Reviews

I'm giving this ten out of ten for pictures alone, cos' they're so astonishing that I frankly don't care about the plot, characters or anything. The way this film was shot makes Top Gun look stupid and plain like a trashy romance where planes are just a distant background that's there just to fill the space, not the main theme. Everyone crazy about flaying and aircrafts will love this to bits. I mean this film made me have a go in a real Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet and it was amazing.

That aside it's absolutely watchable, if you thought Taxi was all right then this will be too for you. And even if it isn't just watch if for the aero-shots.

10/10 for aeronautical nuts. 6/10 for everyone else.

If you liked 'Blue Valentine', 'Half Nelson', 'Crazy/Beautiful' or 'All That I Love (2009)' you're certainly gonna like this one.

I wasn't expecting really much to be honest but gave it a try and what a nice surprise it was. Don't expect anything dumb or crazy, another stupid teen flick this is not. Just normal young (but very smart and reasonable) people who struggle to find themselves and try to do something worthwhile with their lives. This film is a pretty good definition of the so called 'Gen Y'. Everything is authentic and it is this film's biggest advantage. So if you're in your early 20's and want to watch a film about people like you, go ahead, you won't be disappointed.

Kudos to John Stockwell. I admire his way of portraying things in an unpretentious, real and laid-back fashion. He really understands this day's youth and should get more credit for it.

I was simply and utterly stunned by 'The Island'. Not by the script or character development (which is all right), rather by the visuals, from the modernistic, cool and clean interiors, through raw and sharp light, to things like the breathtaking Wally 118 or Cadillac Cien, this film is so visually stunning and wholesome it just blew me away. Yes, I confess. I'm a complete sucker for such things and modern style is the reason why I like 'The Island' so much. But apart from that it's a good film in it's own right. Nothing seems flimsy or cheap, nor does the action ever bog down. Bay has a lot of craft and I can't think of anyone else who can pull this kind of cinematography better. Absolutely worth buying, on Bluray especially.

I finished watching this without any other thought that how good this could really be if there wasn't a notebook at all, kinda Blue Valentine but happy and less gritty. We've seen this corny, retrospective method a thousand times and I hate they used it here. A great film spoiled. Someone should cut all 'they're old' scenes out like Tarantino fans did with Pulp Fiction and then see how it looks like. Bet a lot better than original. Seriously.

Other than that it's wonderful and so effortlessly acted by Rachel and Ryan. Eight is what it deserves without mentioning 'old people's house scenes', with them it should go point lower.

Meh, they were so close in making such a great film and blew it. Such a shame.

A lot of people say that this film covers just two pages of Lem's book or that compared to Russian 'Solyaris' it lacks substance and they're probably right. But these reviews are based on comparisons. I want to know if Soderberg's 'Solaris' is good in it's own right, not from any perspective.

The whole film really revolves around it's chilled, delicate mood. The sense of loneliness of the Solaris station, the bewilderment of it's crew and the strange things that happen there are presented by clean, steady pictures and narrated by one of the most original soundtracks I've ever heard. George Clooney gives a great performance so as Natascha McElhone, cast perfectly for the role of Rheya. Sometimes she has this extreme, edgy, almost hypnotic look and a penetrating glance that can send shivers down your spine. She's absolutely fascinating. Jeremy Davies also plays very well his role of Snow.

'Solaris' is not perfect, but is well put together and does a good job of keeping you in a confused and shaken state.

As the film begins there is a scene by the pool, you see this girl with a gun and hear the narrator saying she's a daughter of Monroe and John Kennedy and you immediately think 'oh crap, it's another dumb film about a rich, spoiled girl who meets a man of her life'. Then you force yourself not to press a 'stop' button and then what a surprise! It rebounds this negative wave with a genuine verve and enthusiasm, a funny script, quality performances and some nice cinematography. 'A Life Less Ordinary' is not a great film but I enjoyed it immensely. My favourite scene was the bank job. They get inside to 'make a withdraw' and instead turn up on each other and then walk away like it was some careless game. That's the spirit! And that's why I give this film a solid 7.

Take care. :)

Watching this film and then reeding that it barely payed for it self in theaters seemed to me a bit odd 'cos it's not bad at all. Crazy/Beautiful is a refreshing switch from all those stupid and overexploited teen films. The story feels genuine and does without any unnecessary babble. Also the actors give a fairly convincing performance. Kirsten's very charming and the lack of make-up really helps to reveal her beauty. Same goes with Taryn, almost to the point that she nearly steals a few scenes (we no longer see her this way, sadly). A word or two has to be said about the soundtrack: well selected, and nicely accentuating the whole film. All in all Crazy/Beautiful doesn't try to win Oscars, but because of that it does win your heart.