retibar Reviews

Batman Begins (2005)

Not as good as Tim Burton's

[4/10 · 3 August 2005]

First of all, I'm not against this movie. I found it entertaining, it wasn't boring (and that's rare nowadays), but... I can't understand why critics celebrate this so much. It's not gonna be cinema history as Tim Burton's first film, it's not as dark as the first film, and even the plot is not as good as the first films. There are lots of events in this movie copying Batman 1989's scenes. The escape of Rachel, Batman and Rachel in the Batmobile, then in the Batcave, the dialog is almost the same as the first Batman's. Remember Batman and Vicki Vale in those scenes. The music is not so characteristic, like Danny Elfman's was, and the image of Gotham City is not what a fan imagines. Even the actors: Bale is OK, Caine is good, Liam Neeson is the same as the jedi master, but KAtie Holmes is less than a Batman-girl... first of all, blond looks better in dark Gotham, and after beauties like Kim, Michelle or Nicole she looks more like a mouse. I don't like rewriting the story (The Joker is gonna show up again) and summarizing: it's not what we except from a Batman movie. There are no great stars with charisma like Nicholson, Basinger, de Vito, Pfeiffer or good characters like Christopher Walken was, there's no comic feeling, not dark enough, no cool Gotham or Arkham sets, no Cool Bat-music, no blonde beauties, no good villains... Next time, make the movie more BATMANISH!!!

9½ Weeks (1986)

A must-see classic masterpiece

[10/10 · 1 May 2005]

This movie is a must-see classic and one of the greatest blockbusters in the 80s in Europe. Kim Basinger's acting and her striptease is unforgettable - a historical cinema moment. The film has a dramatic depth witch makes it the America's reply for Bertolucci's The Last Tango in Paris. I can't imagine why MGM has not came out yet with a director's cut. It'd be great to watch the harder scenes. They would make the movie even powerful. Unfortunately an American studio in the 80s was not brave enough to make a pharmacological sex drama harder. Nowadays these topics are much more accepted at least in Europe. If you've read Elisabeth McNeill's novel you can imagine what is missing from this movie. It's funny that they call it soft porn in the US. I hope that Adrian Lyne will make his own version on a DVD, this film deserves it. Kim Basinger once told in an interview that this movie was the hardest for her and made her stronger than ever. I can imagine. Painful, sensitive, intelligent with so strong contents... a masterpiece!!!

The Getaway (1994)

One of the 90's best films in the genre!

[9/10 · 1 May 2005]

With this movie it's obvious that not all the remakes are a mess. The Getaway's 1994 version is much better than the Steve McQueen-original witch is not a bad movie at all. But the Getaway 94 is a blood-pumping intelligent hot action film with deep human characters, amazing sex scenes (rare in American movies), real action and a very good plot. Roger Donaldson's directing is the highest grade of action film making. The script is perfect the stars are phenomenal (Alec and Kim in their best form), even the supporting actors are very good: James Woods, Michael Madsen, Jennifer Tilly and Richard Farnsworth. Alec and Kim are the Bonnie & Clyde of the nineties portraying very human criminals, their conflicts are so real in the story... after all it's one of the best films in the genre of the 90s! A must see for every action-thriller fan!

The Marrying Man (1991)

Great Hollywood tale! Funny and erotic!

[8/10 · 1 May 2005]

'The Marrying Man' is one of the most underrated Kim Basinger-movie of them all. I have to admit that it's one of my favorite ones. I'm not a person of romantic comedies, but if there's a real beauty goddess in it (like Kim) who makes the whole plot sexier it's really worth to see it. The film is a typical classic-type Hollywood-movie with the sweaty plot of an operetta. The acting is great, the pictures are so colorful and Kim shines like Rita Hayworth in 'Gilda' when she sings the hit songs of Cole Porter and co. Those people who thinks that these kinds of movies are silly have to understand that people of this world needs these nice tales. It's a very professional kind of entertaining with glamorous stars. Kim is a great singer! 'Let's Do It-Let's Fall in Love'...with her.

The Aviator (2004)

Don't believe good critics, Oscar nominations - keep away from this movie!

[1/10 · 7 March 2005]

First of all, it's true that the Aviator is well directed. The acting is good (ecxept some very big mistakes-like Gwen Stefani), but the film makes you bored and bored and bored. Don't believe Academy Award nominations, this movie is not among the best ones! If you want to see Jude Law or Miss Stefani...they have only some minutes in this film. All the advertisements, Oscar stuff and critics are pure Hollywood lies. The film is so boring and annoying, it gives you more than two very uncomfortable and long hours. I went to see one of the 'best, Oscar nominated' film of the year and then it came. Brrrr.... I honestly advice everyone: KEEP FAR FROM THIS FILM!!!!

Fateless (2005)

A riveting epic hymn for life

[8/10 · 19 February 2005]

'Fateless' was a never-seen blockbuster in Hungary if we can use the term for Hungarian movies. It attracted so many viewers that no Hungarian film has done before and as it's not surprising that a Holocaust-film like this divides the audience. Thousands of readers had fallen in love with Imre Kertész's Nobel-prized novel, and expectations in this case are very high. However this film does NOT have to make any disappointment and opposite to some critics' opinion it holds the same meaning the novel holds. Don't forget that Kertész is the screenwriter too, it is his true story, a man's who went through all these and kept the respect of life so could find happiness after and during this. He agreed this film's value. The movie has some great actors, wonderful pictures and lots of very good, atmospheric scenes with very real memorable characters. The score is extremely beautiful how it's natural if the composer is Ennio Morricone.

There are weaknesses too, of course, some dialogues, mainly in the beginning of the film are not natural (maybe it comes from Kertész's newness in film-writing), it' very disturbing as some weak acting in a few episodes. Marcell Nagy is not a bad choice for the leading role, he has the look and the power in his eyes but in speech he's not convincing, it drops you out of the atmosphere sometimes but it won't bother the not-Hungarian audience.

'Fateless' is an impressive European masterpiece, Hungary should be proud of it.

Cellular (2004)

Great and entertaining!

[8/10 · 24 January 2005]

Being a huge fan of Kim Basinger it was obvious for me to see 'Cellular', an exciting and smart action movie. I can honestly recommend this film to everyone who likes those kinds of movies giving you a couple of nice hours. It has the rare kind of plot with a good tempo, well directed, well written. The strength of it is that it doesn't want to look more than what it is: a quality Hollywood-work with a good sense of humor (rare nowadays). The cast includes excellent actors leading a terrified and fighting Kim (looking very sexy), a very nice and funny William H. Macy, tough-guy Jason Statham, and Chris Evans whose character is a guy you can nymphets with. You can also meet the sexy Jessica Biel and Richard Burgi from the 'Sentinel' TV-series. The movie also has some very hilarious small characters...so if you're curious go and watch it---an awesome entertainment!