Bardlerx Strictly average movie

Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Scotty Burke It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Rita Lizzy A movie that talks about an historic event ignoring history and the people who started the movement they talk about. No transgenders, black or white, in the movie. Only focus is Gay people, ignoring not only transgender issues, but the LGBT movement in general. And even without the cis and whitewashing, its still a poor movie, with no charisma and lacks emotion. It at least can bring people together, be straight, gay, cis or trans, everyone can dislike this movie together.

Historian-3 I was not previously aware of the negative reviews of this film. And that is a good thing, since they might have deterred me from watching. Having now seen the film, and having done so as A) someone who is old enough to remember firsthand what it was like to be gay in middle America in 1969 (far worse than what is depicted in this film!), B) someone who was disowned and thrown out by his parents at age 17 for being gay, C) a long-time gay activist, and D) a professional historian, all I can say is that the critics need to get past the fact that this is *not* a dispassionate, objective documentary about the Stonewall Riots. Rather, it is a fictionalized evocation of the social, cultural, and political circumstances that eventually triggered the riots. And in that regard, I think the film did an outstanding job. Those born after about 1970 largely have no reason to remember bar raids, police payoffs, anti-cross-dressing laws, or even the overt involvement of organized crime in the operation of many gay bars. And that is in large part thanks to the bravery of the "deplorables" (to use a word circulating in this election cycle) who finally said, "Enough is enough." From my perspective as an elderly gay man who continues to be utterly dumbfounded (and delighted!) by the social changes that gay militants have achieved over the past half-century, I can only say "Thank you" to the makers of this film for at least trying to tell the story in a passionate, subjective manner. If you want cold, emotionless history, tune in to the National Geographical Channel. If you want some sense of what it *felt like* in 1969 (and for many years thereafter), see this film. Is the film "flawless"? No. But despite a few flaws, it is an excellent film.

kosmasp Some material may sound better on paper than it actual translates on screen. And while this will not be up every-ones ally (which you can tell by the rating and the discrepancies in high and low ones), this did happen to a degree and was worth telling. So while you may not belong to a community that is affected by this, it's a universal theme nonetheless at the end.I haven't checked facts or read upon the real events, so I wouldn't be influenced going into this. But that also means, I can't confirm to what degree this got it right (something quite a lot of people seem to criticize). From a drama point of view it does kind of work though and while it doesn't seem perfect, it is decent

zif ofoz What's with the bitchy reviews here? One reviewer even complains about a 'dull sex scene'! Did the negative reviewers expect porn? This film is about humans coming together to fight for their human rights, social and civil rights. And it's not a documentary! The movie itself is not a great and wonderful achievement in cinema art. What's great about it is the powerful message it brings into todays world when it is most needed.The message -- no matter who you are or where you come from and you know right from wrong - when you see or experience injustice, abuse, discrimination, take a stand and fight back. That's what is being brought to light in this film.The gay community are not outcast to be used and tossed out as trash by people of hypocritically high religious, political, and social standing. There are religious persons, political leaders, and greedy capitalist businesses that wrap themselves in the American flag, arm themselves with Jesus, the Bible, and guns and would be pleased and fulfilled with self gratitude to see the LGBT community tortured, destroyed, and killed. That's what this movie is about! It shows victims of life being forced to the bottom of society because they love differently. And once you are at the bottom 'to survive' is your goal and then you are labeled 'trash'. Your only defense is to fight back and crack a few skulls of the oppressors that pushed these people away and make them stay hidden. And that includes the family, the good religious families that see no wrong in destroying their own.Near the end of Stonewall there is a scene when Danny Winters tells Ray that when he was fighting back, pushing the cops away, screaming that they are people with rights - he felt most alive! He felt like a human with purpose! In other words he had found himself and he's not a bad person (as the people back in Indiana would have him feel about himself). And his trip back to visit friends in that cold hearted backward thinking state was a cathartic moment for him as then he realizes he's on the right path.Why so many are trashing this film is suspect. Did they actually watch the movie? This film will stay in your thoughts for quite sometime if you actually think about what life was and still is for the gay community!