raymond-massart Reviews

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

Original is better

[28 August 2011]

Are remakes always better than the original? Certainly not I'm sorry to say and this is particularly true for 3.10 to Yuma. First of all, I must agree with other reviews on this site that have pointed out the far-fetched contents of the plot; particularly those relating to the personality structure of Ben Wade. The bad guy with the not-so-bad human touch does not work, as so many examples in former reviews have amply illustrated. Wade remains a cold-blooded murderer and deserves no sympathy on the part of the viewer. The shoot-out at the end of the film as a final climax even borders on the comical as it totally unacceptable that in order to give the plot a sort of Greek drama content, the leader of the pack turns on the gang that set out to rescue him. Russel Crowe does his best to to portray Wade's supposedly split personality but can't compete with Glenn Ford whose natural charm contrasted perfectly with his role as a villain. Christian Bale is a brilliant actor but his physique and strong features stand in the way of his portrayal of a rather weak character. Here again the hesitant Van Heflin in the original cast was more convincing. On the whole the first version of this movie was more slow-paced, less complicated and although even then one had doubts as to the credibility of the story, much more convincing.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Gratuitous violence served with a watery philosophical sauce

[4/10 · 8 March 2010]

I'll be brief on this one. A typical example of the present-day trend to focus on gratuitous violence dished out with a tasteless watery semi-philosophical sauce which aims at conveying a vague ethical message. Others have pointed out that I didn't get the humor of it all. Well, apart from all the excessive visual violence, I particularly remember one scene where the psycho leaves the house of yet another victim whom he has obviously just slaughtered and casually looks down at the sole of his shoe to see if there are no bloodstains on it. Humor? Funny? I think not. Sam Peckinpah would have made this movie in his usual detached way. The fact that the Cohen brothers favor the same kind of meaningless violence but nevertheless try to add a vague form of moral concern is not only revolting but also extremely hypocritical.

Aanrijding in Moscou (2008)

The story of a woman

[8/10 · 10 October 2009]

In many ways this movie that, astonishingly enough, has received some negative reviews, is indeed yet another familiar story about a woman, in this case, Matty, a frustrated mother of three who has been abandoned by her husband for a younger girl and who not only wonders what her life has been all about but particularly what the future holds in store for her now that she has reached the age of forty-one. Her chance encounter with a random trucker as the result of a minor traffic accident signifies a turning point in her life. Johnny, the trucker, is immediately infatuated with this woman who is twelve years his senior and his amorous attempts at seducing her, slowly lead Matty to the realization that not only is she still attractive as a woman but also that deep-down her emotions are still alive. As the story develops, the viewer learns that Johnny has a past and also a drinking problem and that Matty's estranged husband is making attempts to return to his family. Matty is caught in the middle and also has to deal with the ongoing sarcastic comments made by her eldest daughter ( a convincing role excellently performed by Anemone Valcke) Matty however grows stronger and more confident mainly as a result of the animosity between the two male contenders that is often more an expression of immature childish bickering than that of two grown-up males. She encounters more obstacles on the complicated road to self-realization but when in the final scene, we see her walking next to a rail road track and in a flash we are reminded of the vague thoughts she once expressed of ending her life under a train, we are quickly reassured by her convincing smile that although she cannot predict the future, at present, all is well. Barbara Sarafian's portrayal of Matty is excellent.Matty is a real woman but above all a (feminine) person: she worries about her age, her looks, her responsibilities, her future and her alternating feelings of hope and despair are wonderfully reflected in her appearance: at times she radiates real beauty while at others she's just another plain Jane.The men in her life are basically very weak:due to his own feelings of insecurity her husband is very dependent on her and burdens her with responsibilities he dare not (cannot?) take himself while her lover is somewhat too young and playful to be convincingly assertive. Jurgen Delnaet who plays Johnny succeeds brilliantly in portraying the rugged trucker in search of a strong woman who will guide him on his way and Johan Heldenbergh as the husband who's experiencing a mid-life crisis is very convincing. The dialog is natural and the acting of the whole cast, superb. A worthy contribution to modern Flemish film making.

Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)

Downright boring

[1/10 · 16 May 2009]

Atrocious! What was supposed to be a farce was a downright boring experience that just went on and on. The short Bean sketches which formerly appeared on TV were often very funny but this feature based on a series of vocal ignominies and the pulling of so called funny faces was unworthy of Atkinson and shamefully embarrassing for the viewer. Due to a lack of real content, certain scenes dragged on forever such as Bean's attempts at hitching a ride on a farmer's motorcycle and his ensuing escapade with a roadside shack. Slapstick in this movie was taken literally as everybody seemed to thoroughly enjoy slapping each other on the face. There is so little going on in Mr Bean's Holiday that it's difficult to comment on substance that isn't even there. Not recommended at all.

The Emperor of Taste (2008–2009)

How past & present interact

[9/10 · 30 January 2009]

This 10-part series ("The Taste of De Keyser") tells the story of three generations of the "jenever" distillers De Keyser ("jenever" is a typical Flemish & Dutch alcoholic beverage which can be compared to Gin) that starts in 1939 and ends in 1970. The plot evolves mainly around the mother figure Helena, her daughter Martine and her grandchild Alessandra. Helena who is madly in love with Alfred sees her dreamlike world abruptly come to an end at the outbreak of the war. Alfred and his best friend George who is also in love with Helena and extremely jealous of their relationship, are called up to join the army and sent off to defend their country against the Germans. They are captured and sent to a prisoners of war camp where Alfred is killed. Years later, the old and dying Helena who has never had a satisfying answer to the question of what really happened to Alfred and how he died, instructs her granddaughter Helena to dig into the past and find out the truth. The action often goes back and forth between the past and the present and astonishingly enough the many flashbacks are never annoying as is so often the case in current features. We see how the war transforms the frivolous young Helena into an increasingly embittered older woman, how she eventually marries George in a desperate attempt to cling to her memories of Alfred, how the past always creeps back on us and determines the present and above all how the quest for perfection which has always been Helena's ultimate aim by discovering "the perfect taste" in the distillation process, lives on in her grandchild ( hence the title) There are many sub-plots to this story which all come together in the end and therefore form a remarkable entity but are better not revealed at present so as not to spoil the experience of the viewer. Frank Van Passel and Jan Matthys have succeeded in making an intriguing and entertaining visual document based on a convincing story. Excellent camera-work , often slow-paced but never boring and not in the least, a beautiful music score ( Wim De Wilde) Superb acting on the part of the whole male and female cast with a special mention for Marieke Dillens, Katelijne Damen and Laura Verlinden.

Inspector Lewis: Reputation (2006) Season 1, Episode 0

A worthy follow-up to Morse

[8/10 · 2 March 2008]

Morse is dead and Lewis is retrieved so to say from the grave by explaining his long absence by a stay in a foreign country. The once more or less submissive assistant of the flamboyant inspector has changed. The death of his wife has marked him both physically and emotionally and he has become more mature. His new partner, a brilliant scholar who studied theology, is obviously more learned than Lewis who at times seems disturbed by the striking resemblance of his new colleague to his former superior. Lewis senses a form of intellectual superiority on the part of his aide and is determined not to revert to the former humiliating relationship he often experienced with Morse .It is also interesting to note that each time others refer to Morse, Lewis is rather reticent and never shows signs of real empathy towards his former boss as if he still seems to suffer from his haunting and domineering presence. The series is still too recent to evaluate as a whole although the first episodes seem promising enough to guarantee that this sequel to Morse will certainly meet the expectations of the followers of good detective fiction.

Atonement (2007)

One of the best productions in recent years

[9/10 · 19 February 2008]

Should I have read the book before seeing this movie? Not necessarily of course but in the case of "Atonement" it was certainly an advantage as I asked myself how the richness of the vocabulary, the suggestive delicacy of the verbally painted pictures and the intricate pattern of the relationships between the various characters would be rendered on the screen. The answer to these intriguing questions is not difficult at all: the cinematographic version has come as close to the original literary work as one can possibly get. The author, Ian McEwan, always excels in depicting life as it was in England in the early 20th century with its restraining formalism, hypocrisy and a numbing form of awkwardness that often lead to a lasting form of tragedy. All these elements are constantly present throughout the movie and together with the excellent acting, the captivating images of landscapes and the camera's keen eye for detail, one cannot but acclaim "Atonement" as one of the best productions in recent years.

Cold Case (2003–2010)

Great series

[9/10 · 28 November 2007]

One of my favorite series. Slow -paced with episodes that concentrate more on the psychological aspects of the various characters than on violence and cheap thrills. All the members of the team have their own personal problems that often affect the way in which they deal with their assignments. The visual switching of people to a younger age and then returning to their actual physical appearance adds a special dimension to the series and most likely aims at portraying how fragile life really is. Digging up files from the past in order to achieve justice for the victims is a painstaking task as time seems to have erased the facts from most people's minds. The confrontation of the guilty person with his or her former acts always forms the climax of each episode and is particularly intense as the past involvement and emotions are experienced all over again. Excellent acting with a special mention for Kathryn Morris who radiates an undeniable form of mysterious charm.

Fracture (2007)

Conventional roles & conventional acting

[5/10 · 5 November 2007]

The theme of " Fracture" has been amply reviewed on this site and I was amazed at the number of favorable appreciations the movie received. Although some comments have pointed out the weaker aspects of the plot, most reviews are very positive as regards the acting which to be really honest did not impress me at all. Anthony Hopinkins with his watered down version of Hannibal Lecter has become all too familiar and apart from the fact that his appearance on screen reveals unmistakable signs of increased age, his presence has really nothing new to offer. Although he's undoubtedly a great actor, since he first starred as the schizophrenic ventriloquist in "Magic"(1978) he has played that role a little too often in order to maintain the viewer's attention. Ryan Gosling has this air about him that makes him a very obnoxious sort of personality. The more I see him acting, the more I cannot detach myself from the frustrating feeling that in real life he must be very irritating also.I admit that this impression is entirely subjective but the fact that he was constantly chewing jelly beans or whatever only contributed further to my aversion. All the other characters in this movie are of no importance at all and not worth describing. On the whole a very mediocre movie with very conventional roles and conventional acting.

Crash (I) (2004)

Isolation & Prejudice

[8/10 · 22 September 2007]

This movie about people (meaning you and me) is brilliantly structured. The difficult task of blending multiple stories into a convincing whole without any trace of artificiality or exaggerated sentimentality is an admirable achievement.Life as it is with the increasing tendency of present-day man to isolate himself and hide behind prejudices towards others as a form of survival in a mad, mad world. Not a moralizing or judgemental approach as to what we are as human beings but an illustration of the complex aspects of our nature and how easily good can turn to bad and vice versa. Our narrow-minded outlook on the world around us and how easily we debase individuals by defining them as belonging to an inferior class or race is the main theme on which the movie is based. The issue however is not that simple and the most important aspect of this movie is that it sees things as they really are: our urban environment and our personal experiences with people in general do not encourage real confidence in our fellow man. There remains however a glimmer of hope and the message "Crash" conveys is that by gaining insight into the fact that our attitudes in general are based more on the unforeseen and casual incidents we experience in everyday life than on our so-called deep convictions, we could (possibly) become better people.A lot of reviews consider the movie weak due to its radical and therefore limited analysis of racism in general and that it focuses too often on a form of cheap emotional content. But let's be honest: isn't that precisely the only way most people in the real world function?

The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Menacing and unpredictable

[9/10 · 3 September 2007]

Wow! What a presence Forest Whitaker has on screen! Luckily the movie isn't in 3D as the viewer already has the impression that at any moment he will reach out and grab him/her by the throat!FW is indeed Amin: huge, menacing, bipolar to say the least and with the awesome potential of keeping his entourage in a heightened state of constant anguish.Amin apparently possessed the hypnotic powers that characterize many past and present dictators. The fact that he was in a constant state of doubt as to his own godlike status and that he questioned the loyalty of everyone around him made his reactions even less predictable. Nobody really knew how to address him and even the most submissive and personally humiliating approach could evoke totally irrational outbursts on his part. Forest Whitaker portrays Amin as he really was and does this outstandingly. James McAvoy does what is expected of him but neither the weak character he portrays nor his charisma as an actor impressed me much.

Sicko (2007)

A major problem

[31 August 2007]

I recently saw this movie while on vacation in Florida. I was enjoying the weather and the welcome I received immensely and did not really feel like going to a movie which could possibly harm my excellent impression of the US. On the other hand, it did offer me the possibility of discussing health care first hand with native Americans and comparing the system with that which prevails in my own country and the rest of Europe. The fact that I calculated that in my personal case compulsory health insurance combined with a voluntarily acquired supplementary insurance whereby all expenses relating to medical care, hospitalization and eventual surgery are included and which amounts approximately to the total of 900 dollars per annum, seemed downright incredible to the many people with whom I discussed the issue. Health care undoubtedly seems to constitute a major problem in the US and is certainly one of the darker sides of an affluent society. I fully understand at present why it will constitute one of the major themes the Democratic party will focus on during the next elections.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Easily Digestible

[7/10 · 15 June 2007]

Entertaining indeed. Easily digestible: a feel good movie seasoned with a dash of suspense, small-scale drama and the obligatory happy ending. Nothing wrong with the previous assessment apart from the fact that "Catch me..." did not entirely succeed in keeping my undivided attention and that I was not really impressed due to an absence of tangible substance in the portrayal of the various characters.All the protagonists seemed to lack a form of real content and appeared to me as being very shallow human beings. Even the chemistry between Di Caprio and his father which was obviously intended by the director, was hardly convincing. In the first half of the movie Tom Hanks was portrayed too often as a bungling FBI agent which bordered on ludicrousness but luckily he was more convincing in the second half. Some scenes, such as the references to James Bond and Di Caprio's amorous encounter in a hotel room, were really superfluous not to mention the viewer's disbelief at the ingenious escapology of the Houdini-like forgerer. As stated in another review: a popcorn movie more or less, with regrettably, in my view, slightly less than more.

De kavijaks (2006–2007)

A family with the will to survive

[8/10 · 19 February 2007]

"The Kavijaks" is a five part miniseries that tells the story of a rural Flemish family during and immediately after the second World War.A family consisting of an an exhausted mother and thirteen children dominated by a callous and fear-inspiring father they call "the general".These are harsh times and the will to survive for the children after the death of their mother and the ever increasing brutality and indifference of their father make their plight all the more difficult.Although the war is evidently present, it is used more as a background against which a study unfolds of human nature and particularly that of the amazing adaptability of children to overcome even the most extreme circumstances.Just as many adults conspire with the Germans in order to survive, the blood bond between the children gives them the strength to confront their vicious father and the menacing presence of the foreign enemy and also enables them to discover ingenious ways of obtaining food and other necessities for their well-being. It is widely accepted that it is an extremely difficult task to direct children in a movie. Stijn Coninx however succeeds in bringing the best out of a group of youngsters with little or no acting experience at all. There is no contrived acting here and the enthusiastic presence of all these young people is a sheer delight to experience.The historical settings are both accurate and convincing and the whole bathes in a form of lighting that accentuates reminiscences from the past. Jan Decleir as "the general" is of course once again remarkable: as all great actors he needs no extensive lines to prove his talents: his formidable presence alone literally fills the screen and captures the viewer's attention over and over again.The above comments relate essentially to the first three episodes of the series that as mentioned before consists of five parts.Episodes 4 & 5 tell the ongoing story of the Kavijak family after the departure of their father and the ups and downs they encounter as adults in a post-war environment.

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

The eternal struggle for power and recognition

[8/10 · 15 January 2007]

As was mentioned in another review on this site, when watching "The Witches" for a second or a third time, one tends to concentrate more on the content and the ensuing message it conveys than on the visual thrill the movie has to offer. The subject matter is obviously an allegory of the battle of the sexes and the recognition of the abyss that separates men from women or to put it in more lay terms: the impossibility of man ever understanding woman and vice versa.The devil in this case is the male in his most extreme form: with just one preoccupation on his mind, and we all know what that is, he considers his female counterpart exclusively as an object of lust. The use of the term "mind" in the previous sentence was intentional and an important element as the male is all too well aware of the passion that drives him but also of his unsuccessful attempts at satisfying his logical side, namely by finding a rational explanation for the world he lives in. In his opinion the clash between the rational and the irrational isn't reflected in the woman he desires and this observation not only frustrates him but adds to his confusion. Do the three witches represent woman as seen by man? Apparently they do: although they initially seem to have their own unique personality they soon blend together by certain traits most men attribute to women in general: notwithstanding their seemingly high moral standards they easily succumb to the cave man tactics of the outrageous seducer and rapidly adapt their life style to one of luxury and debauchery. At one point it is Sukie ( Michelle Pfeifder) who states that women are more a part of nature than men as they go with the flow of the absurdity of life. A rather cynical reference to the values of women is the ludicrous appearance of Felicia (Veronica Cartwright) , the editor's wife, who's moral principles drive her to madness. Who comes out the winner of this battle of the sexes? Without any doubt: women. When required, they can leave their rivalry, envy and jealously behind and punish even the most virile of men. The final scene shows the triumphant witches who have apparently obtained what they really wanted to achieve: a thriving matriarchy where surrounded by babies, they can conjure up the devil (man) on a screen and delete him whenever they wish. As stated above "The Witches of Eastwick" is an allegory...

Vidange perdue (2006)

An old man's quest for dignity

[9/10 · 8 January 2007]

The title "Vidange Perdue" is a Belgian expression which is best translated as "empties are not refunded"Like stray bottles that end up in the trash, old people are often regarded as a cumbersome burden and best disposed of in a discreet and efficient fashion. "Senior citizenship" ( the word itself is basically a convenient euphemism for the grim reality of old age) is a topic our present society tends to avoid as it doesn't correspond with the actual and commercially induced unrealistic belief that life in general is a never ending joy ride. Those aspects of the human condition which have obvious negative connotations have become uncomfortable topics and not many producers or directors are tempted to deal with these issues for fear of disappointing box office results. All the more reason to acclaim the venture of Geoffrey Enthoven & Jaak Boon who contrary to the actual trends have produced a movie that focuses more on content than on aiming at a cheap form of appraisal. This movie is the story of an old man who can't accept that he's growing older and who revolts against the absurdity of life. To an outsider he's just another grumpy eighty-year-old who is often extremely cantankerous and obstinate and of little or no interest at all. What others fail ( or don't even bother) to see is that this man cannot accept the fact that there is a constant negation by others of his own unique personality and that the elderly in general are constantly patronized by their immediate surroundings as if they suffered from an ever increasing form of dementia. Lucien Knops' struggle against all these preconceived notions regarding old people is courageous but also comical at times as is illustrated by his letters of pure outrage to the newspaper and his attempts at amorous escapades.A real turning point in his life is his encounter with his neighbor. This lady not only prompts him to go on being his true self but opens doors for him to the future which he himself would never have thought of unbolting. When at the end of the movie he visits his favorite grand child in Paris, he knows the future will remain uncertain. He sees himself on a long voyage or maybe even spending his remaining days as a tramp. Whatever the future holds in store, he will confront it as he himself: the unique Lucien Knops. The movie was filmed in short alternating scenes and all the actors, without exception, deliver a high quality performance.

Terror in the Mall (1998 TV Movie)

Wet, wet, wet...

[1/10 · 30 November 2006]

Thousands of gallons of water were wasted in this preposterous movie which succeeded in leaving me as damp and dreary as the actors themselves Of course the aforementioned reference to wasted water is not true at all as most scenes were blown-up versions of miniature scale models whereby a couple of gallons probably were amply sufficient.There is a feeble attempt at creating some kind of tension at the very beginning of the movie but this soon ends when we quickly learn who the real villain is. From that moment on it's: wet, wet, wet. Not one of the actors was convincing (how could they have been with a non-existing script) and the only character I really admired was David Jason:he only got his shoes and socks wet and his early departure undoubtedly saved him from a near-death experience had he stayed on till the bitter end.

Starman (1984)

Adult fairy tale from the past

[8/10 · 5 November 2006]

Watching a movie on TV like "Starman" that was released in 1984 makes one realize how much the approach to life and film-making in general has changed in this our 21st century. The witty and romantic love story between an alien and an "earthling" and situated in the eighties is in more than one way reminiscent of the good old sixties when concern for others was as natural as the present trend is to consider the cult of the ego as the sole aim in life. When Jenny gives her definition of "love" as total abandonment in the interest of the loved one ( or something along those lines), the viewer is immediately reminded of days gone by when "Love Story" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" seemed to be as much a part of our lives as "Desperate Housewives" is today. "Starman" is a movie for people who have not become completely cynical and knowingly kid themselves into believing that adult fairy tales really do exist.Jeff Bridges is a true artist who really excels when he portrays weired or borderline personalities as he also did so well in "Jagged Edge" and "The Vanishing". Karen Allen is also convincing as the bewildered widow.

The Shipping News (2001)

Desolate people in a desolate landscape

[9/10 · 16 October 2006]

I was really pleased to have seen this movie on TV and not in a cinema. The reason is obvious: one watches it as one reads an intriguing novel and the intensity it evokes is best experienced in a peaceful and solitary environment. Solitude: we are all alone and the misfortunes of life contribute all the more to reinforcing a deep feeling of existential emptiness. The main characters in "The Shipping News" are loners. Wounded souls: some who at best have apparently come to terms with their plight while others are still searching for a sense of meaning. Desolate people in a desolate landscape. Surrounded by the sea, all the inhabitants of this barren piece of earth seem to be excluded from the warmth they seek and that neither nature nor others have to offer. The sparkle of hope comes mainly from Quoyle and Wavey: two people who have not fully abandoned their quest for relative happiness. This movie excels in the creation of atmosphere and the rendering of the original script on the screen must surely have been an extremely difficult task. The acting is exquisite with a special mention for the outstanding performances by both Spacey and Moore.Kevin Spacey, in particular, has that rare gift of really being the character he portrays without becoming a stereotype.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Apology of aesthetics

[7/10 · 5 October 2006]

Good acting (although it must be said that Bill Murray excels more in comical scenes than in those that require dramatic intensity), impressive music score and outstanding camera work. As to the story itself namely alienation in general, the difficulty of communicating verbally let alone of conveying emotions, the viewer would probably have experienced intense empathy with the characters had they been more down to earth ordinary people. An actor with a two million dollar contract in his pocket and a young girl who could afford to obtain a degree at Yale just don't seem to be the obvious subjects to dabble in superficial philosophical or psychological reflections. The movie obviously focuses more on aesthetics than on ethics and in my opinion leaves the viewer with a faint feeling of disappointment.

Odd Girl Out (2005 TV Movie)

School as two separate realities

[8/10 · 30 September 2006]

I have always been intrigued by the fact that a school in general consists of two separate realities:the more or less controlled environment of the classroom and the unknown reality of what goes on between students once they are not supervised by their teachers. As a former educator myself, I can assure you that life at school for certain young people can be a living hell.Pestering occurs at every level: kindergarten kids who physically threaten their classmates in order to obtain candy, high-school students who desperately seek excuses as to avoid the humiliation and isolation they experience during recreation not to mention the subtle intrigues that occur at a university level."Humans" in general apparently have a genetically determined urge to reinforce their own feelings of self esteem by preying on easy victims. It is therefore of the utmost importance that parents be aware of the cruel reality that often exists in schools and pay close attention to any alarming change in attitude or conduct on the part of their children. "Odd Girl Out", sadly enough, is a brilliant account of events that are closer to reality than one initially would be willing to believe.Very convincing acting by Alexa Vega as the tormented youngster and Lisa Vidal as the anguished mother

The Day the World Ended (2001 TV Movie)

Reasonably digestible

[6/10 · 19 September 2006]

Well, not really bad for an evening's entertainment. If you can digest a mixture of outdated horror effects, pseudo psychological insights combined with a plot that verges on the incredible ... astonishingly enough, you'll consider this movie as fairly amusing. The fact that "The Day.."succeeds in keeping our attention focused on the developing story is obviously due to the great acting by Natassja Kinski and Randy Quaid. Miss Kinski is not only a natural talent but a very beautiful lady who seems to become more attractive as the years go by: her appearance always seems to blend perfectly with her actual age. It remains a mystery why one has not seen her more frequently in top-class productions.Randy Quaid needs no renewed appraisal: he has a remarkable presence and performs equally convincingly in both comedy and drama. It's sometimes difficult however not to picture him as cousin Eddie in "Christmas Vacation", certainly in this movie when at a certain moment he appears on the deck in front of his house with Christmas illuminations in the background. Bobby Edner gets away with a kind of "Sixth Sense" imitation and as for the monster who is very threatening and bloodthirsty at the beginning and in profile definitely resembles a Tyrannosaurus Rex, well, at the very end he obviously winks at the child but also at us, the audience, as if to convey the message: "Please do not take all of this too seriously!"

Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006)

A concept that doesn't work

[6/10 · 24 August 2006]

I went to see the movie with a five-year-old and an eight-year-old youngster.The cinema was crowded with kids and what intrigued me was to register their reactions. Reactions? There were hardly any cries of sheer delight and the general attitude was one of great expectations that were not fulfilled. The concept of combining animation with real people doesn't seem to work with children. Their fantasy world is based on imaginative processes which in this case were hindered by the combination of true-to-life humans and cartoon figures.The concept doesn't seem to work too well with adults either.Furthermore the storyline is rather weak and it is difficult to experience any form of empathy with either the real Garfield or his double

Foyle's War (2002–2015)

Life during World War 2

[8/10 · 3 August 2006]

The main advantage of this series is that it not only gives us a vivid description of life in Britain during World War 2 but also adds all the ingredients that are inherent to good detective stories. The threat of a possible German invasion obviously had an enormous impact on the inhabitants and these aspects are often discarded in many historical accounts of this tragic period. "Foyle's War" concentrates on what really went on in the average person's mind and does not avoid revealing the darker side of human nature in general. Themes such as the undeniable sympathy for Hitler and Nazi Germany that existed in certain aristocratic circles, the growing hatred towards refugees and Jews, the plight of young children who were sent to the countryside in order to avoid the bombings in the major cities and were often worse off than had they stayed with their parents, are touchy subjects which are not avoided in a series that certainly aims at painting a truthful picture. Most episodes are very slow paced as if to illustrate how insignificant a crime committed by an individual basically is compared to the imminent danger of the destruction of a whole nation. This atmosphere of gloom and doom often leads the protagonists to reflect profoundly on the meaning of war and life in general which gives the series an extra dimension.The acting is exquisite and contributes largely to the sense of contained despair that many must have experienced at that time in history.

Warriors (1999)

Excellent production

[9/10 · 17 May 2006]

This two-part series which was shown on TV is a description of how a majority of British UN soldiers experienced the war in former Yougoslavia.Their task was mainly a humanitarian mission based on a policy of non-intervention.This policy may have worked in the minds of well-intentioned theoreticians but was impossible to execute in the real environment of war-torn Bosnia.These soldiers were subjected to constant stress resulting from their orders not to intervene, the hostility they experienced as foreign intruders,the language barriers and the bestiality they encountered without being able to offer any significant help.The traumas that these men experienced definitely had a devastating and lasting effect on their further lives "Warriors" draws the viewer into the ongoing drama in such a convincing way that one fully grasps the frustration these soldiers must have experienced. Excellent production: a top-class cinematographic document performed by outstanding actors.