tao902 A slow but rewarding film about the circumstances of two suicide bombers from the West Bank town of Nablus. The two friends, Said and Khaled, are given a mission that requires them to carry out a bombing in Tel Aviv. The operation does not go smoothly and is postponed, creating the opportunity for their intentions to be questioned, analysed and evaluated. No straightforward explanations or answers are provided.The film obviously highlights the antagonisms between Israel and the Palestinians but it also reveals the debates and divisions amongst Palestinians.

Python Hyena Paradise Now (2005): Dir: Hany Abu-Assad / Cast: Ali Suliman, Kais Nashif, Lubna Azabal, Hiam Abbass, Hamza Abu-Aiaash: Powerful foreign film about making the best out of life. Plot regards two life long friends who are recruited as suicide bombers on an Israel target. We witness their friendship and job at an auto repair shop. We witness the loving home life of one of them who himself is sighted by a young woman who's father served their country with his life. Both friends are ready to carry out the plan until one of them pauses and observes life. He discovers that despite pitiful conditions there is still life and goodness around therefore he opts not to carry through with the bombings. His friend tracks him down and attempts to convince him of his duty. Director Hany Abu-Assad deserves credit for showcasing potential bombers as human with ability to choose right over wrong and celebrate God's creation of life. It also does this without giving sympathy to potential terrorists. This is about choice, not destruction or blame. We observe how friendship is tested and sometimes ended upon moral choice. The ending is thought provoking allowing viewers to decide for themselves what they believe occurred before the screen turns white. Superb performances by Ali Suliman and Kais Nashif. It is a beautifully filmed celebration of conscience and the ability to live our own paradise. Score: 9 / 10

Robyn Nesbitt (nesfilmreviews) Incredibly powerful and intricately detailed, highly acclaimed and widely controversial. "Paradise Now," is a compelling, tightly made thriller set in Nablus, on the West Bank, and lays bare the humanity and the horror for all to see. The film provides a gripping and terrifying insight into the mindset of martyrs by turning the camera on two Palestinian suicide bombers during what they assume to be their final 48 hours. The story places two close friends, Said (Kais Nashif) and Khaled (Kais Nashif), recruits by an extremist group to perpetrate a terrorist attack, a suicide mission, in Tel-Aviv. Both men are bathed, shaved, and made to look like Israeli settlers; then they are then strapped with explosives, dressed in dark suits, and are off to carry out their orders. However, things go wrong and both friends must separate at the Palestine border. One of two will maintain in his purpose of carrying out the attack to the very end, and the other will begin to have his doubts. Despite condoning their actions and motives, you can't but help to watch the film with a fearsome fascination. The film sustains a mood of breathless suspense. "Paradise Now" is a thriller whose shrewdly inserted plot twists and emotional wrinkles are calculated to put your heart in your throat and keep it there. The movie humanizes the anonymous faces we often see in the news. The director and co-writer, Hany Abu- Assad, undercut any heroism of these young martyrs by presenting their everyday actions with moments of dark humor. During one taping of a farewell message, the video camera malfunctions half way through, and he must start over from the beginning. During another taping, one of the bombers interrupts his political sermon with a personal shopping reminder for his mother. The ending is gut-wrenching as it yanks the carpet from under your feet. A purposeful statement that strips away any glamour of terrorism, whatever the cause, reason, or rationale they use to justify it. Their inhuman mission aside, "Paradise Now" does compel an appreciation for these unfortunate young men blindly accepting their fate with empty promises. This is the first Palestinian film to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Boba_Fett1138 Really not that many movies concerning the Israeli–Palestinian conflict have been made throughout the years, simply because it's something that remains a very controversial and delicate subject. It's hard to come up with a movie that sheds some light on the whole situation, without really picking sides or offend a large group of people. I however feel that "Paradise Now" managed this and besides did a surprisingly great job at it as well.As strange as it might sound, this is not really a political movie, since it isn't really picking sides. Even though it's a movie from the Palestinian territories, you can't really accuse the movie for being Palestinian propaganda as well. That's simply not what the movie is all about! It's actually more of a neutral observation of the whole Israeli–Palestinian conflict, that just happens to focus on Palestinian characters. It's not saying that anything they, or the Israelis, do is right or wrong. It simply shows the effects of the whole conflict on the lives of two very ordinary young men, who's lives are heavily influenced and ultimately, unavoidably affected, by the conflict. It's like the course of their lives had already been set out, before they were even born, just because of the time and place they were born at.The movie is asking itself all sorts of questions. Of course it's not providing any solutions to the whole conflict but again, this really wasn't the movie its intention. But something that the movie does bring up is if violence brings you any closer to a possible solution and if it will achieve anything at all. Can one life or one kill make really a difference?The movie does provide an unique look into the minds of suicide terrorists. This is still where most of the movie its controversy comes from. You also have to remember this movie got released in 2006, when the whole subject was even more controversial, due to the whole state and situation the world was still in at the time. Perhaps the movie would be considered somewhat less controversial if it got made and released today. But you could also turn things around and say that the movie got released at a perfect and relevant place in time.But really, this movie is not approving or glorifying terrorism in any way. On the contrary quite really, in my opinion!It's also refreshing for once to see things from the perspective of suicide bombers and show their human side. It's not like they are happy to go, or are completely without doubt. They actually question their coming actions constantly and wonder if it's really the right thing to do. The closer they get to their 'goal' the more doubts and questions start to arise in their heads. You also won't sympathize for them but you will perhaps understand their actions and motives better after watching this movie.Again, this movie won't turn you pro-Palestine or pro-Israel but it does shed an unique light on the whole situation and tells the story from a side that is not often being handled in movies or documentaries.A true daring project from director and writer Hany Abu-Assad, who ultimately did a great job at telling the story. It's a skillfully made movie, that is realistic looking and feeling, which makes it a bit of a shame that the script is also being filled by some not so likely developments, that perhaps belong more in a less serious or heavy thriller. This is the case in the second half of the movie and the only reason why I just can't really call this movie a perfect one or an absolute must-see.Nevertheless, the movie still remains a very effective and successful one, at what it was ultimately trying to achieve; showing the whole hopelessness, as well as the human-side of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The conflict as it is and was at the time knows only losers, while the innocents are doing the suffering and are paying the price for it.8/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/