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Freaks - Du bist eine von uns (2020)
The film shows that with certain powers there comes a responsibility with it.
Two people find out that they have special powers after being informed by a third that the pills they have been swallowing all their lives suppress such extraordinary abilities whichmakes them everyday normal. Well as they stop taking the pills, they realize that they can deal with issues through physical means instead of being helpless. Unfortunately this film displays the dark side of one of the characters and several things go wrong throughout the plot.
Wild West Chronicles (2020)
It's fun to learn about our Wild West
With all the political turmoil going on out there it's a pleasure watching
a bit of American history. The stories are harmless and informative.
I do hope they will continue.
The birth and forming of the United States has such a rich content of events that this program can continue for a long time.
I still watch Death Valley days occasionally and it's always refreshing to see and hear about our fight for the common man and his survival in a hostile environment.
Unknown (2011)
It's an action thriller
We went in apprehensive because the first review gave it 1 star. First let me say that this was a good action thriller in the same way Die-hard was made. Instead of American car crashes the Germans were behind these this time and they were quite good too. The main character lands with his wife in Berlin to attend a conference and when a attaché case is forgotten, he quickly runs back to get to the airport to retrieve it. Unfortunately this is were things go wrong because a crash in his taxi makes him end up in a nearby river unconscious. When he wakes up in a hospital without identification or memory; things go array. Diane Kruger portraits a role similar to Franka Potente in the 'Bourne Identity'. She's an asset to the hero and helps him along the way of finding his identity. There are bad guys in this too and the meshing of their evil deeds with our hero trying to stay alive keeps one on the edge of the seat. We weren't bored during the film that's for sure. Several people here commented on other movies that contained similar plots yet believe me this movie can stand on its own. Like the Fugitive the main character goes through different episodes and just gets out of a dilemma in time. The film was made in Berlin and it shows nothing but a dreary city during the winter months and that certainly set the mood. If anyone believes that graffiti is an American product, they will quickly realize that Berlin is saturated with such horrible art too. I suppose all big cities suffer from this. The characters all play their roles well and that's what counts too. It's difficult writing about such a subject without giving too much away. The bottom line is that this film has not failed on sheer entertainment and that is... what it is all about. Yes, it's unrealistic yet what isn't these days when characters must navigate through ordeals and come out of them unscathed. Hey, it's not Eat, Pray..Love, okay... So I say take your popcorn (skip the butter) and enjoy a wild ride through Berlin.
Under New Management (2009)
A surprising little gem
This new film intrigued us for we were not familiar with the actors, yet the plot looked interesting and in addition a 2009 movie shown the same year usually does not bode well and... I was plain curious what this was all about. There was a limited information on the film to begin on IMDb as if it was just completed days ago. The story is about the mob in Brooklyn and their need to convert to legitimacy to remain alive. When the big boss wants to retire and realizes that the old ways are over and that he is too old, he calls on his wall street well informed nephew to save the business albeit legally. The nephew never being part of the mob scene however ends up swearing to his uncle that he will be the new boss and that the old style gangster business will disappear and all the wise guys will learn the "honest" business of real estate. There is also the standard boy meets girl story here, where the girl is working for the FBI and her whole purpose is to get these gangsters and put them away. This leads to some interesting circumstances when she must deal with the nephew and he with her. First of all I am very delighted with director's work because there is no part of the movie where I would say that this is dumb or what were they thinking? The camera frequently shows Roebling's masterwork, the Brooklyn bridge- several times from a distance in it's full majesty. Considering how old it is and that it still is a vital part of the city's transportation amazes me. The film is shot all around the greater part of Brooklyn as far as I can interpret and the camera angles and scenes were impressive to say the least. We watched this film in High Definition on a large screen and fully appreciated that. The lighting on every scene was done well and the picture was crispy sharp. When the plot is good and the photography is too, one is on the way to a good film. The actors were mostly unknowns yet they didn't fail in their performance and the acting of all, was second to none!. Perhaps salary money was saved this way and channeled in other directions. There was little depth to the characters, yet one could still feel and root for them. The musical score was splendid and certain parts were very moving. I wondered several times who could possibly have composed this score? Everything blended well together with the story and with the addition of older standards, with known singers through out the film supplemented the composer's own work nicely. However I could not locate the composer's name, only his assistant was named..and a sound track is not available yet. Yes... the movie plot is predictable- yet that is fine with me because after it was over, I felt good and concluded that I had not wasted my time- as I had in watching other films, always hoping for something good. There are no review stars displayed as of yet and I seem to be the first. I trust my enthusiasm won't disappoint others when they watch it. There is language used here- so that must be mentioned. I watch a movie to escape from reality for a few hours and this movie did not fail.
District 9 (2009)
Sure it's a SciFi film, yet it has little in common with the typical movie we are used to,
After reading favorable reviews I dragged my wife to the nearest movie theater for the 2nd day of introduction. Well... this movie started out as a documentary with shaky hand-held cameras and then takes off in a complete other direction. It starts with the main star Wikus having been selected by his father in law to head the group that is to relocate aliens that landed in the area about 20 years before and are now undesirable and must be forced to move away. Wikus is a by the book type of person and does his best to retain his composure as the man that does the job. He is accompanied by men with guns that are to enforce and protect him from any aliens that don't behave. Wikus comes across as a nice guy, a bit naive and somewhat dorky and certainly not a hunk. As the movie progresses we are shown how the confined aliens are mistreated by the humans. It somewhat parallels the treating of the black citizens by whites years before and that is not well. Wikus gets into deeper trouble with the aliens and then his own people throughout the film and without divulging the plot suffice it to say he's got his Hand full. I don't know how he understood the weird gibberish the aliens uttered, but without his perception and interpretation,the movie could not function as it did. The aliens are really nothing we can identify with as humans. Let's say they are every bit as handsome as the Predator character, once he removed his mask. I do not recommend eating shrimps during this movie. As a matter of fact it reminds me of Gallagher, the physical comedian, where fruits and vegetables flew towards the audience during the show,...here we have other parts flying. I never understood how the aliens built what they had, because with their claw hands they couldn't even hold a cigarette. The film is certainly fast paced and keeps one entertained throughout. The sound and stereo is phenomenal and in our theater it was somewhat loud, yet that depends were one attends. The graphics are realistic and that gives credibility to the whole genre. The actor that portrays Wikus is in almost every scene and carries the movie. His performance in my humble opinions deserves recognition. As for the other actors I can't identify them - for they are unknowns... at least here in the US and that eliminates any distractions. For a budget of $30 million it is quite a film. I recommend seeing this for any and all that appreciate a good Sfi-Fi film with the exception of younger children because of them being exposed to the excessive violence.
Flowers in the Attic (1987)
Have drink before you watch this...not my kind of movie
Never read the book and now that I'm in the middle of the film I felt that I had to put my 2 cents in. Everyone seems to knock the film and I understand why. It seems all the characters are wimps...that is the bottom line here, except for the grandmother who seems to carry her twisted ways out well. The servant and caretaker have no dimensions and are just tools to help throughout the movie. The oldest son after many months finally concludes that they should leave...duh... The mother is mostly out of most scenes and pops in every now and she is then unconcerned about the children's pleas and their ragged looks. What's a mother to do...? I haven't seen the ending yet and the movie gets weirder and weirder. At this time I can say that the movie can be enjoyed... if one will put up with the lack of backbones,brains and the greed for an inheritance