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Reviews
Firefly (2002)
Entertainng, Not life changing
Upon seeing the 9.4 rating that this show received, I felt that it was almost necessary that I watch it. My overall impression was that this show is well cast, and the acting is pretty good. Although the script was intended to be full of hillbilly grammar, Nathan Fillion is too well spoken for it to not sound forced. Firefly's greatest strength is the witty and well written plot. Also notable is the theme and overall tone which is an interesting conglomerate of futuristic space and wild west. The biggest irritation to me was the music. It is intended to reinforce the western theme but it sounds completely ridiculous and out of place. It was really hard to take seriously when twangy country music plays in the background of a panning scene of a space ship. The music was much improved in the movie. On a concluding note, I think that the rating of 9.4 is way inflated. This show is entertaining not life changing.
Anatomie (2000)
A Noteworthy Horror Movie That Rises Above Most
But wait? Is this really a good horror movie that brings the viewer to some provocation of critical thought? Leave it to a foreign film to actually accomplish a terrifying narrative that includes a factually based philosophical under theme. I do enjoy awful horror movies, (there are plenty of them), but I also appreciate good cinema. Horror movies can very rarely be called good cinema but Anatomy comes close to accomplishing the thoughtfully written horror movie genera.
A quick non-spoiler synopsis: Main character Paula is accepted to historic and prestigious Heidelberg medical institute. Her father is a dieing physician who expresses some qualms about her acceptance. Upon arrival, she is thrilled to be able to access world famous professors and a museum/library of complete cross- sectional anatomical items. Meddlesome inquisitiveness arises however when she recognizes one of the corpses. Paula attempts to piece together the historic universities dark secret that allows the institution to maintain its progressive research reputation.
What destroys most horror movies is predictability, and this movie is able to lead the viewer to come to false, (or partially false), conclusions; much like a good mystery novel would. The cinematography is pungent, allowing emotions to permeate the scenes, uncorrupted by stereotypical deutch angles and other horror strategies. Also worth noting is the soundtrack which combines with Anatomy's cinematography to give the movie a very progressive American movie tone.
This movie is subtitled and to get the full advantage of its cinematic quality requires a bit of attentional resources. If that's a problem, you're not in the mood for a noteworthy movie, pick something else. Otherwise this is a horror movie that will stand out from its other American slasher movie contemporaries.