juliankleiss

This is overall great filmmaking in the tradition of the great Italo-Western genre. It reminds of movies by Sergio Leone with the music of Ennio Morricone. "Inglourious Basterds" is a bit long - at 2.5 hours not unlike its role models - but there are some truly amazing acting performances (deriving from an awesome script) that are worth sitting through in this epic.ÂA recurring aspect of the movie is about how far you would go to either save your life or die for your values. The scenes dealing with decisions like these are not judge-able morally, for both options are morally bad (being partly responsible for someone's murder or being killed yourself). The question only is, what the lesser evil is for yourself.ÂWhat is problematic about watching this movie (more often) is that it does desensitize one to genuine depictions of murder and cruelty.Â

Being based on the comic book of the same name, the movie "Kick-Ass" respects the traditions of the comic book superhero genre by consciously getting inspiration from Spiderman and Batman. However, it transcends simple imitation by far. The production of the movie is awesome. Above all mentionable is the film's magnificent use of music. First off, in terms of the script, the movie does a wonderful job in criticizing the perceived lack of responsibility to people passing and watching a crime happen without doing anything against it. If many people start helping in bad situations that are not too dangerous, and if children are already being raised to intervene, everyone could contribute to a more secure society. This would also lessen the chance of getting mugged at some point in your life. On the other hand morally controversial, is the glorification of the revenge murdering committed by two of the protagonists who are less than more on the side of the righteous heroes. Even a woman that was not a threat but tried to flee was stabbed to death. Revenge killing is not a necessary evil for a good cause (as would be a killing in self defense). Therefore, they are hardly any different than some villain who kills for power. Rather than portraying the revenge in a neutral way or actually suggesting that revenge is morally bad, the cinematic glorification of it makes the movie less likable. Nevertheless, "Kick-Ass" is totally worth watching.

Law Abiding Citizen points out an imperfect justice system. In seemingly obvious cases of murder a judge might not care enough about justice and only obeys the law so as a killer can go free if there is a lack of physical evidence; lawyers might make deals with criminals just to put an easy end to a case; and if it gets really bad for those who work for this system they might try to find a way of how to take away the constitutional given civil rights of the person they feel threatened by. A very smart movie that gives you some food for thought about how law and justice might not always be the same. The first half of the movie is quite brutal and likely hard to watch for many viewers. The second half offers some surprise. Definitely worth watching.

It does not matter where you come from, if you have a talent and love to do it you can achieve your dream. The movie shows tensions between family and career but resolves it by depicting that they can also go hand in hand. One of the big intentions of the filmmakers is to make the viewers losen up their preconceptions and narrow mindedness. Above all the Ratatouille aims to convince that rats are also beings that deserve to be treated with respect (even if they steal sometimes). Another obvious theme related to food is making the viewer in times of fast food mass production aware that there is more to food than just getting your tummy full with little time, little money, and little taste. Even though all the characters have diverese and highly developed personalities, and the protagonists are cute and the story fun, it is not until the final climax of the movie that there is a scene that truly grabs you at your emotional core and makes you really happy. Ratatouille is a very nice addition to collection of the Pixar's animated feature films. Go watch it!

After the first viewing it loses some of its fun. Still there are some cute moments between the two main characters. Interestingly, the best scenes turn out to be the ones where music rather than speech is used as a means of expression of feelings. It is an okay movie (pretty good until they actually start making the porno) suggesting that the best relationships come out of friendship.

The title might be misleading. The trailer does not reveal what this movie will turn out to be either. This is black humor. You won't know if you should laugh or feel sad. Scenes from this film might keep haunting your thoughts for a couple of days. "World's Greatest Dad" is extraordinary and possibly unique. Highly recommended!

It starts out with a boring introduction of the characters and extremely annoys by being captured with an unsteady hand camera (even though there is nothing happening in the script, to the viewer it feels like there is an earthquake). It seems Aaron Eckhart's acting saves the movie from not being enjoyable. But really, there are some emotional scenes, and after the action starts going it does not lose excitement until the movie is over. Interestingly, the story does not concentrate on the overall impact of the alien invasion on a global scale, but focuses exclusively on one small team of marines and how they try to survive while contributing to defending their country. On the one hand, the military's representation might be a little bit one sided for it only shows good soldiers, while really in every big group of people there are black sheep. However, on the other hand, people who might be opposed to the existence of the American military should see with this movie that its major function is protecting their own people. There is only very little critical element in the beginning of the movie, but it does compare the shocking alien invasion to the human's "handbook of how to colonize", therefore confirming that the humans have behaved towards each other in the same cruel way. This movie is not the greatest way to spend one's time and money, but it won't feel like a waste either.

The movie explores the possibilities of what to do if the American Dream does not satisfy you. It definitely does show some alternative lifestyles to a stereotyped American way of life. However, even though it makes you want to go to Italy and eat some delicious Pizza, "Love Eat Pray" is lacking cinematic magic that would make you love the movie.

Even after the love of your life has passed away you can still spend some happy time with your sweet grandchildren and your loyal pets. "Up" is a beautifully sad movie about having a dream and living an adventure. While the villain is extremely unlikable, the protagonists are very lovable. The film might not have needed the final action sequence in the end, but "Up" is definitely worth watching.

The movie shows a post-apocalyptic/post-human place after the last of the humans has died in a war against their own machines. The film criticizes the abuse of science for the development of warfare - in this case especially artificial intelligence and biological warfare. Eventually, after our self-destruction, the forces of nature will wash away all the dirt we left behind. However, now that we are still here it is on us to keep our planet livable and beautiful. "9" has an intelligent story, an okay screenplay, and some beautiful moments. It is worth watching but loses some of its magic after the first viewing.

The Earth is left behind in waste while the whole of humankind becomes lazy, fat, and uneducated. The humans are wasting away their lives cruising in space without purpose or direction. Indeed, it is the robots who now enjoy the little wonders of life that once fascinated the humans. "Wall-E" is cute; kinda slow-paced, but definitely worth watching. It is an encouragement to start being curious like a child again. One might also find an urge to start recycling instead of trashing everything. Also very recommended is the Pixar short movie "Burn-E".

Hilarious, shocking, sad. Michael Moore is amazingly talented in artistically putting together documentaries that make difficult topics understandable to almost everyone in an entertaining way. Highly recommended.

This movie will surprise the hell out of you. Don't let anyone tell you about the plot. Actually, don't even watch the trailer! The movie starts out a little bit unpromising, but gets better and better and better. I cannot remember the last time I was that amazed by a movie. Highly recommended. Watch it!

"The Fighter" is not really about boxing. Boxing is just the means to tell a story about family. The movie shows how, on the one hand a family can be an obstacle. But on the other hand, it is nice to know there is always someone standing behind you. One just has to find the balance between one's personal autonomy and a family commitment. It is interesting that we all try to first rid ourselves from dependence, but then strive to found a family in the first place. "The Fighter" has pretty good acting, as well as good filmmaking. Worth watching.

People, educate your children! Tolerance is what this world needs. It can be derived from studying history which furthermore should prevent us from making the same mistakes that others did before us. "Freedom Writers" is, on the one hand, a sad revelation to viewers who grew up in countries without gang life. On the other hand, it is a very beautiful movie, based on a true story, that proves that change is possible and hope is not in vain. The movie shows in a smart and reverent way how racism can lead to genocides. Highly recommended.

Princess Mononoke is an epic piece of animation about greedy human capitalism and its consequent destruction of flora and fauna. The main character is against extremes of opinions and therefore tries to fight for a symbiotic balance between humans and the world of the forest, for all beings ought to work together in a world of peace and respect, rather than to exploit and kill one another. This is not a children's movie because it is quite brutal and scary at times. However, there is also fun, cuteness, feminism, and no boredom throughout the movie. Very recommended.

A movie about police brutality, overprotection of children, and racism regarding biracial relationships. A terrific performance by Sam L. Jackson.

It is nice to finally see an older lesbian couple with two teenage children making it into the mainstream movies. There is great acting in a real life story, claiming that keeping a family together can be at times very hard, but it is worth working on it. A very recommended social study in the form of entertainment cinema.

One of the movie's goals appears to have been to examine how love/a relationship works. Unfortunately, the script writer appears to have not spend enough time researching social philosophy on that topic (f.i. writings of Erich Fromm). Thereafter, the movie misses to make a clear distinction between infatuation and real love/earnest friendship. Furthermore, it completely leaves out the possibility that two people really just might have to work together and have some tolerance for each others flaws. Rather "(500) Days of Summer" suggests that love is something totally random and that a relationship either works perfectly or simply not. Because of this, the "(500) Days of Summer" contributes to keeping alive the fairy tale idea that there is one - and only one - perfect lover in the world for each single person. Nevertheless, the movie does a good job on one of its other goals, which is to encourage the viewer to not follow the trend of striving for quick money, but to follow one's real passion by bringing it to the center of one's life. Lastly, "(500) Days of Summer" is good filmmaking, tastefully combining romance, drama, and short scenes amplifying emotions of the protagonists like a funny musical interlude or beautiful 2-D animation.

A little girl called Chihiro falls into a surreal world, from which she tries to save her parents. At first most characters appear to be bad-tempered or even evil. Nevertheless, along the way they all turn out rather nice. Therefore, none of the characters are categorizable into the typical archetypes of good or bad. This "realness" of the characters' personalities, however, makes the movie's storytelling very unusual to the habits and expectations of us western moviegoers. Moreover, one might miss a sense of having learned a lesson over the course of the film, for the parents do not rethink their piggishness, and Chihiro, despite many experiences and therefore many opportunities, does not appear to have grown much out from her childish vulnerability and dependence either. For these reasons, and despite its vivid imagination, Spirited Away (has great potential, but) might not satisfy everyone. However, the viewer might learn a lesson of freeing oneself from expectations and opening up for the unconventional.

Totally irrational. But an innovative, fun, and fast-paced ride between video game, comics, and young people romance.

Great acting in a beautifully produced film. Watch it!

If you liked Inception, you should have a look at Paprika. Indeed, Paprika has been cited as an influence on the making of Inception. The two movies share the same theme of losing the ability to distinguish between dream and reality. Due to being an animated movie, Paprika might not **** you into the action as the real human scenery does in Inception. However, regarding surreal dream content and plot complexity, Paprika is far ahead of its American successor. One of the film's major topics is the debate about moral restrictions for science. Some critics are of the opinion that certain technologies are bad. Others claim it is not the technology that is to be judged, but what someone uses it for (f.i. the knife is one of mankind's most helpful tools, but it also can be misused to take someone's life).

A terrific movie dealing with the moral problem of utilitarianism: sacrifice a few to save many?

This movie seeks to explain the roots of American 20th century prudence towards sexuality, also showing how this kind of (non-)education lead to the emotional and physical suffering of many. Kinsey includes topics such as feminism, homosexuality, and problems of scientific research. Kinsey seeks to liberate sexuality, but also shows that social constraints regarding sex (ranging from adultery to zoophilia) do have the purpose of preventing that someone gets hurt. Eventually the film compares marriage to a happy tree. The tree is not free due to being rooted, but having roots is a nice thing in itself for we humans strive to overcome nihilism with love.

The movie seeks to arouse appreciation, compassion and respect for the bug world. It makes them sympathetic by actually first making fun of them using social stereotypes that are also applicable to humans. Among them: ants losing it when something unexpected falls in their way; flies being hedonists enjoying their short 24-hour life; and pleasure becoming self-destruction when a bug cannot resist flying into the beautiful, to die for light of a bug zapper. Politically, the A Bug's Life criticizes feudalism (the oppression of peasants by the nobility), and advertises for progress and change from being narrow-minded conservatives advancing to a liberation movement. The guys from Pixar put much love into this one and made it a cute and fun movie.

Criticism of Blackwater mercenaries in the Iraq war (as well as in New Orleans after Katrina), and ideas about a financial crisis come together to form a little conspiracy. Unexpectedly funny. Fast-paced action entertainment.

In a way this film is not satisfying because it appears too realistic. We are so used to stylized action that the "real" thing, in this case, is rather boring. For an action movie The Town is not exciting or surprising enough, and for a drama it fails to be emotional. It does not even achieve to convey that robbing a bank is bad for all of us. Breaking the rules/law hurts the system of the polis that most of us agree to live in because of the rights and the security we are promised from it.

The movie shows that life is not about fame and fortune, but about true happiness and friendship; not only living on the fast lane, but to slow down every once in a while. Furthermore, this is a beautiful film about the love for cars and the countryside.

This is not "just a dog movie"! Sure, one of the main characters is a dog, but there is so much more to it. Among other topics, this film - with its incredibly charming characters and an amazingly amusing script - is about the difficulties of having a family, and the joys of being a family. Furthermore, it suggests that sometimes doing what you can do best is better than what you think you want or have to do. The movie encourages you not to stick to a plan, but to let you surprise yourself. Beautiful and emotional third act, and a great ending monologue making out a case for a dog being the best friend one can have. Highly recommended.

Despite being an action movie, really the film is about the difficulties of how to deal with a little kid that falls in love with you. Moreover, the movie encourages to enjoy life and suggests that revenge does not help but only makes a situation worse. Great acting.

Like no other movie this one achieves to recount inner feelings and moods that are hardly describable with words. It is a really great movie, but at one point very hard to watch because of its intensity. What to learn from it: Do not ever go anywhere alone without telling someone about it, or without leaving a note.

The movie comes up with one interesting idea: When homosexual teenagers have a really hard time, some others mean well by telling them it will get better with time. However, everyone should be able to be happy in the moment and not only in a possible future that might still take years to come. Easy A uses an extreme amount of American stereotypes, is sometimes funny, and the parents' characters are very charming.

The movie carries on the story of the Generation X. Wanted is a good mix of its role models from a decade earlier, Fight Club and The Matrix. In all three movies the protagonist is an average Gen-Xer, working a boring office job that does not lead anywhere, being frustrated with the everyday routine, and simply feeling totally useless. But then, someday the main character of Wanted learns that he is meant for something bigger than the life he lived up to that moment (like Neo in The Matrix), and breaks with the social constructs that he felt trapped in (like Fight Club). He becomes a member of a fraternity of real-world superhuman assassins. However, the first moral problem is that their targets are supposedly destined by fate to bring balance to the world. This means that (like in the movie Minority Report) there is the possibility that people, who actually might have not harmed anyone, might be killed without a trial. The second problem is that when someone decides to deliberately choose targets, this superhuman fraternity of assassins will become a regime threatening democracy. A highly entertaining, fast-paced, fun action movie about identity crises, breaking from being a slave of society, and doing what you are meant to do.

The film criticizes the wish to live forever. It suggests to accept our destiny to only have one human life as nature intended, and to live it to the fullest. It claims our purpose is to give our contribution to the world and then give way for the next generations to do it better. Unfortunately, the script is superficial and despite many opportunities the acting is emotionless.

Suggests that acts of revenge might make a really bad situation even worse. A few gripping moments, no happy ending. ---------------------------------

A portrait **** but fictional songwriter. Message: Life's way better without the booze. Not very exciting, but well done. ----------------------

Comparing three seemingly undying men trying to do the right thing in a web of corruption, sickness, violence, and revenge. Great filmmaking. --------

An action story is the means for the movie's real question: is our world real or is it a dream? The danger this idea can create is that people might commit suicide more easily, expecting they will then wake up in the real world. But really, does it matter if our world is real or only a product of our fantasy? If the dream is a paradise compared to the real world (as it also is in the Matrix trilogy) why bother about reality? Why would anyone want to live in a worse world just because it is "real"? In fact, philosophical scepticism claims that our senses are not reliable and therefore cannot tell what is real anyway. Therefore, the only thing I can be certain of is that I am because I am able to think, and rational thinking does not require my senses. However, the protagonists of Inception (as well as in The Matrix) do strive for the "real" world, which keeps the whole movie going, leading to that one last point, when they think they are in the real world again. This movie is just an introduction to lucid dreaming and only tangents philosophy, but it is definitely worth watching.

The situation in the movie is a conspiracy of capitalists and political hardliners against Mexican immigration. Unfortunately, the showdown is too dumb and therefore disappoints greater expectations. However, the movie is fast-paced and holds some hilarious moments. Worth watching.

The movie uses the knowledge of unethical experiments with mentally ill patients in **** Germany, as well as in the Americas during the 1940s, to form a conspiracy theory that will keep you guessing until the end.

The story is a Science Fiction adaption of Pocahontas. The movie shows that colonialism leads to the destruction of nature due to excessive exploitation of the land, and further to suffering of the native people due to the accompanying displacement of them. Moreover, the movie supports a holistic world view, describing a harmonic interconnection between the indigenous people, flora and fauna. The natives live in harmony with animals and nature. At one point the War on Terror mentality is criticized, when the humans explain their attack as a means of protection from the "savages". However, they were the ones who stole natural resources from foreign soil and threatened the natives in the first place. Fascinating pictures, dramatic showdown.

When you realize you might die any day (and we all will die someday unknown), you might as well use the time left to live the life you have always wanted. Furthermore, you are never too old for anything. Amusing, lovable, tragic, beautiful.

Sympathetic characters, but it is just another anti-war movie that does not achieve to say anything that has not been said before. The plot is in a sense a variation on Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor".

The movie claims it is not the blindness that cripples one, but the drug abuse. Explains how to get along without one's eyes. A lot of music, but little insight into his music making. At times boring if you are not a Ray Charles fan.

Reminds us that there are alternatives to abortion. Also helps during one's search for identity by encouraging to just be oneself. Suggests not to chase a fancy lover, but be with the one who cares - the best friend. Fast paced, very likable, and sometimes beautiful.

Interestingly, compares the melody of a song to be like the attractive first impression of a person, and the lyrics the soul/personality that you get to know better after some time. Gives insight into the life of an average professional songwriter. Other than that, just another very charming love story.

Does well in capturing the creative moment/process of a musician. Encourages to have a dream and work for it, to eventually break out of an unfulfilling everyday routine. Claims to give insight into an average pimp's life. A few magical (musical) moments, worth watching.

Extremely romanticized, not only the story, but also the protagonist's perception of music. Even though totally irrational, very beautiful. A movie about a musical prodigy, encouraging the viewer to live one's dream and not let someone else decide about one's career/life.

The film explores the human's most basic needs and instincts. Among them are, the fight for one's individual survival at all costs, and the need for a perspective on the future of humankind, even if that would lead to detaining and **** the last few women. Interstingly, one of the characters in the movie claims that people have killed each other since the birth of humankind, and that therafter nothing has changed since the arrival of zombies. This claim is open for interpretation and might imply that our kind's rage against one another will eventually lead to our own apocalypse. Another character suggests that due to the short time men have inhabitated Earth, the world will go back to normalcy after the extinction of the humans. Nevertheless, the movie is by far not nihilistic, but also claims that love for one another is our most important need, and therefore gives life a purpose even in the most dire situations. A great, and at times intense, low budget movie.