M0n0_bogdan

Suna no onna (1964)

Dune

Probably my third time watching it. Glad to say I only remembered the gist of it, not details. Details I adored to redescover. Like the water look of the sand, dunes like waves. The paradox of sand rotting things and sand like a trap. The relationship that works like a metaphor for marriage - another "trap", bug collection - another "trap", the sisyphean task of shovel sand out of a hole only the next day to do it again. Also, you get a dystopian society out of it, if you choose to go that route. A society that exploits it's people and doesn't go anywhere.

It's an incredible movie. One in which the director seems to master nature itself, bending sand and it's properties to it's most artistic will. Also, mastering the nature of the actors as well.

At the end, I was so absorbed my eyes felt like sand, for not blinking so much. I even had sand behind my ears.

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

Folie a Deux

Random thought:

• Way too many songs, many of them bring nothing to the table.

• Way longer than necessary.

• Technically superb. No notes there.

• Dent was a wet wipe character.

• The court room scenes were unexpectedly boring.

• For a moment there, I thought Lee was imaginary. It would have worked better for the movie.

• Joaquin was not bad but he knew he couldn't get another Oscar for the same role.

• The whole movie feels like a humiliation ritual. It dilutes the impact the first movie had. Joker's closing statement reinforced this. And the ending.

• Gaga just didn't have what to work with, in her defence. The whole script was weak.

It Ends with Us (2024)

It Ends with Us

Touchy subject, for sure, domestic violence and generational trauma are subjects that don't always resonate with a large audience - most even want to block it off because it hits too close to home - maybe that's where the bad ratings come from?

The reality is sometimes like this. It all looks like a Sparks romance but then blam, a punch to the face or a shove down the stairs. In this case it works so well because he is not a boxer but a neurosurgeon, of course, so it seems so far-fetched. But damaged people, like our heroin here, search for a damaging father material, because of predictable daddy issues. It's all melodrama with some hard truths sprinkled in. It's really not a bad movie and it's not badly made.

Now I want the same thing but with the obligatory envelope with money at weddings.

His Three Daughters (2023)

His Three Daugthers

Interesting choice of title. Showing that even if we mainly see the daughters of a dying man, the man is centric to the story because he is the reason, and only he, why we see them interact with each other in this dramatic point of their life.

Also, it is interesting to me how at first they seemed so different from each other, with distinct personalities and by the end they blend - not much, but at least their personalities are more into one - with their common goal sinking in. That's why their bond will be stronger after.

Great acting from the three leads but with no moments of brilliance.

Just a sad showcase of the power of grief and all its steps. Not a movie one can enjoy, let's say, but one you can appreciate.

Kizzu ritân (1996)

Kids Return

It almost made me connect with it.

At first it worked like a wave of nostalgia because of all the high school scenes which worked like a charm for me but it quickly diverted into a different direction that couldn't make me connect with it. Two despicable guys with no redeeming qualities...except maybe for the boxer kid because at least he had discipline that comes with the sport.

There is a story to be told here. About purpose and ciclicity but then again, maybe you try your best and have the best intentions but life still has a different plan. I am mainly talking about the boxer, not the Yakuza.

Sometimes it's better to be a comedic duo.

Hamlet (1996)

Hamlet

I did enjoy it, mainly not because of it's runtime but I cannot judge it by this because by God, it was spectacular. Shakespearean. Shakespeare would be proud, I'm sure, if he could have seen this production of his in such a way.'

Brannagh, I find, offers nothing but respect but I haven't read the source material to judge it fairly on this point. It is, however, heavy at times, funny at times, crazy - like the many bursts from Hamlet and also weird - like the times where we see Jack Lemmon and Billy Crystal or Gerard Depardieu and Robin Williams (and not only them) in their roles while reproducing but not really, the English accent.

Every iconic scene we know from Hamlet we get it here as it should be, up to 11. It's like listening to the original after hundreds of covers.

Hundreds of Beavers (2022)

Hundreds of Beavers

Insanely creative - even if it actually uses a lot of known and over-used tropes from old school animation and slaptstick - and hilarious but not in a sort of "laugh out loud" sort of way but in "it's so clever" sort of way.

It's also insanely absurd and that works in it's advantage. It also reminded me way to much of Scott Pilgrim or at least the style used there. The amount of work that had to used for this to be made must have been insane.

The spittoon gag was the cherry on top.

I am really glad such movies are made. And this kind of creativity should be encouraged.

I recommend this every day to someone.

Borderlands (2024)

Borderlands

This was twice as good as Madame Web...but that doesn't mean much, does it?

Look, you are never gonna make a video game movie which it's main and only mechanic is shooting (and a bit of all-terrain driving) translate well to film. And to just be presented with another story with characters that vaguely remind me of those from the game doesn't mean anything to me, a "gamer" who played both Borderland games (1 and 2) when they came out.

And I guess something is rubbing off Tarantino because Rodriguez and Roth have the same visual style when it comes to CGI...because man, this reminded me of the zero-weight CGI from Spy Kids.

But I still think this receives uncalled amounts of hate for what it is. A bunch of half a star and 1 star for this forgettable fun ride - which I think is best to not be associated with the games when you start it - is a bit too low. Although, I will not on a hill defending it. It is what it is.

Fly Me to the Moon (2024)

Fly Me to the Moon

Isn't what Scarlett's (she also was a producer) doing here called meta-meta-acting? Didn't she just make a giant commercial for NASA and about American patriotism, just like her character had to do for NASA and the American people? And doing that did, in the process, a bunch of commercials for Omega and Tang and all those other products that, ironically and totally coincidentally, are still relevant today?

I dig it. It's well made and something that looks good, even if we saw this movie in one way or another before. We just didn't see this angle before. It does have a Netflix feel, but it's just a better version of that in all regards - it was made by Apple.

The only thing that didn't flow right was the chemistry between Scarlett's character and Channing's. I think it would have been better without the romance, but it's a small issue.

Highlander (1986)

Highlander

Don't know why I haven't seen this gem from the 80s before, because I know for sure I saw the show with some guy called Adrian Paul in which, in every episode, there was a bad guy that got sliced.

I remember glimpses of the movie from TV, way back, but watching it now, it really has more to offer than what it is on the surface. Don't get me wrong, now, it's not perfect - the script could have used a lot more work and some directing choices are weird now - but it has that 80s charm on lock-down and the cast is way better than it was to be expected in such a production. Clancy Brown as the bad guy? Excellent, he had fun. Sean Connery as the wise guy who passes the torch? Great! And Christopher Lambert as the Highlander, yes!

And the soundtrack? Freddie Mercury FTW. Queen for the win!

I also watched it because there will be a remake with Henry Cavill and already know it's gonna be good.

Fong juk (2006)

Exiled

Johnnie To really struggles to convince me he makes poetry using guns and violence. The action scenes are interesting but never fast - they work more as exchanges of words between poets and the ones that get shot are just the weakest in the bunch and don't have plot armor.

And of course, the protagonists have bullet proof literary armor because if and when they die has to mean something. So, quickly, you get where this is going. It just takes its time until it gets there. It never fully gelled with because of that.

I liked the extra smoke coming out of the guns while shooting them and the blood that looked and felt more like red dust rather than red mist.

Nine Months (1995)

Nine months

This is a most silly movie about "what to expect when you're expecting". Going through what they went through not 9 months ago myself - perfect timing to see this one, I feel like the target audience is formed of a bunch of 11-14 years old teenage boys who heard all the stereotypes - end of personal life, no more Porsche after kids, different positions for having boys or girls, etc., that I can't imagine this is speaking to a mature adult, way into his 20s.

This is too silly for its own good and Chris Columbus's charm and whimsy didn't have a positive effect here and neither did Hugh Grant's charm. I mean, if they toned down the comedy, I think this could have been a better movie overall.

This might have been one of the worst Robin Williams characters ever.

Runaway Jury (2003)

Runaway Jury

Living in a civilized society of Eastern Europe, yes, civilized, the conclusion of this movie is common sense for my society. But no, because of some 235-year-old document and because the lack of imagination of some even older folk, the U. S. is still obsessed with bang-bang and pow-pow and brrrr. Any argument in favor of guns is mute - and yes, that includes "defending" oneself.

But no, your industry depends too much on this filth so it's embedded to a much deeper level than removing or changing one amendment. Anyway, back to the movie. It's a movie where the jury is the most important aspect, again, a very US aspect. This movie is like if 12 Angry Men was less about logic and talking and more if Michael Bay directed it. It's show-ey, it's excellently cast and it's gripping.

Of course, its conclusion is to my liking and that does sway my rating but only by half a star.

Riaru onigokko (2015)

Tag

I kinda like that this has multiple interpretations. When you come up to a surreal movie like this one you expect that.

Many see feminist stuff. Oppression, a need to conform, stick to the script or else. Others, like myself, will see that drama is part of the equation. We play games because you play games. That scene when she screamed "stop playing games with us" was laughable...because that's exactly what you do to us as well. I mean, real women at least, not door mats. And those brutal transitions were great and impactful. A violent act to encapsulate change or the passing of time or drifting apart. That one felt real.

In the end, for the others, who are not door mats, apparently, there is only one sad end. Yeah, I can't entirely agree with that one, big surprise.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Furiosa

Not enough of anything to reach the peak of Fury Road.

Every chapter was great but everytime it finished disappointedly. Not enough of anything. Like the climax was lacking, like the high notes were not there. The action was great but it was missing the rawness and the high stakes and the fluidity of the FR. I mean, Miller is a great director but he had to top himself. Too much green screen or artificiality in every scene.

Unceremonious death of important characters, uninteresting mementos from previous films to make it count.

Not a bad movie in any way but it has to leave in the shadow of his bigger brother and doesn't quite get there.

Io capitano (2023)

Io capitano

Walking through the desert with my Nikes on.

I now understand why only male doctors and engineers are arriving on the shores of Europe, pretty tough excursion from sub-Saharan countries to the shores of the Mediterranean. Then again, I doubt all of them go through this, by the looks of them.

I felt nothing because it was manipulative, reductive and too long. And what was the kids' motivation to leave? Just because others did it before? I actually enjoyed the few scenes he had at home and seemed like a nice life - although in poverty. Nominated for political reasons and semi-shocking scenes...

Little Darlings (1980)

Little Darlings

From a crass man's journey to adulthood (in Carnal Knowledge) I go straight into a crass woman's journey to adulthood - but not actually going there all the way, maturing only because of emotional circumstances and interpretation from their peers.

I found it actually sweet (except the crass moments at the start) and honest. It's ok to be a virgin and your personality doesn't go around this aspect at all in the grand scheme of things. This is just one of those things we give more importance than it actually deserves because of hormones at that age. We get over it, no matter what. But we get out of it people who know themselves a bit better, it's part of the journey. This stands also for the reverse.

1941 (1979)

1946-1941

We can safely say Spielberg is not one for a semi-raunchy war comedy, he doesn't know how to direct it and setting it in the background of this serious of an event works only if you are Kubrick and make the comedy dark.

And of course, the best parts are still the ones regarding cinematic spectacle or action. Another issue is that Spielberg tried to cram in too many jokes per minute where it would have worked better if it had fewer better jokes. And maybe it would have worked as it is but the actors were not all funny. I mean, it's a mess of things.

Anyway, if this is the worst Spielberg can come up with its still commendable and worthy of a watch.

The Fall Guy (2024)

The Fall Guy

This is a meta-ode for stunts, stunt people and the history of stunts. I liked it because it is about movies and about what makes movies (action movies mostly) memorable or stand-out, stunts. It's all about stuns, and when it's not about stunts we get a little love story which makes you want more stunts. That's what the end-credits were all about. And it broke some records too, as I hear.

Should they have an Oscar category though? The ever present discussion. I dunno, it's all diluted by CGI, too much editing. Should we just give Tom Cruise one for stunts and call it a day?

I would gladly watch this movie again but not in the near future.

Il vangelo secondo Matteo (1964)

The gospel after Matteo

For an atheist, Pasolini treated Jesus in a higher esteem than I would have, another atheist.

I felt, however, a certain flaw in the character of Jesus, a little more pronounced than in other portrails. The anger and vengeance in his words and direction of thought - you are either with me or against me, there is no in between. There is even the story about the fig, a story forgotten or omitted, a story that shows how little of a man was Jesus, and how his temper is short and vengeance, swift.

But with this in mind, a believer will watch this and say this is a correct portrail of Jesus and this is a movie that shows the power of God and of belief.

I say, cool story bro.

Mars Express (2023)

Mars Express

Extremely derivative work but in a good way. It reminded me of The Matrix, Terminator, I, Robot, Fifth Element, Blade Runner, Scavengers Reign, Minority Report, Chinatown, Ghost in the Shell and other cyberpunk animes. And these are just a few I didn't even write down.

But the fact that it is derivative it doesn't matter that much. It's just a very interesting and kinetic animation about robots and robot A. I., all part of a big conspiracy conducted by a cool duo formed of a woman and her partner, Carlos, a human in the body of a robot. I can say I was just absorbed by the story and animation. It's not something new but it's just something I enjoy.

La passion de Dodin Bouffant (2023)

The Passion of Dodin

Perfect use of natural light but the English title is not correct...I couldn't taste a thing.

And it's a bit elitist, under all the food shots and recipies. That's not a bad thing because these people, especially Dodin, respect themselves. They surround themselves with the simpler things in life, food, wine and good people. But even so, the food, or rather the ingredients, are not cheap and not easy to find and some of the wines are really expensive, ergo the elitism part.

The camera work is something to watch as well, being the most dynamic thing from the scenes, the cooks being rather tame, compared. Interesting to see how it slowed way down after the tragic part of the film.

Anyway, it was therapy on film, and I would recommend it anytime.

The Idea of You (2024)

The Idea of You

I remember a day when a romantic film was for everyone, and everyone enjoyed it. Now...it's too straight or not diverse enough. You know it works the other way around, right? Should be divided here as well? Jeez, just enjoy it for what it is and judge it as a stand alone thing...not everything has to.be political!!!

This should be a quick and easy review. It's with DoriAnne HathaGrey so of course I'm gonna watch it. I can watch her watch paint dry. But man, they get together, then break up because of her insecurity, then get back together, then break up again because of her daughter, then...I am not gonna spoil it haha. It's a story that stands out because of the gender swap and age difference. But not much beside this. I didn't like the guy...mainly because I'm not him.

I've seen worse.

The First Slam Dunk (2022)

The First Slam Dunk

I was in a middle school basketball class - meaning we had 4 hours of basketball every week and played against other schools on occasion. I always found it a cool sport, even if I don't practice it anymore and don't watch it.

This anime encapstules life itself in a high-school game with its ups and downs, with the tricks, with the team-work, with illness or health, with struggles and with victories. It was a very fun and accurate ride, from what I've seen. Might just be one of the best basketball movies out there. It has all the right body language and all the small inflections just at the right points. This 2D-3D looks like rotoscoping at points - I haven't seen the series to compare anything with anything. I am just judging the film alone. And it was great. It had it all.

Trilogia: To livadi pou dakryzei (2004)

The Weeping Meadow

To say I was not impressed by the imagery would be a complete understatement. The imagery is impressive and awe-inspiring. It's powerful and poetic and memorable.

But Angelopoulos really made me struggle with the human connections. I tried so very much to connect with the inner story of love that is between the step-siblings, Eleni and Alexis. I was always drawn when a huge, impressive landscape was developing in front of my eyes, like the floating houses reflected in the water, the theater shots or the shots from the slums.

Also, the connection is too greek and not universal enough. It speaks to the struggles the greek people had from the First World War and they don't translate for the rest that well. I didn't feel so.

And of course, another reason I watched it, besides it was directed by Angelopoulos, is because of its position in top 250 on LB.