zetscho Reviews

Grave Decisions (2006)

Just great

[9/10 · 13 November 2007]

A really nice little story in a (for me from Hamburg) strange region (Bavaria) where strange religious believes and other superstitions drive a young, naive boy into some hilarious situations.

The actors and characters are all really great, the story and all its funny twists are as well. I especially liked the ironic view on Bavarian country-life and the dialect (which wasn't a problem at all, but my Grannie was from Munich, so I'm used to it unless it's not completely far-off), as well as the very sensitive insight into a kid's view on the world.

And most of all: It was really funny which is a rarity in German movies. But I think you can enjoy this very well if you're Non-German, as conservative, religious countrysides aren't so uncommon elsewhere. This story could just have happened with only little differences in the Middle West or South Italy or so.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Very good, but a corny ending

[6/10 · 7 September 2006]

Well, a teenage movie from the 80ies, how bad can it get, I thought. But it really surprised me. I like those kind of movies where only a few characters accidentally get together in one situation or one room and therefore are forced to get to know each other, e.g. "12 Angry Men".

"Breakfast Club" is such a character study and as each character represents a high school stereotype also a social study. Dialogues, acting and directing are great. You have two conformists, one nerd, the rebel and the "schizo". The way they get in touch to each other, how the characters develop over that movie are very believable. It is really worth watching.

There's just one thing that really bothers me about it: the ending. I would bet that this isn't the ending as writer and director Hughes has planned it and that some producer has interfered to give it the "hip" teenage note appropriate for that time (1985). The romance has been slightly implied in the first part of the film and on that level it was totally believable and would have left an open end on how these guys would react on Monday as it was part of the discussion in the key scene. But the way that Claire suddenly comes to John and kissing him was totally out of context.

And even worst is the romance between Alley and Andrew. First, it wasn't indicated at all and second, she had to have been made up to fulfill the beauty standards of that time. That was really a downer, a killer of individuality. Maybe typical American, maybe typical 80ies, I don't know but it certainly destroyed the profoundness that movie had until the key scene was over.

Well, with an more open ending this would have been a really great flick. But because of the ending which left me disappointed it is only a 6 out of 10 for me.