Movie reviews

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS IMAX 3D

Recommended. Destin Daniel Cretton, of "Just Mercy" fame, co-wrote, with David Callaham, and directed this new Marvel blockbuster. Marvel-Universe-wise it links you to the Ten Rings organization mentioned in "Iron Man", "Iron Man 3" - the false Mandarin subplot is even continued and developed, with wonderful Ben Kingsley - as well as Marvel One Shot "All Hail the King" (available online), while the mid-credit refers you to the "Avengers" series after "Endgame". In one funny scene "Planet of the Apes" form 1986 is mentioned. The movie's on family and friendship. Both protagonists are kidults. Shang-Chi is played by Simu Liu, born in China, raised in Canada, a former Deloitte accountant who trained taekwondo and Wing Chun for the movie only, never before, but manages to convince you he's a martial art master. Awkwafina is spot on in her performance as Katy, Shang-Chi's best friend, an American of Chinese origins, who doesn't speak Chinese and has a different view on things, sometimes to a humorous effect, sometimes to shed a different light on the matters. She's a character both from outside China and from outside the Marvel Universe. There's a comical episode with the bus driver. Actor Benedict Wong returns as Wong and introduces himself as Wong. A number of dialogues are in Chinese, there's plenty of humour but also a few touching moments, though most of the film is built on adrenaline. You get wonderful, shot at different angles, fight choreographies. The fights combine kung fu, taekwondo, wushu styles and elements of parkour. Myself being a training person, I noticed 3 little mistakes: young Shang-Chi has hurt knuckles - you're more likely to hurt your finger joints when punching, the guy practicing a wood chop with his hand should hit it with the edge of his hand but looks as if he was about to use either his fist or his forearm and Jiang Li should have hit Wenwu's side either with her palm edge or her fist, not the whole flat palm. But I'm impressed with the training and fight scenes anyway. The movie's worth seeing in 3D since rings or weapons are sometimes hurled in your direction. But most importantly on as big a screen as possible. The film's nothing short of spectacular. It makes use of the undulating terrain of San Francisco, even before the sequence filled with CGIs, there are scenes at heights, splendid views of Macau, Chinese landscapes on the search for Ta Ho and even fantastic beasts. Apart from the mid-credit, there's a post-credit with the hero's sister.

DON'T BREATHE 2

Recommended. It's a series where you don't want to be late to the movie theatre. Another great beginning. The opening sequence changes your perception of the blind veteran remembered for his sadism in part one. The sequel, shot in dilapidated buildings in Serbia, offers a few more twists, one major shock and a post-credit scene. Masterfully written. Convincingly executed. Literally.

TESCIOWIE (THE IN-LAWS)

Watchable. A masterfully written, acted and produced drama dissecting wedding reception behaviours, millennials, relationships within couples, families, social changes and economic differences in the society. The tension is meticulously built up to the finale. It's just a shame the movie tells us only what we all already know.

THE DRY

Watchable. An engaging thriller set in a small town in the Australian outback, dealing both with the climate change - showing the rest of the world what it's like to have to save water, and with two unresolved crimes. Fine performances all around ensure realism. Particularly Joe Klocek is excellent as young Aaron Falk. What detracts from the story is the ending. One of the criminal cases is resolved by means of Aaron's investigation and the follow-up is a bit over the top, though highlights the bushfire risk, the other crime is suddenly resolved through a finding - missed for 30 years? The solutions are at least consistent within the story.

QUO VADIS, AIDA?

Recommended. The "Quo Vadis" part of the title refers the viewer to "Domine, quo vadis?" ("Lord, where are you going?") supposedly uttered by St. Peter who when fleeing the persecution in Rome meets the risen Christ returning there to be crucified again. Verdi's "Aida" also has some common elements with the eponymous film, though few. But an invading army, an occupied nation whose release is negotiated - general Ratko Mladić replaces the conniving pharaoh from the opera, filming his invasion to mislead the public three decades before the fake news term was coined - as well as a woman's decision resulting in someone's life or death, lovers who cannot be together however much they plead with the rulers, rules that have to be followed, a deceit appear in both works. The thing is the movie is based on actual events. It had an Oscar nomination, alongside "Druk" ("Another Round"). I think "Druk" won because after seeing "Quo Vadis, Aida?" the Academicians needed a drink. While the camera follows UN translator Aida, it submerges you into the long buried past. My first associations were with the Afghani refugees at present. Yet the movie quickly thrusts you into Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 to witness how the Blue Helmets, left alone by the US command and inept themselves, let down the refugees they were meant to protect. Step by step, the dramatic events of the massacre unfold, highlighting how both sides of the conflict had lived side by side, had gone to school together and how now, after the war, the victims have to live and work passing by the perpetrators daily. You must see the film to fully comprehend their tragic position.

3RD WARSAW ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL

GREEN ON SCREEN - GREEN LIGHT

12 watchable: "Shopping Sunday", "Reduction", "Roots", "The Fourfold", "Letters from Fukushima", "Grandma Aniela's memory of herbs and forest clearings", "Hunting", "Don't lose her beauty", "Like a rabbit", "Coffin", "The Return of the Waves", "Blink in the Desert", 4 recommended. I was amazed at the bewildering array of short films from all over the world each in a different animation style, technique and medium so I had a surprise every few minutes. Most were quite difficult to analyze thinking on your feet, I, personally would need to see them again and pause after each. Sometimes my impression was the authors applied a number of ways to say things not having much to say. Still, 4 films were so hard-hitting, both visually and in the message they conveyed, they did stand out and left little doubt as to their meaning:

ONLY A CHILD

Recommended. Poignantly tackles the 6th mass extinction, and other issues, memorably placing the species on the verge of extinction on poles like 3D exhibits.

MIGRANTS

Recommended. The polar bears are knitted which makes them absolutely cute and cuddly. The film juxtaposes animal and human behaviours towards strangers and delves into our treatment of animals as well as human refugees.

SEEKER

Recommended. Tackles industrialization in a science fiction manner.

RANG-TAN: THE STORY OF DIRTY PALM OIL

Recommended. Colourful or bleak black and white where needed, vividly persuades you to check for and avoid palm oil in your food or shampoo.

All the films were either with no words or in English.