pabloknappe Reviews

Past Lives (2023)

Simply beautiful, no other words

[9/10 · 1 September 2023]

Even when walking back home after the movie I was crying and I can't tell if they were happy tears or sad tears. All I know is that I was touched by the beautiful story of Nora and Jung Hae Sung.

The script is filled with mood, emotions and great dialogue and just left me speechless. It really proves that a good story doesn't need all the unforeseeable plot twists and turns that we are fed with nowadays. A simple story, well thought out and told that will make a grown man sob like a little kid (or like Nora when she was young).

To top it off the visual storytelling is just on point, as the story is told by the camera, not by the dialogue. I was so magnetic that I felt like I was falling in love and being broken up with over the course of less than two hours.

Honestly, I don't know how to describe it without using the word beautiful, it's like the word was made for this film.

Sisu (2022)

Tarantino meets kill-em-all action

[8/10 · 25 August 2023]

I for myself always divide action films into two categories: story driven action, like Rambo and Terminator just to name a few (pictures that have real characters with goals and developments) and, as I like to call them, kill-em-all films, which are more about the brutality and choreography and therefore focus more on plot than story, like John Wick, The Equalizer, etc.

Usually I always prefer story driven action. I would definitely place Sisu in the kill-em-all action subgenre, but still it blew me away.

The protagonist doesn't need words (in fact he only has one line at the very end) and even though he's basically only left with his body and face to act, he still pulls it off perfectly.

This one is also less focused on choreography but more on the pure genius this man is when it comes to killing Nazis.

On top of that the camerawork is incredible. They use their shots and lenses with perfect purpose and the cinematography looks simply incredible.

Of course at some point the film really gets over the top, but I didn't mind, because it's just so much freaking fun.

When it comes to pure entertainment this is an absolute masterclass, because I promise you that from the first minute on you'll forget your phone and be completely hooked by the beautiful pictures and the plot (and of course the bestial way of ripping those Nazis apart, one after the other.

I would recommend this movie to anyone with 90 minutes to spare - you will have a good time!

And of course especially to films of the action genre in general.

If you like these kill-em-all action films, you'll never forget this one!

False Trail (2011)

very decent crime thriller

[7/10 · 22 August 2023]

"Jägarna 2" is a really powerful swedish crime thriller.

This film really shows how a good script can make up for minor editing and/or directorial mistakes. And even though that might sound harsh, altogether this was a great experience which gets the viewer hooked pretty much right from the start.

It not only uses the classical suspense a lá Hitchcock, but also makes one deal with feelings of injustice, tension and a need for gratification.

Also, compared to all the "cheap" crime thrillers out there, this one combines a good crime story with real characters, who have emotions and more importantly goals.

I'd definitely recommend this picture to everyone who wants to widen their horizon when it comes to films and stories of this particular genre.

First Blood (1982)

Actually incredibly good

[8/10 · 18 August 2023]

Contrary to most action films we see today, First Blood provides us with a picture that actually is not about crazy stunts, fight scenes and kills, but has a really thought out and, especially for that time, relevant story. It is well written, and makes you identify with the character like usually dramas do.

Also it is executed with exceptional visual storytelling and really makes the time fly by.

It tells the story of a heavily traumatized Vietnam veteran that comes back home. But even though he served his country now no one wants his emotional wreck back.

I promise you won't regret seeing it!

Schock (2023)

Refreshing German genre film

[7/10 · 5 July 2023]

I went into this film not knowing what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying it. In Germany there have not been a lot of good genre films in the last couple of years so this one really stood out. It is a gangster story but more in a "Drive" (2011) kind of way rather that a classical gangster picture. The look reminded me of "Good Time" (2017) or generally the Safdie Brothers' films. Here they managed to portray the city of Cologne with a uniquely dark and dirty look and it's mafia as grim and brutal as it gets.

I can recommend this to anyone who was also waiting for more genre movies in Germany.