petrow-31-127528 Reviews

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Great story told in an incongruous way

[7/10 · 1 July 2014]

I liked this one because of the theme it tries to dissect. Marie Antoinette was a really controversial figure of the French and European history, remembered mostly as "the hated woman from Austria".

I was glad that someone actually tried to pry this surface, to uncover the motivations, and reasons behind her actions.

The most telling part was the infamous, alleged "eat then brioche" quote, which uncovers the deeper depths of the politics, intrigue, disparaging measures and scapegoat finding which was so much a part of the revolution, as the anger and desperation of the lower classes.

The theme of the movie served as a perfect base for an excellent history movie. However, it's tone makes it somewhat hard to take seriously - even if I know the target audience was the teenage class. Pity.

Still, if it is aired on TV, or your child learns about this period in history class, give it a chance.

A Fox's Tale (2008)

A bad joke at best

[1/10 · 30 June 2014]

When looking for movie reviews, I try to steer away from the 1* category. They're usually overly biased rantings, with much regret over the money spent on the movie ticket/DVD/blu-ray, and some form to get over the cognitive dissonance felt over this ill transaction.

However, in the case of this title, each and every 1* review is well deserved, and I guess many of my fellow reviewers would've given 0 star if they could.

I wanted to write a long review about how bad this movie really is, how classic the first installment was, and how it humiliates this garbage in every aspect, no matter if you try to judge this one in the light of it's predecessor, or as a stand-alone work.

But I won't because I was unable to bear it on the screen for more than 23 minutes. Simply put, there's not a single positive trait I can write about this film. It is a disgrace for the entire Hungarian film making, and the movie industry in general.

At best, it was a blantant and outrageous attempt to steal government money in the form of art subsidy. At worst they thought the entire "thing" seriously, and made it deliberately THAT wrong.

Avoid it at all cost.

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Deserves a second chance

[7/10 · 19 June 2014]

I was awaiting Revolutions back in 2003 with keen curiosity. When watched however, there were many "WTF?" moments, and all-in-all I came out from the cinema kinda' disappointed. I despised the movie as bad, and let it be.

More than a decade later forced myself to watch it in the TV again, and almost simultaneously, I ran into a few sites which discussed the philosophical background and meaning of the seemingly garbage story.

And then it all came clear. Why Trinity and Neo had to die. Why the most important scene was the one at the subway station. All the counterpoints between Neo and Smith. Why Morpheus became a secondary character. Why the whole conflict HAD to end like that.

And frankly, your chance to realize all of that in a trilogy that has spanned for 4 years, are slim. Of course, there are core messages that you'll likely to receive on the first try, but the deeper meaning won't come down - at least for me - in that 2-hours time.

What makes even more difficult to understand this movie to the fullest is the selfish, tech-wanking action scenes with no purpose. Like the Club Hel ceiling-run, the demolition of the drill-head, or the defense of the bay-area with the exosuits. Of course, they were visually stunning, but gave little to the overall meaning and the story. Who cares for Kid, dammit, proceed with the story! I strongly suggest you to give a second chance to this movie, and before you do, read a few sites about it's meaning - like thematrix101-dot-com. You'll definitely enjoy those small revelations that escaped your attention at the first try.

7/10