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Das Lehrerzimmer (2023)
I was surprised
The overall theme of "What is wrong and what is right" is portrayed really effectively. It's not just a narrative about theft, but rather about how individuals handle such seemingly "simple" situations. What actions should one take upon discovering someone engaging in forbidden behavior? How does it feel to be accused? Is it morally acceptable to denunciate others? Is racial profiling okay? Is bad behavior inherited? How far can one go to find out the truth?
Especially in our current time when it's often about figuring out what really happened, which sources to trust, etc., this film truly holds up a mirror to us and makes us reflect.
The Teacher's Lounge is an astoundingly good movie. It feels very real, you get close to the characters, especially the protagonist, Frau Nowak. The 1:33 to 1 ratio pulls the viewer close to what's happening and doesn't let one go, I felt like I couldn't look away.
The film never has any dull moments and I always wanted to know what happens next.
Story-wise very simple. But often it is the simple things, that are insanely hard to recreate. The characters are all very clear, have their own motivations. Several beautiful elements are planted, like an equation and a rubik's cube, that later frame the entire plot quite well.
The acting impressed me, especially from the children. Outstanding cast and chapeau to the director. Much is said, but the subtext is excellently worked out. I would gladly watch such a film again.
At first, I found the ending very abrupt, but in retrospect, it's the right ending for me. Not everything needs to be explained with words. Show don't tell.
The Lighthouse (2019)
Horrifying
This movie made me extremely uncomfortable. Literally horrifying. It was very tough for me to watch. The tight aspect ratio made it almost unbearable. From the firstmoment on, it was clear to me how everything would end. How it ended was still ... something. So much was happening at once. There was so much unsettling, overpowering masculine energy without any real room for breathing or a little break. I strramed it and considered pausing at times, but I ended up being so captivated by it, that I had to watch it through to the end. It felt like Prometheus in a Freudian Oedipus tale. Having subtitles on definitely helped. Sometimes, even with the text, it was hard to understand for me, since I'm not that familiar with seaman's slang. Very theatrical and disturbing.
Not gonna watch this movie too soon again but I might watch it again. It's so crammed up with allusions and meaning, a real piece of movie art.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Strangely entertaining
If you are in the right mood, this film can be quite great. Twice I've tried to watch this movie, but never finished it because I was baffled by this strange concept. Now that the third film is in theaters, I thought to give the series another chance.
My favorite thing to do is watch a movie without knowing exactly beforehand what's going to happen, who all is in it, or who wrote the script or directed it. Still, with some productions, it makes sense to know beforehand. With Thor: Ragnarok, I knew that Taika Waititi was directing and that it would be completely different from the previous MCU productions.
Kingsman bears the signature of Matthew Vaughn, who was responsible for Kick-Ass, among others. And in the end, Kingsman is similarly twisted, as if a British Tarantino had been allowed to shoot a new James Bond film persiflage with Taron Egerton, Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson.
The less seriously you take the film, the more entertaining it is. It has a lot of details, a dope cast, great production design, is bloody, brutal, funny, and has almost no boundaries. There is a reason why it is rated R. Thumbs up.
Second Act (2018)
Simple but nice
I was preparing and also having some lentil soup and looked for something I could casually watch on Netflix which didn't require much concentration. So, I stumbled upon "Second Act".
The story of this movie is very predictable and reminds one of several other Hollywood movies. Though it was made in 2018 this narrative could have also been taken place ten years earlier.
Nevertheless, it's a cute little comedy flick interwoven with some telenovela-drama with strong female characters. I'm glad this didn't turn out to be the classic romantic comedy, I've seen Jennifer Lopez in so many times. There's more to a woman's life than just falling in love with a significant other. This focuses more on family - may it be genetically, on business or just platonically. And it was nice to watch.
If you are a fan of Jennifer Lopez, Leah Remini or Vanessa Hudgens you will likely enjoy this movie and their great performances.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
Magical!
Finally a musical I could enjoy to the fullest again. The latest musicals have all had great songs but were lacking a real interesting story. But this ... Not only is the music stunning and beautifully performed but this musical also has a fantastic, magical storyline. It is a mixture of Finding Neverland and everything you wish for in a Christmas movie. Sometimes it was a little too over the top, so I am giving it a 9/10 stars.
About Time (2013)
Tragic
Where to start even, this was something. I think the general idea of the movie was nice, a person being able to travel in time (in their own lifetime), combined with a love story between father and son. It could have been awesome but this movie just failed in the end. The protagonists uses his powers over and over again to cheat and betray the woman he loves and especially to get her, to possess her, to make her his own by satisfying her as best as possible.
In the end he mentions that everyone should just live and enjoy every day ... but I do not really see this in the movie. He does not really change. He makes a huge mistake with his sister. This is the moment I really loved, he is finally being punished for his mighty powers but then he just turns it all back and it's all good.
This is a movie praising patriarchy to the skies and not being punished for it in any way. This is not a hero that learns from his mistakes, this is a person that gets what he wants and once content enjoys a nice life. If he truly did learn something he would have set back everything and let fate decide whether or not Mary would become a love interest. This is a true and brutal tragedy.
Artemis Fowl (2020)
This is offensive
I read the books as a child and reread them two years ago when I found out there would eventually be a movie. But this is an affront! It feels like someone put the first two books in a blender and then picked out the biggest parts and merged them together, leaving out so many important details and links, the real magic gets lost and the characters are just so off I am not interested in following anyone.
This is a blatant (not even) mediocre hollywood production looking like it's been made in the 90s with a really low budget (though some designs look quite nice but that's not enough to watch this movie). Kenneth Branagh assaults (once more) the original piece of art and makes it absolutely preposterous.
This movie cost 125 million for goodness sake! This could have been such a great movie .... and now I just want to cry.
I Am Not Okay with This (2020)
Disappointing
This felt like a bad rip off of King's Carrie mixed with Breakfast Club. There was little real "new" to it.
The main character is queer, not very likeable. That's about it. Everything else is more or less expected and just super boring. The backstory might be the only interesting thing but they are saving that for a second season.
If you haven't read or seen Carrie you might like this but it's still not the storytelling I expect from netflix.
Sinister 2 (2015)
Not perfect but great.
I finally made it to watch this motion picture. It's the sequel to the 2012 film "sinister" which was absolutely great. Thus I had great expectations and feared the sequel would disappoint me. And somehow it unfortunately did (a little). It started absolutely great. I am really astound by the concept of the film. It's similar but it still differs from the first one so there is something new! Of course we have again these sinister murders (really awful and disgusting) and of course we have the same super 8 movies and back-story and symbols (That's what you are waiting for) but it's placed in complete new surroundings and a shown in a different point of view. Nevertheless, the end was not that exciting or surprising as I hoped it would be. Suspense was established but - in my eyes - the last piece for a stunning grand finale was missing. If you want to be frightened to death this might not be your movie. But if you like horror films and enjoy good characters, the fantastic world of Bagul and if you just want to be entertained ... this is a picture you can watch. There are so many which are worse.