filmandpassion Reviews

Monster (2023)

this movie touches like no other!

[10/10 · 5 March 2024]

"MONSTER" delivers yet another thought-provoking exploration of complex characters navigating moral and personal dilemmas. Much like Kore-eda's previous work "SHOPLIFTERS," this film delves into the lives of multiple characters, each grappling with their own struggles and complexities. At its heart, "MONSTER" is a tragic tale centered around two children and the world that surrounds them.

Through the lens of these young protagonists, the film shines a spotlight on the extreme social issues that children may face in today's society. As they navigate through challenges with nothing but their hearts and feelings to guide them, viewers are drawn into a world of mystery and social drama.

Kore-eda's social commentary cuts deep, exposing the cracks in societies that often prioritize superficial norms over addressing real issues. By highlighting the lack of empathy and acceptance afforded to children by adults, the film serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of treating young individuals with the dignity and compassion they deserve.

Ultimately, "MONSTER" leaves a lasting impression, challenging audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about the world we live in. It's a bittersweet tale that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll, urging us to reexamine our perspectives and priorities in a society that too often turns a blind eye to the struggles of its most vulnerable members.

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Outstanding Movie!

[9/10 · 9 February 2024]

Upon my initial viewing, I didn't find much to like about this film. However, after watching "Revolutions," which I found to be a significant improvement, I decided to give this one another shot. The first time around, I found myself wondering where the story was headed, only to feel like it led nowhere. "Revolutions," on the other hand, does take you there.

Understanding that "Reloaded" is essentially the first half of a larger story, my perspective on its first act shifted. With this knowledge, the initial portion of the film becomes more engaging. Although the action scenes tend to drag on a bit too long, they are undeniably impressive, and upon revisiting the film, I found myself able to appreciate them more without the distraction of wondering about the plot.

Perhaps it would have been clearer if they had labeled this movie as Part One.

My main issue with the film lies in its uneven pacing. There's over an hour of exposition, followed by lengthy action sequences that lose their relevance to the plot halfway through. While both the dialogue and action scenes are well-executed, a bit more variety in pacing would have made the viewing experience smoother and more balanced. Fortunately, the final third of the film addresses this issue.

Upon rewatching, I found "Reloaded" to be much more enjoyable. When viewed together, the two films form a cohesive narrative structure, akin to watching "The Empire Strikes Back" and pausing it after Darth Vader's arrival at Cloud City, only to resume six months later.

I encourage you to give it another chance. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised.

The Sound of Cologne (2022)

A masterpiece

[8/10 · 1 May 2023]

This is really an all-round successful film that gives insight into the electronic music scene in Cologne - starting with Stockhausen and ending with the musicians today. What is particularly exciting is how the film is able to depict the network of composers and musicians and the different influences between the generations. But the intertwining of electronic music with Cologne is also great. The images of the city are incredibly well done.

In this, it really makes sense to start with Stockhausen, since he founded electronic music. Also, the WDR studio is featured in the film and the film really goes into detail. It explains how sounds are made from radio equipment. The film chooses to follow the influence on pop culture rather than classical music. Cologne club life is portrayed very accurately and political aspects are also addressed here, how difficult it is for artists and DJs to keep finding places to hold their events. It also shows how the band Can works together with a wide variety of musicians. How Irmin Schmidt makes music together with Gregor Schwellenbach. Mouse on Mars are there, Lena Willikens, Niobe, also Kompakt, A-Musik and completely new unknown DJs and composers.

I can only warmly recommend this film. The camera is great, the dramaturgy is coherent, the themes flow into each other, the protagonists are great and the music is really so fascinating.