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Reviews
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
Felt something was missing
I enjoyed this movie. It is well made and the performances are strong. However, there are a few points that kept me from giving the film a higher rating. First of all, I think that "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" fails to sufficiently portray Bundy's contradictory character. Instead of really showing his "extremely wicked and shockingly evil" character, the film primarily focuses on his role as a sweet boyfriend and charismatic ladies' man. Unfortunately, the viewer never really sees his diabolic side. Not that I'm a fan of horror or gory images, but I think that this would have made Efron's portrayal of Bundy's character even more fascinating.
I also think that the movie sometimes felt a bit too light-hearted (comical almost), which didn't really match the subject of the film. In fact, I sometimes got the impression that this is the story of a conman in the likes of DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can, but not the story of a mass murderer. Furthermore, the first part of the film feels rushed and seems to have no clear focus. The story jumps from scene to scene without ever examining any aspect of Bundy's life in detail. It was particularly strange that his mother suddenly showed up at the end of the film for just a brief moment. I have no idea why they included her as she didn't seem to be important for the development of the story at this point.
In my opinion, they should have either shown a broader spectrum of Bundy's actions (including at least some of the crimes) or just focus on the court scenes. The later scenes in court are in fact great, and it saved the film for me. Overall, "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" is a good film in my opinion.
Dare mo shiranai (2004)
A social study that will
Based on real events, Hirokazu Koreeda's fourth feature film recounts a year in the life of four siblings abandoned by their mother in a tiny Tokyo apartment. What starts as a light-hearted story about a lower-class Japanese family soon turns into a nightmare.
Filmed mostly in just one room, Nobody Knows pulls you straight into the story, leaving you with an absolute claustrophobic and uncomfortable feel. Despite the horror that lies within this, Koreeda manages to find a perfect balance between the tragedy of the kids' abandonment and their daily, almost normal lives, including playing games and meeting friends.
The most interesting part about this film is seeing the kids mature and, tragically, go to rack. Like a social study the film explores how the siblings adapt to their situation, how they try to survive with almost no cash in their pockets, and how they get along in this tragic situation. As a viewer, you feel like a helpless bystander, shocked, yet also amazed by the boys' and girls' strong mind and will to get by.
Despite being rather slow-paced, this is Koreeda's most intense film and probably one of the best Japanese films ever made.
Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)
Good but not great
I think that the mediocre ratings for Independence Day 2 are a bit unjustified. It surely isn't a great film, but it is highly entertaining and the special effects are atonishing. In my opinion, that's all that counts when you watch a popcorn movie.
I watched this film with the lowest expectations and was actually surprised how cool this film is. It has some funny scenes and lots of action-packed scenes - perfect for a night to just relax and don't ponder too much. ;-)
Shingeki no kyojin (2015)
Worst live action ever!
This is one of the worst movies I ever watched, unfortunately. I kind of liked the anime and was looking forward to seeing this live action version at the movie theater. What a disappointment! The acting is bad, the dialogues are bad, and the special effects are just "okay". There is actually nothing really good about this film. Well, at least it was so bad it turned out unintentionally funny!
If you are a fan of Japanese cinema do yourself a favour and stay away from this work!
Koto no ha no niwa (2013)
Simply wonderful
I rarely rate movies higher than 8, but this movie deserves the best rating in my opinion. The artwork is not only mind-blowing, the story is also wonderful. The setting conveys some kind of melancholy that touches you deep inside. It will not leave you untouched.
I watched this film a dozen times already and won't stop doing so. :)
Fonotune: An Electric Fairytale (2018)
This is a piece of art
I watched this movie at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain and was blown away by it. Definitely one of my favourite movies that played at the festival. It was a very unique experience. Congratulations to the whole Fonotune team for making such a wonderful piece of art!