Movie reviews

CARL'S DATE

Recommended. The short film preceding "Elemental" is pure delight, especially for dog lovers. The dog unwilling to learn a new trick is hilarious, the old man's story and his pooch's comments are heart-warming and funny.

More Carl and Dug short cartoons are available on Disney+.

ELEMENTAL

Recommended. The animation offers fluid, constantly moving fire and water characters, and a whole world of the 4 elements - marvellous visually and smart plot-wise. Original music makes it even more unique. The tale talks about the immigrant experience, tackling immigrants' woes and offering an uplifting success story. I shed tears a few times. Top Polish translation by Kuba Wecsile is top-notch so e.g. Wade Ripple becomes Wodzimierz Potocki. Original names are inventive too and it's worth watching the end credits pictures for: Kolgate charcoal toothpaste, compost in sandwiches, Hearth & Home, Ember's Fireplace, the Pond Shop, a Healthy Soot can and many others. 

ARCYDZIELO CZYLI DEKALOG PRODUCENTA FILMOWEGO

Watchable. Having scene the director's earlier "Ściema po polsku" I was apprehensive. But this comedy is smart, set around contrasts: it lists how much each professional matters to the production, as the director/producer boasts himself of from Mauritius, and next you're shown the reality. Mariusz Pujszo cleverly sums up the phenomenon of "The Blair Witch Project" or ridicules running in movies, especially in "Forrest Gump" whose protagonist doesn't know himself what he's running for. Some scenes are hilarious slapstick, e.g. the director fails to convince an actress to swim but accidentally bumps her with his bum and she falls in the water. Unfortunately, the movie often gives the impression it's a re-edit of his previous "Ściema po polsku" and Mariusz Pujszo's poor enunciation and sloppy recording detract from the quality hes' managed to achieve this time.

THE OUTWATERS

Switched off. After 1 hour 25 minutes out of 1 hour 50. The first occurrence meant to be scary appears right in the middle, after 55 minutes of slow character introduction - they're all boring: everyone's into music, everyone's affectionate. The 4 people travel by car when the world is turned upside down once, just like in "Midsommar", but everything, from the start, throughout the movie, is 'found footage', like in "The Blair Witch Project" - which I saw partly, having walked out from it in 1999 and then I saw the ending on telly a few years ago. The setting is a desert. When the supposed horror part of "The Outwaters" began, after half an hour of accidental shots of body parts covered in what looks more like ketchup than blood, occasional tentacles or a dark silhouette on the horizon and upside down shots, distorted metallic voices, I had no idea what was happening, neither did the constantly gasping protagonist. At some point another character starts a weird Christian prayer. They're clearly scared, the guy keeps gasping like an obese jogger. Makes no sense and looks fake. Ludicrous.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

BELFER (THE TEACHER) SEASON 1 EP. 1&2

Recommended. Co-written by Jakub Żulczyk, famous for "Ślepnąc od świateł" ("Blinded by the Lights") and directed by Łukasz Palkowski, known for "Bogowie" ("Gods"), "Wojna źeńsko-męska", "Najlepszy" ("Breaking the Limits") - all superb. And this serial, even with clear villains and the suspect, is gripping all the same. Very realistic characters, cinematography using occasional drones, the good-natured teacher with a mystery behind his moving towns, dodgy people around, naughty and/or troubled youngsters all engage you in the story. Maciej Stuhr in the leading role is a teacher/psychologist of your dreams. And in episode 1 you learn also about the origins of the sagging trousers fashion.  

It's available free of charge on Canal+ online till the end of the summer.

МАВКА. ЛІСОВА ПІСНЯ (MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG)

Recommended. A Ukrainian cartoon. Ingenious forest creatures, cute or child-level demonic, a villain, music, including a beautiful song by Калина (Kalyna) Ukrainian Folk Group, people wearing outfits consulted by fashion historians, the environment consulted by WWF experts for Ukraine and... a dash of magic. The story's environmental and anti-war. Like in all superhero movies, there's a mid-credit.

THE FLASH

Watchable. The first act is hilarious, especially the coffee shop sequence, the plot with time travel is always fun, here it plays with the cult movie of the time travel genre: "Back to the Future" because Eric Stoltz, who in reality was to be cast as Marty McFly, has been cast in this world. My favourite Wonder Woman makes an appearance. Ezra Miller is superb in the double role. But there's just fights, explosions and colourful multiverse overload. In the early end credits Flash saves the dog again. There's a post-credit scene. 

TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS

Watchable. Finally, after many years and several movies, a Transformers flick with a consistent, fully comprehensible storyline and the right human to machine ratio. The plot is pretty standard but with two amiable underdogs: one male, one female who you root for throughout the movie. It's set partly in NYC of 1994, when the twin towers of WTC still stood and partly in Cuzco, Peru which offers amazing scenery. The soundtrack is decent too. 

American journalist Lesley Stahl makes a cameo as herself. There's a very early mid-credit. All fun. As usual recently, Agata Deka's translation into Polish contains some nonsense.