The Worst Film Ever

Fantastic!

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

This short won the Academy Award for Live Action Short. There will be spoilers ahead: This is a comedic parody of West Side Story with the setting changed to Israel and the star crossed lovers being Israeli and Palestinian and the two "houses" being competing fast food places right next door to one another.The parallels to West Side Story are blatantly obvious. That's the problem-they're often too obvious for words. This is funny and entertaining, but it tries too hard and is too over the top. I enjoyed this, but the leads are too gorgeous by half, the two warring factions are too comical for words and it all comes off as a little too cute for its own good.I understand why it won the Oscar and it's by no means a bad choice. But I would have preferred Helmer and Son or One Too Many myself.This short is available on DVD in more than one instance, most notably on a DVD/Blu-Ray combination compilation released by Shots International of Academy Award winning live action and animated shorts. This short is worth watching and the DVD/Blu-Ray compilation is excellent. Recommended.

When I saw the short film West Bank Story I didn't expect a Musical shortcut. At the begging it was wonderful to see the differences about both cultures Israelis (Jewish) and Pakistanis (Muslim), from cloths, food, life style and ideals, even music and dance can be appreciate in this film. The main actors in this film are two young persons a Pakistani Cashier Girl and a Israeli Soldier that are in love, the problem as you can expect is the rivalry between both cultures. The plot is only about how the young lovers can workout differences between both families. A great film to think about our own ideals and cultures.

West Bank Story is a truly creative and original short film, retelling the tale of West Side Story in the context of the Middle East. Specifically, two neighboring fast-food restaurants in the West Bank - one Jewish and one Arab. As a musical, well, let's just call it a comedy, since the musical numbers are funnier than they are musically brilliant. But hey, it's a spoof, and social satire, and on both counts West Bank Story does really well. The film does a great job of making fun of both "sides" equally. The satire manages to be both good-natured and poignant, fearless yet never heavy. There are many good in jokes that those who have spent time in the West Bank will appreciate if you watch closely, such as the green line separating the two sides in a split-screen moment...Yes, it's wall-to-wall stereotypes here, but... can't we have a little fun with this? I can't imagine that having a sense of humor could make things any worse. And laughter has a healing power, so enjoy the good medicine in West Bank Story.

I saw West Bank Story yesterday at the opening of the Boston International Film Festival. Despite being only 22 minutes in length, the director, Ari Sandel, brilliantly takes a parodistic approach to the movie-musical genre, but combines this with a satirical, yet poignant perspective on the Israeli/Palestinian dilemma. All of this is woven together, even while honoring the original inspiration for the plot (Romeo and Juliet, and later, West Side Story). Prepare yourself for dancing menorahs, choreographed falafel-making, and a full dose of ethnic stereotypes. The final product is visibly well-rehearsed, to-the-point, and quite hysterical. Go see this film!