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Reviews
La Révolution (2020)
Entertaining Fictional Story, give it a shot
As I read some of the reviews, it became crystal clear that many people just vote it down because its not what they expected. That's why I want to write about what people should expect.
Its a completely fictional story losely based on a 18th century, French setting a short time before the revolution took place. The series doesn't try to be historically accurate and it never pretends to be.
The story is in the supernatural, fantastic genre and there are recent, politically modern elements in it, like references to refugees and female gender roles, which at times can be a little bit plain and over the top. The characters are clearly split into the bad and the good guys, but even for the bad guys, there is some reasonable background story. There are worse and less elaborated character building series of this kind around.
The special effects are, for a series, very good, the cinematography and music is excellent, acting is not always on the highest level, but still very good and convincing, at worst solid, with attractive characters doing a good job for the storyline. In many ways the series reminds me of American movies from the 1990's and 2000's, just with more CGI well-placed where necessary.
Comparing the series to other gems of the genre, movies like Interview with the Vampire (1994), but especially Brotherhood of the Wolf, in French Le pacte des loups (2001) come to mind. Basically, its Le pacte des loups altered and transformed into an 8 episode series. All the basics and references are pretty much the same. So if you liked Interview of the Vampire, you might like this one, and if you liked Brotherhood of the Wolf, you have to love it.
People which don't like the fantasy and horror genre, but want to watch historically more accurate depictions of pre-revolutionary France, should go for other movies and series, or even better read actual historical books and scientific sources.
Upload (2020)
Pleasant Surprise
At first I thought it might be too flashy and plain, especially after the first trailers, but when watching it, it was a pleasant surprise. This series has everything for a good evening entertainment:
Thrill, romance, comedy and humor, good actors, great quality of the filming scenes (watch it in 4K!). But also a well written storyline with many references to our current society and where we are going in scenes which make you laugh and think about reality at the same time. I get that the straight and somewhat impious humor of this series might not be for everyone, but I think its a solid entertainment for most viewers and it might evem inspire people to think twice about what they want and buy in their life. A plain series? Definitely not in comparison to 99 percent of the other productions. People which don't like it, might just have a different sense of humor.
The King (2019)
How to ruin a perfect story by adding fantasy
First I have to tell you that I truly love historical drama. I also don't mind if, for the sake of a more thrilling movie and an accelerated pace you take a historical tale and change it in fitting way.
However, this was not done in this movie, on no level. They ruined a perfect historical tale, which had all and could have taken a lot of inspiration from Shakespeare's work. But they just added the spirit of our current time and unnecessary changes which not just ruin the historical accuracy of the movie, but also the authentic atmosphere of Medieval times.
The dialogues were dull, even outright dumb and the language more appropriate for a modern bar than a royal court.
The French were presented as a total caricature of real people. The king was made a peace activist which constantly tried to kill and torture accidentally, while the background story of the father-son conflict and the war with the French became twisted in so many ways it hurts.
Last but not least, what some describe as the climax of the movie: The battle.
Horrible, just horrible. They tell at the start what was supposed to give them a chance, but beside some ridiculous scenes, the whole battle turns out to be some sort of mud wrestling. The true value and importance of the bowmen in the battle of Agincourt, the proper positioning and prepared defences of the English, anything of military facts was either ignored or downplayed in one big mud show.
The king going into battle without support, without body guards and anyone around him, like a modern animated action hero is completely out of the context of any battle at the time.
I'm not just criticising the lack of historical accuracy in every scene, this would be not enough. They really made it a fantasy movie which lacks even the slightest touch of reality.
Talking about the pace and suspense: Did the movie, with all the cobble up of historical and literary themes, make any lasting impression if being seen from a purely action movie perspective? Not at all. The pace was slow, the tension didn't build up and overall it is a forgettable piece of film making.
The 4 stars being deserved by the music, camera job, outfit and acting. Yes, that were all strengths of the movie, but with this pace, dialogues, mingling of the story until it was strangled and nothing worth to talk about left, ruined a great historial theme.
Kenneth Branagh movie lacked the eerie sound and the "dirty medieval feeling" somewhat. Its acting and language was to artificial in a way, since it was based on Shakespeare primarily, but still: It depicted real people, acting like humans do and presented the story in a relatable and historical more accurate way. Branaghs Henry V is on a different level than this piece which could have been great, but was, unfortunately, ruined by bad writing first and directing second.
Kingdom (2019)
Definitely one of the best horror shows ever made
If you remotely like East Asian productions in general and Korean ones in particular and are a fan of the horror and zombie genre as well, this one is for you and not to miss. Add to that a historical setting with many subplots and subtext, and you get an idea of what kind of complete package this series is.
The only bad thing I could say about it is, that it ended after just six episodes and only half the answers were given with me wanting to get more of that show.
Strongly recommended.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
Not much of an improvement, story not good enough
The story was rather slow and weak, with the interaction making it even more annoying. The movie had its moments, I liked the feeling, music, quality of filming and acting, but in the end: The story wasn't good enough and the concept doesn't work. Probably its me, but I prefer a linear story or true interaction like in gaming. It was interesting overall, but could have been done better.
Bird Box (2018)
Great start, solid middle part, weak end.
I didn't expect too much from that movie, but it got me from the start. The story had its holes even at the beginning, but it was a tolerable level. The tension could be maintained to the end, but the end was truly disappointing and probably the biggest hole in the plot. Still recommended for its solid entertainment. Definitely one of the better Netflix originals.
Ex Machina (2014)
Movies as they should be
Since there are some good and much longer reviews out already, I want to sum my personal impression of this movie up in short: This movie is a true gem with an intelligent, realistic and highly interesting concept translated into a simple, yet fantastic story. It contains logical dialogs and sound actions of the characters. The special effects are solid and fit into the whole thing. The actors are great and totally convincing with a stunningly beautiful main female character.
In comparison to a lot of other movies praised by critics and audiences alike in the recent years, this one really sticks out for me. There is no single minute wasted for nonsense or to please that kind of audience for which the main plot and basic style of the movie wasn't made. This is a huge plus these days, because these compromises to the current teenage and studio mainstream ruined a lot of the otherwise promising productions lately...
Congratulations to the film makers and highly recommended.
Prometheus (2012)
Visuals and basic plot great, actors also, but the story in detail: Retarded, resulting in missed opportunities
This movie is sort of a mixed bag. I had some high expectations and these were disappointed, but the movie is by any means not bad nor a complete failure, but for having such a potential, too much being missed or ruined.
Let's start with the good things: - The visuals are amazing, the design and filming is near perfect. Great to watch and a cinematographic experience, a "true Ridley Scott". - Also the basic plot is fantastic, something new and different from what Sci-Fi cinema produced lately, which a lot of potential for further exploration and new story lines. - The actors were all well chosen, a great assemble to work with. - Music and effects make the movie a complete experience.
Now the bad things: - The story is simply stupid in detail and could have been written by an average 4th grader - which would have been some sort of excuse for its missed opportunities. - The only person in this movie which acts and reacts remotely normal is the female protagonist, all the other people act too stupid for being real. - Nothing in this movie fits together if you begin to watch careful and think about it. Everything is wrong, the story doesn't fit together and one logical mistake follows the next. And I don't mean the usual stupidity you often see in movies, which can be ignored if you accept it's all just made up. No, it is this one going too far with its logical failures and mental dead ends.
Some reviews say the movie has many lose ends or is leaves to much questions unanswered: NO, that's not it! Oh my gosh, it's the story, acting of the protagonists and answers being so incredibly stupid which leaves us unsatisfied!
That said, I gave the movie an "7" for being still enjoyable and technically great work, but I want to add something for the director: Change the story writers for the next one or be at least more critical about their work!
Because this movie, with this visuals and basic plot, had the potential for becoming another classic and still a second part might be it, but if the next movie will be as stupid with the storyline in detail, it will be just another missed opportunity for more.
Make people acting realistic, make up a story which fits with its premises and is comprehensible as well as coherent, forming a complete fantastic package.
Just some food for thoughts - just think about it when watching the movie: The "engineers" are so intelligent and "over the top", yet they make one mistake after the next, act stupid and use ineffective means to do what exactly? The geologist is there to explore the structure - but then...? Some people are afraid of dead alien bodies, but in the next moment, in a much more dangerous situation, they are not afraid of, nor careful when...? You are a scientist on an epic journey, but you act like a bored teenager who likes to rebel against any authority and gives a ....?
For a "Ridley Scott" movie it was a disappointment, even if considering all its merits.