Negara Reviews

Eden Lake (2008)

Have your brain raped in 91 minutes

[1/10 · 4 June 2015]

This movie sounded promising especially as we thought Miacheal Fassbender could hardly be found in a bad movie. Oh, we were wroooong! The big emphasis on the innocence of the character of Jenny and the kindergarten with all the sweet kids should have tipped us off, but oh no! we were keen to go on.

The movie goes on for several scenes through the exact same routine of the movies of similar themes. Nothing happening on the first night, the couple underestimating the threats and taking every sign and red flag for granted etc. Still at this point that could be overlooked as this is the kind of movie you've picked to watch after all.

However, very quickly the story takes a huge unreasonable turn and just keeps going downward in a path were nothing can be explained by any rules of reason whatsoever, to the point were you are enraged with being taken advantage of in this way and having your nerves wrecked for no reason.

As luck would have it, things don't even pick up near the end and just when you think this movies has hurt your mind enough, you will be tossed into an unbelievavle blackhole of mental torture, and then some. I find it very hard to imagine what demographic exactly would enjoy this movie. The cast and crew maybe?!

Let the Right One In (2008)

A movie about NON JUDGEMENT

[9/10 · 1 September 2011]

Aren't Swedish film makers just f*ing fantastic? They make a movie about a sh*tty subject as Vampires and they make a brilliant movie.

Let me rephrase that. This is a movie about non-judgement. It tells the story of the friendship between a disturbed preteen boy who would kill if he could and a preteen vampire who doesn't want to kill but has to.

The story unfolds) gradually. It arises your sympathy and love for them against all odds and surprises you pleasantly in the end.

To add to the absorbing story is the in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time movements of the camera that carries half the burden of bringing your emotion to the surface, plus the flawless performance by the little girl and the little boy in that order.

Watch this movie , you'll love it, and I'm not even into movies about the supernatural.

Another Year (2010)

Film Making at its Best

[10/10 · 30 March 2011]

What more could you want in a movie? A beautiful story told by a very skillful director.

Perfect performance by the actors. Hats off to Mary , Gerry and Tom in that order. Beautiful depiction of human feelings and relationships.

This movie will not disappoint. The attention to the details , the images shot to magnify every bat of an eyelash , every hidden emotion and any lack there of just round everything off.

The colors are very well coordinated creating the exact association the director wants to create in the viewers mind , very subtle but you just feel the peace of Tom and Gerry together and the utmost despair of Mary trying to be a part of that.

Maybe I didn't like Naked this much but I loved Secrets and Lies and this one's even more perfect. Watch it.

In a Better World (2010)

In a BLUE world

[7/10 · 29 March 2011]

Okay , you know what? This movie as with other Susanne Bier movies deals with sentiments and does it beautifully. The images are bright , colorful and shiny. You enjoy watching the movie. The colors and arrangements are refreshing and young.

BUT is Susanne Bier getting less good each time she makes a new movie? The story of the angry boy who decides to make a bomb could've been really moving on its own, especially as the boy is Caucasian for once. The depiction of unspeakable pain creating the roots of hostility was exceptionally touching and rare. Elias's father , well I wish he was a world leader.

So why did the Africa story happen? To show that the most peaceful person on Earth could give in to hostility too? I think this part was poorly told. I think seeing the father decide to save Big Man would have been enough and there was no need for the whole mob attack. I think the scene with the guy wanting to rape the woman's dead body was to much drama. I think the part where the father drags Big Man across the ground is so unrealistic especially as his men are out and about and it's hardly credible that no one attacks him afterwards or even during. As a matter of fact the part of the story which happened in Denmark on its own could have been enough , beautiful and touching. Why does she always have to have too parts in her stories happening in two different countries? In Brothers it was a necessity , in In Better World the story would have been more beautiful without it and in After the Wedding it was plain redundant.

I enjoyed watching the movie anyway and am not still completely disappointed with Susanne Bier , but I would really really wish she'd go back to subtle signs and symbolism rather than many many many many oh so many blue items in every single shot.

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

Great Female Lead , Poor Male Lead

[6/10 · 28 March 2011]

This movie revolves around a sentimental and beautiful subject. The story is well written and the female lead has been chosen to perfection. She acts very well , doesn't over do it. Fear is visible in her face as the story goes on , also you can see the raw/shy love in her face.

However , the male lead gives a very poor performance showing little to no emotion. When he's sad , when he's happy , when he's in love , when he's enraged he just offers a blank face. Intentionally or unintentionally done , this lack of emotion somehow feeds the audience's alienation from the male lead and instead of caring about him and siding with him , you are made to believe how unusual a foreigner is, hence you would side with all the bad people as well. Probably a better Middle Eastern actor would side the viewer better with himself.

Altogether a movie that I enjoyed and a lead female that my hat's off to.

After the Wedding (2006)

Great Acting , Beautiful Cinematography and Editing

[8/10 · 26 March 2011]

This is a very "beautiful" film by all means of the word. It's full of bright and lively colors and light. The camera is always at the right angle capturing the best possible image. The emotions are flowing and captured very very well. It's hard to emphasize how everything is captured at its best and edited perfectly.

The story opens very beautifully and takes you very smoothly through the first half as you are trying to decipher what's happening. Many times throughout the first half of the film you find yourself enjoying the movie and what the story presents to you. The story is very strong at this points and the facts seem to be unwrapping to you in an intriguing way.

However , in the second half of the movie , everything stays as good except for the story which starts to get predictable and a few things happen with no build up towards the context which makes it a bit less credible or logical if you will.

Altogether a great movie , very well made and edited. You'll enjoy it.

Anatomy of Hell (2004)

Where's the line between pornography and actual film making?

[3/10 · 25 March 2011]

I think this movie is in fact an article or an essay on sexuality in the film maker's point of view. It all seems what was turned into a dialog by force was in fact parts of an essay she should have written , or she has and then chopped it up into chunks and fed it into the mouths of the lead/only characters. There are no emotions , except when the female lead tries to look sad (when she's not sleeping while being penetrated).

I just don't know why , instead of writing that article she has made this film? Why do the lifeless words have to be accompanied by such images? Oh and if we do have to watch these images and they don't have to be credible or plausible in any way , then why is this not pornography? Surely it's as/more offensive? Why does this kind of movie get labeled as ART and then pornography is obscene? I'd much rather have watched porn.

Bad Guy (2001)

What was the point?

[4/10 · 24 March 2011]

This is a disappointment compared to Kiduk's other movies. It's hard to relate to the subject at all. The guy decides to ruin this girl , at the same time he has fallen for this girl. At the same time the girl falls for him in a weird way so they end up mobile pimping and hooking together?! Why did the man suspect the girl of stealing his wallet? Why did the girl accept to be indebted like that owing her body? Didn't the girl have anyone to turn to? What happened to the boyfriend? This movie contains these and many many other logical black holes not to mention the fact that the acting of anyone but the "bad Guy" is mediocre. The subject and the turn out of the events are too far-fetched to be believable.