mhi Reviews

Onegin (1999)

Indeed masterly.

[8/10 · 10 October 2000]

Strong and excellent performance by Ralph Fiennes (whom I haven't actually ever been a fan of - The Avengers and the English Patient didn't really help). His portrayal of a hard hearted man who only softens after killing who was perhaps his best friend to date in duel comes across exceptionally well and has gotten the better of me. Liv Tyler as the non-conforming country girl turned leading lady of the russian aristocracy and enchanting Onegin (Fiennes) regardless of her standing is simply breathtaking.

The music by Magnus Fiennes is perfectly matched to the sometimes startling, sometimes playfully lively, sometimes thoughtful, seldom serene scenes born of Martha Fiennes direction. The scenes and cuts are arranged so well and here and there are so surprising that they are a pure and constant pleasure to watch. (I must add that I have not yet read the poem.)

The Fiennes Clan has put up a masterly performance that has yielded a masterly film. I will certainly be curious as to their next joint project.

The Matrix (1999)

Excellent on (almost) all points

[10/10 · 15 September 2000]

One of the most intriguing movies of the past few years, both visually and thematically. This one had me recalling scenes and what ifs for days, which not many films do.

I've been a fan of Fishburne's ever since I noticed his top notch performance in Boyz N the Hood (1991). Here he is once again in excellent form. Moss gives a startling performance of her own, while stepping back in favor of Fishburne here and there. With all she does, she could have easily passed for the ONE herself, but the script obviously intended otherwise. Most of the rest of the inner-spaceship's crew get developed just enough for you to be surprised at who ultimately makes it and who doesn't. Reeves is credible in his part whether it be in his knowledge or belief of the Matrix or in his relation and untrust of the rebels. Even his playing with the Matrix comes across nicely and - surprise - fittingly. The bad guys are like a hibred of the Johnsons from the original Die Hard, the boys from MIB and a bit of Max Headroom - hilarious!

The camerawork, CGIs and SFX are excellently done and choreographed and the plot with its different - at times almost confusing - levels is very well brought across with just the right mix of fast-paced action and time left to explain and reflect upon the new and disturbing developments.

Is reality real? Is it imagination? Is imagination preferable to reality? Where do we practise escapism in real life? What is real life? Is it all a matter of character? Of rebellious nature? Who are we rebelling against? Is the enemy inside?

This film poses highly philosophic/religious questions on end and makes Reeves out to be the - at first reluctant - saviour of humankind while leaving a lot of other questions unanswered. While that answer of 'self-confidence will get you anywhere' definitely doesn't go conform with biblical content (Neo/the One is an obviously intended parallel to the One promised saviour of the Bible - Jesus Christ) Matrix remains nonetheless an excellent high-end Hollywood production worthy of all the laurels it has already received for being just that.

BTW: I cannot for the life of me imagine what Matrix 2 and 3 are going to be about. I considered the book closed with that spectacular ending...

Käpt'n Blaubär - Der Film (1999)

Fun. Nothing special though.

[7/10 · 14 September 2000]

A fun movie for a saturday afternoon. Suitably for both children and adults, though the humor seems somewhat too unidimensional. The Käpt'n Blaubär book is praised as pretty good reading with some deep thoughts (I haven't read it so far), but it doesn't seem to have too much in common with the film in that respect. Probably like comparing the Dilbert Principle with the comic strip.

The characters are known from TV but are much more developed there than in the movie. To me it seems like nothing more than a money-making scam riding on the popularity of the TV-show and the book.

Wild Wild West (1999)

Painful with a really bad aftertaste

[1/10 · 14 September 2000]

There have been remakes of really good movies or series that either are a viable continuation of a good thing or are good in their own right. This, however, is neither. This film is a slap in the face of anyone who goes to see it on account of its association with the Wild, Wild West series from the sixties.

I'm not anti-Will Smith. On the contrary, I really enjoyed both MIB and ID4; but the guy is entirely out of place here. The jokes are lame, the one-liners sick. Even the effects and plot are not what you would expect. There is no chemistry between the characters.

As this movie neither picks up well on anything the series had, nor has any real charisma of its own it leaves you wondering how anyone could have the gall to use Jim West's name for such a plain pain.

If you haven't seen this film yet, try to keep it that way... Try to catch a rerun of the series instead - you'll be happier.

1/10

Mission: Impossible II (2000)

GoodMovie: Impossible II

[5/10 · 14 September 2000]

The mission this time is not all that impossible. The fights, acting, masks, plot and other 'stunts' however are. It all wouldn't be so bad if this whole movie didn't take itself so seriously, but as it does it defeats itself and is reduced to a laughingstock.

None of gadgets are really original, perhaps with the exception of the voice-altering foil (unless I missed that somewhere else). The trademark pigeons outnumber the actors and seem to get in the way. The CGIs have all been seen before and so has the stunt action. Okay, so I've never seen two cars lock up and spin like that - well, I'm not surprised. There aren't many films I'd expect to see a stunt with such low credibility in while taken so darn seriously.

The very last fight scene almost had me in tears laughing, it was just so predictable and endless. But actually I don't think it was meant to be funny. Just like the rest of the film. Sad, really...

The Avengers (1998)

Not quite up to expectations

[3/10 · 14 September 2000]

Admittedly I never did see the original series, but I can't imagine it having been this uncreative. Seemed to me like they tried to put too many things about the main characters into too little showtime, creating all sorts of strange plot holes. Also more than once the gadgets and FX look out of place - using decidedly low-tech giant beach balls to walk across the Thames doesn't really strike me as fitting here.

The preview actually had some better scenes and cuts in it than the movie. I for one felt cheated.

Delicatessen (1991)

Love for detail shows at every turn

[10/10 · 14 September 2000]

Jeunet & Caro have created a masterpiece. While certainly this film will not be everyone's cup of tea, I cannot recall anyone I know seeing it and not being delighted. No other movie I've seen so far could top this one for its combination of wittiness, dark humor, love for detail and collection of regular people holding a mirror up to each and everyone of us, showing us how strange we really are.

Indeed this movie will not be constrained by a classification as romance, comedy or science fiction or horror. It is much more than the sum of these - it is a work of art and the painstaking work and love for detail which Jeunet & Caro have put into it show everywhere you look.

This movie is definitely off-beat and I definitely love it!

The Wild Wild West (1965–1969)

The 007 of the Old West

[14 September 2000]

I used to watch the reruns of this show as a teenager. That was in the early eighties when shows like Knight Rider and Airwolf were new and hip and yes, those were on my menu, too. But Jim and Artemus had something that set them apart and made other shows pale in comparison with The Wild, Wild West. They really had style and wit. This secret agent series in my eyes often even tops more than one of the good old 60's and 70's Bond movies. Still love to see those reruns whenever I get a chance...

By the way: If you like the series, DON'T go see the movie (1999) or you'll most probably run out screaming.

Pi (1998)

As a boring movie, Pi takes the cake

[4/10 · 11 September 2000]

For an indie movie Pi has good acting and camerawork. That much I enjoyed. The storyline however is boring beyond belief. It had me on the edge of my seat for a good part of the film not for suspense but for trying not to fall asleep. The black and white cinematography did make for a few scenes with an air of that conspiracy feeling, but an uninteresting plot can only be stretched so far.

Practical Magic (1998)

light, enjoyable entertainment

[7/10 · 11 September 2000]

While this is definitely not the best movie ever produced I did enjoy it very much for its humor, sound track and excellent performances by all of the magical ladies. (I still can't believe I'd be able to include Sandra Bullock in a statement to that effect...) On the musical side I found Faith Hill's "This Kiss" kinda breathtaking - and immediately bought the single.

Commando (1985)

Just plain fun to watch

[7/10 · 11 September 2000]

Ah, those were the days when Arnie uttered fewer sentences during a movie than the number of people he killed single-handedly. I best liked the one-liner "I let him go." Of course it's all completely predictable. Of course it's continuous slaughter from beginning to end. This movie is after all the prototype of what you would expect of a mid-80s Arnie flick. This is NOT "The Last Action Hero"! Love it!