strikerman Reviews

Red Dawn (2012)

absolute trash

[2/10 · 19 May 2013]

After watching the movie I really felt nothing when I got out of the cinema which is something that rarely happened to me.

Red Dawn (2012) is highly unlogical, unrealistic. Some good action scenes though but none where you feel to root for the American kid fighters, which one could expect when watching the trailers. This might be due to the fact that there are absolutely no good actors which could have made at least something out of the storyline.

Also the "emotional" speeches from the group leaders to align the citizens were nothing but hot air and not one point where the audience was deeply moved.

All in all, a highly disappointing movie. Save your time and your money and watch the old version with Patrick Swayze from the 80s, then you can see how good acting can make the difference.

Gladiator (2000)

Everybody has to love this movie

[10/10 · 22 December 2008]

Yesterday I saw this masterpiece for the third time, but I was tremendously impressed again like I have ever been when I have watched it.

Maximus, a highly decorated commander of the Roman Legions and friend of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, wins the most important battle against the Teutons and is now looking forward to spend his evening of live with his wife and son in his homeland Spain, but Marcus Aurelius wants him to be his successor.

Commodus, Marcus' son, who recognized his father's plans, kills his father and appoints himself as the new Ceasar. Maximus, who is able to escape from the execution, ordered by Commodus, manages to come home, but his family is already killed by Roman troops.

Maximus now becomes a gladiator and after several wins he cut's his way to the Colosseum, where he meets his archenemy Commodus. He reveals his identity to Commodus and is now the idol of the people in contrast to Commodus who is hated by them.

Commodus knows he cannot murder Maximus, because that would make Maximus a martyr no more than to let him alive. The only possibility is a hand-to-hand fight against Maximus in the Colosseum. And of course Maximus wins, but is terribly hurt. In the last moments of his life he gives the power back to the Senate and dies in the arena so he is now reunited with his family.

The movie contains everything which a good monumental film needs, action scenes, intrigues and a heroic epic.

Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, two of the best Hollywood actors, have done an excellent job. Crowe has played the role of his life.

What makes this movie special is Maximus' live journey which is characterized of ups and downs. Everybody can identify himself with Maximus. Everyone shares the thrill with him that he kill the hated Commodus (excellentely played by Phoenix) and that he cares for justice. I think at the moment when he dies and meets his family in paradise everybody is moved to tears.

Also a great compliment to the director Ridley Scott.

It is simply a masterpiece at all points.

I, Robot (2004)

interesting, exciting and realistic, a complete sci-fi action movie

[10/10 · 17 May 2008]

Last week I saw the film for the second time and now I understand the end, thus the meaning and purpose of the story line much better than by watching it for the first time. Del Spooner (Will Smith) a cop who wishes back the good old days distrusting the new NS 5- robots has to investigate the suspicious death of Dr. Alfred Lannig, the head developing technician at U.S. Robotics. Of course Spooner suspects a robot of murder but nobody believes that a robot can commit a crime because they are "impeccably safe" through the 3 laws. When Spooner is going on investing he finds out that somebody wants to discourage him from solving the case and of course there are always robots which make his detecting difficult. At the end he finds out that VIKI, the Central processing unit of U.S. Robotics orders the NS 5-robots to kill Spooner and therefore to obstruct the solve the murder of Lanning and to take control over the world only along the lines "the people have to be protected from themselves". The movie shows the background of what can happen, if a company which has already distributed a robot for nearly every person on the planet can manipulate them so that they will do anything what the company wants. At the end it was Lenning, who recognized the problem and step in Spooner by committing suicide, the only way how to contact him and of course by the developing of Sunny, who has the requirements to defeat VIKI and its system. Will Smith, Alan Tudyk and director Alex Proyas have done an excellent job in producing a well made film in all parts, which makes the people think.

Rogue Trader (1999)

The downfall of a Golden Boy

[8/10 · 21 April 2008]

A great portrayal of Nick Leeson's life. The beginning as a small lackey, only good for debt collections where he satisfied his bosses, the career jump to the head of a small share trader group, executing trades for customers of the Barrings Bank ending in total chaos because of too risky trades on behalf of the bank. At first Leeson decided only for the quite riskless arbitrage, but later he started with enormous speculations on currencies losing about one billion dollars and causes the bankruptcy of the traditional Barrings Bank. Of course the managers of Barings in London didn't stop Leasons business in Southeast Asia as long as his trades were successful, despite he was the head trader and inspector of his own business, which nobody could understand. At the end Leeson was a victim of hubris and misbelief in his own abilities, a deeply human misbehavior. I think director James Dearden could not have find a better actor than Ewan McGregor for the role of Nic Leeson. His acting was realistic and of course his appearance as a banker was great. A successful and well-made film.

The Counterfeiters (2007)

Moral dilemma, Nazi era and forged money; an excellent combination

[9/10 · 12 April 2008]

There might be many reasons, why you love this money. The moral dilemma in which the protagonists are, just because you are interested in stories about the Nazi era or the fact that money, especially forged money, plays a key role in the movie which always fascinates people. I think it's a combination of all three things, which makes "The Counterfeiters" special in contrast to other Nazi era movies. Director Stefan Ruzowitzky managed to create a realistic and thoughtful film based on the remembrances of Adolf Burger, including great actors like Karl Markovics and August Diehl who did an excellent job in giving the people an understanding of the moral dilemma between the pragmatic Sorowitsch and the idealistic Burger, two completely different characters. Sorowitsch a person who manages to come through every situation beginning in pre-war Berlin by forging banknotes and documents, surviving the concentration camp through cooperation with the Nazis and ends with gambling in Monte Carlo after the war. His adaptability and unscrupulousness and of course his forging talent enables him to be in a powerful position in the camp, in contrast to Burger who would love to die for his principles not to support the Nazis. How the duel between the two characters would have ended if the Nazis hadn't absconded from the Allies is not known. In conclusion "The Counterfeiters" definitely deserved the Academy Award because of the great combination of the above-named subjects and the great acting of Markovics and Diehl. Recommendable for all people that are interested in history.

Signs (2002)

A masterpiece in excitement and mystery

[9/10 · 21 April 2007]

I have seen this movie for the second time and it's worth seeing. It is a masterpiece in excitement, probably in this point the best film ever made. The explanation for Crop circles that way, in a family of a priest, working as a farmer now and living in an indigenous milieu makes the movie special. A great compliment to director M. Night Shyamalan, who proved as a genius in getting the audience goose pimples. His special picture of the aliens as green creatures without a face and that you fully see them first in the end of the movie increases excitement as well as his working with silhouettes. I think this movie is more realistic than any other alien-movie because of the inconspicuous picturing them. The only negative think is, in my mind, that water hurts the friends from outer space, but okay you have to find a way how to eliminate them. Of course I have to add the wonderful acting of Mel Gibson and the children who showed a realistic picture of what people would do when aliens take over our planet. The last scene of the film when Morgan is remaining unharmed because of his asthma decease is also well-considered. On balance it is awesome to watch this movie and I would recommend it to everyone.