niceguy68 Reviews

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

Spoiler - lightspeed physics flaw

[6/10 · 15 December 2017]

A major plot twist is turning around and throwing the ship at light speed to the enemy, and it destroys pretty much everything. This should have not be used.

* Why not throw the first ship about to be lost instead of fleeing and getting picked one by one? * Why not use that as a standard weapon, and use it instead of throwing bombs, or why even build a death?

This was an ill-advised plot twist device.

Oh there's much to pick at. For example, the projecting yourself is a new trick that's not consistent (pun) either.

The movie is way too long with too many plot lines. It feels like a patched up mini-series. That said it was entertaining...

This should have stayed a trilogy. There's nothing great in any of the new movies that transcends its era. It's ranged from terrible to mildly entertaining. There's no genius to handle the storytelling, and there's no technical feat in the movie making that makes me think omg how did they pull that off.

Je Suis Charlie (2015)

The cost of democracy and freedom

[7/10 · 9 February 2017]

This documentary is intimate with the cartoonists and thinkers of Charlie Hebdo. It talks of what happened before, during and after the attack that took the life of half the staff, interviewing the remaining staff, describing whom each one was and what was their crusade.

What happens when the world supports your fight, criticize you, or forgets about you because the news has moved on? The documentary does a great job at remembering what is the meaning of "Je suis charlie", and reminds you to keep in your heart the rebellious flame that is the cornerstone of democracy.

Whether it is Watergate, whistle-blowing corruption, we owe those someones who risk their welfare to open our eyes. So thank you guys for being irreverential clowns.

Turtles Can Fly (2004)

Great actors from the streets...

[8/10 · 22 September 2008]

The cast comprises a lot of handicapped children (think Handicap International's effort on land mines prosthesis) that must have been cast from the street. That gives the film its genuine feel. These kids have probably gone through the actual suffering this film describes.

That reminds me of another great film: Salaam Bombay, which was filmed in the red light district of Bombay, with kids from the streets, describing their misery. Even though their acting was great, I saw a documentary of what they had become, and the lead kid never really made it big, living in poverty. Sad.

These kinds of movies should be shown to western world kids, so they realize how sheltered they are.

Somewhere Near Conakry (1992)

Synopsis

[7/10 · 15 October 2007]

Early 1970's in Guinea. Two twelve year old, Jacques a French white boy and Madiou a Guinean black kid live a careless youth, until the revolution which will try their friendship.

Director: Francoise Ebrard

Actors: Pierre Bouchet, Ioana Craciunesca, Abdoulaye Diallo

Drama

France (in french) 1992

It is well acted by the kids and adults. The story line is nice though nothing innovative. I think it depicts pretty well life as it would have been there. Worth seeing.

Dust of Life (1995)

Story of viet-American children trying to escape a camp

[6/10 · 29 September 2006]

This movie is also called "Dust of life" in English and was made by Alex Bouchareb in 1994.

In 1975, 3 kids decide to escape a reeducation camp in the Vietnamese equatorial forest near Cambodia where the Amerasians are imprisoned, tortured both mentally and physically. Son, the hero is sent in that camp after her mother fails to find his father to send him away to America.

Search the web for the title to find more information. You can find the poster of the movie on cineposters dot com.

Kind of reminds me of Papillon or the Killing Fields though maybe a notch down in terms of realization... This movie is based on facts from the after war.

Marquis (1989)

Animatronics and lust

[6/10 · 29 September 2006]

This is an absurd -not in a bad way- interpretation of the imprisonment of the Marquis de Sade with a French revolution framework. not surprising, it is made by Topor, a cartoonist. The storytelling of Sade's life is mixed with his phantasms to make the storytelling unique and interesting. Better than a dry historic rendering.

The movie is made with animatronics, i.e. men in costumes with faces which are animated, and once a while clay animation. Every person is an animal that kinda represents externally his personality. Sade is a dog with a big penis -his head is a brain- with which he argues.

All the characters are perverted in their own way.

Strangely in 1989 it was rated 12 or older, and I think it should be R, it's intellectual, but since there's absurd sex scenes, perversion galore, and some descriptions of Sade's stories that could be quite disturbing.

Technically, I like how the animatronics make this universe work. Very stylish...

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

A very good presentation on global warming

[10/10 · 25 June 2006]

Al Gore is doing a very good job at exposing this issue.

He presents scientific facts, lists actual research and results to document his point, along with visual photographic proofs of the evolution of climatic changes. This is more important in the documentary than Al Gore, his charisma or whatever detractors will comment on.

I have an engineering background, and I don't believe hype and messages without foundation. I don't believe marketing. I am inclined to believe Gore's message, because he presents data that is not BS (instead of saying it's twice as worst or anything, he presents plotted data with actual axis and meaningful values). OK, he's also a great presenter.

I am inclined to believe the scientific data presented is real, from verifiable sources and NOT made up. If so the data is solid.

OTOH, I unfortunately do not trust the government on the issue nor the media:

• The government acts on the will of lobbies, and if a Green lobby is not powerful enough to tip the balance, then the Oil and business lobbies will control the outcome of government policies, NOT the people. The Bush administration has a clear bias towards these industry lobbies. - The media looks for sensational news, but also is very conservative. The media is also very prone into using deception, fabricated truths and confusion. The media relies on the government support and advertisement funding. We the people do not fund them directly, and therefore cannot rely on it for its loyalty to us. It is only loyal to money and ratings.

Al Gore's speech states that *There is NOT a single scientific paper* that puts in doubt the reality of the responsibility of human activity on global warming, nor the fact that there is a global warming. OTOH 50% of the news-media mention spread doubt and uncertainty on the topic. This was a survey of close to a 1000 publications. So it looks like the government and industry is just spreading FEUD.

If there are detractors to AL Gore's message, then THEY MUST refute his words, and if they call him a liar, produce actual proof, and accept the proof to be scrutinized.

I believe the government must pass laws to enforce cleaner industry and cars. There can't be free enterprise if we don't all follow the same rules. For example, if we don't set the same pollution rules as other countries for cars, the US manufacturers will not invest in R&D, and will be caught short and non-competitive suddenly, and face a crisis and go bankrupt. Oh wait! That was the 70's... Oh wait! It's happening again!

Let's hope we'll soon get a government that is not shortsighted and will strive to ensure a good future for the children.

The Final Cut (2004)

Interesting idea but too melodramatic

[6/10 · 23 April 2005]

Robin Williams is the best "cutter" in town. He decided to be a cutter, i.e. splice the movie of a dead person's life recorded on a chip installed in the brain at birth for a memorial service.

He's the best and gets the worst files because he knows how to cut out the worst moments of person's life...

He became a cutter because of a defining moment in his youth, and somehow needs to forgive himself.

The topic is interesting and pretty well handled. However the movie is dark and slow, and somehow I hate Robin William's beat-up dog acting, making it a little too caricaturing.

Worth watching though...

Man on the Train (2002)

Huis-Clo, introspection

[7/10 · 23 April 2005]

The story of two men one quiet and shy missing all the defining thrilling moments of life, the other living the adventurous life of a con always running and never planning.

They get a glimpse of each other's life and long for it.

This is a quiet movie about 2 middle aged men rethinking who they are and what they could be.

I give it a 7 as I relate to some of it and I think it is well acted. I think it is targeted more to 30-40 year old crowd.

The lack of sex and explosions will bore the average viewer expecting a Hollywood flick. This is more about substance than form.

Fantastic Planet (1973)

Great storytelling

[10/10 · 17 March 2005]

I saw this cartoon when I was a kid and it has marked me. When I recall it I have a mix of nostalgia and excitement that comes from remembering a great adventure past...

The animation has aged since it was made in the 70's compared to what is done today. However the world depicted is great in originality and beats Alice in wonderland.

It is a growing up story of an 'om' who becomes a great man, in a world where they are oppressed and become free (btw, om in French sounds like homme which means man or human).

This cartoon has everything that makes Sci-Fi great and that is often missing in Hollywood blockbuster Sci-Fi movies: - Great imagination - Strong multi-level social message (i.e. not simplistic) - Lessons to learn - A great personal adventure of an ordinary anti-hero

that turns great - An outworldly experience - An original story - Fairy tale like storytelling quality - No simplistic 'good vs evil' judgemental message

that leads to unreasonable hatred and feuding - A message to step back and take time to understand a situation

and understand the others.

This cartoon is a reference in the genre.

Samurai Fiction (1998)

Japanese humor and derision

[7/10 · 17 March 2005]

This is a well presented movie with very interesting camera work and music.

In late 17th century, a samurai is wrongly accused to be stealing the clan's treasured sword, and has no choice but to kill the accuser on the spot and flee with the sword.

The son of a clan's high official pursues him with 3 friends, to the dismay of his father who sends ninjas to protect them, knowing their swordsmanship is far from being good.

This story uses the traditional Japanese principles of irremediable fate, where the characters are drawn towards actions because of the pressure of duty, sense of righteousness and pride. This contrasts with the American good-vs-bad approach to storytelling.

A lot of subtle Japanese humor with situational comedy, silliness and awkward personalities that you'll appreciate more if you learn Japanese stereotypical behaviors or understand some of their social culture.

Robots (2005)

Standard plot good for kids

[6/10 · 17 March 2005]

This is a fun movie that is a good way to pass time that will certainly appeal to a family audience and do very good on the box office.

It is by no means great: it is not as good as Ice Age or Saving Nemo, but way better than lame cartoons like Shark Tales. I give it a 6/10, but a kid or a parent will most likely give it a 7 or 8/10.

This is a growing up plot, where a teen leaves his small town with ideals, to get hired as an inventor in the most famous firm. Unfortunately his hero CEO has been overthrown by an evil CEO who's into profits and shareholder value and does not care about inventions, good value and the welfare of the customers.

I would rate this a G cartoon, with good family values that will appeal to parents conscious of what their children are exposed to. I remember The Grinch which was terrible and also shocked me as having inappropriate humor and content for the targeted young kids audience.

The movie is well made, though not too original. Humor is cute but I preferred the humor in Ice Age. Animation in fast scenes are too fast for an adult brain, typical of some cartoons.

HP employees will enjoy this as there's an obvious parallel with the Carly Fiorina era vs the Bill and Dave old style company management based on humane values.

Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)

Coming of age with a Mentor

[8/10 · 26 August 2004]

This is a nice coming of age story, I would rate PG-13 for sexual content though teens might learn something useful :)

Momo is about 15, and lives in the red light district of Paris in the early 60's, when twist and ye-ye music is happening.

He lives with a father that he hates because he puts him down and is just a depressing fellow. Meanwhile Momo hits on the prostitutes, and makes friend with Ibrahim, the street corner 'arab' grocery store.

Ibrahim takes over his education, and teaches him the important things of life.

Omar Sharif in a more human role compared to the grandiose movies he's famous for, and less lousy than Hidalgo :) Also shows some of Paris neighborhoods and 60's culture and some of the turkish and muslim cultures.

Now and Then, Here and There (1999–2000)

Powerful 13 episode 'sci-fi' OAV

[26 August 2004]

I rate this OAV drama PG-13 for acts of war described, including torture, rape, death, and just plain miserable life. This is an anime for adults or teenagers.

I enjoyed viewing this OAV: it has a solid movie-quality storyline that got me through all 3 DVDs in one shot.

It compares favorably to Jin-ro or Roujiin-z and would probably hit a 7/10 for an anime fan. It's not as good in my book as Grave of the fireflies, Wings of hoannemise or the hard to follow Akira classic, which I all rate 8~9/10.

The drawing is pretty standard Japanese animation style, of pretty good quality, though the DVD sleeve has nice but misleading stylized drawings with no relation to the actual anime.

Plot line:

Shu, a teen meets a strange girl, and get kidnapped into some parallel world or other planet...

Lalaru the girl is sought after because she has the power to control water in a world where water is rare, by a mad dictator who plans to rule the world with her help. He already has decimated most population not under his rule, most being peasants with little means of retaliation against his powerful army.

This story describes a pitiful humanity struggling in misery; people making deliberate choices that eventually can hurt others hoping for a better future for themselves. There's no good vs bad guy, and like good non-Hollywood movies, and still... it gets from bad to worse while Shu the hero stays hopelessly positive the future will be better.

The only downside is the dictator is hard to believe (character too monodimentional), and reasons for the soldier's motivations for obeying are a little weak. Also the going back-and forth between universes is not explained, and for example why not steal water on earth? That part is just an excuse to get clueless characters in that world.

Memories (1995)

3 imaginative short stories

[7/10 · 16 August 2004]

These 3 short cartoons are are aimed at adult thoughts. I'm not sure why this is PG-13: I think it's also appropriate for older kids that can handle more than Disney cartoons, and provide some food for thought. People do die however in 2 of the cartoons, and the topics treatment is aimed for critical judgment.

The 3 stories are shorts with a simple original idea. In this approach they are similar to short anticipation novels. The length of the stories is appropriate to the idea exposed and its treatment.

Magnetic Rose: dwelling on lost times is unhealthy Stink Bomb: biological warfare can backfire Cannon Fodder: brainwashing done by the government

The Son (2002)

Pretty accurate depiction

[4/10 · 15 August 2004]

On the upside, this film is a quite factual description of professional diploma middle/high schools in France (CAP menuiserie) which are a quick way out of the school system into manual labor. Those often host the kids from troubled or immigrant families as depicted. Non French natives can watch this movie to see a side of France they would otherwise not see.

On the downside, this movie is not a great film, and is typical of a French TV-series you'd find on France3 (i.e. PBS like). It's very low budget in the making, no score, unknown actors, and a very slow pace with a simple and blend plot, into which some will see subtle acting. US viewers will probably not be acquainted with this bare form of story-telling, which deals with unspoken emotions, that are more complex than just pure love, jealousy or hate :). Also there's not good or bad guy.

Peter Pan (2003)

Very nice rendition of Peter Pan

[10 August 2004]

So far I think this is one of the best film rendition of Peter Pan I've seen (and I've watched the famous 1920's rendition and Disney's).

• Special effects are used admirably to render Neverland's book-like feery.

• The movie is very well paced, compared to other Hollywood major production which should take a lesson.

• It's got a pinch of good humor, a little dark side, and a lot of fantasy, just like traditional fairytales.

Kid's tales US film renditions are often totally blend to fit what's 'appropriate' for kids, missing the original flavor of the tales. It was appropriate then for the kids. Why not now?!

This version did a darn good job! Bravo. To collect with Princess Bride and the Neverending story.

Hero (2002)

Excellent Kung-fu and special effects

[9/10 · 10 August 2004]

The story is pretty well covered in other reviews so I'll skip it.

I'll just comment on this: It has very nice fight scenes, IMHO better than Crouching Tiger. The story line is quite different and the treatment is quite different from Crouching tiger. This is not a sequel nor a rip-off, just like Crouching tiger was not a rip-off of Chinese Ghost Story 1. However the style is inspired, and I think it's just the new Hong Kong style.

Hero has very good army scenes, and the archery attacks are pretty awesome, reminiscent of the CGI work done in Lord of the Ring.

The only unsettling thing for action fans is that the movie is multiple, though very different, renderings of the same events, narrated by different people until the truth is reached.

Cinematography is very good, a little similar to Peter Pan 2003 where the colors palette is retouched depending on the emotion.

Enjoy!.. I did :)

Spartan (2004)

Some good ideas and some too obvious things

[6/10 · 9 August 2004]

The movie starts off a bit weird like it is a cheap movie in the 1st 10 min of character building.

Then however it becomes very catchy when the mystery sets in, up to the point where the hero knows where to get the girl and goes for it.

At that point there are many mistakes made in the scenario where it relies on things that are too easy to use in a plot, and it becomes a total disappointment. As if the scenarist ran out of good ideas and fell back into using old Hollywood standards for his plot %) Too bad... It gets a 2/10 for the intro, 7.5/10 for the secret agent part and 3/10 for the ending section.

Hidalgo (2004)

Average action flick

[9 August 2004]

This is you average Hollywood action flick with your average mediocre scenario.

It exploits big ropes, like denouncing the white man's wrongdoing to the American Indians, showing the Indians as spiritfull, depicting the Arab nation as straight to the point of being stuck-up, and the hero judging it all though our modern eyes. The funny part is that as usual the only good heroic black guy gets killed.

In 20 years this movie will look as stupid and prejudiced as those old Tarzan movies where the dumb African tribes wearing war paints and cooking humans in a cauldron are abused by Tarzan and some evil money hungry white colonialist hunting rare animals.

Besides that it's got decent action, though not gripping enough IMHO, but nice scenery and CGI.

The panther CGI was pretty good, but will take another 2~3 years of R&D to make CGI characters really lifelike. They reused the sand storms of The Mummy and the boats of Titanic :)

It's nice to see a good IL'American middle class mustang beat the crap out of those noble arabian studs, and be recognized but the highest power as heroic and worthy.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

A good Memento style suspense.

[8/10 · 9 August 2004]

Wow! You thought Memento was good... Well it was only linear backwards in time. This time we have a movie that adds a dimension by making it non-linear.

I don't want to reveal anything of the story, because it would spoil the film. You should not ask for more detail than "it's the story of a boy who has mysterious blackouts" when stressfull stuff happens to him. As he grows up he remembers some of the stuff and acts on it.

Overall, quite a good plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed it. It is well constructed and flows very well. There is no major flaw, except for the ending which is a Hollywood ending... or is it? I'm kidding, though the ending is conventional, it's not that obvious.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

An insult to Sergio Leonne

[1/10 · 9 August 2004]

Sergio took time to bring a story and build the characters, and made 2 classics 'once upon a time in the west', 'once upon a time in America', and a third which though a notch down is still very enjoyable 'once upon a time the revolution'. Even the 'once upon a time in china' were decent rip-offs of the film names.

This movie is just explosions and gun scenes slapped together badly stitched together to make a -hum- plot. It feels like a bunch of teenagers decided to make a movie, with what they think are cool scenes or characters. However it's all so blend obvious and paper thin superficial that it is constantly annoying to the point I did not even enjoy the action scenes, nor the too weak attempts at humor and derision.

The other mariachis of the series were much better, I rate them a 6/10 for the entertainment value and the style. This one goes for style with nothing else and it turns totally uncool and drops to a 4/10 - unless you're watching it with a dozen homies drinkin' & making lewd comments. I rated it 1/10 for the insult to a movie icon :)

King of Comedy (1999)

hong-kong slapstick comedy

[9/10 · 21 April 2004]

A nobody actor tries to make it in the movie industry. Meanwhile, on the sides he teaches acting: A call girl learns to act like a virgin, and small time bullies learn to act tough.

If you like asian humor, you'll love this one. Me and my friends had a good laugh watching the situation comic in this movie. If you have a 12 year old sense of humor like us you'll be rolling on the floor. Much better than the tepid, often uninspired US comedies.

FYI: $7 hong-kong = $1 US, that will help you see how cheap the characters are.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Did I pay ten bucks for that?!

[4 March 2004]

The purpose of the movie is not clear, unless its only purpose is to galvanize christians by exhaerbating Jesus's martyrdom. I don't recommend it and I find some of the depictions innapropriate.

The movie starts at Jesus's arrest and ends at his crucifiction death. It is 1 1/2 hour of very graphic torture with short flashbacks on famous scenes to disseminate the classic good words. Violence wise, I'm tough, but I was bothered a couple of times, kind of like in "irreversible" where a guy bashes another guy's head to pulp, where teeth pop out and you see the skull and brain... argh!). Anyway, the best horrid effects are when Jesus gets flagelated. If you can last until then, you'll be able to stand the rest of the movie. Violence in horror movies look pale and amateurish compared to this rendition.

I am neither jewish nor christian... but still, what shocked me most is how the Jewish priests are depicted slapping and spitting on jesus. is that an attempt to awaken religious rivalries?! This is not in the Bible I believe, and seems like an innapropriate artistic rendering. It is one thing showing Jesus being condemned by the Jewish priests for blasphemy, beaten by subordinate soldiers, but it is another to show priests degrade themselves to beating Jesus during his trial in front of the whole Jewish community. How credible a holy man would be showing no control?! Why is that in the script of the movie? I recall discussions where my friends explained to me that the priests probably wanted to get rid of Jesus because he was denouncing how corrupted the priests had become with power and wealth.

However, for the Romans, the depiction is more contrasted, the brutality is depicted as the traits of individuals, not of the roman community. I did not feel it as controversial.

Other things I found too much are the few lord-of-ring-ish "magical" visions that seemed pagan to me... a ghost appears to shock you out of your seat, little people are propped and dressed up to look like monstruous children. There's also the devil that hangs around as a spectator most of the time. Very theatrical.

One thing annoyed me: I saw people bring small kids in the theater. TV does show a lot of violence, but this is really violent! I don't think showing them in blood-o-rama how the Christ was tortured is the right way to awaken their faith! This is not a pilgrimage... I caught some sensitive females weeping in the dark: This movie is not a holy relica of jesus, it's man made with actors faking it all, it's a probably inexact artistic rendition of 2000-year old events.

Coming out of the movie, my friends seemed to think "what was that all about?!".

Irreversible (2002)

Disturbing.

[4 March 2004]

The original camera movements set the strange mood for this very tough to see movie.

The storyline is knitted backwards in time like Memento, to keep the suspense on the ruthless actions of a couple of guys on a rampage in the underground life of a big French city.

The tension of the action is intensified by the disturbing whining soundtrack and camera movements. A lot of the scenes are seen as glimpses without a clear shot. The camera floats from scene to scene seemingly continuously by rotating upside down, left right... This sickening cinematographic treatment is very interesting and catchy... As original as the treatments in Blair Witch was in its time.

I strongly recommend that women and children not see this as it is *very* disturbing and could cause phobias. Actually I wouldn't want to see it again, and don't recommend it to anyone. Why endure that storyline? Note that if it wasn't reversed, the storyline would be kinda weak, though gruesome.