This movie had it all: one of the most extraordinary real stories that ever happened, a big budget, good cast - yet they managed to blow it! Columbus' character is highly idealized, key moments (like the wrecking of Santa Maria) are missing and the story is simply boringly told!
Reviews
34 Reviews
Hotel Rwanda
(2004)
A real story!
11 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is outstanding in more then one way! The brutality of the killers, their hypocrisy, their cruelty, their violence are well shown! The outstanding courage of the hero, his will to sacrifice everything to save strangers are heart-melting! The scenes are so shockingly realistic, it almost makes you believe it is a docu-drama! Even if it wasn't based on a true story, the movie would still be strong, but to know that Paul Rusesabagina is real and his struggle to save his protegees was real, that all that madness really happened, that the mind-blowing killing rate of more then 10 000 per day was achieved is staggering! This is one of the most powerful motion pictures I have ever watched!
Not credible
10 March 2018
Not enough attention to details
10 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The episode is not bad but, as a Romanian, some stuffs clearly made me wonder how much did the creators document for it. For instance, although they are supposedly in Romania, most of the time they speak English and, for some reason, Czech language. Secondly, what's with the old cars? They show old Ladas, while Romania had Dacias, but the show is not about the 1970s anyway. Present day Romania has new cars, mostly Dacia new models, VW and Skoda. But the big blunder comes when they give the name of the male character. Nobody in Romania is called Dracul, as it is the equivalent word for "devil". I know Romania is usually associated with Dracula, but they could simply have used a proper Romanian name for the character, as they did with the other Romanians on this episode
Soudns interesting
15 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Damn, when it comes to police dramas, I thought I've seen them all. But this came as a surprise for me. I mean, there are a lot of movies about dirty cops, sure, and you see dirty cops in many TV shows as well, I agree, but seeing a show where the main character is a dirty cop is something new, at least for me. Also, I have to say the show's timing with reality is also pretty interesting, given the heated debate taking place in the United States during the last couple of years regarding the conduct of certain police officers (true, the debate is about the so called "trigger-happy" policemen, not about the police corruption). And it is nice to see Jennifer Lopez as a policewoman once again, after "Angel Eyes", now in a whole different perspective. I am very very curious to see how they'll develop this show!
Soap opera
8 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Such a great episode ruined by such a terrible ending! This reminds me of the Season 3 episode where they investigated a murder on a soap opera studio because the ending is an enormous overreacting. I mean Kate didn't lose it for years when she investigated her mum's case, even when she knew who the killer was and could do nothing about it, and she loses it now, when both legal and poetic justice got him? Are you kidding me? Only in soap operas can we see such an amount of dramatization as in that ending. And it is a shame, because otherwise it was a really great episode: the story became credible, the characters played nicely, the scene when Castle shot from the desk was cool but no, they couldn't keep it like that, they had to ruin everything with a cheap, soapy break-up! If they keep doing things like that, they better end the show and leave us with good memories! The 7 I rated the episode with would have been a 10 without the ending!
Too much
26 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
While there certainly were aspects of this episode that I liked, the story went way too far! This is no longer a police story but a CIA/Mossad/KGB/MI5 story, although I got to say l liked the British chick. However, the story is too big for NYPD, no matter the background of the main character. This show is simply supposed to be about a bunch of cops solving murder cases in New York, not one about hits on FBI agents and convicted senators leading murderous teams form a prison cell. And that Vikram guy a diabetic, seriously (however, I do have to say I loved how Alexis tracked him and Beckett using that ambulance fake call)? So, what did I love about it? Well, I loved the beginning scene, and not just for the hot killer chick. Also, I loved the whole idea of involving Alexis in her father's private investigator work and the scene with the guy happy he had to kill his brother instead of his chef was pretty funny. But a biiiiiiiiig dislike for how they made Kevin be disappointed he didn't get a promotion and for mentioning money, something so out of character for Ryan. I have to say I am curious to see what this is all about, but I sure hope I won't see anything like this on Castle again.
a great finale
27 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is, for me, the best season finale of the show, although I would have kept the suspense and split the case into 2 episodes, having them catch the killer in the first episode of Season 8. It was, however, a pretty good episode, with a lot of intense moments but I am willing to bet they initially thought just like I said, to have a 2 episodes case, than changed their minds and condensed it into a single one, which is visible in the rather abrupt way it ends and in the big jumps they make in solving it. Anyway, I loved how Kate handled the situation when that guy accused her of all those terrible things (but, let's face it, they are all true after all). But I still hope she will say no to politics and keep being a detective, she is so good at it. This being said, a full 10 from me.
funny
26 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
It was a super funny episode and I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the way the old actor was flirting to Cate and Rick's anger towards him for that, the comedian turning his arrest into a sketch and "Hurricane Martha" having a crisis ("Is he dead?" was a funny thing to keep repeating in the context) and the scene showing Richard encouraging her was a very sweet one, same being truth about Kate insisting towards Castle to talk to his mum. But I still don't understand why Kate has to call her husband Castle and not Richard. I also loved Carly Rae Jepsen's appearance in the show, although her music might not be the fittest one for the show and the characters and the comedians doing Castle and Kate sketch were pretty funny too, especially the heel gag. And I loved the ending. So, on average, it was a cute episode, worthy of a 9 from me
Catchy
4 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was brilliant, really brilliant! I love how Castle can't stay away from a murder, no matter what he is doing and I have seen some other TV shows depicting crimes on a plane before, so l knew it was going to be a tough one. it was a real challenge for Castle to solve this without Kate, the boys, the lab and so on, but Alexis reminding she did an internship with Lanie was a nice touch driving us back on memory lane. Castle may not be a real cop, and the way he conducts the interrogation of the alleged Syrian terrorist shows that he still needs lessons from his wife, but he is an investigator (former PI, nonetheless) and, more important, he knows when to trust his instincts, despite what appearances say. The plot is well written, the turn from a possible terrorist attack to a revenge plan, ending with nothing else than a theft being a nice line of events. Oh, and Castle finally curses, or almost does (There is a snake on the motherflying plane)
Still waiting for some answers
4 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I liked the episode. First of all, I like that Kate's therapist from the days she was trying to deal with her killing attempt got back, as some interesting moments happened in his office in season 4. And the episode story was not bad either; you got to admit the Chuck Norris part was kinda funny and the idea of "deleted memory" or replaced memories was not that bad, after all, although the episode failed to explain why Castle asked for his memories to be deleted (as we learn in the IInd episode of the series, nor does it explain his fear, from the same IInd episode of season 7 that the real reason why he became a crime writer would be revealed and we still don't know what awful secret from teenage or childhood he is hiding). Also, I think it would have been more to the point if his former mate would have chosen ISIS instead of Al-Qaeda, as Al-Qaeda is already outdated as a subject for action movies. Either way, I liked the episode and I am going to give it a 10
Interesting episode
5 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I so love it when the crew gets stuck into a maze of suspects, possible reasons and when a secondary chain of events makes the situation even funnier. The bets are always funny in this show (I still remember the Season 2 episode when Ryan and Espo were investigating a different case than Castle and Beckett and they made a bet who is going to solve the case first only to realize that, in fact, their cases were connected and had to be investigated together) and Castle shows, once more, what a great character he is when, behind Kate's back, he arranges that they wouldn't have to perform anymore, due to her stage fright. I am also happy for the kiss scene, as kisses are so rare between Kate and Castle and for the fact that (finally!) Lanie is back. What I am still waiting to see is both Kate and Rick calling each other by the first name. I mean, they are married, for crying out loud! And I am also still waiting to see Perlmutter's disappointment upon Castle's return to the team. Anyway, this was a cool Castle-like episode and gets a full 10 from me!
Castle crew keeping up
31 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Lately in the 7th season, it felt like the crew can't possibly make any bad episode again, making us, grieving fans forget how badly this season actually started. This episode was intense, with a lot of twisting situations, a nicely sneaked conspiracy and people who are not what they seem to be. I like it every time an episode gets focused on a member of the crew, because they always make it to be so intense and full of unexpected situations. And I also like it whenever the case has something to do with politics, because it brings proof once more what a morally corrupt environment that is. And I am looking forward to see weather Kate makes it a captain or not. But once again, we are wondering whatever happened to Lanie and Perlmutter, as neither appears in this episode, same as in the previous one. Either way, a full 10 from me!
Another excellent episode
20 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Seeing Kate Beckett insecure, envy and jealous on another cop is something I was not expecting, but it most certainly is a great surprise. Once again, it was a great episode and the killer came as a pleasant surprise, after all that mixing with FBI, Hong Kong police, gangs and Triades. It reminded me of the bondage episode form Season 2, when the victim was also killed because a friendship between girls was falling apart, but also reminded me of the Season 4 episode when the team gets help from that British inspector Hunt to solve the case. And Linda Park was simply great in her role and I am kinda hoping to see her again. But is it just me, or none of the 2 medical examiners we were so fond of was not included in this episode? Anyway, it was a very good episode and I give it a full 10, as I often do with late episodes from Season 7.
Don Jon
(2013)
Funny
6 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I have recently seen this movie and I have to say it was pretty funny, although I have to admit I was expecting more jokes and funny situations. Anyway, it is not a bad movie, not at all and the confessions scenes are always funny, especially when the minister cuts his ratio of prayers when he claims he stopped watching porn from 10 to 5 (I bet the priest was thinking something like: "It was bloody time for that!") but. same as Jon, I didn't get it why did he get the same number of prayers when he really gave up pornography. What I liked about this movie is how natural the guy is, after all. And how it deals with over expectations in our lives (not just the sex related ones, but generally). Just one question remains: if Scarlett Johansson's body is just an 8, who the hell gets a full 10? Just asking . . .
Come back with a bang
27 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Castle's return had to be spectacular, but I have to say I did not see this coming. When you watch a show like Castle, you have the feeling that there is a comfort zone for the characters: either a nice murder in a normal family, in a lovely suburban neighborhood or a bad guy killed by someone else than we expected. So when they get the viewer out of this comfort zone, they take a chance. But this time, the chance was worthed because the episode was absolutely brilliant, perfect at any level. The talking computer and its voice (or, should we say, her voice) reminded me of the unfairly underrated Gene Roddeneberry's SF series "Andromeda", where the I.A. had a similar voice. And the jokes were nice as well, both the "Get a room!" and comparing Nova Scotia to Mars. But there is still something I want to see: Perlmutter's face at Castle's return, as he was so happy to see him gone.
Outstanding
19 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I had to say "finally" two times after watching this episode: for catching 3XK and for Castle's return to the team. However, I have to say, as a hardcore Castle fan, I got a little sad. Why? Because it is very hard to believe that it is possible for them to make an even better episode than this one. All 3XK episodes are great, but this one, well, this one is not just the best 3XK episode, it is the best episode from the entire show. It was so good I didn't even notice the 555 blunder (still, seriously, I am almost developing an allergy to the movies with American phone numbers containing this sequence - such a cliché). This is a bit of a reverse situation comparing to the previous episode. That one started with a funny situation (Alexis' joke about joining an escort service) and ended with an extremely dramatic situation (Kate being kidnapped) while this one starts with a dramatic situation (the events after Kate being taken) and ends with a funny and happy twist (Rick being sentenced to community service after assaulting Tyson but having to serve that with Kate). But I must say the gold moment of the episode was not the end, not even when they took down Tyson or when Rick revealed to him that he is the one who fell into a trap, the gold moment is the little chat Gates has with Castle in the booking room, telling him to find the story. It was such an intimate, intense moment I almost expected a kiss. 12 out of 10 from me!
Incredibly intense episode
13 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
As usually in late Season 7, the writers did their best to make us forget how badly the season started. I always loved 3XK episodes because they were so dramatic and because the villain was so damn smart. This episode started in a way that would have never predicted the end. It was a cute scene at Castle's house, Martha was expressing gratitude to her son and Alexis threw a funny joke about signing up for an escort service and going to meet a client just to see if her dad was paying attention plus she was very sweet kissing Kate. Nothing let to see the most evil character in the series (even worse than senator Bracken, if you ask me) was about to strike again. It made perfect sense for him going after Kate after he failed to pin a murder to Castle and get his life ruined or even ended in a prison cell. However, I wasn't expecting him to be so bold and get himself a concrete alibi, being inside a police station with his evil partner while poor Kate was taking a shot in full street. I can barely wait for the next episode and, despite the fact I really enjoy 3XK episodes, I hope they will finally take him down like the rabid dog he is. Anyway, back to this episode, I loved it immensely and it gets a full 10/10 from me.
Magnificent episode
5 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is, by far, the greatest episode of Season 7, the only one so far, in this whole show, that makes me wish IMDb would let us give 11 points out of ten. First of all, it is the story. The real life writer who typed the lines for this episode did an amazing job: the idea of poetic justice, after all this years, Becket's line that summarizes the whole episode when the real killer is caught, saying that the murderous lawyer wanted justice for one murder and ended up committing two of her own, it was all perfect. The background funny story of Esposito's fake account on the dating sites is fun as well. Nathan is doing, as usually, a great job at playing Castle, and his eyebrow bending when he was listening to Cole at that cafeteria made me smile, and so did Ryan with his pun "black widow - black widower" (a very Castle-like moment similar to the ones he keeps having since Rick is gone). The only thing I do not understand, ever since Castle and Beckett are together, is why they don't use their first names when they talk about their better half? why does she still call him Castle and why is he still calling her Beckett? Anyway, this was one of the best episodes not just in the 7th season, but in the entire show. But I still want Castle back in the team to solve cases like in the good old days!
The District
(2000–2004)
reality
30 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I remember I was watching this show as a child and I used to love it. It was the first police show I was seeing that was not focusing on cases, gun-shots, detectives wearing sunglasses and mobsters wearing tattoos, neither was it showing shady bars and half naked exotic dancers; in one word, it was not full of hip-hop stereotypes about what being a policeman actually means. It was for the first time they were showing what running a police department actually implies, how policemen live their lives, when they are on duty and when they are not and even had a scent of humor. I know Craig T. Nelson appeared in far better known movies and shows, but I will always remember him firstly for this one, and not just because this was one of my childhood favorites, but also because it is somehow different than the rest of his work and because it was the first real show about police I saw.
fun episode
28 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Once again, the crew proved how funny this show can be when they keep things simple and the humor of the situations flows naturally. It was a hilarious episode from top to bottom. As always, the apparent espionage plot was just a dead end in what concerns the case, but it is always funny when they have a mystery twist in the show (after all, this is Castle, not CSI) and again it would have been a ruined episode if it actually was a spy who killed the poor actress. Castle's part of the work was fun to watch as well, although I didn't quite understand why would he feel embarrassed for being caught by his client kissing Kate. The woman is his wife, after all. The only thing that might be a slight minus to the episode was Perlmutter saying again how happy he was for not seeing Castle there. I think any joke or prank or twist looses the quality of funniness if repeated so I believe once would have been enough. Anyway, it was a great episode and gets a full 10 from me!
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