. And at one time, Israel exemplified the rule of law when it brought Adolf Eichman back and put him before a judge and jury. He was judged guilty by a competent court after due process and hanged - as it should be.

Two wrongs do not make a right.