A stunning combination of drama and romance, with a touch of sci fi. Both main characters delivered some serious roles where a couple trying to hold their relationship together in an unknown future, where a memory loss virus spreads and threatens to erase mandkind's memories. The non-stop back and forth sequences help the puzzle to connect as the characters develop in the story. With a beautiful score and a great cast, this is a full of heart movie. The dialogue is flawless, the production is amazing, the photography excellent. This is truly art, and cinema, at it's very best. It is such a thematically rich, visually consistent and aurally transfixing package, creating an off-kilter if recognizable world, at the centre of which are two people deep in the throes of love. While the broadstrokes of the story are as expected, the ending especially is brilliant.

Diqiu zuihou de yewan aka Long Day's Journey Into Night (2018)

After 4 years, I decide to write back as cinema goes stronger than ever. Starting out with a luminous esoteric puzzle, multigenerational and quintessentially human gem, coming from China. A story aggressively enigmatic with fiction characters, trying to survive and remember. A film that David Lynch, Wim Wenders or Christopher Nolan would love to direct. Luo Hongwu tries to find his old love, a mysterious woman appearing at different times and places. His quest is difficult as she moves on every time he gets closer to her. The movie first part is maybe boring on some sequences but the second one reaches immortality in my opinion. Use of 3d is also exquisite and it is recommended for the 2nd part. Audience may won't fully understand it but their heart will be touched deeply. Α must seen for every Asian film fan and not only.

White Bird in a Blizzard (2014)

Arraki's last film is a great attempt to mix some mystery alongside drama & thriller, sometimes successfully but sometimes lacks of tonal quality. There is a great cast delivering  some good acting too and the soundtrack is just amazing. I loved all these trippy moments coming to our hero's dreams. Kat is the average teenager, trying to satisfy her sexual desires at the late 80s. As Phil, her boyfriend, can't fulfill her demands, she turns to a local detective for more adventures after her mother's sudden disappearance. Her father was her doormat, a peaceful boring family man. Kat doesn't blame him for the situation and tries to understand the events surrounding her. The story works, there is some sense of mystery but the real hit is its shocking end.

 

Extinction (2015)

Extinction is not another typical zombie flick but maybe a beautiful exception. Even if you can think of it as a repetition at the beginning, everything is going to change soon at this well written story. Two different neighbors, Patrick and Jack, live peacefully somewhere in an abandoned place in the future. There was a zombie attack, nine years ago, and now Patrick raises up his daughter Lu, as Jack has no friends around, except his dog. There is a secret between these two men and they both have a common enemy that is still kept hidden. Surviving on the cold planet is really difficult and Lu tries to understand the meaning of being a human. Cool acting, nice atmosphere and an interesting horror film as well.

American Mary (2012)

A talented young girl tries her best in the medical university but she gets into troubles while doing the dirty job for a mobster. This is not her only problem as twisted doctors are trying to get closer to her and a few weird clients need her services at last. She is confused and has to take difficult decisions about her future that change everything. Her delicate passion for being a surgeon will drive her into a dark, bloody world. An interesting horror film with good acting and working plot. There is not enough gore as I was expecting but it is still an accomplishing gem. It is good to see new talent emerging with entertaining movies that don't follow the cookie cutter mold Hollywood has been giving us. 

Mandariinid aka Tangerines (2013)

This is definitely one of the best films I am writing about for the last two years. A masterpiece from Georgia, telling the story of a quiet, peaceful old guy living in the middle of nowhere, in Apkhazia, a region where two armies are about to conflict. Ivo works as a carpenter, helping his childhood friend, Margus, collecting his tangerine crop. Someday, after a battle happening near their house, he finds two wounded men from opposite camps and decides to nurse them. This is going to be a very difficult task for him as they are ready to kill each other, but his peaceful mind will bring them to peace. A beautiful story for the war, the love of life and the selfless assistance of humans. Because these things among other, can name us humans as well and not animals. Amazing story line and soundtrack compose a powerful touching film to never forget.

Clown (2014)

Somewhere in a small town, a father tries to entertain his son at his birthday party. As he wears on an old fashioned clown costume, founded in an abandoned house, it will bring chaos to his life as it will transform him to an ancient demon. Kent tries to remove the evil suit over him but every attempt fails and gets him closer to the living nightmare as he loses control. His wife is the only one who understands him but this is not enough to save him for the endless pain. This is another Eli Roth's production, probably a good horror film with great moments for fans. Its great filming and acting can save your night, if you are looking for an interesting thrilling movie. The characters developing also works  and gives an overall positive result.

Yeok-rin aka The fatal encounter

This is another great historical movie with an excellent storyboard. King Jeongjo rules on a divided kingdom while Noron family tries to take him down with the help of his grandmother and his general Ku. Two young children, numbers 220 and 77, taken by a brutal slave-master are brought up to become assassins but fate will play a dramatic role for them. The twist and turns actually makes this one quite immersive, despite some of the twist being quite predictable and all. It's really a film about strong characters, great battle scenes and suspense. Korean films are getting better and better through last decade and this is not an exception hopefully.

 

The frame (2014)

Starting writing film reviews after a whole year, makes me feel the thrills. And especially for such a movie as 'The Frame'. Jamin Winans (Ink) writes and directs an amazing story of two people living in parallel worlds. Alex is a thief working for a cartel dreaming to escape away from this situation. Sam is a determined paramedic trying to save the world while running from her past. They will connect each other through their television screens and try to understand the role of this ever-changing universe. Can they explore their inner selves as also avoid the dark creature determined to erase the world. A film that will move and hearten you with an incredible music score as well.

Barrio Brawler (2013)

Barrio Brawler is an interesting action film about martial arts and a story about two brothers who enter a fighting competition. Carlos Castillo is a sensei, a peaceful guy trying to find money to save his dojo from bankrupt and pay for the medications of his mother. He also wants to reconnect with his family again. He decides to find back his younger brother, Ricky who works under a mobster in his bar. Gangster Morales blackmails Ricky to force Carlos to enter his illegal pit fighting tournament as he recognizes his skills. Finally both brothers participate on this dangerous game in order to earn money. So this is a classic story without any special points and script. But the sequence is good, fighting parts are realistic and the cast is creative. After all it is a quite good production.

Gagarin. Pervyy v kosmose (2013)

This magnificent film from Russia delivers the story of the first human ever traveling in space, the legendary Yuri Gagarin. It is a beautiful story that finds a young boy staring at the stars and imagine himself going to space. He will follow his dream and join the air force academy instead of his father refusal. His wife's understanding will help him to reach his target and finally be the first candidate to enter the Vostok rocket. His kind character made him a loveable man who has been trusted by Sergei Pavlovich, the lead Soviet rocket engineer and spacecraft designer in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The actors do a magnificent job of capturing the raw emotion of that day and present us with a story of all the people responsible for the first flight into space. Particular regard is to be had for Yaroslav Zhalnin who does a stellar job portraying the man himself. Recommended for fans of space exploration.

 

Krugovi aka Circles (2013)

Circles of life can seen in every society. A soldier, Marko, has been kicked to death from his comrades on his effort to save Haris, a Muslim during the civil war in Yugoslavia. His heroic act will always haunt the families of participants even twelve years later. His best friend who works as a doctor will have a dilemma to save the life of the soldier who started the fight. Marco's father decides to build a church on his son's memory and will accept the help of a young boy whose father was another soldier, also responsible for Marco's death. Marco's girlfriend who left her country and got married in Germany will find shelter from Haris who lives there with his family as she abandoned her violent husband and escaped with her son. Kindness and solidarity contrast guilt and frustration on this exceptional film from Serbia that is based on real events.

Heli (2013)

Heli describes us the difficult situation of teenager, Heli and his little sister, Estela, in Mexico. A drama that starts with the relationship of Estela and a young boy who trains for being a cop. The last one finds two parcels of cocaine in an abandoned place and hides them on the roof of Estella's house. Their lives are in danger now and no one can help them as drug dealers arrive there and kill Heli's father. Living and die in Mexico is always a matter of luck for poor people who have to survive in difficult situations. Most of them often turn into illegal activities and police is corrupted as also government. Direction was realistic and the cast is really interesting. A great production that won the prize for best director for 2013 in Cannes festival.

 

Nije kraj aka Will not end here (2008)

This was just another interesting film from Croatia. Djuro the Romany is a famous porn star as also the narrator of a love story between a Serbian prostitute, Desa and a Croatian sniper, Martin that took place during the civil war in Yugoslavia. Everything started when Martin found Djuro and asked his help in order to seek for Desa, who was his partner in a porn video production. He finds money and buys her from her pimp but he has to gain her love first as well. His polite manners will make her interest on him and soon they will become a couple. But Martin's friends and co fighters don't appreciate his will to live with a Serbian woman. A typical Croatian comedy and a nice idea that could be something special if it wouldn't fail in awkward direction, pale photography and too much voice-over.

 

Don Jon (2013)

Happy New year my friends. This is the last film I watched back in 2013 and it was just excellent. Jon Martello comes from a traditional Italian family from the states. A dad obsessed with football, a mother living in another universe and a sister dedicated to her cellphone. Don uses to hang out with his pals and likes beautiful women who often invites them to his bed. He likes his ride and going to church but his real passion is porn. His life is simple as that and he enjoys that to the maximum. Until he falls in love with Barbara, a gorgeous woman who also interests into him. They start a relationship but Jon can't escape from his porn. And then problems appear. His girlfriend doesn't seem to understand him and her wills seem to be totally different from his ones. After that, another woman comes into his path. An co-student from his class, Esther, helps him to see the whole picture of his life and what he really needs to do about this. Great comedy with hilarious situations and realistic intentions.

Disconnect (2012)

Here I am back again, after relaxing for a short period. This is a combination of three stories, both dramatic, that will connect before the end. Stephen and Cindy feel alone, disconnected from each other, after their baby's loss. They also have financial issues after they are exposed online. Rich is a successful lawyer but he can't find time for his family. His son, Ben, gets cyber-bullied by two classmates and this is going to be bad for him. The irresponsible kids, Frye and Jason, haven't really understood their fault until Ben commits suicide. Jason's father, Mike, is a widowed ex-cop who tries to raise his son properly but he can't actually. They are strangers, neighbors and colleagues and their stories collide in this riveting dramatic thriller about ordinary people struggling to connect in today's wired world.

Uwantme2killhim? (2013)

Never underestimate the power of the internet. This is a thrilling true story about the friendship of two teenagers. Mark is being passionate with Rachel through the net as they have never been met. He falls in love with her and becomes frustrated when her boyfriend, Kevin, abuses her. She begs Mark to take care of her younger brother, John, a weird guy that often is being bullied by the others at the school. They get closer after Rachel's death and they plan to revenge for her loss as they think that Kevin is responsible for this. Mark has another conversation with Janet, a secret agent working for MI5 that convinces him about the connection of Kevin and John at terrorist acts. Things now are more complicated that Mark first thought about. Another interesting and intriguing film that didn't take the appropriate critics as the acting, the concept and the final approach on this actual event are really good.

In-lyu-myeol-mang-bo-go-seo aka Doomsday Book (2012)

This anthology film is a compilation of three individual chapters, each one delivers with the end of the world. At the first one, a mysterious virus takes humanity down as every citizen starts being a zombie and the salvation is not possible. At the second and most interesting part, a robot is believed to be the reincarnation of Buddha. Placed into a monastery, it is trying to reach enlightenment until the technician of its constructing company arrives and seeks for the problem. But there is nothing to fix so the situation becomes more complicated. At the last chapter, a young girl logs into a strange website and puts in an order for a new pool ball for her billiards-obsessed father. Soon an unidentified meteor heads toward Earth and all human beings flee to underground bomb shelters. The reason of this unexpected disaster could be her e-shopping. All the parts are crazy to the bone and give us an extraordinary sample of great Korean fiction cinema.

Eventyrland aka It's only make believe (2013)

I like Norwegian cinema especially when it surprises me again and again. This is a bittersweet story about a young mother, Jenny, trying to be part of society again and connect back with her daughter Merete, after spending some years in prison for a crime she caused accidentally. A killing where her boyfriend got injured seriously as well. The responsible for that event was Oddny, an unreliable gangster who will betray her once more. This is not the only problem as the the partner of the dead dealer comes back and provokes Jenny to work for him in order to pay him back for his loss. Eventyrland is an atmospheric film, with amazing views of nature land, creating a terrific contrast with the prison environment and her depressing house. Like a fly trapped in a room, hitting all windows to find a way out, Jenny is struggling to escape her fate. It is a sad story, but a beautiful film, very well played and directed. The music part also deserves being mentioned.

Willow (1988)

Dwarf farmer Willow lives peacefully with his family in a small village when they find a baby girl near the river.  This little child is extremely important because it can help to the fall of evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda. The last one sends her daughter Sorsha and General Kael into a mission to bring back the child alive. Willow also is given a task to carry the baby into a safe place and join allies as swordsman Madmartigan, sorceress Fin Razel and the Brownies Franjean and Rool who will help him on this journey. As the fellowship are pursued by Queen's army, they find shelter at an abandoned castle and they fight back. Ages before 'Lord of the rings', there were a few directors that knew how to film an interesting fantasy film. Val Kilmer acts really well and the plot is rather great.