Marcko9790 Reviews

Gone Girl (2014)

Fincher at his finest

[10/10 · 5 February 2015]

I had not heard about "Gone Girl" before September 2014. I discovered it when I decided to check David Fincher's filmography one day. "A new Fincher movie!? Awesome!" were the thoughts that flew through me. Unfortunately I didn't get to see it in theatres, but I did get to see it after a while.

The story is dark and superbly crafted. It is rare to find a story with such a simple premise yet such a complex execution. You'll second guess yourself every scene to what is going on yet you will always be wrong. The acting is also really great with Affleck and Pike giving truly great performances. And yes, I had no problem with Tyler Perry. The score by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross was great as always. And of course, the direction by David Fincher is superb. It is rare to find a director as great as him working today.

Overall this movie is great and should not be missed. But be warned, this movie is quite disturbing.

Elephant (2003)

A fantastic surprise.

[10/10 · 2 February 2015]

"Elephant" is one of those movies I didn't see coming. I was gonna go to the bathroom an evening when I saw my mom watch something. I of course asked what it was. So she pressed a button and it started over from the beginning. And then I experienced something I never got the feeling of again.

The style of seeing the same situation loop but from the perspective of different people is something that I really liked about the movie. I also liked the lack of a clear and present score. It made a lot more scenes "real" and even a bit suspenseful. And the final act of this movie is one of the most powerful ones I have ever seen (Don't worry, no spoilers). One thing I also really liked is the fact that there really are no big names in the cast, it made everything feel more real and close to home that way.

This is a great movie that I highly recommend. It is one of those movies that came out of nowhere and made it's mark with me forever.

American History X (1998)

Complex and Amazing.

[10/10 · 4 December 2014]

By complex I do not mean mindf***, I mean that it got a lot of layers of story and character.

The story of how Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) tries to get his younger brother Danny (Edward Furlong) out of the neo-Nazi life is multi-layered, intelligent and emotional. It kept me interested throughout the entirety of the runtime and it even made me a little heavy on emotions. Not only is the story great, the performances in the movie are phenomenal, especially Edward Norton. The guy should've won the Academy Award for Best Leading Actor back then. The dark and haunting score helps lift the atmosphere of the movie to new heights. And the way it is directed (cinematography and such) just adds to everything. The way they use grey scale for Flashbacks is something I just simply adore.

This movie is fantastic in every way possible. It is definitely one of my favorite movies and I highly recommend it.

DISCLAIMER: This movie isn't always easy to watch.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun

[10/10 · 4 December 2014]

"Terminator 2: Judgment Day" is one of the single handedly greatest action movies of all time. Not only in a sci-fi way, but as an action movie in general.

Arnold travels back in time to protect young John Connor (Edward Furlong) from the intimidating and awesome villain, T-1000 (Robert Patrick). The story is more complex in it's entirety than that, but just that plot line sounds interesting in general. The story is great, the performances are overall great, the score by Brad Fiedel is awesome, the visual effects are really good and the action is fast-paced and visceral. I also love the inclusion of the Guns 'n' Roses song "You Could be mine" simply because I love Guns 'n' Roses.

This movie is one of the best action movies ever and just one of the best movies in general. I highly recommend this to everyone.

DISCLAIMER: I think that this is one of the few times where the sequel surpasses the original.

The Pianist (2002)

Want to get depressed? Here you go!

[10/10 · 1 December 2014]

This movie is sad. But not in a bad way. If you feel bad after watching this movie, you do have a soul. The awful things the titular character went through are terrible and it makes me feel depressed... in the right way.

The story is incredibly well-crafted and heartbreaking, the acting is superb, the music is fantastic and the sets are fantastically real. There are parts in the story that really make me feel terrible on the inside and that not only means the movie does a good job, but it also shows I have a soul.

This is not a feelgood flick, not by any chance. So this isn't something you want to show your date if you wanna get a little action. This is a beautiful and incredible biography about one of the greatest musicians ever. This definitely gets the seal of approval from me.

Jonah Hex (2010)

Damn it.

[3/10 · 1 December 2014]

I wanted to love this movie, I really did. But it is such a mess that I can barely even find some kind of silver lining in it. I am a huge fan of the character of Jonah Hex, not only because he is a badass cowboy, but I have always found him intriguing whether it'd be in a cartoon or comic. Yet this movie takes the character and just f***s everything up.

Okay, to cut the movie some slack, Josh Brolin does a decent job as Jonah. But the script is so off that he doesn't get to give the perfect Jonah hex performance I thought he would. But overall he is decent. It is also a western which is my favorite overall genre of movies. And while the soundtrack doesn't fit too well, the songs by metal band Mastodon aren't too bad.

Now to the stuff that is bad; EVERYTHING ELSE! I am sorry, but everything in this movie (that wasn't mentioned in the previous paragraph) is complete s***. I can't find anything good in this movie and therefore this movie pisses me off.

I do not recommend this movie. It sucks. Stay away!

Inception (2010)

Bwaaaaah

[10/10 · 1 December 2014]

I am sorry, putting the horn in the title just amuses me.

"Inception" is not only incredibly ambitious and a bit of a gamble but it is also one of the most intelligent movies ever created. But you know what the gambling gave us? One of the most intelligent, visually striking and coolest movies ever made. I love this movie in every way that you could love it. The story is intriguing and well-crafted, the performances are great, the score by Hans Zimmer is unforgettable and the visual effects are tremendous. The ending also leaves A LOT to interpretation, which I adore. The action in this movie is also really well done, especially in the parts where they utilize the different rules and physics of the dream.

"Inception" is a well-crafted masterpiece and is definitely one of my favorite movies. It definitely gets the seal of approval.

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

Surprisingly great

[9/10 · 30 November 2014]

I first watched this little film when I was about 5 or 6 while I was looking through VHS tapes at my grandparents' house. Then suddenly I found a tape that had this movie recorded on it. So I of course watched it. And to honest I loved it when I saw it back then, and I still do. I have always (since I heard about it) loved the classic and even somewhat heartbreaking story about Ebenezer Scrooge. I love this version, I love the Muppets' version, I love the original written story, it is just overall great. As with the majority of Disney animated features, the animation is nothing short of fantastic. Disney have always been ahead of it's time with the fantastic animation they have brought us. I just love this version of the story and I hope everybody will appreciate it as much as I do for years to come.

Fight Club (1999)

How could I not love it?

[10/10 · 17 November 2014]

This movie has everything I want in a movie. An intriguing and original story, great acting, good music, amazing camera work and cinematography and one of the best endings in movie history.

This movie also happens to be one of the (most surprisingly) funniest movies ever made. This movie really test what kind of humor you like. The humor in this movie is incredibly dark and make you doubt if you're a bad person or not... I am a bad person.

David Fincher's direction is so meticulous and amazing that the movie becomes a visual spectacle. The scenes look so dark and excellent that it just enhances the experience.

I know people will call this movie a "Testosterone filled man- movie". Not having any contrast at all. I have to gently disagree. Did you notice any of the homo-erotic undertones. It also got a lot of great philosophy throughout. I am not condoning the actions of badass Tyler Durden. But I see where he's coming from with a lot of stuff.

This movie is a f***ing masterpiece. I love it and it is my favorite movie of all time, not changing my mind now. 10/10.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Hunger Games...

[6/10 · 17 November 2014]

Let's start by mentioning that I don't hate every teen book ever made. I don't even hate every adaptation (Mainly because I haven't seen them yet or read the books). So my expectations for this movie were... nowhere to be found.

This movie is littered with great actors (Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, etc.) who don't get to show their best. I am not saying their performances are bad but they are rather not as good as they could be. This movie also has Lenny Kravitz for whatever reason... that's odd.

The camera work (While not the worst I have seen) is not good. I know you studios want more money and therefore want to keep a PG-13 rating... but don't put the shaky-cam in every f***ing scene. It is annoying and not well done. If you wanted it to be good you should have gotten Paul Greengrass who is a master of shaky-cam usage.

The music is generic (But good).

The story is a blatant rip off of "Battle Royale" (Which I for the record haven't seen but I am familiar with the story). The execution isn't that bad but I would rather call it sloppy than masterful.

Also, what the hell is up with the movie taking like and hour and a half to get to the games themselves? I know you need build-up but the pacing in this movie is so awkward and inconsistent that it annoys me.

And why does every dystopian future thing need crazy hair and clothing... it is getting annoying. And they managed to make Elizabeth Banks unattractive... thanks... ass-hats.

Overall the movie isn't very good but it is at least worth a rental.

Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (2005 Video Game)

Capcom!!!

[9/10 · 30 January 2014]

For you people that misunderstood the title. I am not saying Capcom F'ed up with this...I just wanted to yell because they should go back to making triple A titles like this again. The game follows Dante in his younger years and how he defeated his brother Vergil, stopped the end of the world and how he got the name for his office.

The gameplay is your standard hack n slash with a mix of swords and firearms and the game...holy crap it's difficult. This game is not for the person who wants to breeze through the game. Sure, there are pros out there who probably sees this and thinks "What do you mean difficult?". But for the general person, this game is not easy...yet there are multiple difficulties, even easy is very challenging. but the gameplay is otherwise good.

The graphics are pretty average for 2005 when this came out. They look really neat though.

The soundtrack is a nice mix of orchestrations and metal music. Favorite track for me probably goes to the one and only battle theme for the first part of the game simply called "Taste the Blood".

In general, this game is good, one of Capcoms best. But I do not recommend to people who only want to breeze through it or hates challenges. Otherwise, it is a great game.

Trigun: Badlands Rumble (2010)

The Return of The Stampede

[10/10 · 5 December 2013]

I saw this about a month after finishing the show, and I realized I should have seen it sooner. Badlands Rumble is one of those few cases where the movie that is based on a show is up there with the show itself in quality. The animation keeps a style similar to the one of the original show, but it is updated to todays standards...and I LOVE IT!

Vash is back, Wolfwood's back, the insurance girls are back...even Kuro- Neko-Sama makes a glorious return! In other words, all the good characters are back, as good as ever. Even the new characters like Gasback for example are very good.

And thank you Madhouse for bringing back Tsuneo Imahori to make the soundtrack! I love the original soundtrack so much and was really happy to see his name in the credits again. No one makes Trigun music better than Imahori-Sama, no one!

Trigun: Badlands Rumble is *beep* awesome and feels a lot like one of those episodes that never made it into the show, based on the story and feeling. I just love this movie!

Trigun (1998)

Western, Sci-fi, Action, Comedy...I LOVE IT

[10/10 · 4 December 2013]

This anime is unlike any other. It is a unique example of...something. I don't know how to explain Trigun without going into too many spoilers.

The main story is that this guy, Vash The Stampede, is a guy with 60 billion double dollars on his head. Everyone says that he is the most dangerous and misery creating bandit on the planet called "Gunsmoke" where the show is set. But Vash is no evil man, all he wants is to live according to the phrase "Love & Peace" and eat donuts all day. But of course since this is a show that got action and comedy in it we know that his lifestyle won't hold for too long. I can also mention that the show looks a lot and feels a lot like it is VERY Western like, and that is kind of what gives the show it's charm. I'm also gonna mention that even though he got a big *beep* revolver, he never wants to kill everyone, which makes him sort of a gunslinging, redcoat wearing Batman.

Every character in this show plays their part perfectly and never over- stays their welcome. My favorites on this show though have to be Vash and Wolfwood. They are both excellent in their own right, but the show is even more entertaining when they are in the same general area.

The animation is nothing to brag about these days since it is from 1998, not saying that it is bad by any means, oh no. I quite like the old style of animation that Trigun got. The studio that made it, Madhouse, is these days more known for shows like Death Note and Hellsing Ultimate. But they did a great hob with Trigun, the animation flows perfectly. But one of the major things about this show that should be mentioned is the soundtrack...it is *beep* awesome. Tsuneo Imahori did an amazing job with it. He really captured the feeling of the show and every situation in it perfectly, why haven't he gotten any awards for it I wonder?

So, Trigun is in short...one of the best shows ever. Both in anime and in general. And when I saw that there was a movie after I was done with the show I was over-joyed. Trigun is awesome and should be watched by anime fans and action/sci-fi/western/comedy/drama fans alike. Hell, it should be watched by EVERYONE!

The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

Instant classic

[9/10 · 4 December 2013]

When I saw the trailer on the VHS tapes for other Disney movies I was a bit skeptical. Then at the age of 8 it went on TV and I thought of giving it a chance...and that was a great idea. The story itself is nice and easy enough to follow and had a great dose of great Disney comedy (before Disney went complete *beep* with it's terrible sitcoms). The characters are not just characters, they have great personalities even if Kuzco is a bit of a dick in the beginning. The characters are also excellently voiced.

This movie became an instant classic to me when I saw it even though it is still one of the shorter Disney movies (77 minutes). If you find this for a decent enough price or in a bargain bin, I recommend you to pick it up.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Bone-chilling...in a good way.

[10/10 · 4 December 2013]

Let's just start by saying that this movie is dark. It does not really care about the people watching it, it'll just go on with it's own stuff.

The story of this movie is excellent, honestly fantastic. It kept me on the edge of my seat all the time watching it (even though it is not a thriller, but a drama). The story honestly scared me, and I usually don't get scared by movies. It was even scarier then all horror movies out there. IT's scary because of how realistic it is, the consequences in this movie can happen in real life (DO NOT DO DRUGS, PEOPLE!). The characters are perfectly portrayed in this movie by their respective actors. Fun fact: Jared Leto who played Harry in this movie actually befriended a couple junkies for this movie just so he could get an idea of how the drug problems were...he also lost a lot of weight. And let's not forget that beautiful theme tune that I am surprised didn't get an Oscar for best soundtrack.

Requiem For A Dream is one of the scariest non-horror movies of all time and will to me be one of the greatest movies ever.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Best movie ever (In my humble opinion)

[10/10 · 22 November 2013]

Let's start by mentioning that if Sergio Leone hadn't made the "Dollars Trilogy" as this movie is part of, western movies would have died out, they were on the brink of extinction, so I say that we should pay our respects to the unfortunately passed away Mr. Leone.

Now to the movie. This movie is in my opinion; *beep* amazing. Everything from the acting to the setting to the beautiful score by Ennio Morricone, it is all perfect. The cast does a superb job in this movie, I am especially fond of Clint Eastwood as "Blondie" or as he's more known as throughout the series, "The Man With No Name". And from what I heard, this movie is a prequel to the rest of the series. This is in my opinion, the best movie ever. It is not only because of every good thing in the movie but also because I have a soft spot for westerns, especially older spaghetti westerns. But my favorite thing about this work of art is probably the main theme song that was composed by the amazing Ennio Morricone, it is probably one of the most recognized theme songs ever, I even knew it when I was 10 and I had not even seen the slightest of this movie or even heard of it.

This movie is a masterpiece that will be loved Western fans and Film- buffs alike.

Hope this helped!

Fullmetal Alchemist (2003–2004)

Oh my god!

[10/10 · 12 November 2013]

Two boys lose their mother to an incurable decease. They decide to do the unthinkable taboo; Do a human transmutation to try to bring her back. One of them lose an arm and a leg, the other one loses his entire body. And so begins the journey of Edward and Alphonse Elric, who are on a quest to get their bodies back.

To be honest, I thought at first that I wouldn't really like it before watching it. But I was pleasantly surprised. The show grabbed me on early on and never had any thought of letting go and I never wanted to be dropped. The show contains everything you can want in a great anime/cartoon; Great animation, great story, great soundtrack, great characters, great comedy and amazing drama. The chemistry between the characters is very amazing!

As a person who prefers watching the English dub of an anime I was incredibly happy with it, Vic Mignogna does a great job as Edward and I don't think anyone could have done it better. And I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of Aaron Dismuke as Alphonse, I am no big fan of child actors, but Aaron did an amazing job.

If you're looking for an anime that will leave you laughing 'til your stomach hurts, cry up a bunch of napkins and just amaze you, then Fullmetal Alchemist is for you.

This is honestly my favorite anime and I think anyone (including non- anime fans) will like it!

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005)

A good Final Fantasy movie! (Since the f*** up that was the 1998 movie)

[10/10 · 26 June 2013]

Let me start by saying that, yes, it seems like Square tries to milk the money out of all the FF7 fans by making a movie based on the very successful game. The story is set 2 years after the events of the game and some disease have struck many persons. Cloud (English voice by Steve Burton, excellent) and Tifa (English voice by Rachel Leigh Cook, also excellent)now runs a sort of delivery company, but as expected, they will have to get back into battle after some bad guys attack (English voices by Dave Wittenberg, Fred Tatasciore and Steve Staley, excellent). Sure, the lip-sync isn't the best but the voice acting in general is great and the animation is fantastic! The story doesn't always make sense at some points, but this movie is still amazing! I recommend this movie to anyone who loves either Final Fantasy, animated action movies or just wants a great movie in general. I give it my personal 10 out of 10!