Django Unchained

May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Django Unchained

Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2012
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, etc.

For more information on “Django Unchained”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
Quentin Tarantino is not known for deep intense intricate psychological dramas. He’s much more straightforward – usually, in his films some sort of injustice happens, and revenge follows. Simple, clear, well-constructed. Watching “Django Unchained”, I often got the feeling, just for a minute or two, that it’s not a Tarantino movie. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t bear the stylistic characteristics, but there are some surprisingly delicate moments sprinkled in the gore. On the other hand, the story and characters are enhanced by great acting performances. The movie doesn’t teach you history, nor does it leave you thinking for days about hidden meanings. I liked it a lot, despite not being a fan of violent bloody movies, because it is really good. “Django Unchained” is, essentially, the proof that Quentin Tarantino still has resources for further evolution as a filmmaker, combined with pure acting talent, everything marinated in tomato sauce. Hardly a waste of tomato sauce.

Highlights:
It’s high-quality entertainment.

Downside:
It may seem not serious enough to some, others may simply dislike Tarantino’s style, but any faults are subjective and quite irrelevant.

Would I see it again? – Yes

My Rating (1 to 10): 9.5

Recommended: Yes

Suggestion:
Don’t pronounce the “D”. “The “D” is silent, hillbilly.” I just had to slip this quote from the movie into the posting :D

 

Filed Under: +, 9.5, My Favorite Movies Tagged With: , , , ,

Cosmopolis

May 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Cosmopolis

Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2012
Director: David Cronenberg
Writer: David Cronenberg (screenplay), Don DeLillo (novel)
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Sarah Gadon, Paul Giamatti, Juliette Binoche, Samantha Morton, etc.

For more information on “Cosmopolis”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
The trailer raised my expectations and excitement. Then, I started watching the movie, and expectations and excitement disappeared in hollowness. I understand that this movie addresses my intellect, but it does not have enough soul to make my mind care to listen. In fact, it does not have soul at all, and the characters are unbelievably lifeless. Basically, this whole movie is a long drive, with some potentially deep dialogue that no character seems to understand or even care about. It didn’t enrich my life, not even my afternoon. It annoyed and bored me. It didn’t entertain me, and I found nothing enjoyable apart from an overall sense of balance and visual effectiveness. I suspect the book is better.

Highlights:
Good cast, good visuals, Robert “Edward Cullen” Pattinson not playing a vampire.

Downside:
It’s disappointingly flat.

Would I see it again? – No. I barely made it through to the end.

My Rating (1 to 10): 6

Recommended: No

Suggestion:
Read the book instead.

 

Filed Under: -, 6, Movies based on a book Tagged With: , , , ,

Walk the Line Hard

April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Posters for "Walk the Line" and "Walk Hard"

Image source: Wikimedia

Facts

“Walk the Line” is a 2005 biopic about the life of Johnny Cash. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, etc. More about “Walk the Line”, on Wikipedia and IMDb.

“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” is a 2007 comedy starring John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Kristen Wiig, and others. Written and produced by Judd Apatow and Jake Kasdan, it makes numerous references to “Walk the Line”. More about “Walk Hard”, on Wikipedia and IMDb.

 

Commentaries
Unknowingly, I made a mistake – I watched “Walk Hard” before “Walk the Line”. This partly ruined my experience of watching the latter, because each time something dramatic happened, and I would normally feel along with the characters, John C. Reilly’s face would fade in, making it hard for me to decide between taking Johnny Cash seriously or laughing at flashbacks of Dewey Cox’ antics. Other than that, I loved both these movies. “Walk the Line” is well-played and beautiful, while “Walk Hard” is a cascade of hilariousness. Neither is boring, and both deserve to be watched more than once.

Bottom line
It’s a tie. They are different, but both work their own magic. “Walk the Line” is a great biopic/drama, and “Walk Hard” is a great comedy. I recommend them both, with only one suggestion: watch “Walk the Line” first.

 

Filed Under: Head-to-Head Tagged With: , , , ,

Hero

April 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2002
Director: Zhang Yimou
Writer: Feng Li, Bin Wang, Zhang Yimou
Starring: Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Chen Daoming, Zhang Ziyi, etc.

For more information on “Hero”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
Poetry in motion. As Orson Welles put it, “a film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet”. Poetry is the very essence of this aesthetically breathtaking film. The choreography of the fighting scenes is out of this world, the movements fluid, and it seems as if those who fight are not human beings, but entities, spirits, ideas, sheer forces, pure energy. It is one of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen, and my opinion is only in part influenced by the fascination I’ve had for Asian stories since early childhood. What do you think will happen when the King of Qin meets the hero who saved him from powerful assassins? If this question makes you curious, you’ll most likely enjoy the film.

Highlights:
I don’t think they could have made it better. The imagery will last in your mind, and thinking back to this movie, you’ll see the flowing colors again… and again.

Downside:
Maybe it is not as entertaining as less rigid movies, but I’m talking from a different point of view, not mine – I was entertained. It is too perfect.

Would I see it again? – Yes

My Rating (1 to 10): 9.5

Recommended: Yes

Suggestion:
You must see this film if you like stories, especially Asian ones.

 

Filed Under: +, 9.5, Foreign language films Tagged With: , , ,

An Education

March 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2009
Director: Lone Scherfig
Writer: Nick Hornby (screenplay), Lynn Barber (memoir)
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, etc.

For more information on “An Education”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
Practical education at the school of life versus formal education, or how a 60s girl learns about the importance of schooling, after “graduating” into adulthood… sort of. But she does grow up and learn. Carey Mulligan is sweet, likable and credible in this role. The story is simple and predictable, yet powerful, evergreen, impeccably translated into film. Probably, the loveliest thing about this movie is its genuine feeling of quietness and simplicity that reflects the essence of these often embellished romantic accounts. Underneath drama and exaggerations, the facts are always quiet and simple. Somehow, this movie manages to maintain that grounding feeling, while the heroine heads toward self-empowerment, keeping her femininity and grace, smiling her joys, opening her heart, crying her disappointments, and learning her lessons. Romance plus clear(-ing) head – highly enjoyable movie.

Highlights:
It has remarkable delicacy and flow. And, if you like this genre, you’ll feel entertained and satisfied by the end of the movie.

Downside:
It doesn’t even try to step across the boundaries of its genre.

Would I see it again? – Someday

My Rating (1 to 10): 8.5

Recommended: Yes

Suggestion:
I would recommend “An Education” to any young girl, despite having slightly (just slightly) different views than those presented in this movie. It’s a good perspective on maturation, and can plant some healthy ideas into fertile minds.

 

Filed Under: +, 8.5, Movies based on a book Tagged With: , ,

Empire of the Sun

March 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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Year of release: 1987
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Tom Stoppard (screenplay), J.G. Ballard (novel)
Starring: Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, etc.

For more information on “Empire of the Sun”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
This movie is based on a semi-autobiographical novel by J.G. Ballard, and the story is really impressive. A British child gets lost from his parents in Shanghai, during World War II. With no acquaintances in sight, caught in the chaos of the war between China and Japan, the boy has to survive by himself, and grow up overnight. If the kid in the main role seems familiar, just be aware that the movie was released in 1987, and Christian Bale was born in 1974. Yes, the child actor is 13-year-old Christian Bale, a true acting talent then and now. He also sings (beautifully) in this movie.

Highlights:
It’s a perfect movie – all pieces fit together, and the whole final result is strong and memorable. It’s not hard to remember the adventures of a boy who, in a flash, lost his life of privilege entirely, and, all alone, with nothing, not even food, had to find his way through a war.

Downside:
It’s that type of movie that you don’t feel you have much to say about, no matter if you liked it or not.

Would I see it again? – Yes

My Rating (1 to 10): 10

Recommended: Yes

Suggestion:
Keep handkerchiefs or tissues close by, just in case this excellent movie… moves you :)

 

Filed Under: +, 10, Movies based on a book, My Favorite Movies Tagged With: , , , ,
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