Change Your Image
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Reviews
Aleksandra (2007)
Seriously bad
I do hope that people with some link to the Russian-Chechnian conflict get something out of this movie. Because as an outsider, I thought this movie was a horrendous creature, possibly one of the worst I have ever seen. The script seems to be non-existent, the dialogues are one big mumble, the supposedly 'meaningful' parts are so forced that they make one gag, but most importantly, the main actress, Galina Vishnevskaya, renders an awful performance, most of the times she just scared the hell out of me. I suggest - with all due respect, she has lived many years already - that she either sticks to opera, or offers her services as a soon to be cult horror character.
Here and there, the director threw in some close-up shots (the braided hair, the Chechnian boy's face) and one time also the ominously outlined clouds in a Bergman-style; they made things only worse, because they gave me the awkward feeling that the director WAS actually trying to deliver something.
I will not remember a powerful older lady putting her stamp on the young ignorant soldiers and the civilians living in a difficult conflict. All I will remember is an old woman, shuffling through an army camp, obviously lost, in every possible sense.
Finding Neverland (2004)
Finding Neverland - or Never Finding Land
This movie is seriously boring. Seriously. I know it's meant to be magical and inspiring and fun. But it's not. Then again, if you like Depp and Winslet, if you don't mind Julie Christie reappearing from the grave, if you have no problem with some wooden English boys trying to act, if you think a story-line can be made out of sticks and if you think 'magic' consists of a fluffy fat dog on stage and a guy dancing with his dog, then by all means, go and see it. If you think you will get a Tim Burton dish, you're wrong. Depp has long since lost my vote. Never mind Winslet. The young promising English actor boy... all the best to him but I get the Culkin-Haley-Osment-shivers already (lay off of those kids !). I hope I do not sound bitter. It's just that I expected so much more. And it was not delivered. If you are like me and you watched this movie, you will know what I mean...
The Majestic (2001)
Rent this movie and waste your money
What made me rent this movie? The director, Frank Darabont, from "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile". And, of course, Jim Carrey, an actor as underrated as Stephen King sometimes is as a writer. What this movie aims to be? A combination of Cinema Paradiso / Martin Guerre / integrity / patriotism... What it actually is? A mess. Carrey seems as uninspired as I feel on a Monday morning. Martin Landau plays the same part as he always plays (Pinochio revisited). The script seems to have been delivered by the same 12-year-old that was responsible for all the X-files episodes. And, basically, I was bored to death by this movie.
The first amendment, the witch hunt for communists at that time and yap-yap-yap, it all utterly failed to give this movie a decent bottom line. My wife actually fell asleep during it, and I can't blame her. My sense of duty and respect kept me awake, sadly. It amazes me, at times, how some projects actually are realized. When, if truth is told, they never really deserve to see the light of day. Any money that was spent in making this movie or made in exploiting it is 'tainted'. A big joke.
I respect the other comments that praised the movie because it reflects "the old days" or its "message", but, honestly, as a movie, this is one lousy product.
Adaptation. (2002)
Getting away with it
Basically, this movie is a bit like reading a book. In the book, the writer is telling you about the problems he had writing the book and the internal struggles to get it done. It basically is a lost case, the book, so you mainly read along to find out how it will be dealt with.
It's not. As was expected, some 'tricks' are deployed to give the book some more 'body'. So it leaves you puzzled. Were you cheated now? Or not?
Movie-wise, Cage is great. So is Cooper. The whole movie rocks and rolls. No boredom there. But at some point the wondering enters. Are we being cheated now? Or not? I say we are. But they are getting away with it. Gracefully.
The Matrix (1999)
Surprise
Knock knock. I am surprised to read some really negative comments. The Matrix is about the best thing I've seen in years. I did not see the sequels and don't know if I will. The Matrix is not only revolutionary as for action scenes, it also is deeply meaningful. Do we take the blue pill or the red pill? Do we take a huge risk and dare to see ourselves as we actually live? Or do we go on in the same comforting yet numbing daily 'samsara'?
I'm still struggling myself. But people who hate this movie might actually just be hating the mirror put up in front of them...
Deep down, we are all 'plugged in'.