So, I thought this movie was great for the most part. I thought it looked at a very edgy topic that is not talked about all too often and I thought it brought an interesting point of view for western viewers such as Americans and Europeans. I also thought it was cool that the movie tried its best to stay accurate and serious but at the same time still had a few funny moments here and there. The one thing that bothers me though is that it seems to be one sided, though the director says he was keeping an open view on this topic, I just feel we didn't get the whole background of it. I know a lot of people will not like that I feel this way but the movie , in my personal opinion, seemed to be promoting terrorism more than a "freedom fighter" movement. This just really got on my nerves a little bit and I understand nationalism, but I feel that what the Palestinians are doing is more of a terrorist act than a revolutionary act. With that being said though, I still thought the movie was good and interesting, it kept the viewer on the edge of their seats and kept them wanting more. I would totally recommend this to a friend if they were looking for a movie of this genre. 8/10

I liked plot of this movie along with the action that was provided with the plot. The Palestinian point of view made this movie seem personable to the culture there. This gave me a different perspective on the Middle East, considering American media always portrays it in such a negative way. The action of this film was very intense, which kept me entertained. I liked Said and Khaled's quick transition from simple workers to suicide bombers. Khaled was very passionate about what he was doing, while Said did not seem to be as interested. When their mission does not work out, Said becomes very uninterested in the bombing. Seeing why these men were doing something that seems so irrational from their point of view really made me see more clearly why they suicide bomb. Bombing seemed like it was one of the only viable options for fighting the Israelis. It does not make sense to me, but it did allow me to cope with what they do and understand why they do it. Overall, this film did a very good job of showing me the Middle East from a different perspective, allowing me to understand what happens there more.

Paradise Now (Arabic: الجنّة الآن‎) – CATCH IT (A) Paradise Now is an Oscar nominated movie which kind of put the perspective of Palestinian suicide bomber in front of the world. The movie revolves around 2 childhood friends who are recruited for suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, Israel. I really like how the makers have been able to put Palestinian perceptive in front of the world in limited resources. I really like when Said says "How can the occupier be the victim? If they take on the role of oppressor and victim then I have no other choice but to also be a victim and a murderer as well. I don't know how you'll decide, but I will not return to the refugee camp." This dialogue brought tears in my eyes, it reminded me how much Jews talk about the suffering they have went through during World War II by Hitler. And here they are confining Palestinian into walled territory and torturing them. Day by day making settlements to confine them in tighter and tighter area. They took refuge in their country and made it their own with help of powerful sovereigns. The difference between cities is visible when Said travels from damaged buildings and road of Palestine to stunning beach city of Tel Aviv. The performances by Kais Nashef, Ali Suliman and Lubna Azabal are incredible. Especially Kais Nashef who nailed the role of oblivion, naïve, confused, certain at times role of a suicide bomber. On the whole, it's a great movie which we should appreciate that in dozen World War II movies about Nazism, there is a movie which shows how Jews are doing the same.

This contains spoilers.PARADISE NOW has some weak points in the plot.The large cut gateway in the fence, and the fence area, were quickly left abandoned and unrepaired by the Israeli guards, so the lead character could keep passing through it as he wished. This is not realistic.The girl was an outsider. English born, French raised daughter of escaped refugees. She would not have much standing to influence. This was not realistic.Peeking at his mother, but not checking in, was an artificial story convention. This was not realistic.When his best friend learned from the former boss that the lead character had returned and was hob-nobbing with the girl, he naturally would have reported to the freedom leaders the status update -- that he was not captured and that he made it back on his own safely. This was not realistic.A better movie about human bombs is THE TERRORIST (1995). Much more thought provoking.A better movie about the Palestinian occupation is a large collection of documentary shorts made and edited by Palestinain teenagers called VOICES BEYOND WALLS being shown in 2010 on university campuses and on direct media.