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Reviews
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom (2015)
Not a documentary more like a low budget Hollywood hack
A very bad cinematic depiction, because it cannot br classified as a documentary as:
- no interviews from the governing body involved: power and opposition. Not even from Klitschko who was the opposition leader, and one of the leader of the protesters.
- Very bias, Klitschko who is the mayor is presented as the leader in quotes although the actual people never use this term in ironical sense, so why would the producer do this. If Klitschko was a leader of those protesting people that attacked the police, so what, just present facts.
- The people interviewed have the exact same phrases, same expressions, seemed more like a script than remembering the facts.
- There is much too much footage given to a kid that was on the street, instead of would have been preferable for some specialist, analyst opinions. Specialist opinions would be more valuable I would say, in a documentary.
- I would have preferred too see people from the opposition parties, from the governing party, specialists from Ukraine pro-Eu, some eu skeptics to keep a balanced view.
Because all of this I would give this 1 out of 10 as this cinematic thing seems like more of a Hollywood made, low budget, lack of talent, bad movie. Sorry but this is not a documentary.
I much preferred "Ukraine on fire" and the second part: "Revealing Ukraine" who are still not best, but at least more closer to a factual documentary depiction rather than a dramatic fiction movie.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010)
Amazing JK Rowling strikes again
With the final book: Deathly hallows, the story comes to an ending, and because of the great details and complexity of the story that JK Rowling had provided us through her books, it seems only fair that the producers saw fit to do justice, by splitting the last book into 2 movies (2 parts). Great job, as expected and the turns and twists will keep the viewer tight to his/her sit in breathtaking moments, where regardless if you see it for the first time or for the 10th, regardless if you read the book and know the plot you still feel that tense, amazement of what a great movie. Keep watching, because is beyond beautiful. JK Rowling managed too surprise once more from her wonderful pen wand.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Such captivating story Bravo JK Rowling
This movie is one of the most intriguing one yet. It offers a perspective on paths, on decisions, while some might turn to darker paths, the other will find strength, and other (even some professors) would have taken some decisions that now come to regret. Life is a sequence of choices, and nothing proves it better than this movie. It will reveal even more from the now adult characters, and show that they too were students once: Voldermort, Snape, or even Harry's parents, they all have a lot more to their back story than was originally thought. And is not just interesting, but it does make sense to find out more. Some plot twists, some sad moments and yet the movie is still wonderful. Bravo JK Rowling, just bravo.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Harry Potter goes international
In this movie, we see the Wizards world is an international one, with students from France, Bulgaria Ireland, so it stretches far beyond Hogwarts. It is also the movie that introduces Robert Pattinson, now a well known British actor from his Twilight series, then an emerging acting star. It still features the all famous, brilliant actor of the British cinema, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. The story grows a bit darker, it introduces some teen in love plots, as such keeps in pace with its audiences, that has grown, and wants a book and a movie that responds to their life, and I think this movie and book does come to this exact desire.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Another great addition to the series
Who better to play Sirius Black than Gary Oldman, or who better than David Thewlis to play the friendly Professor Lupin. The new characters fit into the story like they have always been a part of it, and maybe indeed they were, as the movie shows the story of the past goes beyond than a small glimpse, and their ties with the boy who lived is much stronger than would have seemed in the first 2 movies. We get a new face to professor Dumbledore who plays a fantastic role, and proves some great acting skills. A captivating, couch gripping story shown in a cinematic depiction for teenagers and young adults, and not only.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Scenes from Scotland are magic
Scotland already has so many magical places, so this movie will do a good job in that. It is the movie that will make us fall in love with Dobby, the elf that will grow on its audience, and that you will forget very early in its appearance that is computer generated. A movie that starts to increase the dangerous faced, and start to make sense and to bind together the past story question and future story lines. It shows for the first time a depiction of Voldermort, though I am not going to say more for the fear of releasing too many spoilers. The actors are getting bigger, and their perils are getting higher, as their height.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
A must series for current generation and future
The Harry Potter movies and books are probably the most read and viewed fiction artistic pieces. It is easy to see why this story was so captivating from the start. The actors, although very young children, do a very good job in going into their roles and depicting a wizard world for us. Also there is a tremendous work of the producers trying to keep focused and without causing too much stress to such young actors, yet they somehow pulled it through. Excellent movie, and regardless of what people might think is not just for young audience, adults, seniors everyone will enjoy seeing this first movie in the series.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011)
Great ending to an amazing movie series
It is a very well analysed and realized ending to a movie that you might have wished it will never end. Any other final chapter could not have done a better closer than JK Rowling managed through this final chapter. It will leave you sadden, and happy, it will leave the viewers with a great after taste for decades to come. It will probably address a young adult/teenage audience, but that is the greatness of it, it grows up with the audience, with the actors, with the characters. Marvelously done through a timeline of chronological sense. Truly a great movie, that needs to be watched by this generation and the next to come.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Lilja 4-ever (2002)
Harrowing yet wonderful
Is hard to title a movie this harrowing, this troubling, as wonderful. But it is. Based on a true story, or maybe based on so many stories. After the communism fell, there were so many people disillusioned with the American dream, with an American concept that everything outside their world would be just milk and honey. Maybe... just not for them, the East European states, the Russian were treated just as bad as they were by the communist oppressors. Unreal that the world had to go through the communist nightmare, that still had consequences even after its fall. Showing how barbaric men can be, how objectifying, worse than animals with human faces, some people can become. Labeling is so easy when you do not know the story behind, and Lilja shows us such a sad story behind her fate. A grim fate decided for her, from which it seems there would have never been a good route. Oksana Akinshina, although very young at the time, plays the character of Lilja so good, so great, that she would have deserved Oscar recognition. The only sad thing is that the movie is not more well known, not more appreciated.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
The Age of Adaline (2015)
Intelligent movie for intelligent viewers
Although has some fantastic/sci-fi ideas, the movie is just great to watch. The story of a woman that tries to find ways to explain she is intelligent, she holds so much knowledge and information I think transcended a bit just the idea of the movie. This can be seen in how her smart partner, that had discovered some complex algorithms and has a witty idea, when he comes about to give her flowers, donating the flowery titled books, seems to have met his match in this erudite Adaline. I would label this movie an intelligent movie for intelligent viewers. Blake Lively has this talent in demonstrating a great, subtle skill of acting. I would recommend this movie.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
The Black Phone (2021)
Unbelievable
It is unbelievable that this was originally a short story. Again unbelievable on how the movie crew managed to re create a 70's-80's view on a modern movie, that transports the viewer into that period. Unbelievable on how it does not show that many scenes of violence, it's still creates a very real horror sensation, playing with the mind. But what is the most unbelievable, is how great can the children play. Their acting skills are much better than a lot of the adult actors I have seen so far, they really tell a story, create a very good movie. If you are a fan of good psychological thriller, horror spice this is 100% the movie for you. It is truly unbelievable how good it is.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Still going strong
It might seem at first like the slowest moving episode, in the whole series, as the plot its a bit more relaxed and yet will cause the viewers too grow some towards a certain character, not wanting to say more for not revealing too much, but it is worth it to watch and find out who I am talking about. This movie will tie the knot between past and present, the former battles and the present one's. The former combatants and the contemporary one's who are actually for the most part, their children. It is still going strong in captivating its audience, but you could never expect less from the great author that is J K Rowling.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
5 stars with great indulgence
A movie that you would want to like and yet... Saoirse Ronan is a great actress and you can see she is putting all her effort into this movie. Unsure about Margot Robbie acting skills for this type of movie. She is also a good actress but maybe not suited for this type of historical roles. The movie is filled with historical inaccurate events. The two queens never met in person and would have never spoke on that tone, especially not the Queen of Scots to the English Queen. You can see that the producers wanted to add some American type commercial spices. Meaning that they wanted to forget the historical facts in order to add some movie cliff hangers or contemporary movie "click-baits" that would trigger the public interest. However, I do believe that the viewers are more history literate than the producers would have guessed and desired, those ad like spices having an opposite effect, turning the viewer off. All in all, is not all bad, but a five star mark is given with tremendous effort to forget the bad parts.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Shutter Island (2010)
What is real?
It is a great movie indeed, as it is the book. Captivates and hold the viewer from the first glimpse, while not making it too hard to follow the plot. The ending is epic. But what happen in between is what counts. Once you embark on the trip into a human mind, you go through a roller coaster in which reality becomes blurry. But what is reality? What the eyes see, what the fingers feel, what the mouth tastes. Those are senses. But it is what the brain interprets that counts. I think the movie is set off to answer that question: What is real? What the senses want , or is it what the mind wants to believe, in doing so ease some of our past pain, our worse decisions, and wrong turns took in the past?
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
The Truman Show (1998)
Are you watching? Or being watched?
The movie would be even better if not based on some reality inspired events. Like the book 1984 it does transcend cinema into reality. The movie wants to show what would happen if a person is watched, all the time? How does he behave, what does he do, and more importantly how can other decide on his most important decisions: the woman he marries, the trip he takes, the family he has, the career he needs to take. It is even better if all this decisions are made without him noticing, at first. But wait... Are we sure that our decisions aren't at all influenced, or watched, or guided. Social media, television shows, news, showing us just glimpses of a picture instead of the whole. Presenting too us just one side, in the fear that if we receive both POW we might think for ourselves. Well it is just a movie. Truman show will let viewers imagine what would it be like if... Excellent movie, and Jim Carey as always does his role with academy artistic and acting skill.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Victoria (2016)
Is it a good movie? No! It is a great movie
It's really unfair that nowadays we refer to Victorian period or Victorian mentality like something bad, like something very archaic when in fact Queen Victoria was one of the greatest ruler of all times and not just in Britain, and oh yes, she was a woman. I think Jenna Coleman who plays Queen Victoria proves justice to that last bit, indeed a women can govern and she can do it extremely well, regardless of her size, or how the movie puts it: "To me mam you're every inch a queen". The movie shows a queen that was ambitious, intelligent, powerful and determined to modernize a country and a world. Not sure how Jenna Coleman got such a good insight on Queen Victoria, but throughout the whole movie you will be able to see the queen and not an actress playing a role. Is it a good movie? No! It is a great movie.
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Fitzgerald would cry in joy
I am and always have been a huge fan of Scott Fitzgerald. Hence the name Steven J SCOTT. But this movie is just hard to explain. 10 stars out of 10 for sure. But there was never a better depiction of Jay Gatsby than Leonardo DiCaprio managed to pull off. The same can be said for Carey Mulligan's Daisy Buchanan, or for the despicable Tom Buchanan played by Joel Edgerton or the intriguing Nick Carraway played by real time friend of DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire. It just shows to prove that if you want to transport a 1920's story into contemporary times you can do that. Through good choice of music, through respecting the book story and adding a modern twist to it, but mainly focusing on the plot, on the "boats against current". It might not be commercial, it might not be 100% politically correct, but is a great story that needs to be told and transformed from a great book into a great movie. I am sure the author would have shared a few tears in joy seeing the transformation of his book into an amazing cinematic depiction.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Fabulous, energetic, amazing
A movie that depicts one of the greatest singers of the past century. Although his music is listened greatly today, the movie shows what even more impact it had one it was first aired. The marvelous acting, and the energetic acting of Rami Malek is just... beyond words. The movie follows Freddie's life, his touch of a genius, maybe the inventor of the superstar music idol of the 21st century. It is a movie that might make you sad because of Freddy's tragic end, but being biographic it had to, although the movie once again manages to turn that into showing us that his legacy does live on, still delights millions and millions of fans around the world. Marvelous marvel of a movie.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Elvis (2022)
Why did I just wasted 2 hours of my life
Waste, waste of time, of film, of money. The movie is beyond bad. It has no plot, no story line, not even small resemblance to Elvis's life. It seems like a cheap shot to try to get some "click bait" attention trying more to tackle some current issues, than anything to do with the rock and roll era of the middle past century. They could have took a lesson or two from the Great Gatsby on how to bring a past story to the present, but the producers seemed far more concentrated how to waste over 2 hours of people's life for politicizing and making a politically correct story of the past, which makes no sense. The movies leaves such a bad after taste that you need at least 2 good real movies made either with or about Elvis to get past such bad acting, plot or production.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
Luckiest Girl Alive (2022)
A delicate subject treated with much care
Such a modern world and yet sexual assault is still so real, so daily that it almost goes unnoticed. Based on Jessica Knoll's story, and I do not mean just the novel she wrote, that is the basis for this movie, but her story. A captivating somewhat mysterious story. How far can some people can get away with something, and how important is who tells the story and what is the truth behind it. Trauma is a component in so many people's life, but how we deal with that trauma, how we get passed it, how we best tackle it, I think this movie can provide the answer. It does deserve very much attention as it is a very good movie.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
The White Princess (2017)
If not the best historical movie clearly on top 10
This movie is just a masterpiece, a magnum opus of all of Philippa Gregory's books. But what makes it even better, is the tremendous acting of Jodie Comer and Jacob Collins-Levy, without forgetting to mention: Essie Davis (Queen Elizabeth Woodville), Michelle Fairley (Margaret Beaufort) or Caroline Goodall (Duchess Cecily). But Elizabeth of York (played by Jodie) and Henry VII (Jacob) are just beyond Oscar. Tudor court at this time is a game of mothers: Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth Woodville and eventually Elizabeth of York all want to ensure their dynasty, their beloved country and their culture prevails in all its best through their children. It is not an easy task to do. It will require some very difficult decisions, sacrifices and turning points that might just turn your heart into pieces yet... uneasy the head that wears the crown. Be it a king crown or even more important a queens crown. One of the first couple that actually fell in love Henry and Elizabeth prove that with love great things can be accomplished, and peace can reign eventually. It's a story that is so sad, so beautiful and without bad or good characters, just humans and difficult decisions. A story that I do not think can ever be told better than in this movie. If not the best historical movie, definitely in the top 10 of all time historical depictions.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Good job!
I will start with the bad. While there are some historical inaccuracies, you do see the effort put into the colours of the dresses, the change in behaviour (Anne Boleyn has a different attitude after she has been a lady in waiting at the French court), it is maybe with the help of Philippa Gregory's book of the same name, that this can be achieved. Now with the good. Anne Boleyn is controversial as a figure, while I think that every person that starts to read more into history can appreciate the positive about this person, about this queen and about such an intellectual, because above everything else Anne was a very well read person for the time, and this can be seen in how Natalie Portman manages to play this role. Unsure if Scarlett Johansen was best suited to play her sister, Mary but all in all a good movie, and the small bits are missing do not make this movie to be rated anything less than 10 stars. Good job!
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
The White Queen (2013)
You just need to watch it
You just need to watch this movie. Of course, the screenplay is based on the amazing author Philippa Gregory and her book with the same name, but that makes it even harder for the producers of this film to somehow respect the historical line, to take good care of the book plot and produce this cinematic masterpiece. Aneurin Barnard and Max Irons play fantastically the journey of the two kings: Edward IV and Richard III and how sometimes power can corrupt and if you are not careful you might be digging your own demise. But the more fabulous play is done here by Jacquetta Woodville (Janet McTeer), Duchess Cecily (Caroline Goodall), Anne Neville (Faye Marsay), Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale), Queen Elizabeth Woodville (Rebecca Ferguson) who makes the viewer forget they are actresses, and make you see what important role, smart, ambitious and powerful women were. Although the role of a woman in the time, was much less than what it should have been, this four prove that strong women had to use whatever weapons they had available in proving they are equal if not better in making important judgements when it came to the court or the country. Hats down to this superb movie.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
The Tudors (2007)
Titanic work masterfully done
Titanic work masterfully done. I think that phrase can sum it up altogether. To attempt to recreate the glamour, the intrigue, the clashing waves of ideas that was the Tudor life is just as hard as trying today to repaint the Sistine Chapel. And yet, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, James Frain, Natalie Dormer or Maria Doyle Kennedy emerge the viewer in that world. The historical accuracy is very good, but the passion that can be seen in the series is amazing. It is several series long and yet leaves the viewer wanting more. The six wives of Henry VIII is just a small bite of what was going on in Tudor England of that time, and this movie can be seen like an appetiser for the person who desires to read more, to visit more to find out more about History. It is an amuse bouche for the Historical passion. 10 out of 10 stars is just a measly thank you to the producers, actors and the whole team that gave us such a treasure of cinema. Amaaaazing!
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.
War & Peace (2016)
Amazing book , amazing movie
I would have never guessed that BBC can make such amazing productions. I've adored Leo Tolstoy's book, and this movie tries to respect as much as the plot as it can be done for a movie, and it does a successful attempt at that. Simply beautifully acting by Lily James, James Norton and Paul Dano. The depiction of the war scenes, the tragedies of the tumultuous life that goes on is simply wonderful to watch. You fell in love with Bolkonsky, Bezukhov and Rostova. You turn to despise Helene Kuragina or admire the great ambition of Boris (played beautifully by Aneurin Barnard). It is a series that if you turn it on, you cannot stop it until reaching the final moment of the final episode, with weeks of tumultuous thoughts pouring in.
Just an opinion. Just a thought. Just Steven J. Scott.