MihaiSorinToma Reviews

Black Mirror: Metalhead (2017) Season 4, Episode 5

Seems like a horror movie...

[4/10 · 21 May 2020]

This is one of those episodes whose rating I simply cannot understand. And I'm not going to follow the others who claim that this is a masterpiece because it simply isn't, far from it actually, but on the contrary, I say that it is way too overrated for what it depicts.

Let me try to explain myself a bit. In a post-apocalyptic world where robots hunt humans "for a living", we find a group of three whose seem more or less determined to enter a storehouse in order to find a specific box for someone whom they know that has only o couple of days left to live. So they seem willing to sacrifice themselves in order to get that box. You might think that they would do such foolishness for something important, but we later find out that the whole risk that they took was only for a teddy bear.

Let's say that I can accept this premise (that someone in their situation, in such a dangerous wasteland and in their position of being hunted by deadly robots); although I would do this with great sacrifice, as I find it too hard to believe that somebody mentally sane would actually do that. In this case, it is simply impossible for me to understand what was she (the main character and the only one remaining alive from her party of three) thinking of with every single action she took in order to get back to base. You can add here almost every action she undergoes, from staring without any thought of running when her colleague is slaughtered by a robot to speaking on her walkie-talkie just to send some irrelevant messages while risking exposure, or even going to wash her hands after touching a putrefied corpse instead of running away.

I read plenty of comments by other people saying that humans have feelings and that this is the only thing that separates us from robots, and they are right, but I also know that humans have a basic survival instinct, as animals, and are willing to do anything to survive, especially when put into extremely harsh situations as the one depicted in this episode. Thus, all their actions which were emotionally derived couldn't have all been present at the same time to all three characters. I simply cannot believe that. Furthermore, besides feelings, we also have a brain, and intelligence, which should suppress such ridiculous decisions at least from time to time.

Bluntly, I saw a bunch of people who seemed to be in a dream or something, who don't realize that they put their own lives into jeopardy (or simply don't care about their lives) for a pointless toy and don't seem willing to do even something remotely intelligent in order to survive. They, and especially she, seem determined to do whatever foolish sentimental action in order to get caught, making the viewer even wish they get caught faster as there isn't any point of prolonging the inevitable death; thus, ending up wishing this as a viewer explains pretty clear how my experience with his episode was. I can even associate it with most horror movies, which have the same traits as this one, from a bad plot to ridiculously stupid characters.

Ready Player One (2018)

Good sci-fi stuff

[8/10 · 13 October 2019]

A movie with such an interesting and relatable idea like this one has and with such a director can only end up in success and it did, mostly. The plot is very good most of the time, keeping it all interesting, the visual part is simply excellent making the OASIS look excellent while the intrigue and the action are also great. There is little to complain in these departments but the movie still has one or two aspects which weren't able to stay on par with the rest.

First of all, I have to say that I was kind of disappointed with the acting or with the cast itself. They simply weren't able to make themselves credible and likeable in order to truly relate with their situation and thus "feel" what is going on. They seemed dull (especially the main ones) and leave plenty of things to be wished for in this department. Speaking of the characters, although they were mostly teenagers, they had a tendency to act foolishly from time to time, following what seems to be a stereotype these days, but it isn't something tragic, though worth mentioning. To make matters worse here, the antagonist is pretty lame. You can blame the acting and you can also blame the plot but the final result is that his performance didn't contribute as it should to the outcome of the story.

Overall, I was able to ignore most of the downsides that this movie had and enjoy the story as it is, being also interested by the action and the great depiction of the virtual world (once again, the CGI is top notch). Although it had a tendency of becoming predictable, especially towards the end, it still provided a good time when put together with all the other parts which simply shined.

Joker (I) (2019)

Good

[8/10 · 13 October 2019]

It's a movie full of drama and suspense which managed to keep me interested until the end. The evolution of Joaquin Phoenix is the one that really shines, being able to transmit plenty of emotion through every single act, making you "feel" what he feels and relate to his suffering and his condition. The filming direction was very good, the acting was great across the board while the finale was also impressive, despite the last part being somewhat predictable.

The not so good parts are regarding the story which although well presented and put together, it becomes quite predictable after the first half (especially for somebody who knows this universe), thus losing some impact and suspense which it had plenty in the first part, or at least until "Joker" gets a bit of taste of power.

Overall, it's a very good movie with noteworthy acting and a good plot (especially if you don't know anything about Joker). It can become boring at times and even obvious but the overall experience is good, but nothing extraordinary.

Ad Astra (2019)

A big waste of time

[5/10 · 4 October 2019]

I'm going to start this review with the good parts as they were unfortunately pretty few. It has an interesting intrigue which made me curious and kept me this way until the final part. It has Brad Pitt who plays his character pretty well and also presents some of his thoughts in an unique way but nothing extraordinary. I can say that the filming direction and special effects were great, even impressive at times, but that's about it.

Going to the bad part, it is soooo slow-paced that you have to be a hero to resist until the end without a single yawn or without losing interest. To make matters worse, it has plenty of questionable moments which might even be considered plot-holes, which unfortunately decide key moments in the plot. This is where a spoiler alert is in order. The first thing I'm questioning is the fact that he was chosen for this mission in which it was pretty clear or at least very possible for him to meet his father and if so eliminate him from the picture; and all this just to find out in the next couple of scenes that the company who sent him didn't trust him from the beginning; my only explanation here is that he was the best from his field and that he was the "logical" choice, but judging by the emotional stake, it doesn't make much sense for me. The other question I have (and this one is quite big, even considering it to be a plot-hole) is why was he released from his room while on mars (by someone who knew his father was a murderer) just to be sent after his father (whom he clearly wasn't going to kill, although that character who liberated him thought otherwise, risking her freedom in the process), presumably doing exactly what the crew that he hijacks was going to do, which is, obviously, to eliminate his father and his project. The worst part in this movie is the actual finale which is so predictable that you're simply left wondering why you just spent all that runtime for simply nothing. You don't get anything out of the ordinary, just plain old soap opera which brings more anger than relief. Oh, as a quick note, there were also plenty of underdeveloped characters which took part in the plot with no clear direction or just to send an ordinary message which could have been sent in a much more creative way, but maybe it's just me being picky.

As you might have guessed by now, watching this movie wasn't quite a pleasure. It kept me interested as I was hoping for a finale which might bring something truly intelligent, extraordinary or impressive. As it turns out, the disappointments kept rolling, thus ending up with a quite bad experience.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

An awesome spin-off

[9/10 · 18 August 2019]

It's a movie which frankly took me by surprise. I was expecting it to be good but not as good as it turned out to be. It's full of action and adrenaline, it generate plenty of suspense and to make it even better, it's pretty funny as well. The main characters/actors duo is very well thought and implemented, making it a pleasure to watch them into action. The plot is quite good, with little complaints as far as I'm concerned, making it all pretty credible or at least easy to swallow. I enjoyed the other actors as well, the cast as a whole being an achievement by itself.

It found it pretty hard to find faults when it comes to this movie as I'm a fan of its type. I love intense action, I love great acting and especially great characters as this one has, I enjoy a well-defined, credible and wonderfully played antagonist and I mostly love over-powered tech or characters. Thus, this movie delivers everything I want from its type. To point out something which some might find not so pleasant, it tends to exaggerate quite a lot when it comes to stunts, fighting or tech. I am aware of it but I enjoy it as it is, but others might not. The story although good could have been a bit less predictable but it's also not as bad as it sounds and you might not even acknowledge this issue.

As a whole, it's a very good action movie which deserves plenty of attention from action lovers. It's good to very good in all departments and it definitely provided some quality time for me in the cinema. It gets a clear recommendation from my side.

Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

An OK movie

[7/10 · 19 July 2019]

As it tries to present an evolution of Spider-Man, introduce a new hero into the picture and at the same time tell a seemingly ordinary teenage love story, the overall outcome of the movie seems a bit off judging by the quality with which we were accustomed from the Marvel universe. If you see it as an ordinary movie, you'll find it quite ok, like I did, but if see it as a Marvel movie, I think you're in for a little surprise. The biggest problem that I find with it is that it tries to do multiple things which seem to lead into multiple directions but as they tried to present them all as a whole, they missed a bit (or more) on the important stuff. Another aspect which wasn't so good is that it focuses a bit too much on the romance/teenage stuff, which seems even cliché at times, leaving the hero part of Spider-Man in the background, his contribution in the first part of the movie (I might go as far to say that the entire first half) being insignificant or even bad, just to have something to fix or improve upon later.

Fortunately, it raises the bar as time goes by, even if done with small steps, and brings something more intense and obviously more interesting. It starts to show the part of Spider-Man which I want to see in such a movie, the one which fights against the bad guys, the one that makes you smile but still stays serious enough to make the action credible and enjoyable. The plot twist which it features is also a good aspect worth mentioning, totally unexpected for a stranger to Marvel comics as myself, while the explanation of it is even more impressive and satisfying.

Overall it proves to be a movie which doesn't go above the OK mark due to the above mentioned downsides but is still able to provide a good time. I wouldn't quite recommend it but I wouldn't tell anybody to stay away either.

Anna (II) (2019)

A wonderful experience

[10/10 · 19 July 2019]

I have to admit that this is one of those movies which took me by surprise, obviously in a good way, judging by the rating I gave it. I was expecting it to be yet another action movie which tries so hard to impress through its fighting or shooting scenes that is forgets to also bring a good story to back it all up. Boy, I was so wrong. The plot it presents is simply astonishing, judging by the way it unfolds, the way it presents its key scenes by alternating between past and present and ultimately by its twists which I found quite satisfying and also hard to predict. It all goes so deep from this last point of view that it had moments when I thought I was watching a different type of movie. The cast it has is very good, interpreting very well each main character involved, while the action is also quite impressive with plenty of shootouts, fighting and chasing scenes, letting little time for less intense or suspenseful moments.

I find it quite hard to find flaws when talking about it but I will mention one or two just to take them out of the way. The beginning of the movie was a bit slow. Not boring or something that might lead you away from the cinema, but still noticeable slower than the rest of the flick. Fortunately, it picks up pace pretty quickly, thus not making it a big deal. Another thing to be mentioned here is the quality of a few stunts. They don't look bad or something, but leave the impression that they could have been better done or shot.

It's a movie which, as said in the beginning, started with mediocre expectations from my side but provided an excellent time. It's very entertaining, suspenseful and even a bit emotional at times but the best part about it is by far its plot. Together with the numerous action scenes, they are able to produce a movie which left quite an impression, at least as far as I'm concerned. Judging by the fact that the downsides were quite easy to dismiss, I can say that it's a very good movie which I can recommend to anybody which wants to have two hours of great entertainment. Oh, and a small subjective bonus when it comes to the overall experience, it was shot in 2D!

Men in Black: International (2019)

A mediocre sequel

[5/10 · 8 July 2019]

I have to admit that this last installment of the MiB franchise took me by surprise, but unfortunately in a bad way. I was expecting it to be good, but now, judging by the fact that my favorite Will Smith has left the series, it simply proves that it isn't able to deliver. Its story is mediocre and way too predictable, regardless of how much you try to tell yourself during the film that it's not just to be proven wrong. It isn't able to be funny no matter how much Chris Hemsworth tries to make a fool out of himself, it isn't interesting enough to be enjoyable and definitely not thrilling enough to generate some emotions. Although it has a twist in the middle, which can be seen from miles, it's not capable of a solid performance which you can actually enjoy.

As pluses, you get a couple of jokes from time to time, some good CGI and some action-packed scenes, a couple of actors which try to make it all look good but they're outnumbered by the plot and basically, that's about it. Way too little if you ask me, especially when speaking about a series which brought a completely different experience in the past.

Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver (2018)

A very childish live action representation of Jim Knopf

[6/10 · 15 June 2019]

This live action movie tries to bring to the big screen the story of the Jim Knopf cartoons which once entertained my childhood, but as far as I'm concerned, it quite fails. The biggest problem with it is by far its screen time. As you might have guessed, it's simply impossible to fit an entire tv series into a movie, let alone a very short one like this one is, thus you're going to miss a lot of events. Another side effect to this is that the characters are not very well introduced and developed, fact which the series manages without breaking a sweat, thus for someone who hasn't seen the cartoons it would be unpleasant to link them all together. They'll figure it out as it is after all a film intended for children, but again, not the best experience.

Speaking of children, this one seems to have been made solely for them. I'm speaking of course about the way it treats every single situation it encounters. Everything gets sorted out very easily without any drama, through inexplicable exaggerations (even by fantasy standards) or head scratching events, thus expect to be quite a lack of emotion or suspense throughout the entire film. It might be good if you're a little boy/girl watching a movie at the cinema with your parents but for someone like me, it's simply way too childish. The action is meh at best, even if they chose to include a couple of more "intense" events from the series, hoping to impress the viewers but from my point of view, it did a bit too little in this direction. The cast could also have been better if you ask me, as too many actors don't manage to transmit anything through their characters which are very expressive in the animated show.

It's a movie which unfortunately misses the point, or at least the one that I was expecting. It indeed manages to be a movie for the small ones who obviously haven't seen the series but for me who simply loved the cartoons it's a bit too hard to bare.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

A Dark Jean

[8/10 · 15 June 2019]

This latest movie from the beloved X-Men franchise brings quite a new approach when it comes to storytelling, especially due to the different approach regarding Jean Grey. While it does manage to bring more drama and suspense as opposed to some of its predecessors, it isn't quite able to generate as much emotion because of the same reason. Judging by the title but also the trailer, the main twist in her personality becomes obvious, thus the effect isn't as pronounced as it could have been. The plot is mostly good, with a couple of twists but it could have done a bit more in terms of predictability. The actors' performance is something worth mentioning as it is simply impressive, thanks to a very good cast.

In terms of visuals, everything looks good or even great, the costumes are also very well made while the scenery is also very well chosen. I enjoyed the action, as with every X-Men movie, while the overall experience was good. But, the biggest letdown in my opinion were by far the antagonists. Their dull expressions and their way of expressing themselves was simply not worthy of this movie. Although their powers were impressive and their actions were there to be seen, the way they did it was simply a disappointment for me.

Overall, it's a good movie of the franchise which continues to "update" the mutant lineup and bring emotion but also plenty of action as always, which provides a good time thanks to its story and fighting scenes, which looks good as always but which fails to bring an antagonist which is on par with the rest of the movie.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

King of Disappointments

[5/10 · 15 June 2019]

A movie with such an amazing trailer can't turn out to be a bad, can it? Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened. Putting together such a predictable plot with such boring and unsympathetic characters can't lead to something good I'm afraid. Although it seems to have potential, especially judging by the sheer number of enormous creatures depicted, it manages to be simply dull and boring. As you don't get to care about the characters, it becomes quite difficult to be involved in the action and actually enjoy it. Although some actors try to make a good impression, it becomes obvious that they're effort is doomed to fail judging by the plot which simply isn't capable of delivering a good experience.

In terms of upsides, there's little to say. The visuals are great, detailed and pleasant to watch, thanks to some great CGI, the chosen scenery is also very well picked and you do get a bit of excitement in terms of action, but due to the above mentioned, drama, emotion or other feelings which may derive from a movie are quite scarce or not present at all.

As a conclusion, it's a movie you can easily skip or forget, definitely not worth your cash, even if the 3D effects from the cinema might help it a bit in terms of overall experience. It does way too little things good as opposed to the many that it does wrong.

The Hustle (I) (2019)

Truly awful

[3/10 · 29 May 2019]

I honestly don't know which is the best way to start talking about this movie. It is by far the worst movie I've seen so far this year and it surely manages to make the shortlist of the worst movies I've ever seen. Why? The answer is simpler than you might expect. It's supposed to be a comedy with one of my favorite actresses, so what can possibly go wrong? Everything. And I really mean everything. It wasn't able to bring even a smile to my face, let alone a full laugh, the actresses' performance was appalling, the script was completely retarded and the overall sensation was that it a completely failed low-cost movie with low-cost actors which are searching for a way to make themselves known.

It was so long, so stupid and so boring that I'm truly proud of myself for not falling asleep. I cannot understand how they ended up with this abomination, how someone like Anne Hathaway can accept such a role and most of all, how I ended up seeing it. It's hard to compare it with anything, it's even harder to watch it as the only feeling that it was able to transmit was embarrassment. The only thing that I can advise about this one is to stay away as far as you can from it, let alone spend your hard earned cash for it.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)

As expected

[9/10 · 29 May 2019]

This third installment of the John Wick trilogy follows the same recipe for success of its predecessors, having great actors, action galore and a good plot. As you might expect, the action part is the one that counts, featuring countless fights, shooting and spectacular moves which makes it a delight to watch, if you're into this type of movies like I am. The main characters do their job very well, helped of course by the plot which is good, and keep the viewer interested the entire time. It's not predictable, it's not boring and it's not without a couple of twists to spice things up from time to time.

To point out some less awesome aspects of this film, I have to remark the exaggerations in the overall combat scenes. I know it's based on exaggerations but this time it feels they've gone a bit too far with them. It isn't something that can bother but their there to be found if you pay close attention. Another aspect might be the plot itself. As I said before, it's good and it does its job well, but I felt that it could have had a bit more substance, which would have brought it closer to the first movie's.

Overall, I can say that I found what I was looking for. A great action movie which delivers plenty of drama and suspense, impresses with its fighting and shooting sequences thanks to some remarkable scenes but also thanks to some great actors who've done their job once again very well in making it all a great watch.

A Star Is Born (2018)

Music at its best

[9/10 · 20 May 2019]

A movie which features my personal favorite singer Lady Gaga as a protagonist is something I personally can't wait to see. As the film is aimed towards music and it has Bradley Cooper to join her, it seems like a recipe for success. And, for the first time in quite a while, it actually is! The movie tells a solid story, with a couple of twists which do it much good. It also has great, likeable and even memorable characters, thus is able to create plenty of drama and emotion along the way. The music it features is simply astonishing, generating goosebumps and tons of emotion with every chance it gets, making the overall experience a true pleasure. Even though it tends to be very dramatic in some ways, especially towards the end, it is something unique which only adds value to the movie's performance.

There's little to say about this movie's bad aspects as it tends to not have any. The only thing which I can say I didn't like about this movie, although "didn't like" is quite an exaggeration, is the fact that is has a very slow pace. I know that it has to be this way and you shouldn't think that it is close to induce boredom, far from it actually, but it felt that it over-prolonged some scenes where it wasn't necessary.

Overall, it's a wonderful execution of a great idea which features lovely characters and actors which manage to do a very good job in the movie's entire screen time. It deserves to be seen only for its move, let alone its plot.

Glass (2019)

A worthy follow-up which could have done more

[8/10 · 20 May 2019]

This third act of Shyamalan's universe of extraordinary individuals brings together many characters from "Split" and "Unbreakable", letting them do precisely what they do best. The plot is quite interesting, taking advantage of the protagonists' skills and building suspense upon them. It keeps the viewer interested at all times, inserting something new from time to time while maintaining the bar up. The characters are the same as in the previous movies, well played by their actors and very enjoyable to watch. The movie also has a couple of twists up its sleeve which it uses with skill and I liked it a lot how it explains every single one of them towards the end.

Unfortunately, the conclusion let quite a lot to be desired. Although it comes with its own twist and opens a new world to be discovered, it seems to end a bit abrupt with little satisfaction. The way its main characters are treated is quite disappointing in my opinion. Another downside worth mentioning is the lack of action. Although it is focused on the brainy side of the characters as the title suggests, even when it gets the chance to expose some quality action, it gives the impression that it's shy about it, giving only small hints of what the characters can actually do.

Overall, it's a good follow-up to the previously mentioned two, with a good plot and the same great characters, but it left the impression that it could have done more in terms of finale and action.

Beautiful Creatures (2013)

A superb love story

[10/10 · 4 May 2019]

I have to say from the start that this movie is one of a kind. And I don't mean this in a bad way, far from it actually. It features a duo of very enjoyable and loveable main characters which are able to make you feel in a way that very few others can. Their charm, their way of expressing themselves and their way of interpreting their roles is simply impressive, thus making their love story quite unique. The plot is good but nothing extraordinary, the special effects are very good while the filming angles do a very good job in terms of storytelling.

Yes, you can argue that it isn't very polished. You can argue that it can feel like a soap opera at times. You might even argue that it isn't the best looking movie or that it has some underdeveloped characters which might have deserved more attention. And you might even be right, but let me tell you something. The way this movie managed to transmit the emotion of their love story, how it was able to keep me eager to find out how will they end up while fighting against all odds and most of all, through the twists from the finale, how it was able to generate so much drama just to flip everything towards joy is something that makes me forget all its flaws. The way it combines all its pluses in a supernatural world is exactly what I want to see and this one simply aced it as far as I'm concerned.

If you're determined to find flaws in it, I'm sure you will and as a result, you'll find a movie which you won't enjoy, but if you're watching it for the love story, for the "magic" it produces, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time like I did. Even after seeing it the second time, I still think that it is a very underrated movie which deserves more.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

Yet another failed execution of a good idea

[6/10 · 29 April 2019]

Despite its rather interesting idea, this movie managed to create a plethora of boredom and quite an empty universe, filled with unfinished characters and a pretty unconvincing story. Although it had potential, especially judging by its trailer, it failed to impress in any way, leaving a lot to be desired. Everything seemed flat and underdeveloped, like they thought of a lengthier film but ended up cutting it just to fit an imaginary time frame. I know that it was developed with kids in mind but the story and the action are way too simple. You only get one twist towards the end and that's about it. Everything seems predictable and lame, thus you get little to no satisfaction as problems are solved.

There's little to say in terms of upsides. You get a good main actress which transmits a good amount of emotion (most of the time), especially through her British accent, you get a fantastic world which has plenty of unexploited potential but which is well presented and "drawn" and you also get an interesting premise. The result is a pleasant atmosphere in which the so called action takes place (I say this because it is very scarce) but overall isn't able to generate enough drama, emotion or even excitement for the movie to be a good watch. It isn't bad either, especially if it were to be seen by a child, but from my point of view, it is a failed execution of an idea which had a lot more inside.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

A worthy finale of the Avengers franchise

[10/10 · 29 April 2019]

To make things simple, this movie is exactly what everyone wanted it to be, including myself of course. It's a great follow-up of the "Infinity War" which was simply astonishing and left room for sequel as it manages to maintain the pace, quality and excitement of its predecessor throughout its entire length of over three hours. It manages to be so dramatic, filled with action like every other installment but also very thrilling. You're always kept glued to the screen, waiting for the next thing to arrive with no room for boredom. The way it presents its ideas, its story but especially its action scenes is simply unique. As you can expect, all previous Marvel characters return to the scene with their great actors, which their job flawlessly regardless of the situation.

It's one of those rare movie which keep me excited from the first trailer, which generates interest even when it isn't released, which makes me search for the best place in a cinema the moment it appears just to see it as soon as possible. The great part about it though is that it didn't disappoint in any way. Although pretty lengthy, it provided a satisfying watch with a good conclusion to the franchise. I couldn't find almost anything against it, thus the only thing I can do is to award it the maximum rating that it deserves.

Shazam! (2019)

Another failed idea from the DC universe

[4/10 · 13 April 2019]

It's one of those movies which tries too hard to be something but simply fails to do so. It tries to be funny and it puts a lot of effort into this aspect but all I got was one or two laughs in over two hours, which is simply unacceptable. It tries to have a story which might keep the viewer interested but it also fails, being mostly boring, linear and way to predictable. You can also add into the equation a couple of boring characters which are quite hard to like and you get a recipe for a failed movie like this one is. It seems aimed towards children, especially judging by the amount of them who are features in this movie, but it wouldn't be the case either, as a child would consider it too stupid, as I mostly did myself.

To be honest, it's very hard to find something good about this movie, regardless of the approach. It isn't funny, it doesn't have good characters, it doesn't have a good story (far from it actually), the action is meh while the CGI is the only aspect which keeps it alive. I don't understand what is there to like about this movie, but the way I see it, it is bad. Even though I wasn't expecting much from it, judging by the previous DC inspired flicks and its trailer but it still managed to disappoint me.

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

A magical, musical and enchanting story

[9/10 · 6 April 2019]

A musical like this one really comes quite rarely and it's a big shame that they don't appear more often. These types of movies manage to create such a pleasant atmosphere which drags you into it, making you wish it will never stop. This one is able to transmit so much emotion through its complex characters, greatly played by the actors, through its attractive story and through its impressive musical acts that it simply is a great achievement. It's well thought and very well put together featuring very high quality visuals which combine live-action footage with cartoon-style animation. It is something unique, especially as it is capable of transforming both sadness and happiness into a magical moment through song, dance or words. By the way, I really enjoyed the complex dialog and the great lyrics, especially through a British accent.

There isn't much to say in terms of bad aspects. The only thing which can be mentioned here is the fact that it tends to exaggerate a bit with its musical acts, prolonging them a bit too much in some cases without an obvious reason. Besides this little commentary, I couldn't find anything that would bother me.

It's a movie which can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It looks astonishing, it sounds great and it simply makes you feel good, providing a quality time throughout its entire length. It's a great family movie overall!

Dumbo (2019)

A way too childish approach

[6/10 · 6 April 2019]

It's a fantastic movie which follows the adventures of Dumbo, the elephant with exaggerated ears which gives him extraordinary abilities. The plot featured is pretty straightforward and linear, with no surprises or twists up its sleeve. It's able to generate a good time in terms of entertainment but it lacks drama or suspense due to its predictable nature. Its characters are also OK, well played by their actors but again, nothing worth mentioning here either. It looks great though, with impressive angles, scenery and of course, CGI.

Unfortunately, it is a movie targeted almost completely towards children. As a result, there's little suspense involved, everything is very predictable and you also get a finale like every other Disney movie. It's intended to be serious and tries to do so, but there's little to appreciate when you know what's going to happen. The dialog is also very simple, along with the action which seems composed out of ordinary activities which can be understood regardless of age. After seeing the approaches that were taken for Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast, which kept the original storyline but made it more mature and more human-like, obviously excluding the fantastic part, it's hard to appreciate Dumbo which seems childish and mediocre in many aspects. You get little besides a good idea, the elephant's cuteness and its great ability. It's a shame they haven't done more with this movie as it clearly had potential.

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)

Simply put, a masterpiece!

[10/10 · 23 March 2019]

An extraordinary plot, inspired by a true story, of a special dog who generates an incredible bond between him and his master after he's found in a railway station. The way their relationship builds up is full of emotion and happiness, the dog's cuteness and overall attitude playing a very important role here. The human actors also do a very good job in impersonating their characters which manage to generate plenty of emotion and love with every chance they get.

The movie manages to create such an unique atmosphere that it simply transports the viewer into its world, making him feel what the characters are feeling, making him empathize with the characters. Although maintaining a slow pace all the way, it doesn't let the viewer get bored at any single moment. It has this gift of keeping one's attention, making him care about the situations and the characters. But, as we get past the first half of the movie, drama starts building up, replacing the happiness with sorrow and grief. The amount of it is simply impossible to explain using mere words. It was so tragic that I was hardly able to control my tears as they seemed more and more inevitable.

It very hard to explain how this movie made me feel, how it was able to put a smile on my face but also generate so much sadness to make me cry. Everything seems so well thought, so well put into picture that it simply is an unique experience which you have to live it in order to fully understand its depth. It simply is a masterpiece which deserves any recommendation possible.

What Men Want (2019)

A failed re-imagining of the 2000s flick

[6/10 · 22 March 2019]

A movie which follows the idea of "What Women Want" from 2000 and entitles itself as a comedy seems like a recipe for success but it can also end up as a failure so easily. I say that it has failed because of what it tried to do and what ended up being. Although apparently copying key moments from the original, it tries way too hard to be funny. It doesn't even take itself seriously, it presents a couple of stereotypical characters which try too hard to prove their point and a story that's so predictable and even boring that you struggle to follow. The whole idea of mind reading is not well thought and obviously not very well implemented, as it fails to generate some much needed laughter and even suspense. As you might expect, every problems gets sorted out with a couple of words or a smile while the exaggerations keep on coming from an endless sack. I find it very hard to appreciate such a plot with such characters which don't do much in their favor.

In terms of good aspects, I was quite surprised that it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be (this is one good reason to have low expectations). It had a couple of good puns in its repertory, it had a couple of funny and likeable characters, although quite badly implemented as said before, but at least they were nice to watch. It also had some good music which spiced things up a bit from time to time and although overall badly implemented, it had an interesting main idea (even if it was copied from its predecessor). Unfortunately, it ended up being mediocre at best which is quite a shame judging by how much I enjoyed the Mel Gibson flick.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

A good post-apocalyptic idea

[8/10 · 13 March 2019]

It's a post-apocalyptic movie which features an enormous wasteland where many fight for survival using highly modified, petrol-fueled war machines. The plot is pretty good, having an interesting premise and being non-linear an mostly unpredictable. It's filled with complex characters, each with its own problems and purpose who ultimately end up fighting for their lives. The scenes look great, the action is intense, generating plenty of drama and suspense, while bringing something new from time to time just to spice things up and keep the story interesting. The actors are great, doing a very good job in impersonating such unique characters, making them likeable but also credible.

In terms of downsides, I think that it could have had a bit more pace in some scenes as it tends to turn things to the boring side. It doesn't get there but a bit more pace could have done it much good. Also, the wasteland presented might be the perfect place for its vehicles to unleash their power but it seems a bit predictable, not leaving much room for something unexpected. Maybe a different choice of filming locations could have helped a bit in this department. But, by far what let me down the most was the wow-factor. It wasn't able to produce something that will blow your mind, something that will make you jump from your chair or chew your fingernails in tension. It's very good in all these aspects but not amazing.

Overall, it's a movie which I enjoyed thanks to its plot, its characters but also thanks to its quality acting. The action plays an important role while some drama helps build up the great atmosphere. It could have done a bit more in terms of pace and predictability, limited of course to a couple of scenes which could have been improved, but overall it managed to be good and even very good in most aspects, providing a quality time watching it. Still, it's a bit far from impressive, fact which makes it a bit shy from the maximum rating.

Captain Marvel (2019)

A marvel from Marvel

[10/10 · 10 March 2019]

It's a Marvel movie which goes back in time a bit to present a new superhero and her beginnings. The plot it features is very good, full of unexpected events and twists, taking me by surprise a couple of times. Its characters are well played and credible throughout the movie, being also pretty likeable. The actors do a very good job in impersonating their characters and with the help of some very high quality CGI, they manage to create a fantastic world in which the action can be unfold. It's full of action, a bit of drama but also a bit of comedy, generating thrill most of the time but also some smiles along the way.

There isn't almost anything to say in the downsides part, as far as I'm concerned. I pretty much loved this flick, as it's full of what I seek in this type of movies: impressive CGI, over-powered characters, good an non-linear story together with plenty of action. I'm sure that it you truly seek flaws in it you will find plenty, especially judging by the amount of hate surrounding it, but for somebody like me which enjoys most of the Marvel universe, this movie is simply brilliant as it is.