DerSongsurfer Reviews

Metropolis (1927)

The beginning of modern cinema

[10/10 · 23 November 2007]

There are movies that are good because they are entertaining, there are movies that are good because tell interesting stories, there are movies that are good because of the beauty of then images they contain and there are movies that are good because of being innovative. But only the best ones come up with all of those qualities.

Fritz Lang's groundbreaking and breathtaking sci-fi epic Metropolis is certainly one of those movies and without doubt it can not only be regarded as the mother of all science fiction films.

Metropolis is an amazing piece of art that unfortunately has been meddled with in the past. Yet the restored version with the original soundtrack gives a good impression of how stunning the film originally must have been.

A must-see for everybody that is interested in film.

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

May I vomit?

[2/10 · 5 November 2007]

Good Morning, Vietnam is a disgustingly clichéd movie from beginning to end. Of course there is not the slightest bit of criticism on the war itself. Only on the way the executives handled the situation. I was left utterly exasperated after having seen this.

The only likable character in the entire movie was the Vietnamese boy who turned out to be a member of the Vietcong. If I would be facing such ignorance I would be tempted to do the same. For I definitely had a deep desire to punch all the other characters in the face, especially on the American side.

This movie is an insult and shows perfectly well the haughtiness America is criticised for in the rest of the world.

X (1996)

Left me completely unsatisfied...

[3/10 · 21 June 2007]

I am a huge admirer of the graphic novel series this adaption is built upon and really can recommend X-1999 by CLAMP to everyone for it truly is a masterpiece.

This film, however, was a complete waste of time and I cannot believe that CLAMP actually agreed on summing up the immense plot of the comic books in to one film that is not even two hours long. Because in my eyes it is not the apocalypse aspect which makes the series so absolutely amazing but the detailed characterization of each of the characters, which was here left out completely.

Even the artwork is unable to compete with the visual beauty of the original work.

This film left me completely unsatisfied!

300 (2006)

history from the point of view of a Nazi?

[4/10 · 20 May 2007]

I couldn't help thinking this when I watched this stupid film! The visual beauty was stunning, that is for certain, but was like Nazi-art: I had to think of Leni Riefenstahl very often...(Not only because of all the naked men...)

The story? Complete crap and propaganda-material! I suppose this is pretty much the way Hitler regarded at and used history. I think we live in a sad time when such a film is regarded as something good! I loved sin city... but this one....?

Switch of the tone and just look at the beautiful images!

Why is this in the top 250???

The Reaping (2007)

I was talked into it...

[6/10 · 5 May 2007]

and expected it to be really bad! Even more: I expected it to be revisionist and Christian propaganda....

First of all I should probably mention that I am an Atheist and thus had the point of view of the protagonist on the events... and was skeptic throughout the whole movie. I found it very probable, that the girl could be killed in the end... for that was the way Christianity did it for ages and ages... and i think even today...

Nonetheless the story evolved and showed many different perspectives. The visuals were stunning, that has to be said. And AnnaSophia Robb as Loren did a great job! Unfortunately the camera-work was absolute crap! Sometimes it was very hard to follow the action because of the bad photography.

The ending was okay, but not new... but I had already expected a sequel! But still everyone remember: It is a FANTASY-movie! Nothing of it is real!

I enjoyed it.... better than expected!

7/10

Quo Vadis (1951)

Complete bullshit! Except of course it was supposed to be a comedy....

[2/10 · 25 April 2007]

When a film like this is used in history class, when talking about Christianity in ancient Rome, then I do think that there is something going wrong! It is not at all historically accurate, but some kind of Christian propaganda! Of course Christians were persecuted these days but so were many religious or other groups. Of course they were forced to fight in the arena. But not all of them!

I laughed throughout the whole movie... although I doubt that it was supposed to be funny. Butwhen Saint Peter saw this cross of light shining through a tree and this blue-eyed lad, who seemed like a boy-toy, said these "God-sent"-words.... That was just too stupid and too absurd not to burst out laughing!

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the scene where the emperor's counsel and his mistress cut their artery and then talked on and on and on....

well.... probably it deserves better ratings! A great comedy!

Verrückt nach Clara (2007– )

Surprisingly great! It deserves better ratings!

[8/10 · 4 February 2007]

First of all: Neither am I a woman nor am I gay but still I believe this series to be one of the best ever made in Germany (next to Stromberg I would say)!

I believed it, as many others I'm quite sure, to be just another "Sex and the City" which I didn't like at all for being full of clichés and stereotypes. It lacked story which was filled out afterwards by showing some skin and sexuality. "Verrückt nach Clara" is different: surprisingly refreshing and modern, without being prude or afraid of being so.

The acting is superb as well and I truly have not the slightest idea why both only few people are watching it and the ratings here are so low.

So all in all it deserves the 8/10!

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Possibly this film kept me from taking any kinds of drugs so far

[9/10 · 22 January 2007]

I must have been 14 or 15 when accidentally I came to watch this movie. And I know that possibly that is not the right age to watch such a movie, but still... I think it was quite important for my development Although I did not dare to see it again since, all the images of the film are still somewhat burnt into my brain: It were some of the most disgusting scenes I have ever seen in movies so far and some were so dreadful I wasn't even able to cry. But this is, in my eyes, exactly what this film should be like! It shows every little piece of destruction in the lives of the protagonist, until the final end. Another aspect of the film that I truly liked was, that the mere showing of the damages, physically and mentally, without trying to be too moralistic and to spread wisdoms each of us has heard thousands of.

I think I am ready to watch it again by now, but I have to say that this is not a film to see for pleasure. This is a film to show you everything you never wanted to see but ought to!

10/10!

Bride of Chucky (1998)

This was a strange experience...

[5/10 · 18 January 2007]

It was accidentally that I came to watch this movie as I just couldn't fall asleep and, thus, decided to turn on the TV. Well, I thought it quite funny in the beginning but after a short while it just became creepy. I know, that this was the intention of the movie - but I thought it would happen in a different kind of way! It is really not the action or the characters or these nasty little puppets I was worried about, I can tell, because this was rather funny, I have to admit.... But watching PUPPETS having sex with each other... that is just too disgusting, even for my taste (And I can handle a lot!) It was not until the end, however, that I was completely shocked! A burnt puppet bearing a blood-thirsty child on a grave-yard, while her (the mother-puppet's) blood splatters all over the ground...That was horrible! I was really scared in the end, not by the film, but by the strange and absolutely sick minds of the writers and producers of the film, so I think it achieved what it was inteted to....

A Good Woman (2004)

Oscar Wilde's marvelous piece of art has been raped

[2/10 · 9 January 2007]

Having read and seen the original play "Lady Windemere's Fan", I had some expectations watching this movie, knowing Oscar Wilde to be one of the best playwrights throughout history and loving his wonderfully witty and marvelously studied dialogues, which perfectly mirror the society he was criticizing with his amazing play.

Unfortunately this movie is a complete failure. Not using the original text as a basis, as it seems, but rewriting it awfully badly the story has lost all it's charm and entertainment. Furthermore I dislike the fact that it has been chosen to make the Windemeres an American family and to place the whole story in Italy. This does not work at all, his plays being very British always. This does not mean it doesn't work out for non-Britains, but has to be situated there!

Even Scarlett Johannson, whom I really adore, can't save this movie. Lady Windemere doesn't fit her at all!

I recommend to watch the play on stage rather than to watch this film!

Everwood (2002–2006)

Really not that good!

[4/10 · 3 January 2007]

Well, after having seen some episodes I couldn't help thinking that I had seen most of it already in other TV-series and thus soon dropped it. It simply doesn't work for me! There are too many clichés and too many pathetic phrases in it to be regarded as good as series as Grey's Anatomy or Desperate Housewives, for instance.

Furthermore I found the acting not that brilliant and sometimes everything just seemed too exerted. The script lacks word joke although I have the impression that the producers believe it to be good.

Nevertheless some might find it quite entertaining and I have to admit that I've seen worse. But according to the quality of other series this one just can't keep up!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

I can't help thinking that this is one of the most visionary and wonderful film for years

[10/10 · 2 January 2007]

Shy Joel (Jim Carrey) meets impulsive and outgoing Clementine (Kate Winslet) and the both of them fall in love with each other. What none of them knows is that they have already loved each other before. They've erased each other from their memory.

Michel Gondry shows us a fantastic and wonderfully surreal but still incredibly realistic hunt through memory. Beginning as a tragedy the film soon becomes a celebration of love and life. A well crafted film without being too artificial.Furtermore the truly extraordinary performances of both Carrey and Winslet, which can possibly be regarded as the best of their career, make this film worthwhile.

A great cast, a great story and a great realization prove this movie to be one of the best this decade will produce.

National Treasure (2004)

I was disgusted by this picture!

[1/10 · 29 December 2006]

I'm really sorry, but why did this movie ever to have be made? I really tried to make this out, but this movie really sucks! Me being interested in history enormously thought this film could be quite a lot of fun... I did not expect to be that wrong! Bad performances by the whole cast, boring so called "action-sequences", and an unbelievably stupid plot-line is by what this movie can be defined.

What is it that in most American films the history of the world had only the purpose to end up in the USA? Why the hell should books from Alexandria be found in a "national treasure" of America? Why should the Declaration of Independence be involved? I'm sorry, but we live in a world that consists of more than America. European history history is not there only to lead to the discovery of America! This attitude seems rather national socialistic to me... And thus is against everything I believe in.

This film is crap in every meaning of the word! And dangerous as well!

Troy (2004)

I'm sorry, but this is awfully bad!

[1/10 · 29 December 2006]

Homer's works are in my eyes the best we know by an ancient Greece writer... and this film has completely destroyed it: I really think this film contained the worst acting I have been confronted with for years. It is a shame that this highly renowned cast produced only such a horrible performance.

Furthermore this film showed not the slightest sign of historical accuracy and left out all the important aspects of Homer's wonderful and truly epic masterpiece. Some of the most heroic figures in Greek history and mythology are shown as old, weak men. I was almost disgusted! Not even the fight-scenes could save this awful film, that lacks everything that makes a movie worth watching.

For those that want to see Orlando Bloom and Brad Pitt naked I recommend to look out for pictures in the internet to not spending the time watching the rest of this horrible, boring and stupid film! Ican hardly put into words how much I hate this movie!

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Better than expected!

[7/10 · 29 December 2006]

When by coincidence I came to see this movie I had low expectations, this being an American production about a historical and very difficult content I thought this to be a real piece of trash (And I mean it in the most negative way!) But the more of the plot revealed the less prejudices I found to be fulfilled. Being historically rather accurate on the one hand showing all the cruelty of the Templers and the destruction they produced and on the other hand presenting an interesting story with a huge part of action, this film can be regarded as intelligently made and quite worthwhile.

Moreover, Orlando Bloom, amongst many other great actors as Eva Green, gave an unexpected wonderful performance.

Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)

Truly a piece of art- The fictional story on one of the most famous Dutchpaintings

[9/10 · 27 December 2006]

When 17-year-old Griet (Scarlett Johansson) starts to work as a maid for Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth) she discovers the beauty of art and the passion of love.

Holland in the early 17th century: Vermeer is the most popular artist in Delft and father of five, later on in the film six children. Griet soon after her arrival in this household is confronted with the private difficulties of the artist and his family. He, however is lacking a Muse which he finds in his new maid that shows an enormous interest and understanding of art and beauty. Beyond a sexual and physical level a passionate relationship between the both of them develops.

Although not showing nudity and sex the director, Peter Webber, has created an extremely sensual movie with an unbelievably erotic tension between the main characters.Moreover the images are so brilliant and beautiful that the spectator believes himself in an art gallery looking at paintings by great Flemish masters.

A calm film, indeed and thus not recommended to those who like action and many words. Those who admire great acting beyond words that explain everything and to whom passion means more than sex and getting physical should really watch this film. Although not being an admirer of Vermeer's way of painting, this film really convinced me to take a look of his work again. Possibly this is even better than the piece of art itself?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Not really the best Potter-film so far

[6/10 · 18 December 2006]

I loved the previous films and even more I loved Joanne K. Rowlings marvelous, funny, witty novels... I thus had great expectations when I went to see this movie and was to some extend disappointed. The book being the best of all Harry-Potter novels and all the good reviews made me even more interested...

As it turned out, however, I found the film to be overrated. Some of the best scenes were missing and a lot of the jokes were cut out. Especially the scenes during the Quidditch Championship were horribly adapted... But still the beauty of the images and the great performance of some of the cast is worth watching the film. Especially Ralph Fiennes truly outstanding performance as Lord Voldemort, which could possibly not have been adapted better, makes this film a good one. His interpretation of the character is amazing!

Reading the book, however, is necessary before watching it!

Hopefully "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be adapted more closely to the books.

Un sac de billes (1975)

Why don't people read any more?

[2/10 · 11 December 2006]

It was in school that I read Joseph Joffo's autobiographical novel for the first time and really loved it although I have never been very familiar with literature about WWII. A reason why I liked the book, though might be, that it was more about the experiences of the little boy Joseph than the political aspect of the topic.

When I then watched the film this novel has been made into, I really asked myself why authors allow some stupid filmmakers to destroy the work they have created. Most of the scenes I found to be very important and moving in the book were transformed or left out in the film.

Although I love films enormously I have to say that there is scarcely any adaption of a book I personally liked. If somebody does not know whether to spent his money on the DVD or the novel, go and buy the novel. No film can ever be as magical and great as a magical and great book, at least that is the way it has been until today.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for grown-ups (Well, Alice is for grown-ups, too...)

[9/10 · 9 December 2006]

When I first watched this movie it was in German and I was bored to death because I found it not at all funny and I could not understand why there were so many good reviews. I can't remember how came but I finally saw the original version in English and laughed till I cried because of all the hilarious word-plays and jokes that were hardly translated in the version I'd watched first.

This film is really like the Humpty-Dumpty-chapter in Lewis Carroll's amazing books: full of irony, sarcasm and surprise! To those who care for logic and morals in films, this one is not recommended. For those being interested in what films are made for: Watch this movie, it is a great pleasure!

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The best 17 endings of all times!

[10/10 · 7 December 2006]

I think that almost everything that can be said about this trilogy has been said already, but still I will try. There are so many films that destroyed the beauty and perfection of the novels they have been built upon, not this one. In front of an amazingly beautiful scenery, Peter Jackson was able to create a fantasy-movie, which unlike so many others before did not deal with old clichés and thus is far away from any trash-movie a lot of people had expected it to be beforehand.

Although I am sure that the cast of this film will soon be forgotten, The "The Lord of the Rings"-trilogy will stand the times and be one of the most renowned pictures of the las decade.

The Taming of The Shrew (1967)

The best way to destroy Shakespeare...

[2/10 · 4 December 2006]

I was forced to watch this awful picture before seeing Shakespeare's play on stage. I never really was a fan of Richard Burton's but after having watched this movie my not being interested in him turned into dislike. "The taming of the shrew" is one of Shakespeare's weakest plays and I was not thrilled about the original play too, but still it deserves better than this.

I voted with two as the costumes were quite nice and some of the scenes in the beginning made me almost giggle. Nevertheless, if you should think about buying the DVD of this dreadful and uninspired production save this money and go to the theatre!

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

The most extreme splatter-film I've watched so far...

[6/10 · 4 December 2006]

I'm not a fan of Mel Gibsons and can't remember why I wanted to watch this movie for I'm not very religious either. The story is widely known I suppose but this version is really what I would call "hardcore". Although I like horror and splatter-movies as Quentin Tarantino's "From Dusk till Dawn" or "Kill Bill" and am thus used to the presentation of blood and violence in films, this one was too much even for my taste. When the film was over, I found myself saying "Thank God he died finally" and I do not think that this is, what a movie about the passion of the Christ should produce.

For those, however, who enjoyed "Hostel" this film is the right choice.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Too many clichés

[3/10 · 4 December 2006]

Being interested in history enormously and loving films with an historical background, I was very interested in this one at first. But I really think this film is the very reason, I started to dislike movies about WWII. American productions dealing with this topic always include a lot of bathos, but this one was too much after all and I have no clue how come, so many critics are amazed by it. The description of the events is horribly one-sided and unrealistic that I can only recommend to watch "Das Boot" or "Der Untergang" (downfall) instead to get a realistic impression of what was going on back then.

I still voted with three because the performance by Tom Hanks as a soldier suffering from Parkinson was quite good and interesting. I'm thus still waiting for a film showing the events on the American side realistically.

The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Almost as magical as the fairy tales themselves

[7/10 · 2 December 2006]

I, as a fanatic of fairy tales and, thus, the brothers Grimm, was thrilled when I was told, Terry Gilliam was to produce a film upon their lives. I finally watched it twice in cinema and now have finally bought the DVD. I don't know why their are so many harsh critics saying the jokes in the film were not funny, because, indeed, they were! There are a lot of hidden jokes and references to European history, which must be known when watching the film, I have to admit. But this is, in my eyes, what proves this film to be intelligently made.

Furthermore the aesthetic value of this movie is enormous. For all lovers of beautiful pictures and fairy tales this film is thus highly recommended.

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Judy Dench's performance is outstanding

[9/10 · 2 December 2006]

Romeo and Juliet has so often be acted,transformed and turned into films that it is hardly possible to build a new and refreshing storyline on it. I was thus not very interested in it but watched it as there was nothing else on TV worth watching. Lucky me! Although I have to admit that I do not think Gwyneth Paltrow to be the right actress to embody Viola, it was one of the best versions of Shakespeare's play I've ever had the pleasure to watch. Especially Joseph Fiennes turned out to be extremely talented an actor.

It is Judy Dench as Queen Elizabeth, however, making this film amazing, and the academy award she received more than justified!