vrapp Reviews

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

Spy film? C'mon.

[4/10 · 26 December 2022]

While most negative points in all reviews seem to be about the annoying shaking camera, there are much bigger problems, if the expectation is in this being spy movie.

Basically, the premise of the story is: All law enforcement forces in the whole world are in fact one interconnected network Consequently, any law enforcement official in any instant can call any law enforcement agency in any other country - regardless of the level of hostility of that country to USA - presumably knowing all phone numbers, the hierarchy, the names - and in minutes, if not seconds, have the whole force of that country mobilized to pursue anybody you name - with no justification apparently. One would wonder what was the whole deal with Assange or Snowden. The mobilization apparently comes with every street cop in the said county instantly having the photo of the wanted guy.

Once that happens, the wanted guy will be easily recognized on the street in a mega-million city like Moscow. CIA spies are either not aware of the techniques of disguise, or just scoff at them.

Protagonist's experience includes fluent knowledge of the streets of any city in the world, with all hidden passages, turns, and buildings that can be penetrated with the given stolen car, way above the local cops in that city, so 20 or so pursuing cop cars have no chance.

With all that in place, the whole story can be explained in 3 simple steps: 1. Protagonist tries to get away to another country 2. However, he is instantly recognized and pursued 3. He outruns them and flees to another country

Repeat steps 1-3 couple of times, and then the credits.

Flight (I) (2012)

How Belief beats Reality

[8/10 · 23 February 2022]

Perhaps the most thought-provoking feature of this film is the obvious inertia of the collective mind. Captain Whitaker drank before and on the flight, and he was able to do what numerous other pilots who have been specially tested, failed to do - and he saved numerous lives. In rational universe, this fact should have triggered at least a serious research of the possible correlation between these two facts, and possible re-thinking of the effects of alcohol on human abilities. In reality, not only this thought does not even cross anyone's mind, including Captain Whitaker himself, but he is sentenced to prison. The belief that alcohol _must_ have had negative effect on pilots abilities apparently is far more important than _the fact_ that exactly the opposite has _actually_ happened.

Reacher (2022– )

Supposed to be a thriller, shot as a comedy

[6/10 · 5 February 2022]

While the movie is following the book, the biggest problem I have with it is that it's in fact shot as sitcom, rather than thriller/suspense it was supposed to be. The whole atmosphere is what is creating it - the music, everyone's body language, camera, everything. The end result is that everything feels generally wrong, the threats the protagonist is facing don't look serious, and there's no thriller feeling.

Stalker (1979)

Outstanding 5.1 Audio

[10/10 · 30 October 2018]

I will not repeat the discussion about the film itself, since there are enough reviews written already. I will however mention something nobody else has mentioned, and this is the 5.1 sound in this firm, which is beyond incredible. If there's somewhere "Top X by sound" list, this movie has to be in it. I hardly can recall another movie where the sound is truly, 100% surround 100% of the time - rather than occasional isolated explosion or some such. In this movie, there are no 2 minutes where you are not surrounded by dripping water or ambient noises from all sides, all 360° all the time. If you have not yet, definitely watch it in 5.1 sound.

Derren Brown: Pushed to the Edge (2016 TV Special)

The motivation was not what it was said to be.

[7/10 · 10 March 2018]

The movie is well made and very convincing, however, the main premise, that the final killing was made under social pressure, is very questionable. Yes, up to that final point the subject was led by social pressure. But the final step, pushing the person down from the building to his death, was pure blackmail, and was made not due to the pressure by an authority figure, but as a step to avoid responsibility and possibly jail time for the mistakes and misdeeds made at all the prior steps. So while it's probably no less important, still it demonstrates how many people are ready to kill someone else not in order to conform to the authority or society, but simply in order to better themselves. Entirely different motivation.

The Old Gun (1975)

@writers_reign

[10/10 · 10 May 2010]

> This is where we may wonder why it has taken so much to rouse this peaceful man;

Everybody has his own threshold of awakening; and this film is actually the story of awakening - this is why the whole first part showing his peaceful life, even during the war, up until he is led to his threshold, and so the contrast between that and merciful killer that he becomes, becomes even more powerful.

> The next question we find ourselves asking is why he is content to go up against men armed with pistols, rifles,machine guns, grenades and flame-throwers with only a shotgun rather than picking off one man and appropriating his weaponry.

The best weapon is the weapon you are used to, the weapon you trust. Plus, this old gun together with the old castle and their old owner, become one collective weapon against the invaders. Not wise to take one piece out.

Eagle Eye (2008)

Save President, Kill Americans

[2/10 · 4 February 2009]

I'm wondering why, it seems, nobody has noticed the aspect of this movie that I think is truly disturbing.

The reason the computer is going to eliminate American Government is saving American nation from inevitable grave danger resulting from the government's criminal actions. The government has become enemy of the nation, and the system, programmed to defend the Constitution and people, sees elimination of the criminal government as the only way to save the nation (doesn't this ring any bells?). The movie's main intrigue is in neutralizing this effort.

What's even more disturbing is that the question of whether it's right to doom the nation in order to rescue the government is not even presented as any kind of dilemma, though the characters are fully aware of the situation, and though the analytical capabilities of the computer are not questioned. The right move is still to save the government, no questions asked - and the main character heroically sacrifices himself in order to save POTUS - and thus to kill millions of Americans.

I thought it should be the other way around.

Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Beautifully filmed, disgusting, politically correct

[2/10 · 22 June 2008]

From the technical standpoint, it's excellent.

From the point of the idea it promotes - it's disgusting. What's the idea? To succeed, you don't have to work hard. Just be a good guy, have good heart, overcome yourself, and you will win and succeed in no time more than 5 superstars who were working in this area for years.

This is patented politically-correct American ideology: professionalism is not important; communication skills are. Work on your soul a little bit, and you will achieve what you want.

In fact, it's "Forrest Gump" for kids. The idiot has an inherent advantage. The smart and capable will always trip in the critical moment, and the idiot will win.

What does it teach the kids? you don't have to work hard. No need to spend years on training and polishing your skills. No need to be smart. Just be a good guy, be at the right place in the right moment, and the rest will come.

I actually have left with my kid form the middle of the movie - I didn't want him to be spoiled by this ideology.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Full of Hollywood clichés ; awful camera-work, very weak movie

[2/10 · 18 August 2007]

I find it deeply disturbing and deeply suspicious that this obviously very weak movie has so many good reviews and so high rating. What's indicative, if you skip about 10 pages, there are many very negative review that, imho, correctly reflect. But first pages are all full of praise.

This move has about the right balance of awful camera work and awful screenplay, full of Hollywood clichés.

I can't find other explanation to this rating other than it's artificially made by the interested parties.

Incidentally, when I was checking the ratings of several movies currently running in my local theater, about 4 of them had rating more than 8. Which is highly unusual and suspicious already by itself, without even seeing them.

Seeing these reviews and this rating, I'm pretty sure IMDb is now "infiltrated". Anything else would be conspiracy theory. Don't believe me? go and see this movie.

V for Vendetta (2005)

Good movie, bad political message

[2/10 · 23 September 2006]

Let's put aside the obvious artistic achievements of this movie, thoroughly described in other comments, and look at the political side of it. Perhaps in other times, 5-10 years ago, this side would be not of any importance. Today however, when it's obvious that fascism is quickly gaining momentum in the U.S., followed by other countries like UK, this movie has too many parallels to the reality that can't be ignored. Looking from this angle, the movie plays very negative role, and its message plays for the evil party. It's actually 100% American way: people living under fascistic regime don't really need to do anything. Someone will promptly come over to the rescue, and he will crash the regime using few karate kicks and few explosions. No need to unite, no need to organize, to struggle, no need for revolutionary media, or any other effort or risk. In the right time, everyone will be given a mask to conveniently hide the identity, in case things go wrong; then, somehow, everyone will be on the street, without any visible organizational effort; then couple of explosions, and the regime will crash. Nice and easy solution without any real effort, so we can continue enjoying reality shows on the tube, while our troops kill Iraqis by thousands in our name and on our money. In the right time, the Superman will come over and clean our mess for us.

In fact, if American Government was smart, it would finance such a movie at 101% percent.

John Q (2002)

make sure to watch the deleted scenes

[8/10 · 8 August 2005]

Just a short comment: watching the DVD, make sure to watch the deleted scenes. Some of them would be among the strongest scenes in the film, hadn't they been cut - especially the prayer scene.

To the doubters if the story is truthful: watch the documentary in the DVD extras where healthcare administrators confirm everything is 100% accurate.

It's a true shame that the richest country in the world leaves its citizens without healthcare, at the same time providing full care for illegal immigrants and spending billions monthly on illegal wars. We certainly need more movies like this.