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theqmage
Reviews
Skavabölen pojat (2009)
Excellent view on Finnish culture
I don't think the plot describes this movie very well. The father isn't especially abusive and he didn't make his son do anything special. The conflict between the brothers is minor.
The main problems include alcoholism, mental health problems, bad communication, guilt and isolation, problems that are very common in Finnsh culture.
The movie is a wonderful presentation of Finnish middle class life in the 70s and 80s from the perspective of two boys. The cast is acting very well and it's easy to sense the atmosphere. The characters are believable and there's time enough in the movie to make all the main characters deep enough.
The movie is both funny and tragic. It is full of life even in the midst of deepest depression.
As a Finnish guy growing up in the 70s, this movie was personally very touching, but I think the issues dealt here are quite global and will touch hearts around the world.
I would love to hear other comments.
The Ninth Gate (1999)
Spooky Castles, spooky music
This movie was supposed to be scary? Hmm... Well, I think it was funny. It wasn't scary, but it sure was spooky. This was probably the spookiest movie I've ever seen. It was filled with spooky scenes, spooky castles, spooky music, spooky characters, and on and on...
In the end I just had to laugh "this movie can't end like this, no way". But actually it was a perfectly spooky ending...
Johnny Depp made a good performance as a spooky antique book salesman, who had no glue what was going on around him. He looked like a fool all the time.
Most of the other characters were also utterly stupid and naive, and the flying devil dressed in a sexy woman's outfit was also very ridiculous and made no sense whatsoever. Even the stupidness of this movie was spooky.
If you want to see a brainless thriller that doesn't scare you in the least, this is the movie. But it sure is spooky...
5 points for the spookiness.
Signs (2002)
If you're not afraid of aliens, this movie is bad.
I was looking for an insightful sci-fi movie, well I was badly disappointed. When the movie ended, I thought 'whoah, was that it?!'. If you're looking for a science fiction movie, forget about this one. It might be a thriller, or a horror movie if you are afraid of aliens, but for people who believe that aliens (if exist) are good, this movie just doesn't make any sense. If the movie had ended differently it might have been a good one, even great one. Maybe they'll make another ending for it... :)
Crazy in Alabama (1999)
An honest spirit lifter with a sarcastic background
A woman chops her husband's head off and leaves a punch of kids behind to go fill her dream to become a movie star. The name of this movie is a rather good description. But behind this crazy story line this movie holds a truly honest, sarcastic, picture of a strong, loving woman.
In addition there is another story of a boy who will also become a star even without wanting to become one. In the middle of racism this boy becomes a hero while standing against this oppression. This part of the movie is quite naive, but that didn't bother me, not a bit.
The actors did their job not only well, but great. I know I'm not very critical person, but I really loved this movie and I think I could watch it again and again just to get some energy and to regain my sometimes vanishing positivity.
I was amazed not to see this movie in the top 250. I really believe it belongs there. I've seen Shawshank Redemption and I think this movie, while lighter, doesn't fall far behind.
Picket Fences (1992)
One of the best TV-series ever
This series has been one of the very few TV series to touch me so deep. As the many awards show, the actors are great and the storyline is usually very well thought about. This is what media should be like - both entertaining and critical.