griswoldpiratas Reviews

Ring of the Nibelungs (2004 TV Movie)

aaaaaaaaah... no, not really

[5/10 · 30 November 2004]

Sorry to say, this movie, though entertaining in parts, just doesn't feel right.

The original Sagas are barely recognizable, Benno Fuhrmann as a lead is horribly miscast and not at all living up to the other actors play. Further, the action sequences are pathetic. Sword swings are re-dubbed in a style that reminds me of 70's Chinese kung fu flicks. swoosh! sIEGFRIED STANDING SOMEWHERE in a very wooden manner, trying to attain a posture he does not possess, then starting to play around with his sword for no apparent reason. swoosh. Please spare me....

Some kind of Taejon-ethnic-folk beat with all the villagers dancing around a bonfire as if they are on ecstasy. Right.

The most annoying thing are the slow motion scenes Oon Fuhrmann. 20 secs watching Siegfried turning his head in slow motion while the wind is majestically blowing through his hair. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARG!

Could not stand to watch...

....the....

...end...

....aaarg!(died of boredom)

The Gambler and the Fake (1981)

weeeeeeeeell, you got to like chinese movies

[4/10 · 22 February 2004]

the movie features some extraordinary bad acting. plus, it has the worst english subtitles I have ever seen. In the version I saw they were actually put ABOVE the taiwanese subtitles which actually had the same colours. For that reason I didn't get much of the plot either, but I don't have the feeling I missed out.

Pros: Some quite funny visual slapstick, sometimes intended, sometimes not. The gambler is extremely funny when being "cool"... Some nice action. If you like HK flicks without Bruce, Jackie and Jet Li, chances you'll like this one are high. Not like, rather find it amusing to sit through. 3-4 outta 10.

Equilibrium (2002)

Best science-fiction movie since Matrix 1!

[8/10 · 3 February 2004]

Plot Outline: The story takes place in world where after the III. World war all feelings have been banned in order to eliminate all aggression and - consequently - to end all wars. A special police force has been established in order to control this new rule of life.

This may sound a little strange, yes, I admit - it IS strange. But the movie depicts this world in great and believable detail. Think of the Matrix background... humans as batteries? I actually liked the story here.

Christian Bale does a good job acting, the others are quite good, too. Especially the children were good, they managed to be unannoying in an action/sci-fi movie, so thumbs up.

Now... the fight scenes were just awesome!!!!

And there's not a single bullet time sequence in the movie. The slow motion bullet dodging sequences looked all the better without it. The movie took the old-school John Woo double-pistol action to a higher level. Avoid Matrix 3 at all cost and rent this one when in doubt about 2. Serious.

7 1/2 out of ten overall -

(SPOILER)

minus for the motorcyclehelmets and the so called "underground", which to me looked out of place and unconvincing. I mean the main one in the city. Not good.

Go watch it.

This is my first review.

Thanks for reading it. Please forgive me any spelling errors and grammar mistakes.