*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***
Featuring: Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Naomi Watts
Genre: drama, crime
Plot: midwife gets involved with Russian mafia while trying to find the family of a newborn orphan
Acting: believable though the accents were a little odd
Drama: it’s mafia, can’t get more dramatic than that
Action: a two against one deadly fight in the sauna
Funny: some of the dialog is
Visuals: lots of tattoos on Viggo Mortensen’s body
Soundtrack: includes a version of Ochichornya… how cliché is that?
Official website: http://www.focusfeatures.com/easternpromises/
Comments: A lot of violence, I got that impression ever from the beginning. No gun shots but more than enough throat slashing and other gruesome sights. But it’s Russian mafia so you think what the hell it all goes. The story is simple, wouldn’t say exactly predictable but then again maybe yes if you are into this type of movies. Viggo Mortensen’s character is the one that intrigues the most and we get to see in what fine shape he is in the sauna scene. Too much ink and ketch up though. Rough violence is the name of the game. But there’s more to him than we’re initially told and he’s heading for an uncertain future we can only guess.
Rating: 7/10
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Movie Review: The Bucket List
*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***
Featuring: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman
Genre: drama, comedy
Plot: two terminally ill men fulfill a wish list before they die
Acting: these two play characters they know best and they do it with style
Drama: death still has to come
Action: car race, parachute ride
Funny: see above and much more
Visuals: outstanding scenery from France, Egypt, far East, etc.
Soundtrack: doesn’t get in the way
Official website: http://thebucketlist.warnerbros.com/
Comments: I’ve only watched it because of the actors in it and I can’t say I regret it. While being predictable because they still have to die the experience is worth trying and I dare say you won’t be disappointed. Maybe someday I’ll write my own bucket list. But not yet. It’s too soon… and I first have to find a millionaire to make it possible.
Rating: 8/10
Featuring: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman
Genre: drama, comedy
Plot: two terminally ill men fulfill a wish list before they die
Acting: these two play characters they know best and they do it with style
Drama: death still has to come
Action: car race, parachute ride
Funny: see above and much more
Visuals: outstanding scenery from France, Egypt, far East, etc.
Soundtrack: doesn’t get in the way
Official website: http://thebucketlist.warnerbros.com/
Comments: I’ve only watched it because of the actors in it and I can’t say I regret it. While being predictable because they still have to die the experience is worth trying and I dare say you won’t be disappointed. Maybe someday I’ll write my own bucket list. But not yet. It’s too soon… and I first have to find a millionaire to make it possible.
Rating: 8/10
Monday, January 7, 2008
Movie Review: Charlie Wilson's War
*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***
Featuring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Genre: biography, comedy
Plot: US senator helps remove Russians from Afganistan
Acting: good
Drama: what the producers didn’t realize when they made this movie is that the message sent it ‘we saved you then, now we own your asses so don’t you dare cross us’
Action: some video game war scenes… better than the ones in Lions for Lambs though
Funny: very funny dialog though not necessarily clever
Visuals: was I the only one who didn’t feel a deep need to watch Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts naked (+/- bathing suit)?
Soundtrack: cheesy 80s
Official website: http://www.charliewilsonswar.net/
Comments: There are always two sides of a coin, some might say Americans are heroes after watching this film while other might classify it as yet another example of Americans sticking their noses in someone else’s business. But let’s not get into politics here. Tom Hanks plays his character well but sort of detached. It’s more like as if his artistic creativity was gone on vacation at the time of the shooting. On the other hand Julia Roberts compensates by taking acting to the extreme creating a non easily believable character. Amy Adams is too short compared to the rest of the crew and somehow too childish and young. But it’s all worth it ‘cause Philip Seymour Hoffman steals the show.
Rating: 8/10
Featuring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Genre: biography, comedy
Plot: US senator helps remove Russians from Afganistan
Acting: good
Drama: what the producers didn’t realize when they made this movie is that the message sent it ‘we saved you then, now we own your asses so don’t you dare cross us’
Action: some video game war scenes… better than the ones in Lions for Lambs though
Funny: very funny dialog though not necessarily clever
Visuals: was I the only one who didn’t feel a deep need to watch Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts naked (+/- bathing suit)?
Soundtrack: cheesy 80s
Official website: http://www.charliewilsonswar.net/
Comments: There are always two sides of a coin, some might say Americans are heroes after watching this film while other might classify it as yet another example of Americans sticking their noses in someone else’s business. But let’s not get into politics here. Tom Hanks plays his character well but sort of detached. It’s more like as if his artistic creativity was gone on vacation at the time of the shooting. On the other hand Julia Roberts compensates by taking acting to the extreme creating a non easily believable character. Amy Adams is too short compared to the rest of the crew and somehow too childish and young. But it’s all worth it ‘cause Philip Seymour Hoffman steals the show.
Rating: 8/10
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Alexei Yagudin - How Deep Is Your Love
After being sung by Bee Gees and Take That, there's a new Russian version of How Deep Is Your Love sung by Alexei Yagudin and Viktoria Dayneko.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Movie Review: I’m Not There
*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***
Featuring: Cate Blanchett, Ben Whishaw, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Marcus Carl Franklin, Heath Ledger, Kris Kristofferson, Julianne Moore, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Michelle Williams
Genre: biography, music
Plot: bits and pieces of Bob Dylan’s life and ideas put on music
Acting: no complaints there
Drama: a story as old as time, the artist who can’t adapt to the real world
Action: it’s not about that
Funny: again it’s not about that
Visuals: good, except for Heath Ledger’s full frontal which was just creepy and uncalled for
Soundtrack: loved it, got me interested in Dylan’s music
Official website: http://www.imnotthere-movie.com/
Comments: It made me wish I had known more about Dylan’s life. I’m not a fan and I don’t own any of his albums though that might change soon, but of course I knew who he is and had vague ideas about his career. This being said I’m pretty sure I missed some things in the movie that his fans would probably immediately recognize. It’s not exactly your usual biographic movie, it’s more like an allegory, with various actors playing the same part and doing it very well all of them in their own way. It’s not easy to explain or describe, but it’s an experience it would be a shame to miss.
Rating: 4/5
Featuring: Cate Blanchett, Ben Whishaw, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Marcus Carl Franklin, Heath Ledger, Kris Kristofferson, Julianne Moore, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Michelle Williams
Genre: biography, music
Plot: bits and pieces of Bob Dylan’s life and ideas put on music
Acting: no complaints there
Drama: a story as old as time, the artist who can’t adapt to the real world
Action: it’s not about that
Funny: again it’s not about that
Visuals: good, except for Heath Ledger’s full frontal which was just creepy and uncalled for
Soundtrack: loved it, got me interested in Dylan’s music
Official website: http://www.imnotthere-movie.com/
Comments: It made me wish I had known more about Dylan’s life. I’m not a fan and I don’t own any of his albums though that might change soon, but of course I knew who he is and had vague ideas about his career. This being said I’m pretty sure I missed some things in the movie that his fans would probably immediately recognize. It’s not exactly your usual biographic movie, it’s more like an allegory, with various actors playing the same part and doing it very well all of them in their own way. It’s not easy to explain or describe, but it’s an experience it would be a shame to miss.
Rating: 4/5
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Movie Review: Atonement
*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***
Featuring: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Vanessa Redgrave
Genre: drama, romance
Plot: little girl ruins two people’s lives
Acting: very good
Drama: people torn apart, love lost, war
Action: not much, it’s a slow paced movie
Funny: not much
Visuals: beautiful British country side scenery
Soundtrack: lovely… especially the violin
Official website: http://www.atonementthemovie.co.uk
Comments: It really is a nice movie, beautifully shot and with great music. The back and forward scene movement is a bit annoying. The little girl is dull, I don’t know if she was supposed to be this way but she is. Keira Knightley is too thin. But she does one of the most sensual sex scenes without nudity being involved. I couldn’t help feeling cheated towards the end of the movie, when the reality is revealed. Sure, happy ending wasn’t really expected given the time period, but why make the audience believe some and then turn it all upside down. Really disappointing and the shot at the very end doesn’t help at all.
Rating: 3/5
Featuring: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Vanessa Redgrave
Genre: drama, romance
Plot: little girl ruins two people’s lives
Acting: very good
Drama: people torn apart, love lost, war
Action: not much, it’s a slow paced movie
Funny: not much
Visuals: beautiful British country side scenery
Soundtrack: lovely… especially the violin
Official website: http://www.atonementthemovie.co.uk
Comments: It really is a nice movie, beautifully shot and with great music. The back and forward scene movement is a bit annoying. The little girl is dull, I don’t know if she was supposed to be this way but she is. Keira Knightley is too thin. But she does one of the most sensual sex scenes without nudity being involved. I couldn’t help feeling cheated towards the end of the movie, when the reality is revealed. Sure, happy ending wasn’t really expected given the time period, but why make the audience believe some and then turn it all upside down. Really disappointing and the shot at the very end doesn’t help at all.
Rating: 3/5
Friday, December 28, 2007
Movie Review: Alvin and the Chipmunks
*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***
Featuring: Jason Lee, Justin Long, David Cross
Genre: comedy, animation
Plot: looser gets to raise a family of chipmunks rock stars
Acting: the chipmunks are a hoot
Drama: celebrity, money and fame… ah…
Action: making toast in the kitchen… hell, anything to do with the kitchen
Funny: first half is hilarious
Visuals: the chipmunks are so cute… they must have borrowed the prints, I mean virtual models, from Enchanted
Soundtrack: laughable
Official website: http://www.alvinandthechipmunksmovie.com/
Comments: It started promising but then it just went… bleah… so common and predictable. I gotta say Jason Lee was funnier in Heartbreakers. Here he’s just… lame… The chipmunks are funny and there are some gags well done but the human ruins it all… the guys from Joe’s Apartment handled the situation much better.
Rating: 3/5
Featuring: Jason Lee, Justin Long, David Cross
Genre: comedy, animation
Plot: looser gets to raise a family of chipmunks rock stars
Acting: the chipmunks are a hoot
Drama: celebrity, money and fame… ah…
Action: making toast in the kitchen… hell, anything to do with the kitchen
Funny: first half is hilarious
Visuals: the chipmunks are so cute… they must have borrowed the prints, I mean virtual models, from Enchanted
Soundtrack: laughable
Official website: http://www.alvinandthechipmunksmovie.com/
Comments: It started promising but then it just went… bleah… so common and predictable. I gotta say Jason Lee was funnier in Heartbreakers. Here he’s just… lame… The chipmunks are funny and there are some gags well done but the human ruins it all… the guys from Joe’s Apartment handled the situation much better.
Rating: 3/5
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Movie Review: National Treasure - Book of Secrets
*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***
Featuring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel
Genre: action, adventure
Plot: Ben Gates goes on another treasure hunt
Acting: too much action to leave time for acting
Drama: err… just look at all that gold
Action: imagine Indiana Jones merged with Thomas Crown Affair
Funny: the dialogue is
Visuals: nothing outstanding though we did get to see the oval office
Soundtrack: don’t remember
Official website: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/nationaltreasure/
Comments: Come to think of it I don’t remember much of the first one… I do remember I didn’t think much of it thought. Regarding the sequel… I guess it was alright for a Saturday action movie night. Had a bit of laugh in places, but I found it too rushed and schematically explained. Missed Sean Bean, Ed Harris tried to do his best with what he had to work with… so did Jon Voight and Helen Mirren who made an entertaining couple together. I was expecting Lara Croft to show up at the end and save the day declaring she was Ben’s half long lost sister…
Rating: 3/5
Featuring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel
Genre: action, adventure
Plot: Ben Gates goes on another treasure hunt
Acting: too much action to leave time for acting
Drama: err… just look at all that gold
Action: imagine Indiana Jones merged with Thomas Crown Affair
Funny: the dialogue is
Visuals: nothing outstanding though we did get to see the oval office
Soundtrack: don’t remember
Official website: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/nationaltreasure/
Comments: Come to think of it I don’t remember much of the first one… I do remember I didn’t think much of it thought. Regarding the sequel… I guess it was alright for a Saturday action movie night. Had a bit of laugh in places, but I found it too rushed and schematically explained. Missed Sean Bean, Ed Harris tried to do his best with what he had to work with… so did Jon Voight and Helen Mirren who made an entertaining couple together. I was expecting Lara Croft to show up at the end and save the day declaring she was Ben’s half long lost sister…
Rating: 3/5
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Movie Review: I Am Legend
*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***
Featuring: Will Smith
Genre: action, sci fi
Plot: human kind turned into monsters by virus, only one man fights to find a cure
Acting: for a one man show Will Smith does it pretty well
Drama: monsters are taking over the world
Action: not so much though there are some fights/chases with the monsters
Funny: oh yeah… like in the video store when he talks to the dummies
Visuals: New York deserted
Soundtrack: don’t remember even having one
Official website: http://iamlegend.warnerbros.com/
Comments: I don’t know what I was expecting, but there was a lot of hype about this movie before coming out. Well… Let’s not bad mouth it too much. Or let’s. There’s little dialogue in this movie and while this isn’t a problem really I would have liked it to have a little more explaining done… at least for those of us who haven’t read the book. There’s tons of discrepancies given the time and circumstances, not sure whether it was the screenplay writer or the director’s fault but I wonder how come the other 100+ people involved in the production didn’t notice any of them. The first three quarters of the movie it’s a rather decent one and not really bad but then things just got all wrong and with no reason. The ending was a big let down, even I could have come up with a better one. Come to think of it I don’t have to tire my brain at all cause he could have escape the same way the woman and the kid did. And did the dog really have to die? I know it was expected from the start but still…
Rating: 3/5
Featuring: Will Smith
Genre: action, sci fi
Plot: human kind turned into monsters by virus, only one man fights to find a cure
Acting: for a one man show Will Smith does it pretty well
Drama: monsters are taking over the world
Action: not so much though there are some fights/chases with the monsters
Funny: oh yeah… like in the video store when he talks to the dummies
Visuals: New York deserted
Soundtrack: don’t remember even having one
Official website: http://iamlegend.warnerbros.com/
Comments: I don’t know what I was expecting, but there was a lot of hype about this movie before coming out. Well… Let’s not bad mouth it too much. Or let’s. There’s little dialogue in this movie and while this isn’t a problem really I would have liked it to have a little more explaining done… at least for those of us who haven’t read the book. There’s tons of discrepancies given the time and circumstances, not sure whether it was the screenplay writer or the director’s fault but I wonder how come the other 100+ people involved in the production didn’t notice any of them. The first three quarters of the movie it’s a rather decent one and not really bad but then things just got all wrong and with no reason. The ending was a big let down, even I could have come up with a better one. Come to think of it I don’t have to tire my brain at all cause he could have escape the same way the woman and the kid did. And did the dog really have to die? I know it was expected from the start but still…
Rating: 3/5
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Movie Review: Fred Claus
*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***
Featuring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates
Genre: comedy, fantasy
Plot: sorry, unable to see the plot because of the holes
Acting: hats off to Paul Giamatti and Rachel Weisz for putting up with such crappy movie
Drama: two hours of my life are forever gone
Action: flying with the sledge… looking fake as ever
Funny: pathetically
Visuals: thank God we had Rachel Weisz to rest our eye on
Soundtrack: don’t remember
Official website: http://fredclaus.warnerbros.com/
Comments: It’s total crap. Vince Vaughan should either retire or totally change direction from these disgustingly retarded characters he’d played lately. He should try a gay or disabled part, anything but not that again.
Rating: 2/5
Featuring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates
Genre: comedy, fantasy
Plot: sorry, unable to see the plot because of the holes
Acting: hats off to Paul Giamatti and Rachel Weisz for putting up with such crappy movie
Drama: two hours of my life are forever gone
Action: flying with the sledge… looking fake as ever
Funny: pathetically
Visuals: thank God we had Rachel Weisz to rest our eye on
Soundtrack: don’t remember
Official website: http://fredclaus.warnerbros.com/
Comments: It’s total crap. Vince Vaughan should either retire or totally change direction from these disgustingly retarded characters he’d played lately. He should try a gay or disabled part, anything but not that again.
Rating: 2/5
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