Mecces17 Reviews

Dune (2021)

An impressive, monumental movie, that left me emotionless

[8/10 · 8 January 2023]

Dune is a good movie, in fact it's a great movie if it comes to all the technical aspects and basic needs of an all-around strong movie. The trumpets keep on booming and roaring from the first second on, as one is used to it, if (s)he's watching a Villeneuve-movie. It's the same in 'Blade Runner 2049' and Villeneuve has to kind of do this, as his films are still blockbusters shown on the big screen. But, I keep finding myself liking the smaller and calmer moments more, because Villeneuve got a good feeling for intimate pictures and conversations (compare: Arrival or Incendies).

Back to Dune, as the trumpets are still roarin, my ears are rumbling, the soundtrack is great and I've got goosebumps all over my arms. I wonder myself why there are goosebumps, because I don't really feel anything. This film is somehow entertaining, it's somehow captivating, but something is missing. This might of course be a unfulfilled personal preference, but I feel the characters are a bit too sober in this mostly grey and cold world.

Don't get me wrong. I really like Villeneuve and I like him for what he is doing for modern cinema at the moment. But sometimes I'd like him to minimize his scope, because I feel that there's a lot more he could tell us.

Dune is a statement, a figurehead for Villeneuve himself, but I don't think Villeneuve wants to be the main man here. It's a statement for modern cinema, for all the rumblings, the soundtracks, the pictures, the big screen, which we all weren't able to attend in two of the last three years. That's actually a big thing I think. Dune brings it all to the screen. The entertainment, the (flawed, but still solid) emotions, the dazzling pictures, the effects - the flick contains everything we want to see on screen. And it aims really high, which is noteworthy. I - personally - found myself comparing the scope of this production to the Star Wars franchise, or the Lord of the Rings franchise, all set in another world, with other characters. Not that Villeneuve wants to copy anything or that he wants to surpass them - but he aims for an equal and comparable scope and world, which is remarkable.

Nevertheless, i still felt kind of emotionless, untouched, as the film was over. I hope Villeneuve gets me hooked with his second part, which I'm willing to see right on the big screen.

Samurai Champloo: Seishi ruten sono san (2005) Season 1, Episode 26

An unexpected, but beautiful ending

[10/10 · 11 August 2022]

To be honest I expected a different ending, a darker one. And I think it would've fit into the series. If Mugen and/or Jin would've been dead, it would've been okay for me, because it's what I expected. But things took a different path and luckily both of them survived their Kamikaze-tactics. Which is surprising, almost surreal, but also kind of rewarding and I really like the happy-ending style here.

I think that Samurai Champloo is, much like Cowboy Bebop, a lot about reconciling with one's past. All the storylines of our main characters finally come to an end, while also a lot of important questions are finally answered. We get to know about Jin's tragic backstory. Jin is finally able to understand why his teacher attacked him and he can now reconcile with everything that happened.

Mugen always used to be this lonesome warrior, furious, cold-hearted, ignorant about everything, ignorant about women and especially Fuu. He always hid those feelings, that longing for friendship and a family, that longing to be seen and accepted, in general the longing for home, he always hid these feelings in the front of others. And now he finally knows that there is something like friendship. Something worth of sacrificing his own life for. And by finally understanding this, he sacrifices his life for Fuu's - and is rewarded with his own life again.

It's the same with Jin, as he says, that there are no Princes or lords, who are worthy of sacrificing one's life for them. Everybody left him: his family, his teacher, his school - but he carried on and found two people who he really liked. He didn't even search for them in particular, but it's like life, purpose or whatever just put these people in front of him.

Fuu can also reconcile with her father. She was always on the search for something, not knowing exactly what it was. Of course, the search for her father, but that's not the point. She never really knew where to go once this journey was finished. It's like all of the 3 were in the midst of an existential crisis, finding meaning in life again by travelling together. Not by reaching their destination, the journey itself was the destination. Fuu found her father, she told him everything she wanted to tell him. She now understands why he left her and her mother and she is okay with that.

Basically, every one of the 3 now has the chance to move on. They all reconciled with their past, their demons, their tragic stories. They don't need each other any longer, because they know they can come back and see each other anytime. Both of them are free to do whatever they want. Of course Jin and Mugen could probably still be tracked down by assassins or killers, but I think that after defeating that mastery swordsman - no one will ever try to kill them again. All of them now have the chance to start again, start a 'normal' life, start a family. As I also hope here, that Mugen and this lady, who said she's going to marry him, will actually find each other again (I don't remember her name, the one from the brothel).

What I'm trying to say is, that life isn't always as mean and bad as people think. A dark ending would've also left its mark. Of course. But I like this ending. It's fresh, it's beautiful, it's also melancholic because the 3 are going different ways right now. But it fits, as the style of the series was always funny, almost ironic and just often kind of relaxing and easy.

Mugen and Jin gave everything they had in their last fights. They were ready to die. They also sticked to their beliefs. It's what made them survive these attacks. They gave everything they had for Fuu, but also for themselves. They were ready to die as two proud men, full of morality and honor, even Mugen, who learned to fight for 'the good' through Fuu.

It's not a love-story between two of the three (as I also remember Fuu being 15 I think) - it's a story about friendship. Three friends, all lost in life, finding one another and finding their way back into life - what a beautifully melancholic ending to such a masterful series!

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

philosophically great, but partially a hard watch

[8/10 · 4 August 2022]

So, as someone who is deeply interested in philosophical questions, questions of depression and anxiety, this film should have been perfect for me. It actually is, in terms of asking and answering the big questions of humanity: Where are we ? Who are we ? Are we alone ? How can we go through this ? Alone ? As a family ? What are feelings ?

I think the Daniels answer these question very easily, not cheeky at all, we are humans and we've got emotions, desires and wishes. It's what makes us human, our feelings, and we can live through these emotions and make connections to other people. It's how we can overcome anxiety, madness and desperation. It's a beautiful message and the film explores these themes with undeniable power and maturity.

In addition, the film is a great production, it has some of the best fighting scenes I've seen in recent years, strong acting by its lead cast. It comes with clever dialogue, with beautiful pictures (as I'm referring to two stones talking to one another right next to a cliff), costumes, design, special effects - it's all there. A beautiful piece of art - and that what it really is in the end - a piece of art.

But this piece of art comes with some cost. Really, I love the messages behind the movie. But I think that in the end it, of course, it can be an artwork, but it's also still a movie. And in-between all these multiverses, we sometimes don't know where we are. Humans, or as I should say -especially myself - still have the desire to know where we are and to hold on to that world we are living in right now. The film floods you with pictures, images, changes, fights, explosions, madness. Of course, this whole thing here is madness, our life is absurd. But in the end I watched a movie of which I expected to be entertained. And I was entertained, but it felt stressful. Almost exhausting. It was just too much. The pacing was too fast in my opinion. I would've needed more time to take a deep breath and ask myself what the hell I just saw. I also feel that the 140 minutes are too much. Don't get me wrong. I liked this, but I didn't enjoy the watch as much as I did it with other masterpieces or artworks, because there is still an opportunity to create these kinds of movies AND deliver an easier watch.

I also want to mention, that I cried multiple times, especially in the end, where I think the film rewards the viewer brilliantly. But that reward was not enough in comparison to the demanding but also tiring parts in it.

Hunter x Hunter (2011–2014)

One of the best Animes, just because of its unusual and brave choices.

[10/10 · 21 July 2022]

Somewhere in the midst of the Chimera Ant Arc I often asked myself: wait, how long is this thing going ? What about the other, beautiful and interesting characters like Kurapika and Leorio ? What about Gon in particular ? Togashi did some brave and unusual choices here, but I guess that's the spirit of the series and the price we pay for deep emotional satisfaction. Because when I hear Season 4's outro 'Hyori Ittai' I'ma begin to dance and cry at the same time.

I think it's what makes Hunter x Hunter so special: the fast transitions into other worlds, other arcs. Introducing new characters and also establishing them over a long amount of episodes. It's unusual, as f.e. FMAB totally relies and its main characters and their journey. Of course they also introduce new characters, but we are basically just part in Ed's and Al's journey.

Hunter x Hunter is different, as we even don't see our main protagonist for a long time. But that's also totally brave, because Togashi, or more like - the creators - rely on these other characters like Killua, but also Knuckle, Shoot or Morel and Knov. And in my opinion it works.

The Chimera Ant Arc roughly takes about half of the entire series. But it also rewards the viewer. And it doesn't only reward with huge fighting scenes, as one would expect Gon or Killua to have that epic final battle against Meruem, which actually doesn't happen. In fact they didn't even meet that often (I can't remember if they even met someday). Hunter x Hunter is intriguing, it's different to other Animes and that's the series' core. It begins like that in the first season. We always have to expect things to come out different, we have to expect a trick, an ambush - that's how the series is made.

Togashi relies on his instincts. He gets rid of the things which aren't interesting any longer. He sees a new choice, a new option, he has got an new idea - he wants to follow this path and he wants to tell the story. That's incredibly interesting and brave.

If we come back to the series in general, I wouldn't say it's perfect. Because I feel that somehow these huge jumps in the storyline also come with some costs. The consistency lacks, main characters aren't there any longer. The narrator commentating over fights for like 5 episodes in a row. Of course, these things all make sense in the Hunter x Hunter universe. But I get why people dislike it, even though I - again - have to say, that the series works especially because of these strange choices.

Nevertheless I think that in the end the motives and beliefs that Togashi wants to depict and deliver are very well shown. Friendship, comradeship, journeys together, suffering together, going through things together as friends and sharing this way with one another. Also topics like capitalism, greed, economic structure, violence are touched very well. Not too much, as these themes don't overshadow the whole series. And even if I think there are some choices I can't totally comprehend, Hunter x Hunter gets me everytime I hear the outros of the Yorknew city Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc and the music reminds me in which incredible speed I watched episode after episode and binged the series.

That's what counts and it shows Togashi made the right decisions, which is why I'm giving Hunter x Hunter a 10 out of 10 and which is why I'd refer to it as one of the best Animes I've ever watched. The animation style is the classic modern one, the pictures are great. The fights are intense, the storyline evolves in ways I couldn't even have expected. The writing in general is strong and always waits with new surprises. The characters and their motives are always authentic, the suspense is always there, as you always want to know that is going to happen next. Emotions are there, crying, goosebumps - darkness, deep thoughts, religious themes, childish innocence - man, so many topics to talk about. You see, the series really has it all.

Thanks for this great piece of art! Really an all around beautiful and emotionally engaging series that will forever have its spot in my heart.

Hunter x Hunter: Past X and X Future (2014) Season 1, Episode 148

A consequent and powerful ending

[10/10 · 21 July 2022]

Like with Cowboy Bebop, Hunter x Hunter's last episode left me sitting on my couch for a while, actually not crying, but it left me sitting there in peace. Taking some deep breaths and reminding myself about what Ging just said.

"You should enjoy the little detours to the fullest. Because that's where you'll find the things more important than what you want."

I'll come back to this later, as I want to talk about the episode in general at first. It's the consequent, the logical and the much-needed final episode.

In the series, we basically participate in Gon's journey to find Ging. He does this because he wants to find his father, he wants to get to know him, he wants to share stories and memories with, he wants to learn from him - he wants his father in his life. And it's his deepest desire at the begin of his journey, so it's only logical to me, that the series ends with these two characters spending time together, up on a tree, in the wild, with these strange animals around them. It's the spirit of Hunter x Hunter and even though the setting might seem strange, it fits.

But while searching for his father, Gon also realizes that it was the way, the journey itself, that made the search so engaging and beautiful. It's what Ging tries to explain, but Gon doesn't get it at first. Ging explains again and now Gon is able to understand. The whole procedure of learning, training, getting better and improving was very important to him. It let him grow, it let him become more adult, it let him become a person, that is able to talk with Ging at least on some kind of equal standpoint, because Gon is also able to share his crazy experiences.

But there is more, as the key lies in all these friendships. Especially with Killua, to mention him first, but also Leorio and partly Kurapika (who sadly doesn't show up in the end - which is a kind of a blind spot to me). All the other comrades: Morel, Netero, Knov, Shoot, Knuckle, Palm, Ikalgo, Meleoron, Kite, Biscuit - man, I can't even stop counting. Numerous characters, to mention these of the Chimera Ant extermination team in particular, comrades, friends, etc. - all of them taking part in Gon's life.

Gon set out alone from Whale Island. He knew almost nobody, he was kind of naive, a child - but it was at this day his journey began because he set out to meet his dad. And when they finally met it actually wasn't that special - no ! They talked about Kite ! They talked as if they knew each other for a long time ! It was the journey itself. The friendship, the suffers, the emotions, the desperation - everything, that made it so beautiful, because Gon also sacrificed so much! That is what life is. The transience of life is inevitable, which is why we can just enjoy the things while we are really experiencing them. Which is why we look back and drown in happiness because we feel that deep longing to experience these wonderful moments again.

And this is also where the whole astronomy-thing comes into play. Ging offers a new chapter for Gon. But there is no need for him to rush. New things are to come, but Ging advises Gon he should stay calm and take the time he needs. It's what we should all do in life in general and it's a beautiful ending for Hunter x Hunter. It's also a beautiful ending, which leaves a lot of space for some things to come - I mean, I'd love to see this, but the strength of it also lies in its uncertainty. A wise ending for a very mature series.

Your Name. (2016)

A stunning, overwhelming and beautiful piece of art

[10/10 · 21 June 2022]

Your Name contains so much of everything we need in our lives. It spreads so much hope, so much beauty, so many emotions - it's a rollercoaster for the heart, for the eyes, the ears, for the whole body. It's hard to describe because you can't really explain it. I think the opening scene gets it best, where our two main characters talk about their search for something, that they sometimes just get up and start to cry. This feeling, this deep longing for youth, love or whatever you'd like to call it, it's in us all and Makoto Shinkai has the ability to see it, to feel it and satisfies this longing, which is why I'd personally say it's one of the finest pieces of art I witnessed.

Let's start somewhere else. While I think that his film is not perfect, I'm still giving it a 10 all the way. I think you should be able to overlook things, scenes or choices you don't like, because the film just works the way it was made. Of course it is an exaggeration. The whole comet-thing is an exaggeration, the colors are exaggerated, the lighting as well, but that's also the core of the movie, I think.

Because we are trying so hard to understand everything, to understand love and connections to other people, to understand our universe, but we all have to admit that there are things we cannot understand. That there are happenings, coincidences - or call em whatever you want - we can't understand. I'm not sure if there is somewhat of a superpower, somewhat of God, universe, simulation or whatever. Everybody should believe in his own kind of religion. But I think what Shinkai wants to tell us is that it's a good thing to believe.

In particular - to believe In the Red thread of fate.

Everything in this world is connected. Call it the butterfly-effect or whatever, everything is connected. We are connected to the world we live in, to the animals, to nature - and to other people. There is somewhat of a bond, that ties us together. And that especially ties two persons together who are supposed to be with one another.

What I'm trying to say is, that things are not always easy to explain and that this longing in us is also hard to describe. We experience it totally personal, sometimes it's not possible to describe our feelings. But Your Name is an approximation to this longing, which is why it doesn't have to make sense (but it actually does). Nevertheless, even if it wouldn't make sense, we should experience it as a piece of art, which tries to fill the void inside of us. We have to just let it sink, we just have to enjoy the pictures, the laughter, the humor, the sadness and the massive emotional satisfaction. Because this is how Shinkai rewards us. He understands this longing and has probably experienced it himself.

Your Name is one of the best Animes of all time, I'd personally rank it in the Top 5. You don't always have to compare movies, because movies are different and great in their own kind. BUT - I think this is something that is need to be spoken out. This is the league Your Name is playing in.

The AMAZING SOUNDTRACK is also to be mentioned - there is so much more to talk about, intelligent and authentic characters, beautiful landscapes, groundbreaking animation, an intelligent approach to cuts and shots, intelligent writing and dialogues and in the end - undeniable maturity and wisdom to satisfy our longing for love and to answer depression, doubt and all the things we cannot understand.

Almost Famous (2000)

A heartwarming, multi-layered and intelligent drama

[9/10 · 7 June 2022]

I know I'm kinda late to the party, but I just watched this great movie.

First of all, if you'd ask me what I love about this movie: everything. The acting, the style, the music, the pacing, the subjects. It never gets boring. It's kinda fast paced, but never too fast. It hasn't got any lengths in it. It is entertaining as hell and funny as well. I really had to laugh out loud sometimes. The soundtrack is perfect as well, all merging in a stunning piece of art - about art. And growing up, love and life in general.

So - what I really like is that Crowe never chooses one specific subject. There is so much going on, as we basically just got one straight storyline. But so many themes coming around, not just music. Not just writing. And it's also not just a coming-of-age-drama. It's about so much more. About family, home and inner demons.

What Crowe also masters is an easy storytelling about difficult themes like drug abuse, hate, envy, jealousy or betrayal. The telling is never childish, as one could expect. In fact it's deeply mature. As we travel with our main character who himself changes - of course. Who himself gets older with time, makes new experiences (with girls f.e.), experiences about love and takes responsibility for himself, the people he loves and his own, unique opinion (flight scene f.e.), as well as his actions.

Also, one could say, this movie is not really about music. You're wrong and you never really understood Crowe, as well as you didn't understand music. Crowe presupposes an understanding of art, especially music. In fact, it's an requirement to fully get the movie. He even finishes with a scene about music, with Russell talking about it.

Russell loves music, he knows it's his life. He can't live without it, but Crowe doesn't need to show this. Music is an expression of feelings, a firestarter for the heart, a piece of art that can make you cry, laugh and dance within minutes. Music is wonderful, there's no more explanation for it. There's no need for a huge concert-scene or anything like this.

It's the little scenes. Tiny Dancer playing in the bus and Penny telling William that he's home. The band just starting to sing after a hard fight. Even if they are going through hard times, even if the got differences, even if they got fights. Things don't always work out as they want them to do. Everybody got their own demons to carry with em. And everybody is connected through the music, as a family.

And there's so much more to tell about this movie. Writing and journalism f.e. And how William uses it as his way of expressing feelings and thoughts. How it's his passion. Which also isn't needed to be shown. To be depicted. To be fully read out.

Nah, it's easier than that and that's what I love about the movie and Crowe's approach. Just watch the movie, hear the music and let it sink. It's a great piece of art.

The Rescue (2021)

A great documentary that fulfills the hype and expectations.

[9/10 · 25 February 2022]

Well, to keep it short: The Rescue holds up to expectations, holds up to the great ratings overall and is just incredbily well made. You don't need any insights in how this made, how footage was gained etc. (compare: Free Solo, which really relied on this) because the story is just so gripping, you don't really get to think about other things.

The main characters are all smypathetic in their ways, their are all authentic and this is what makes the viewer feel comfortable. All actions, all ideas and plans are reproducible through this. In addition, the film isn't overlong and it's not in the directors will to be overly emotional. You'll cry if you need to do so and you won't if you don't have to - the story will leave its marks anyways.

There is also no overly high praising for these people, the film is not a "western" take on what happended in that cave and that town, it's just a deeply realisitic approach. All people who worked there, everybody, together as humans, no matter which nationality, which skin color, which religion, all are heroes, united as human beings - and I'm very thankful for Chin and Vasarhelyi for producing this great documentary.

Icarus (2017)

Explodes in the mind

[10/10 · 16 February 2022]

Icarus is the best documentary I've ever seen.

Of course we got some symbolisms there, of course we got these great, shattering pictures. But Icarus is more than just a sports and conspiracy documentary, it's a story about a man who never had another chance but to cheat and who was never able to feel free during this time.

Grigoriy Rodchenkov, the 'mastermind' behind the doping conspiracy, also cheated himself. He got injections by his mother while being a runner in his younger years. No questions asked, no opportunities, but to just go that way. So, he got confronted with all the doping strategy, while he was an athelte himself. And back then, he also had no other chance to do so, because it was common. Especially in Russia.

Then, after becoming head of the moscow anti-doping labratory, he also had no other chance, but to do things like Putin wanted him to. He was surely aware of what he was doing there, but he never really questioned it as we would, because he knew it from his own career.

And at this point, this is where I think Icarus got its power.

Fogel never really tries to interview Grigoriy about his inner demons, his thoughts, about his conscience. Because he expects from the viewer, that we will get how troubled Grigoriy really is. It's like a rebirth for him. Questionning what he was doing all these years. Questionning what is fair and what it feels like to have his own will. Fighting and winning against these demons.

I think we, in western scoieties, can't really understand Grigoriy, because for us, it's normal to feel free, to think our own thoughts. We're not getting told what to think, how to feel and how to act. We're not getting told to cheat our entire life and to think that this is a good thing to do.

But Grigoriy, obviously a very strong man, begins to question what he is doing. And it's never really shown in the movie, which I actually like. It's more like, when you begin to think about it, to really understand what a sheer power and immense amount of courage is needed to go the way that Grigoriy did.

We can see this during the end, during the scene of Grigoriy running on the beach and the scene where he tells about 'doublethink'. I'm not going to quote Orwell here again, but it fits perfectly. It's the book that explains how Grigoriy is really feeling.

Besides that, Icarus has great pictures, an amazing story, an amazing pace. It's a screenplay no one could have thought of. It's bending genres...sports, conspiracy, crime, drama. It's telling a story about a man, who I feel is deeply credible.

And it's also telling a story about Fogel, who struggled with his life during the beginning of filming. Life was going downwards for him, Jewtopia was everything else but a success. And he was caught in a depression too. I'm glad for Bryan (even though I don't know him), that Icarus happened to him.

And of course it was also his courage to go on, to explore, to find out about the truth. He could've easily backed off because this whole thing got too scary. But he didn't. And that's what's courage, trying even though you feel fear.

And what I also want to mention here is that I don't think Fogel did it just for the financial success, for the story. No - he did it, also because of that, of course, but nevertheless Icarus didn't get THAT MUCH credits besides the Oscar, he also did it for himself and for Grigoriy. For personal reasons, for helping this man and for finding out about the truth. It was his own way of fighting depression, of finding some little thing in life you want to keep going for. AND, while doing this, he NEVER wants himself to be the main man. He never wants to be the main character. He never tells of HIM, the conspiracy investigator or whatever. He just presents us the facts, the stories, the pictures. It's up to us what we do with them, it's up to us how we think about him and Grigoriy and I hope the most of you were able to understand, how sad Grigoriy's life was up to this point.

I'm sorry for all grammatical mistakes you had to endure, which I hope you can apologize due to my german citizenship. Have a nice day.

Enemy (2013)

A film about nothing

[6/10 · 12 February 2022]

Well, i dont think that enemy is a bad film. It just...it didn't tell me anything new. It was okay. I felt entertained for the most part. But that's about it.

I kinda expected that there would be more...because the film tries so hard to be clever and plays really well with the revelation about Adam and Anthony, that I expected there to be more. In the end it's a movie about a bored teacher who has an affair. And he can't break the cycle. That's it. Nothing more.

Also the spider thing... come on. It's nothing special. There are spiders all over the movie... but, why spiders. They don't look cool, they don't tell you anything...they don't really mean anything.

Nevertheless, the film is good in entertaining you, Gyllenhall is good, Villeneuve is good, but that's about it.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996)

A not so depressing show out of a depressed mind

[9/10 · 6 February 2022]

So, a while ago I came across all the amazing anime series out there and decided to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion, right after finishing FMA Brotherhood and Cowboy Bebop. While I think NGE is not as good as the ones mentioned before, it's still incredibly well made and really demanding.

One might argue that NGE loses its path, loses its ability to entertain and get's absurd in the last two episodes. Of course it gets. But thats always what Hideaki Anno had in his mind. I think, that he himself didn't really know how to finish all this, because he never really had the answers for his own depression. I like him, really, a lot. Because I feel what he wants to say and what he wants to deliver. I also suffered from depression, in fact I sometimes still do. It's getting kinda normal to me and I know a lot of people who feel the same, or at least feel the same if it comes to the absurdity of life.

I think Mr. Anno (I'm just assuming things here after I read a lot about him and his work), while producing the series, still didn't know how to go on in his life. He knows it's about getting close to people, about making friends, building relationships with other people. About laughing, about trying to not think about how crazy life is. That in the end, like shinji, even if he think's he doesnt want to live anymore, there's something inside him, a little spirit, that changes his mind. Anno knows this, I think, but he might have problems with bringing it to life, with living this way, which is a typical thing happening to depressed people.

And in the end, the series takes place in a mind of a depressed person. It's all about depression. Always and everytime. Take Shinji, take his father, Asuka, Misato...you'll see depressed and lost characters everywhere. Take the hedgehog's dilemma. It's a perfect example for the setting, for the mindest of the series. It basically IS the mindset of the series. (And Schopenhauer himself of course wasn't the most joyful philosopher out there.)

What I'm trying to say here is, that I think we need TV-series like this. We need series which go beyond our understanding of television, which go beyond the common understanding of life and humanity. I really appreciate the work of Mr Anno. I'm very thankful, that he was brave enough to "publish" NGE and that he said what he wanted to, that he delivered the themes he thought and cared about.

It's a show for everybody, but it's especially for the shinjis out there. For the fearful ones, the ones who can't stop goin round in their heads, for people who feel anxiety, who feel lonely and lost in a world we don't really understand what's goin on. For the introverts.

And I think - besides the philosphical and psychological themes i mentioned - NGE is still an amazingly well produced show, with great fighting scenes, great dramaturgy and with a bunch of elaborate crafted characters. Characters who all struggle in their own way, trying not to hurt each other, trying to not be hurt themselves, and in reality, just want to lay down their hedgehog spikes and hug each other.

Cowboy Bebop: The Real Folk Blues: Part 2 (1999) Season 1, Episode 26

You're gonna carry that weight.

[10/10 · 9 January 2022]

It's strange because I expected to cry, which I actually didn't and have never been close to. But nevertheless the finale touched me a lot and it got me thinkin about Spike and the whole series on and on.

It's a great finale, a great conclusion to a deeply human and philosophical story. There are a lot of amazing reviews, essays and comments on the finale. You can find them with ease across the internet.

Spike had no other chance but to go this path. No other chance for himself. It was always about his fight, his inner fight for living between reality and a dream. In the end, he had to accept that his dream will always be a dream and not come to reality. In fact, he might have known it all the time. He can't let his past behind him and he never has.

Of course Faye and Jet are comrades to him, but in the end it's more about Julia. Spike never promises anything to Jet and Faye, instead he knows his fate will come. He knows that they will understand somewhen. That they will understand why he did what he always had to do. They will carry the weight and move on because they still have a future to come. The will look back and be thankful for what Spike did, because it was also (partly) for them.

The more I think about it the more I understand why the series decided to let Ed go two Episodes before. Ed is still a child and has always been one throughout the series. Aswell as the dog. They couldn't have had a spot in the finale. They, or more Ed, wouldn't have been able to carry the weight. But Faye and Jet can, and so can the viewer.

In the end, it's what the creators and writers expected from us. Spike lived between dream and reality. He did mistakes, he had a past he couldn't change and he had to give it a shot and try to cope with it. Sadly, it failed.

But if we - the viewers - understand, we'll carry that weight and try to make the best out of our dreams, even to let them become real someday.

14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021)

Unlikeable lead character, good documentary

[8/10 · 4 January 2022]

Nirmal isn't likeable at all. He talks of his 'team' and his 'brothers' - in fact, if you listen closely, he just talks about himself. He is the main character, he is the leader. He doesn't do this for the people from Nepal, he does it for himself. There is no passion for the mountains. Just a rush, like the movie itself.

Don't get me wrong. I gave this an 8 out of 10 because I found it to be incredibly entertaining. The pictures are amazing, the camera work, the style. Its a good documentary. But nothing more than that.

Compared with Free Solo and Alex Honnold, 14 peaks lacks a lot of depth. I find it to be a great comparison because Free Solo shows what a good documentary has to offer. 14 peaks doesnt have to offer anything more than it delivers. They made the best out of it.

Before heading up to K2, Nirmal says, his biggest strength is, that he has no fear.

I found it to be one of the dumbest quotes I've ever heard.

Arcane (2021– )

Playing on a very high level, Arcane sadly can't stay perfect until the end of Season 1.

[9/10 · 22 November 2021]

So, here are my thoughts on Season 1:

While I think that Arcane might be one of the most influential TV-Series of our time and generation, I also think, that it can't stay perfect throughout the whole first season. It's starts incredibly entertaining in its first two episodes and still got one of the best TV-Episodes I've ever seen with episode 3.

Nevertheless, it then chooses a path of... let's call it: storybuilding. In my opinion, this comes with the cost of fun, power, emotions (yes - emotions!) and entertainment - all the things which made the first act and even the second act (at least in parts) so great.

Don't get me wrong. Arcane is still an amazing TV-show and I get why the writers wanted to go the way they went. But I have a feeling, that the world they are trying to build, might be too big for them. Too many characters, too many storylines - this should not be getting an animated version of GoT (and we all know how this story ended...).

The way Arcane is going is not wrong. It's incredibly ambitious. BUT, the show should be aware, that it might be able to lose it's focus and it would be very sad if it would do so.

Marriage Story (2019)

flawless

[10/10 · 16 November 2021]

In terms of being a romantic drama, this film is perfect. There's nothing, no choice or decision by Baumbach, no line, nothing, I can complain about. Baumbach crafted a staggering drama, full of love, humor, pain and sadness. It's a film about life itself, about the transience of life and how we spend this time with our beloved ones, how they are part of our lives and how we carry them in our hearts, even if they are separated from us.

It's that calm, down-to-earth style, in which Baumbach delivers us his story, with his small parts of humor in it, where you even have to giggle sometimes. It's never too much, it's always on point - and when needed, the film gets emotional. The "argument-scene" in Driver's apartment is probably one of the best scenes i have seen (or "scene" lol) in a long time.

With all that composure, that calmness, the film has the ability to be incredibly powerful and move you to tears. I cried, like I nearly never cried in a movie before, asking myself, how a film, how fictitious characters could move me to tears like that. It's amazing to see that movies still have the power to do so and I'm very thankful to Noah Baumbach for creating this great piece of art.

Out of the Furnace (2013)

good actors don't make a good movie

[6/10 · 13 November 2021]

I'm kind of disappointed because i really would've liked to find a little gem here. Sadly the film doesn't live up to some of the top rated reviews here - probably because the script is a mess. Cooper never really knows which story to tell. Is this meant to be about revenge ? Brotherhood ? Depression ? A forgotten city somewhere in the US ? Bad Police work ? A romantic drama ? All these themes are just touched on the surface and never really in their core. Some huge editing mistakes (u can find these easily if you look closely) ruined it completely for me.

This couldve been a much better movie. And it's sad to see such a mediocre film with such an amazing cast.