it could be that i went into the theatre to see this movie with overwhelming feminine cramps, but i honestly didn’t find it that fascinating. as with a lot of the movies that have been popping out of the hollywood oven of late, the manchurian candidate is a remake of a “classic” film. i didn’t care enough about the story to watch the first one before its clone, so i’m not going to go into the nit-picky details of which one is better. let’s just say, in fairness, that they equally blew.

ok, so maybe it didn’t completely blow. there were a lot of ideas about the state of the world in terms of electing leaders. but besides the actors in this film (i.e., denzel washington, liev schrieber, and meryl streep), there was nothing really noteworthy throughout the two hours or so you’re sitting in your seat, desperately trying to stay awake. the story itself was, i guess, unique (even though it’s a remake), but a little too complicated to keep me interested. i couldn’t suspend my disbelief at the events in the film. i won’t spoil the plot twists for anyone still wishing to watch it.

overall, the manchurian candidate paints a picture of america if it were run by big business (and it isn’t today?). well, that’s what i got out of it, anyway; that, and a gross feeling when mommy shaw, played by streep, leans in for an incestuous kiss. ew, ew, ew!