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Darkman (1990)
Sam Raimi's disfigured-man-seeks-vengeance tale with noisy action , chills and exquisitely violent
This stunning suspenser results to be a comic-book kitsch cross-pollinated with a strain of ghotic terror . Neeson plays a a scientist called Peyton Westlake who's on the verge of discovering the key of cloning body parts , as he's cruelly attacked by three hoodlums of a crooked politico , his laboratory is destroyed and he's left for dead .Westlake survives and then uses his liquid skin research in the hopes of transforming his grotesque appearance an getting it . While , Peyton (Liam Neeson) attempts to disrupt the nasty activities of his nemesis (Larry Drake) who threatens his girlfriend Julie Hastings (Frances MacDormad) .He is on the verge of perfecting the synthetic skin which conceals disfigurements , the problem is , the skin dissolves in sublight after 99 minutes. They destroyed everything he had, everything he was . Along the way , he is stalking his deserving victims from the shadows , using his laboratory know-how to disguise his rugged bad looks . Now, crime has a new enemy and justice has a new face !. Who is Darkman? Find out this August !. In the darkest hour, there is a light that shines on every human being...but One!
This is a comic book-style fantasy about a scarred avenger who carries out a relentless vendetta . The film did moderate business, but Raimi's strong visual style was evident throughout the film via inventive and including startling camera work by cinematographer Bill Pope, compelling montage by Pablo Ferro and thrilling score by Danny Elffman that caught the attention of numerous critics . Drawing self-consciously on the misunderstood monster tradition of Universal's golden age , Raimi's major studio debut abounds with conflicting ambitions, overwhelming action set pieces, juggling pathos , horror and incongruous slapstick as it attempts to meld kinetic , modern visual style with archaic narrative structure . Liam Neeson is very good as the cunning scientist who's left for dead and returns to exact revenge on the people who burned him alive by using the synthetic skin . Being accompanied by a nice cast , such as : Frances McDormand as his beloved fiancée , Colin Friels , Larry Drake , Nicholas Worth and Ted Raimi , Sam's brother, and cameos from Bruce Campbell , John Landis , Scott Spiegel and William Lusting.
The motion picture was competent and professionally directed by Sam Raimi . The breathtaking action scenes find Raimi in his element : wild , wooly and occassionanly wondrous , the film has the chaotic charm of an undisciplinated talent. At his starts Raimi wrote, directed, produced and edited a short horror movie titled Within the Woods (1978), which was then shown to prospective investors to raise the money necessary to film Evil Dead (1981). It met with lukewarm interest in the U. S. with local distributors, so Raimi took the film to Europe, where it was much more warmly received. After it started gaining positive reviews and, more importantly, ticket sales upon its release in Europe, U. S. distributors showed renewed interest, and "Evil Dead" was eventually released stateside to strong box office returns. His next directorial effort was Crimewave (1985), a quirky, cartoon-like effort that failed to catch fire with audiences. However, he bounced back with Evil Dead II (1987), a racier and more humorous remake/sequel to the original "Dead" that did even better at the box office. And following this ¨Darkman¨and a lot of hits .
Followed by direct-to-video sequels : ¨Darkman 2 : the return of Durant¨ by Bradford May with Arnold Vosloo, Larry Drake , Kim Delaney. ¨Darkman 3 : die Darkman die¨ with Arnold Vosloo , Jeff Fahey , Nigel Bennett and Darlanne Fluegel.
Framed (2017)
Very low budget splatter with lots of gore , blood and cutting edge scenes
Ostensibly this "Framed" is about our obsession with being liked, followed, made to go viral, and it explores that territory through a new live "streaming app" called Framed . It's a controversial app because it doesn't exist censor what its users stream, so all the usual intended banalities are quickly supplanted by amateur porn, instigated violence and over-the-top antics like the extreme images .The film begins as it means to go on, with the first murder on Framed. A couple of wannabe megastars interrupt an old businessman and his lover having sex in his car and then things go wrong .
This adrenalitic story isn't new, even though it tries to be some entertaining with usual grisly killings and gory scenes when some criminals make the work and they film it . The bulk of the film follows their magnum opus, 'Amusement in Somebody Else's House', which is roughly what you might expect if you have a twisted mind , but probably taken just a little further still. At a home a group of young people being attacked by three youngsters carrying out a criminal spree . Cruel games and tortures will be broadcast in live streaming. This embarrassing debut feature has some elements that distinguish it from others slashers : unconsciousness , excess of will and the particularity on the app broadcasting . Ingredients that, regardless of their use, make it a little bit more interesting than other stories in the same genre . 'Framed', the first film by the Catalan Marc Martínez Jordan, takes the wrong step in a claustrophobic ambient . Unconscious in his use of dumb humor, of gore, of raising a high body-count in terms of each set-piece of violence that follows the previous one . And excess, of will, of referents or of pretensions, which somewhat blur the simple story that it could have been much better via adequate dialogues on its protagonists. In that sense, 'Framed' works better in its jokes , antics and frolics . In exchange, there's a charming running-gag with the handsome man in the film, or the demonstration that the cannibal drug is an absolutely valid cinematographic resource. Our starring still wants to be remembered and he's just as dedicated to that endgame. He plans well, for the most part, and he follows through all the dangerous way. What he adds to the idea is the fact that he's broadcasting his acts live from the camera strapped to his chest and alongside his odd accomplice , who's a man dressed as a girl , and even his next victims, trapped in the house, are watching him from their cellphones.
But the movie is really imperfect and full of edge frames with non-sense .'Framed' is a good set of ideas executed with very bad taste that you need to channel your hatred for any fashionable youtuber. An extreme hooliganism that when it decides to park its content, exploits its continent in the manner of the craziest North American mumblegore : slow-motion, hyperviolence, acidity and the desire to explore the usual genres with what today offers .However, there's so much energy and so much dark imagination that it's hard not to be carried along with this picture. One particularly subversive note is that the most magnetic character is 'Invasor 1', the mad maestro of this twisted tale of torture and torment. Àlex Maruny is really excessive and twisted in this role and he plays it like Jared Leto should have played the Joker . His victims are varied and not unlikeable but they fade in his presence and we find ourselves, if not rooting for the villain, at least wanting to see what he's going to come up with next. We want to watch his trainwreck just like the audience that's tuning in. Alex meets his friends before leaving to work abroad. During the course of the evening, they will be attacked by three strange individuals whose sole objective will be to impose twisted mortal games on the guests while they broadcast it on streaming, thus making torture and death a viral spectacle. The motion picture is badly played by unknown actors , though some of them have performed secondaries in some films , such as : Enric Auquer , Daniel Horvath, Joe Manjón, Àlex Maruny, Biel Montoro, Ann Perelló . Being lousily directed by Marc Martínez Jordan in his film debut . He previously made Shorts . Rating : 4/10. Below average.
Hamilton: Men inte om det gäller din dotter (2012)
Sweden production with plenty of action , violence and spectacular action scenes mostly shot in Spain
This is an adaptation from popular novels about Carl Hamilton and his assignments for Swedish government , filmed with high budget and Swedish players. This Sweden production stars Hamilton , a tough action hero , being one-faced agent who'll stop at nothing to get his purports and at whatever cost , including grisly killings in cold blood . It begins when Swedish intelligence agent Carl Hamilton (Mikael Persbrandt) gets busy when is assigned the dangerous mission to chase a group of Soviet rebels intend to smuggle powerful Swedish weapons. Carl and his colleague must risk life and limb to stop the gunrunners . Meanwhile , the chief of Swedish Security Agency Eva Tanguy (Frida Hallgren) avoids an assassination of a political leader that is visiting Sweden, resulting in fateful consequences , including a kidnap .Then , Hamilton goes Beirut to meet the Lybian agent Mouna Al Fathar (Seba Mubarak) and after in the desert where encounters the baddies's base . A little hostage is kidnapped and locked at an Arabian castle but cold and two-fisted Hamilton goes on the attack on the headquarter . Special agent Hamilton learns that he will get no help from the Swedish secret services.
This is an impressing Action-Movie from Sweden , the film displays suspense , action-packed , thriller , violent fights and is quite entertaining . A well done Swedish Action-Flic in old style , this "Hamilton 2" is a very entertaining and action-packed with full of suspense and violence . Mikael Persbrandt is nearly as good as other Hamiltons previously performed by Stellan Skarsgard and Peter Stormare . Here Hamilton/Mikael Persbrandt is forced to play by his own rules when his goddaughter is kidnapped by terrorists . Based on the novels by Jan Guillou , but the books are in fact better because of the many details given about the different secret services and political conspirations . It keeps the audience reminded of the fact that good & evil deeds depends on whom you are pulling for . A very different hero , who isn't a posterboy , but somebody you could easily mistake for a crook by his emaciated outer appearance . The picture in itself explores the difficult feelings of a relentless agent whose methods may be ugly , if even horrible and more or less suffering from previous family assassinations and a girlfriend. It's action with a nice twist , making it agreeable and interesting enough. The highlights of the film are the impressive beginning when a convoy is assaulted and a breathtaking final attack with fighting , pursuits and explosions . This is an acceptable sequel but it really lacks Guillou's humor and political commentary witch makes the movie seem a little monotone at times . It displays a colorful cinematography shot in Spanish exteriors , such as : La Calahorra, Castle La Calahorra, La Calahorra , Granada, Andalucía, Almeria, Andalucia, Spain, London, England, UK , Stockholms län, Sweden.
This is the sequel of "Hamilton I" (2012) by Kathrine Windfeld with Mikael Persbrandt , Saba Mubarak , Pernilla August , Jason Flemyng , in which Hamilton reunites a command formed by five tough soldiers , they are parachuted into Russian tundra where meet the smugglers and a missile SS,20, 1,5 megatons ."Codename Coq Rouge" 1989 by Per Berglund with Stella Skarsgard . "The Democratic Terrorist" 1992 by Per Berglund with Stellan Skarsgard . "Comando Hamilton" 1998 by Harald Zwart with Peter Stormare , Mark Hamill , Lena Olin. "Hamilton" (2001-2001) TV series , 4 episodes with Peter Stormare , Terry Carter ,among others .
Redeeming Love (2022)
A sensitive and powerful story of relentless love with riveting performances
A stirring and extremely romantic movie set in California during the Gold Rush , the film follows Angela (Abigail Cowan) , a girl who has been forced into prostitution since she was a child. So hapless Angela knows nothing but betrayal . She works at a brothel for the Duchess (Famke Janssen) , at the same time being unmercilessly chased by a nasty pimp nicknamed the Duke (Eric Dane) . One day she meets Michael (Tom Lewis) , a simple farmer who believes deeply in God and he wants to make her his wife. Can her heart ever be mended? Redeeming Love shows there is no brokenness that love can't heal !. Choose the life you want !.
This is a notable and brooding film set in the California Gold Rush of 1850 with an interesting love story , emotion , thrills and several touching scenes . Based upon the fascinating and bestselling novel by writer Francine Rivers who wrote the script too . It is a powerful story supposedly inspired by the Old Testament story of the prophet Hosea and his wife , dealing with a relentless love and perseverance as a young couple's relationship clashes with the harsh reality. A good character studio starred by the young sufferer Angela who was forced into prostitution as a child so that she lives feeling hatred towards herself , and towards the men who use her ; she is convinced that nothing good will come out of that marriage , but due to the terrible circumstances in which she lives , however, it makes accept the proposal from a humble but obstinate farmer . The film shows that there is no wound that love cannot heal . This life-changing tale of the power of unconditional and all-consuming love being stunningly played by a sensational couple : Abigail Cowan and Tom Lewis , giving attractive interpretation . They're finely assisted by a splendid support cast , such as : Eric Dane , Famke Janssen ,Logan Marshall-Green , Livi Birch and Nina Dobrev .
It displays a gorgeous and colorful cinematography by cameraman Rogier Stoffers . As well as a rousing and evocative musical score by composers Brian Tyler and Breton Vivian. This moving picture was stunningly and professionally directed by D. J. Caruso . He is a good craftsman whose films often have intense car crashes , and he has directed successful films , such as : Taking lives (2004) , Disturbia (2007), The Eagle eye (2008) , XXX Reactivated (2017) , and Shut in (2022) . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average . Essential and indispensable seeing for its touching scenes , thought-provoking message and enjoyable actors.
Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
Fun film about a group of sympathetic teens face one potentially nightmarish situation after another
A babysitte r,17-year-old Chris (Elizabeth Shue), leaves peaceful suburbia for downtown Chicago to rescue a friend (Penelope Ann Miller) in trouble , as the latter is stranded in the bus station in Chicago . But Chris must battle her way through the big city after being also stranded there with three kids : Sarah (Maia Brewton), Brad (Keith Coogan) , Daryl (Anthony Rapp) . After a a flat tire strands them on the freeway , problem takes on a new meaning. A lifetime of fun in just one night !. She thought babysitting was easy money - until she started hanging out with the Andersons !.
A bemusing and funny movie with lots of entertainment and diversion ; ludicrous at times , but still fun to watch. The central issue is how the teens encounter risked situations along the way and all kinds of strange and dangerous people, including a batty lorry driver , gangsters , henchmen or prostitutes . Pleasant comedy has its moments here and there when a babysitter and her charges leave peaceful suburbia for downtown Chicago to rescue a friend in problem , as our starring Chris sets off a rescue mission , and ends up running the gauntlet of big city perils in a belaboured spinning-out of a weak storyline . It results to be a sort of ¨Martin Scorsese's After Hours¨ for the teen crowd , this is a surprisingly entertaining movie in which a young girl accepts a baby-sitting assignment in the ¨Twilight Zone¨, though Chris doesn't really enter another dimension , it just seems like it after she gets a call from a runaway girlfriend who's stranded in the bus station. Since this is an action comedy , things never become too violent , neither frightening , but amusing and there are a number of comical moments , favorite being a set piece in a blues club presided over by superguitarist Albert Collins , while the group being pursued by the henchmen . Star Elizabeth Shue is very attractive as the hapless sitter , unexpectedly dateless , who finds herself doing a lot more than just waching the children finely played Maia Brewton, Keith Coogan and Anthony Rapp. Along with a lot of familar faces , such as : Vincent D'Onofrio , Penelope Ann Miller , George Newbern , Bradley Whitford , Ron Canada and John Davis Chandler.
If this family fodder is functional , it's due largerly to its musical score by composer Michael Kamen , production design by Todd Hallowell , Art Direction by Barbara Dunphy , photography by Ric Waite which endow the city of Chicago with an effectively menacing as well as charming aspect . The motion picture was competently directed by Chris Columbus . At the beggining his long career Columbus wrote "Gremlins", with no success, until Steven Spielberg optioned it; Columbus moved to Los Angeles for a year during rewrites on the project in Spielberg's bungalow at Universal. After writing two more scripts for Spielberg, "The Goonies" and "Young Sherlock Holmes", Columbus' own directing career was launched a few years later with "Adventures in Babysitting". He is best known to audiences as the director of the runaway hit "Home Alone", written and produced by John Hughes its sequel "Home Alone 2", "Mrs. Doubtfire" and most recently ¨Pixels¨, among others . Rating : 6.5/10. Worthwhile watching.
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
Acceptable but flawed sequel with lots of action , chills, thrills and screams
The epic conclusion of the Jurassic era is set some years later the destruction of Isla Nublar , Biosyn operatives run by owner Lewis Dodgson (Campbell Scott) attempt to track down Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) , while Dr Ellie Sattler (laura Dern) investigates a genetically engineered swarm of giant insects. After demise of the island , Owen Grady and Claire Dearing took in young Maisie Lockwood. They've been living under the radar to protect Maisie, but she feels like a prisoner . When Maisie goes missing , Owen (Chris Pratt , former Jurassic Park manager) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard , the previous founder of the Dinosaur Protection Group) set out to find her . Paleobotanist Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) , Paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) , and Chaotician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Glodblum) set out to help them . Once again to save the Jurassic Dinosaurs and other colosal carnivorous unwisely cloned from extinction when the location where they live. Life finds a way . The park is gone . Off the island . Into your home . The next stage of evolution. T all started here.
Passable sequel with noisy action , thrills , chills and impressive special effects. This is a decent and amusing sequel , following the original premises of the Franchise created by Michael Chricton and Steven Spielberg , being written by Derek Connolly, Emily Carmichael and director Colin Trevorrow himself . As usual, here appears the ordinary monsters such as Brontosaurius , Triceratops , Gigantosaurius , the smaller but more intelligent flesh-eaters Velociraptors , Tyrannosaurus Rex, and other new astonishing creatures with special bloody skills . Basically, the plot is a pretext to allow the roles to be pursued through lush jungles in the fantastic location , as well as a breathtaking confrontation in the Byosin company . The plot line is simplistic , though it has some twists , and so various characters are predictable , but it is a good entertainment . Along with duo starring Bryce Dallas Howard , Chris Pratt appear accompanied by nice actors , this time the cast is better than previous entries , such as : Laura Dern , Sam Neill , Jeff Goldblum , DeWanda Wise , Mamoudou Athie , Isabella Sermon , Campbell Scott , BD Wong, Omar Sy and , of course, Jeff Goldblum.
It packs a colorful and brilliant cinematography by cameraman John Schwartzman . As well as vibrant and rousing musical score by Michael Giacchino , including the classic Jurassic sounds from John Williams .The picture was professionally written and directed by filmmaker Colin Trevorrow . This quickly became one of the largest grossing in the year because it gives audiences exactamente what they want , only more so . Trevorrow is a fine craftsman , he wrote and directed "Home Base" that became one of the early viral successes on the internet. His first feature film was the succesful "Safety Not Guaranteed" and following Jurassic World (2015) and The Book of Henry (2017). Rating : 5.5/10. Acceptable and passable.
The Jurassic Franchise is formed by the following installments : ¨Jurassic Park¨ (1993) with Sam Neill, Laura Dern , Bob Peck, Richard Attemborough , Joseph Mazzelo, D. B Wong , Ariana Richards. ¨The Lost World Jurassic Park¨ (1997) with Jeff Goldblum , Julianne Moore, Pete Postlewaite , Richard Attemborough . ¨Jurassic Park III¨ by Joel Johnson with Sam Neill, William H Macy, Tea Leoni, Michael Jeter , John Diehl, Bruce A. Young . ¨Jurassic World¨ (2015) by Colin Trevorrow with Chis Pratt , Bryce Dallas Howard , Vincent D'Onofrio, Omar Sy , Judy Greer , BD Wong . ¨Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom¨ (2018) by J. A. Bayona with Chris Pratt , Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall, Daniella Pineda, James Cromwell, Toby Jones. ¨Jurassic world : Dominion¨ (2020) with Bryce Dallas Howard , Chris Pratt and TV series Jurassic World : Camp Cretaceous (2020-2022) , 49 episodes , with Paul Williams, Jenna Ortega, Glenn Powell.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
Fun and frenzied rendition of Broadway musical and amusingly set in ancient Rome
Satirical fantastic comedy with a great cast of British/American actors , such as Mostel , Gilford and Silvers , all of them giving terrific performances and showing their particular talents . A bawdy Broadway farce set in ancient Rome where a conniving, scheming slave (Zero Mostel) plots his way to freedom by aiding in the romantic escapades of his master's (Michael Hordern) inept son (Michael Crawford) . Something for Everyone!
Ancient Rome is the setting for this fast-paced and funny musical comedy . This is a bemusing and entertaining comedy with a great Brit and American cast , such as : Zero Mostel who steals the show as a conniving and cunning slave , Phil Silvers , Michael Crawford, Jack Gilford , Michael Hordern , all of them playing sympathetic characters . It's a pretty amusing parody with these masters of the interpretation who display efficiently their abilities. Picture is a vehicle of these stunning actors , they are authentic comical players and real farceurs . Shot in big budget in Samuel Bronston studios in Madrid surroundings by using some sets , props and atrezzo leftover from ¨Nicholas Ray's The fall of the Roman Empire¨ . It attempts too hard and comes off forced at times. Still with great comic cast in which Zero Mostel plays an insane slave , never-ending source of zany plots to gain his freedom and line his toga with loot . He is ably assisted by Phil Silvers, Michael Crawford , Jack Gilford , Michael Hordern in this bawdy romp through classic times. And other nice secondaries as Leon Greene, Pamela Brown , Patricia Jessel , Annette Andre , Leon Greene. And look for cameos and other secondaries appearances from Buster Keaton's second-to-last film role , Frank Thornton , Alfie Bass , Ingrid Pitt and Roy Kinnear as Gladiator Instructor.
Catching musical score by Stephen Sondheim with plenty of attractive songs . The Oscar winning soundtrack includes such highlights as ¨Comedy Tonight¨ , ¨Everybody ought to have a maid¨ , and self-spoof ¨Lovely¨ is a highlight . It displays colorful cinematography in Technicolor by cameraman Nicholas Roeg , subsequently a prestigious filmmaker. And nicely set in several Spanish locations, such as : Roman Aqueduct of Segovia, Valsain, Segovia, Avila , Castilla y León , Casa de Campo, Madrid, La Pedriza, Manzanares el Real, Madrid. This well-edited motion picture was compellingly directed by Richard Lester in one of his usual forays into the comedy genre . He reigned supreme as one of the greatest filmmakers of 60s , 70s and 80s , achieving an important cult popularity. Efficiently written/produced by Melvin Frank and compellingly directed by Richard Lester, providing attractive images in its own right , being filmed in his peculiar style coupled with typical surrealist comic touches . As the director's visual style is as witty and strong as always . At the beginning Lester directed various Beatles vehicles and subsequently made known comedies : ¨The knack¨ , a satire : ¨The bed sitting room¨ and a drama : ¨Petulia¨ . He got a big success with ¨The Three Musketeers¨ (1973), which he shot simultaneously with ¨The Four musketeers¨ (1974) for producer Ilya Salkind , resurrected his career . When the Salkinds (Ilya and his father Alexander Salkind) were in the midst of filming ¨Superman¨ (1978) simultaneously with its sequel, Lester was hired as a supervising producer, then took over the filming of the sequel, ¨Superman II¨ (1980), when original director Richard Donner was fired . The sequel was a financial and critical success , and he was hired to direct the far-less successful ¨Superman III¨ (1983) . At the end of the 1980s, Lester returned to the storyline that had revitalized his career back in the early 1970s , filming a second sequel to "The Three Musketeers" titled : ¨The return of the musketeers¨. Rating : 6.5/10 . Decent and acceptable musical comedy with splendid actors . If you like their crazy interpretations , you will most definitely enjoy this one.
Adú (2020)
Pretty good film , compellingly made , with intense drama , impressive scenes and masterfully played
A well performed film regarding several stories interweave in Africa and Spain, involving a collection of inter-related characters . Three people, three stories, one thing in common: Africa . Three heartbreaking stories come together in Melilla: a child on a desperate journey, a father (Luis Tosar) who finds himself with his estranged daughter (Anna Castillo) and a group of civil guards prepare to face the furious crowd of sub-Saharan people who have begun the assault on the fence , and then a civil guard (Alvaro Cervantes) is eaten away by guilt.
An intertwined and complex drama , being stunning and compellingly directed , dealing with three stories linked by a central theme, in which none of its protagonists know their destinies are doomed to cross and that their lives will no longer be the same. A well paced movie with nice narrating structure taken from prestigious directors as Alejandro G. Iñárritu , Guillermo Arriaga , Steven Soderbergh , being professionally made . There's so much going for this movie with vastly separate lives colliding in interweaving stories of despair, escape , a journey to a better life, knowledge and redemption , being well written by notorious screenwriter Alejandro Hernández. The performances are all terrific , while director Salvador Calvo seemingly effortless mastery of his medium goes from strength to strength , in whic stories cross and collide. Steering us through a densely detailed storyline with a clear-eyed sense of purpose and balance , including a handful of desperate people's lives eventually interlacing themselves . Filmmaker Calvo used three different film stocks , each with their own color treatment and grain for the print , with a hand-held camera at times , contributing gritty reportage-style camerawork to enhance an aura of authenticity . Interpreations are uniformly good : Luis Tosar as an environmental activist , his daughter finely played by Anna Castillo and Alvaro Cervantes as a Civil Guard with the task to protect the barb wire which divides the city of the rest of Africa to avoid the entering of African immigrants. And the two children are desperately fleeing, they are also very good. Furthermore , other stunning secondaries as Miquel Fernández, Nora Navas , Jesús Carroza , Ana Wagener and Belén López .
It contains a colorful cinematography shot on several locations in Republic of Benin, Lorca, Murcia, Mazarrón, Murcia , La Manga del Mar Menor, Cartagena, Murcia, Melilla, Parque de Atracciones, Madrid , Spain and Morocco. As well as evocative and stirring musical score by Roque Baños. The motion picture was competently directed by Salvador Calvo. This craftsman Salvador Calvo has made successful TV Series and episodes such as ¨Lo Que Escondían Sus Ojos¨ , ¨Mario Conde¨ , ¨La Duquesa¨ , ¨Askrana¨ , ¨Paquirri¨ , ¨Cuentame Un Cuento¨ , and has directed for cinema the hit ¨Los Ultimos De Filipinas¨ . Rating : 7.5/10 . Notable . Worthwhile watching.
Billy Liar (1963)
Fine interpretation in a flick about a lazy young man who escapes into fantasy world
An entertaining adaptation about a meek young man called Billy Fisher (Tom Courtenay) .He is an ambitious but slacker young who lives an unusual secret fantasy life. Henpecked by his fiancees and family (Wilfred Pickles, Mona Washbourne, Ethel Griffies) and being really questioned by his employer, Mr Shadrack (Leonard Rossiter) he flees his trouble life with dreams . He then flirts with a new cute girl (Julie Christie) , but the chaos continues when suffers the pangs of conscience and extreme imagination. As the young Englishman dreams of escaping from his working class family and dead-end job as an undertaker's assistant . One guy... three girls... one ring!
Poignant slices of English middle-class life are served expertly in this nicely performed story of a lazy young man who escapes dulling routine by retreating into fantasy . It contains parallels James Thurber's story ¨The secret life of Walter Mitty¨. This is an engaging and brooding story offering some intelligent vignettes of middle-class life with comedian touches. Based on Keith Waterhouse novel and play , scripted by Waterhouse himself and Willis Hall who also cowrote stage version. Stars Tom Courtenay giving a terrific acting as Billy Liar who's continuously chased by his two girlfriends , the sweet and virginal Barbara : Helen Fraser and the rough and ready Rita : Gwendolyn Watts. This agreeable comedy that holds your interest throughout, certainly is worth watch seeing for Julie Christie's brilliant, credible performance. The twenty minutes Julie Christie is on-screen are electric and worth movie. Support cast excels with stunning British actors , such as : Finlay Currie , George Innes, Mona Washbourne, Wilfred Pickles , Ethel Griffies and the always great Leinard Rossiter.
It displays evocative cinematography in black and white and CinemaScope by cameraman Denys Coop . The motion picture was well directed by John Schelsinger , at the time one of the main creators of the British Free Cinema . His first one was a 1960 documentary, Terminus (1961), which was sponsored by British-Transport, won him a British Academy Award and the Gold Lion at the Venice Film Festival. He made the transition to feature films in 1962, with the "kitchen sink" drama A kind of loving (1962), which got him noticed on both sides of the Atlantic. His next film, the Northern comedy Billy, liar (1963), was a success and began his association with actress Julie Christie, who had a memorable turn in the film. Christie won the Best Actress Academy Award and international superstardom and Schlesinger his first Oscar nomination as Best Director with his next film, the watershed Darling (1965), which dissected Swinging London. Subsequently, Schlesinger and Christie collaborated on Far from the madding crowd (1967), an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic novel, in 1967. The movie was not a success with critics or at the box office at the time, though its stature has grown over time. Schelinger was a drama's (Far from the madding crowd , Day of Locust, Yanks, Midnight cowboy) expert and suspense (Believers , eye for eye , The innocents , Falcon and snowman) movies. Rating : 6.5/10.
Goosebumps (2015)
Fantasy and imagination with special effects galore
A film based on the children's books by R. L. Stine . Amusing and breathtaking terror adventure in which a teenager teams up with the daughter of young-adult horror author R. L. Stine after the writer's imaginary demons are set free . Then one night various fantastic characters appearing here and there and plenty of magical beings on the town of Madison, Delaware . Zach (Dylan Minnette) , Hannah (Odeya Rush) along with her father (Jack Black) and underdog Champ (Ryan Lee) confront several fantastic adventures, dangers and risks. The stories are alive !. You will believe in monsters !. Hiding In A Cave of Darkness Lives Your Worst Nightmare! Viewer, Beware! You're In For A Scare! .Not Seeing Is Beliving! Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Every Dummy Has It's Day...And His Night!
This exciting motion picture displays derring-do adventure, frightening scenes , romance , fairy tale ,and spectacular frames with phenomenal production design. The flick gets lots of bombastic special effects including supernatural apparitions, legendary monsters and numerous images have you on the edge of your seat. The picture covers many different types of scary monsters, including a dummy , ghosts , giant creatures, killer goblins , snowman , praying mantis , gorilla , werewolf , zombies, and much more , created by R. L. Stine who has a special talent to bring personages out of books . Riveting set pieces illuminate the full-blown adventures blending action , horror , fantasy and suspense and it turns out to be extremely amusing . Stimulating adventures of our protagonists are complemented by an impressive final attraction with incredible appearances of overwhelming ominous monsters . Casting is frankly well , Dylan Minnette as impetuous young hero, the beautiful teen Odeya Rush , Jack Black plays magnificently two roles : Stine/voice of Slappy and special mention for Ryan Lee as a shameful and cowardly novice student and Amy Ryan as Zach's mother , and brief appearance of R. L. Stine himself , among others. Its predent is ¨Goosebumps series¨ (1995-1998) , twelve episodes of scary anthology stories based on the children's books by R. L. Stine and hosted by R. L. Stine . The success and popularity of Stine's books and this series, saw two feature more in 2016 and 2018 and this Goosebumps in 2015.
The movie packs a sensational production design accompanied by a glamorous cinematography by cameraman Javier Aguirresarobe filmed on location in Conyers, Gainesville, Marietta , Madison , Georgia, including a mesmerizing photography with wonderful , marvelous landscapes ,although there are excessive night scenes. Emotive and lively soundtrack appropriately adequate to fantasy by Danny Elffman . The picture was brilliantly directed by Rob Letterman . He's a good writer, producer and director, who gas achieved big time with this Goosebumps . Rob Letterman is especially known for Monsters vs Aliens (2009), Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019) and Shark Tale (2004). Rating : 7/10 . Better than average .
Mayores con reparos (1967)
Stagy and overtalking comedy well acted and slightly directed by Fernando Fernán Gómez
This theatrical movie based on a play by Juan José Alonso Millán deals with Pepita, Patricia and Estrella are three young women who have two things in common : their weakness for men and the cabaret where they work. The beautiful girls are more than just prostitutes and the customers require their services have the opportunity to meet them in the solitude of their apartments .The character of each of them, however, is very different . Pepita is apparently very naive , Patricia is a married woman who suffers frequent bouts of melancholy when she is alone , and Estrella is the craziest and funniest of the three. Three regular customers , Fernando, Miguel and Manolo , have also set themselves a common goal : to flirt with the three girls . But, what at first glance seems easy to achieve, will be more complicated than it seems.
Three independent episodes that have in common presenting the relationship between various hostess girls and their peculiar male customers . Dealing with three male roles , amusingly by Fernando Fernán Gómez himself ,w ho are provincial men going to the cabaret El Sultán, in Madrid , in search of the company of their three hostess girls , all of them well played by the sympathetic Analia Gadé . Developing their peculiar relationships at their apartments and showing the dimension as human beings emerging on them . With many influences from the Italian comedy at the time, which developed these sketch stories endlessly, the film is professionally directed and starred by Fernando Fernán Gómez , alongside his partner at the time, Argentina's Analia Gadé. The title refers to one of the moral qualifications of shows , with which the Catholic Church punctuated movies and plays. ¨Mayores con reparos¨ or ¨Majors with concerns¨, it was immediately before "Seriously Dangerous" the worst of all.
This likable film is accompanied by a lively musical score by Pedro Iturralde , including catching sons , such as : Los brazos de la noche performed by Tito Mora ; El porrompompero written by Xandro Valerio , Juan Solano sung by Analía Gadé ; Noche de farra by Fernando Fernán Gómez and Pedro Iturralde performed by Analía Gadé ; La chica ye-yé music by Augusto Algueró sung by Analía Gadé ; No quiero by Lupa-Godiaz, performed by Tito Mora. The motion picture was acceptably directed by Fernando Fernán Gómez , though it has some flaws , gaps , shortcomings and developing only in the cabaret and floor . Prestigious writer/director/actor Fernán Gómez appeared in more than 200 films , directed another 20 and wrote novels , plays and poetry . He was a member of the Spanish Royal Academy and one of the best actors in the film history . Along with Icíar Bollaín , he's the only person to have been nominated as performer (El Abuelo (1998), director (El Viaje a Ninguna Parte (1986) and writer (Lázaro De Tormes (2001) for three different movies at the Goya awards . He actually won in every category at least once . This prolific and important actor also directed a few films , such as : ¨Lazaro De Tormes¨ , ¨Fuera De Juego ¨, ¨Mambrú Se Fue a La Guerra¨ , ¨5 Tenedores¨ , ¨5.000 Dias Juntos¨ , ¨Ninette¨ , ¨Venganza De Don Mendo¨ , ¨El Extraño Viaje¨ that is today deemed a real ¨Cult Movie¨ and , of course , his greatest success ¨Viaje a Ninguna Parte¨ . Rating : 5.5/10 . Passable.
Stromboli (Terra di Dio) (1950)
Classic melodrama about a refugee who marries an Italian fisherman in order to escape from his displaced camp
This vintage melodrama was even greater off-screen than on, this is the film which introduced Bergman and Rosselini and began their scandalous affair. The beautiful Karin (Ingrid Bergman) , a young woman from North Europe countries, living in an Italian refugee camp in 1948, marries fisherman Antonio (Mario Vitale) , a resident of the men's camp , to escape from a prison camp and they soon head for his home village, Stromboli. But she cannot get used to the tough life in Antonio's volcano-threatened village, Stromboli. Raging Island...Raging Passions !. This is It!. A Volcano of Emotion!
A thoughtful and brooding drama about a love story that goes wrong . It deals with isolation , loneliness and tradition against modern life . Depicting rural habits in a far place where population lives in poor and unfortunate conditions .The best scenes deal with the village life located on a remote island at the foot of an active volcano , photographed in neo-realist style and detailing the hardships and the way of existence of the fishermen and villagers . There stands out the enjoyable Ingrid Bergman giving very good acting as wife who's brought by her new husband to his home island of Stromboli where she finds the life bleak and isolated and and her marriage a trial .Roberto Rossellini and his future wife Ingrid Bergman met for the first time while making this movie . Rossellini had a celebrated, adulterous affair with Ingrid Bergman that was an international scandal. They became lovers on the set of Stromboli (1950) while both were married to other people and Bergman became pregnant. After they shed their spouses and married, producing three children, history repeated itself when Rossellini cheated on her with the Indian screenwriter Sonali Senroy DasGupta while he was in India at the request of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to help revitalize that country's film industry. It touched off another international scandal, and Nehru ousted him from the country. Rossellini later divorced Bergman to marry Das Gupta, legitimizing their child that had been born out-of-wedlock.
The motion picture was well directed by Roberto Rosselini who worked with no written script but a handful of personal notes. Rossellini produced his first classic film, the anti-fascist Roma, ciudad abierta (1945) ("Rome, Open City") in 1945, which won the Grand Prize at Cannes. Two other neo-realist classics soon followed, Paisà (1946) ("Paisan") and Alemania, año cero (1948) ("Germany in the Year Zero"). "Rome, Open City" screenwriters Sergio Amidei and Federico Fellini were nominated for a Best Writing, Screenplay Oscar in 1947, while Rossellini himself, along with Amidei, Fellini and two others were nominated for a screen-writing Oscar in 1950 for "Paisan". Rating : 7/10 . Better than average. Essential and indispensable watching for Ingrid Bergman fans.
Cinco lobitos (2022)
An acceptable family drama but dull as well as slowing paced and with very good acting
¨Cinco lobitos¨ is an overtalking and dramatic film directed by the Biscayan filmmaker Alauda Ruiz de Azúa in 2022. A women's film to reflect on motherhood in both directions , it deals with Maia (Laia Costa) , who has just become a mother . It turns out that Amaia is a 35-year-old woman who has just had her first child. In the first weeks, her partner and her parents help her . But soon her parents leave and her partner has to be absent for work reasons. Overwhelmed by the incessant task of being her mother, Amaia decides to go to her parents' house , in a town on the Basque coast. Then the world collapses on her because the baby cries , and, at one point, her boyfriend (Bustamante) has to go to earn his wages , because there is something to eat that's why he's going to work abroad. Amaia has just given birth and leaves the hospital with her mother Begoña (Susi Sanchez) . She is a new mother , and , for the first time , she realizes the changes that this new baby is going to bring. She decides to return to her parents' (Ramón Barea , Susi Sánchez) house along the Basque coast home for guidance , after her partner is temporarily away. So that Begoña and Koldo can help her take care of the girl , but then things go wrong.
This brooding and some claustrophobic picture concerns the motherhood and family relationships , being stunningly played by a splendid team of actors : Laia Costa , Susi Sánchez , Ramón Barea and Mikel Bustamante. This fact itself makes me curious enough to downplay the ordinary topics and to not be distracted . The movie has the ability to show being a mother, being a daughter , being a grandmother, being a wife, being a lover, in addition to motherhood in both directions , the change of identities within the family structure ; it also raises how is shared functions in the family unit , the way of being of those men who do not find out about the "needs of those who live together", whether they are older and old-fashioned or young or restless entrepreneurs and to add problems the grandmother falls ill and the roles are then reversed . However , what happens after the first half hour, results to be quite tiring , everything is starting to be tiresome for me : the cliché Basque grandmother, the cliché desperate mother , the cliché non-existent father more than absent and the cliché of an annoying baby continuously crying . The director intends to provide a close look at motherhood, but rather she has done a peculiar sight at the perpetual infantilism of millennials who cannot take on the life difficulties .
Here stands out the colorful cinematography by cameraman Jon D. Domínguez shot on location in Bakio, Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain , Bilbao, Mundaka, Bizkaia , Spain and Madrid . Cinco Lobitos was middlingly directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa in his film debut , as she previously made Shorts . It won the Biznaga de Oro for Best Spanish Film at the Malaga Film Festival, and its director won the Best Script Award. The actresses Laia Costa and Susi Sánchez, both co-stars, also received the 'ex aequo' award for Best Actress. Rating : 5/10. Average.
Don't Breathe (2016)
Thrilling ¨Home invasion¨ story , resulting in unexpected consequences because in the dark a blind is king
¨Home Invasion¨ movie about three hooded burglars who agree to take part a supposedly easy robbery . Nail-biting and bleak thriller with high doses of violence , suspense and unsettling scenes . The robbers are the following ones : Rocky (Jane Levy) , Alex (Dylan Minnette) and Money (Daniel Zovatto) to carry out the robbery , as they burst into a gated home owned by a wealthy blind man (Stephen Lang) who isn't as helpless as he seems . The three move in , three burglars turn up expecting a clear run . So the blind man turns out to be a more ruthless adversary than he seems ; then things go wrong and don't go as planned . Soon after, the group must find a way to escape his home before they become his latest victims. Little do they know of the blind man's capabilities and hidden secret within the home, as they must find a way out of the house alive, in the dark. The invaders are besieged and terrorized by the psycho-killer owner and they then look for some means to escape at whatever cost .This house looked like an easy target !. Until they found what was inside ! . Hoping to walk away with a massive fortune, a trio of thieves break into the house of a blind man !
This is a violent picture about three hooded delinquents trespass into a mansion , holding a strong confrontation in the dark home , packing shocks , die hard scenario , grisly killings , suspense and with unexpected discoveries will come to light , emerging twists and turns , at the worst possible time. The film contains a claustrophobic atmosphere , hair-raising frames about three Detroit thieves look to rob a blind man's house with a major cash settlement . As a trio delinquents are about to face the worst night of their lives on the outskirts of a big city looking for easy money . Never averse to glistening darkness , meaty methaphor or grandilocuent technical display in interiors , director Fede Alvarez is also surprisingly at home with hokum . Stars Jane Levy as Rocky, a young woman wanting to begin a better life for her and her sister, Daniel Zovatto as her boyfriend and Dylan Minette as the most intelligent and cunning of the three delinquents. Special mention for Stephen Lang who's terrific as the blind owner who chases , mistreats and harasses the unexpected invaders . Fede Alvarez handles the contours of the script as smoothly as the camera passes throught rooms , basement , plumbling and keyholes , while starring Jane Levy ably conveys the tight-lipped anxiety , resourceful and lithe strength . This attractive story belongs to ¨home invasion¨ sub-genre , being filmed in similar naturalist and realist style to ¨Michael Hanake's Funny Games¨, ¨Secuestrados¨ by Miguel Angel Vivas , Enric Alberich's ¨Transgression¨ and especially ¨Trespass¨ (2011) by Joel Schumacher with Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman . It's also a tight , very efficient reworking of women-in-peril motifs , notably from ¨Terence Young's Wait until dark¨ with a number of nods to Hitchkockian style . While the look is suitable eerie and frightening , the plot spreads to the breaking point and the ending turns out to be a little frustrating .
Original Musical score by Roque Baños plenty of eerie and screeching sounds . Shading and dark cinematography by cameraman Pedro Luque .This suspenseful and thrilling motion picture was competently and professionally directed by Fede Alvarez , though with no originality , similar to other fims from this peculiar sub-genre , but creating a rare and disturbing atmosphere . It's a strong film that had large impact, and achieve a lot of success . Fede is a good writer and producer and director , known for Evil Dead (2013) and Millennium: The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) II , and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (TV Series) and this Don't Breath (2016) , and wrote/produced the sequel : Don't Breath 2 (2021) by Rodo Sayagues . Rating : 7/10 . Above average.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
This exciting political paranoia thriller will appeal to Frank Sinatra fans .
Political thriller with memorable performances , intrigue , thrills and well realized by John Frankenheimer .This interesting film had a good remake : The Manchurian Candidate (2004) by Jonathan Demme . Thrilling and chilling film deals with Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra , in 2004 rendition played by Denzel Washington) , an intelligence officer in the U. S. Army . He served valiantly as a captain in the Korea war and his Sergeant , Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey , subsequently performed by Liev Schreiver) , even won the Medal of Honor. Marco has a major problem however, he has a recurring nightmare, one where two members of his squad are killed by Shaw. This Raymond Shaw is an insufferable man, who came back from the Korean War awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor . Shaw for his part eventually leaves the Army to start a job in New York City as the confidential assistant to well-respected political journalist Holborn Gaines (Lloyd Corrigan) and he has established himself well , despite the misgivings of his domineering mother , Mrs. Eleanor Shaw (Angela Lansbury , later acted by Meryl Streep). Along the way, Ben Marco has been having nightmares that lead him to believe that the circumstances that led to Raymond getting the medal are not true . However, Marco learns that another soldier (James Edwards , subsequently performed by Jeffrey Wright) from the platoon , has had the same nightmare .While his superiors don't think he knows what he is talking about, he is sent on leave . When he goes to see Raymond, he is arrested ,he aware that also has the same dream. When the officers learn of this they decide to give him a chance to find out what's going on . Some very powerful people appear desperate to stop him from finding out. Ben Marco have to face off an enemy with even more sinister designs .Everything is under control.....is anyone seeing the truth?. In this election everything is under control !. When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it! Once unbelievable. Now unthinkable. The chilling classic returns. If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won't know what it's all about! When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it!
Bold political thriller about the mind control of the prisoners Americans in Korea War dealing with experiments applied to soldiers to modify behavior patterns. The picture packs thrills , suspense , emotion , intrigue , plot twists and is quite entertaining. The film raises a disturbing theory well performed and slickly developed and it was re-released theatrically in 1987 .Top-notch acting from main cast as Frank Sinatra who gives a superbly controlled interpretation as a war veteran who begins to believe that the honored heroics of a former member of his squad may be the product of brainwashing . Frank Sinatra that only a year later surprised with the death of President Kennedy , directed John Frankenheimer a producer for its realization, appeared excited Frank Sinatra with a script of "The Manchurian Candidate," which could have a role as an officer of the bunch of prisoners Americans, Sinatra was formed as co-producer and introduced the idea before the president of "United Artists". And Laurence Harvey is pretty good as an unwitting assassin for an international Communist conspiracy.
Furthermore , a terrific support cast , such as : Janet Leigh, Henry Silva , James Gregory, Leslie Parrish , John McGiver, Khigh Dhiegh , James Edwards , Albert Paulsen , Barry Kelley and special mention for Angela Lansbury as mean mother who executes nasty machinations to promote her son's career , she has some moments of real brilliance . With an excellent script by George Axelrod and director Frankenheimer himself , based on a novel by Richard Condon and it has a splendid narrative rhythm. The motion picture was compellingly directed by John Frankenheimer . Rating : 7.5/10. Better than average. The movie leaves you feeling of having a good cinema.
Demonic (2021)
So-so , but watchable , supernatural horror film but with some failures , gaps and flaws
Demonic is a creepy and horror film about exorcism, professionally , though flawed , directed by Neill Blomkamp . This exorcism horror thriller deals with a young woman called Carly (Carly Pope) learns from her former childhood friend Martin that her estranged mother Angela (Nathalie Boltt) is in coma at a hospital and the doctors responsible for her treatment want to talk to her. As Dr. Michael calls her and plans a meeting with Carly on the next morning. She meets Dr. Michael (Michael Rogers) and his partner , Dr. Daniel (Terry Chan) , and they explain that they need her in an advanced treatment . She is under psychiatric care and controlled by screens and modern computers from the doctors , suffering from the effects of being possessed by the devil . The mother is examined and possession is suspected , this possession proves to be an ancient satanic force more powerful than ever imagined . Carly accepts to take part of the experiment, but she feels affected by Angela's mind and the doctors interrupt the investigation . Affected by the experiment, Carly tells her best friend (Chris William Martin) to find out the mysterious happenings . Resulting in a truly terrifiyng story following the ultimate battle between good and evil - God versus Satan . It's Not a Dream, It's Not Reality ! . For 2,000 years the Vatican has recorded evidence of evil !. May God have mercy on their souls !.
Average Horror picture shot in fits and starts with incoherent plot, dealing with a ghastly possession , as a woman is possessed by a malevolent and heinous spirit causing creepy , scary and terrible moments ; then , her daughter and other Vatican exorcists must do battle with an ancient satanic force to save the souls . Here the main novelty lies in using an Avatar to enter into a mind and learn how she is responding the treatment , leashing horrifying demons when supernatural forces at the root of a decades-old rift between mother and daughter are ruthlessly revealed . A rare film about exorcism in similar style to other Exorcist films , adding state-of-art special effects in Avatar style , but the Vatican crusaders are also called upon to exorcise the demon . This latter movie remains still startling and engrossing with every viewing, it spread countless sequels and imitations, one of them is this one, though , of course, it is far cry from the original Exorcist . Genuinely scary moments overcome some obvious plot devices . This is a juicy terrifying material fashioning an iconic diabolic possession , providing screams, thrills , shocks and chilling scenes . It has an extremely known premise spawns the film ups and downs. All semblance of plausibility is extra cted, leaving a main/support cast of little known actors : Carly Pope , Chris William Martin , Michael J Rogers , Nathalie Boltt , Terry Chen , Kandyse McClure deliver their incoherent lines.
It contains a scary and eerie ambient thanks to cameraman Byron Kopman . As well as a frightening , suspenseful and chilling musical score. This Horror movie was middlingly made by South African-Canadian film director and screenwriter Neill Blomkamp . His first and best movie was the successful District 9 , however , being his producer Peter Jackson with his companies Weta Workshorp and Weta Digital that stole the show by means of the breathtaking visual effects, creatures , makeup , Animatrix design make the film results to be a groundbreaking spectacle. Neill Blomkamp is a nice craftsman who is known for the science fiction films District 9 , Elysium and Chappie . He also directed the Demonic and the 2007 short film Halo: Landfall, based on the Microsoft science fiction video game franchise. Rating : 5/10 , mediocre .
El caso Almería (1984)
Court and law drama concerning some sad deeds happened in Almeria in which died three youngsters
Dramatic law thriller with suspense, plot twists , politics and infortunate events . At the beginning of the 1980s, Spanish democracy was far from consolidated and really harmed by assassinations committed by members of the terrorist organization Eta. The failed coup d'état of February 23, 1981 evidenced the discontent among some senior military commanders ("saber rattling") regarding the economic and political crisis that was devastating the country, together with the numerous attacks carried out by the Eta terrorist group against members of the Armed Forces, the National Police and the Civil Guard. In this sense, on May 7, 1981, the terrorist group Eta attacked Lieutenant General Joaquín de Valenzuela in Madrid, who at that time was the head of the Military House of King Juan Carlos I. The attack was carried out using the so-called "Algerian technique": the two terrorists followed the Army's Dodge Dart on a motorcycle in which the general was traveling. When the vehicle stopped at a traffic light, the motorcycle stood next to it and the passenger placed a bag on the roof of the car that exploded seconds later while both terrorists fled . As a result of the explosion, Lieutenant Colonel Guillermo Teva, the non-commissioned officer of the Royal Guard Antonio Nogueras García and the driver soldier Manuel Rodríguez Taboada, also a member of the Royal Guard, died. General Valenzuela suffered serious injuries, but he saved his life from the bombing . Meantime, Eta brutally killed about one thousand people and acting similarly to Sicilian Mafia. In this context, on May 8, 1981, three young residents (played by the newcomers Antonio Banderas, Juan Echanove, Iñaqui Miramon) of Santander (Cantabria) -Luis Cobo Mier (29 years old), born in Santander and an Aceriasa employee in Nueva Montaña; Juan Mañas Morales (24 years old), originally from Pechina (Almería) and assigned to the FEVE offices in the Cantabrian capital; and Luis Montero García (33 years old), a native of La Fuente de San Esteban (Salamanca) and an employee of Fyesa in Boo de Guarnizo moved to Andalusia to the hometown of Mañas, to attend the celebration of the first communion. They rented a vehicle, a green Ford Fiesta, in order to reach their destination. It is speculated that the owner of the rental company felt surprised by the hurry that the three travelers were in and communicated their suspicions to the Civil Guard in case they could be the terrorists who had committed the attack in Madrid days before and whose robot portraits appeared in the press and on television.
A passable court drama , adding the judicial procedure that the leading lawyer, well interpreted by Agustin González, has to carry out . Starring Agustin Gonzalez is nicely accompanied by a lot of familiar Spanish faces , such as : Manuel Alexandre , Antonio Banderas , Iñaki Miramón , Juan Echanove , Raúl Fraire , Margarita Calahorra, Diana Peñalver, Antonio Gamero, Ramón Langa , Carlos Iglesias , Juan Jesús Valverde, among others. Developing in ups and downs the unfortunate event in which a terrible confusion ended the lives of three innocent people. The value of this film resides in the reminder and the social denunciation that is made of that famous Almería Case . Despite being somewhat of a cinematic cliché, rarely has a feature been so aptly deserving of its description as a courtroom drama along with some elements from social habits , political critique and bloody terrorism. The official version of the Civil Guard indicated that the detainees were traveling to Madrid in their own vehicle, driven by a guard and watched over by another in the passenger seat and at kilometer 8,350 of the Gérgal highway, the three detainees attacked the driver of the vehicle, who jumped out of the car as did the other guard. The command of the entourage, Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Castillo Quero, who was driving behind in another car, stopped the caravan and ordered the Ford Fiesta to be fired on. Eventually , the sentence that put an end to the process was handed down in July 1982 . It declared it proven that three Civil Guards -nicely performed by Fernado Guillén , Pedro Díez del Corral , Luis Marín- took three detainees and later they were killed . So Lieutenant Colonel of the Civil Guard Carlos Castillo Quero was sentenced to twenty-four years in prison for three crimes of homicide, being released on conditional release on October 6, 1992.15 Lieutenant Manuel Gómez Torres and guard Manuel Fernández Llamas were sentenced for the same crimes to fifteen and twelve years in prison respectively.
The film was regularly directed by Pedro Costa and his film debut and whose maximum representation are the 12 very black episodes of the magnificent television series "La huella del crimen" written in collaboration with Manolo Marinero , along with "Redondela 1987" and "El crimen del cine Oriente 1997" are others two good black chronicles with Marinero . Undoubtedly, it is not his best work, nor the most careful, nor the best produced and, perhaps, it is not even acceptable in terms of its artistic quality, since it leaks everywhere, it looks rather hasty, and it smells of scarcity pecuniary .This recently deceased filmmaker Pedro Costa wrote, produced or directed the notorious TV series La Huella del Crimen, and films as Una Casa en las Afueras 1995 that allegedly results to be one episode that premiered in the cinemas. This famous series included important episodes as El Jarabo, Crimen De Calle Fuencarral, Crimen de las envenenados de Valencia , Crimen del Procurador, Crimen de Expreso de Andalucia, Crimen de capitan Sanchez . And Pedro Costa also directed El Caso Almeria, Redondela, Acosada, Crimen del Cine Oriente and Caso Wanninkhof series made in similar style. Rating 5.5/10.
Stanley and Livingstone (1939)
Sprawling epic movie with an obstinate reporter who searches africa for missing missionary
Stanley and Livingstone is an elaborate 1939 American adventure film directed by Henry King and Otto Brower. It is loosely based on the true story of determinated Welsh reporter Sir Henry M. Stanley's (Spencer Tracy) quest to find Dr. David Livingstone (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) , a Scottish missionary presumed lost in Africa, who finally met on November 10, 1871. This is the entertaining , attractive and legendary true-story of detailing the obsessive search for find a missionary by a savage land American . As journalist Tracy sets out into darkest Africa to locate a long lost British explorer . As Stanley carries out a tumultuous expedition that gains new life in this handsomely produced account . All the world no show like this! He succeeded in the maddest quest in History...because one girl believed in him! A woman he never could have . Inspired him to complete the greatest adventure the world has ever kown ! "Find Livingstone" The command that sent Stanley on the most stirring adventure ever known! The most heroic exploit the world has known !. Into the perilous wilderness of unknown Africa...one white man ventured to seek another! Heat...fever...cannibals...jungle...nothing could stop him!
This is a spectacular film set at turn of century with beautifully understated interpretations , containing adventure , action , romance , thrills and historical events .The classic Hollywood kistch version of the Victorian legend-based-on-fact . Being a lavish and dramatically solid fictionalized history . The interesting story of two strangers who made good friends and being competently performed . Spencer Tracy plays Stanley , while Cedric Hardwicke portrays Livingstone. Other cast members include Nancy Kelly, Richard Greene, Walter Brennan, Charles Coburn , Henry Travers and Henry Hull. Special mention for starring Spencer Tracy who's magnificent , as usual and low-key . The motion picture was competently directed by Henry Koster .
The film is based on actual events from these two great explorers : Stanley travelled to Zanzibar in March 1871, later claiming that he outfitted an expedition with 192 porters and many of his porters deserted, and the rest were decimated by tropical diseases. Stanley found David Livingstone on 10 November 1871 in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika in present-day Tanzania. He later claimed to have greeted him with the now-famous line, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" However, this line does not appear in his journal from the time-the two pages directly following the recording of his initial spotting of Livingstone were torn out of the journal at some point-and it is likely that Stanley simply embellished the pithy line sometime afterwards. Neither man mentioned it in any of the letters they wrote at this time, and Livingstone tended to instead recount the reaction of his servant, Susi, who cried out: "An Englishman coming! I see him! . Stanley joined Livingstone in exploring the region, finding that there was no connection between Lake Tanganyika and the Nile. On his return, he wrote a book about his experiences . In 1874, the New York Herald and the Daily Telegraph financed Stanley on another expedition to Africa. His ambitious objective was to complete the exploration and mapping of the Central African Great Lakes and rivers, in the process circumnavigating Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika and locating the source of the Nile. Between 1875 and 1876 Stanley succeeded in the first part of his objective, establishing that Lake Victoria had only a single outlet - the one discovered by John Hanning Speke on 21 July 1862 and named Ripon Falls. If this was not the Nile's source, then the separate massive northward flowing river called by Livingstone, the Lualaba, and mapped by him in its upper reaches, might flow on north to connect with the Nile via Lake Albert and thus be the primary source. Between November 1876 and August 1877, Stanley and his men navigated the Lualaba up to and beyond the point where it turned sharply westward, away from the Nile, identifying itself as the Congo River. Stanley and his men reached the Portuguese outpost of Boma, around 100 kilometres from the mouth of the Congo River on the Atlantic Ocean, after 999 days on 9 August 1877. Stanley's diary show that he started with 228 people and reached Boma with 114 survivors, with he being the only European left alive out of four. Stanley was approached by King Leopold II of the Belgians, the monarch who had already established the International African Association (a front organization for the later International Association of the Congo) at the Brussels Geographic Conference of 1876. Stanley first hoped to continue his pioneering work in Africa under the British flag. But neither the Foreign Office nor Edward, the Prince of Wales, felt called to receive Stanley after the many rumors of his looting and killing in the interior of the African continent. Leopold II eagerly received a disenchanted Stanley at his palace in June 1878, and signed a contract with him.
Il peccato (2019)
Historical picture about one great Renaissance figure : Michelangelo Buanarroti
A nice but slowly paced biopic about life of Michelangelo Buonarroti . It is a gripping but dull reflection on the agony and ecstasy of his individual greatness as well as his misfortunes and privations . Set in Florence, early XVI century , the picture deals with Michelangelo or Michael Angel who is working on the Carrara's marble creating sculptures and he is then ordered by Pope Julius II to build his tomb and while painting of as called Sistine chapel (that's why it was built by Pope Sisto) . Although widely considered a genius by his contemporaries, Michelangelo Buonarroti (Alberto Testone giving a first-range acting) he suffers poverty , starvation , deceits and shortages . Depicting the profound humanity behind the legend of the Renaissance . Meanwhile , he'll develop various relationships with other Renaissance's important people . The film is correctly based on historical deeds and appearing famous roles , such as : Raphael , Papa Giulio II, Papa Leon X , Dante Alighieri , Giulio De' Medici , Lorenzo Medici , Boccaccio and Marchese Malaspina . The motion picture describes specially the creation of the enormous paintings on the ceiling and the difficulties that Michael Angel is suffering to achieve the immortal legacy . The Pope Julius II will also assign him the realization of his tomb , but then his commissioner and head of the Della Rovere nobility Pope Julius II dies , Michelangelo becomes obsessed with sourcing the finest marble to complete his tomb. The artist's loyalty is tested when Leo X , of the rival Medici family, ascends to the papacy and charges him with a lucrative new commission - the façade of the San Lorenzo basilica . Forced to lie to maintain favour with both families , Michelangelo is progressively tormented by suspicion , betrayal and hallucinations , leading him to ruthlessly examine his own moral and artistic failings.
In Il Pecccato or The Sin whe find us an outandish Michelangelo as a lonely sculptor who's reduced to poverty and depleted by his struggle to finish the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and an unfinished tomb of Julius II . Throughout the film we witness the confrontation of the two families that dominated sixteenth century Florence: the Della Rove and the Medici. At the same time we observe the hard work of Michelangelo as he tries to extract the marble from Carrara and as he sculpts the famous sculptures of Moses and the Pietà. The feature movie obtained a limited success and had a moderated box-office ; however , being nowadays better valued than when its premiere . The movie follows the Pasolinian wake more than the Carol Reed's The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965) style ; but I really prefer the classic and spectacular film with Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison (both of whom were magnificent) than this slow-moving , sad and poor version about this immortal historical character.
The motion picture was well written and directed by Andrei Konchalovsky. His first big hit was Siberiada (1979) - a dramatic and realistic story of the lives of the people of Siberia - was internationally acclaimed and brought Konchalovsky to the attention of American and European producers. From then on-wards his career has been international in scope. Pleasing critics and audiences worldwide, he made the English language films Maria's lovers (1984), Runaway train (1985), Duel for one (1986) with praised for Max von Sydow's brilliant performance), and the award-winning Homer y Eddie (1989) starring Whoopi Goldberg. Konchalovsky moved to the mainstream territory with the action packed Tango y Cash (1989). And other excursions to Hollywood to make mainstream TV productions like the Emmy-winning The Odyssey (1997) and Lion in Winter (2003) with Glenn Close , and several others. Rating Sin : 6/10 . Passable and acceptable.
The Mouse on the Moon (1963)
Satirical fantastic comedy with a great cast of British actors showing their particular talent
Fun film with amusing screenplay by Michael Pertwee based on the novel written by Leonard Wibberley , being well directed by Richard Lester . This is a sequel to ¨The mouse that roared¨(1959), while this second part deals with the tiny country has a hot water problem in the castle , to resolve it , there're attempting a peculiar solution. The tiny Duchy of Grand Fenwick ruled by Grand Duchess Gloriana XIII (Margaret Rutherford) and Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy (Ron Moody) decide to carry out a set-up , but they really just want some money for new plumbing , and they accept a generous aid From Americans and URSS, but things don't go according to plan . As the the tiny , impoverished backward nation persuades the Americans and Soviets that they're starting a space program. The U. S. and Soviets get wind of the impending launch and try to beat them to the moon . As Vincent Mountjoy (Bernard Cribbins) and Professor Kokintz (David Kossoff) take off in a rocket to the moon. The Hilarious Story of How the Duchy of Grand Fenwick , a tiny European nation devises a foolproof method of filling its depleted treasury and winning , but collects reparations from generous Americans . You'll roar at the further adventures of "The Mouse That Roared". Territorial claims to the Moon by the Grand Duchy of Fenwick can be substantiated by viewing the hilarious motion picture Mouse on the moon . It's A Blast.....Off!. When A Tiny Nation Of Nuts Goes Into The Rocket Racket! It's The Raciest Race To The Moon That Ever Knocked You Out For The Count...Down!. Stop shooting at our moon!.
This is a funny and entertaining comedy with a great Brit cast , such as Margaret Rutherford , Ron Moody , Bernard Cribbins , David Kossoff , Terry-Thomas , all of them playing sympathetic characters . It's a pretty amusing farce with these masters of the interpretation who display efficiently their abilities. Shot in medium budget by using some sets , props and atrezzo leftover from other films . Picture is a vehicle of these stunning actors , they are authentic comical players and real farceurs . It displays colorful cinematography by cameraman Wilkie Cooper , filmed in studios : Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, and on location in Piccadilly Circus, Piccadilly, London and good sets by production designer John Howell . Lively and evocative musical score by composer Ron Garnier.
This ¨A mouse on the moon¨¨(1963) results to be a sequel of ¨The mouse that roared¨(1963) . Although other characters from The Mouse That Roared (1959) showed up as Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy and his opposition leader Benter , here Peter Sellers made that film , by playing multiple roles emulating his intimate actor , Alec Guinness, and David Kossoff as Kokintz was the only principal cast member of previous movie who returned to play the same role in the follow-up . In ¨A Mouse that roared¨the tiny country declares a war on the United States of America, hoping to lose and Peter Sellers is commander of a medieval force which arrives during a nuclear drill that has abandoned the streets , as Sellers acting as the scheming Prime Minister of Grand Fenwick, as the scheming Grand Duchess and as Tully Bascombe, commander of the medieval army . While this second outing ¨A Mouse on the moon¨ deals with the kingdom attempting to get the money necessary to put in new plumbing and along the way the Grand Duke is dreaming of hot baths , as they request foreign aid from the U. S. for Space Research , but the Russians send aid, as well, to show that they too are for the internationalization of space , then one scientist is slapping together a rocket.
This well-edited motion picture is compellingly directed by Richard Lester in one of his usual forays into the comedy genre . He reigned supreme as one of the greatest filmmakers of 60s , 70s and 80s , achieving an important cult popularity. Efficiently directed by Richard Lester providing attractive images in its own right , being filmed in his peculiar style coupled with typical surrealist comic touches . As the director's visual style is as witty and strong as always . At the beginning Lester directed various Beatles vehicles and subsequently made known comedies : ¨The knack¨ , a satire : ¨The bed sitting room¨ and a drama : ¨Petulia¨ . He got a big success with ¨The Three Musketeers¨ (1973), which he shot simultaneously with ¨The Four musketeers¨ (1974) for producer Ilya Salkind , resurrected his career . When the Salkinds (Ilya and his father Alexander Salkind) were in the midst of filming ¨Superman¨ (1978) simultaneously with its sequel, Lester was hired as a supervising producer, then took over the filming of the sequel, ¨Superman II¨ (1980), when original director Richard Donner was fired . The sequel was a financial and critical success , and he was hired to direct the far-less successful ¨Superman III¨ (1983) . At the end of the 1980s, Lester returned to the storyline that had revitalized his career back in the early 1970s , filming a second sequel to "The Three Musketeers" titled : ¨The return of the musketeers¨. ¨A mouse on the moon¨ rating : 6.5/10 . Decent and passable . If you like their crazy interpretations , you will most definitely enjoy this one.
Hinterland (2021)
A dark and sinister mystery thriller about a WWI ex-soldier who decides to bring a series killer to justice
Grim and scary film with intrigue, plot twists , chills , thrills , sleaziness , ugly scenes and lots of blood and gore . Peculiar thriller showing the European situation just after First Wold War , it remains as a special piece on surprises , showcasing the unique visual , special color and ordinary stylistic tricks that mark Stefan Ruzowitzky 's work . Austrian production dealing with a serial killer -Jack the Ripper lookalike- in Vienna executing some grisly killings . It is set in Vienna, 1920. The Austro-Hungarian Empire has collapsed , there an ex-prisoner of the Great War called Peter Perg (Murathan Muslu) goes back home from the Great War, after years of captivity. But the Vienna he comes home to is nothing like the place he once knew. After the Treaty of St. Germain, the Austrian empire had disappeared and the emperor had been overthrown and a new Austrian Republic was born . The new Austrian Republic thrives on social and artistic freedom but the streets are really dangerous and citizens are suffering extreme poverty , starvation , misfortunes, shortages and strikes . A stranger in his hometown, life's Perg takes a turn for the worse when one of his previous comrades is murdered. Suddenly the mysterious killings of veterans are mounting. Personally connected to the victims, Perg finds an ally in the intelligent forensic doctor Theresa Korner (Lisa Fries) , with whom he has a deeper, shared history. Their investigation leads them into the darkest corners of the city, as they face off a cruel and systematic killer and intrigues from within the police force. But when the murderer's net closes around Perg himself, he takes on the moral dilemma of his existence.
A crime thriller with historical remarks , including thrills, chills, suspense as well as gore and blood. This shows the European situation just after the First World War and particularly in Vienna with unemployment loom overhead , hungry people , anti-democratic movements and others participating in strikes and attempting the communist revolution that had already triumphed in Russia. This is a moving and horrific story about astonishing oddly murders in Vienna committed by an elusive killer . Stars Murathan Muslu who gives a nice acting as the ex-veteran WWI soldier returning home and finds his comrades brutally murdered deciding to bring the serial-killer to justice , as well as Liv Lisa Fries is nice as the cool-headed forensic doctor who finds out the main keys . This is one of the rate movies in which everything pulls together to create a weirdly compulsive atmosphere with plenty of fog , darkness , lights and shades , well shown on the expressionist photography by Benedict Neuenfels in 'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari' style including misconfigured buildings, strange and vertical shots and other abstract images, adding an excessive use of frames made by means of 3D computer generator , filmed in Studio 1 Rosenhügel, Vienna, Austria and Filmland Studios Kehlen, Luxembourg. The production design is brilliant and acceptable interpretations , but the film is neither for squeamish people , nor for the easily queazy.
This gory motion picture was competently directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky. This craftsman director usually lives in Vienna where he's shot some films . In the early years of his career, he directed documentaries and commercials, but also music videos of noted artists such as N'Sync, Scorpions or Die Prinzen. He is a famed filmmaker and writer, specially known for Lilly the Witch: The inheritors (1998) , The counterfeiters (2007), The Dragon and the Magic Book (2009) , Deadfall (2012) Patient Zero (2018) and Hinterland (2021). The lattr featured at the Locarno film festival in August 2021 Locarno , being Winner International Film Festival 2021 , Audience Award Best Film Stefan Ruzowitzky (director) , Sabine Moser (producer) ,Oliver Neumann (producer) . And Austrian Film Award, Winner Austrian Film Award Best Production Design (Oleg Prodeus , Andreas Sobotka , Martin Reiter, and Best Supporting Actress (Margarete Tiesel) , Best Cinematography (Beste Kamera) , Best Costume Design (Uli Simon). Rating : 6.5/10 . Acceptable and decent suspense thriller .
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)
Inferior sequel with an already exhausted formula and including similar situations and repetitive incidents.
The police must investigate a series of robberies along a strip of land in the city. The new mayor of the city (Kenneth Mars) assigns Captain Harris (G. W. Bailey) and Lt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey) to the dangerous mission , but while on stakeout the Wilson gang manages to slip through their fingers . The Mayor wants Harris and Proctor to work with Police Academy head Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) on apprehending a gang formed by three nasty hoodlums commanded by a mysterious boss . Lassard assembles a seven-man team consisting of Hightower (Bubba Smith), Tackleberry (David Graf), Jones (Michael Winslow), Hooks (Marion Ramsey), Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook), Fackler (Bruce Mahler), and Lassard's nephew, Nick (Matt McCoy) who transfers from Miami. The funniest cops are funnier than ever ! They're Undercover To Unmask The Mastermind of Crime!. More Arrested Developments from the Funniest Flatfoots in Screen History!. The Grads are going undercover in the city to unmask the mastermind of crime. Take off with the original cast... and some new civilian recruits as they take to the streets and the skies to fight crime . On land, on sea, or in the air, no place is safe from them! Captain Harris is about to lose his trousers and his mind again! Assignment: new recruits . Objective: Laughs. Hold everything! The cadets are training for an all new adventure
This funny but inferior entry deals with the group of botcher police officers are assembled to carry out risked missions and to find some escaped robbers . As our unfortunate cadets take to the streets when three inept goons successfully orchestrate a metropolitan crime wave. Amusing , fun and cheerful film filled with action-packed , thrills , hilarious set-pieces, tongue-in-cheek and lots of humor . Based on the roles created by Neal Israel and Pat Proft , this time the script writer is the unknown Stephen Curwick who provides a really disconcerting and absurd storyline. More predictable idiocy from the cop shop and no real story to speak of , just more high jinks in this mindless follow-up. The premise is simple and plain , as the misfit , botcher team from the known police force are called to a new assignment and there they get in trouble with some nasty delinquents . Director Peter Bornerz delivers a mediocre professional work but with no much interest, with knack enough of getting the most out of characters and situations without ever going over the top making for some laughs . This production pays tribute to previous films , this time the motley, bumbling group confronts the local crime , repeating former sketches, taking parts here and there . The jokes and frolics come as thick and fast , hit and miss as usual and it is done in good spirit if not always in good taste . Regular picture with accent on sight gags , and humour that stems from the diverting roles established in other movies . The sympathetic cast formed by the motley band of misfits gives fun interpretation creating confusion , laughs and chaos . Appearing habitual actors in the popular series, such as Bubba Smith as Hightower , Michael Winslow : Jones, Leslie Easterbrook : Callahan, Marion Ramsey : Hooks , Lance Kinsey : Proctor and adding two newcomers: Matt McCoy who formerly appeared in Assignment Miami Beach and a goofy cop played by Bruce Mahler . It contains an attractive and thrilling score by Robert Folk , series' regular , including the classic leitmotif . As well as atmospheric and appropriate cinematography by Charles Rosher Jr . The motion picture made in short budget was regular but professionally directed by Peter Bonerz. Rating : 4.5/10 . Below average only for fans of the Police Academy saga.
The series based on the characters written by Neal Israel and Pat Proft is formed by the following ones : Police Academy 1984 by Hugh Wilson . Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment 1985 by Jerry Paris , James Signorelli . Police Academy 3: Back in Training 1987 by Jerry Paris . Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol 1987 by Jim Drake . Police Academy : Assignment Miami Beach 1988 by Alan Myerson. Police Academy 6: City Under Siege 1989 by Peter Bornerz . Police Academy: Mission to Moscow 1994 by Alan Metter . And Police Academy the series 1997/1998 , 26 episodes created by Neal Israel, Paul Maslansky, Pat Proft .
Préstame quince días (1971)
It is a mediocre movie but it is makes it up for the great actors who play the sympathetic roles.
This diverting comedy has its attractive moments here and there, being paced ups and downs. Funny and fun Spanish comedy with a top-notch cast formed by the biggest hilarious actors from the sixties and Sixties , Alfredo Landa , Concha Velasco , Gracita Morales , among others . Galdino (Alfredo Landa) is an emigrant comes back to Spain, as he arrives in Madrid from Germany, the country where he is working. In a club he meets Iris (Concha Velasco), a prostitute whom he wants to pass off as his wife in her town during the Christmas holidays. Then he hires the prostitute to play the role of his wife because he fears to dissapoint his mother (Lola Gaos) , brother (Jesús Guzmán) and other people of his town that think he married a beautiful woman. Along the way , the stubborn mother attempts to animate the sexual impulse of her son with an aphrodisiac potion to be able to procreate with Conchita. Meanwhile, her fiancé Alfonso Pérez (José Luis López Vázquez) is really a pimp who does not rest in his desire to pimp women , he even teaches this peculiar teachings to a group of pupils .
The premise of this comedy about a fake identity and a character out of context is not entirely bad, however its development after the arrival of our protagonist in the little town becomes a complete nonsense . This movie, done at the end of the franquist regime , can be viewed as a testimony of those times, when Spain was socially divided between the perpetuation of its traditional conservatist order and primitive values and a social change that was patent abroad and in many ways attained the society and the new generation. It is a fine example of what could be done at this time , with some political and social regards almost impossible some years earlier . Just speaking overtly about prostitutes and pimps , even in their pejorative manner, was in many ways a courageous attempt because it faced the stiff-upper-lip censure. So before judging this movie with the values of our time, it seems better to replace it in its historical context . But in general it is a bland and disconcerting film with a lot of stereotypes and meaningless emotional including an unimaginative resolution of the love relationship between Landa and Velasco. Resulting to be an amusing but mediocre comedy dealing with a group of bungling and outlandish roles and along the way carrying out diverting as well embarrassing incidents . It is a silly movie frivolizing prostitution, turning sexual company into a farce with contrasting rural-urban situations. Alfredo Landa plays in his usual style an emigrant who impersonates a false husband .The parodic moments with López Vázquez as a pimp teacher are somewhat funny. There stands out a good support cast giving brief, but likeable acting, such as Gracita Morales , Lola Gaos, Jesús Guzmán , Erasmo Pascual, Mirta Miller , Rafael Hernández , Santiago Rivero, Álvaro de Luna , Luis Induni , Antonio Mayans ,Ángel Álvarez.
Produced by prolific producer José Frade from Atlantida films, he usually cast Alfredo Landa and Concha Velasco. Including atmospheric cinematography by Raúl Artigot . Graceful and laughing screenplay by the successful author Juan José Alonso Millán . The motion picture was regularly directed by Fernando Merino and shot in fits and starts. Merino was a craftsman and professional director who achieved hits and flops. He is brother to also filmmaker Jose Luis Merino. And director assistant, as he assisted films as Tulipan negro, Fra Diavolo, Madame Sans Gene, Los tramposos, Armas para el Caribe, La venganza de Don Mendo. And directed a few films, especially comedies, such as : El erotismo y la Informatica, La dinamita esta servida, Pisito de solteras, Los dias de Cabirio, Prestame 15 dias, Amor a la Española, Requiem para un empleado, though also made other genres as adventure : Dick Turpin, thriller : Comisario G en el caso del Cabaret and drama : Lola espejo oscuro . And TV series as the known and popular Curro Jimenez .Rating 4.5/10 average. The film will appeal to Landa, Vázquez and Velasco fans .
Volavérunt (1999)
Historical melodrama about the troubled relationships among Cayetana de Alba, Goya , Pepita Tudó and Godoy
This is a melodrama involving 18-19th century famed Spanish painter named Goya, the famous model of the Naked Maja and the favorite Godoy . It's a slow vision of Saragossan painter Francisco Goya Lucientes, Duchess Alba and Godoy , previous years to the French encroachment . On July 23 of 1802, the Duchess of Alba (Aitana Sánchez Gijón) , the wealthy and most liberated woman of her time, offers a gala to inaugurate her new palace . Attendance is first class : the Prime Minister Manuel Godoy (Jordi Mollá) , the painter Goya (Jorge Perugorría) and Pepita Tudo (Penélope Cruz) , lover of Godoy and his model Goya's famous painting The Nude Maja and The Dressed Maja . The next morning, the Duchess of Alba is found dead in her bed in mysterious circumstances , supposedly poised. She was 40-year old . From now on , a twisted intrigue takes place to find who's the alleged killer.
Volavérunt is a 1999 French-Spanish historical drama film directed by Bigas Luna based on a novel with the same title by Antonio Larreta , the film is set in Spain at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Based on the novel by Antonio Laretta , winner of the prestigious Planeta Award . The film was presented in the official section of the 1999 San Sebastián Film Festival. In that same edition of the festival, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón won the Silver Shell to Best Actress for this film . This is a costumer partially based on facts but predominates the slow-moving melodrama with a messing intrigue about a suspicious crime . The picture relies heavily on love relationships among the main roles Goya , Godoy , Maria Luisa De Palma, Pepita Tudo and Duchess of Alba . Glamorously and sumptuosly shot with great settings , evocative musical score by Alberto García Demestres and colorful cinematography by Paco Feminia filmed on location in Parque de El Capricho, Madrid, Madrid, and Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain. But it results to be a failed period thriller , despite its promising start , the film gradually falls apart , leading to a finale of sheer nonsense . Volaverunt is an average movie , a flag of inexplicable rudeness , sordid sex scenes almost soft-core and extreme crudeness in a seasoned professional like Bigas Luna . The film's budget, one of the highest in the history of Spanish cinema, amounted to 1,200 million pesetas , but being really wasted , only special mention for the spectacular horse parade . There are beautiful costumes, the majesty of the palaces, the always successful locations , everything ceases to be impressive when you discover that despite taking a long time swallowing this big budget picture , you will still have it for a long time since if it is about portraying Spanish history . In fact , there's a very brief portrayal of a few historical events , if appearing notorious characters , such as : Aitana Sánchez-Gijón as Cayetana 'Duquesa de Alba' , Penélope Cruz as Pepita Tudó 'La Maja', Jordi Mollà as Don Manuel de Godoy 'Príncipe de La Paz' , Jorge Perugorría as Don Francisco de Goya y Lucientes , Stefania Sandrelli as Reina María Luisa de Parma and Zoe Berriatúa as Príncipe Fernando VII son of the king Carlos IV . The motion picture was mediocrely directed by Bigas Luna. Rating : 4.5/10.
Freely based on actual events as well as historical roles and especially Manuel Godoy . This essential character in the Spanish history , Manuel Godoy y Álvarez de Faria, nicknamed Prince of the Peace, 1st Duke of Alcudia, 1st Duke of Sueca, 1st Baron of Mascalbó (12 May 1767 - 4 October 1851) was First Secretary of State of Spain from 1792 to 1797 and from 1801 to 1808. He received many titles, including that of príncipe de la Paz ('Prince of the Peace'), by which he is widely known. Godoy is best known for his diplomacy with Napoleon. In 1804 Godoy was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Godoy came to power at a young age as the favourite of King Charles IV and Queen Maria Luisa. Despite multiple disasters, Godoy maintained power. Many Spanish leaders blamed him for the disastrous war with Britain that cut off the Spanish Empire and ruined its finances. Crown Prince Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias, led an attempt to oust Godoy in 1807. Godoy's unpopularity culminated in the Tumult of Aranjuez in March 1808, which forced him into exile.
47 Meters Down (2017)
Bone-chilling and thrilling Shark movie with decent scares , tension , chills and a lot of shocks
Attractive movie with scary frames , nice direction and containing similar plot to other Shark films but set in a peculiar environment . Deals with a pair of beautiful teens (Mandy Moore, Claire Holt) following a diving adventure in an ocean full of white sharks . The two sisters vacationing in Mexico are trapped in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean. With less than an hour of oxygen left and great white sharks circling nearby, they must fight to survive. They're pulled up as the cable snaps dropping the Cage to the bottom of the Ocean floor and the girls have less than an hour of air remaining in their tanks . Once inside, their rush of excitement turns into a jolt of terror as they discover are completely surrounded by deadly Great White Sharks. With their air supply steadily dwindling, the sisters in search of a desperate way out. No help above, no hope below. No way out. No way up. No chance in hell. Stay out of the water. How do you survive the world's greatest predators?.No Help. No Hope. No Escape. Last Summer, the Greatest Predators Brought Odeur Deepest Fears to the Surface. Next Summer, The Fear Goes Deeper. Fear Runs Deep.
Claustrophobic underwater thriller with decent scares, tension , chills and shocking scenes. Creepy and scary movie when two sisters go on a diving adventure to explore the underwater life with full of sharks , resulting in surprising happenings with the presence of bizarre events and then things go awry . A nice terror film with shocking scenes , eerie suspense, and tension enough. This 47 meters Down belongs to Shark attacks sub-genre whose main representation is , of course , the classic Spielberg's Jaws (1975) , in which tension is very hight including nail-biting scenes of pure terror , shocks , disgusting images , intriguing deeds , ghastly surprises and other horrible events , including some gore and blood . It is a twisted film whose tension goes on in crescendo until a gruesome and surprising finale with plenty of terror and turns . The film was very complex and hard to shoot , using several monitors and cameras. The picture was well-paced in a very uncommon and difficult way , with a extremely complex underwater shooting . It's a passable film with a correct creation of tension , thrills , terror and brief gore. The shark attacks images deliver emotion , united to a thrilling score by Tomandandy . Protagonists Mandy Moore and Claire Holt are pretty well , although most of time we see them talking and shouting with their underwater masks on. Both of whom were given training lessons in diving shortly before production. They're accompanied by a brief cast of secondaries , such as : Chris Johnson, Yani Gellman , Santiago Segura and Matthew Modine.
It displays colorful cinematograpy by cameraman Mark Silk shot on location in the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic , the Underwater Studio in Basildon and Pinewood Studios, UK. The motion picture was professionally written/directed by Johannes Roberts with startling visual style , though with no originality and full of clichés . He is a good director and writer, he made the world's first short series for mobile phones : When Evil Calls in association with Zone Horror and Pure grass Films. And directed his first feature film : Sanitarium at the age of 23. And especially known for 47 meters (2017) , its sequel : 47 meters 2 : Uncaged (2019) with Sophie Nélisse, Corinne Foxx, Brianne Tju and Sistine Stallone and due to the successful previous films , he was hired to direct the last franchise : Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021). Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable. Well worth watching for Shark subgenre enthusiasts.