Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Spoonatects Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

smoogy_smooger This is so sad. People who are curious and want to know about history, maybe get to see this inaccurate slander first. It's a prime example of an extremely manipulative propaganda movie. They do the trick by talking as if they were the authentic person (Fidel) and pretending things. They create a straw man. Later on (like at the very end) they blend in real arguments and quotes, but those then lose all credibility and content with the set-up movie-background that is given.So when you talk to a person who says he knows something about the Cuban revolution, he might really only have seen this movie and based everything on it. Naturally, then, there'll be a clash of opinions, because this person believes that the actions portrayed in the movie have the purposes that have been presented by the actors. In reality the person will know everything about the plot, but nothing about Cuban history or Fidel.If you see how power corrupts in the movie, I did, then it was the purpose of the film maker. And nothing else. It doesn't imply that the real life Castro is corrupted by power. That in itself is actually a strange statement, because it implies that Castro is or was the sole decision maker, which isn't true. Things are decided through voting. (Not by money or the television space it can buy).Then there is the point about counter-revolutionaries. In the movie it's just some scapegoat for consolidating power. In reality it is and was a grave threat to all kinds of revolutions. Coups, invasions, sabotage, assassinations, raids, terrorism and so on, are extremely common. Even slander movies like this one are made for that purpose. But despite this the Cuban revolution still lives on, where others have been unsuccessful.However, this movie is very interesting in one aspect, and that is that it shows more about our own society than of the Cuban one. The movie made me realize how money can spread ideas or even lies and in a way be used to "buy" votes or support. But this can only work in a society where people are ignorant (on purpose or not).Finally, I would suggest people who are interested in history to see "Che Part One" and Two. Those are better movies, which, at least to me don't seem to be made to discredit Fidel, Che or Cuba. They are accurate and were displayed on the cinemas in Cuba and people reportedly applauded. That's how movies should be made. For people, not against them. Same goes for acting (which was terrible in this movie).

camselle This film is as if aliens who know or care nothing about either leftist or rightist politics came from another planet and catalogued Fidel's rise to power in Cuba. It very objectively chronicles the good and bad about the regime and pulls no punches.Undoubtedly, there is a considerable amount more bad than good about Castro (note: to those of you whose demonize Pinochet, Castro was worse) but we get the point just the same without having to catharticly dwell on the killed, tortured, exiled, and imprisoned souls of Cuba. Just gives us the facts... nice one.

aespi50722 The movie narrates with historical accuracy the birth of the Cuban revolution. The movie also scrutinizes without taking sides, the aims that Fidel Castro strived for his people as well as the diverse events that influenced the radicalism of the revolution after this was won. So at the beginning we see Castro's idealism blossoming at the Sierra Maestra and later on being implemented in the form of urban reform, agrarian reform and new clinics and schools for the poor. Later, we contemplate with dismay the excesses of the revolution with Che Guevara and Raul Castro practically in control. And finally, we see a Fidel Castro obsessed with the revolution to the extreme of losing touch with his people's aspirations. A well done, well acted movie that deserves high marks.

fkerr Some TV productions of late have been fantastic, and many are duds. `¡Fidel!' is interesting for content but disappointing in production. Huggo Martin has good moments in the title role, but mostly he walks through the lines without imparting believability to them. Other cast members do the same. Of course, Fidel Castro is a fascinating character. Viewing this film does flesh out a Yankee's knowledge of his life. Yet, so much remains unanswered. The first segment portrays him as an idealistic leader of the justified overthrow of General Batista. His failures seem somehow related to lack of realistic planning, but he triumphs in the end at least in part by his reliance on subordinates. Then, the second segment takes us to the Castro government in power. Here, we see a megalomaniac who makes his own decisions regardless of reality or the opinions of others. He sells out his revolution out to the Soviets for no apparent reason other than his hate for the U. S. The regime becomes a disaster for the Cuban people. The film makes no effort to explain the abrupt change. Is it just the taste of power, or is there an illness within Castro's mind? Were we deceived at first? Castro and the Che Guevara character often throw allegations toward the CIA, but all of that is also left vague. A viewer interested in the subject here can only come away terribly unsatisfied.