PARIS HAS FALLEN SEASON 1 EP. 1
Watchable. Gerard Butler is one of the producers of the series. The initial attack on the British embassy is tedious, with some excessive brutality, but run-of-the-mill on the whole. When you hear an ex Taliban prisoner is waging a private vendetta, it's still standard. But when he coerces the Defense Minister into a suicide threatening to shoot his daughter instead, you become intrigued.
Seen courtesy of Canal +.
노량: 죽음의 바다 (NORYANG: DEADLY SEA)
Switched off. Sadly all the lavish historical costumes and ships and edifices were wasted on me. With no background knowledge of the history of Japan, Korea, their armaments, historical figures, customs I couldn't work out who was who and who fought for what hence I couldn't grasp the scheme.
Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM
Walked out. Ballistic animation set in realities of the Middle Ages. Wooden lines and stereotypical characters. Fantastical creatures are used in battles and heartbreakingly slaughtered by enemies. No magic.
DIAMANT BRUT
Watchable. Malou Khebizi as Liane is beautiful, sensual, not too smart, immature, callow. She treats her body as gods.
ANORA
Recommended. An original story of a stripper. A beautiful, smart go-go dancer becomes Russian billionaire's son's girlfriend. The first half of the movie is her fairy tale affair, it is and it feels like a constant party, with surrounding music and feeling of frivolousness. The second part dismantles the dream. Perfectly acted, especially by as Ani and as Ivan, it's all plausible. A romantic tale turns into a crime comedy, finally drama where the rich always get their way.
PARIS HAS FALLEN SEASON 1 EP. 2
Watchable. Lots of chases you don't care about, special agents' private relationships which don't bring anything to the action either, but Pearce's back story is getting stronger and the only thing that keeps you watching is another cliff hanger after he mercilessly and cruelly kills another man, in shocking circumstances again.
EP. 3
Recommended. The plot finally makes full sense and the suspense keeps growing. A true espionage thriller.
EP. 4
Recommended. The action diverts a bit from the previous route, setting ground for the next murderous plan. The two agents' relationship stories become more sensible too. And they eventually meet Pearce face to face. It's impossible not to binge the serial now.
EP. 5
Recommended. New characters, connected to Pearce, are introduced. We know who the rat in intelligence is, the agents don't know it yet. The ending leaves you with the question of whether the bomb is going to go off or not. The whole episode makes you poinder whether it is possible to switch off planes transporders remotely in a hackers' attack.
EP. 6
Recommended. A few twists of action, a new character in action and one more mention Just for the agent duo - love them. ned by Pearce. The finale leaves the president with an impossible choice.
EP. 7
Recommended. The clock is ticking as the bomb is going to explode. The finale offers a solution. A subversive one.
EP. 8
Recommended. Pearce is over, others make it alive. One of the agents is quitting but... "bakers die of boredom and obesity". I'll be looking forward to season 2.
Big Polish subtitles in all episodes facilitate watching.
Seen courtesy of Canal +.
