davidmin-76278 Reviews

Parallels (I) (2015)

A film without a head

[4/10 · 23 May 2015]

Good effects, interesting premise, and absolutely plot less.

Vague, clichéd quest to find dad and mom. Plot twists that you can guess (except the ones that makes absolutely no sense and had no connections to the rest of the film). Nearly zero character depth, and the ending seemed to me an unrealistic hope for a sequel - no thanks.

Thank goodness it's only an hour or so.

The film opens up more unanswered questions as it goes along, based on a very uninteresting situation of dad leaves a voicemail. There's really not much to comment on the rest of the plot, except for a parallel universe concept that just drags on and on and on.

Good Bye Lenin! (2003)

Touching, funny, nostalgic

[10/10 · 8 May 2015]

The film is one of my favourites of all time, and is the best film I've seen that best conveyed why people, despite the repression of USSR and its economic failures, still look back fondly on the Soviet republic and remain committed to the ideals of socialism.

The main character, played by Daniel Bruhl, captures quite well the inner struggles of what I would imagine the then GDR citizen. On the one hand, fed up with a system that no longer works and skeptical of the party leadership, and on the other, resiliently holding the hope that the ideals of socialism materialise. Through his journey with his family, I seem to understand how the raft of changes affected the citizens of the GDR. At the end, when that familiar tune takes over, and Arianne show some surprising emotions, it's hard to resist a sense of sorrow that way of life, that system of beliefs, could very much be a relic of history.

Overall, a well-executed film worth watching, with characters that you could empathise with.

Ladies in Lavender (2004)

A gem worth watching over and over

[10/10 · 8 May 2015]

This is one of the best films I've seen. It's no summer blockbuster, with big budget post-processing and popping colours. To be honest, the colours in the film looked quite bland, but the atmosphere is absolutely suitable. The film's pace is quite slow - it's best to simply give in and savour every bit.

The emotional depth of this film is incredibly powerful. Joshua Bell's violin performances featured in the film certainly helped towards that, but ultimately it's the filmmaker's portrayal of a very complex set of emotions in a way that's genuine, bare. Jealousy, insecurity, joy, serenity are all pictured with great fidelity. With no Megan Fox-like actresses and no Chris Hemsworth-like actors, the film felt real, intimate, and is a great film to treasure.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2019)

Is this a joke? Doesn't seem to be

[4/10 · 8 May 2015]

I was a loyal fan of Tina Fey's 30 Rock, which was the reason that drew me to watch this show. I watched a few episodes, and was profoundly disappointed. Compared to the sharp wit and even emotional attachment Tina Fey was able to build in 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt feels like a stale pizza from a fast food restaurant.

It's definitely not the worst of comedies out there - the show is a light hearted, warm, and family friendly comedy. I, however, came in with expectations that this will be on 30 Rock's calibre, and was disappointed.

The characters here lacked depth. Kimmy Schmidt didn't feel at all like a real person - every 5 minutes or so she would squint her eyes and pout her mouth in an over dramatic expression of victory, and the plastered on theme of female power. She is framed as the strong independently woman, but in the short 13 episode of the first season, 3 men were romantically involved with her character. Cyndee is at best a non-descript friend of Kimmy's - at the end of a season, I don't know how to describe the character.

There's no developed storyline. Other than the main premise that Kimmy had been kidnapped and cut off from the world for 15 years, there's not much else to go on. The three on and off men of the first season made no sense to me. Titus's career transformations from robot to singer (or at least tried to be) to waiter to internet sensation, mixed with quite a few initiatives that led to nowhere felt like a circus show.

The show went for cheap jokes. I don't know how many times the show suggested Kimmy's anachronisms were suppose to be funny. Kimmy's stepfather plays dumb to a level where I am more annoyed than amused. All the way up to the last episode of season 1, there's a let me check my horoscope app joke. The wit in 30 Rock had very much been dumbed down.

The show, however, is not without its stars. Jane's performance as Jacqueline Voorhees is eerily similar to her character in 30 Rock, but regardless, maintains the same quality. Titus's character genuinely made me laugh, and certainly had a distinct personality.

Overall, I think the show was a let down. I referred to reviews here when I reached episode 6, and was encouraged to watch to the end for the pick-up in quality that never came. I finished the 1st season, and have no desire to go through the second.