Movie reviews

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY AT IMAX 3D

Watchable. I was apprehensive about "The Stories". What's more, as I try not to read about movies before seeing them, I expected a spin-off. Luckily it's nicely and meticulously written into the original low-tech trilogy and the "Star Wars" Universe and you know straightaway when it's happening. Filmed on locations in Iceland, Jordan and the Maldives which gives the feel of the reality of the diverse galaxy as well as impressive sceneries. One major well-known character appears alongside brief cameos of three others. Music by Michael Giacchino smoothly blends with the famous "Star Wars Theme" by John Williams. A number of protracted battle scenes. Very standard jokes with occasional few good ones e.g.: "I'll be there to protect you. Caspian told me I had to." Amazing shots of planets from space. The movie runs at 80% of the force (pun intended) till it evolves into a delightful ending. In the end I also got to love the two new heroes. As with original "Star Wars" there are no scenes during or after the credits but I just loved the score harmonising with the original score by John Williams.


16. INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WATCH DOCS

WRONG ELEMENTS

Watchable. While you can find out what has happened and what is happening now to the Ugandan child soldiers or learn about the current Lord's Resistance Army position, it's a partly French film which means the predictable: the camera just follows the young people talking while visiting sites with no editing or commentary. Apart from me not being fond of such kind of documentaries, from time to time it hinders making out what they're referring to in their conversations and remarks.


RADIN! (PENNY PINCHER!)

Watchable. It's a moderately witty comedy - I loved the orchestra playing "The Four Seasons" in 12 minutes but didn't laugh out loud much - except for the sad and cheesy ill daughter subplot which turns it into a drama only to return to a comedy at the end.


16. INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WATCH DOCS

THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY JIHAD

Watchable. Gosh, is it chaotic! A family torn between advocating for ISIS, being a moderate muslim and staying away from religion makes for a hot subject but lousy editing ruins the experience.


SNEZNAYA KOROLEVA 3. OGON I LED (THE SNOW QUEEN 3: FIRE AND ICE)

Watchable. Although the title looks like a citation of "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R. R. Martin, it's anything but. It's just one of a few pop culture references in the movie. There are some funny situations and cute animals (birds and an ermine). However, it all appears to be merely a cartoon version of fantasy movies for teenagers. The Snow Queen fairytale reduced to pop pulp.


GLOBAL MIGRATION FILM FESTIVAL


AND WHO TAUGHT YOU TO DRIVE?


Watchable. A very interesting account of dos and don'ts in different cultures. Could be easily titled "Driving round the world". In India the car will always malfunction, this way or the other. In Japan every little gesture matters and it sometimes takes seven attempts to pass the test but with no attention to detail you will never succeed. In addition the Japanese don't speak English (no wonder if their English teachers dream of quitting the job). In Germany the instructor was the most sexist of them all. Very informative and fun to watch. Only the editing had a field for improvement.



KONWOJ

Watchable. There have been Polish movies about how bad policemen are. This one's about bad prison transport officers. Excellent gradation of tension but, due to a shoddy editing, a bit unclear at times. I'm waiting for a film about the failing judicial system.



PASSENGERS 3D

Recommended. From the first sight of the travelling spaceship you know it's going to be fantastic. Mind-blowing visually. One of swimming pool scenes is like nothing I had seen before, in any movie. Neither had Jennifer Lawrence. The story contains the best elements of "The Martian", "Gravity" and... lots of surprises. The script by Jon  Spaihts (the writer behind "Prometheus", "Doctor Strange" and upcoming "The Mummy") is a complete vision of the future and of people's personalities and motivations combined with a thought-provoking moral dilemma. Genuine space opera. Better than the latest "Star Wars".


PO PROSTU PRZYJAZN

Watchable. Finally a Polish film where all dialogues are perfectly audible and clear. Too many prolonged scenes with slow music. Little humour, most of it at the beginning of credits. No scenes after the credits. The best roles are the truly comic ones by three supporting actors: Anna Polony as Patryk's grandma, Magdalena Warak as Ivanka's sister and Jan Peszek as the hospital director.

RESTER VERTICAL (STAYING VERTICAL)

Watchable. Very good: clear, naturalistic, yet deprived of vulgarity sex scenes are juxtaposed with a baby crying for a bigger part of the film. There are also a clear scene of gerontophilic homosexual sex and another of straight-in-your-face birthgiving which I found a bit disturbing. However the wolf scene is excellent. The storyline's quite peculiar - it's tongue-in-cheek but doesn't make anyone laugh. The main protagonist is striving to survive but takes a downfall, especially once the baby is born. I'm not sure what the movie is meant to be. A contraception pill?