Change Your Image
tatamata1
Reviews
6 Underground (2019)
Just... duh
I could have spent these two hours of my life way, way better.
I was feeling like watching some action, so picked this up without checking who directed it. A few minutes into the movie, I was sure this was Michael Bay. It is just what you would expect from a MB movie. The story sucks. The characters are one dimensional and comically overtheatrical. Humor is... well, you see it was meant to be humor, but for some reason it does not make you laugh. It is full of action, and yet somehow boring to death.
Well, I have nobody else to blame but myself. I should have checked the director first.
Spectral (2016)
Very silly
Oh. it's bad. It's a bag of cliches glued together in thick silliness. It has a ton of "oh, c'mon!" moments, especially with the scientist "hero" and his abilities. By the end of the movie I wouldn't have been surprised if he created a perfectly functioning helicopter out of cutlery and a calculator.
Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe (2016)
A propaganda for an extremely dangerous conspiracy theory
The creator of this movie, Andrew Wakefield, is not an against vaccination as such. On the contrary. He just claims that MMR vaccines on the market today are dangerous, and that there is a huge conspiracy going on.
Basically, he targets the viewers emotions and fears for their children well being. And he does that well! It is devastating to see so many "must see" and "finally truth" comments to this movie.
Why he does that? Well, apart from the obvious financial reasons (the revenue form the movie, sold books, lectures, conferences...), there are a few things he is not mentioning in the movie.
He is an ex-doctor, a man behind the 1998 publication of a research that allegedly discovered a link between measles virus and autism, and 2001 scientific paper proposing a link between MMR vaccine and autism. It was proved many times after that, by a lot of laboratories around the world, that both links he claimed he discovered do not exist. It was also proved that Wakefield directly falsified the data in his "researches". For such deeds, he was barred from practicing medicine.
But why would he do that? It was soon discovered by journalists that Wakefield's research was financed by a law firm who was preparing a lawsuit against MMR manufacturers. He personally received huge amounts of money from the same company. But furthermore, another journalist discovered that Wakefield applied for a patent for his own vaccine! What better way to make space for it on a market than to make people believe the existing ones are dangerous?
In short, Wakefield did not want people to stop vaccinating their children. But he wanted them to stop trusting the existing MMR vaccine, for his own financial benefits. But all hell broke lose, and people massively stopped vaccinating their children in fear of autism. Fear and stupidity took over, and the results were quick to see. We had measles outbreak in Minnesota this year among the communities who refused to vaccinate their children. In Romania it was much worse - soon after the vaccination rate there dropped to record low 86%, the measles outbreak infected thousands and killed almost 20.
Thanks to the dishonesty and greed of Andrew Wakefield, the children are again dying of diseases that were almost forgotten. Yes, that's how dangerous this kind of propaganda is.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Wish I didn't watch it
The LOTR was not perfect, but it was enjoyable, epic, with some changes to the original story that were unnecessary, but tolerable.
I expected the Hobbit to be similar. Well, three 3 h parts did ring the alarm bell from the start, but I was still hoping they could use that vast time in a smart way, e.g. by interweaving some stuff from Silmarillion through Elves or Wizards memories, or Dwarf tales... Well, I didn't truly believe it, but I did put a lot of hope in Jackson. Man, was I disappointed...
The first movie in the trilogy already killed my hopes. The second simply continued down that path. But even these two pieces could not prepare me to this - the worst part of the bad trilogy, with bunch of unnecessary matrix-like scenes; terrible, misplaced, clumsily and forcefully inserted love story with artificial flavor; inconsistencies or unexplained parts; terrible and unnecessary comic relieves... Oh, why?!
Why, Peter? Why did you ruin a masterpiece by making this pile of unimaginative Hollywood mediocrity? Didn't you earn big enough of a name and respect to be able to fight the Hollywood soulless corporate machine and their brainless patterns? Or, if they were too strong for you, didn't you earn enough money to be able to say - "no thank you, gentlemen, I am not doing this"?
Just disappointing.
Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
So bad, that it is almost funny
Not only that this is a shallow brainwashing propaganda - this is a really, really bad action movie, even if turn the blind eye to the pathetic quasi-patriotic part of it. There are bad guys (Serbs, of course) and good guys (and the best among them are Americans, of course). Serbs are not only murderers and blood thirsty savages in this movie - they are also completely incapable soldiers. Bunch of them cannot hit the main character while chasing him, but then, meters from the helicopter, he realizes he needs to get back for something, and of course, he turns back, takes out his pistol and kills one bad guy with each bullet (while, of course, they still can't even hit him).
People from all the nations in that bloody civil war were frightened, miserable, fighting to survive and defend their families and homes. And on all sides there were self-sacrifices, but also there were some idiots committing crimes. Serbs no more or less than the others. They did not come from outside, but lived there mixed with the others. There were no good and bad nations in that war, only good and bad people, equally distributed in all of them.
This kind of propaganda makes me sick, regardless if it tries to justify an American military operation in a foreign country, or if it is made just to entertain. It fails both.
Yugoslavia: The Avoidable War (1999)
Truth has the other side
Is the film one-sided? I'd say it is. But were the CNN, CBS etc. reports less one sided during the war? Unfortunately - absolutely not.
So, the film is not repeating the stuff everybody in the West already heard about? Is it really that strange? It tries to use the time it has to show the side of the truth that was not presented before, not to repeat what's already known. I am not trying to defend it, because I don't like one-sided movies myself... but I do understand the intentions. This was not made by a neutral observer - this was made by a man who couldn't stand the selectiveness of the "truth" presented. That's why this is not a great documentary - but it definitely should be seen.
The real question should not be was it one sided, but was any of this true? Because if it was, you should ask yourself - how much the "truth" you hear every day is filtered, so that you can hear only what you as a viewer and a voter are wanted to know, and no more than that. Especially about foreign affairs. Because reporters are much more ready to turn the blind eye on sufferings of people of some foreign nation when asked to, not so much when it happens at home.
I cannot say for sure if everything in this movie was true. But I can say that some things definitely were, and that those things were never presented in US media. I have heard about some of those events earlier, from my friends or relatives witnessing them. I even witnessed some of that myself when I visited Bosnia and Serbia.
So, just watch it, don't believe it. Then watch the reports from the other side about the same events, and compare them. The truth is often somewhere in between. It is sometimes amazing how some things start to get much more sense when you get a chance to hear another side, too.
Normally I would give no more than 6 to this documentary... but since some commentators gave it one star simply because they don't believe the stuff presented there, I gave it 8. Because it really should be seen.
Life of Brian (1979)
One of the smartest movies ever
I've seen it a many, many times... and I intend to see it again.
Monty Phythons are really funny and really smart guys that made hilarious movies and sketches mocking everything that deserves to be mocked. But they have outdone themselves with this masterpiece of satire. And the target this time is religion, peoples' need to have leaders, messiahs and savers and believe in miracles that can solve their problems and bring some hope in most miserable times. And about many, many other things - greed, fanaticism, stupidity... but also an unbelievable optimism that tells you that life is no more than a big joke. So don't take it too seriously.
A definite must see. There is so much truth hidden beneath the surface of comedy seemingly made just for laughs. A real gem. It will make you laugh out of your mind. And if you are smart enough to see beneath the surface, it will leave you in awe how smart the creators are.
Always look on the bright side of life!
Corto Maltese: La cour secrète des Arcanes (2002)
Very good
I think the director and animators did a tremendous job. I am a big fan of Pratt's art, and to be honest didn't expect much from the movie. The comic has a recognizable atmosphere, that I sincerely doubted can be successfully moved to the screen.
But luckily - I was wrong. I was delighted with the final result. The atmosphere was there, just the way it should be - I actually felt like reading the comic.
But beware - if you are not familiar with Pratt's work, or if you don't really love it - I doubt you can appreciate this piece. Also, this is a European movie, not American. It is very, very non-typical, and I fear that most of American public may find it confusing, probably even boring.
The scenes are long and slow, the director doesn't rush anywhere, takes the time to show each facial expression, to give a weight to every said word. Just as the comic does.
Also, in order to enjoy Pratt's art, you have to know a lot - you have to be interested in history, geography, legends, culture of various nations, mysticism, different religions and beliefs... And the same is true for this film. So - no, this is definitely not a movie for a typical American consumer.
In short - if you know and like Pratt's work, you will probably enjoy the movie. Otherwise - you probably won't like it at all.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
A masterpiece.
This is clearly a masterpiece, and probably one of the best movies ever made. A good laugh made out of a horrific theme. And the theme is not only the threat of the nuclear war - moreover, it's a threat of insanity and stupidity being infiltrated in the highest decision making circles, which literally decide the faith of the world.
Both most important geniuses of this film, Kubrick and Sellers, very well know that when fighting stupidity, a good laugh can often be much more effective than a ton of serious warnings.
If you are by any chance amongst those who didn't see this movie - don't wait for another second. Find it, watch it, laugh and think about it. It will entertain you, but it will also make you think about deadly serious matters.
Fail Safe (2000)
Really good
I wasn't even aware that this was a remake when I watched it on TV. At one point I even thought it was an attempt to make a serious version of Dr Strangelove. Not something that should be boasted about, I know, but it's true and important for the rating I gave to this movie. I was a bit surprised to see such a good piece have only average 7, but learning about the 1964 version from the comments here on IMDb explained a lot.
I'll definitely try to find and watch the original. Surely people who saw it cannot be as taken with the 2000 movie as I was, seeing the story for the first time. Especially if the original really was that good. But for me, it was one of the best movies I have recently seen. The story does not sound unrealistic at all, and that's probably the most scary part of it. The director and the actors did a great job. The film got my undivided attention from the beginning to the very last scene. I am not even sure if I blinked once for the whole time ;)
I also liked the idea to make it look as a movie from 1960es - shot in b/w and all... E.g. in some scenes computer screen in the background was obviously just a piece of glass with planes drawn on it and some lights turning on and off.
Anyways, I give it well deserved 9. It is possible that I would have given it less if I had a chance to see the original first. But maybe it's good I didn't - I guess I enjoyed the movie much more this way.
The Postman (1997)
Extremely pretentious, extremely boring - extremely bad
This is probably one of the worst films I have ever seen. It bore me to death. Three hours of pathetic "patriotism".
Everything happens by accident - an accidentally discovered mail bag inspires Costner's character to use it as mean to get a meal and a shelter. But it will, by accident, wake up some real hope, and accidentally bring to forming of a postal service (which is actually much more than just a postal service - at the time it is the only institution of the new United States, and eventually will become even some kind of it's army!).
The moral of the film is pointed out by Costner himself, near the long, long waited end - believing in the United States will make you invincible! Pathetic, at best.
If only it lasted two hours shorter, it would be entertaining as an unintentional comedy. But unfortunately, three hours of garbage at one place is not entertaining by any means.
Air Force One (1997)
Cheesy, shallow "patriotic" action
Unless you like unrealistic action movies where brain needs to be turned off - don't even bother watching this one. Bullets are flying around, planes are exploding, people are fighting in the opened cargo area on 30,000 feet...
The flag is waving in every scene. Every. Even if it is not visible, it is there somewhere - in a dialog, in an American missile destroying a MIG, in the way the president orders everyone else to leave the doomed plane before himself... people are jumping to take the bullet for the president, even pilots placing their fighters to take the missile for the AF1 (oh, gosh, that was something)!
It is extremely unrealistic, but hey - it's an action movie. That's the only reason I gave it two instead of one star - I guess it has all the elements an action movie is expected to have.
So to summarize - this movie has a clear distinction between the good and the bad guys, ridiculous plot, cheesy music, the kind of patriotism and propaganda that makes you laugh... It is so shallow that it makes your brain hurt.