Movie Reviews 2012

 

One of the most enjoyable movies for 2012 and of the last 5 years.

 

A romance mixed with comedy, it is also a touching story, rich in emotions but never too melodramatic.

 

Set in the picturesque Amalfi Coast in Italy, the story steers the emotions and is a rare visual treat filled with Mediterranean beauty. Funny and authentic, with a beautiful feel-good touch and a heart-warming happy end, it is a colorful little gem. Dyrholm and Brosnan are excellent.

An absolutely lovely watch! 😊

 

 

 

Stylish Western containing excitement, humor, irony, tradgedy, post modern self parody and brutal violence.

 

This is one hell of a movie! It's on a completely different level from the usual formulaic! It is awesome in almost every way that it’s possible for a movie to be awesome. It’s won a shedload of awards and grossed over half a billion dollars so far. Way to go Tarantino!

 

A masterpiece!

 

With an impressive sum of 4 Oscars, 78 wins and 129 nominations, Life of Pi is a poetic fairytale, a rare gem that immediately captivates not only the eyes but also – and foremost - the heart spirit and mind of the viewer in a way that few modern movies can.

 

It is magical realism in its most artistic form and it is breathtaking in every aspect of the film. Full of soul and spiritual resonance, the movie goes far beyond from just being a magnificent allegory of life, and becomes an inspiring and spiritually fulfilling visual celebration of the human heart.

 

 

 

 

A good start, an average middle and a disappointing end.

 

A heist thriller that promises a lot and delivers very little. It starts out great by delivering an intriguing plot idea, suspense, and a fast pace to get our attention. However, after that, the movie becomes flat and leaves many questions unanswered, making it too much effort to follow the story enjoyably.

 

The script has too many gaps that break the flow of the narrative. Towards the end, when you are expecting a breathtaking finale, all you are offered is sloppy, disordered directing and a disappointing outcome that does not justify 1h and 42 minutes of viewing. Only worth a watch if you have no other enjoyable activity available…

 

 

A lavish retelling of the famous Snow White story from Brothers Grimm.

 

The movie is an elaborate and shining project with striking visual effects, elaborate costumes and a most extravagant rococo atmosphere that is often seen in films from Tarsem Singh.

 

However, the rich spectacular effects and elegant imagery cannot hide some major mistakes: the movie is slow at some points and flat in terms of characters. The script tries to make up for that flatness by introducing some changes to the original plot but still one expects better from such an ambitious project.

 

Still, the movie is a pleasant watch for a non-demanding family night in. Just order the pizza! 😊

 

 

An excellent watch!

 

A very strong and well directed film that handles the themes of coming-of-age, honor, family bonds and sad love endings. Set in the magical atmospheric swamp landscapes of the South, the movie reminds us that emotions and human relationships always have in them a degree of danger.

 

There are life lessons to learn and the movie feeds the viewer without forcing any specific outcome. The fine photography and outstanding performances add to the film’s value.

 

 

I could write about Ted using long sentences telling you what it is… but I will save us both a lot of time and tell you what it is NOT. Not smart, not funny, not witty, and definitely NOT a movie to entertain. Avoid.

 

Depressing.

 

Manipulative mind fuck of a movie revolving around a psychopath, a cop hunting him and the cop’s daughter, whom the plot clumsily leverages into the clutches of the psychopath. The film is structured as a timeline of improbable coincidences. This twisted plot of contrived scenes is not character driven but structured to provide a depressing mood and a depressing ending. The badly written screenplay morphs so far from character and plot logic that it serves up a tasteless and sadistic ending.

 

Regrettably, for me, this makes the production team appear as sadistic as the evil characters it portrays. It’s like rape pornography aimed at the audience. After watching this I feel violated, like my cinematographic aesthetics had been infected with a sickness. The plot is based upon real life events, and it is real in an unpleasant sense akin to vomiting.

Avoid it like food contaminated with salmonella.

 

 

Gentle comedy, Drama

 

Witty, intelligent and heart-warming feel-good tale that did not do as good at the box office as it deserved. Some of that may be down to the official trailer which was dull and full of weak sentimentality. It would have benefited from a different marketing angle highlighting Morgan Freeman’s out of his ordinary, badass role and conveying the film’s inner heart.

 

Never give the critics a soppy trailer because many of them just compose reviews based upon them only. Critics love to attack feel good movies especially ones whose substrata is based upon love and this move was definitely given the wrong sell . You will not find any ludicrous car chases, impossible stunts and improbable sets of circumstances defying the laws of physics, nor an excessive army of CGI monsters. There is only one dream sequence and it is beautifully performed.

 

Not your average Morgan Freeman film but his acting is so earthy real you could use it to pinch yourself if you are unsure you are dreaming. The movie is superbly acted by the main characters including the children. Masterful directing squeezes every ounce of gentle comedy and feel-good out of a good script. Wheelchair bound Monte Wildhorn, an alcoholic writer of Westerns loses his mo-jo and his nephew takes him to Belle Isle to recuperate. However, bad assed Monte plans to spend the summer with lots of bourbon and cynicism. Monte, to his agent, “Drinking is a very demanding profession, and I can't hold down two jobs at once.” The depressed novelist is confronted by a young muse in the form of a child next door. Her innocence regarding the creative process takes him back to the fundamentals of human imagination. If you have writers block this movie could break the dam and let your creativity flow again. Watch it and feel happy.

 

A good family movie that you will enjoy immensely! 😊

 

Inspired by similar European folk stories, the movie is an inspirational fairytale about the joy of parenthood. Full of magic and tender emotions, with vivid cinematography and a warm colorful visual palette, the story develops smoothly with sensitivity and beauty.

 

 

 

Feeble futuristic sci-fi romance set in a dystopian world that defies the rules of physics.

 

Having two juxtaposed worlds upside down to each other with contrasting social classes could provide a terrain rich in insightful metaphor and an earth shattering love story.  And this movie’s landscape seems like a pretty good idea at the beginning... but not for long.

 

The visual design and the special effects captivate the viewer, however the plot is weak and the movie very soon turns flat and runs without the deep psychological background that one expects from a fantasy love story.

This is a poor and very disappointing execution of a brilliant idea that turned into an indifferent film. Watch it for the beautiful production and then forget it.

 

Sequel to Clash of the Titans from 2010. Tons of CGI effects, action, myth, adventure

 

This movie delivers an over excess of special effects and has a little bit of everything,. except heart and enough depth, but who really cares about sophistication in a movie like this? I mean, if I want heart and depth I will choose another kind of movie.

 

For what is worth, Clash of the Titans is enjoyable and entertaining: gods, demigods and monsters parade on the screen making the film amusing and a decent choice for spending some fun time with your kids. Go Perseus, Go! 😊