Movie review: Megalopolis (2024)

[Post published by Liviu, on Liviu's [Personal] Blog]

Nota bene: for other movie reviews, click for the dedicated page with movie reviews.

Megalopolis (2024)

[en.wikipedia; IMDB]

Entertaining.

Mind blowing.

Francis Ford Coppola should have delivered Megalopolis a long time ago, maybe in the late 1990s or early 2000s, since the world has changed dramatically since then and one cannot simply market & sell such a movie today... which explains the poor box office results.

In order to pull such a movie, one needs to be (i) a genius, (ii) crazy...?


A fable, indeed.
A really good fable.

Lots of philosophy and references occurring at a really fast pace...

Given that even I couldn’t catch/understand them all, what about the layman?

Well, the layman is completely lost (i.e. does not have the time to understand and digest that fast pace of philosophy and references) when watching the movie, which explains in part the many bad reviews.


Megalopolis (2024) performs & delivers a brilliant critique of present day America against Ancient Rome - technically, both share so many similarities (up to the point of being almost identical) with respect to politics, social structure, overall organization, establishment, sexual manifestation both in public and in private etc.


Really good with respect to everything: cinematography, sound, soundtrack, special effects, editing, actors’ performances etc.

The cinema experience is a must.
TV just cannot deliver what the cinema delivers with respect to this movie.

It really deserves some Academy Awards nominations... but probably won’t get anything at all...


So, why so many bad reviews?
Well, because of

1. Too much philosophy and too many references, which the layman (i) cannot understand and (ii) does not have the time to understand and digest given the fast pace at which they occur.
2. The brilliant critique of present day America against Ancient Rome with respect to sexual manifestation both in public and in private... I suspect this upsets everyone, both sides, pro- and con- everything displayed, therefore both sides feel they are under attack, so they switch off their brains and blame the movie for attacking them and supporting the other side :))

Conclusions

Great movie.
A really good fable.
I totally enjoyed it.
Time & Money well spent.

Lots of philosophy and references occurring at a really fast pace... which the layman (i) cannot understand and (ii) does not have the time to understand and digest given the fast pace at which they occur...

Also, Megalopolis (2024) performs & delivers a brilliant critique of present day America against Ancient Rome - technically, both share so many similarities (up to the point of being almost identical) with respect to politics, social structure, overall organization, establishment, sexual manifestation both in public and in private etc.

Francis Ford Coppola should have delivered Megalopolis (2024) a long time ago, maybe in the late 1990s or early 2000s, since the world has changed dramatically since then and one cannot simply market & sell such a movie today...

...which explains the bad reviews...

...which explains the poor box office results.

Review de film: Candidatul perfect (2024)

[Post published by Liviu, on Liviu's [Personal] Blog]

Nota bene: pentru alte reviews de filme, vezi pagina dedicata de reviews de filme.

...

Recent aveam pe lista doar 2 filme romanesti: Moartea in vacanta (2024) [Liviu: review] si...

Candidatul perfect (2024)

[site oficial; ro.wikipedia; cinemagia; IMDB]

Film (comedie) romanesc bun, realizat bine.

Am ras - glume destepte la foc continuu.

Mi-a placut, merita vazut, merita banii.

Scenariu & Poveste & Glume

Scenariu & Poveste - bune, consistente, coerente etc.

Povestea tine, are logica.

Cateodata se face trecerea cam abrupt intre anumite idei / scene, dar e ok, mentine un ritm rapid.

Glume destepte la foc continuu - as zice ca mai multe decat la Moartea in vacanta (2024) [Liviu: review].

Situatii simpatice destule - as zica ca mai putine decat la Moartea in vacanta (2024) [Liviu: review].

Scenariul e bun, mai original (inoveaza mai mult), mai fresh, mai ambitios (isi asuma niste riscuri, face niste pariuri) etc. decat la Moartea in vacanta (2024) [Liviu: review].

Filmare / Cinematografie & Editare

Filmat aproape bine, aproape nivel mediu Hollywood.

Obiectia mea e ca s-a filmat preponderent in studio / platou etc. cu cadre inguste, cu personajele inghesuite in locuri mici etc., adica s-a filmat in stil TV...

Mi-ar fi placut sa fi filmat mai mult in aer liber, cu decor adevarat, cadre largi etc. - adica daca e tot cu alegeri & politica inseamna ca trebuie sa avem niste mase de oameni prosti & multi care sa amplifice mesajul comic al candidatilor... - exista ceva, a iesit bine, dar parca prea putin...

As zice ca cinematografia e ceva mai slaba decat la Moartea in vacanta (2024) [Liviu: review].


Editare foarte buna!

Au taiat la sange tot ce ar fi putut fi plictisitor!

Cele 100 de minute curg intr-un ritm foarte bun de la inceput pana la final, fara timpi morti, fara sa traga de timp etc.

La fel ca la Moartea in vacanta (2024) [Liviu: review] apreciez foarte mult ca au avut curajul sa taie orice ar fi fost de umplutura - au pastrat exact ce e relevant, exact ce merita vazut. Astfel, reusesc foarte bine sa mentina un ritm foarte bun! Felicitari!

Cum am scris mai sus la “Scenariu”, cateodata se face trecerea cam abrupt intre anumite idei / scene, dar e ok, mentine un ritm rapid - prefer un ritm rapid decat sa traga de timp, deci sunt multumit! Bravo!

Sunet & Soundtrack

Sunet bun.
Cred ca au si Foley sounds, dar parca nu retin nimic care sa ma fi impresionat.

Soundtrack oficial complet [YouTube] - soundtrack foarte bun - in film exista doar bucati din melodii, evident, puse la momentul potrivit etc., deci nu discutam melodiile complete din lista (gen, stil, mesaj, videoclip oficial etc.)

Vocile actorilor se aud mult mai bine decat la Moartea in vacanta (2024) [Liviu: review] - mult mai putin strident, aproape mereu bine.

Jocul Actorilor

Toti actorii joaca bine. Bravo lor!

Totusi se simte acolo niste ego, se simt niste rivalitati & dorinte de a iesi putin mai in fata… se simte un stil mai aproape de teatru decat de film… si se simt niste note false pe alocuri...

Locatii & Decor

Cum am scris mai sus la “Filmare / Cinematografie”, obiectia mea e ca s-a filmat in stil TV, i.e. preponderent in studio / platou etc. cu cadre inguste, cu personajele inghesuite in locuri mici etc.

Mi-ar fi placut sa fi filmat mai mult in aer liber, cu decor adevarat, cadre largi etc., poate si cu niste mase de oameni prosti & multi care sa amplifice mesajul comic al candidatilor...

Cinema vs. TV

Merita vazut la Cinema pentru sentimentul de ecran mare etc.

Altfel, poate fi vazut pe ecran mic (TV, streaming services) foarte bine.

Film vs. Trailer

Filmul e in ton cu trailerul, i.e. trailerul e sincer si vinde exact ce va fi livrat.

Comparatie cu Moartea in vacanta (2024) si Teambuilding (2022)

La fel ca la Moartea in vacanta (2024) [Liviu: review], avem calitate buna tot filmul, ritm bun tot filmul etc.

Candidatul perfect (2024) si Moartea in vacanta (2024) [Liviu: review] sunt la fel de bune, sunt la egalitate - mi se par mai bune decat Teambuilding (2022) [Liviu: review].

Concluzii

Film (comedie) romanesc bun, realizat bine.

Am ras - glume destepte la foc continuu.

Mi-a placut, merita vazut, merita banii.

Review de film: Moartea in vacanta (2024)

[Post published by Liviu, on Liviu's [Personal] Blog]

Nota bene: pentru alte reviews de filme, vezi pagina dedicata de reviews de filme.

...

Cate filme romanesti am mai vazut eu de la Teambuilding (2022) [Liviu: review] incoace?

Pai, din trailer nu m-a atras nimic foarte tare pana recent cand am pus pe lista direct 2 filme romanesti: Candidatul perfect (2024) [Liviu: review] si...

Moartea in vacanta (2024)

[site oficial; ro.wikipedia; cinemagia; IMDB]

Film (comedie) romanesc bun, realizat bine.

Am ras - glume & situatii simpatice la foc continuu.

Mi-a placut, merita vazut, merita banii.

Scenariu & Poveste & Glume

Scenariu & Poveste - bune, consistente, coerente etc.

Povestea tine, are logica.

Glume & Situatii simpatice la foc continuu - mi se pare normal, intrucat (i) cei 5 scenaristi ori fac stand-up, ori au mai scris impreuna comedii romanesti recente (cu succes la public, dar pe care eu le-am sarit) si (ii) in rolul principal avem creatori de continut de entertainment (YouTube si/sau stand-up)... so, show me what you’ve got!

Unii vor spune ca unele glume sau situatii sunt clasice si/sau arhicunoscute si/sau clisee, dar macar le interpreteaza bine si le livreaza bine la momentul potrivit... deci le iese bine!

Filmare & Editare

Filmat bine, nivel mediu Hollywood.

Editare foarte-foarte buna!

Au taiat la sange tot ce ar fi putut fi plictisitor!

Cele 89 de minute curg intr-un ritm foarte bun de la inceput pana la final, fara timpi morti, fara sa traga de timp etc.

Apreciez foarte mult ca au avut curajul sa taie orice ar fi fost de umplutura - au pastrat exact ce e relevant, exact ce merita vazut. Astfel, reusesc foarte bine sa mentina un ritm foarte bun! Felicitari!

Sunet & Soundtrack

Sunet bun.
Cred ca au si Foley sounds, dar parca nu retin nimic care sa ma fi impresionat.

Soundtrack foarte bun, mai ales pentru un film romanesc!

Singura obiectie ar fi ca vocile actorilor se aud de multe ori strident - asta e o meteahna veche a filmelor romanesti...

Jocul Actorilor

Toti actorii joaca bine. Bravo lor!

YouTube si/sau scena de stand-up sunt mai tari decat orice scoala de teatru & film, eh?! :)

Locatii & Decor

Imi place ca s-au preocupat sa gaseasca locatii sa filmeze - Romania si Grecia - decorul & locatiile se tot schimba.

Btw, apare la credits cineva care a cautat locatii in Grecia, au colaborat cu Municipality of Poros etc.

Cinema vs. TV

Merita vazut la Cinema pentru sentimentul de ecran mare etc.

Altfel, poate fi vazut pe ecran mic (TV, streaming services) foarte bine.

Film vs. Trailer

Filmul e mai bun decat trailerul :))

Mda, nu stiu cum au reusit sa faca un trailer care pare usor haotic, iar filmul sa fie consistent, coerent, cu poveste logica, cu glume & situatii simpatice la foc continuu etc.

Comparatie cu Candidatul perfect (2024) si Teambuilding (2022)

Daca pe Teambuilding (2022) [Liviu: review] l-am impartit in 3 parti si am spus ca Partea 1 e foarte buna, dar apoi calitatea scade constant... well, aici la Moartea in vacanta (2024) calitatea se mentine de la inceput pana la final. Bravo!

Moartea in vacanta (2024) mi se pare mai bun decat Teambuilding (2022).

Update: Candidatul perfect (2024) [Liviu: review] si Moartea in vacanta (2024) sunt la fel de bune (calitate buna tot filmul, ritm bun tot filmul etc.), sunt la egalitate.

Concluzii

Film (comedie) romanesc bun, realizat bine.

Am ras - glume & situatii simpatice la foc continuu.

Mi-a placut, merita vazut, merita banii.

Movie review: The Silent Hour (2024)

[Post published by Liviu, on Liviu's [Personal] Blog]

Nota bene: for other movie reviews, click for the dedicated page with movie reviews.

The Silent Hour (2024)

[en.wikipedia; IMDB]

Entertaining overall, although some (or many?) viewers may not fully appreciate it.


The sound & soundtrack are really good, really creative - they create the perfect atmosphere.

The cinematography gets really good & creative at times.

...and when the best of both cinematography and sound & soundtrack from this movie meet on the big screen - and they do meet quite many times! - magic happens!


Indeed, the storyline may be simple, straightforward, linear, predictable... with several twists just as predictable... but it gets the job done - it is a good simple story with some really good & creative cinematography and sound & soundtrack at times...

Really good acting.

The cinema experience is a must.
TV just cannot deliver what the cinema delivers with respect to this movie.


It’s a thriller, not your standard action movie, ok?!
It does have good action from time to time, just enough to keep one focused on the story.


If it had starred some A-list (or at least famous) actors, if it had had a greater marketing & advertising budget to promote it... it would’ve been a hit!

Indeed, one can just feel they’ve been on a low budget, but they pulled some incredible magic with that low budget!

Good job! and Congratulations to everyone involved in the movie!

Conclusions

I really enjoyed The Silent Hour (2024). I wish more viewers would enjoy such a movie.

I’d say The Silent Hour (2024) shall be regarded as a classic and/or as a reference over time; many more other movies would inspire from and/or develop on top of the framework & pattern that it had just established / delivered.

I hope it receives some Academy Award nominations! It definitely deserves some!

Review: BIAS 2024

[Post published by Liviu, on Liviu's [Personal] Blog]


Am fost Sambata, 31 August 2024, la:

BIAS 2024

[site oficial; program BIAS 2024 la hotnews.ro]

Nota bene: sper ca acest review sa nu fie biased :)) - ce gluma en-ro high level! :D


Am ajuns tarziu, cred ca pe la 16:00?

Ma asteptam sa prind doar ceva show clasic cu avioane mici, mai vechi, cu elice etc.

Am avut noroc ca am prins spectacol cu F16 - pe la 17:00? comentatorul oficial a anuntat ca sunt F16 si erau! Deci, ori au facut bis, ori le-au amanat ora de spectacol! (teoretic, F16 erau la 13:00)

Am mai prins cred ca inca vreo 2 demonstratii diferite cu avioane cu reactie (retin ca 1 avion din Franta a zburat singur, plus parca a mai fost ceva dar nu retin ce & cum).

Am vazut si ceva elicoptere pe cer.

In rest, da, am prins show clasic cu avioane mici, mai vechi, cu elice etc.


Planul meu era sa ma uit la aparatele de zbor expuse la sol, ceea ce am si facut atunci cand nu era spectacol pe cer.

Am vazut unele din primele avioane - reconstituite - inventate de Traian Vuia, Aurel Vlaicu, Henri Coanda.

Am vazut la exterior 1 avion F16 Falcon!
Era si un fel de platforma daca vroiai sa te urci sa te uiti pe geam sau sa-ti faci poza cu avionul... - stateau oamenii la coada, pentru copii!

Am vazut la exterior sistemul Patriot: masina cu rachete, radar, cabina de comanda - din poze pare mult mai mare! :D... dar in realitate e neasteptat de mic!
...deci la cat e de mic poti sa-l ascunzi oriunde as zice, cred ca ocupa vreo 6 locuri de parcare in orice parcare subterana... sau daca esti putin mai bogat si iti faci parcare subterana mai mare la subsolul vilei, atunci poti ascunde un Patriot la subsolul vilei, ca sa moara dusmanii de oftica! :))

Am vazut la exterior multe elicoptere & avioane etc. sau m-am uitat pe geam la interior.
Stateau oameni cu copii la coada, sa ii urce in cabina, sa faca o poza - le inteleg dorinta, dar erau cozi lungi, cred ca in primul rand copiii au invatat sa aiba rabdare daca vor ceva foarte tare...

Mai era ceva expus cu decontaminare nucleara: masti, imbracaminte, robotei etc.


Ma asteptam ca Armata sa-si promoveze _planul de recrutare_ mai cu energie - mai in stil american! - dar ei aveau doar niste standuri intr-un hangar, cam anemic... erau pliante etc., dar ma asteptam la mai multe energie avand in vedere ca au nevoie de recruti, right?!

Concluzii

Per total, BIAS 2024 a fost o experienta placuta - o spun unbiased (ro: obiectiv, impartial)! :)
Am vazut mai mult decat credeam & speram, sunt multumit.

Ii apreciez pe cei cu copii care au avut rabdare sa stea la cozi ca sa intre in aparate.

Sper ca pe viitor Armata sa-si promoveze _planul de recrutare_ mai cu energie - armata e optionala, au nevoie de recruti, so raise your game!

Movie review: Poor Things (2023)

[Post published by Liviu, on Liviu's [Personal] Blog]

Nota bene: for other movie reviews, click for the dedicated page with movie reviews.

Poor Things (2023)

[en.wikipedia; IMDB]

Weird.
Strange.
Crazy - I mean really crazy, not metaphorically crazy - I really mean crazy as in crazy for real, ok?!

Entertaining... for those who can taste such a movie.

Very European given the rather large amounts of philosophy and smart dialogue.

Very European given the rather large amounts of nudity, explicit sexuality & sex scenes etc.
I’m still wondering how they agreed to finance all that in Hollywood?! :)) I can understand Europe, which has been doing it for a long time now... but Hollywood?! Are they changing mindsets or experimenting with new approaches to film making?!

Weird & Strange & Crazy soundtrack - made my ears hurt at times.

Weird & Strange & Crazy scenery / set decorations, visual/special effects, makeup & hair styling, costumes...

Really good acting.
I can understand Emma Stone winning the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as Mark Ruffalo getting nominated for Best Supporting Actor [en.wikipedia].
Nota bene: I have had objections and shall always have objections against La La Land (2016) [Liviu review] and Emma Stone for the Academy Awards they have undeservedly won back then... but now Emma Stone truly deserves her Academy Award!

I agree with the awards & nominations Poor Things has received so far, including the Academy Awards [en.wikipedia].

Conclusions

Poor Things (2023) is... Weird... Strange... really Crazy, not metaphorically Crazy... with respect to everything... - all those involved either are true professionals with a wild imagination, or have been high the whole time! :) Either way, they got it right!