voodoohamster Reviews

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

I never write reviews, but this film demands one.

[10/10 · 6 October 2022]

I watched this film today in Berlin and my god, I couldn't find a fault with it. The cinematography, the acting, the set, and the portrayal of the brutality of war was all just perfect. There is no glorification, it's tragic, but it feels true. The original author of the book based it on his personal experience in the trenches, which certainly came through in the movie.

This is a film that should be viewed by anybody thinking of joining the army and it couldn't have been released at a better time, given that there is another war in Europe. I really hope Netflix gives it Russian subtitles and makes it free for Russian-speaking audiences, because I don't think I've come across a war movie that is more anti-war than this. There is a reason why the book was banned in Nazi Germany.

This film absolutely deserves ten stars.

Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie (2021)

Okay, but not amazing. Jim Sheridan's style is old fashioned

[5/10 · 30 June 2021]

Considering it took twelve years to make this documentary, I'm not impressed with the quality at all. The style is very old fashioned and the content is lacking, especially when compared to West Cork (podcast on audible) which brings everything to life and is packed with information about Bailey's background, Sophie Du Plantier, the case, and an abundance of interviews with all the key figures. This show contains unnecessary cringe-worthy moments such as Sheridan's narration saying "She's buried in France but her soul is in Ireland." Give me a break. I am giving it a six because I'm generous, but I think even that is pushing it.