MoviesAreEmptyNow Reviews

Crows Are White (2022)

A movie about the dying spirituality of man

[5/10 · 11 June 2023]

My empathy for Nadeem starts with him truly struggling to face his parents, but it ends there as well.

All we see in this documentary is Nadeem's superficial understanding of religion and lack of ability to dwelve into it. He is rightly kicked out of the monastery, for it was not his place. He did not ask the right questions nor could comprehend them, as all he knew was through the negative lens of what not to do.

Nadeem himself says he was made to read the Quran and didn't understand it. All he understood was to eat with his right hand and to pray. In the monastery, all he sees is the monks teaching how to properly eat. With Ryushin (the rebel monk), he sees him drink and asks whether he isn't actually prohibited from doing so.

This makes the Japan trip useless other than meeting Ryushin. I'd rather have seen Rushin's story fully, as his is more of a struggle in understanding and following proper scripture; Nadeem's is one of a hollow man wanting only for religion to stop messing with his life. Through this lens it makes him look rather narcissistic, but I only see him as an ignoramus.

Freaks Out (2021)

Check it if you're bored and got nothing better to do

[6/10 · 26 June 2022]

I don't regret seeing it but would not view a second time. It's a sort of Marvel + Inglorious Basterds, just worse in both aspects. It's a bit long and it didn't make a proper use of one of the most important aspects of the plot - the ability to see into the future. Also, you gain nothing from seeing it , really, apart from learning a few swear words in Italian.

The Northman (2022)

Probably as good as you can get for a Viking themed movie

[10/10 · 7 May 2022]

I'm not writing from a "cinephile" point of view but rather someone who enjoys history, themes of honor and masculinity, the esoteric and authenticity.

You probably won't get better. I've watched and liked Vikings a lot (up until season 5) - their ritual scenes seem child's play compared to this one.

Every ritual is attempted to be made as real and accurate as possible based on the few sources we have. Bear in mind we don't really have sources - just legends and some archeological sites. The music was outstanding and very well fitted into the movie, enhancing everything.

They messed up by placing an Ægishjálmur on a helmet (while Icelandic, it's mostly a medieval-born magical stave, not Viking), but that's really one of the few mishaps. Costumes, armor, weapons, all appear quite accurate for the era it's set in.

My final note is that I'm happy a God other than Odin got a bit of spotlight - the supposed antagonist here praises Freyr, which is called upon as an adversary characteristic by our Odin-centered protagonist. For those unaccustomed, Freyr is a Vanir, part of the Gods that warred against the Æsir and eventually "lost". A nice touch to give the plot a cosmic dimension.

Also, whoever called this film slow needs to slow down on the cocaine - there's barely a moment of peace and quiet throughout it.

Mother! (2017)

Horrible

[1/10 · 3 September 2021]

Overly pretentious just like some of the reviews here giving this 8-10 stars.

1939 (1989)

Meh

[6/10 · 30 April 2021]

Sweden was one of the safest countries during ww2 in Europe after Iceland and Portugal. A movie centered around the life of a woman during said war in Sweden needs a more interesting plot to compensate for the dullness of the events that concerned Sweden in that time.

That plot never happened. It's simply a story about a young woman and some sad realities of life that could have happened regardless of whether or not a war was ongoing

As a sort of documentary this would have been a 9, but they tried to make it a movie. 3h long as well. Not worth your time if you don't at least enjoy modern history.