borderline_maniac Reviews

9 Miles Down (2009)

A mind is a terrible thing to lose...

[7/10 · 5 December 2009]

I just watched this movie without any greater expectations, though I was curious about the kinda mysterious plot. Adrian Paul - he may forgive me - is not exactly t h e reason that attracts a cineaste like me to the box office nor even my DVD-player - usually. Today I made an exception, because the short description of the movie was too intriguing for me as being a huge fan of the thriller-, mystery- and horror genre; and the film delivered all of these. Sure, it's a B-flick with B- and C- (Kate Nauta, "Transporter 2") faces and mainly an intimate play by the two main characters, a male investigator who meets a mysterious yet very appealing young woman at a broke down drill site, somewhere in the Arabian desert. I like movies that deal with illusions, delusions, previsions - and the occult. The question, our "hero" Jackman (and the audience) is asking himself over and over again is: Is this reality - or just an illusion? And there is another, highly philosophical question, "9 Miles Down" is dealing with: Is hell a place - or just a state of mind?? And remember: When it comes to hell, it also comes to guilt - always. Though the acting wasn't on a Strasberg level, it was OK. The Suspense could have been an ounce higher and the plot just a little bit more subtle, so my rating is "only" a 7 out of 10 - but a very good one, almost an 8.

Die Ludolfs - Dankeschön für Italien! (2009)

A decent movie - IF you are fan(!)

[8/10 · 7 September 2009]

I am a big fan of the documentaries about the common, a little crazy but very likable junk dealer brothers from Westerwald in Germany. Though they polarize in Germany because of their "hillbilly" attitude, they have masses of true fans (like me). The most wacky part of the Ludolf family (though there still is Sabine,their sister and the fifth Ludolf child, still alive) are Günter, Manfred, Uwe and Peter, who have been accompanied by a camera team, portraying their eccentric way of life around "routine" work on their automotive junkyard, and crazy ideas, involving their favorite toys: cars. In each of the regular (television-) episodes they have crazy ideas around old and often rare cars. Mostly Manfred, the "artist" and youngest brother of them, is responsible for (wacky) re-styling of them, which almost every time includes a "fancy" paint job. They are doing with them all kinds of technical testings, little races, contest etc. In very few episodes, they also go on road trips - and in one season they even have been abroad (The Netherlands). In this full feature presentation it's mostly the same scheme of the average TV format - and it contains everything people may like (or dislike) about the Ludolfs, except for the fact, that there was a noticeable higher budget: They used dollies and high cranes for filming, they had pyrotechnics/sfx for the first time (a huge explosion) - and even a fresh score. Not to forget that our protagonists are going on their furthest trip so far... A good movie, you won't be disappointed - IF you like the Ludolfs.

Never Forget (2008)

Weak

[4/10 · 17 January 2008]

I watched the movie and however my expectations weren't too high, I must say that this flick has nothing that that I like in a 'thriller':

It was boring, it had nerving 'conversations', a predictable plot and poor acting (I must admit, that if there isn't a real script, what can be expected from acting?) This movie is a wannabee of its worst kind. It tries to jump on the "I have lost my mind - and I try to reconstruct the puzzle"-train. But, please Mr. Scherman, leave this to directors who really know their job - as for instance Chris Nolan ('Memento'), Brad Anderson ('The Machinist') or James Magold ('Identity') or John Polson ('Hide and Seek') - that admittedly is a little weaker than the other examples, just to mention a few.

I repeat: Don't expect too much - or better to say Nothing' out of this movie. For 'round 90 minutes there are only two (b-)actors walking through a wood talking nonsense.

So neither waste your time nor money!

7 Dwarves: The Forest Is Not Enough (2006)

Poor - poor German comedy

[3/10 · 19 June 2007]

I guess I have still enough brain left to NOT find this movie funny. -Great comedians - but a very poor movie! The "best" performance still did NINA HAGEN

TRIVIA: Did you realize that it the "real world" scenes (in Hamburg) the cars are almost ONLY new BMWs ??

I guess I have still enough brain left to NOT find this movie funny. -Great comedians - but a very poor movie! The "best" performance still did NINA HAGEN

TRIVIA: Did you realize that it the "real world" scenes (in Hamburg) the cars are almost ONLY new BMWs ??