Movie reviews

THE FIRST PURGE

Recommended. Probably the best "Purge" installment so far. It maintains the well-paced action and the clear, plausible storyline but strengthens the social and political message. Y'lan Noel proves to be both good-looking and a great actor as Dmitri. Kevin Lax has composed a catchy music score. Kendrick Lamar's song and many others' are used too. I'm not a rap fan but it matched the picture, especially that most of the violence, realistically, is inter-racial. The beginning of the night is quite like I imagined it could look in real life. People celebrate at Purge parties so it feels like Halloween. Minor crimes do take place: sex, groping, thefts, one bigger burglary. But it's the authorities that kill off the poor so as not to pay them welfare. Deeds of the criminal gang pale in comparison. One early mid-credit connects the film to the rest of the series.

U - JULY 22

Recommended. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be in the middle of a terrorist attack, this one demonstrates it closely. Starts with the archive footage of the 2011 Oslo bomb explosion. The rest is a work of fiction but based on numerous accounts of the Utoya massacre survivors. The island shooting lasted 72 minutes and its full length is depicted through the eyes of one of the teens. It's striking (pun intended) how they had no clue who, how many people and why were shooting.  Shows survival tactics. I didn't realise the water in Norway in July had only 10 degrees which could kill you in 10 minutes. You only get one brief glimpse of the attacker from a distance which makes it all only more realistic. Heart-wrenching stuff.

SAMSON

Recommended. Religious cinema is often dull, with wooden acting and turgid lines. This one is as involving as modern superhero flicks. The movie keeps you on the edge of the seat even though you know the famous Bible story so you're familiar with the ending. Top-notch cast, especially Rutger Hauer as Manoah, Jackson Rathbone (Jasper Hale from the "Twilight" saga) as prince Rallah, Caitlin Leahy as Dalila and, the most important, Taylor James (Acquaman from "Justice League") as Samson. Atmospheric music composed by Will Musser. Attention to detail was given also in the costume area, e.g. shortly before the betrayal we see a serpent necklace on Dalia's neck. Cape Town as the shooting location has provided a variety of landscapes. Interestingly the loss of the beloved one, the loss of father and the loss of superpowers are motives we find in contemporary superhero cinema regularly. No wonder the same actors act in both (or just one same?) genres.

KARPUZ KABUGUNDAN GEMILER YAPMAK (BOATS OUT OF WATERMELON RINDS)

Watchable. An endearing, full of warmth, ironic tale about unfulfilled dreams set in rural Turkey probably in the late 1930s. With interesting music. A bit sad towards the final, protracted at times, with too many endings.