szigma Reviews

Going Under (1991)

Bad, worse, worst, totally awful ... this movie

[1/10 · 26 August 2008]

Oh my GOD! This is the typical example of someone standing in line at the supermarket and coming up with a bad idea: Oh, naming a submarine Sub Standard, how funny, let's make a movie of it... And than, instead of going home and forgetting about it, he goes home, writes a few pages of script without even trying to make up something more funny ... and then comes the unbelievable part: he manages to persuade a producer and Bill Pulman to make this movie!

Go see 'Down Periscope' if you want to see a submarine movie and have fun... and forget that precious raw material was ever wasted on this #&@!

Hungarian Vagabond (2004)

Not bad at all

[7/10 · 2 March 2004]

I went to see this one with little expectations. The director's previous movie was quite innovative, but lacked everything to make it good. It was slow, clumsy with needless and bad lines and of course (Hungarian movie!), not too good acting. After seeing a trailer and reading about this movie, I thought that it too would suffer from the same problems.

But I was quite pleased. The movie indeed is too long and slow, with some of the dialogues pointless and badly written, but at least the storyline is enjoyable, and there are some realy good jokes (for Hungarians, don't expect to understand anything in this movie, if you're not Hungarian). Some of the characters are realy good (It seems that to have big actors for small roles can really help). It appears that the director got the hang of it during the making of the movie, because it starts out very awkward but gets better about the third way through.

Although full of bits that are annoying because they could have been done better, this movie was worth the prise of the ticket. Nothing like Monty Python and the Holy Grail (although clearly influenced by it), but good for an otherwise pointless night.

The West Wing (1999–2006)

Boring, stupid and worthless

[16 July 2003]

I guess I do not have the right to comment on the show, since every time I wanted to watch an episode I got bored to death and changed to Discovery instead.

As I understand, the series is about a bunch of guys, who have all the power in the world, but must fight hard every episode to be able to erect homeless-shelters, bring joy to the people and achieve world peace. Yeah, well, in old comics they would be flying around in red-white-and-blue capes killing the nazis with their laser-sight. At least that would be sincere... This is just plain stupid, Hollywood style worthless piece of "make'em feel the real human drama and give us an Emmy!" Soooo far from real life, even the cops in Third Watch who take little gangsters to school and make them promise to be good seem lifelike.

After 9/11 the channel running the show here in Hungary announced that a special episode was made about the question. I was still shocked, so decided to sit through this episode to get some answers. (I got bored again at halftime, so missed the ending) Well, this episode was either right and told us what most Americans know about world politics (In this case it's easy to understand why the US is hated all over the world), or this episode was just another opportunity to cash in on an award with it's stereotypical and meaningless childish chauvinism (And in this case it is the most disgusting example of moviemakers living off other peoples misery).

Anyway, go and watch the show if you're not bothered by the fact that you are treated as immature and naive by the authors, but I think that even the most exciting plot and lines full of wit can't make up for something really wrong in the first place.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

(SPOILERS AHEAD!) Where's Roald Dahl when you need him?

[5/10 · 4 March 2002]

Okay, some serious spoilers, but you can't describe why this movie was bad in a "know-what-I-mean, wink, wink" style... Alright, not a bad movie like Armageddon (which was 'bad' in the worst meaning of the word). This film is just out of place. Nice but cliche idea, that would make a perfect 30 min. episode in the Twilight Zone. But pulling this pale story out to a full length movie? Please! The most annoying thing about this is the 8+ rating of the movie and all that hype! Best movie ever? Best plot twist ever? Oh, no! This movie was so boooring! So, Bruce Willis gets killed in the first five minutes... Why is everyone behaving so silly? Don't they know that he is dead? And that's when (about 30 minutes into the movie) you realize that you've just spoiled the movie. That should have been that awesome plot twist at the end! You silly! Since it is evident that Bruce is dead, it is rather frustrating to watch the scenes in which the director is trying to foreshadow the dark twist at the end. Banal, cliche and childish. Yawn! At least Bruce Willis is not wearing a bloody shirt this time, nice try though... I wouldn't say that this movie is bad, if only I hadn't seen some other good movies with really good and unpredictable thrilling plot twists. Yep, it can be done, if you just put a little more work in the movie instead of the commercials and adverts. If you want a good plot twist, go and watch Jacob's Ladder or Brazil or L.A. confidential! From this movie you can at least learn the Spanish for: "I don't want to be bored to death!"

Armageddon (1998)

Oh, Dear God! This is Baaaaaaaaaaaad!

[1/10 · 4 March 2002]

Okay, I'm a chicken. I should have marched right up to the manager and told him to give me my money back!

I can't believe, that Armageddon is still used in comparison with other movies. This is not a movie! This is some kind of a joke! I can't tell you why this is a bad film, because this is bad in every detail! Cliches you think nobody dares to use anymore, extremely bad plot, no story, poor twists, poor action and really bad acting! The concept of pure entertainment is no excuse for the total lack of quality!

In a perfect world this movie would have been thrown in the trashcan, so that the title Armageddon can be recycled without shame!

Mother Night (1996)

Vonnegut on film. It is true!

[4 March 2002]

A really good movie! Nice, if you just want to enjoy watching TV, nice if you are in the mood for some serious thinking. This is entertainment and yet this is art!

Kurt Vonnegut put on the big screen! Need I say anything else? I've read the book and believe me: this is the best adaption of any book ever!

Congratulations, Mr. Nolte! There should have been an Oscar in that acting!

Moszkva tér (2001)

Best Hungarian movie in the last 6-7 years!

[10/10 · 19 November 2001]

First of all, I'm Hungarian. And I just happened to be a student at the time of the fall of communism. I think that this movie has captured it all. Every scene reminds me of something, every scene is a hit. The dialogues are perfect and the acting is surprisingly good (for newer Hungarian movies!). The last line of the movie sums up the whole feeling of this era.

Best movie, lots o' fun!...but only if you have the same experience as me. You have to be a young Hungarian to enjoy this movie. Otherwise, you just won't get it. You'd think it's slow, clumsy, low on moral etc.etc... But that's the way we were!!! A direct hit. Go see it, it will help you see things from another point of view!

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Best special effects I've seen, but where is the movie?

[6/10 · 24 April 2001]

First of all, I'm happy that movies can be made to look like the real world. Old warmovies had very poor action flics, BUT! But they had a story! Remember The Battle of the Bulge? Real suspense, makes you watch and be excited for the whole two hours. What does this film have? It makes you go pale and/or throw up after the first few minutes. You swear not to touch a rifle in your life. And after 30 minutes extreme nothing. No story, no dialogues, no acting. Yes, extremely poor acting. The whole movie is like a bad TV show: Disturbing Action Flics, Nothing But Blood and Guts. Sure, it is a great success to make a movie that can give you a very realistic feeling of war, but picture this: I've read a book written by a doctor about the siege of Budapest in WWII. That book had bigger effect on me than this poor movie. Just text. It takes more than a few flying limbs to make a movie! Next time if Steven Spielberg directs a movie showing exploding barrels for two hours, will it be nominated for best movie/book/whatsoever???

Cutting it Short (1981)

Best movie ever made!

[10/10 · 24 April 2001]

To me, this is the best movie ever. I could watch it over and over again for a thousand times! The scene, the characters, the dialogues, the situation, the colors, the feeling! Ah, that sweet nostalgia! And the whole movie mixed with an elegant little comedy. This film is truly the one to give you joy and courage through life. I guess you need to be able to receive the feeling that just comes from this movie. Anyone who has seen a peaceful little Middle-European town would appreciate this movie. Anyone who hasn't can do it with this film. Go out and get it!