Showing posts with label movies / movie reviews / cinemas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies / movie reviews / cinemas. Show all posts

Saturday, 7 December 2024

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.

Saturday, 30 November 2024

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.

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

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.

Saturday, 19 October 2024

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!

Tuesday, 26 March 2024

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!

Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Movie review: Reality (2023)



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

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


Reality (2023)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



Cool.
Great.
I really liked the acting & cinematography & video editing.

Definitely to watch at the cinema.
TV shall truncate the spirit & mood & message of the movie...
TV is a rather bad option in this particular case.

I expect few people to understand the story & message.


Sadly, the government and its institutions (e.g. law enforcement, intelligence, voting system etc.) can become incompetent or biased or hijacked by the bad guys or any combination of the above... so they deliberately ignore the whistleblowers... so when some whistleblower gets frustrated because they cannot fix the broken system and leaks classified documents to the media they suddenly get investigated for treason and sentenced to jail...

...makes sense if you think about it, right?!...

I mean it makes sense for the institutions which desperately want to cover up their failures...


Well, now you know why so many smart people turn their back to the government and its institutions, which in turn weakens the state even more, which leads to even more incompetence or bias or hijacking etc.
It's hard to start the spiral, yet even harder to reverse it...

...but hey!, we do get better politicians with each election, so we should have faith it shall all turn out well in the long run :)), right? :))

Well, if you can understand my sarcasm... then you can understand what it's all about!


Conclusions


A great watch.
Time & Money well spent.
I just hope the free world lasts for 2 more generations!

Monday, 23 October 2023

Movie review: Dumb Money (2023)



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

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


Dumb Money (2023)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



I like that they've put a lot of soul into it, I could feel it.

Look, this movie is all about the story, the mood, the acting... - all good, they certainly got that right given their angle/approach!

I know, I know the story gets anti-capitalist & anti establishment at times, but that's part of the deal with such a movie, so I'll make an exception and take that deal just this time in order to consume everything else I like about this movie :)

Nota bene: I do have quite a lot of objections regarding the story, but if I were to deliver my opinion in full and/or start indexing everything wrong with the story, then this would turn into a 30 minutes read, so I only say this: I do have quite a lot of objections regarding the story, but I have to swallow it in order to consume everything else I like about this movie :)

Funny at times.


Good acting.

Paul Dano is close to excellent. I noticed him a long time ago in There Will Be Blood (2007) [en.wikipedia] - excellent.

All the other actors deliver a really-really good performance. All of them! Congratulations to everyone!


Special effects? - none.

Soundtrack? - just a tiny bit, they only deliver the bare minimum to create the right mood.

Cinematography & Video editing? - average.

Overall, I consider it Entertaining.

Sadly, not so many people can understand & taste such a movie, since they either consider it not entertaining or they reject such a story.


Conclusions


I feel it's been worth my time & money. I recommend it.

Wednesday, 30 August 2023

Movie review: Barbie (2023)



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

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


Barbie (2023)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



Crazily stupid.
Stupidly crazy.

Shutting down my brain (in order to watch it) feels good, maybe I should do it more often?! :)

Ok, fine, it's not that stupid... it does have some supposedly smart lines / take home messages from now and then... but not that many and they do reveal as superficial if you carefully dissect them.

Sorry, but their approach against capitalism and patriarchy and everything else supposedly wrong with the world we live in... is sort of wrong by itself... but, hey! that’s good marketing for the movie, sells the product, keeps the industry going... :) so it's ok, can we please have some more?! :)

Entertaining overall.

No romance?! Nothing?! Oh, come on!
You have Barbie, you have Ken... and... nothing?!
Are they brother and sister or something?... or is Ken in the friend zone or something?!
That chemistry between Barbie and Ken, that relationship leads to romance either way you take it!
This is not a movie for kids, but for grown ups... right?

Instead of love we get friend zone from Barbie's side and envy & frustration from Ken's side...
...which is toxic both ways...
...but surely explains how & why the storyline develops once they reach the real world...

The original plot - i.e. the mother playing with the Barbie doll and projecting her anxiety & frustrations (regarding being a woman & mother, and cellulitis, and suicide thoughts etc.) on the Barbie doll - leads Barbie & Ken to the real world, which then leads to nothing really... but it's the very toxic relationship between Barbie & Ken which actually builds a real story!

What’s the excuse for the lack of romance?!
They are plastic dolls which have no genitals?!
Oh, come on! Go to a DIY store and make some genitals: just buy a drill and a wooden stick (preferably Pinocchio style if you know what I mean!)

If Barbie had offered Ken love & sex they wouldn’t end up in that mess in the first place.
If Ken weren’t an incompetent & worthless & idiot blonde doll they wouldn’t end up in that mess in the first place...
For the record, the fake plastic sand that Ken walks on on the fake plastic beach is worth more than Ken himself!, in fact that fake plastic sand is worth more than all of Kens combined! :))

Good acting overall.

I really liked Michael Cera as Allan and Kate McKinnon as Barbie - these 2 I enjoyed the most! I wish they had more screen time!

You can safely watch it on TV.

I expected better songs & soundtrack given it’s a musical, right?

However, it's a better musical than Ryan Gosling's La La Land (2016) [Liviu review], which I didn't like at the time and still consider it really bad. So, if that one earned so many nominations and Academy Awards, then this one surely deserves more :))

It will get some Academy Awards nominations nevertheless... and probably some Awards?!
Later edit: got some nominations, only won the Best Original Song - fair.


Spoiler 1: in the end, Barbie becomes human and moves to the real world... (1) to embrace & enjoy her vagina (she has an appointment to a gynaecologist at the very end, ok?!)... and then (2) probably also fully embraces the cellulitis and suicide thoughts she has already got a taste of... and then (3) probably turns on the TV / radio / Internet... that would be new! :) and disappointing?! :))
Oh, well, then Barnie can say “Hello, real world!... Bye, real world!... I really wanna go back to Barbie land!!! :(( Can I go back to Barbie land now, please?!”


Spoiler 2: that mother & daughter & father relationship is weird... Given the way the mother behaves at first I could swear she’s a single mom also having to deal with her daughter’s adolescence... but then the husband/father pops in as an immature & castrated idiot trying to learn Spanish?! I suspect they’ve rewritten that relationship so many times that they’ve lost track of it!


Final thought: I’m not sure whether this movie shall get little girls interested in Barbie dolls, but it shall surely get little boys interested in Stereotypical Barbie! :))


Conclusions


I liked it.
Entertaining, that's for sure... although it displays/exhibits a very superficial message.

Monday, 28 August 2023

Movie review: Oppenheimer (2023)



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

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


Oppenheimer (2023)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]


It’s an... epic biographical thriller drama film... not an action movie, ok? :D

Great script and great movie directing...
It slowly and thoroughly develops the story and patiently builds the tension... through minor plots and twists... and by playing with the narrative threads... and by focusing on changes in characters’ feelings... and by letting the passing of time itself have its own impact on the characters...

I’ve been misled by the trailer to think there would be more focus on the science part or the atomic bomb part...
Truth is there’s very little focus on the science part or the atomic bomb...

Admittedly, the movie feels more like (and is :D) a soap opera :D with respect to its approach to characters’ love life & work life and politics in general... an excellent & expensive soap opera if you ask me, but a soap opera nevertheless! :D

Science in general and the atomic bomb in particular only serve as plots & twists to keep this beautiful & excellent & expensive soap opera going and basically sell/market it to moviegoers...

Entertaining for 3 hours straight.
Never drags.

Really good cinematography.

Interesting soundtrack & sounds - there's not much music to it, but rather an intense & deep & low noise, sort of an uncomfortable continuous noise at times... which makes perfect sense!

Great acting.
Lots of actors, some famous, some not famous - yet, all of them deliver a perfect performance! Congratulations to all of them!

There's just a bit of explicit sexual content perfectly timed, just to make the point and keep the story going.
They could have inserted more, but I guess they tried to avoid hurting their rating or something.

The cinema experience is a must.
TV and/or streaming would ruin the movie experience.
IMAX?! What for?! I don't see the point to it with respect to this movie.

Oppenheimer is gonna earn a lot of Academy Awards nominations, that’s for sure...
Later edit: it has, it deserves them.


Conclusions


Time & Money well spent.

I just wish the trailer would have been more honest:
(i) Truth is there’s very little focus on the science part or the atomic bomb...
(ii) Science in general and the atomic bomb in particular only serve as plots & twists to keep this beautiful & excellent & expensive soap opera going and basically sell/market it to moviegoers...

Monday, 21 August 2023

Movie review: Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)



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

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


Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



Pure action.
Lots of action.
Old school type of action.
There certainly is some cgi there - there must be some cgi, right?! :D - but I can't see it: D I suspect there is some cgi but can't quite put my finger on it : D
I think I got a bit of a headache at times :) due to the rapid scenes of old school action :)... but I don't mind :) since I'm both an action fan and a Tom Cruise fan!

The story is... complex... lots of twists and turns... it's complicated...
Admittedly, I couldn't make a summary of what happens and what each character does at a certain time... that's how complicated it is :))
All I can tell you is "everyone wants to put their hands on both halves of the key and I'm not sure who's in control, the A.I. or some human?!"

Entertaining, be sure about that!

They keep a fast pace throughout the movie, all those 160 something minutes!
The movie never drags.

It's dense... lots of twists... lots of details... carefully delivered confusion/ambiguity...
In order to keep track of everything during the creation process - i.e. write the script and/or direct such a movie - one requires discipline, being incredibly organized... and also being a bit crazy :)... which is exactly the kind of people I admire & enjoy following!

Tom Cruise delivers a really good performance as always.
...but each of all the 4 supporting female actors deliver an even better performance, I'd say - Hayley Atwell, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff - congratulations to whoever handled the casting!

The cinema experience is a must.
IMAX probably delivers more than regular cinema (which I've watched) with respect to this movie.
TV and/or streaming would ruin the movie experience.


Conclusions


Great movie. Time & Money well spent.

Looking forward to part 2 :)


You know what's the real Mission Impossible?!


Releasing Oppenheimer (2023) [Liviu review] and Barbie (2023) [Liviu review] - right after _this MI movie_ in order to bite into its earnings, which they've succeeded...
...and then marketing those 2 movies as 1, i.e. Barbenheimer [en.wikipedia], in order to bite even more into MI's earnings, which they've succeeded...
...and also have Oppenheimer compete against MI for IMAX screens, which they've succeeded... yet it's unfair since MI certainly benefits from (and needs more) IMAX while Oppenheimer can do just fine in regular cinema :))

These 3 victories against MI are the most real life _Mission Impossibles_!!! :D

Sunday, 19 March 2023

Movie review: Cocaine Bear (2023)



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

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


Cocaine Bear (2023)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



Comedy + Horror = excellent combination
Nota bene: I had the impression - given the trailer etc. - that I was going to watch a comedy… However, while watching the movie I learned it was a Horror movie, too… Very refreshing I'd say :)


I must admit that when I’ve chosen to watch it I had low expectations.
I can say for sure the movie delivers more than expected.
Many comments & reviews I've read are so wrong!


The Cocaine Bear - essentially the villain, yet a cute CGI villain if you ask me :) - enters the scene precisely at the right time every time in order to keep the action/movie going - excellent timing and/or planning, I can say that for sure!

However, I wish they had written more scenes for/with the Bear.
It feels there are kind of too few scenes starring the CGI Cocaine Bear, therefore the movie feels cheap - they should have invested a bit more in the special effects / CGI with respect to the whole Bear "ecosystem" :)

In particular, I wish they had written some truly funny scenes with the Bear, too as opposed to the horror ones which predominate in the movie.


Good story/storyline, everything intertwines nicely.
Smart.
Fast paced. The movie never drags.


Good acting.
All actors perform really well.


Good editing.
They cut it perfectly. They keep it short. They only keep the relevant content.
Congratulations to whoever has had the courage & skill to cut that well!


Entertaining.
You cannot possibly get bored given the Good story/storyline and Good editing.


Sound - average.
More work on the foley sounds, please!


Soundtrack - I think it’s missing :) I don't remember anything worth remembering :)


Some may consider there's too much gore, but frankly it's not that much and it's bearable :)
Handling/Depiction of violence resembles Tarantino's style.


I recommend the cinema experience, since you get the full feeling, you get all the fun & all the horror, you know :)
TV might be ok, too.


If only they had invested a bit more into delivering more Cocaine Bear screen time...
If only they had more of the Hollywood magic & infrastructure at their disposal...
If only they had some A-list actors/celebrities/stars (or at least B-list or very bankable people)...
If only they had a bigger budget...
...it would have ended up as a classic/masterpiece and a box-office hit!

They did the best given the resources put at their disposal. Congratulations for that!


Conclusions


To sum up, I totally loved it.
Worth watching.
I recommend it.
I’d say I witnessed some quality magic being delivered despite a rather low budget.

Monday, 23 January 2023

Review de film: Teambuilding (2022)



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

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

...

Nu-mi vine sa cred! Am fost la un film romanesc! ...un film romanesc diferit de ce stiam eu ca produce cinematografia romaneasca!

Nu am mai fost la un film romanesc de foarte mult timp din foarte multe motive: sunet, cinematografie, “talentul actoricesc” (al monstrilor sacri :D) + mereu imi dadeau lectii ca sunt ei destepti (si eu prost, evident!)... asa ca am decis ca e bine sa ne vedem fiecare de ecranul lui :))

...pana acum...

Paranteza: am ezitat sa merg si la alte filme romanesti din noul val pentru ca am avut mereu obiectii de cand am vazut trailerul etc. - am fost 80% pregatit sa ma duc la Miami Bici (2020) [cinemagia; IMDB; ro.wikipedia], dar nu m-am dus... mi-a fost teama! :)) 

...pana acum...

Deci, revenim la Teambuilding (2022) - am ezitat din Octombrie 2022 sa ma duc pana acum - da, vreo 3 luni jumate!... timp in care l-am tinut sub observatie: 
  1. M-am tot uitat la trailer - n-am avut ce sa-i reprosez - da, cred ca am vazut trailerul la fiecare 2-3 saptamani incercand sa gasesc ceva facut prost, dar nu am gasit! 
  2. Am vazut diverse filmulete/chestii pe Micutzu Stand-up Official 
    • Scenă interzisă în FILMULTEAMBUILDING => pacat ca a cazut la editare/montaj scena asta, mare pacat, intra perfect in film dpdv meu! => De ce au scos-o la montaj?! Se simt romani autentici care se saboteaza singuri?!... De fapt, ar fi trebuit sa mai adauge glume, sa o filmeze “mai dens” din cadre mai scurte, editate frumos in spiritul a ce numesc eu “Partea 1” (vezi mai jos impartirea mea)... si iesea o bucata de vreo 4 minute foarte tare & entertaining in spiritul a ce numesc eu “Partea 1”! 
    • Mai concediază pe cineva în 2022 dacă poÈ›i! = Sketch făcut pentru promovarea filmului TEAMBUILDING! *filmat cu telefonul => aproape nu are nicio legatura cu filmul - amandoua personajele de fapt lucreaza ca angajati la call center, nu sunt nici sef, nici la HR - dar e pur si simplu funny 
    • CryptoLife| TEAMBUILDING PROMO => alt sketch care nu are nicio legatura cu filmul - amandoua personajele de fapt lucreaza ca angajati la call center, ea nu este sef, el nu-si da demisia - dar e pur si simplu funny, din nou! 

Bun, hai la REVIEW cu...



Teambuilding (2022)

[cinemagia; IMDB; ro.wikipedia]



Eu consider filmul ca avand 3 parti dpdv al locului filmarii & evolutiei povestii & nivelului calitatii produsului finit - “marii comentatori culti” nu au observat diferentele despre care urmeaza sa vorbesc sau sunt doar in capul meu?! 
  1. Partea 1: tot ce e filmat in Bucuresti / Pipera 
  2. Partea 2: ce e filmat pe drum spre teambuilding + ajungerea tuturor echipelor si pana la inceputul concursului Cupa Veseliei 
  3. Partea 3: de cand incepe efectiv concursul Cupa Veseliei si pana la final 


Modul de realizare: Imaginea, Background/Decor, Cinematografia, Detalii mici, Editarea (Montaj)


Partea 1 
  • Imaginea - buna, frumoasa 
  • Exista background/decor, recuzita etc., imi da impresia ca cineva a gandit bine totul 
  • Cinematografia - super buna, se joaca cu camera: ba filmeaza de aproape, ba mai de departe, schimba unghiurile bine etc. 
  • Detalii mici care fac diferenta, e.g. sunet pe fundal in care se anunta chestii funny in cladirea de birouri pe unde circula ei 
  • Sunet - foarte bun - incredibil pentru un film romanesc! 
  • Editarea (Montaj) - foarte buna, din cadre scurte lipite bine pentru a obtine un ritm rapid
Incredibila partea 1 => daca adaugi peste ea niste VFX / CGI + actiune, poti obtine un film de actiune foarte bun!
Partea 1 este Hollywood level, nu glumesc!


Partea 2 
  • Imaginea - scade calitatea, dar inca e buna 
  • Exista mai putin background/decor, recuzita etc., aici e doar ok, s-au gandit mai putin la asta 
  • Cinematografia - inca buna, dar mai slaba: filmeaza ceva mai mult de aproape, ceva mai putin de departe, dar inca schimba unghiurile bine (e.g. venirea masinilor diverselor echipe e tare, a iesit bine: filmari din diverse unghiuri, ba de sus, ba lateral, ba cu opriri scurte etc.) 
  • Nu mai retin / Nu am mai observat detalii mici care sa faca diferenta 
  • Sunet - aproape foarte bun 
  • Editarea (Montaj) - scade calitatea, dar inca e buna
Partea 2 este European level, exact in stilul problemelor & reprosurilor mele la adresa cinematografiei europene!... dar e buna, e ok


Partea 3 
  • Imaginea - mai proasta, parca au schimbat camerele cu care au filmat?! 
  • Nu prea mai au nimic nou la background/decor, recuzita etc. - practic lucreaza cu ce au, am impresia ca au mers inainte din inertie - am impresia ca locurile cu probele concursului Cupa Veseliei au fost alese pe picior, la nimereala 
  • Cinematografia - mai slaba, nu se mai joaca cu camera: filmeaza mult de aproape, cam in aceleasi locuri din nou si din nou 
  • Zero detalii mici care fac diferenta 
  • Sunetul - foarte bun, bravo la asta! Se vede cum fac economie la tot, dar sunetul ramane bun, bravo! - incredibil pentru un film romanesc! 
  • Editarea (Montaj) - cam slaba - se cam trage de timp, cadre cam lungi - parca s-au plictisit, parca nu au de unde sa aleaga!
Partea 3 cam este Romanian level :)) - 90% romanesc :)) - nivel calitativ cam ca la TV


Povestea


Povestea e buna, coerenta, e suficient!
E film, nu carte culta!
Vrei poveste complexa, citeste o carte!

Povestea merge inainte, nu treneaza... Pur si simplu merge inainte, in ritm bun.


Glume


Partea 1 - glume finute si/sau subtile, nivel inalt

Partea 2 - devine accesibila pentru toata lumea - imbina glume finute / subtile cu glume de autobaza - sare dintr-un tip de gluma in altul

Partea 3 - glume de autobaza, perfecta pentru TV - autobaza & publicul clasic de TV vor fi fericiti

...si, da! Finalul concursului Cupa Veseliei degenereaza intr-o bataie generala de i-ar fi facut mandri si/sau invidiosi (?) pe cei de la Vacanta Mare

Practic, filmul are glume de toate tipurile pentru toata lumea, pentru toate nivelurile de educatie - daca nu razi, inseamna ca ori nu ai simtul umorului... ori esti mai introvertit decat mine... ori nu intelegi Romania... ori esti atat de cult incat-incat-incat eu sunt analfabet pe langa tine – bine, sincer, eu stiu ca sunt prost & incult, dar sunt destul de destept sa selectez literele din alfabet ca la loto, apoi incerc sa fac cuvinte (pe care mi le corecteaza calculatorul), pe care apoi le lipesc in propozitii creative ca sa par destept, se vede, nu?! :))


Bani investiti


Partea 1 - aveau bani la dispozitie, au bagat bani, se simte & se vede

Partea 2 - au inceput sa mai taie din cheltuieli

Partea 3 - clar taie la cheltuieli tot ce se poate, fac economii pe linie


Soundtrack


Da, incredibil! 
Are Soundtrack! 
Un film romanesc cu muzica / coloana sonora, iti vine sa crezi?! 
Avem muzica/melodii/cantece pe fundal din cand in cand pe tot parcursul filmului! 
Nu mai retin exact, dar am impresia ca Partea 3 are cea mai mare densitate de muzica! 
Anyway, pentru Soundtrack ar trebui sa ia notite restul cinematografiei romanesti!


Jocul actorilor


Actorii joaca bine. 
Toti joaca bine, sunt pe rol. 
Cine s-a ocupat de casting, bravo!


Stereotipuri


Stereotipuri? - mda, stereotipurile despre regiunile Romaniei sunt alea clasice. Cliseu dupa cliseu.


Plot holes & Ce nu se leaga


Avem team Bucuresti, Craiova, Cluj si… Moldova?!?! - Moldova nu e oras, bre, e regiune! => kind reminder, trebuia Team Iasi!*

* Paranteza: pentru corectitudine 100%, trebuie mentionate urmatoarele: 
  • parca se spune de 1-2 ori "Iasi" (?), dar in rest "Moldova" pe linie 
  • nu retin sa fi auzit nici macar 1 data "Oltenia", ci mereu "Craiova"
  • nu mai retin daca s-a zis vreodata "Ardeal/Transilvania", dar clar s-a zis "Cluj" mult 
  • iar "Bucuresti" e o regiune in sine :)), dar ar fi fost tare sa zica "Muntenia" macar 1 data 
  • posterele de promovare de pe IMDB sunt cu "team Moldova" (scris cu albastru) vs. "team Bucuresti" (scris cu un fel de portocaliu) vs. "team Cluj" (scris cu acelasi portocaliu ca Bucuresti) vs. "team Craiova" (scris cu rosu) => vroiam sa subliniez nehotararea legata de orase vs. regiuni si de culoarea cu care le scriem (ori toate diferit? ori toate la fel? ca ai Bucuresti & Cluj cu acelasi portocaliu, culoare calda, apoi Craiova cu un rosu tot culoare calda, iar Moldova cu albastru culoare rece?)
  • pe ro.wikipedia scrie "DistribuÈ›ie [...] Echipa de call center de la BucureÈ™ti [...] Echipa din Ardeal [...] Echipa din Moldova [...] Echipa din Craiova" => deci iar nehotarare: vrei regiuni sau vrei orasul reprezentativ al regiunii?

La inceput o dam cu socialismul & munca - femeia de serviciu munceste prea mult, mai are si mana in gips, apoi e concediata pentru ca va fi inlocuita cu un robot etc. 

La finalul filmului, “dupa 1 an” de la evenimentele din teambuilding... aceeasi femeie de serviciu parca tot cu mana in gips apare si la pensiunea Kind Reminder detinuta de "Emil the workaholic" (asa l-am poreclit eu, ei nu zic "workaholic", dar puteau sa zica, dar apoi i-ar fi criticat "cultii" ca prea folosesc englezisme?!)

Posterul de promovare aproape ca nu are legatura cu filmul - daca ii ignori pe cei 2 de sus care sunt din alte echipe, iti raman cei 6 din echipa din Bucuresti despre care ai impresia ca se bat intre ei... ceea ce e fals... Poate ca mai discuta putin in contradictoriu pe parcurs sau se mai cearta, dar foarte putin & doar pentru poveste, in rest sunt buni colegi si mai ales la concurs sunt uniti (fiecare echipa e unita, daca nu e pe jos de beata, e.g. stereotipul cu Craiova) + dupa ce apare "adevaratul Horia Brenciu", Horia (Cosmin Nedelcu) nu mai e deloc morocanos si devine chiar "supportive", i.e. il incurajeaza pe "Emil the workaholic" (Matei Dima) sa gandeasca solutia pentru a castiga concursul.
 

Tampenii


In bataia generala de la final, au facut 2 "cascadorii" care nu se mai practica pentru ca pot fi fatale daca le reproduci pe bune in viata reala - in film totul se face cu "sticla de zahar" [en.wikipedia] si iese "artistic", dar in viata reala pot fi fatale
  1. Il baga pe unul cu capul in geam - poate in film pare funny, cascadoria e sigura, geamul se sparge generos cum vrei tu etc. - DAR in viata reala spartura din geam e mai mica decat capul omului, deci un om real se va taia mult & urat in acel geam, iar daca are ghinionul sa-i treaca capul prin geam (ca in film), atunci va lesina si va cadea cu gatul in geamul ramas in rama (lesinand, greutatea corpului trage de gatul lui infipt in acel geam ramas in rama), deci va face o hemoragie mare & repede, deci va muri 
  2. Ii sparge unuia o sticla de bere in cap - doar sticla de zahar se sparge asa artistic - in viata reala, s-ar putea ori ca sticla sa nu se sparga si sa actioneze ca un obiect contondent/tare, ori sa se sparga cu niste laturi taioase asemeni unui cutit, deci iar exista riscul de rani grave

Cinema vs. TV


Merita la Cinema. 
Se poate vedea si la TV, e ok, dar mai bine la cinema.


Despre Comentatorii “Culti” care comenteaza negativ


Am vazut & Vad o groaza de comentatori “culti” care comenteaza negativ.
...DAR nu vad comparatii cu si/sau referinte la alte filme romanesti ("valoroase", lansate/livrate in ultimii 25-35 de ani) legat de Imagine, Background/decor, Recuzita, Cinematografie, Detalii mici care fac diferenta, Sunet, Editare/Montaj, Soundtrack etc.

Nota bene: pana acum eu am respins filmele romanesti direct din trailer!... oare are legatura cu ce am enumerat mai sus?! :)


Concluzii


Teambuilding (2022) merita. 

Bine facut ca film per total. 

Scenariu bun. 

Actorii joaca bine. 

Soundtrack - Da, incredibil! Are Soundtrack! Avem muzica/melodii/cantece pe fundal din cand in cand pe tot parcursul filmului! 

Glume de toate tipurile pentru toata lumea, pentru toate nivelurile de educatie. 

Sunet foarte bun per total - incredibil pentru un film romanesc! 

Imaginea & Background/Decor, recuzita etc. & Cinematografia & Detalii mici care fac diferenta & Editarea (Montaj) - toate acestea sunt bune per total - super bune la inceput (Partea 1, conform impartirii mele), apoi calitatea tot scade pana spre final... 
Rezultatul e ok per total, dar mi-as fi dorit mai mult, mi-as fi dorit sa le fi iesit un pic mai bine spre final, pentru ca s-au chinuit si meritau sa le iasa bine!

“Partea 1” (vezi impartirea mea) este Hollywood level, nu glumesc! Mi se pare incredibil! 
...in acest ritm, poate in 10 ani cineva obtine buget international si produce un film de actiune - in English, bre! sa fie international ca bugetul filmului - livrat la Hollywood level. 


In fine, cand mai apare vreun film romanesc cu trailer bun & cu share de bucati convingatoare din film precum ce am vazut legat de Teambuilding (2022), ma mai duc.

Wednesday, 7 October 2020

Movie review: Tenet (2020)



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

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


Tenet (2020)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]


Wow!
Great job Christopher Nolan!
Awesome!
Thank you, Christopher Nolan!

I've always demanded more action... BUT not today! Today I've finally received the action I always wanted!

Great movie, I tell you!

Fast paced from the very start till the very end! It's just incredible how it can deliver such a fast pace throughout the whole movie!
Feels like 1 hour, but it actually lasts for 2.5 hours.

Great story!
Smart, yet the way it's delivered is so accessible and the physics behind it so easy to understand for the layman.
Quite a lot twists and turns and rewrites or reinterpretations of the same situation.

Great cinematography.

Great acting.
All actors do a great job - there's some great chemistry there between all of them.

Great soundtrack.
Unusual (or even disturbing) sound to some people, but just great to my ears.

Great special effects.

Definitely worth watching at the cinema!
TV simply cannot deliver the same engagement.
TV or your expensive sound system cannot deliver the same sound level as the cinema.

I'm so sorry all this covid-19 shit hurts it's box office performance. I'm aware of all the money required to back such a project - sadly, they'll make little profit because of all this covid-19 shit.

Best action movie since Inception [IMDB], which too has been written and directed by Christopher Nolan!

Definitely deserves some Academy Awards nominations.


Conclusions


Awesome movie!
Best action movie since Inception [IMDB]
Thank you, Christopher Nolan!

Saturday, 14 March 2020

Movie review: The Call of the Wild (2020)



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

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


The Call of the Wild (2020)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



Entertaining.
Awesome. Great.
Sweet. Touching.

Best dog movie I've watched since the start of the trend some years ago.

Coherent and Consistent storyline.
Smart.
Totally gets into you.
They deliver the story at the perfect pace. Just perfect. The story never drags. Keeps the viewer focused on the story from the very beginning to the very end.

Great acting.
The computer generated dog is great, very expressive :) Congratulations for the great job!
Humans also deliver a great performance: Omar Sy, Cara Gee, Harrison Ford and everyone else!
As a side note, Omar Sy and Cara Gee deliver a great performance, there's really good chemistry between them - they do deserve their rather large share of screen time.
Harrison Ford is great, totally fits in etc. - congratulations to whoever has cast him for the role!

Great cinematography, soundtrack, video editing / post processing etc.

Beautiful landscapes / scenery.

The cinema experience is a must. The movie is just too good to waste it on TV.



Conclusions


That's the kind of movie I'd like to see getting Academy Awards nominations! It surely deserves some!

Totally loved it. Time well spent. Money well spent.

Monday, 2 March 2020

Movie review: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)



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

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


Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



Great animation.
Entertaining.

Coherent and Consistent storyline.
Smart.
Linear, but very catchy. Never drags. Keeps the viewer focused on the story the whole time.

Totally loved that CG character Sonic :)
...and Jim Carrey delivers an excellent performance!

Let me be clear on this: it's Jim Carrey's performance that pushes the movie from good to great!

Suitable for both children and adults. Each of them shall love it and consume it in their own way...


Conclusions


Time well spent. Money well spent.
Best animation I've seen for a long time now - much better than Toy Story 4.
Looking forward for the sequel.

Saturday, 15 February 2020

Movie review: Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)



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

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


Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



Entertaining. Really entertaining.

Incredibly good.
Almost awesome, I'd say.

Coherent and Consistent storyline.
Smart. Really, it's a lot smarter than you'd expect.
Never drags. Never.
Keeps a fast pace from start to end, which is great.
A simple story, indeed, yet they manage to create quite a lot of magic around it.

Really good acting.
All actors deliver a really good performance.
There's a really good chemistry between all of them.

Delivers the action it promises. In fact, delivers more action than the trailer promises, which rarely happens these days.

Really good special effects. Not very expensive, but really good.

The cinema experience is a must.

I must admit to have started with low expectations... but ended up very pleased about the whole movie!

I'm totally in for the sequel!


Conclusions


Definitely worth watching. Definitely.
Money well spent. Time well spent.

Tuesday, 4 February 2020

Movie review: The Gentlemen (2020)



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

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


The Gentlemen (2020)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



Entertaining.

Coherent and Consistent storyline.
A lot of twists and turns.
Really smart.
Never drags. No dead time whatsoever. Keeps the viewer focused on the story the whole time, from the very beginning to the very end.

Really good acting. All actors deliver a really good performance. Really good chemistry between all of them.

Really good with respect to everything else: cinematography, post processing, soundtrack etc.

The cinema experience is a must.

This must (it must, ok?!) become a classic like Snatch (2000) [IMDB; en.wikipedia] has, directed by the same Guy Ritchie.

Definitely deserves some Academy Awards nominations, yet has not received any.

Much better than Knives Out (2019) or Joker (2019) or Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) or in fact anything that I've seen in a long while.


Conclusions


Definitely worth watching. Time well spent.

Thursday, 5 December 2019

Review de teatru: Nunzio @Cuibul Artistilor (Bucuresti)



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

Ultima oara am scris in Martie 2019 despre Cuibul Artistilor - piesa "UAU".

Intre timp, am mai vazut (dar nu am scris, aparent, lazy me!): "Arta", "Treapta a noua" si "Dumnezeu de a doua zi".

Mi-am amintit de ei si am fost din nou - piesa de teatru:


Nunzio


Interesanta povestea.
Drama - suferinta & durere in stil european, clasic, cu mici glume pe parcurs.
Dorinta lor e sa creasca si awareness-ul despre autism, au cautat si challenge-ul de a realiza un proiect mai delicat ca acesta etc. - le-a iesit bine.

Foarte bine jucat.
Ca intotdeauna, imi place ca se simte ca pun suflet, isi dau silinta, transmit mesajul etc.

Mi-a placut... dar problema mea e ca nu prea diger eu bine dramele, nu prea am apetit pentru drame pana la capat, fara happy end, in stilul european :) - daca facem abstractie de mine, atunci clar piesa merita, atat pentru poveste, cat mai ales pentru jocul actoricesc.

S-a jucat in sala noua - au renovat frumos, singuri, bravo! Foarte buna ideea de a purta cipici de plastic, ca sa se pastreze curatenia mai mult timp!

Pret: donatia recomandata este de 30 ron.


Concluzii


Drama, jucata foarte bine. Merita - si merita foarte tare mai ales pentru cine are apetit pentru drame.

Wednesday, 27 November 2019

Movie review: Joker (2019)



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

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


Joker (2019)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]



Most reviews...
  1. praise the movie,
  2. consider it really good with respect to everything,
  3. agree that it may at least earn some nominations at the Academy Awards if not win some etc.
At first glance, it all seems correct.


...but, if you let the story/movie digest in the back of your head for a couple of days, you might conclude (as I have) that:
  1. The story (and the whole movie) actually is artificial and superficial in its stubborn attempt to be deep.
    Seems deep, but it's actually chaotic.
  2. Seems so European by the way it constantly bullies (i.e. psychically tortures) the main character.
  3. They constantly hesitate at taking sides and pointing fingers... or at least are very ambiguous about it... or maybe I just haven't paid enough attention to all details?... I'm still not sure whether the Joker has been 100% mentally ill, or it's been his mother's fault, or Thomas Wayne has mistreated Joker's mother...
I do have the taste for good drama, be sure about that! :) It's just this one has touched me less than it has touched most reviewers.


The violence in the movie is ok. I agree with the "R-rating", but to be honest there's nothing special about it, nothing that may require debate - the whole discussion on this topic I suspect to be well done marketing to attract people to the cinema...


The cinema experience is a must. TV cannot possibly capture the whole experience the movie delivers at the cinema.


Conclusions


Joker (2019) is a good watch to most people, but not so much to me.

Wednesday, 6 November 2019

Movie review: Paradise Hills (2019)



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

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


Paradise Hills (2019)

[IMDB; en.wikipedia]




Entertaining overall.

Starts well - the initial 10% of the time displays a good storyline, is well paced, keeps the viewer focused etc.

Then for the next 50% of the time it turns bad, really bad - it's like the Middle Ages in history - not much of a storyline, almost nothing interesting or mildly relevant happens... it just drags, gets rather boring etc.
Not sure on their intentions here, but they have certainly failed - it simply doesn't resonate with me.
Certainly the movie feels a lot longer than it actually is because of this rather bad part.

Then, for the remaining 40% of the time, it suddenly turns really good: the storyline develops rapidly and gets more and more interesting & captivating, you get action & adrenaline etc. - basically you get the whole package. This part saves the whole movie - congratulations to whoever's been in charge on this part!

There are 2 nice twists and turns. First, regarding the school's real way of accomplishing its objectives and what/who The Duchess really is. Second, regarding Markus - indeed, this one is rather obvious, but I won't spoil it :)

I really enjoyed the cinematography + the choice of costumes & colors + the rather weird, but subtle soundtrack that blends in perfectly.

The cinema experience is a must, since TV would ruin the whole experience.



Conclusions


Paradise Hills (2019) is a good watch and I consider the time has been well spent with respect to the initial 10% and the final 40% of the movie.