Something is very wrong with American film making for some time. Nothing makes sense here, intelligence of people is sharply underestimated (on the level of insult) and nothing really works with story. This last film about monsters shows that while it is trying to draw some long forgotten mythology that works worse than in most cartoons for children under 12. Human characters exist only to remind us of long forgotten cliches and definitely not of characters. Destroying the cultural and historical heritage of mankind is order of a day. And in all that there's nowhere in the site possibility of simple 'just sit back and enjoy the rid'. What an insulting mess of corporate idiocy... That beautiful queen under the surface and some fights do save this experience, but the whole thing is not worth the effort at all...
Reviews
15 Reviews
Eye Candy
(2021)
Nude body doesn't exist for some time now...
18 September 2022
Unfortunately, although I could support the idea, what really worries me is that even nudity isn't nudity here. Ugly and hypocritical trend which humiliates the nudity of human body. Amd all great (and maybe not so great) that comes with it. It's not a text, but it also isn't a vision of human body, obviously. Looks like nude body doesn't exist. Only fear of sexuality that is all pervasive and present everywhere these days. I mean, if you pose a question and have a subject that corresponds to that question, you won't try to avoid that subject. But all pictures are showing here that this isn't the intention of this work. Of course, I understand when you talk about nudity that you don't want anything but the concept. But there's something about the concept when you use a visual media where that concept is not enough. Even worse, the concept alone here is a lie...
Dear Comrades!
(2020)
To fight oppresive communism you need more socialism ...
12 April 2021
A very good and, in some respects, brave film. But also smart. It's interesting how liberal reviewers, and not only here at imdb, missed the main character of this film, the socialist youth and workers, most of society, who go about their desire for socialism and not for liberalism (or conservatism for that matter). It's about them and not about the leading lady (only some kind of catalyst for the whole story) who works through her delusions and her possible tragedy. So, the film has strong ideological message, something that well bred liberal is trying to avoid for decades. That's why liberal critics can't easily see the difference between communism and socialism and that's not just intellectual laziness, something more sinister is present (as one of the character in this film says, 'even socialism is classified'). So yes, oppresive communist regimes and liberal views on socialism have their 'places of truth' which doesn't allow the third party. During Soviet Union or any communist regime (which called themselves socialist but never really allowed demands for socialist alternative) and nowadays, liberal regimes which also prevent any substantial talk let alone possibility of socialist alternative, couldn't or can't understand this film. Which would be perfect if made during 1970s or 1980s and show that real alternative to what has become known as 'actually existing socialism' was socialist alternative proposed and demaned by majority of society in those states and regimes. They asked for more pluralism, whether politically, culturally and economically which means that demand for these was not the liberal one but the socialist one. Modern ideologem (mostly liberal or right) tends to bend that historical fact. Which was the real demands of societies in Eastern Europe hijacked, eventually, by conservative and liberal elites in late 1980s and early 1990s ... No wonder things still doesn't look good in Eastern Europe after those historical shenanigans...
So, no more ranting about it. The film describes effort of some small Soviet town workers for better and more just economical reasoning. It's about the whole Soviet society shown on the example of one little town. So, everybody is caught in this. Unfortunately and obviously, the regime is the worst part of it since it has to give well explained answers to the people for their economic actions. Of course, the regime fails and responds with violence. Everobody is affected by it but we mostly see how a leading female party functionaire from this small town deals with it. She's a good choice because her life is connected to both side of social and politica divide in this society and that affects all of her decisions. And they are not without risks and temptations ... I won't mention anything else but only that acting and directing is great.
December
(2013)
True and innocent emotions
21 December 2020
December is a small and simple film. It almost looks like it was made by students (which is also quite possible). But it also manages to deliver some kind of message, the one that is worth of attention. All the characters are young and they are telling story about love or, maybe, about falling in love. Narrative focus is on a boy that gets attention from two girls. What we see is the chance for love and a failure for its realization at the same time. As such, that's nothing extraordinary at first. However, on the other side, titular female character saves this film from being a letdown. She fills the whole story with true emotions and tells something real about maturing and what emotions mean for young people (and maybe, not only for them). Of course, this film could be also about alienating nature of Korean society (which certainly is, in a way, a case) but it's also very interesting and touching story, if you're careful enough to see it, about emotional growing of a person. In that sense this one is not only about winning or losing, but a more a story about seeing more than what is in front of you. Which is the reason why this film might deserve some attention.
Alice in Earnestland
(2015)
Silly and bloody fantasy
23 August 2020
There's something about those beutiful Asian ladies that makes me like films with them. Even if they have just a little substance like this one. Yes, it's a bit of weird film, but there's something about women that can't adjust to this world. Just like men, they take their unusual path to get what they need and they never give up. And it becomes messy. And as this film says, you really want best for them just to realize that it can only work in film. Silly and bloody fantasy with a lot of sadness in the background ...
Happy End
(1999)
Cruel
17 August 2020
This film has all the ingredients to be miysogynistic and that's one of the possible readings. And it's quite legitimate. But, in fact, it seems to be more about mysoginy and the consequence of misogynistic behaviour and its consequences. Not advocating them. Nobody gets what deserves in this one and there are more victims (but one of them is being that absolutely and more than others). But what seems to be some morale here is that after the act there's just no way back. Either you get your life broken or, even worse, you don't get even that. I watch a lot of Asian films latelly and most of them look like statements about gender antagonisms. And mostly, their outcome on the end is unpopular and brave. And out there for everyone to see what it looks like when you don't paint them in unrealistic colors. As it should be. This film has a dreadful conclusion but it must be seen for what it is. That's why it's good ...
A Girl at My Door
(2014)
Imperfect people for a very imperfect world
15 August 2020
A film about a woman and a child, one person is grown up and other is minor. None of them live in a safe world considering for what they are. So, they unwillingly and by the chance become mutually supportive. As it turns up, it's their choice for life. This is a very good film which doesn't follow conventional solutions because life is also unpredictable and can't be lived by book. It also doesn't play by rules of some abstract moral compas, which is good (and brave) choice. Especially when morality which should be on their sides obviously doesn't work for them. But they don't avoid making good choices, it's just they're not great, but are necessary. Yes, this is a film about abused women and betrayal they suffer even when they do their best. Two leading actresses are simply great. And film shows that today's outcasts deserve their chances too. And that's a great thing ...
Loud Places
(2017)
Scary life in American backcountry
20 July 2020
The film itself is beautifully shot and two leads are very good. But what I like the most about it is the background, not just the natural settings (which is beautiful and scary as this film), but what's hidden in it. During the whole film something is missing and on the end you realize that you don't want to see all that lies behind and all that can be found. But you get the glimpse of it. And that's done very good. Pensive, intelligent film.
The Light Shines Only There
(2014)
Story of misogyny
21 June 2020
Despite not being perfect, this film is a brave insight into appaling mysogyny some women still struggle with. The leading actress is great and, dare I say, very beautiful. But her task was not easy and she definitely deserves a lot of praise. However, this film also tells more stories, nuanced ones, about that state of affairs among people everybody is facing. They're never holding the same position in society and, at the same time, they can't always have those necessary skills they learnt somewhere before to deal with it. So, the consequences can't be easy. There's some light on the end of this story (yes, the title is good), but not in the way Western feminists or liberals or conservatives would like. I think that's one of its best qualities. And I'm not thinking about comparison with possible Western solutions, but about the reality of resolutions on the end that is escaping every thinking inside of the box. If they are good, that's the closest they can get.
Where We Belong
(2019)
Interesting and worth of attention
28 May 2020
This is a story about maturing of young girls who can't and don't really know what's there in store for them in life. I must say, it's done with care and has very thoughtful layers that connect a lot. Basically, the story is about one of the girls but on the end, at least for me, it's about more of them and is about tough decisions they all, which also may mean all of us, have to come up with when one finds oneself to pass from youth to maturity. I won't go into the story, but I must say it's done with charm and is catching up with many important issues. And it definitely deserves a lot of attention.
Better Days
(2019)
Good, but could have been better
10 May 2020
One of the wrong things that I did is reading some of the reviews here. The more I read, the more they started to clould my judgment about this film. And it's a good one. One of its qualities is that it tries to grapple with more than bullying and abuse among students in schools and show complexity of the roles people are made to take in this whole situation. Which works especially for the young ones. And that's not easy and not always succesful. Of course, I'm from the Europe, so some things here don't appeal to me or I might have few wrong notions about some details, but this one is another case which tells me that with every Asian film (no only Chinese) I get more and more fascinated how good they get. Of course, nothing is perfect even if it's good. Especially when this film is trying to say much more than it can take so the end doesn't look so good (it does work, eventually, but it could be even better). But all in all, it describes society fighthing for its normalcy (and trying to define it) and is doing it good.
Branded to Kill
(1967)
A stylish piece of cinema
7 May 2020
And it is, very stylish and very seductive. But also, it's very hard to catch what it's trying to say. So, I hold on stylish part of it. Some brave stuff for a film from 1960s. An interesting take on style of film making. Almost like a visual narrative exchanged for a narrative itself. But not in a style over substance way. More like an experiment of visual narrating confused for a narrative with script with dialogue. Some will like it and some won't.
Basic Fairness
14 May 2019
That was really a great episode. And I think it sets the right tone for the whole series. It also shows that this series is more about the path and not about its goal. The idea of a good and just ruler is bad one anyway. Let's not get on the wrong foot here, though. I didn't enjoy the destruction in this, but deconstructing the idea of good people vs bad ones. Trauma and desire rule all over this portrayal of ubiquitous fascism in the alternative middle age where you have everything you really wanted and imagined; monsters, excessive violence, madness of religion, debauchery and raunchy sexual experiences, failed conventions of all kinds. A fantastic outcome of basic fairness ...
Captain Marvel
(2019)
No worries, it's a good one ...
10 March 2019
It's a good one. It tells the story that powers up engines which take the road to finale in Avengers: Endgame. And all those that have problems with leading female characters or super heroes (super hero fatigue, they call it, if I'm not mistaken) are missing the point and are misplaced. However, the film is also one thing more. It says a lot of things about the problems or self-perception. Namely, the problems of that how a person sees herself (or himself too) which here arise as a need to come out of the safe haven of everyday routine and see things from outside. What gives a freedom and a power to a person is a strength to change one's perspective about one's attitudes to others and to oneself, but also to realize that changing that perspective really changes everything. And gives a strength to know more and better oneself. Maybe this was not conveyed here in the same vain as in some more subtle art film but it's still a good example of it.
And yes, someday, those super heroes on film will have to be deconstructed, that's for sure. Which is also one of their qualities today and unpleasant, but also needy, consequence of tomorrow. And it will have to be done on film too, just like these ones, goodies, here.
Of course, I admire the charm of Brie Larson, Samuel Jackson is good, Ben Mendelson does a terrific job, but Jude Law is also worth of mentioning. If I may say so. In my view, this one is definitely worth a watch ...
Bohemian Rhapsody
(2018)
Not perfect, but still good ...
5 November 2018
Well, the film certainly isn't perfect. Of course, there was poetic licence (yes, especially when it comes to the chronology) in the film and the surviving members of the band probably did influence the story but, still, everything important about Freddy is in there, maybe not in right measure, but still all right. Sugar coated? Not really sure, there are dark tones, they just don't prevail. Heterosexual relation overshadows homosexual one? Nope, everything is clearly stated in the film. Of course, somebody believes that Freddy's transgressions would make better film. Why? I mean, if there are some transgressions that could have been ascribed to him, he made them a mainstream affair and less transgressive. After seeing video for 'I want to break free' I myself thought in 1980s that homosexuality has finally gone mainstream. No big deal about it, it's not 1950s. And now, few decades later somebody needs to see something provocative about Freddy in the film that is mostly celebrating him? Freddy's homosexuality and queerness has been shown to the audience of 21st century as a mainstream affair, something what those things mostly are nowadays. And, as for Sacha Baron Cohen, I think he would be good Freddy too. But I don't see how being better than Malek would be the real thing here. Baron's (hypothetical) portrayal would only be different and probably worthy of attention in its own terms. Just like Malek's is. I hope we'll get that one too someday ...
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