The Flowers of War

I really liked it the first time but then rewatched it again. Didn't like it as much because it became overly sappy but I thought Bale and the other actors did a splendid job. I'm surprised it didn't get any attention like Silence is getting. Both disturbing subject matters

I often like movies more on second watch. And sometimes the mood one is in is just wrong for a specific movie the first time one sees them and the second time one sorta knows what to expect from a movie and that may help (also in choosing when to watch it), or one may notice stuff one didn't the first time.

I love Flowers of War. But it's also hard to watch.

I'd actually love to re-watch all CB's movies, perhaps even chronologically - but maybe that would be too organized and thereby limiting (as opposed to just going by whatever I feel like watching at any given time). That's a lot of movies though... and I suppose I'd then also have to re-watch (maybe even buy?) the only one I don't own, Pocahontas, which required fast-forwarding (the stupid songs!) even the one time I watched it.

So now the only CB movie I don't like (except for the last 45 minutes) is The New World.

Wow, that's an interesting one to be the last of all of them. It's easily in the top half for me, and I absolutely love it. (I prefer the long cut to the theatrical one, btw.) An exceptionally beautiful movie.

shuntanux - I rewatch his movies and the two I rewatch most are Reign of Fire and Harsh Times. ROF - because it was the first movie I saw him in and HarshTimes - can't explain why. Pocahontas is one I have not seen but I recorded it recently - so I will watch soon.

About The New World - I am not crazy about Herzog's (*) excessive meandering around. I do like the last 45 minutes because I can tolerate Bale's wandering around.

(*) Should be Malick. Thanks shuntanux.

Interesting most-re-watched pair, too. I have a soft spot for ROF, though I don't think it's that great on the whole - but it has some great stuff and some great scenes. Harsh Times I think actually is great but not a movie I could re-watch much, because it's, well, harsh on me... (but now here I am, thinking of "I see dumb people" and laughing... ) I do really like CB in it.

You meant Malick, not Herzog. I get that he's not for everyone - well, nobody is, of course, but anyway... He has his own style and one either appreciates it or not.
Now that movie I can watch quite a bit, because it's a gorgeous work of art and feast for the eyes - I enjoy it more the more I see it.

I knew Herzog didn't sound right. Should have taken the time to check. Thanks - I'll fix.

I am a Balehead forever!!!

My two favorite scene in flowers of war is John telling Mo that he likes the innocent version of her and how he took out a fake nose and playfully put it on her face. I thought it was a cute scene.

Second favorite is the very last shot of him in the cargo truck feeling relieved but then he gets teary eyed. You can see how absolutely heartbroken he is that he will never see Mo again. Bale completely nailed that scene. That scene alone shows Bale's mastery of eliciting a story through his eyes. There's a reason why he's considered one of the best.

Nathan - I agree on those scenes. He can act with his eyes better than most with their whole body.

It bothers me when people call Bale bland because Bale doesn't exaggerate his facial expressions. They call him a cold actor who doesn't go from the feet up as someone said in the awards board. If Bale was such a bland and cold actor then why do other professional actors highly praise him? He has an Oscar and has been nominated three times for crying out loud. Those "movie buffs" have no place to call him a bland and bad actor.