Reviews
La piovra (1984)
One of the best TV series ever.
La Piovra, or SPRUT in Russian, the version that I saw as a boy in early nineties is nothing short of a masterpiece. American audiences are all over the Sopranos, a good series in its own right, but that is because they did not experience La Piovra.
The story of the series at first follows Commissar Cattani and his relentless fight against the Italian mafia and the corrupt bureaucracy. Every episode is full of smart dialogs, rich characters, suspenseful plot,and action. The newer episodes follow the work of a new commissar (I don't want to give away why this happens, watch it and you will see), who just like his predecessor selflessly fights the mob.
The series is mostly shot in Italy and later on in Czech Republic I believe, so scenery does change.
Fortunately for me the local Los Angeles Armenian mom and pop video stores carry the Russian language VHS tapes of the complete series as it was shown in the early nineties, all I need now is a summer holiday to re watch the whole series, it is absolutely worth it.
Commando (1985)
Excellent Action Film
What can I say about this film....PERFECTION.
Best Arnie film ever. Terminator was a disappointment to me compared to this. This film delivers what you expect from such a film to deliver, sarcastic humor and lots of ass kicking.
When I was small I was sooo obsessed with this movie and Arnie (not only I also my friends and the kids on the street) that I personally watched the movie 2 to 4 times EVERY day for 4 years. Crazy I know, but I just could not get enough of that action.
For me the best part is when Arnie puts on the equipment before he goes to destroy a small army.
And of course do not watch this movie with your brain on, you will laugh too much.
IT IS JUST BRAINLESS FUN AT ITS BEST.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Very Interesting
First of all let me tell the people who are thinking about seeing the movie, and are hesitant because all of the bad press the movie gets mainly for its "violence" and "anti semitism". PEOPLE, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING NEW IN THIS MOVIE THAT ANY SELF RESPECTING CHRISTIAN/HISTORY LOVER ALREADY DID NOT KNOW. Everyone, knows that TORTURE especially at those times WAS BLOODY AND PAINFUL, and Jesus got one of the most horrble tortures ever. This is nothing NEW. Americans love horrors, this GREAT MOVIE is no more bloody than some horror film, which absolutely has no meaning. This movie uses the violence NOT TO CREATE ENTERTAINMENT, AS MANY DESTINGUISHED FILM CRITICS SAY IT DOES, IT JUST SHOWS HOW BRUTAL WAS THE TORTURE Second, issue of "anti semitism". Well again Christians know that Jesus was chosen to be punished by the JEWISH RABBIES AND JEWISH MOB, again NOTHING NEW. They had a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a murderer, they chose Jesus. Also LOTS OF JEWS SAY THAT ROMAN GOVERNOR WAS PORTRAYED AS TOO NICE, WELL SINCE NO ONE KNOWS THE ACTUAL BEHAVIOR OF THE GOVERNOR, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE GUY WAS FAIR ENOUGH TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHOICE, SO GIBSON DERIVED FROM THAT AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE GOVERNOR ACTED AS HE DOES IN THE MOVIE. Remember THIS IS A MOVIE NOT A DOCUMENTAL ON JESUS, so director also added his view of things in some parts, but IN MOST PARTS movie stays true to the Bible. OH YES ONE MORE THING, WHEN THE HOLLOCAUSR MUSEUM SHOWED the "Hell's Angels", a movie that PORTRAYED MOTHER THERESA AS A WOMEN WHO WANTED TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD, WE DID NOT HEAR ANY COMPLAINTS FROM "Christian Friendly" jews, so JUST SEE THE MOVIE AND MAKE YOUR OWN CONCLUSION. 5 out of 5 in my book.