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Reviews
Cosmic Sin (2021)
What's not to like ?
I was amazed to see this movie gross an average of 2.5 out of 10 from reviewers here, so I braced myself for watching it anyhow. OK, I was not entirely sober, but I enjoyed it greatly.
Why not ? So I liked the "shoot first, ask questions later" mantra that has guided so many action flicks before, so what ? I sat through the obligatory bar fight scene to build character, big deal. I enjoyed the ballistic firefights many centuries hence, while at the same time, species were lobbing black holes at each others, so sue me !
If you won't let me call it 'cult', then let me call it 'camp'. I fail to see why this movie should score so much lower than its peer "Space Cowboys" (2000) at 6.5 ...
Le chant du loup (2019)
Great fun
Great acting. Beautiful visuals. High-tech suspense. A lot of action. Lovely guy and girl. What's not to like ? This film has it all.
I don't get all the criticism about military details. It's called 'suspension of disbelief', a requirement to enjoy any movie. Just let it go and get submersed in the story.
I would definitely rank this one higher than, say, 'The Hunt for the Red October' (which I personally found a bit tedious). The ultimate submarine movie remains 'Das Boot', but one can only watch that so many times :-) This one provides a nice French version on the theme.
High Life (2018)
"Solaris" has found a worthy successor
I came round here checking out the reviews, before watching, and I was a bit intimidated by the online misgivings and the low score. Still, I'm the kind of viewer who enjoyed the US remake of 'Solaris' immensely, and I figured that this movie went in that direction, so I watched anyway - and I'm glad I did.
Yes, it is pretentious. Yes, it is artistic. But film making used to be a form of art, and I don't mind when a determined director forces their personal taste upon us, when delivering their work of art. Yes, this movie is so focused on style, that it skips over the plot hastily, to make room for another slow-paced brooding scene. But it worked for me. Much of the same criticism could be uttered about 'Solaris', which somehow seems to be held in higher regard.
This doesn't mean that any space opera can automatically lure me in as if it were '2001'. I didn't care much for 'Ad Astra' with Brad Pitt, for example. If the big name couldn't rescue 'Ad Astra', then 'High Life' definitely benefited from its A-list actors. Robert Pattinson's great performance lifts the entire movie. And who would've thought that wonderful Juliette Binoche would live to be called "the high priestess of sperm" ?!
Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)
It grows on you
Like so many others, I was instantly charmed by the 1st season of the original series in 1990. But I didn't like how the 2nd season degraded into slapstick, banter, and endless branches in the story.
"The Return" in 2017 doesn't show any intention of returning to reality, and it holds the viewer hostage in the quest of its creator to deliver the ultimate cinematographic masterpiece. I'm amazed that this is still possible in today's TV landscape, with its vast commercial interests. With patience, it becomes a very rewarding journey, thanks to all the actors who are willing to surrender themselves all-out to this alternate universe.
By and large, the quality of this eccentric season is largely due to a director who has the determination and the skills to push his unique vision through. So welcome back David Lynch, all is forgiven and forgotten.
Retrograde (2004)
Like the first day in acting class
I am a "Dolph completist" like another reviewer put so eloquently, yet this movie has left a bitter aftertaste. It could have been so much more, the story had potential to make the ultimate "The Thing"- meets-"X files" crossover, laden with spooky claustrophobia and an intriguing time-travel tale.
Alas, none of that has come about. The director is partly to blame for his total failure to bring focus and atmosphere to the story. Viewers are left less than ensnared. But what I found most appalling was the ACTING ! It's incredible how most of the cast just stands there, glazed over, rattling off their lines. How hard can it be to get a little immersed in the role ?
Dolph himself is enough of a professional to put in his routine quality, even when he finds himself in what looks like a high school project. I also enjoyed Jamie Treacher, who makes the most of his "pothead" part. And there's David Jean Thomas who manages to bring a natural performance as Doc. But the rest of the cast should be forced to attend drama school !
Les revenants (2012)
First it requires patience, then it rewards
Up front, I only saw the first season.
Thanks to some reviews and comments I read while this aired, I knew I didn't have to count on the least bit of closure by the season's end. Otherwise I would perhaps have been left outraged and frustrated like so many other viewers.
Instead, I witnessed a by-the-book story arc just like in television days long gone. The beginning was quite slow and just didn't seem to ever pick up the pace. And by the last episodes, it was obvious that only more smokescreens would go up, instead of finally clearing some of the fog. Like in a true arc, the high mark was in the middle.
My favorite episodes would be S1.#5 (Serge et Toni) and S1.#6 (Lucy). They made me grateful for investing all that viewing time earlier. Each was just one long screaming tension build-up of outstanding cinematographic quality, pulsating with a mesmerizing soundtrack. David Lynch might decide to move to the French Alps after seeing those.
Lost in Translation (2003)
Not living up to its reputation
After all the rave reviews and the Oscar, this movie was definitely on my "to-see" list. Now that I've finally gotten round to see it, it's nothing less than a disappointment.
I find that the sleep deprivation, the existential discomfort and the uneasy relationships are portrayed very well. But that is all I got out of this movie, and that's a little less than what I was hoping for. Granted, it also makes for a great Tokyo travel guide with an attitude.
As with many movies, I sense two distinct camps here among the IMDb commenters. I'm gonna side with the dislikers on this one, though I would abhor to be considered as the kind of brute that just likes movies with big explosions or a lot of focus below the belt. I can dig "deep" movies as much as the next guy, but this one just doesn't have what it takes.
Maybe even the LIT fans can admit that it doesn't exactly have "Casablanca" quality. It reminds me a lot of "Una giornata particolare" (see tt0076085) which ponders much the same theme, and which is highly regarded in some circles, but which just disappointed me after viewing.
Storm Catcher (1999)
Not worth watching
I would definitely not have bought this video if I had known ahead what it was like. Yet I'm being pushed by my girl to still rate this movie a 3 out of 10, because it had at least some of the action I was hoping for, and there was also a plot twist that was not 100% predictable. Can't complain about Dolph's performance either, he does the best he can , but he deserved a better movie to be in. I went on a Dolph Lundgren video shopping spree after seeing Silent Trigger, which was excellent. Let's hope those other videos are better than this.