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Reviews
Zatôichi (2003)
the best Kitano has to offer???
The over-exaggerated stories of the violence in Takeshi Kitano's latest film Zatoichi nearly put me off going to see it. Yet, since Kitano's Dolls is among my favourites, I made up my mind and summoning all my strength, pressed the play button of my DVD. Was it worth it? Well, I wasn't disappointed for sure. With animated blood spilt lavishly on the screen, the violence was presented in a comic Kill Bill sort of way. So, one is allowed to focus on the story behind what's happening on screen. After all, Zatoichi is not a horror film, right? To my greatest delight, all of the things I love about Kitano's directing were there - the precise shots, the interesting fighting sequences and the original interpretation of traditional symbols (the blindness) and characters (the ronin, the geisha). Yet, I think the film is emotionally poor compared to Dolls and the other Kitano classics. I turned off my DVD knowing I might not have seen the best Kitano (and Japanese cinema) had to offer, but still re-playing in my mind some of the scenes with a grin of guilty pleasure on my face.
The Lake House (2006)
lost in translation
I saw Il Mare (the Korean film, which inspired Lake House) over a year ago during my Eastern Asian cinematography classes. My colleagues were fascinated by the beautiful sceneries and the finely-crafted script which managed to place so many details on screen without actually confusing any of them. So, naturally, I was curious to see if Hollywood could successfully re-make a truly Asian movie without taking away the subtle melancholic beauty of the original. The Lake House has all the ingredients of a successful (though perhaps a bit typical) romantic comedy. You won't miss the heart-touching moments, the lyrical music and the romantic settings. What makes Lake House less sugary than the usual comedy is the lovely mixture of Asian and Western aesthetics. What I really liked were some small Western touches to the Asian script (like Persuasion, Dostoyevski, western architecture) and the focus on the relationship between the main character and his father. Still, I felt like something was missing. The remake fails to preserve the mysterious romantic atmosphere of the original, unfolding the story only too directly on the screen. Just like the lake house itself, the film is beautiful (some would say a masterpiece), but remains too cold and distant to evoke emotion. Perhaps the movie just got lost in translation.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
a film made with passion
From animated TV series to grand epic productions like Franco Zefirelli's movie,there have been innumerable attempts to put the story of Jesus Christ's life,death and resurrection to screen.Most directors failed to touch the hearts of the viewers or involve them emotionally and spiritually in the Passion of the Christ.But where they failed Mel Gibson succeeded.With his brilliant directing and ingenious new vision of the way the story should be filmed he created a movie that is more than just another interpretation of the Bible.The Passion of the Christ is a soul-purifying experience to all. With this latest film Mel Gibson has once again proved his quality as a director.He was first generally acclaimed for his brilliant work on Brave Heart but he did not until now reveal his full potential as a movie-maker.Every scene has a great visual impact over the viewer.Every little detail is driven to pure perfection.Slow motion was used with utmost precision only where necessary in order to have the greatest possible influence on the viewer's heart and soul.A drop of blood,the first raindrop after Christ's death,the dry sand slipping though Mother Mary's fingers - these are all images forever imprinted in our minds.Mel Gibson not only created a visually perfect masterpiece but also dared to do what was thought impossible - he brought a dead language back to life.Many accused him at first of making a film that will be incomprehensible to the audience/please note that he intended not to use subtitles/.Still for the first time in movie history we have the chance to hear the words that changed the entire course of our history pronounced exactly as they were some two thousand years ago. Besides,in making the casting for the film Mel Gibson did not count on Hollywood celebrities,thus allowing the viewer to focus on the characters rather than on the actors themselves.I hope I will be forgiven mentioning it,but as I am a Bulgarian,I cannot help but feel proud that two Bulgarian actors akso took part in the production /Pilat and apostle John/. Mel Gibson was also criticised for the violence,even brutality i the film.At first I was also scared by what was said to be an extremely violent movie but than I realized that this is the only way a film about Christ should be made.Brutality was exactly what was missing in the other interpretations of Jesus's crucifixion,exactly what made this particular movie so influential.The power of the Passion of the Christ is in the idea that Love can endure any Suffering,can Sacrifice even ,thus leading to Salvation. The Passion of the Christ is not just another movie,it is a personal experience,our own Golgota.For me the film had the same soul-purifying effect as going to church,for example.Looking at the faces of those going out of the cinema I realized that each one of them had undergone a certain change of character.It's because the movie is not only about passion,it is a movie made with passion,a passion that leaves no one indifferent.
Troy (2004)
Brad Pitt spoil what would have been a good movie
Ever since time immemorial people have been fascinated with the stories of great heroes.Everyone of us has heard the names of Herclules,Samson,king Arthur,and of course Achiles.We all love those stories and when we go to the cinema to see our favorite heroes on screen we expect not only an actor boasting his defined muscles but also an actor who can show on screen real depth of emotions,show us what it was really like to be Hercules,Samson,king Arthur.And if Eric Bana was a convincing Hector,Brad Pitt was nothing close to Achiles. I find that the bast scene in the movie as a whole was the moment when old king Priam went to Achile's tent to beg him for his son's body.The reason?Peter O'Toole's performance.He once again proved his quality as an actor.Unlike Brad Pitt.This could have been the role of his life.Achiles is a great character - the warrior who was born to fight,the warrior,fighting for immortality,the warrior who falls in love and is ready to change his life for this love's sake.But instead of focusing on the emotional side of his character,Pitt seemed to be concentrated only in showing his masculine body...What a pity.If it had not been for his poor acting,the film would have definitely been a good one.Take Eric Bana for example.He was made for that role,he acted with passion and devotion and that definitely showed on screen.If you compare Troy to other historical films like Brave Heart or Gladiator,you will see that what was missing in the film was a good actor in the leading role.
Lost in Translation (2003)
brilliant
There is a friend of mine who is now in Tokyo,staying at the same hotel as the characters in the movie.She once called me at 9 p.m my time.She sounded a bit depressed,a bit lonely and definitely lost.At the end of the conversation I asked her what the local time was.She replied "3 a.m but you can't get too much sleep in Tokyo".Sounds familiar?A hint - a week later I received a letter from that friend saying she felt exactly as if she was the heroine in Lost in Translation. I think that this is the best compliment one can make to Lost in Translation and Sofia Copolla.What she did was describe in every detail the way a foreigner feels in Tokyo - an alien,lost on a strange planet.And she succeeded.I study Japanese language and culture at university so I can tell you that the movie is the best attempt so far to describe the modern Japanese lifestyle.Everything a foreigner has to now about Japan is in there. Talking about Lost in translation I simply MUST tell you about the first time I saw the film.I went to the movie theatre together with my best friend,also studying Japanese.I don't remember ever seeing the audience respond in such a way to a movie.Everyone was giggling with laughter. Anyway,I don't think that any comments can do justice to this masterpiece,so I'll stop here.Enjoy being Lost in Translation.
Laws of Attraction (2004)
disappointed?Perhaps just a little
Laws of attraction is just the kind of movie one has to see when there is nothing else to do or watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.It's definitely not a masterpiece like Lost in Translation or As good as it gets,but it can be a good way of entertainment.this film once again makes me think that there should be more in a movie than just good actors.Though Julian Moore and Brosnan were brilliant and convincing,the story was far from original.So,when you walk out of the movie thetre or when you press the stop button on your remote control,you feel a bit disappointed,maybe even tricked,because you had such high ezpectations...But still,when you have nothing else to watch or do on a lazy Sunday afternoon,you may well just see it again and laugh heartily at Pierce Brosnan reading from Moore's panties.:)