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Reviews
Truands (2007)
Ridiculous
Bad acting (philippe Caubere acts like Michel Constantin on a bad day...), cheap violence and torture (did they really need to glorify the act of drilling a hole through a kneecap, are we supposed to enjoy this?), no plot - just mean bad guys (if this was part of providing young audiences with role models I believe the director should be sued, these models are not going to give any good ideas to youngsters... ).
There are much better contemporary French films around, this was just a pathetic "kill bill" try à la française, and even so, it misses the point.
If you want good french stuff with suspense, violence, tough guys and a fine plot, look for "MR 73" or "36 quai des orfèvres"
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Bad acting (directing?)
Apart from Lucy who tries to be expressive, those kids looked like they had been narcotized. And what's with this scene on the frozen river? They just stand there waiting for it to break under their feet, Peter holding his sword with two hands pointing it stupidly forward as if it was going to suddenly spit fire, paralyzed. Then a (too) brilliant idea emerges as he plants it in the ice as if in butter, foreseeing the coming surfing ride. Gosh it's so ludicrous.... The battle is a mess, the witch poses like in a shampoo commercial, and the plot is so thin... four children come up and suddenly become epic warriors and trained strategists overnight defeating a witch and monsters before sitting on a throne. Period. Looked pretty botched to me...
War of the Worlds (2005)
disappointing
I started watching this and pretty soon got so annoyed by it that I didn't even watch it till the end. And these stupid lines like when Cruise comes out of his former wive's house and sees the black guy among the debris of the plane asking if he was one of the passengers... duh ! sure, he's one of the Marvel guys.... they even go as far as letting the reporter ask Cruise if he himself was in the plane.... Right from the start I already had enough of watching all these people staring at the ground cracking open like if they were sitting on their couch sipping a beer. Then finally running away when the ship starts shooting, are these people brain-dead or what? I guess Spielberg needed the money or wanted to do Cruise a favor.
Moonfleet (1955)
Candle in the well
Well, I just watched Moonfleet and I'd say it was like watching a Disney movie with flesh and blood actors. An enjoyable experience if you want to watch something "relaxing" with a touch of nostalgia. I was surprised to see that Fritz Lang placed a full burning candle in the well, right where the marked brick lays, supposedly lit up years ago by the guy who hid the diamond? It's better than electricity! Also it is unclear what really happened in the past. The dogs thrown on Fox episode is unclear. Did his mistress marry "a cousin" because she was pregnant, how did Fox get the house he lives in later on? Where does his nobility come from? Is he a count or something, to be treated with such respect in high society? Lots of blanks...
Gangs of New York (2002)
Sad recipe
Yet another movie starting with scenes of extreme violence, throats slashed, crushed heads, torn chests and blood everywhere.
I was struck watching "Saving Private Ryan"'s opening but wasn't disgusted because it wasn't cheap violence, it was things as they were, a historical insight aimed at making you realize what war truly is like.
But here the aim of that opening is to attract the average viewer into making him want to see the movie further by calling upon his vilest instincts, supported by a repetitive music to to prevent him from thinking and exercising his judgment. Are we that thirsty for blood and violence? Obviously yes... and video clips and film makers give us what we want: panem et circenses - Bread and circus games.
The Straight Story (1999)
A masterpiece
One of my most favorite movies ever.
I am European and it is nice for once to see a movie which portraits the real America. Not the America of the shallow rich and famous but the America of the ordinary people with a heart and soul.
It is also full of pure poetry and wisdom.
Haven't we all once sheltered from the rain, smelled the fragrance of the wet dirt at least once in our childhood, just like Alvin does in the open fields?
This movie also holds the fundamental rhythms of life. A masterpiece recommended to all.
Natural Born Killers (1994)
How about the author's responsibilities? - Spoilers
In France in October 1994, after having seen this movie and making it their cult one, Florence Rey,19 years old, and her boyfriend, Audry Maupin get on the road for a rampage killing, as a result five people are being murdered.
I like Oliver Stones' movies in general, and this one was interesting in the way it was filmed, so was the music. But the content was totally irresponsible. It was advocating violence, drug addiction and was a time bomb for teenagers in need of negative icons to identify with.
Mickey and Malory despise all human life, kill and torture with pleasure but eventually both get away with it. Cool?
The Million Dollar Hotel (2000)
This one stands out
At first I was wondering what this story was all about. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy, and the characters miles away from the usual stereotypes we are generally being fed with. These were dirty, nut, poor, wrecked, complete losers, the antithesis of the American dream. Mel Gibson himself for once plays an anti-hero, an ex-freak. As the story unfolds you get drawn into it and don't wish to miss a single scene or word.
Then there is the relationship between Eloise and Tom coming like a revelation that love transcends everything and makes them, even but for a moment, the happiest and richest people on earth.
The acting was superb and the John Lennon clone was funny, and his interpretation of "I am the walrus" is memorable. I don't think seeing this movie only once is enough because it holds much food for thought.
A must see.
Cube 2: Hypercube (2002)
Hyperdumb
What a disappointing sequel... it looked like a farce.
Upon arrival none of the characters seems to be desperate, it's like they're on a holiday camp, greeting each other. Then it's only after the 32d minute that the question "how do you get in there?" is being asked... duh ! The answers being pictured in frames, a visual plagiat of "the Thomas Crown affair" and of the "Boston strangler" shifting you to the early seventies.
Then the dialogs... the computer geek fumbles into the totally empty hanged man's case for half a minute before stating: "there's nothing in there", I thought the girl was the blind one... big shot on her shattered dark glasses later on by the way.. as if it ever mattered that she lost them? Then the caricatures: a mass murderer, a bimbo, an old nut.. I was bracing myself for Santa Claus's appearance behind every next door. Next time I want some good time-paradox story, I'll watch for Star Trek re-runs.