vmongui Reviews

Joker (I) (2019)

Not a masterpiece. But it is an outstanding DC Comics film

[8/10 · 3 October 2019]

First: stop wondering if Phoenix' interpretation is better than Ledger's. Both show different profiles from the same character: whereas Ledger showed masterfully a psychotic villain, Phoenix shows (also masterfully) a person, a victim who smoothly is turning into a villain. This is the typical case of horses for courses.

Second: Yes, this movie is far better than suicide squad... and I frankly find it better than the DC franchise (except from Nolan´s trilogy). I would say that this is an excellent counterpart of BATMAN BEGINS... the "Joker Begins" here. And a very good one!!

Third: Definitively the film must pay off for Phoenix and at least give him an Oscar nomination. His interpretation is human, crude and ruthless to the bones. Phoenix succeeds at making us feel compassion, fear and hate for his character all at the same time.

I rate it with an 8 because it is very good but not perfect. I felt that Todd Phillips could have given us more "hangover" moments across the film to enhance this contrast between comedy and tragedy that the Joker is all about. You will see that there a couple of moments like that, but you will also see that may be Todd could have given more.

Go, watch it and enjoy it!!

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

Underrated and misunderstood in every sense.

[8/10 · 9 December 2018]

From the very beginning Director Johnson warns us: we get the usual opening, the usual Star Wars battle, and then it comes the first subtle but radical twist in the movie: Luke Skywalker's reaction when receiving his father's lightsaber. This film took a big risk and I think it got away with it: it tried to keep some things from the saga and broke up with a significant line of the saga's plot. But not by mistake, or misinterpretation; the film challenges viewers to take everything to a whole new level. And this is the main virtue of the movie. That's why it gets an 8.

So, for those who have not seeing it yet, I just want to warn you all: stop asking yourselves who Snoke is or where he comes from; stop thinking this movie will answer every question on Ray's origins or Skywalker's isolation. That's why this movie is so badly reviewed by some fans. But, as a film, The Last Jedi has everything: action, emotion, deception, some nice jokes, major twists in the plot and a monumental closing that puts Luke Skywalker in a place never seen or expected before.

There are some flaws too: to my taste the first battle is too long and the resurrection of Leia Organa is unnecessary as it does not give anything new to the movie. But overall The Last Jedi is a pretty good film. The trailer warns us when Kylo Ren says "Let the past die"; or when Luke Skywalker says: "This is not going to go the way you think". But that does not mean that the film went the wrong way or that the Saga is dead. On the contrary: there is a brand new set of things ahead of us in Star Wars.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

And this is why cinema is considered the 7th art!!

[8/10 · 13 November 2018]

Despite some inaccuracies in the movie, its music and Malek's exceptional performance totally make worth seeing it, listening it, feeling it. Bryan Singer kinda brought the format of the Opera to make this film: it begins with a soft and beautiful opening; a dramatic set of twists; a clash between Queen members; a crescendo along the dark path that Mercury seemed to follow to then explode in such a melodic and amazing performance in Live Aid. This could be insulting to the way filmmakers usually tell stories; but for the laymen and for every Queen fan this film is epic in every sense. If you haven't seen it yet, please, do yourself a favor, go to the cinema and enjoy a form of art that only film plus Queen can bring out!

The Name of the Rose (1986)

DO NOT READ THE BOOK FIRST. INSTEAD, WATCH FIRST THIS WONDERFUL FILM AND THEN, GO TO THE BOOK

[9/10 · 8 September 2018]

The name of the rose, is one of the most refined thriller-films you will ever see. Every single role is well played. Sean Connery is flawless here. His character, William of Baskerville, is one of the most inspiring ones of all times: elegantly arrogant, but so humble when confronted to the possibilities of science and reason. The way Jean Jaques Annaud depicted the medieval times is flawless. Also, the director took the time to give us every single line and scene to display the right spins at the right time. It is not like the book... but once you think how to put such a big bestseller in a movie, you would realize that Annaud did a great great job.

Besides telling the story of a series of crimes in an abbey, the film also takes you back to the fundamentals: who decides what knowledge is; how access to information shapes us even these days; what is education and how is that different from alienation?... If only everyone of us had a teacher or a mentor just like William of Baskerville, life would be so much more difficult and at the same time so much more fulfilling!! That guy, if he actually existed, was born in the wrong time.

Watch this wonderful film!!!! Then go to the book. I can guarantee you that you will begin an adventure... going through Umberto Eco´s great work.

May be the only mistake that the film makes comes to the very end when it kinda suggests why the movie is called The name of the rose.

Paradoxically it shows the very last line of the book in latin: "The ancient rose remains by its name, naked names are all that we have." Or better said: all that is left from a rose is... its name.