The keyword is deranged here, or **** kindness to be found **** first story is about a guy who makes crazy demands on his lovers, from a position of wealth and power. That is also the only reason anybody would 'play' along, for the financial gain. That is no different from demanding from your kids to wash the dishes for their pocket money. There is however a line that can not be crossed, a fact the director clearly doesn't see. That's his problem. In the real world you get locked in an asylum for such behaviour, in the movies some equally deranged 'critters', I mean 'critics', mount their horse and jump into the abyss. The line being physical harm. Psychological harm should be terrible enough, but clearly not for some sick people. One problem with causing physical harm is that society does not accept it, except in other countries... And that means the first story would end with the aggressor being put behind bars, so nothing to be gained. Unless you can do it secretly, but in this movie they throw logic and reason in the garbage bin. The payed reviewers swallow it down. Now that's more worrysome than the movie itself!The second story is revolting and as much 'fun', as some critics call it, as a visit to a **** third is the only one that does the job and has the quality one would expect after Poor Things. (Although perversity was very present there also(in PT)...) The problem is that you have to accept two hours of boredom before reaching it. That one is about life in a cult, and the effects on family of the captivated cultist. But with a twist, like PT its also a fantasy story.Bottom line: two failed ideas and one shortfilm don't combine into greatness, only a feeling of being **** hard to kill your babies, but the second part belongs in a litterbin, the first needs work.
La Chimera. Now this movie does the job! Finaly one winner amongst the losers! It has story, culture, great actors, even lessons in Italian gestures included! And music, great music. And did I say culture? Not only the Italian kind, but Etruscan! It's about a gang of grave robbers, but who have the excuse of poverty. But the movie also shows the devastation that can have on relics. Go see it, now! Yesterday!
With the elements the story has, a better movie could be made. Why does it fail? Because the violence is too extreme, for one thing. It's a sadists knife stabbing gore fest. Way to many knife wielding morons. What security team uses knives? Its just crazy.I like a good revenge movie anytime, but this one withholds the reason for the action until too late in the **** hero of the story wants to get even with the head of police. Ok. Then why the whole far-fetched story of trying to kill him in in a high-end club with top security?Where he can obtain employment, after being beat up in brutal fights? It would take weeks to recover, let alone become a waiter in this elite club? If he could work there, why work as a fist fighter in the first place? Way to many loose ends!And then this cage fighter fails to win against a at least twenty years older well-off well-fed functionary? Again **** if its the one guy he's after, why kill those countless security people who are only doing their job? So there is also an anarchic hate against 'the system' here. If the director has a problem with corruption, killing guards won't help anybody.There are some scenes worthwhile, and the religious elements add something, but those need more explaining for a non-Indian audience. A failure! A remake might be a good idea!
The movie starts, and nothing happens. Nothing is explained. Why is there a civil war, how can there be a war when there is only one army, with one chain of command? No answers. What is the movie about then? Its a crash course in war journalism. With many lessons that they would advise against in reality off course. Why did they produce it? To add fuel to the fire, and make a few dollars in the mean time? Why do media in Europa talk more about Trump then about local news? To point the finger at the easy enemy, the one that won't complain, because he lives across the ocean. And this to warn the public for local right-wing politicians. Naming and shaming is avoided, but the division in society is what it is! Not only in the USA, but in the EU too!Is it worth it If you like seeing large-scale military manoeuvres, why not. Just don't expect to be entertained, or amused. It's the usual hate campaign, where the other side is reduced to dim-witted murderers who set fire to black captives? And even the 'good' side routinely shoots captives. Strange, if you ask me.This is not the way to solve any differences, or doesn't present any solution, since the makers are to lame to even name a problem to start with. Typical behaviour of the press in large parts of the EU too, they keep supporting the people in power, and failing to notice everything that goes wrong in society. They ignore it, deny it, keep dead silent about it. Now how can it be that problems only grow when you cover your head under a soft pillow? A disappointment.
In the movie theatre where I went to look, the film was not advertised or marked as an animation film, so that was the first unpleasant surprise. Then the story turned out to be incredibly old fashioned and dated, and full of unpleasant characters. I endured a half hour of this, before leaving as fast as my legs could carry me. It was from what I read first filmed with real actors, what shows from the faces and expressions that look to good to be animated oil paintings. And then painted over... And this combined with real paintings mixed in, what nobody told me in advance. But some beautiful visions do not make a beautiful film. I heard nasty talk coming from nasty people, who I would not want to spend time with in the here and now, and so obviously also not on screen when there isn't a certain something to make me stay. There were some pieces of music that provoked Polish viewers into sounds of recognition, so perhaps there is more of that further on in the movie. Perhaps I'll give it another go in fast forward if it returns on tv. **** you like costume movies or historic movies I can recommend King's Land. Bleak in a way, but realistic, and with a worthwhile story.
After seeing the movie I still don't know why it was made and what lesson we should learn here. Its based on a short story, that makes sence, but it should have stayed short. I don't like milked out ideas, and this confirms it by feelings of awkwardness, disbelief, cringe, and revolt, and that extended to a two hour movie. A girl who goes on a date fearing the worst and seeing serial killers in every shadow might be better off seeking professional help instead of putting average innocent males at risk. There is to much anti masculine vibes here, unrealisticaly so. Woke and hostile me to vibes? Yes its true that there are (too) many men who kill their partner, but that's in standing relationships. Its also true men might have 'learned' from pornographic sources, but that might be the case for women also. But instead of showing a doubleganger commenting that the sex is not up to the lady's expectations, then show those male spectators what they should do instead. And if you are the girl thinking such things, just speak up if it goes to fast, and say what you would prefer. The language put into the mouth of the man at that point seems very unlikely, and the rest of the first night also. Its all a parody of a date. You don't learn to write by practicing only the a; give it some time! The producer takes a lot of pleasure from showing far fetched evil alternatives at different points in the dating. And makes an issue of the age difference, what is uncalled for, since in the storyline she starts flirting with him, not the other way around. All in all the film doesn't give good advice, its more like, those awful men are better avoided? Very unfair to all those normal, nice and well meaning boys, and girls. Stress and guild, and a lesbian with persecutory delusions, a load of prejudices and insane suspicions as her best friend. We are turning the clock back a hundred years or more here! An unpleasant experience, albeit quite well acted. I stayed untill the end, reluctantly, but her next movie won't be for me...
Title for this review: what cloths did Priscilla wear during her life with Elvis, learn all about it!
The chemistry between the two is never apparent. She was 14 and he was ten years older when they met. But it all looks extremely unlikely. What were they talking about? The married man who invited her promised her father to be her chaperone, and on the first date she is already alone in Elvis' room? Their wedding came 8 years later, so there must have been something, but what? Was she also addicted to expensive hairdressers?The absence of music is very disturbing. How can you make a film about a wife of a fantastic musician, and then only have him sing 1 song when they meet? Fifteen minutes before the end you saw him standing on a stage, in a rear view, but that turns out to be the last seconds of a performance. Throughout the film we see him arrive with an entourage of friends, or are they musicians? You have to look it up yourself after the film. She gets a car, but does she drive it? She is bothered by the noise of a party to study, on an estate? They even show that there was at least one other house on the property! I would like to believe that Elvis had different waking/sleeping hours, but it is not discussed. Where did the grandmother sleep? Not? You are left with more questions than before. It seems more like a revenge film directed by her, with the aim of presenting Elvis as negatively as possible. Upon arrival at Graceland, we briefly see the sympathetic grandmother and an equally friendly black housekeeper, but then they seem to disappear as if she is locked in the house alone. The prudishness is also very disturbing, they are always dressed in bed. Downright boring film, half of the audience left the theater long before the end. An ending that also comes at a strange time, when she decides to leave him. When the grandmother suddenly comes back into the picture? In reality, E and P remained friends afterward, and their daughter was raised together until his death three years later. And she was already taking acting lessons before the divorce. How can you show a long-standing relationship with a musician without him playing and singing something on screen? The story is said to be based on her memoirs, and Elvis has no right of reply here. Lost in Translation was a good film by this director (Sofia Copolla), that was a long time ago! But there is not an ounce of humor in this. Elvis has been on pills from the beginning, but she also participates in them, which is strange. First, to give a 14 year old girl heavy sleeping pills, and then to go to school and steal pills to stay awake. These may also come in handy for watching this film. A serious flub, for and by man and music haters? The director only focuses on the clothing. Easy to blame Elvis, but those were different times. And if she did stay, was it for the money? Not commendable behavior either! In the end, they were together for 14 years, with breaks for school, tours and filming. Too negative a representation. A knife in the back! That's what you get for saving a stupid schoolgirl from her boring existence in military bases, tar and feathers... Was it love me tender or love me in pajamas? Love me with a sleeping pill?
As a review title I would use 'not **** a movie in which a pro toilet cleaner at work one would expect to learn something about how to do that. But no, the maker is not interested, what is strange, because he chose this subject for his movie. There is a lot of rubbing on clean surfaces, but what does he do with the used tissues? Are they moisturised or rinced? Probably the actor has written into his contract that he doesn't have to actually clean anything let alone something dirty. A large part of the reason the job is not an obvious career choice is because of the stench and smell. You might aswell make a movie about a garbage collector with an empty truck that only collects brand new stuff? Or a bus driver with puppets instead of real humans. And what about the physical side? The repetitive movements don't hurt? The chemicals don't bite? The people don't speak? But atleast the music is real. But I didn't run to the record store after seeing it, and that is a pity, because I can present you with a lot of great songs you never heard, and so should a movie. The old and gray they play enough on the radio, thanks, but no thanks. House of the rising song might be 'special' to the Japanese, but Wenders is not a local! Old used tapes are presented as being collectors items, but the Japanese don't like second hand, and if some do, a tape is not the most durable option. So its probably similar to the profession, listening in a way nobody with a sane mind would. The books he buys are dead cheap, but eating out every day is unlikely for people with low wages. On the other hand the birth rate in Japan is low, so human labour might be valued more **** one thing the movie could be usefull for is to show children why they better stay in school instead of leaving to early and falling into this carreer choice. But its to unrealistic for that purpose. He even has a company car he takes home, and a private parking space, in Tokio? Still, not bad. The film is steeped in Japanese culture!
This is a strange and troubling production. Its about a girl who aspires to become the king's apprentice, but shows a total lack of respect, and acts as if she knows everything better. An ode to stupidity and brutality?The 'bad guy' is the man (A white man? To the gallows...) who build the peacefull society on this island, and is thanked for that by ultimately being sentenced to a dark dungeon? Why? Is seems to be imbued with a kind of 'woke' mentality, that teaches here how the 'government' is not to be trusted, and is better trampled through violence and even burglary. Some message for the kids? What they attack is not revealed. The mysterious star force that comes to the aide of the anarchist girl is some kind of floating baby with magic powers, now that should ring some alerts... Again not a wise fairy, but a false belief in the ability of youth to pass judgement in every given case. Young people usually are of positive attitude, when they are not going for each others throaths..., but they are mostly lacking experience, and are naive to the extreme. Not good advice! The king granted a wish a year from somebody is his city, but the film only talks about the others who didn't get their wish. Thats life, you can't always get what you want. Life is good on the island, nobody is doing forced labour or undergoing other atrocities like the things we see in Russia today. The 'lesson' here is, if you don't get what you want, you take it by any means necessary? The whole construct reminds of how statues of old hero's are torn down because of something they did that would not be acceptable today. The times change, but that is no reason to erase history. On the positive side the music is not bad, but I wonder what children make of this story. Jail the old leaders for bringing peace and prosperity, and replace it for freedom for everybody? Your 'freedom' only goes as far as the freedom of the next person, and you have no rights to his or hers belongings. Better take your kids to see 'Migration'. Where the dangers don't come from the trainee you take in, but from real predators. This is anarchy in Disney style!
For on the poster: Avoid at all cost. An insult to your brain! Most stupid movie of the year! In the beginning I presumed the caracters that were used to do tasks for the hypnotiser where prepped in advance, but the movie is built around the concept that some can make you do something by telling you. I love SF so anything goes, if its credible. This is not! Also its full of mistakes. Like often they only have to arrest or shoot the culprit who is standing closeby, but they don't!And nonsense, like when they shoot his best colleage, to 'save' him from his hypnotic orders. There are many ways to prevent someone from harm, but a bullet in the forehead ain't one. There's only one reason to go to this mess, thats when you can't get to sleep. This will make your mind do tricks to escape the stupidity, like dozing off...
It is certainly a very good movie. In reality a child growing up in those conditions probably wouldn't be so nice and wellbehaved, but never mind. It does show some other kids when she visits another family briefly, that was well done also; even those short moments hinted at the predatory nature of other kids, the majority I dare say. The only thing I would change is the absence of music. The makers either hate music or don't like it. Except for some background filling near the end, you only get to hear three notes on the radio before they switch it of. There is a radio in the car, and in the living room, and a tv, but its ALWAYS just voice broadcasts, or even commercials. They even had to do extra research for these adds and parts of period tv programs! Thats all good and well but there is also period music, what else is there to help you trough the day in the countryside, nature has a lot to offer(beauty in human eyes but otherwise the deathcries of animals falling prey to others...), but not decent songs. They chose adds!
Warning: Men, do not get lured into this film by some landmermaid, you won't enjoy it! Possible exception for Céline Dion enthusiasts. Why oh why did I go, I'll never know? Sweet as that overripe banana you thought you could save by putting it in the freezer, but that came out black and slimy, that kind of sweet.
Pinkie swear alert!!!!!!! They do that pinkie thing. Its that kind of movie, awkward, cringe, cringe!! Some woke contamination also. Some points for the presence of some music. By Céline Dion mostly. Not my fault.
Here's a film that takes the time to show the events that shape people, and the result of their choises. We're talking epic, as in that other movie where a person tries to go for a alternative lifestyle, Into The Wild. And wild it gets, the mountains in winter are no flowery meadow. And that atmosphere is perfectly captured by Swedish singer songwriter and formerly known Blues artist Daniel Norgren. Most songs are from the 2015 album 'Alabursy' I think. Songs like 'Everything You Know Melts Away Like Snow' or 'Why May I Not Go Out And Climb The Trees?' give my life meaning! And movies like this are a refuge against awful feasts of useless beastliness and gruesome bloodlust like in Evil Dead Rise. Just this flash of light
In the endless night
And it's done (from 'As Long As We Last')
Its good that every now and again a movie shows a life in fast forward; living might seem endless certain days, but it passes far to fast, and like in the cinema there is no rewind button. Also starring: the Italian Alps.
I certainly liked the movie, it's been a while since I saw a good one that doesn't belong in genres like superhero, thriller, action movie, blockbuster and so on... In the alternative cinemas, at least in Belgium, the main characters in these movies always have a lot of problems.. They're hard to swallow, like the whale... Not the kind of fish that slides down your throat easily. The story here is also about the conditions in a country without democracy, but it is more about two people and the mess they got into. Someone here thought the "score" was magnificent, but in fact it could hold a lot more local music, comparable to the amounts of rum consumed by the female protagonist. A lot. For me, only one song caught my interest, Stars at Noon from Tindersticks. Probably made for this movie. The setting and the DJ(!) are also a nice touch. Most of the rest of the soundtrack is horrible muzak in the elevator/hotel lobby. And 4 other songs. One from Costa Rica (1973): Bocaraca - Tal Vez Mañana, then Bonita from Maximo Rodriguez & Sus Etrellas Paramenas, a 'hot' band, in the sixties, in Panama. And then Natalia Clarke's No Hay Amor, soul of a record called "Hidden Treasures from Panama", released in 2022... And more soul, from Portland, Oregon: she found me - Natasha Kmeto. So absolutely nothing from Nicaragua where the movie was supposed to take place. Why? Lazy? Snobs with an aversion to folk? Whatever the reason, it's outrageous. Fire these people.
In itself the story is sound. But the writers have some serious ethical issues! Like presenting it as acceptable to destroy an entire planet because it is not perfect? For Orcs like Putin perhaps. On one hand the movie is aimed at young children, on the other it is full of unnecessary shouting and sadism. Also the leading caracters who on one hand say to want to do the right thing, on the other answer the hospitality from a local family (with children) on a planet they visit with total disregard. They are welcomed in their house, receive drinks, borrow their car, run into their trashbins with the car, and leave them to die. While their spaceship is parked in front of the house... But the most annoying is the Endor sickness of wanting to introduce ‘cute’ creatures. A talking dog that still behaves like a dog? (either his brain is advanced, or not, decide!), a man with a duckface? Just nonsense. The gardians themselves are unlikely, but don’t cross certain limits. Yes, also in SF stupidity harms the experience. But better a rattling SF film, than a boring ordinary film. Visualy there is a lot to see. Stop trying to make a film for young children from unsuited material!
Its a mixed bag, this one. There is a lot of utter stupidity in this movie, and its often terribly dull. Ant man behaves like an idiot all the time, the only good thing about the movie is the artwork, the creatures, the world they created. But as usual the story came from a toddler **** its thick toe. There are thousands of SF books waiting to be used, why spend all this money if you haven't got a decent scenario?
Bottom line: its a horrible waste of loads of money that could have been used to make a great film of one of the thousands of SF books written from back then until now. What is the use of recreating a period of wich allready a massive quantity of films survived, that no one looks at anymore anyway? If you want to see a more recent history evocation, there is Babylon Berlin, the great Gatsby, or Romeo + juliet(1996)(all with great music). Those did the job, this movie failed miserably. If you know somebody in the movie business, tell them to start reading SF and Fantasy books and stop trying to write scenarios, right now.
This is cinema! It has everything and more. Like a more realistic view on crime. On old age. It lifts up a part of the veil of evil, and shows the outcome of different choises. If you have parents, this is a movie for you. Or take them along... A very humane film, never boring like Aftersun that gets higher ratings, zealous but never mucous. And a little bit of music, although I was so immerged in the story I cant say if there was more. You should be on your way to the theater already, before the movie disapears again.
Positive: its SF
Negative: its not SF. Its about tribal people, Maori traditions, whales and flying fish but both enlarged. You don't fight a modern army with bow and arrow. Even centuries ago that failed! And like in the first film its unlikely that the military are all such evil people. Although thinking of Poetin... And the whole notion of avatars becomes totally useless if you can walk around with just a breathing mask...
Mixed: Its about family. And so for young people who hopefully pick up the taste for real SF
I looked up the ratings after seeing it because I suspected it only made the theaters by being heavily subsidised. But apparently the critics like it? However, if you would film a boring cheap holiday in an ordinary resort, with not even an interesting excursion (endless posibilities...), only the forced animation (help), then this would be the result. Still very boring. More music could have helped, but even the karaoke is also badly sung! On purpose to pester the audience no doubt. Looking at the uncritical critics reviews its about a depression? Other than that obtained by the viewer a holiday with family is not the right time to be depressed. There are no explications for anything, only some observations of young people by the even younger? Good for a nice videoclip, or two, but hopelessly uninspired. As happens a lot these days. Read books and make movies about them if you can't write a decent story!!!
