AlexMedario Reviews

Wednesdays don't exist (I) (2015)

Funny and friendly, it is unfairly low rated !!

[7/10 · 4 May 2020]

I don't understand the rating, the film deserves more, quite more !! It's an excellent choice for enjoying a nice evening, you are going to laugh, characters are funny and friendly, there is some music also in the film, and the Madrid it portrays is beautiful.

The films plays with a group of characters, going back and forward in time, showing you different scenarios and situations where the couples wrangle about love, future, lovers and other important issues.

Because you see just fragments, short situations of everyone, in different times, you get engaged to the film, framing the couples and getting to know where they come from and what would be his destiny.

Enjoy!

The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

Slow but deserves the effort.

[7/10 · 2 May 2020]

I think it could have a higher rating if the director had not played so strong with slowness. Even so, it´s a good movie, and it's so good to watch something different, sometimes I start to think that there are not more good plots, more stories to tell, but then a film like this appears and well, there are, yes!

All characters are interesting, the story grabs you specially because the film plays with time, different times are showed and you start building your own composition, piece by piece, trying to understand the characters, an excellent approach, very effective.

Learning to Drive (2014)

Excellent choice for a quiet evening.

[7/10 · 1 May 2020]

I'm surprised with the rating, it deserves more. It's not a film with a complicated plot neither it has fanceful tricks, it is a simple story, very well recounted, with good actors portraying nice characters. If you enjoy the time viewing the film, from minute one to the last, if you end the movie with a good taste in one's mouth... what else?

Inherent Vice (2014)

Impossible to follow, out of the question engage with it.

[4/10 · 30 April 2020]

I was not able to finish the movie. It´s not possible to follow the plot, too many characters, to many names, bizarre scenes connected with.... nothing? with something that will come? To enjoy a movie you need to step in the story, believe in the characters, build your own plot. However, in this movie, and after one hour trying to not disconnect, you're mad with yourselve because you are completely lost and with no hopes.

Why waste peoples' time with such a long movie? No one could have warned the director of the nonsense he was releasing? There are someone in the crew who watched the movie? I'm really pissed off with the movie.

El Sur (1983)

Take a couple of coffees before

[6/10 · 12 April 2020]

Maybe it's a good film, with very few elements a profound story is built, you learn to know the characters with some caring hints, gestures, camera movements... but... there are no intensity in the film, you need to force yoursef to be awake, to be attentive, the film doesn't get you.

I don't think this film portrays the post-war Spain, in fact, all the action happens inside the family house and few references about the outside world are included.

Soldier of Fortune (1955)

It aged well but a few strambotic scenes, entertaining movie

[6/10 · 11 April 2020]

It´s an entertaining movie, fast, you get to the end of it without looking at the clock, a good plot and it´s nice to watch the Honk Kong of the time.

In the downside, there are a few bizarre scenes, for example a fight with unrealistics punchs or the quick drunkness of the french guy in the bar.

What I found strange is the speed of the movie. When compared with nowadays films, I think that maybe in this film the plot included too many things, the film was not a long film and this forced the director to cut into explanations and just show the conclusions.

Just Mercy (2019)

So good not to live there !! Injustice everywhere, well portrayed.

[7/10 · 10 April 2020]

It's always kind of a burden to watch a film portraying a so big injustice. We watch films to enjoy our freetime, at least it's my motto. If I wanto to learn, better to read a book. For this reason I rank high films like this, even though they are depicting a sad situation they spare you of the worst of it.

The film relates very well the story, it's not boring for a single minute, the characters are enjoyable, even the bad guys are not fully wretched. The two main characters are awsome in their perfomance.

I recommend strongly the movie.

We Were Soldiers (2002)

Too wonderful, men are not like that.

[6/10 · 9 April 2020]

I cannot believe such a nobility and greatness in soldiers. Men are not like that. This was the first great battle of the war, I suppose soldiers were really professionals and not just poor people forced to fight. This explains the lack of wrong characters as happens in the rest of the big Vietnam films.

Nevertheless, it's like the Star Wars films, bad guys seem to be cross-eyed. Because a few scenes depicting the local forces the film pretends to be portraying both sides, but it´s not like that.

Apocalypto (2006)

Bloody, engaging and with powerful imagery.

[7/10 · 9 April 2020]

No doubt about, Mel likes blood, a lot. The film is engaging, you get interested from the begining to the end, because the story but even more because the powerful visuals, depiction of the characters and use of the camera.

There are three segments in the film. First, the village and main character are portrayed in a hunt scene. Even with the joy and family comfort of the scenes, blood appears. I got surprised by the scene after the couple that was trying to "conceive" a child. They have been deceived with some leaves that they should use to improve the chances of pregnancy, the guy had to rub them into his sexual organs, and in reality the leaves sparked a hot or spicy feeling. The guy leaves the hut trying to put his sexual organs in water, but the girl tried to refresh her mouth.

Second segment is the invasion by the Mayans, how they are guided to the Mayan city and the sacrifices there.

Third and last part of the movie, is the run away of the main character and final fight with the persecutors.

Platoon (1986)

In the podium of the best Vietnam War films ever

[9/10 · 8 April 2020]

I've watched in a short period Platoon, Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now. It's hard to decide for the best, the three of them are masterpieces. Insanity of war is best pictured in Apocalypse Now, FMJ adds a lot with the soldier training, and Platoon really brings you into the battle like no other. There are characters in the films that being secondary bring a lot to the movie. I like the trio Lance (in Apoc, the surfer), Rafterman (the photografer in FMJ) and Bunny in Platoon.

The Siege of Jadotville (2016)

Is more a Disney movie than a war movie

[6/10 · 8 April 2020]

I didn´t like the movie. Maybe is because I've watched a few real good films about war lately (Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, 1917, All quiet in the western front, Flags of our Fathers...). Well, this film is not in the same level. The idea is fine, the plot is spectacular to do a good movie, but the final product lacks quality, it´s difficult to engage with it, there are a lot of flaws, well, summarizing, I didn´t like it. Please netflix, get away from cinema, you are sinking the ship.

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Nonsense of war masterfully portrayed

[9/10 · 7 April 2020]

This film is going to let a lot of images fixed in your brain, and sounds, I've never been able to hear again the Valkiries musica without remembering this film. The Doors music the same, it belongs into the movie. Incredible piece of art in my opinion. After watching again the film recently I recommended it to my elder son, in his twenties, I think that this film is kind of a "must" if you pride yourself of being fond of cinema.

First Man (2018)

Too much history for just a film. Nevertheless it´s a must see film.

[7/10 · 7 April 2020]

I liked to review the story again. Of course all of us know a lot about this landing but the film packs together a lot of the events that deserve to be remembered. Even so, my humble opinion is that the films tries to pack too much in two hours. I missed too some images about the ships, too much first-person-shoot. It would have been a good opportunity to recreate the events letting the viewer enjoy som special effects to put us into situation. Anyway, I liked the movie. I'm not fond of the main character actor, but no doubt about his perfomance was superb.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

"I'm in a world of *, yes... but I'm alive. And I am not afraid"

[9/10 · 7 April 2020]

Sorry that I cannot include the whole sentence, that summarizes very well the bottom line of the movie. This movie is full of memorable sentences, so is that that I remember a few of them even now after so many years. I watched the movie first time when it was released and a couple of times recently. It has aged very well, I'm glad of having watched it again and my high opinon about the film remains the same.

Insomnia (1997)

Spoiler !! I couldn't believe the plot.

[6/10 · 12 September 2019]

I finished the film thinking that I had missed something. I couldn't believe that the entire mess was just a scheme for hiding a mistake. A plot difficult to buy. But out of that the film portrays very well the all day light hindrance and the Scandinavian society.

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

Good film, better book

[7/10 · 8 February 2018]

Even that the film is fine it's years light distance from the book, so many things get behind !! But letting aside unfair comparison with a spectacular novel, the film deserves some praising.

First at all is that a complicated plot is masterfully exposed, you get to understand it without being a genius. And this is not trivial matter, because usually spy films get too confused and wrapped into incoherence. A high qualification for the script, is clear enough. Richard Burton plays an excellent character, he stares the rest of the characters and even being the film black and white his expression and his light eyes make an impression.

Total Recall (I) (2012)

Incredible set and special effects, but it lacks the sense of humor of the original.

[7/10 · 19 November 2017]

I've watched the two films in a row, first the Schwarzenegger movie, then the update. Even so the special effects, how the cities are set and an improved story, the initial film has an extra because the humor.

A few differences and references of both films. This second film happens entirely in this planet. The first one was between Earth and Mars. Just a Mars reference happens when Douglas is going to be implanted the holiday memory and he states that he would love to visit the planet. The road with levitating vehicles is excellent, a real vehicle where the pilot is a ridiculous dummy.

Mars is full of mutants, and this includes a prostitute with three breast. The Colony, in the recent film, has a interesting night life also, and the scene repeats when a girl shows her three breast to Douglas.

I suppose there are a few more hidden references, but it's kind of a game to find them, let's try for yourself.

Enjoy.

Total Recall (1990)

Mindblowing future, action and some funny moments.

[7/10 · 19 November 2017]

A construction worker decides to get a virtual holiday. In this next future the film portrays the way to do it it's just to "implant" a remembering in your brain. You will remember that you have been on holiday, you'll feel that it's true but you have not the real experience, it's just a few neurons connected. "But, what it's always the same in all your holidays" the seller of the vacations ask to Quaid, the construction worker. He doesn't know but the smiling seller doesn't make him wait: "you, you're the same in all your travels". Quaid is offered to make his vacations really special. He's going to go to Mars, visit the planet, but not as a tourist but as a special agent who is going to fight against terrorist and save the planet from destruction.

The plot is really interesting, it's not a specially complicated story, you don't get lost but there are twists enough to surprise you and make the ride a joyful one.

Technology has changed the world, so much that even in so recent past as 27 years ago they didn't foreseen the miniaturization degree that communication devices could attain. You see into the movie a few screens with a depth box behind them, the ruler of Mars even get into the phone connected with a cable to the device on the wall.

It's nice the hologram device able to replicate a person, and of course the costume-robot Quaid uses to enter into Mars.

Excellent way to let a couple of hours go away, and even if you watched it a few years ago it's quite interesting to review it again, how fast time runs, you'll think.

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Ageing well it's indication of a good movie. Watch or re-watch it, worthwhile.

[7/10 · 18 November 2017]

I'm reading Schwarzenegger bio, and he relates how this film was done. I get intrigued and watched again the movie, after so many years. No doubt that today so much blood is no scandal, but the film has the right gore, violence and sex that Conan deserved.

Best compliment for a film is that gets old in good shape, and Conan does. The film has the right mixture, fiction and epic, violence and sex, fights and blood.

The plot is simple, revenge, but it's very well dressed and set and background are interesting in themselves. This does a film captivating, interesting and you get stick to it from the minute it starts. So sad that the sequel didn't kept the pace, because from today standards it could have been an incredible saga.

The Invisible Guest (2016)

Elaborate and careful construction, psychological game

[7/10 · 23 September 2017]

Since the first moment you get attached to the characters, their stories seem plausible and you don't feel any of them are guilty. But not everything can be true and the careful construction of the events, like in Agatha Christie novels keeps you intrigued till the end.

Excellent play for the main actor, Mario Casas, but even better for the lawyer, Ana Wagener.

May God Save Us (2016)

An awkward couple of policemen hunt a serial killer in Madrid.

[8/10 · 17 September 2017]

It's so good to watch a good film with policemen, some thriller and of course the bad guys, but this time it's in an European city, Madrid. Quite better than LA, NY or the rest of exhausted American cities.

The couple of actors are superb, especially the tough Alfaro, played by Roberto Álamo. Antonio de la Torre plays the partner, Velarde, a strange character that makes the game more interesting.

Of course the movie is full of topics or even scenes that remind some other similar films, but it's difficult to do otherwise, because the subject has been repeatedly used as script.

There are huge differences but it come to my mind a few times the film Seven. I know that this film is in all the list about the greatest films, but for this reason it's normal that all films about the subject drink a bit from it.

The Bar (2017)

Mild stress in a bizarre an real bar

[7/10 · 16 September 2017]

A breadth of characters find themselves in a strange situation inside a bar in Madrid. They are there because different reasons and coincidences, some of them know each other but others are just passersby.

When they are confronted with the thrill, anxiety and fear of the inexplicable events that happen in the surroundings and they are closed in the suffocating bar atmosphere, each is going to react differently. And how one of them wisely points out, you show your real personality in limit situations.

It's a nice way of spending a couple of hours, it has the right amount of thriller and funny situations, the actors perform an excellent work and you'll not look at your watch or mobile phone during the entire movie.