audrulyte Reviews

Mug (2018)

An ironic movie packed both with serious and fun moments

[10/10 · 25 March 2018]

Just saw this movie in a film festival and loved it. Story is simple - a metalist named Jacek from small Polish town gets hurt while building the Jesus Christ's statue, and is so much deformed in face area that he gets a full face transplant from a donor. The rest of the story is an intentionally stereotype ridden journey of how Jacek copes with his new reality as well as how people around him cope with this new unrecognizible Jacek. There is a full load of stereotypes in this movie, but all of them are intentional and meant to strenghten the effect of pun intended, making for a great ironic look at people with all their strenghts and weaknesses when faced with the unwanted change.

Honeymoon with Mom (2006)

A pleasant surprise

[9/10 · 28 December 2014]

I am quite surprised that this movie is rated so low. Yup, I agree this ain't a masterpiece, and none of the actors are snatching any prizes for the best performance in this or anything, but the somewhat stale at the beginning plot just grows on you so that you really start caring for the characters, get invested in their growth. At the core of the movie lies a story of daughter and mom finally bonding and mending their relationship which for a long time was broken due to truth being with hold. And the story of a young woman being stood up at the altar is just what kick starts the story, yet not the driving force of this movie in the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and if you like a good old drama with some romance thrown into it, you might enjoy this one too.

Pramface (2012–2014)

Tackling serious topics with a laugh out loud attitude

[10/10 · 18 March 2014]

Pramface is a witty and laugh out loud social comedy coming form the Brits and is targeted primarily at teenage audiences, but quite well balanced for those long past the target audience ages. Since the show focuses on such quite serious topics as teenage pregnancy, teenage parenting and the troubles and challenges of being a teenager and a parent while at the same time having to deal with one's own parents, but at the same time never fails to exaggerate and somewhat sketch such situations, there are many and many funny moments in this show.

Going hand in hand with another great British series (My Mad Fat Diary), Pramface is a high quality TV show, which manages to tackle serious topics with a laugh out loud attitude.

Barefoot (I) (2014)

A heartwarming and feel good movie

[9/10 · 15 March 2014]

Barefoot is a heartwarming and feel good rom-com with a twist. it ain't just another love story, but digs just a little bit deeper into themes of mental health, and the power of love to change one's course of this life. While my first encounter with the story came with the German Barfuss movie back in 2005, and while I still much prefer the German version (the soundtrack alone was a star in itself in that version) to this one, I was very satisfied with what Barefoot managed to achieve. I love the actors, both Scott Speedman and especially Evan Rachel Wood, gave a very strong and convincing performances. After watching the movie I felt elevated and heart-warmed, and for this lingering feel good sensation I give this movie 9 out of 10, and recommend it to any one looking for a good rom-com not following the standard rom-com formula all the way.

My Mad Fat Diary (2013–2015)

Incredibly good and highly recommended

[10/10 · 14 March 2014]

My Mad Fat Diary is an incredibly good, well written and highly addictive TV BBC series, which only defect is that it has only 6 episodes per series or season. While the target audience of this show is definitely teens, it is so good, clever, and so down to earth with all the raw nerve exposure of what being a teen is that I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good piece TV and not gets all too fixated on the fact it's about teen life. Since the story revolving in the series is set in the 1990s, personally for me it works as some sort of time travel machine - bringing back all the good, bad, hilarious or somewhat tragic experiences of own teen-hood. Since the show is not afraid to take out the many skeletons and ugly things of growing up, such as insecurities, self discovery, and own body awareness among them, instead of just going for your usual and by now quite 'safe' route of so many other shows which is just about dating, drinking, and rarely anything more, it makes the series even more convincing.

10 out of 10 and the highest possible recommendation.

Company of Heroes (2013 Video)

Entertaining but not too realistic

[8/10 · 24 February 2014]

While many complain that this movie isn't set in reality much, and is all kind of bad and wrong, personally I have found this movie to be entertaining and quite watchable for at least one time. Yes, it's full of anachronisms, logic is sometimes totally missing and other not so very well made stuff, but it is like some good old shoot 'em all computer game, e.g. Wolfenstein series or similar, during which none expects much of a realism, but comes for loads of silly shootouts, and straight line story development. So if you're looking for a solid and Oscar or whatever else sort of movie, you just might want to skip this one entirely. On the other hand, if a somewhat cheesy - for the lack of better word - WWII movie with almost decent story and a strong shooter style video game premise don't scare you, you might just try watching 'Company of Heroes'. Doesn't work for you during first ten minutes? Stop watching. Passed first ten minutes, might just keep watching. It doesn't get any better, but it is still entertaining.

Kokowääh 2 (2013)

Does not live up to expectations

[5/10 · 17 December 2013]

I enjoyed the original Kokowääh very very much, so my expectations for the sequel were really high. While Kokowääh 2 gives us the same characters and a further insight into their lives, and it also delivers some really nice and heartwarming and funny moments as one would expect, quite unfortunately the sequel just isn't good enough and feels lacking. Oh, don't get me wrong, the movie is still decent and watchable, and if one happens to be unaware of the first movie, which IMO was simply superb, then one might still find this movie very very good and all. But since I've seen the first Kokowääh movie, I'm really sorry to say that the sequel's bar is set so much lower than the original's. And for that let down of my expectations, I'll be harsh and give Kokowääh 2 a rating of just 5 statžrs out of 10.

Soldier (I) (1998)

Good and this goodness stays

[10/10 · 14 December 2013]

I'm actually quite surprised that Soldier has only 5,8 rating on IMDb as it's worth one so much higher. Yes, I give you it is not a masterpiece, far from it, but since it doesn't try to pretend it is, the movie just soldiers on and gives one a very enjoyable experience. Set in a futuristic universe of Blade Runner (and there are references made in the movie to Blade Runner) Soldier tells a compelling tale of a soldier played by Kurt Russell who's been selected at birth and then trained to be a powerful and emotionless killing machine until one day he's replaced by a more 'advanced' model of soldiers and is discarded like trash on a landfill planet. There this soldier of the title begins his journey to become someone with emotions, feelings, and something more to fight than just 'obeying orders, sir'. More emotional first half of the movie is about this journey and it is very strongly depicted by Kurt who delivers a believable performance of someone trained to be emotionless (the character has virtually just few words to say during the entire movie, and even less of the facial expressions, but that works 100 percent), but then starting to crack when for the first time facing love, compassion,and being cared of. Then there's a call to arms, and strength is tested of those, fighting for something, and those just following orders.

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Could have been good

[7/10 · 13 December 2013]

Back in 2012 I've originally rated this movie 5 stars out of 10, and have forgotten about the movie until recently I've had a chance to watch it again on a cool head. Must say that on this second attempt at seeing this piece my rating wasn't as harsh as the first time round, and now I'm really ready to give it a generous rating of 7 stars out of 10. Oh, don't think that the story improved over time, either that I got dumber, or anything. Not at all. The first time watching the movie I felt I was being cheated and could not overcome the fact that someone as terrible at acting as Kristen Stewart (WHO told her she could act, huh?)was playing acting for 127 mins, giving one numerous flashes of her front teeth and that 'duh, what's going on?' expression of someone stoned or something instead of what one could expect which is acting. The main reason behind my new and improved 7 stars rating comes from the fact that watching Snow White and the Huntsman for the second time I knew what to expect in terms of Stewart's 'acting', and I could see past it. This helped like a lot. Oh, the story was still quite mediocre, too dragged and all, but now I noticed and appreciated all the hard work Charlize and Chris have done, and for their superior acting (especially if compared to - ahem - some one pretending to be actress) was so enjoyable, that I even enjoyed the movie quite a lot.

Rush (I) (2013)

One of the best movies of 2013

[10/10 · 12 December 2013]

Sports themed movies rarely make it to my personal list of movies I want to go watch, and even more rarely they make a lasting impression. Well, this first sentence was only true before I went to watch Rush. I give you, that my two and only reasons to go and see this movie were the leads - Chris (think Thor)and Daniel (ah, Good Bye Lenin and 7 dias en La Habana, and boy I'm happy I did. I must say that my interest in F1 was quite superficial, and only in the 1990s I was somewhat caught by the sport when the statistically (and statistically he IS) the best driver of F1 ruled the track,and I've never really troubled myself with F1 history and all those discussions of who's the best and all, thus the story behind 1976's F1 championship was totally new to me. Getting back more closely to the movie, I'd say just this - in my opinion Rush is the best 2013 movie I've seen, Chris and Daniel did wonderful jobs, and if this movie won't get any nominations (think Oscars) I'll be very very surprised. And now I'm off to continue with some old F1 GPs videos and some documentaries as the movie's so great that I'm actually inspired to dig deeper into the story itself. 10 out of 10 and a huge +

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Visually captivating and action packed, but...

[7/10 · 10 December 2013]

I really like Hunger Games franchise for being what it is - tightly packed with action, always very visual, and with some very deep theme underneath a simple dystopian flick. Catching Fire is the second movie in the series and follows the source material quite closely but few necessary alterations. And it is what it should be - an action packed movie to catch your eyes on the screen and sit on the edge of the seat, right? Yes and no. It is very visual and beautiful, the action sequences are great, even the new cast members are great, the arena's even better than I'd imagined it to be, but... Oh, unfortunately there's a 'but' here, and quite a big one - Katnis Everdeen. While in the first movie her inner struggle translated quite decently to the screen language, in this one it fell quite hard. I've read the books, and I know what was going on inside her head and all, but my friend, who joined me to the movie, and who've never read those books, and only saw the first and now the second movie, was way too much puzzled on what kept Katnis tick and tock, and all. So I just say, that what we have here is a strong 2nd movie of total 4, and it's good on all levels but catching one on fire emotionally.

Haven (2010–2015)

Can't get enough of Haven

[10/10 · 16 November 2013]

Haven is now into it's 4th season (let's just hope there's more to come), and it just keeps on getting better and better with each season. While it began as just yet another TV show loosely based on one of Stephen King's novel, in this particular case The Colorado Kid, it just refused to stay just that. While The Colorado Kid was an inspiration for the show, it never really fixated on that particular piece of King's, and went much further in creating its own universe which just happen to be quite heavily filled with many and many references, clues and bits leading viewer to various of King's works, but not necessarily ruining the experience for those not so well familiar with King's books and unable to spot those clues all over the clever writing. When the show started it's 1st season, it was somewhat slow and mostly asked to be referred to IMO as 'cute' with this premise of some little town in Maine plagued with supernatural Troubles. Nowadays it is still cute, but at the same time it's so much more. The strong mythology this show has built over its run, excellent three main lead characters combine to deliver one hell of experience to a viewer, and I just can't seem to get enough of this show. And for a Sy-Fy show this one IMO feels like a real Oscar winner or something. And since I cannot give it 100, I'll give it 10 out of 10.

Dorfman in Love (2011)

A simple feel-good one

[9/10 · 15 November 2013]

I'd say I wasn't expecting much from this movie, and somewhat conflicting reviews of the movie did not help on the matter either. But eventually I am happy I did watch Dorfman since I enjoyed it tons. The story in the movie is simple and maybe even somewhat of a cliché, but since I do not need my romance and feel-good movie fixes to be overly complicated, this easy to stomach story did work for me quite well. A simple setting of a young gray mouse type of a woman getting her chance to prove to a guy she is secretly in love with for many years that she's the one for him, turns out to be more of a journey to her own self discovery and for once love and being loved in return. Looking for a nice romantic movie for the evening, why not try Dorfman, you might find a little gem here

Alice (2009)

The best modern take on Alice there is

[10/10 · 31 October 2013]

I'm rather surprised that this version of Alice isn't rated much much better, since in my humble opinion Alice TV mini-series are like the best thing. OK, I'll give you that special effects aren't top notch, and there are definitely things in the series which could have been better, but overall it's still one heck of an awesome and enjoyable series to watch, re-watch and then watch it again. First of all, Alice the TV mini series is a modern take on the original story. There are numerous mentions of the original Alice of the Legend, but the story does not dwell on that and rather follows a modern day young woman, named Alice of cause, as she gets to Wonderland. And these modern takes plus some well applied canons from the source story is really fun to watch. Remember flamingos? One just must see 'em in this one LOL. Secondly, but certainly not last, all the main actors on the series did a wonderful job with their respective characters, making 'em as real and memorable as possible. Alice is great. Jack is great. But best of all is Hatter. And IMO that is the BEST Hatter ever. So summarizing, if you haven't seen this one yet, go and see it right NOW. Don't let some not so superb special effects to put you off of the series - it's not about the special effects at all, but about the story and storytelling. And one could hardly complain about both of 'em.

Kuky se vrací (2010)

A great tale of child's imagination

[10/10 · 12 April 2011]

I had a chance to see this beautifully simple yet very inspiring fairy tale like movie during annual film festival in Vilnius, and after the viewing came out with my spirits soaring and a huge grin of satisfaction firmly planted on my face. The plot of this puppet movie is rather simple. A kid named Ondra, who is suffering from severe asthma, has to let go of his favorite toy - a stuffed toy named Kooky. But he isn't giving up on his favorite toy easily. Instead all the viewers are brought into his world of fairy tale like childish imagination/dream, where Kooky comes alive and tries to find his way back to Ondra. The story follows Kooky's adventures and misadventures on his journey back home as seen through the eyes of Ondra. And that childish perspective is what gives the magical feeling to this story - a child is telling the story and all the reasoning behind everything that happens to Kooky is limited to child's imagination, which is rather simple yet fascinating.

Flashpoint (2008–2012)

An awesome action packed TV show

[10/10 · 11 April 2011]

Flashpoint is an engaging show, which is so much more than your usual cop show. I have just recently discovered this little gem and already watched every single episode of all 3 seasons, which were aired so far, and am looking forward for more episodes to come. Originally upon discovering the show, I thought Flashpoint was going to be just another generic cop show only focused on special unit's operations (think SWAT), but soon I was proved to be oh-so wrong. And good thing I was wrong, or I might have missed this great Canadian show. Flashpoint is a highly engaging TV show, which provides a fresh insight into every day operations of Toronto police SRU's (Strategic Response Unit) Team One's operations, such as hostage situations negotiation, bombs, etc. The show is based on and keeps close to the real Toronto police Emergency Task Force (ETF) operations and thus feels rather real - not your usual heroic cop + real bad villain premises here, thank gods. No just black and white colored stories, but rather that of many colors and layers where cops have to deal with the aftermath of their own actions, and some villains are not so villainous at all, and where thinking comes before opening fire. Centring on the hows and whys of one or another situation SRU's Team One is being called to deal with, the series also looks deep into very souls of Team One's members and how they deal with all the stress of their work. Looking for an awesome cop themed action show with a brain to it and really well written stories? Look no more and tune in for Flashpoint.

Interceptor (2009)

Yet another movie with lots of FX and no story to back it

[2/10 · 5 November 2009]

While I have enjoyed some of Russian movies made in latter years, and grew to very much like some of Russian actors and actresses, I could not possibly say the same about this movie. This movie originally had quite a good potential - some pretty nice sci-fi hero storyline to begin with (and don't tell me that books are better, much better - I already know that and that is true in almost every case), a quite strong young Russian actor for a lead (Petrenko), but the result is more than lousy. Kind of the movie was about nothing. Did anyone get what it was about or what it was meant to be about? I did not. And all the time during viewing it felt as if I was wasting my time, which was quite true at the end. Here I must agree with the other comment on this movie that the visual greyness throughout the movie was tiresome and rather annoying. If that was part of FXs introduced to create some special atmosphere, then it totally and ultimately failed. Actually this movie IMHO failed in every possible aspect as it haven't delivered a story nor a likable characters (I doubt if even the very true fans of actors' could possible have found anything at all to enjoy this time).

For a conclusion, I would like to say here that I doubt no more in Russians' abilities to make a good FXs, but respectively they also could realize that strong FXs and nothing to support 'em cannot make a trick of a good movie no more. We've seen that in Daywatch and Nightwatch, but to watch so many movies with FXs and non-existent story lines is getting just too much. Move on, please.

Accidentally on Purpose (2009–2010)

Might be too early for that, but so far it's great

[8/10 · 29 September 2009]

Well, it might be a little bit too early to say that as all I've seen was pilot plus next episode, but I really loved the show. It's really a good comedy and delivers some pretty good jokes as well as I do love the main plot. Kind of usually we get this plot on how a girl meets a boy or vice versa and how they start moving towards some kind of relationship. And in this show we get a one night stand which leaves a much elder woman pregnant and a guy ready to step in for the role of father. So how does a relationship built on that works? So far it's been funny and really entertaining to watch. Hopefully the script will continue to deliver a good laugh and funny situations. So as so far it was a really good entertainment 10 out of 10.

Drop Dead Diva (2009–2014)

Excellent and really enjoyable

[7/10 · 25 September 2009]

I simply love this new TV show and wish it would last for more than just a season or two like some other great shows I loved and that were off. Anyway, let's talk about Drop Dead Diva. Actually, my first reaction to the show, or frankly to the TITLE of the show, was kind of "What a nonsense they're putting on". Hello!? I could not have been wrong more here. Not a nonsense. Quite on the contrary. One can not only get a nice law story per episode, but also gets a share of really great performance here as well as really lovable characters. I loved and love a lot of TV shows (most of them already ended), but since my late teens I for the first time am really thrilled with the main character of the TV show, as well as I can well put myself in almost every position she's in (except, huh, for having your soul trapped in a wrong body). It's like in many TV shows and movies we only get these 'super white big smile nice body' actors and actresses which all look great and at the same time almost the same and just as unreal as Santa to any grown-up, but this time we are getting this new character which is awesome, beautiful, and at the same time just like me, you or someone next to you. And I really love that. Long live the show as there is one fan for you here already

Scusa ma ti chiamo amore (2008)

Light romantic movie

[9/10 · 29 December 2008]

I have seen this movie quite by chance. And at the very first few minutes into the movie, I was already starting to think that it was going to be a total waste of time. But alas the story quite slowly and bit unrealistic started to roll on and work on me.

The plot is quite simple - a much younger girl falls in love with older man (with 20 years of difference between them) and vice versa. And actually it is all so much a cliché seen in so many other romantic movies, that it is not worth of telling more. The very good addition to this very familiar love story (is there yet a single chance that not all good romantic ideas were already used on screen, uh?) are quotes of very different famous people on love which just pop up every time now and then on screen and thus not only add to the story, but kind of 'make' chapters of this movie.

So if you can take it in the beginning, this movie might be a nice and romantic movie for you to see. Don't search for a deep meaning, let it flow, and it will work just well.

Sharpe: Sharpe's Peril (2008) Season 7, Episode 1

Sharpe revisited

[8/10 · 23 November 2008]

Though I personally much prefer Sharpe's Napoleonic series to these Indian installments (Challenge and Peril), but I still find the latest one Sharpe's Peril quite entertaining and really very well watchable.

OK, I wish the Indian installments were much closer to the Bernard Cornwell's books, that is if they happened in due time (before Napoleonic wars) and order (somehow in Challenge and Peril they've mixed as much from Indian set of books as they possibly could, though not always for good), but it is still a very great Sharpe's adventure. Just as usual - some quest for good old Sharpe, some girl's heart to win over, and some baddies to defeat. If that is still not enough a reason for you to watch this Sharpe's adventure, maybe a magic word - Simmerson - would do the trick. It did worked for me (And thAaaat was soooo great!). And the very last encounter of Sharpe and Simmerson! One should not miss it, that I'm sure of.

Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls (2008 Video)

Worst King Solomon's Mines ever

[1/10 · 5 May 2008]

I expected some good action and adventures in this yet another adaptation of Haggard's 'Kings Solomon's Mines'. Such a great book of adventure makes almost a perfect scenario for a nice action/ adventure packed movie. And one can surely enjoy a nice portion of adventure once in a while. And I've always thought that it is almost impossible to spoil this nice plot created by Haggard and cherished in hearts of so many who read that great novel. Guess what? I was wrong. This movie indeed was the worst adaptation of King Solomon's Mines ever IMHO. To say it was boring would be almost compliment to the movie. Acting was terrible and unconvincing. The adventure part made me yawn and wish to have this 'forward' button to push so this torture would end faster. Unfortunately I didn't have one. If I could I'd give this movie -2 points. Although as it is impossible I give it one star though it is not worth of it after all. And I'd better go and watch some other and much better King Solomon's Mines versions

August Rush (2007)

Goes deep to a heart

[9/10 · 17 March 2008]

I must do here a little confession - when I went to see this movie I was really sceptically minded about all this. See, I am not a lover of musicals and definitely not a one to appreciate musical with so much classic music rolled in.

But now, having watched it for two times already, and surely going to see it later even more times, I must say that I have changed my mind completely. I just LOVED it. Loved it all - the performance of young Freddie Highmore aka August Rush/ Evan Taylor which was so sincere and convincing that few minutes into the movie my whole soul and mind was deep in it. So was performances of Keri Russel and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. This was a small wonder performed in such a beautiful and captivating manner that even me, who long forgot the charms of kindergarten, was so tuned in to the story that I could hardly sit still. I wanted cry, shout at every misfortune, and sing aloud with all my heart with fortune of our little character.

What is this all about? August Rush is a beautiful and captivating urban fairy tale, where a little music genius growing-up in an orphanage sets to find his parents. And the music which surrounds him just everywhere is his alpha and omega in the search. A little bit of Oliwer Twist, tons of heartbreaking music, and great performances as of leading as of supporting characters, and here I have got my trick - for the moment I am fallen in love this this movie.

10 of 10, though would like to add also '+'

Nuodemes uzkalbejimas (2007)

Quite good

[7/10 · 14 March 2008]

Quite good, though not as good as I've expected after hearing so much of praising. This particular movie was indeed very wide advertised here in Lithuania even before it was finished as it is more or less, hard to say as haven't read that particular book, based on Jurga Ivanauskaite's book "Ragana ir lietus", so I was pretty eager to go and watch it. Well, all the critics, or, OK, most of them, just had cried 'Oh, how good it was going to be and how good it is. What a masterpiece of Puipa'. Well, partly I can or even must agree. This is really a nice movie and, if compared to some other 'great' Lithuanian movies, it's even almost excellent. What I mean by this? Oh, it's just that during the past decade almost all Lithuanian movies were totally unwatchable as a regular person hardly could understand what stuff he or she's been watching. So this movie IS already very very good due to the fact that one can pretty easy understand what is going on on screen and there is no need to read some critics before or after watching the movie in order to get hold of some point of it. I am really delighted that this movie is good enough to recommend to watch it. Though do not expect anything light or easy, as this is not of an amusement movie's kind. 7 out of 10