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Short movie reviews by Adriana Popovici

The Duchess

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2008
Director: Saul Dibb
Writers: Jeffrey Hatcher, Anders Thomas Jensen, Saul Dibb (screenplay), Amanda Foreman (book)
Starring: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, etc.

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

 

General impression:
In terms of filmmaking, “The Duchess” is bland and weak. Not a lot of emotion, little food for thought (if any); it simply tells a story, and that story is the only interesting part of this movie. To be honest, you don’t need to watch the movie to find out the story. You can read it, even on Wikipedia – with links, portraits, and all kinds of details, such as the fact that “Earl Grey” tea was named after Georgiana Cavendish’s (the duchess this movie is about) lover.

Highlights:
There is nothing truly outstanding about this movie.

Downside:
The fact above: nothing outstanding.

Would I see it again? – No

My Rating (1 to 10): 6.5

Recommended: It’s not a complete waste of time, but it’s definitely not a must-see either.

Suggestion:
Check out the real (story of) Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.

 

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2010
Director: Mike Newell
Writers: Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard (screenplay), Jordan Mechner (story)
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, etc.

For more information on “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
For a movie based on a video game, it’s pretty decent. Silly, but entertaining with some nice visuals. The funny thing is that there are pretentious movies inferior to this Disney product. It’s not brilliant or profound, only a regular commercial movie respecting the industry’s standards, complete with absurdities like the gratuitous transformation of the female protagonist – Gemma Arterton is (more or less) unrecognizable… just because. Of course, the script is not the strong point of this flick. It’s not the first time I notice that, sometimes, when a script is written by three or more people, it is mediocre (at best). But, hey, who says that all scripts must provide more than paychecks for their writers 😉

Highlights:
It’s an excuse for eating popcorn! 😀

Downside:
Don’t worry about that, just have your popcorn 🙂

Would I see it again? – No

My Rating (1 to 10): 6.5

Recommended: Once, for entertainment, why not?

Suggestion:
If it bores you, you can safely stop watching it.

 

The Descendants

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2011
Director: Alexander Payne
Writers: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash (screenplay), Kaui Hart Hemmings (novel)
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, etc.

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

 

General impression:
George Clooney married, with children (two daughters) – that’s an oddity one might be curious to see. Hawaii – something else people might be interested in seeing. It is basically a story without magic or sparkle, as plain as it can be, with forgettable, weak characters. George Clooney has better roles and movies in his filmography (like “Up in the Air”, “The Men Who Stare at Goats”, the animation “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, etc.). In a single sentence: this movie is a boring drama, like any other boring drama.

Highlights:
I really can’t think of anything remarkable… Maybe Hawaii, but this movie doesn’t even present Hawaii enticingly enough…

Downside:
Dull and common, in the sense that it fits among other hundreds of similar TV movies. It also does not make much of its emotional potential.

Would I see it again? – No

My Rating (1 to 10): 6.5

Recommended: No

Suggestion:
Indulge only if you don’t want any significant emotional and mental activity.

 

Equilibrium

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2002
Director: Kurt Wimmer
Writer: Kurt Wimmer
Starring: Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Emily Watson, etc.

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

 

General impression:
This movie left me a little disappointed, a little bored, and a little annoyed. Disappointed because it reduces personal expression, freedom, and human emotion to a pile of paintings, records, books, perfume, dogs, etc. Bored because nothing surprising or interesting happens. Annoyed because what could be meaningful drowns in triviality, and this movie becomes silly so quickly, that it doesn’t even begin to feel realistic and/or gloomy for the viewer. Basically, the perspective of a time when feeling is against the law should not interfere with your appetite for popcorn. Argh! I wanted to like it 🙁

Highlights:
Christian Bale’s facial bone structure is perfect for his role. And he acts well too.

Downside:
Pure entertainment, despite the promise of a deeper view.

Would I see it again? – No need

My Rating (1 to 10): 6.5

Recommended: All right, but it’s not a must-see.

Suggestion:
Watch it if you like “V for Vendetta” – they seem similar to me.

 

Imaginary Heroes

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2004
Director: Dan Harris
Writer: Dan Harris
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Emile Hirsch, Jeff Daniels, etc.

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

 

General impression:
Acting skills galore in an insipid, all-too-common drama with an unconvincing complexity pretense. I was surprised this movie was not made for TV, as it seemed perfect for The Hallmark Channel. I did not like the way the movie was conceived and, eventually, made – it spoiled its own high quality elements. It’s too loose, spreads almost chaotically. Some higher level of focus would have worked wonders.

Highlights:
An interesting story that may happen across your street (at some level), and a dash of wit here and there.

Downside:
There’s a hint of falsity about the “genuineness” in this movie – it’s not obvious, you can’t easily track it, but you can feel it through the loopholes. That’s a big problem for a movie that wants and needs to feel genuine. And it is not any of the actors’ fault.

Would I see it again? – No

My Rating (1 to 10): 6.5

Recommended: No

Suggestion:
Love (your) kids.

 

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