filipkowalik Reviews

Ben 10: Alien Force (2008–2010)

A big downgrade from the original

[5/10 · 7 September 2022]

A big downgrade from the original

This version of ben 10 loses most of the charm it had by adding countless aliens to ben's repertoire. I feel like the authors have overdone it. In the original ben 10 every alien usage felt special and felt like it was adapted to the situation. Every time ben gained a new alien it felt like a milestone that would change the series forever. In this version because there are so many aliens no transformation feels unique or special. The one positive for the series that I can point out is that the side characters feel actually pretty solid. And some of them evolve as the show goes on.

The Lighthouse (I) (2019)

An acting masterclass, but nothing more

[6/10 · 6 September 2022]

The lighthouse is a unique experience that I think will be hit or miss with most people. I personally lie somewhere in the middle. It tells the story of 2 lighthouse keepers that have to live with each other for long months. The main purpose of the movie is to show us the descent into madness of those 2 people. I must say that I didn't feel like the process of them losing sanity was progressive enough. I felt like they became insane too quickly. Therefore, there were long stretches of the movie where I felt like the story wasn't moving forward almost at all. This boredom, which I resented throughout most of the movie is somewhat compensated by the absolute acting masterclass that is Robert Pattinson's and Willem Dafoe's acting. I was truly shocked when I learned that they weren't nominated for the Oscars for this movie. Not only are they great on an individual level but their synergy as a duo was quite impressive. And that is why, despite it being a boring film in my opinion, you should still watch this movie. This Dafoe Pattinson duo is something that you should experience at least once.

Love Actually (2003)

A benchmark for all comedy and christmas movies

[9/10 · 6 September 2022]

Love Actually is an almost perfect comedy. It tells many different stories simultaneously and every single one of them is engaging and funny. Because of the multiple plots the spectator doesn't have time to get bored. The different scenarios are quite diverse and depict people of different ages, cultures, wealth. Therefore, there is a high likelihood that the spectator finds at least one of the stories relatable. Every character goes through ups and downs but the movie rewards us with a feel-good ending, which makes it a perfect Christmas and family movie. I truly believe that love actually is a benchmark for all comedies and Christmas movies out there.

No Time to Die (2021)

Great relationship and action scenes ruined by primary school-level writing

[6/10 · 6 September 2022]

After an excellent Skyfall and a decent Spectre I had pretty high expectations for this movie. First of all I think that the cast choice of lea seydoux was a hit. Her cold acting conveys very well the sad tone of the movie. The "new 007" that caused uproar before the release of the movie is introduced well and doesn't take over the movie nor hurts the legacy of Daniel Craig's Bond. Action scenes (especially the first one) are quite satisfying to watch and sometimes go beyond just simple shooting. Unfortunately the great action scenes and a very compelling love story between Daniel Craig and Lea Seydoux (the best love story of the Daniel Craig bond saga imo) were ruined by an awful script. There is no structure. They go from one place in the world to another in seconds. It doesn't make much sense. The villain is hiding on a remote island and is manufacturing a virus he will then send to the rest of the world. This kind of script is what is being written during lunch breaks in primary school. Truly disappointing but by no means terrible.

Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)

Entertaining but with a lot of flaws

[6/10 · 16 March 2022]

Before jumping into the review, I just want to say that I have not read the manga. I have only watched the Jujutsu Kaisen anime, which I loved.

CHARACTERS: The movie brings back most of our beloved characters from the show, like Gojo the panda or Nanami. They obviously remain very likeable characters and are one of the main strength of the movie.

However, I was greatly disappointed by the newly introduced Yuuta, who is the main character. He is a failed mixture between a depressed teen who can't face reality and blames himself for everything (Ikari Shinji) and an overpowered guy that will do anything to protect his friends (Ken Kaneki). In consequence, we get a watered-down version of Ikari Shinji with a sword and an angry girlfriend. Déjà vu

VOICE ACTING: It was great. I have nothing negative to say about it. Megumi did a great job of portraying his character.

ACTION SCENES: Crisp combat scenes are by far the biggest strength of the movie. Not only are they greatly animated, but we get to see a great variety of characters fight each other. Therefore, combat never gets stale in the movie. It's amazing, even by mappa's standards.

STORY AND WRITING: Unfortunately, I think that we can barely even speak of a story. The movie is completely void of structure. It is a succession of random scenes, and at one point the bad guy just comes to declare war on everyone. There is no scenario.

VISUAL AND AUDIO: The animation is simply identical to the anime. You like it or you don't. Personally, I thought that the soundtrack was very forgettable, and I couldn't name a single song. Whereas the show had some unique and memorable tracks like "Your Battle Is My Battle" or "Hollow Purple"

CONCLUSION: Despite its numerous flaws, the incredible fighting scenes and loveable characters manage to keep the movie entertaining. However, I wouldn't recommend it to non-jujustu kaisen fans.