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Reviews
Fantastic Four (2005)
An honest super hero film
I went to watch this film not expecting too much, partly due to some recent disappointments, as well as due to the tendency to heavily lace super hero films with CGI until they look like second rate computer games.
This film was a pleasant surprise.
I'd always perceived FF to be one of the "less dark", family oriented comic books. This may be wrong, but that's the impression I had. So to me, the film held true to the comic book atmosphere. It goes to prove the point that a solid script goes a long way towards making a good film. Casting was OK (only *very minor* objection being Jessica Alba, whose skin complexion does not help her portray a blue-eyed blonde, but who did a good job as Susan Storm.)
Special effects were put to very good use, especially in the cases of the Thing and the Human Torch, and were used in good measure, without becoming overwhelming. All in all, a good adaptation of a popular comic book, which will probably appeal to the general public, without annoying the comic book fans by straying too far off the comic book.
Good Bye Lenin! (2003)
and Hello Solid Film making!
Take an interesting premise, work it into a good script, find decent actors/actresses, keep in touch with historical references to maintain realism (after all, the events described are in most peoples living memory), keep the balance between good humour and drama, and what you get is a fine film that you cannot really faulter (OK, in one scene, you can see the boom mike!). In my humble opinion, so called Hollywood "blockbuster directors and screenwriters" should be forced to watch this film and take notes or have their Union cards revoked. Luckily for Hollywood, this film is in the German language, otherwise it would sweep through Oscar nominations like a hurricane through Florida! Definitely one to watch!
Daredevil (2003)
A shortsighted director films a blind superhero
I have not been a huge Daredevil fan, but I have read enough of his stories to have been expecting a dark movie in the lines of the first two Batman films, if not the Crow. One of Marvel's most complex characters who could have been made into a great film, is stripped from all depth and reduced to just fighting (badly choreographed too!). Shame for the casting, which for the most part was excellent, as was Daredevil's costume and the movie soundtrack. In case there is a sequel, remember that Karen has played a very important part in Matt's life and should be used more, try to create an adequately dark atmosphere and please get a director who understands what Daredevil is all about. And speaking of directors, I am not looking forward at all to seeing what Mr. Mark Steven Johnson will do to the upcoming Ghost Rider,who incidentally IS one of my favourite Marvel characters.
The Blues Brothers (1980)
A suitcase full of style
Sometimes it doesn't take a ground breaking scenario or never before seen special effects to make a great film. Once in the blue moon (pun intended), all you need is a couple of extremely talented individuals, some excellent musicians, lots of cameos by yet more excellent musicians, the right dosage of humour and of course, great music. What you get, is Blues Brothers, one of most enjoyable films of all time!
To those of you who haven't seen it, go get it now. Forget the excessive machismo and violence of modern blockbusters. Just sit back, pour yourself a deep glass of neat bourbon and feel the film with all your senses.
The Hunted (2003)
Aren't a plot and character development an integral part of a film anymore?
Without discussing the unbelievably patronizing and historically wrong opening scenes in detail, suffice to say they constitute a poor excuse for explaining why del Toro's gone off the deep end (a trained assassin appalled by... killing???). So, completely lacking a starting premise to build on, the film continues with a progressively bored and confused del Toro, unable to find any traits in his character to work with. Then there's Jenna Boyd's character, who fails to make even the slightest impact on the film and could as easily have been omitted.
Sure, casting is exceptional, the wilderness locations are quite breathtaking as are some of the end fighting scenes, but what is the point? With the exception of Jones' character, all the other characters, especially del Toro's, are so shallow and poorly thought of, that we are never given a chance to decide whether to like or dislike them,let allow connect with them and we have hardly time to bid them adieu, as they disappear from memory at lightning speed. What a complete waste of good talent!
Identity (2003)
A case of mistaken identity two thirds into the film!
What started off as a very promising film, with captivating atmosphere, beautiful photography, a good cast and an interesting story to tell, all wrapped under some very clever filming perespective, ended up leaving me thinking "Is that it?" As the story unfolded and the pieces fell in place for a dramatic climax, the story was being progressively stripped from plausible explanations as to what was happening. One by one, the "escape routes" were being cut off, leaving the director trying to explain the inexplicable, with the one unavoidable outcome, failure to convince! Shame, as up to that point the film had all the earmarks of a descent, highly enjoyable film, with fast-paced, inventive directing as its strongest point. All in all, it left me with the same feeeling of unachieved potential as 'The ninth gate' did! Still, worth watching for its atmosphere, cast and creative directing.
Only the Strong (1993)
A tribute to Capoeira martial art, if not much more...
Having seen the film a few times, I would readily agree that, to the average viewer, it would seem to be little more than a non-descript, low budget effort, hardly worth the film it's printed on. However, Only the Strong stands apart as the only film to contain more than a few frames of (decent quality) Capoeira, the low-profile(?) Brazilian martial art. Dacascos, a talented athlete and an otherwise accomplished martial artist, but not a Capoeirista, does, in my opinion, a decent job out of performing some Capoeira moves, but it's the real Capoeiristas shown in the very beginning and very end of the film that make Only the Strong, a tribute to this wonderful martial art. To sum it up, a true gem for its Capoeira scenes, but an otherwise complete waste of time.