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Reviews
Juyuso seubgyuksageun (1999)
not that special
This is a rather mediocre film, that doesn't has a lot going for it. It taps into a kind of anarchic 80's sensibility, and that is it's only selling point. The leading quartet is not very likable, and their, at times, sadistic behavior towards their hostages leaves a rather crude impression of the filmmakers.
The only ones who have a chance of really liking this film, are troubled teenagers at odds with the world. And even they could do a whole lot better.
The plot goes nowhere really, and it doesn't help that you're stuck in the goddamn gas station for the whole movie. I know it is 'that' kind of movie, but it could be done more charming and interesting.
Der er en yndig mand (2002)
OK short, but not really Oscar material
I was kind of let down by this short, since it won the Oscars and all. I xpected more. But it's actually an okay short, technically well done and sometimes rather amusing. But the story is too slight, and the humour, while being nicely subdued and gentle throughout, is not consistently funny enough throughout. But it's biggest problem is it's subject matter (which ironically is the REASON it won the Oscar) Film is PC moralizing in a manner that has been done to death here in Denmark. "respect your fellow man, even though he is an immigrant", "don't be a racist pig" etc., etc. This is all very fine, but I and pretty much anyone I know, don't need to be taught that. And I doubt a single racist bigot would change his mind after seeing this movie. It doesn't exactly give any real new insight into anything really.
But all in all, it is a well-crafted, rather amusing short, but don't expect Oscar material. But then again, "A Beautiful Mind" won the gong even though it was the least deserving in the pack.
The Last Samurai (2003)
Horrible Hollywood script
This was Cruise's worst film in many years. As many have pointed out, it's just "Dances with Wolves in Japan", but instead of a good epic story we here get..... crap. Cruise is miscast and overacts badly in some scenes, especially in the beginning.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
The film is full of clichés and stereotypes. The two leading Samurais are both charismatic, but that's just about the only really good thing in the movie. Some things about the plot are just plain ridiculous. The emperor has full control over both sides of the fighters, we learn, so WHY doesn't he just stop the whole damn thing?
And the reason why the samurai are fighting is because of something related to a railroad. But it is never clear why they must fight it so much. They stand for a traditional way of living and the railroad signals more modern ways of living, yes, yes, but does the railroad really mean the absolute end to the samurai way of living? We don't ever get to know that. It seems they're just fighting and fighting and killing for no real reason other than to stop progress (sounds like terrorism to me). In the end Cruise goes back to live with the Japanese woman, and since that is possible, I guess the community wasn't really that threatened itself by the railroad, anyway.
The blending of epic melodrama with the 'understanding a different culture' theme and fullblown killing spree action is not really a good mix. It's just too much. Really. The killing and dying of dignified main samurais (and sons of samurais) also gets really exploitative.
A particular bad point; One scene has Cruise asking a bad soldier to shoot him at 20 feet distance, because he knows that the soldier will miss; thereby he can show his point to the generals AND his balls of brass.... That's the lamest kind of Hollywood writing I've seen through all last year! Who the f*** would ever do that?
There is no good story in this film, it just pretends to have one.
People, open your eyes...
Troy (2004)
terrible script
The main thing that's wrong with this epic is the script. Compare this piece of Hollywood formulaism to a REAL epic, like Lawrence of Arabia, and all you can do is say, 'yuck!'
SPOILERS
The love story between Achilleus and Briseias should never have been there, but that's not the worst. The worst is that the movie just plays like any other formula action movie you could imagine, instead of using the great potential in the classic story at hand.
And some things are just plain ridiculous. Why in the midst of a brutal battle does everyone stop to look at Achilleus (really Patroklos) and Hektor fighting? In a battle your LIFE is supposed to be at stake!
And why is Achilleus, the cynical warrior, so very, very, very upset that his cousin Patroklos is killed? Isn't he used to people being killed around him? And why is he so upset at Hektor for killing him? Isn't war about killing people? Have I got it wrong? And Hektor apologizes to Achilleus because he killed Patroklos, and says he only did it because he thought it was Achilleus. BUT... does any man stop in the middle of brutal combat and choose who to fight or kill? Isn't that kind of fighting ABOUT killing as many as possible and hopefully surviving yourself?
Another thing; thousands of men die during the battles, presumably, but does each an every one of them get a kings burial with a lot of burning wood etc.? It seems like each time a main character dies he gets the gloriest of gloriest of funerals, even if he's not remotely royal. The soldiers really must spend a lot of their daytime collecting wood for those burials.
The actors try their best, but most do not come wholly unbruised away from this thing; they are let down by a terrible script and surprisingly unsure direction, especially in the early scenes in the film. Peter O'Toole and Sean Bean do really well throughout, though.
Disappointing all in all, especially with the story at hand. The music is terrible, too. I cannot understand why so many people like this film so much. Are these the same people who liked Pearl Harbour and The Last Samurai? P*** with bubbles is NOT champagne!
Om jag vänder mig om (2003)
feels like stageplay
This one fell short of my expectations. I had seen the trailer with that GREAT moody song, and the trailer had a great dynamic and a sort of compelling sadness. After seeing the film, I must say that the song, which is featured several times throughout, is the film's strongest asset, unfortunately.
The whole film has a stageplay feel, reminding me of plays by fellow Swede, Lars Norén. The three stories don't gel that well, the set-up takes a really long time and the stories feel very contrived. One of the stories have an OTT satirical feel, without really being funny. Actually all the situations are OTT and stageplay-like unreal. The theme about mid-life crisis and priorities in life didn't appeal that much to me, maybe I'm just too young. For me the conclusions are banal (spend more time with your family, for example)
The film is rather bleak throughout, but uplifting, and full of dysfunctional family units. And a lot of screaming and yelling.
Still, interesting. But not a must-see.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
neverending story
I had actually looked forward to this film, not because I'm religious because I'm not, but the mythmaking of religion fascinates me. Still, I was bored senseless and fell asleep as many as 20 times during the screening. And I hate falling asleep at the movies! The film is beautifully shot, but just SO boring. 20 minutes in I was actually praying for it to end, but it just kept on forever. I think the good Jesus stumbled about with that cross for more than an hour. I liked the image of Satan as a mysterious pale woman, and the movie was well cast, but I'd say you'd have to be a devout Christian to really dig this film.