WATCH DOCS FESTIVAL 2011
BLOOD IN THE MOBILE
Watchable. One of several, recently, films highlighting the hypocrisy of gain-focused corporations. Nokia, just like any other mobile manufacturer, turns a blind eye to children slaving away in Congolese mineral mines and warlords exploiting their labour to fund wars waged for decades. Not that anyone cares. As soon as the lights went on, a girl sitting next to me, reached for her mobile.
I, on my humble part, solemnly pledge not to buy mobiles more often than absolutely necessary. As long as my old one keeps working...
VOL SPECIAL (SPECIAL FLIGHT)
Watchable. Another film confirming the all-known truth that the world is divided into the privileged and the deprived. Where you're born determines your fate as the rich will always protect themselves from an influx of the poor in order to maintain their standard of living. The film is very moving, I was sobbing throughout, still it offers no solution.
PROSECUTOR
Watchable. How to combat crime and prevent it at the same time? A film showing how the circle of violence keeps rolling and highlighting human inability to put an end to it.
ALL WHITE IN BARKING
Watchable. A mildly amusing story of overcoming predjudices, yet with serious undertones - our race is being conquered.
COMPRAR, TIRAR, COMPRAR (LIGHT BULB CONSPIRACY)
Recommended. What some people know and many suspect is that modern devices have in-built faults shortening their lifespan the same way nylon thights have been made so prone to damage you're forced to keep buying new. What hardly anyone realises is that in the US there's a 100-year-old lightbulb shown 24/7 online which has outlived 3 cameras already and that in their beginnings nylon thights were advertised as strong enough to tow a car. At the same time the third world is becoming the planet's dumpster.
One more movie convincing me to stick to old stuff. No need to replace something as long as it works. You don't need a new mobile phone every 3 months, do you?
HONK!
Recommended. Death penalty is a perennial for documentarists. This film goes remarkably deep showing, among others, a wrongly accused man released from the death row, a family who's witnessed an execution, a preacher comparing the capital punishment to sending soldiers to the frontline. The ex-convict mentions an inmate who, refusing to get killed, overdosed drugs, was taken to hospital, got detox saving his life only in order to become forcefully executed a few hours later. Certainly some food for thought.
THE WAR GAME
Recommended. A based-in-science mockumentary about a nuclear attack on Britain. Clearly overlooked in 1960s.
CRIME AFTER CRIME
Watchable. If you thought it's easy for a murderer to get released from prison, this one's for you. A sex slavery victim kills her oppressor and ends up in the merciless penitentiary system. The film lacks a bite which would render the subject better.
ZAI YI QI (TOGETHER)
Watchable. About the stigma attached to the ill with AIDS. Shot in China, could be anywhere. Too philosophic for my taste, yet asking some unusual questions like: would you still love someone who has infected you?
AU BORD DU FLEUVE, A LA FRONTIERE SINO-COREENNE (RETURN TO THE BORDER)
Watchable. Nothing much is happening on the border. The best part of the movie is the final trip through North Korea: no cars, all people carrying some heavy packs, monumental architecture which may one day become a tourist attraction, provided the regime falls.
THE CARRIER
Watchable. The hypocrisy of male chauvinists can be truly astounding. In my opinion the film is too slow-paced which diminishes its impact.
WOMEN ARE HEROES
Watchable. An interesting artistic idea, especially the one with a train changing faces on the posters, comes combined with life stories of some incredible, strong women. An uplifting film which won't change anything long-term but may give some temporary strength to the underdog of the world - women.
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Saturday, 3 December 2011
BURZYNSKI. CANCER IS GREAT BUSINESS
Recommended again. It watches like a thriller.
Thankfully, as I learnt in the meeting with Dr. Burzynski, most of the presented problems are a thing of the past. Now, not only have survival rates increased, in case of some cancers, to 50 or 60%, the biggest challenge seems to be getting the life-saving medication registered in Poland. Good news is that the prerequisite genome tests are going to be getting cheaper and cheaper (now being at 5000 euros). Dr. Burzynski himself struck me as a perpetual optimist - surely that's how he's survived several decades of struggle against all sorts of authorities in both countries.
Since the time I saw this movie I've been having an impression that what's happening in the AIDS business is similar to cashing on cancer. If it's possible to keep the retrovirus in check by means of daily doses of medication taken till the end of one's life it must be possible to destroy it altogether just as well but for pharmaceutical companies it would mean a drastic drop in profits.
MANGROVE
Watchable. A slow-paced film made to help you unwind. Other than that, nothing new in the storyline or the visual form.
Recommended again. It watches like a thriller.
Thankfully, as I learnt in the meeting with Dr. Burzynski, most of the presented problems are a thing of the past. Now, not only have survival rates increased, in case of some cancers, to 50 or 60%, the biggest challenge seems to be getting the life-saving medication registered in Poland. Good news is that the prerequisite genome tests are going to be getting cheaper and cheaper (now being at 5000 euros). Dr. Burzynski himself struck me as a perpetual optimist - surely that's how he's survived several decades of struggle against all sorts of authorities in both countries.
Since the time I saw this movie I've been having an impression that what's happening in the AIDS business is similar to cashing on cancer. If it's possible to keep the retrovirus in check by means of daily doses of medication taken till the end of one's life it must be possible to destroy it altogether just as well but for pharmaceutical companies it would mean a drastic drop in profits.
MANGROVE
Watchable. A slow-paced film made to help you unwind. Other than that, nothing new in the storyline or the visual form.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
HUMAN DOC FESTIVAL cont.:
THERE ONCE WAS AN ISLAND
Walked out. So bland I can barely remember what it was about.
SUN COME UP
Watchable. A moving story of inhabitants of a sinking island looking for a new home. Still, it's no more memorable than your own looking for a new place would be. I've done it 27 times myself so it doesn't excite me any more.
HUNGER IN A WORLD OF PLENTY
Watchable. So much economic information will satisfy anyone's curiosity. However, it's no more exciting than an average uni lecture.
THE POSTCARD FROM JAPAN
Recommended. Have you heard of employees so devoted that they will go to work even with a heart attack?
BELARUSSIAN WALTZ
Watchable. While it promises to reveal the soul of Belarussian people, it tells you more about the protagonist's sex exploits than about the country.
THERE ONCE WAS AN ISLAND
Walked out. So bland I can barely remember what it was about.
SUN COME UP
Watchable. A moving story of inhabitants of a sinking island looking for a new home. Still, it's no more memorable than your own looking for a new place would be. I've done it 27 times myself so it doesn't excite me any more.
HUNGER IN A WORLD OF PLENTY
Watchable. So much economic information will satisfy anyone's curiosity. However, it's no more exciting than an average uni lecture.
THE POSTCARD FROM JAPAN
Recommended. Have you heard of employees so devoted that they will go to work even with a heart attack?
BELARUSSIAN WALTZ
Watchable. While it promises to reveal the soul of Belarussian people, it tells you more about the protagonist's sex exploits than about the country.
Saturday, 12 November 2011
HUMAN DOC FESTIVAL:
FOLLOWING KETTLY
Watchable. I'm not a great supporter of artistic projects but it was nice to see the guys dance - talented they truly are.
MOBILE CINEMA
Watchable. The makers' earlier movie about rape was more interesting. There's nothing new in this one, at least not for an africanist.
AFTER THE APOCALYPSE
Watchable. It's just shocking to become enlightened by an Englishman that between 1949 and 1991 456 nuclear bombs were tested in the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan and the USSR authorities didn't evacuate the inhabitants as they wanted to see the radiation effects on humans in preparation for a possible nuclear war. What detracts from the film is the doctor droning on and on about eugenics. Not that the subject wasnt' interesting. His viewpoint was the essence of the movie but due to his manner of speech - slow and repetitive - felt like preaching.
What I found surprising and comforting at the same time was how little effect such radiation actual had on humans. Man will survive anything.
WELCOME TO NORWAY
Watchable. A touching story showing how racism hinders refugees' integration. Still, nothing new, it was exactly what I had expected.
ROSLING'S WORLD
Watchable. A funny film telling you that the Swedish Academy's professors' knowledge of the world is on the par with chimpanzees'. But the scenes of the scientist preparing for lectures should be limited to his jokes. The rest is dispensible.
BURZYNSKI. CANCER IS SERIOUS BUSINESS
Recommended. I've known for years that neither chemiotherapy nor radiation cure cancer, yet the ostentatious way drug companies force those treatments for purely financial gain goes beyond my worst fears and suspicions. And as if deliberate killing of patients wasn't enough, the FDA, the National Cancer Institute and the Patent Office prove to be corrupt beyond belief. An eye-opening courtroom drama with a grain of hope - antineoplastons are out there after all.
LAST SUPPER FOR MALTHUS
Watchable. A revision of vital data on world trade and agricultural methods but nothing new for an educated viewer.
MAMMA LIMA
Watchable. Uplifting missionary propaganda but why don't they do such work here in Poland instead? The protagonists also don't say anything other than expected.
ON THE EQUATOR
Watchable. Not many facts about circumcision, the word itself is mispronounced by the woman reporter. The major value of the film lies in a question asked: "Circumcision helps control women. But why do you have to control them?"
SLUMGIRL$
Watchable. Again, having been to Sub-Saharan Africa, I know that prostitution there is a norm and not seen as a social pathology but the film may be as enlightening to others as the news was to me years ago in Ghana.
ONE-WAY ROUND TRIP
Watchable. Another uplifting movie about how your success in life often depends on the kindness of strangers and about the thin line between becoming a criminal or succeeding. Unfortunately it's a typical French doc in which nothing much happens over 90 minutes. Why do the French always insist on showing everything minute by minute?
TICKET TO PARADISE
Watchable. An enlightening film about how popular working in sex business is among Thai women and how they don't care whether their husband is old or ugly as long as he provides for her. It's sad how they prey on lonely foreigners but not as revelatory as to blow me away as a film.
THE CASTLE
Watchable. The first behind-the-scenes look at Malpensa Airport. It was interesting to see the security guys at work but the rest didn't involve much action.
FOLLOWING KETTLY
Watchable. I'm not a great supporter of artistic projects but it was nice to see the guys dance - talented they truly are.
MOBILE CINEMA
Watchable. The makers' earlier movie about rape was more interesting. There's nothing new in this one, at least not for an africanist.
AFTER THE APOCALYPSE
Watchable. It's just shocking to become enlightened by an Englishman that between 1949 and 1991 456 nuclear bombs were tested in the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan and the USSR authorities didn't evacuate the inhabitants as they wanted to see the radiation effects on humans in preparation for a possible nuclear war. What detracts from the film is the doctor droning on and on about eugenics. Not that the subject wasnt' interesting. His viewpoint was the essence of the movie but due to his manner of speech - slow and repetitive - felt like preaching.
What I found surprising and comforting at the same time was how little effect such radiation actual had on humans. Man will survive anything.
WELCOME TO NORWAY
Watchable. A touching story showing how racism hinders refugees' integration. Still, nothing new, it was exactly what I had expected.
ROSLING'S WORLD
Watchable. A funny film telling you that the Swedish Academy's professors' knowledge of the world is on the par with chimpanzees'. But the scenes of the scientist preparing for lectures should be limited to his jokes. The rest is dispensible.
BURZYNSKI. CANCER IS SERIOUS BUSINESS
Recommended. I've known for years that neither chemiotherapy nor radiation cure cancer, yet the ostentatious way drug companies force those treatments for purely financial gain goes beyond my worst fears and suspicions. And as if deliberate killing of patients wasn't enough, the FDA, the National Cancer Institute and the Patent Office prove to be corrupt beyond belief. An eye-opening courtroom drama with a grain of hope - antineoplastons are out there after all.
LAST SUPPER FOR MALTHUS
Watchable. A revision of vital data on world trade and agricultural methods but nothing new for an educated viewer.
MAMMA LIMA
Watchable. Uplifting missionary propaganda but why don't they do such work here in Poland instead? The protagonists also don't say anything other than expected.
ON THE EQUATOR
Watchable. Not many facts about circumcision, the word itself is mispronounced by the woman reporter. The major value of the film lies in a question asked: "Circumcision helps control women. But why do you have to control them?"
SLUMGIRL$
Watchable. Again, having been to Sub-Saharan Africa, I know that prostitution there is a norm and not seen as a social pathology but the film may be as enlightening to others as the news was to me years ago in Ghana.
ONE-WAY ROUND TRIP
Watchable. Another uplifting movie about how your success in life often depends on the kindness of strangers and about the thin line between becoming a criminal or succeeding. Unfortunately it's a typical French doc in which nothing much happens over 90 minutes. Why do the French always insist on showing everything minute by minute?
TICKET TO PARADISE
Watchable. An enlightening film about how popular working in sex business is among Thai women and how they don't care whether their husband is old or ugly as long as he provides for her. It's sad how they prey on lonely foreigners but not as revelatory as to blow me away as a film.
THE CASTLE
Watchable. The first behind-the-scenes look at Malpensa Airport. It was interesting to see the security guys at work but the rest didn't involve much action.
Friday, 11 November 2011
Saturday, 5 November 2011
CONTAGION
Watchable. Finally a movie about a disease after which people don't turn into vampires or zombies. The story is thorougly realistic and involving but less inspiring than the trailer would imply. Bags with dead bodies are shown only in one scene. It's a drama, not a thriller and that's what disappointed me. Marion Cotillard is a plus though.
Watchable. Finally a movie about a disease after which people don't turn into vampires or zombies. The story is thorougly realistic and involving but less inspiring than the trailer would imply. Bags with dead bodies are shown only in one scene. It's a drama, not a thriller and that's what disappointed me. Marion Cotillard is a plus though.
Thursday, 27 October 2011
LA PIEL QUE HABITO (THE SKIN I LIVE IN)
Recommended. A medical thriller by Almodovar sounds weird enough, still it comprises the best of both genres (Almodovar being in a league of his own), the storyline is clear-cut, gripping, ground-breaking and strangely outrageous without being disturbing. Certainly memorable and unique.
Recommended. A medical thriller by Almodovar sounds weird enough, still it comprises the best of both genres (Almodovar being in a league of his own), the storyline is clear-cut, gripping, ground-breaking and strangely outrageous without being disturbing. Certainly memorable and unique.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
BITWA WARSZAWSKA 1920 3D (BATTLE OF WARSAW 1920 IN 3D)
Watchable. Truly 3D - you see dead men's limbs dangling right in front of you, presenting the history of Eastern Europe comprehensibly even to a foreigner, lively and surprisingly humorous (e.g. "I demand satisfaction! A uniform of a Polish soldier has been stained." "Waiter! Was it pure vodka? Pure vodka staines neither an honour nor a uniform.") What detracts from it is scenography looking fake for the first hour of the movie.
Watchable. Truly 3D - you see dead men's limbs dangling right in front of you, presenting the history of Eastern Europe comprehensibly even to a foreigner, lively and surprisingly humorous (e.g. "I demand satisfaction! A uniform of a Polish soldier has been stained." "Waiter! Was it pure vodka? Pure vodka staines neither an honour nor a uniform.") What detracts from it is scenography looking fake for the first hour of the movie.
Monday, 3 October 2011
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Watchable. While it's not too funny and I hoped to be in stitches at Woody Allen's comedy, other aspects of the movie don't disappoint. Most remarkably Owen Wilson's Alenesque manner of speech blew me away. As I'm a great fan of time travel both in film and in literature, I enjoyed that part of the plot. And typical for Allen statements like: "The present is always unsatisfying" and hence making people dream of the Golden Age are worth thinking over.
Watchable. While it's not too funny and I hoped to be in stitches at Woody Allen's comedy, other aspects of the movie don't disappoint. Most remarkably Owen Wilson's Alenesque manner of speech blew me away. As I'm a great fan of time travel both in film and in literature, I enjoyed that part of the plot. And typical for Allen statements like: "The present is always unsatisfying" and hence making people dream of the Golden Age are worth thinking over.
Friday, 30 September 2011
Friday, 2 September 2011
INSIDIOUS
Recommended. Scary like hell! It cleverly mixes the horror styles of "Saw", "Paranormal Activity" and "The Exorcist" with a never-seen-before storyline.
Well, good my own out-of-body experiences never went too far.
The movie also sheds sinister light on my recent nightmare dream in which some people tried to get into my flat and I was pressing hard on the door while their hands were reaching out to me. Did I "see dead people"?
Recommended. Scary like hell! It cleverly mixes the horror styles of "Saw", "Paranormal Activity" and "The Exorcist" with a never-seen-before storyline.
Well, good my own out-of-body experiences never went too far.
The movie also sheds sinister light on my recent nightmare dream in which some people tried to get into my flat and I was pressing hard on the door while their hands were reaching out to me. Did I "see dead people"?
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Thursday, 21 July 2011
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 (3D)
Watchable. The final film is tear-jerking, true to the book, very dark. Unfortunately it's flat, well, OK, it has some depth but doesn't come forward to the viewer. Feels very theatrical as well.
RIEN A DECLARER
Watchable. I loved "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis" and its makers' latest is hilarious as well, the same kind of humour however tasted like a reheated meal.
Watchable. The final film is tear-jerking, true to the book, very dark. Unfortunately it's flat, well, OK, it has some depth but doesn't come forward to the viewer. Feels very theatrical as well.
RIEN A DECLARER
Watchable. I loved "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis" and its makers' latest is hilarious as well, the same kind of humour however tasted like a reheated meal.
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Thursday, 7 July 2011
HANGOVER PART II
Watchable. While it's still far from hilarious, it's less vulgar than the first instalment, is equally crazy, has good, well-selected music matching the action and, last but not least, throws in the scenic landscapes of Thailand. It deserves extra credit for a cover of my long-time- favourite "One Night In Bangkok".
Watchable. While it's still far from hilarious, it's less vulgar than the first instalment, is equally crazy, has good, well-selected music matching the action and, last but not least, throws in the scenic landscapes of Thailand. It deserves extra credit for a cover of my long-time- favourite "One Night In Bangkok".
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
THE NIGHT OF CINEMA
Another film marathon. I picked the following three movies:
INCENDIES
Watchable. The first half an hour made me understand why it didn't get an Oscar, the rest made me aware why it was nominated. It started so slow I considered walking out. But then I quickly warmed up to the character of the Palestinian woman. Her opposition to cultural values and strength of character felt like she was a close friend. Her severely troubled fate and the investigative thread of the plot are hard to forget.
LET ME IN
Watchable only to compare with the Swedish original. What was mysterious in the European version, in the American got stupefied to the point of transforming the horror into a comedy.
DUE DATE
Watchable. The humour is gross ("What's that sound?" "It's just me masturbating." is typical) and the gags as outrageous as in "Hangover" (they even hired one of the cast). But it's fast-paced and its level doesn't bother you much at the end of a night when your brain isn't up for much thinking anyway.
Another film marathon. I picked the following three movies:
INCENDIES
Watchable. The first half an hour made me understand why it didn't get an Oscar, the rest made me aware why it was nominated. It started so slow I considered walking out. But then I quickly warmed up to the character of the Palestinian woman. Her opposition to cultural values and strength of character felt like she was a close friend. Her severely troubled fate and the investigative thread of the plot are hard to forget.
LET ME IN
Watchable only to compare with the Swedish original. What was mysterious in the European version, in the American got stupefied to the point of transforming the horror into a comedy.
DUE DATE
Watchable. The humour is gross ("What's that sound?" "It's just me masturbating." is typical) and the gags as outrageous as in "Hangover" (they even hired one of the cast). But it's fast-paced and its level doesn't bother you much at the end of a night when your brain isn't up for much thinking anyway.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
KVINDEN DER DROEMTE OM EN MAND
Watchable. An unfaithfulness case study which is involving, well-paced and toned down. Its only fault is predictability. The woman inevitably falls in love, the man doesn't. What I really liked was the language plausability - you here authentic Dutch, English and Polish where appropriate
Watchable. An unfaithfulness case study which is involving, well-paced and toned down. Its only fault is predictability. The woman inevitably falls in love, the man doesn't. What I really liked was the language plausability - you here authentic Dutch, English and Polish where appropriate
Friday, 17 June 2011
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
Watchable. For true fans only. Of course I was curious of the genesis of the characters and Magneto's story turned out particularly plausible. But, with little interest in history, the Cold War struggle was utterly boring for me and the 140 minutes proved to be lengthy rather than packed with action and fun. In addition James McAvoy was fat.
Watchable. For true fans only. Of course I was curious of the genesis of the characters and Magneto's story turned out particularly plausible. But, with little interest in history, the Cold War struggle was utterly boring for me and the 140 minutes proved to be lengthy rather than packed with action and fun. In addition James McAvoy was fat.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Sunday, 29 May 2011
3D NIGHT
or where my love of visual effects brought me.
TRON
Saw the beginning again. The only remarkable scene was the opening one. I felt like on a rollercoaster ride. Then I left.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Walked out as soon as I realized it was dubbed. A 3D night was supposed to be for adults after all.
FINAL DESTINATION 4
Recommended again. Fascinating action with great twists in a movie showcasing what 3D has been invented for.
CLASH OF THE TITANS
Watchable. Sam Worthington was difficult to take eyes off. All the rest was quite run-of-the-mill. The colours could vary more.
SANCTUM
Only managed to see the ending - completely flat.
CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS
Walked out. A boring film inspired by French dokumentary making - showing every minute of the expedition, as if it made it more philosophical.
STEP UP
Watchable second time round. Cheerful and makes you feel like dancing. It really does.
ANIMATIONS
Mostly promoting the Euro 2012 and merits of Polish regions, with an emphasis on extreme sports, very artistic, I'd personally prefer something more realistic.
COMMERCIALS
Better of worse. Some would just show a flat picture pointing in your direction. Still, Australian ads looked reasonably good and I loved the property one - your eyes get a chance to walk through houses.
TRAILERS
"1920 - The Battle of Warsaw" was fully 3D - puts you right in the middle of the battlefield. "Final Destination 5" looked mediocre - I'm afraid the storyline may be over the top, the cliffhanging moments on a collapsed bridge seemed farfetched.
Can't wait to attend the Classic Night of the Cinema in 3 weeks.
or where my love of visual effects brought me.
TRON
Saw the beginning again. The only remarkable scene was the opening one. I felt like on a rollercoaster ride. Then I left.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Walked out as soon as I realized it was dubbed. A 3D night was supposed to be for adults after all.
FINAL DESTINATION 4
Recommended again. Fascinating action with great twists in a movie showcasing what 3D has been invented for.
CLASH OF THE TITANS
Watchable. Sam Worthington was difficult to take eyes off. All the rest was quite run-of-the-mill. The colours could vary more.
SANCTUM
Only managed to see the ending - completely flat.
CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS
Walked out. A boring film inspired by French dokumentary making - showing every minute of the expedition, as if it made it more philosophical.
STEP UP
Watchable second time round. Cheerful and makes you feel like dancing. It really does.
ANIMATIONS
Mostly promoting the Euro 2012 and merits of Polish regions, with an emphasis on extreme sports, very artistic, I'd personally prefer something more realistic.
COMMERCIALS
Better of worse. Some would just show a flat picture pointing in your direction. Still, Australian ads looked reasonably good and I loved the property one - your eyes get a chance to walk through houses.
TRAILERS
"1920 - The Battle of Warsaw" was fully 3D - puts you right in the middle of the battlefield. "Final Destination 5" looked mediocre - I'm afraid the storyline may be over the top, the cliffhanging moments on a collapsed bridge seemed farfetched.
Can't wait to attend the Classic Night of the Cinema in 3 weeks.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
THOR 3D AT IMAX
Watchable. If a 3D film is flatish even at IMAX it puts the whole idea under a question mark. What saves the movie are spectacular visual effects full of colour and an imaginative creation of the Kingdom of Asgard. The plot is stereotypical but involving and fun. A sequel ("The Avengers") is coming and I'm going to see it.
Btw, have you noticed that Natalie Portman is becoming more and more similar to Demi Moore - in appearance and roles enacted?
Watchable. If a 3D film is flatish even at IMAX it puts the whole idea under a question mark. What saves the movie are spectacular visual effects full of colour and an imaginative creation of the Kingdom of Asgard. The plot is stereotypical but involving and fun. A sequel ("The Avengers") is coming and I'm going to see it.
Btw, have you noticed that Natalie Portman is becoming more and more similar to Demi Moore - in appearance and roles enacted?
Thursday, 19 May 2011
PRIEST 3D
Watchable. As usual recently, the "3D" movie is flat, no need to pick up the 3D glasses on entry at all. Visually - it has a dark hue throughout, presumably imitating the comic book it's based on. The plot is stereotypical but fun - there's certainly more of it than the trailer indicates. I liked the train idea.
Watchable. As usual recently, the "3D" movie is flat, no need to pick up the 3D glasses on entry at all. Visually - it has a dark hue throughout, presumably imitating the comic book it's based on. The plot is stereotypical but fun - there's certainly more of it than the trailer indicates. I liked the train idea.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
SOURCE CODE
Watchable. The SF bits were fantastic - old good hardcore science fiction with a soldier hero, the timeless question of what makes us human and a space travel motif. The story itself is recounted carefully - scraps of information are being dripped to the viewer at the same time as to the protagonist with whose eyes we follow the developments. The story stays clear and comprehensible throughout and yet there are a few surprises along the way. While the plot is centred around explosions, we're spared watching them any more than necessary, in fact an average action movie has more, whether it makes sense or not. What detracts from the enjoyment is the cheesiness of the realistic layer, especially the romantic bit.
I felt a bit weird afterwards - the same route home by the same mode of transport as a couple of months ago which made it "the same but a little different" and there was a white van parked outside my place...
Watchable. The SF bits were fantastic - old good hardcore science fiction with a soldier hero, the timeless question of what makes us human and a space travel motif. The story itself is recounted carefully - scraps of information are being dripped to the viewer at the same time as to the protagonist with whose eyes we follow the developments. The story stays clear and comprehensible throughout and yet there are a few surprises along the way. While the plot is centred around explosions, we're spared watching them any more than necessary, in fact an average action movie has more, whether it makes sense or not. What detracts from the enjoyment is the cheesiness of the realistic layer, especially the romantic bit.
I felt a bit weird afterwards - the same route home by the same mode of transport as a couple of months ago which made it "the same but a little different" and there was a white van parked outside my place...
Sunday, 8 May 2011
SCREAM 4
Watchable. The makers of the fourth instalment do their best to send up slasher movie sequels and the eponymous celebrity victim webcasting murders makes fun of how you become famous nowadays and how no one reads books any more. I couldn't guess the killers' identities till the end and the red herring was misleading indeed. Still, the subject is treated so lightly that the whole story washes off quickly. It lacks the thrill, the creepiness and the physical attractiveness of the characters of the original "Scream". Of course most sequels are doomed by definition.
Watchable. The makers of the fourth instalment do their best to send up slasher movie sequels and the eponymous celebrity victim webcasting murders makes fun of how you become famous nowadays and how no one reads books any more. I couldn't guess the killers' identities till the end and the red herring was misleading indeed. Still, the subject is treated so lightly that the whole story washes off quickly. It lacks the thrill, the creepiness and the physical attractiveness of the characters of the original "Scream". Of course most sequels are doomed by definition.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Sunday, 17 April 2011
INCEPTION
Seen again. The Oscar-awarded visual effects are few and far between. The characteristic music in the whole movie sounds too repetitive. The plot is much easier to grasp the second time round though.
BLACK SWAN
Recommended again. Brilliant editing, script, acting (especially by underrated Mila Kunis). Left me shaken again.
THE KING'S SPEECH
Watchable. A disappointing, superficial film telling you that it's hard to stand the pressure of belonging to the royal family and that it can make you stammer. The speeches are just as lengthy and boring as irl. Good acting prevents viewers from falling asleep.
FIGHTER
Walked out. For boxing enthusiasts only. Made in a way that should appeal to the working class.
Seen again. The Oscar-awarded visual effects are few and far between. The characteristic music in the whole movie sounds too repetitive. The plot is much easier to grasp the second time round though.
BLACK SWAN
Recommended again. Brilliant editing, script, acting (especially by underrated Mila Kunis). Left me shaken again.
THE KING'S SPEECH
Watchable. A disappointing, superficial film telling you that it's hard to stand the pressure of belonging to the royal family and that it can make you stammer. The speeches are just as lengthy and boring as irl. Good acting prevents viewers from falling asleep.
FIGHTER
Walked out. For boxing enthusiasts only. Made in a way that should appeal to the working class.
Monday, 11 April 2011
LIMITLESS
Recommended. I didn't expect I'd enjoy it so much but it was exactly the kind of movie I like: good twists of action, witty lines (e.g. "What have we got here? A dodgy guy I haven't seen in years is offering me a potentially dangerous untested drug... Yes, I want it."), fast-paced editing, an inventive story, references to other films (e.g. "Don't wear the same suits - it's not Matrix" or "If I worked for you, it would make you my bitch"). First-class entertainment.
Recommended. I didn't expect I'd enjoy it so much but it was exactly the kind of movie I like: good twists of action, witty lines (e.g. "What have we got here? A dodgy guy I haven't seen in years is offering me a potentially dangerous untested drug... Yes, I want it."), fast-paced editing, an inventive story, references to other films (e.g. "Don't wear the same suits - it's not Matrix" or "If I worked for you, it would make you my bitch"). First-class entertainment.
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Sunday, 27 March 2011
JEZ JERZY
Watchable. Marvellous satire on celebrities (a hedgehog becomes a star because he farts on youtube), politicians, PR, criminal underworld, skinheads, catholics. Good animation and well-matched music. Sharp humour, eg. "Jak cos pojdzie nie tak, to leb upierdole przy samej dupie!" ("If anything goes wrong, I'll fuck off your head right at your ass!" or the promising politician: "that what did I promise? did you record it?!" Only some scenes felt lengthy.
Watchable. Marvellous satire on celebrities (a hedgehog becomes a star because he farts on youtube), politicians, PR, criminal underworld, skinheads, catholics. Good animation and well-matched music. Sharp humour, eg. "Jak cos pojdzie nie tak, to leb upierdole przy samej dupie!" ("If anything goes wrong, I'll fuck off your head right at your ass!" or the promising politician: "that what did I promise? did you record it?!" Only some scenes felt lengthy.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
SALA SAMOBOJCOW (SUICIDE ROOM)
Watchable. Whatever the trailer might suggest the film's not as much about cyberbullying as it is about communication failures on several levels. What "Babel" claimed to tackle "Sala samobojcow" really does. Jakub Gierszal as Dominik did one hell of acting and there are some funny lines, e.g. "Ilu psychiatrow potrzeba do wkrecenia zarowki? Jeden, ale zajmie to duzo czasu, bedzie duzo kosztowac i zarowka musi tego bardzo chciec." ("How many shrinks are needed to change a lightbulb? Just one but it will take plenty of time, plenty of money and the bulb has to really want it.") but altogether the movie fails to get its message across. Communication failure?
Watchable. Whatever the trailer might suggest the film's not as much about cyberbullying as it is about communication failures on several levels. What "Babel" claimed to tackle "Sala samobojcow" really does. Jakub Gierszal as Dominik did one hell of acting and there are some funny lines, e.g. "Ilu psychiatrow potrzeba do wkrecenia zarowki? Jeden, ale zajmie to duzo czasu, bedzie duzo kosztowac i zarowka musi tego bardzo chciec." ("How many shrinks are needed to change a lightbulb? Just one but it will take plenty of time, plenty of money and the bulb has to really want it.") but altogether the movie fails to get its message across. Communication failure?
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Sunday, 27 February 2011
THE ACADEMY AWARDS 2011 CEREMONY
The beginning was so much fun - mostly "Inception"-based but with my all-time-fave "Back To The Future" included in the movie compilation.
Anne Hathaway, who has recently taken her gear off in "Love And Other Drugs", joked: "I'm not nominated this year. It's how it worked - you get naked, you get nominated. Not any more, not any more."
I've never liked "Toy Story" so not happy about its victory in an animated category.
Shame "Inception" didn't win Best Original Score, well at least Sound and Sound Editing - well deserved of course.
Brilliant - Cate Blanchett watching a scene from soon-to-win Best Make-Up "Wolfman": "It's gross." It had no competitors anyway. Well-deserved Costumes award for "Alice In Wonderland" as well as for Set Decoration before.
Jake Gyllenhaal has dark eyes so must have worn contacts in "Love And Other Drugs".
Billy Crystal was and is so much better a host than Anne Hathaway and what-is-his-name.
"Inception" had no competitors to speak of for Visual Effects. No Oscar for "Black Swan" for Film Editing?!
Jennifer Hudson with a lisp as a presenter?!
No Oscar for Darren Aronofsky?! Well, at least one for Natalie Portman. But can't they see he directs actresses into their best?
So after all Colin Firth didn't stutter accepting his reward. Still, he acted out the acceptance part masterfully.
The beginning was so much fun - mostly "Inception"-based but with my all-time-fave "Back To The Future" included in the movie compilation.
Anne Hathaway, who has recently taken her gear off in "Love And Other Drugs", joked: "I'm not nominated this year. It's how it worked - you get naked, you get nominated. Not any more, not any more."
I've never liked "Toy Story" so not happy about its victory in an animated category.
Shame "Inception" didn't win Best Original Score, well at least Sound and Sound Editing - well deserved of course.
Brilliant - Cate Blanchett watching a scene from soon-to-win Best Make-Up "Wolfman": "It's gross." It had no competitors anyway. Well-deserved Costumes award for "Alice In Wonderland" as well as for Set Decoration before.
Jake Gyllenhaal has dark eyes so must have worn contacts in "Love And Other Drugs".
Billy Crystal was and is so much better a host than Anne Hathaway and what-is-his-name.
"Inception" had no competitors to speak of for Visual Effects. No Oscar for "Black Swan" for Film Editing?!
Jennifer Hudson with a lisp as a presenter?!
No Oscar for Darren Aronofsky?! Well, at least one for Natalie Portman. But can't they see he directs actresses into their best?
So after all Colin Firth didn't stutter accepting his reward. Still, he acted out the acceptance part masterfully.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Saturday, 12 February 2011
AN EDUCATION
Watchable second time round. Of course when you remember the plot nothing can surprise you but I still enjoyed the faux-posh English accent and the education versus ignoration clash.
WOJNA ZENSKO-MESKA (FEMALE-MALE WAR)
Recommended. It's Polish so I doubt it will ever be shown abroad. Still it is the best sex com since "Sexmission". A laugh-out-loud funny satire on relations between men and women, job market ("Education?" "University degree" "So how am I to know you can do cleaning?"), corporate culture, fashion, agism (make-up artists about a 41-year-old presenter: "Next they're going to make us mummify bodies"), mass media and politics. Visually - Warsaw has never looked so glossy while the protagonist's ponderings stylistically remind "Grindhouse", just without blood and violence. Music's great too. A feast to the eye and the ear.
REMEMBER ME
Walked out. You don't need to go to the cinema to see Robert Pattinson getting wasted -he's all over tabloids already. And the plot with a pretty girl making love to the alcoholic is hardly plausible. So, having made sure my companion was as bored as I was, I walked out. We weren't the first to leave either.
The Valentine Movie Marathon didn't sell well. Not enough couples in a central location on a Friday night. Weird.
Watchable second time round. Of course when you remember the plot nothing can surprise you but I still enjoyed the faux-posh English accent and the education versus ignoration clash.
WOJNA ZENSKO-MESKA (FEMALE-MALE WAR)
Recommended. It's Polish so I doubt it will ever be shown abroad. Still it is the best sex com since "Sexmission". A laugh-out-loud funny satire on relations between men and women, job market ("Education?" "University degree" "So how am I to know you can do cleaning?"), corporate culture, fashion, agism (make-up artists about a 41-year-old presenter: "Next they're going to make us mummify bodies"), mass media and politics. Visually - Warsaw has never looked so glossy while the protagonist's ponderings stylistically remind "Grindhouse", just without blood and violence. Music's great too. A feast to the eye and the ear.
REMEMBER ME
Walked out. You don't need to go to the cinema to see Robert Pattinson getting wasted -he's all over tabloids already. And the plot with a pretty girl making love to the alcoholic is hardly plausible. So, having made sure my companion was as bored as I was, I walked out. We weren't the first to leave either.
The Valentine Movie Marathon didn't sell well. Not enough couples in a central location on a Friday night. Weird.
Monday, 7 February 2011
ENTER THE VOID
Watchable. Assault on your senses right from the start. Not from the first scene. From the opening credits. Crosses boundaries of cinematic showability breaking quite a few taboos. On the whole it's a well-composed psychedelic trip through the Tokyo dumpster with naturalistic scenes of an abortion, porn-style sex, children splattered with blood of their killed parents, flushing down someone's ashes etc. Lengthy at times but rewarding with some powerful shocks. One startling scene gets repeated three times!
Watchable. Assault on your senses right from the start. Not from the first scene. From the opening credits. Crosses boundaries of cinematic showability breaking quite a few taboos. On the whole it's a well-composed psychedelic trip through the Tokyo dumpster with naturalistic scenes of an abortion, porn-style sex, children splattered with blood of their killed parents, flushing down someone's ashes etc. Lengthy at times but rewarding with some powerful shocks. One startling scene gets repeated three times!
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
BLACK SWAN
Recommended. Natalie Portman is a surefire Oscar winner. The movie and the director should be awarded as well. Aronofsky's back at his best. "Wrestler" was just a warm-up.
No wonder screenings sell out.
As the example of "Requiem for a dream" and "Wrestler" shows, Aronofsky's actresses are bound to be nominated to an Academy Award while he isn't exactly that successful himself. Imho he deserves the award for his uncanning ability to push actors to the limit. I'm also happy that this time, unlike in the films mentioned above, he manages to show erotica without nudity. Or was Natalie Portman less desperate than her lesser known counterparts?
Recommended. Natalie Portman is a surefire Oscar winner. The movie and the director should be awarded as well. Aronofsky's back at his best. "Wrestler" was just a warm-up.
No wonder screenings sell out.
As the example of "Requiem for a dream" and "Wrestler" shows, Aronofsky's actresses are bound to be nominated to an Academy Award while he isn't exactly that successful himself. Imho he deserves the award for his uncanning ability to push actors to the limit. I'm also happy that this time, unlike in the films mentioned above, he manages to show erotica without nudity. Or was Natalie Portman less desperate than her lesser known counterparts?
Thursday, 13 January 2011
TRON: LEGACY 3D AT IMAX
Watchable at IMAX, not sure about elsewhere. The visual effects would have impressed 20 years ago but after Matrix, The Clone Wars, let alone Avatar, they look silly. As far as I remember the original was full of colour as well while the sequel is either all blue or orange. What's really worth seeing though is the beginning - the airview of the city, puts you right in the middle of the film and induces parachute-jumping sensations. Jeff Bridges sounds like a chain smoker. No plot to talk about.
Watchable at IMAX, not sure about elsewhere. The visual effects would have impressed 20 years ago but after Matrix, The Clone Wars, let alone Avatar, they look silly. As far as I remember the original was full of colour as well while the sequel is either all blue or orange. What's really worth seeing though is the beginning - the airview of the city, puts you right in the middle of the film and induces parachute-jumping sensations. Jeff Bridges sounds like a chain smoker. No plot to talk about.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Saturday, 8 January 2011
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1
Recommended. Previous Harry Potter movies failed trying to extract the core of the plot. Now the makers have slowed down - half a book per movie is just the pace. Acting has also reached its peak. Everything else is just perfect as well.
MR. NOBODY
Watchable. The scientific (the theory of chaos) and science-fiction (immortality through telemerisation, gene-compatible pigs kept as pets, trips to Mars) bits are the best elements of the film. The rest is quite philosophic and depressingly romantic.
When you have lived all your alternative lives and have been heartbroken in each, immortality isn't enticing. But then, when you think of the misfortunes that happen to everyone in life, would anyone really crave immortality if it were feasible?
Recommended. Previous Harry Potter movies failed trying to extract the core of the plot. Now the makers have slowed down - half a book per movie is just the pace. Acting has also reached its peak. Everything else is just perfect as well.
MR. NOBODY
Watchable. The scientific (the theory of chaos) and science-fiction (immortality through telemerisation, gene-compatible pigs kept as pets, trips to Mars) bits are the best elements of the film. The rest is quite philosophic and depressingly romantic.
When you have lived all your alternative lives and have been heartbroken in each, immortality isn't enticing. But then, when you think of the misfortunes that happen to everyone in life, would anyone really crave immortality if it were feasible?
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