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Reviews
A Man Called Otto (2022)
This should have been the Oscar winner for best picture...
... very rarely I come upon a film that grabs my throat and I'm helpless. I watched it and could do nothing else than laugh and cry. And crying is not my thing at all... but hey, what a surprise. It made me think about our choices in life. Do we really have a destiny? Does God give us things, send us people and have plans for us? Is it possible whatever we try, if not in our destiny roadmap, to make it happen or not?
Otto gave me hope I was not the only one who still cares about order, respect and how this world can be rearranged in harmony. Otto - a man of the old times, times of engineers and builders who could not only use their hands to create from scratch and do the dirty work for us but also the men who used to be the invisible pillars of our society. We need more than ever more Ottos in our lives today. Men of courage and action... with big enough hearts.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Brighter than the lights of Valinor...
... what we saw in the trailers seemed to be an annoying mess. And we thought... ah, another failure, another wasted opportunity and ruined classic work.
But hold the phone!
The actual show confidently makes its own history now. I was all in. Compelling, mysterious and beautiful are these new works. And I feel both invested in the series and connected to the old movies ... a new work that will stay and last through the years.
I believe a few new movie stars will rise from this show and become our new Hollywood icons.
The music and the visual effects are completely in the style of our expectations but most importantly - these characters feel real and I have accepted them already as my true friends or foes.
Malati di sesso (2018)
It's Italian
Italian comedies are always amazing, funny at the right spot and sad at the exact moment. It was pure pleasure to watch this film in a Monday evening. I laughed from the bottom of my soul. If I have to mention specific scenes: the scene in the pet shop and the scene at the urologist are classic.
Dune (2021)
In 5 years...
... all I can expect is a remake of Twin Peaks with Timothée Chalamet as Special Agent Dale Cooper and Javier Bardem as Big Ed Hurley
Desert, walk with me.
The Cemil Show (2021)
I saw it at Sofia Film Fest...
... it's an enjoyable comedy of three parts with a great character arc. It lost its pace at some point after Part I but it turned out to be unpredictable from that point on. I was thinking - oh, I know, now it will happen this, then that but it didn't, it surprised me and it was a mixture of moods. Would it have been a better movie if it was more simple? Yes, I guess... It could have been a box-office little wonder but I believe it had different ambitions. I haven't seen the short film of the same director Baris Sarhan this movie is based on but the fact he made a full-length picture means a lot.
I'd like to add that the lead actress Nesrin Cavadzade is simply outstanding. We are about to see her rising and successful international career!
Fatima (2020)
Throat-catching
The only directorial works of Marco Pontecorvo I've seen so far were the episodes of Lampedusa - an Italian TV series about the tragedy of the migrants coming from Africa to Europe... and I have only seen his works as a cinematographer in the internationally acclaimed HBO series Rome and Game of Thrones. Impressive and meticulous works.
But I was not prepared for this.
Mr. Pontecorvo has now made a movie that grabbed my throat with such a strong emotion that I have never felt before during a film. I have always thought that such emotion is impossible but this work of art caught me absolutely off guard.
It's a beautiful film with an excellent cast and masterfully story-telling that avoids legends and speculations and puts the focus on the three little children and their struggles of ordinary people during the devastating times of the Great War. And it felt like I was there, one of them - all alone against all odds but hey, who's against you when the Heavens are with you...
Now I realize why the apparitions happened to these three little shepherds. The answer is innocense. Adults will never understand the mind of a child. Only a child, free of all chains of life, can open their hearts and souls for the blessings that we all miss, every day, all the time, as blind and deaf adults living in our shells of fears.
Thank you, Mr. Pontecorvo, for this touching version of the famous Fatima events of mystery, faith, and enlightenment.
Legenda za beliya gligan (2004)
Very impressive
If this production had a lot bigger budget, and if made in English, it would have been an internationally acclaimed box office hit. See it if you can!
7500 (2019)
To all young filmmakers...
... who think that a movie can't be made in one location in order to be interesting. You are wrong. 7500 is a great example of a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat in a claustrophobic thrilling drama. A wonderful movie. Very realistic with high levels of suspense.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Shattered (2020)
I felt a great disturbance in the Force...
... as if I was brought back in 2005 when I was sunk in the darkness of a theater and was trying to assimilate what was happening after the Order was executed. Although I knew in advance something bad was going to happen what I saw back then was disturbing and extremely sad. I felt the same tonight.
Thank you for the memories, the shivers, and the joy that Star Wars is still around...
Bloodshot (2020)
Swap
Ths movie would have been far more exciting if Guy Pearce was Bloodshot and Vin was the villain.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Unfinished Business (2020)
Remarkable
A piece of Star Wars art that episode was - it had it all - the action, the thriller, the stuff we'd love to see as fans. Mace Windu as cool as a samurai blade, Anakin in his prime, the Bad Batch in perfect shape and an honoroble resolution for Echo. May the Force be with you. troopers!
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Emotional Finale
I thought I saw it all due to the so many trailers online but I was pleasantly surprised because I believed the negative comments. The acting is very good, the plot, although simple, makes sense and is a wonderful conclusion of the trilogy ( I am not counting T3, Salvation, and Genisys). There is a fantastic beginning you watch with a jaw dropped and a very emotional ending, And don't miss the chance to see it in an IMAX theater - it looks extremely well there. The complaints about bad CGI come from the online videos. It is meant to be seen on a huge theatrical screen.
Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
Rambo as a human being
This is what we haven't seen from the war machine that Rambo was built to be. Make no mistake - he is as deadly as it's expected from him but this time he goes to war for a cause every human being will fight for. The movie has a very simple script but that is what we need to see: action. And the movie delivers. It's Rambo's human side and it's a conclusion every action hero deserves to get. Justice.
Hellboy (2019)
The Child of Hell at his best!
Non-stop action. Heavy Harbour. Horror. Maleficent Milla. Monsters. Diamond Dae Kim. Darkness. Charming Haden Church. Gore! This movie is an absolute fun to watch. Forget about the R-rating and leave the previous Hellboy movies to rest in peace. Harbour's Hellboy has his own face, voice, jokes and hellish attitude. He owns both worlds - down below and right here. You will love him! A new cult movie was born tonight!
Captain Marvel (2019)
The audience is too young
I could not believe the audience in the theater was so young they couldn't get the Windows 95 jokes. I was the only one laughing.
A very entertaining movie.
Lukas (2018)
European Gem
Lukas is the European face of Van Damme. A bleak, tense, magnetic thriller - if you liked JCVD, this one is exactly for you!
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Between Night and Day
I was born in 1976. That year "Bohemian Rhapsody" was the number one hit. And the next album "A Day at the Races" was coming out following "A Night at the Opera". These albums have been around literally my entire life. Of course, I got aware of Queen later - in 1984, when I was 8, with "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want to Break Free".
I remember the day when Freddie died. I was 15 then. I was in a hurry for school, under the shower in the morning when I heard it on the radio. I was shocked! Now 27 years later... compared to the 18 years of active life of the band with Freddie, I realise what a tremendous loss Freddie's death brought to music. I can only imagine what could have Freddie and Queen come up with for these 27 years more...
An extraordinary band - well-educated people, very smart and intelligent, extremely talented in music - this is the movie they deserved to be made. A great movie about a great world class superstar band - a movie that will last in time exactly as the band did. (I hope it wins a few Oscars).
I have all Queen albums, I've seen them live on a concert (post-Freddie unfortunately), I've seen the musical "We Will Rock You" twice - the first time Brian May showed up... and I hope this movie inspires Roger Taylor and Brian May to write one more album! Please, guys, do it. And even if the movie changes John Deacon's mind and brings him back to the band - it would be one last great tribute to the legacy of Queen and Freddie Mercury.
The wonderful thing is - so much greatness is left out of the movie... I understand that. Queen are bigger than a movie, they are larger than life.
Thank you, boys, for the Show, that's been around my entire life! And I'm sure It will go on forever!
Police Academy (1984)
A very, very, veeery... very, very good movie!
Unforgettable characters, wonderful acting, great script, funny lines - it's all there. As a child in the 1980s, I used to watch this film dozens of times. And I still enjoy it. The sequels are pointless. You don't need them. Simply have a couple of hours and open your heart for this one. You will love it for a lifetime!
The Hurricane Heist (2018)
In the 80s this could've been a great Kurt Russell/Kim Basinger action flick
... but this one is very well made too. Some action scenes really can put anyone on the edge of the seat. Just like in Daylight Rob Cohen proves again he can make out of a storm/disaster a wonderful catalyst of the action. Watch it, enjoy it and you will find many more easter eggs of other Rob Cohen works.
Flipped (2010)
Stunning
I will be short - I haven't expected this Saturday afternoon movie (just watched it for the first time) to be so well made - touching, bringing old lost memories, it melted down my heart and brought me to tears far more than once.
Watch it! And remember it! It's a movie for the soul!