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reddragon1110
Reviews
Zus & zo (2001)
Boring and boring .
I love foreign cinema; in fact, most of my favorite films are not in English. And I consider European cinema to be better, to be simply art. Therefore, I saw this film. I have seen some great films, but this is simply boring and in some parts tasteless. This film is original, it is good, but you end up sleeping. I was not expecting to watch some huge blockbuster, I was aware that this was a slow and pacific film. In fact, I have watched slow films, and actually loved them (Los in translation, Talk to her, Dogville, All about my mother) and this film is simply tasteless. It seems to be washed down, the performances where not very good. I can't believe films such as 'Los lunes al sol', didn't get a nomination, because of this film. The same thing happened at this year with TWIN SISTERS getting nominated. It was slooooooow, boring and the typical Jewish film. Don't expect to watch a masterpiece; in fact you loose your time with this film
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The Stepford Wives (2004)
The Stepford Disaster
This is probably one of the weirdest films ever1. I went and saw this film a few days ago. The first half of the film is quite enjoyable (not great), Nicole performance is quite lame, but Bette Midler's performance is ironical, funny and basically very good. But the last half of the film is soooo bad. Its contradicting, incoherent and absolutely confusing. I just can't believe how several great stars (Glen Close, Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Christopher Walken) accepted to start in this rubbish.- Just the ending ruins the film. 4.26/10.00 reddragon1110
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Oh my GOD ¿?!!!!!
I must say, I am not a big fan of the HARRY POTTER saga, but I must say there y are good books, specially for kids about 10. Cuarón is a great director, and I thought he could improve the movie (compared to the previous films). Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban is definitely different compared to the previous films. In positive factors, this film performances are better (but still can satisfy my expectations), the scenery is better, but Cuaron's desire to change everything and brake Rollwin's traditional books is quite daring. Harry Potter and the sorceress's stone and Harry potter and the chamber of secrets are literal adaptations of the books (which are quite bad, boring and lame) some of the plot in the film is shattered by Cuaron's idea to do some changes. The 3 main actors look to old to be playing 13-year-old teens (Except Hermione). Gary Oldman's performance was insufficient and lame. The visual effects are quite bad compared to other features such as the Lord of the Rings and The perfect Storm. The costumes are not loyal to the book, and in my opinion, the changes of setting was very good. I was glad to find some references to Mexico. When at Hogsmade, Harry enters the sweet shop, you can see some colourful and attractive sugar `calacas' skeletons (Which are traditionally used in Mexico at Dia de Muertos, Mexican celebration of Halloween). I am definitely not watching the fourth one. 5.32/10.00
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
Charming, emotional and fabulous
This is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Filled with emotive, beauty, colour, flavor, harmony and magic, this is one of the best films ever. Original, soft, happy, emotional and sweet, Amelie is the story of a young girl named Amelie. Her life is dramatically changes when she finds a toy box. She fined who is the owner, and magically gives it to him. The owner's life is changed and becomes happy and decides to change the course of his life. Amelie, happy of helping that man, decides to help humanity re-gain happiness and joy. Unfortunately she'll fall in love in the process. This masterpiece is smartly decorated with beautiful sets, unbelievable cinematography (which portraits Paris, one of the most beautiful cities), charming music and original and sharp dialogues. This film is smart: perfect. This film makes you think about life. Unlikely films such as Requiem for a dream, this film talks about humanity but in a nice, soft and tranquil way filled and decorated with beauty. This film proves ho the best cinema comes from Europe, and how it is important to watch different types of cinema. This film is on my top 10 list, and it's a must see: 10.00/10.00
Chicago (2002)
Razzle Dazzle Musical
Chicago id based on the Broadway Hit `Chicago' starting Renée Zelweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah and Christine Branski, Chicago became the 2003 award winning film at the Oscars.
Chicago is a good film, but it is not definitely the best of the year. Chicago is the story of aspiring actress/singer Roxie Hart, who idolizes Velma Kelly (cabaret singer), who kills his lover in a night of passion, ends up at jail. There she'll meet Velma, who has killed his husband and sister. At jail she meets Mama Morton, and a successful lawyer Billy Flynn, who has never lost a case. The story intercalates musical numbers (Roxie's fantasies) and reality. With some outstanding cinematography, some extraordinary edition and fabulous sets filled with contrasting colours and glitter. The story also uses a great variety of costumes, from dark and sober (reality, the streets) to colourful, crazy costumes used at the musical numbers. Renée's performance as an aspiring actress is very good, she shows she can actually act and sing. Queen Latifah is surprising; John C Reilly is great as Roxie's looser husband. Richard Gere is completely annoying; he is such a bad singer and a bad actor. Catherine is fine, very sexy, but definitely not the best performance of the movie. The movie's main flaws, is that the story is not that rich, the film is quite slow, and its one of those films that the first time you watch it it's very good, the second boring and slow, and the third completely bad. Considering the other best picture nominees: Gangs of New York, The Hours, The Pianist and The lord of the rings, this film is definitely not worth and Oscar. The other four stories (well maybe not gangs of New York) are so rich in story (script) so rich in other aspects that this is defiantly one of the most unfair Oscar winners. 7.12/10.00
The Hours (2002)
Melancholic beauty.
3 women, 3 different times, 3 different stories, one film. Nicole Kidman plays Virginia Wolf while writing Mrs. Dalloway, and how her life is filled with melancholy, loneliness and suppression. Julianne Moore plays Laura Brown, a woman living if the 50's who is reading the book and has with a life so depressing, (even though she has everything, and last but not least Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep) a woman leaving in the actuality, preparing a party for her friend, a poet (brilliant ed Harris) dying with AIDS. Those three stories deal with suicide, love, sexuality, sadness and loneliness. A melancholic story based on the novel by Michael Cunningham and directed by Stephen Daldry, this film is exquisite. It's a slow, melancholic film, reflective, with great performance (probably the best is Julianne Moore), exquisite music and a great script (adapted). I found this piece to be a reflective story about life, and what is behind loneliness, sadness and happiness. This acclaimed piece of art got 9-academy award nomination. I at lest deserved Best actress (Nicole Kidman), Best actress in a supporting role (Julianne Moore) and best-adapted screenplay. 9.12/10.00
From Hell (2001)
Brilliant horror movie!!!
I finished reading a novel about Jack the ripper a few weeks ago, and I decided that this film could be a good complement for my investigation (and for personal reasons). I found this to be a very good movie. Despite I found the acting quite lame, I must say I loved the rest. The screenplay is good, even though it is not accurate, the sets and costumes really good, but what really stands out abut this film is definitely the dark and wacky cinematography and the amazing edition. This film is very good, as it presents another hypothesis about who was indeed Jack the reaper.
***SOME SPOILERS AHEAD.*** With Johnny Depp and Heather Grahm, this film narrates the story of a detective (Depp) that is after the serial killing and is trying to catch the responsible (Jack the ripper). He ten meets with a prostitute (Grahm), which is trying to survive with her friends a life of prostitution, with two main dangers, Jack the ripper is on the loose, and she is being chased by an angry pimp. Together they track ad investigate the story of the British royalty, finding out, it is corrupt and it hides many secrets. Even though this film is not great, it is very good. Being drama and horror (gore) movie, this film is definitely good. 8.26/10.00
Frida (2002)
Frida's beautiful mind
Frida is another film about a famous artist. Frida is a biographical film about Frida and its work, including his unfaithful husband Diego Rivera, his bisexual relationships and his ideals and thoughts. Starting Salma Hayeck, Alfred Molina, Ashley Judd, Geoffrey Rush, Edward Norton, Mía maestro, and other more, this film has gotten varied reviews. In my opinion, this movie wasn't bad, but it didn't satisfied me. Salma Hayeck starts as Frida. Her performance is good, but not for an Oscar. Additionally, she is to pretty for the job (Frida has ugly) and her acting is inconsistent (some times good, some times bad). Molina's performance as woman-lover Diego Rivera is pretty good, its probably his best performance. This film features some unbelievable and amazing costume design (fantastic), extremely good sets and art direction (perfect in my opinion) and some pretty good details, which made this film quite original (the scene with the paper Mache skeletons when Frida gets hurt, or the crazy `collage' with Mexican touches featuring New York). Also deserve honorable mentions are the use of photography, edition, and specially: make up. Probably the best thing of the film is the exquisite music by Elliot Goldenthal, featuring a mixture of traditional Mexican music, pre-Hispanic music and Spanish music. But this film has also very important defects, which nearly ruin this film. The first thing is featuring Mexican and Spanish-talking actors in English, that defiantly ruined part of the beauty of the film (Salma's accent), and while featuring beautiful sets and Mexican stages, it actually looks bad. Another flaw (and probably the most important) is that is didn't focus on the magical and tragic world Frida was living. She had many ideals, and they are hardly mentioned. Also, they feature Frida's life with Diego quite harsh, but it was worse. Frida's life was incredibly dark and fulfilled with tragedy, and that didn't work for me. Also, Salma's physique ruined the magic surrounding Frida. She was a very ugly woman but with a certain charm (the contrary of Salma).
As said before, this isn't bad film, if you like art, its good experience (sets, costume, music, Mexican culture) but if you are expecting a flawless masterpiece, I'd rather recommend `Talk to her' 7.569/10.00
Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)
A piece of art.
This is definitely a piece of art. The film narrates the story of Griet, a peasant girl, which goes to work at Vermeers house as a servant. There she meets a variety of characters completely different to what she's used to. Great film, with a soft and nice performance by Johansen, a dark and excellent by Firth and an outstanding cast. This film contains one of the best cinematography's ever made, a magnificent use of costumes, design with an extraordinary elegance, and a fantastic realistic set design. The script is nice, the film is quite slow, but this is definitely one of the best and most "physicaly" beautiful films ever.
Reddragon1110
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Tremendous, disgusting, but extremly brilliant. The best of 2000
This is definitelly one of the best films I have ever seen. Dramatic, realistic, disgusting and extremely dark, this masterpiece by one of the best directors ever, is definitelly worth watching. This is no typical, Last samurai, Troy blockbuster, this is a very good realistic independent film about 4 lives linked together which are trapped in an endless spiral of drugs. Ellen Burstlyn proves she is one of the best actresses, whith a performance so realistic and deep, they should have given her 3 Oscars for that performance. She is so good and so perfect on that film, she kicked Julia Roberts' butt ( shame on the Oscars, for giving Roberts the Oscar). The screenplay is magnificent (deserved an Oscar), the direction one of the best I have ever seen, the cinematography, edition and the use of music are also brilliant, so perfect the viewer feels like he is in there. Leto's performance is great, Jennifer Conelly is unbelievable, she is really good, the music, edition and cinematography are outstanding. This film is really disgusting, you end up feeling really bad, sad and desperate. A MUST SEE film, this film is perfect, one of those films that really make you think after you have watched, and need to watch it about 3 times more to get it over with. Unbelievable. 10.00/10.00
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Over rated.
The Pirates of the Caribbean the curse of the black pearl, is a very good film. Everything in this film is quite outstanding, but lets face it, people are starting to get over obsessed with this film and calling it "The best". I don't think it deserves to be in the TOP 250, and in a better number than IN America, Henry the Va and 21 Grams. Johnny Depp's performance is very good, funny and realistic, however, it didn't deserved an Oscar nomination. The OSCARS should pick the best performances for the nomination, but Johnny's performance was not that great. Great visuals, a nice interesting story, good performances, good make up, but it is still and will be another blockbuster film. 7.56/100
Van Helsing (2004)
Dark, very dark.
Van Helsing was one of the biggest blockbusters in the 2004. A very dark film, featuring vampires werewolves, monsters and other creatures from the European literature and mythology. I was disapointed by this film. The settings looked completly aritfitial, the monsters looked totally fake, the make up and the cinematography where very good, Hugh's performance sucked and this is actually evidenced of his lack of talent. Kate was better, but still her performance was very bad. But the main flaw of this film is the bloody script. Dracula is probably one of the riches myths, and novels from Europe, filled with symbolism, and mainly is about an "anti-Christ" that is immortal, and that he lives drinking blood. Filled with dark and religious symbolism is one of the best myths ever. Frankesnstain is contrast it a story, (By Mary Shelly) about playing god, about turning dead to live, about resurection (artifitial). Together those three stories make a lame , stupid film, with great visual effects, but stupid.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
KILL BILL ROCKS!!!
When I first saw the trailer, I thought this movie was going to be the typical "Jackie Chan" rubbish movie. I went with a friend and saw it and I loved it. This is a very particular type of film. This is a very good film, not in the scene of amazing masterpieces such as Requiem for a dream, a clockwork orange, In America, Lost in Trnaslation. This film is completly different. This film is charged with unrealistic battle scenes, gallons of fake blood, and lots more. But this is a very good cult film, an anthology which colects all those martial arts moves and join them to create this. The photography again is outstanding, the character design and development is amazing, (O-ren Ihii (fantastic) Elle Driver). Quentin and Uma create characters so deep, such as Luci Lu's character, dark, evil, but at the same time calm and always full of rage. Elle driver is a bit more trashy, more rude, and the scene in the hospital is very memorable. This is a must see film. 9.35/10.00
Thirteen (2003)
Oh my god...
I have just seen thirteen at school (social studies class) and I am spellbound. This is a very good film, realistic, well acted (Holly Hunter is great) and Evan Rachel wood is very good. Even if the filming is quite weird, it gives it a little something, so finally you end up loving it. The script is very good, realistic, nice acting and and a very good film. This is a realistic flick that shown what is going on with the world's youth. Nicky Reed is a very good actress. Holly Hunter deserved that nomination ,even though her performance is not compared to her work in "The Piano" or "Broadcast news" I'm 17, and I must say this is a very good film. 8.65/10
reddragon1110
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)
What the hell...
I have always considered Woody Allen to be a good director, (Annie Hall was a simply unbelievable) and I have just seen "The curse of the jade Scorpion". This film is stupid, boring, with a bad script, the acting was so bad, and the film's ending was quite predictable. I'm sorry, but Woody's work is getting worst with time. Thinking he once made pieces of art such as Annie Hall and now is doing rubbish, in films such as this one, Mighty Aphrodite and Hollywood ending. Charlese is good in this film, some of the scenes are quite funny, but the truth is that the film is totally unaccurate (Historically) and stupid. I hope Woody Allen's next film is much better. 6.32/10.00.
reddragon1110
Cold Mountain (2003)
epic love storey
With all the oscar buzz, I went and saw this film. I read the book about 3 years ago, and I found the book to be the typical love story, and so I went adn saw it and I was so disapointed. Nicole Kidman is a good actress, but the role of Ada wasen't good. She looks like a princess in the civil war, with soft hair and make-up. I just can't belive Jude Law got a nomination. Renee was good, but it is not her best role. In my opinion Shoheren (spelling) did a better job. The music was very nice, "Scarlet tide" was a great song (deserved oscar), both, the cinematography and edition is very good (should have won CIDADE DE DEUS- city of god). This film is quite slow, boring, and typical. Not big deal. 6.45/10.00
Finding Nemo (2003)
Fishy fish
SPOILERS
Besides Monster's INC, and Spirited away, this is probably the best animated film. It has a beautiful, reflective story, sn amazing musical score, good character developement, brilliant atractive colours and the backgrounds (coral reefs, the dentist's office, the boat) are unbelievable. The characters are nice, funny and have varied personalities. This is a story about parenthood, about taking care of you sons, without being obsesive, and also a reflective story about how life is such a big afdventure!!! The character of Dory is exelent, Marlin is Fantastic, and my personal favourite characters are BRUCE and JAQUES.
In America (2002)
A beautiful and emotional masterpiece
Warning SPOILERS ahead!
I first saw this film after it got its nomination for actress in a leading role, actor in a supporting role and best original screenplay. To be honest I wasn't interested on the film, until it got the nominations, so I went and saw it. I must say, it is probably one of the most beautiful, emotional, affectionate and amazing films I have ever seen. The script is passionate, touching, magnificent and simply ravishing. This film starts when an Irish family arrives to New york, to try to improve their quality of life. They arrive to a crappy and dangerous building, filled with drug addicts, prostitutes and drug dealers, and it is simply lovely, how that environment is simply lit when the two girls arrive. The acting of the girls, is simply amazing. Two different characters, one as a depressed little girl who misses her brother who died a few years ago) and a young, innocent, naive and sweet girl, which likes everybody and brings harmony to the family. Samantha Morton is unbelievable as a hard working mother trying to educate her daughters. But still my favorite character of the film (besides Ariel) is Mateo. Unbelievable performance by Djimon Hounou (spelling), who plays a lonely, friendless and tormented man (with aids) and how his life is simply changes in a fantastic way, when he meets the two girls, and finally protects them from the dark and unjust world. My favorite scene is when the girls say bye to the moon, thinking it is ;Mateo. It broke my heart. Deserved the award for best actor in a supporting role. Loved this film. If you want to watch a good emotional and touching masterpiece, then watch it, you will love it!!! 9.78/10.00
Nirgendwo in Afrika (2001)
Beautiful adventure
I am a big fan of German cinema, and when I realized that Nowhere in Africa won the Oscar for best foreign language film, I just went and watch it. Nowhere in Africa is as sweet and affectionate story of a German family that move to Africa during WW2. The script is very good and sweet, the acting was good, and overall it is a very good film, with the exception that is a bit slow. The director did a great job by contrasting the German culture (basically European) with the culture in Africa, and the film features a great cinematography, good sets, fantastic scenario and a good editing ( even if the film is a bit slow). I found this film to be a very sweet film and even if the end is quite obvious I liked it. this is an emotional film filled with contrasting feelings. After watching this movie you just want to go to Africa. i haven't watched all the nominees for best foreign language film, (Zuz and Zo, Hero) but until now this film is the best. The crime of father Amaro is quite good, and has a good script. The man without a past is boring and slow. So if you like foreign cinema (like me) and you are ready for a beautiful adventure (without expecting the biggest masterpiece of all times) go and watch it!!! 8.25/10.00
Dogville (2003)
PERFECT
This movie is simply pefect. This is concrete evidence that cinema con be an extraordinary art. Nicole Kidman is fantastic, the unusual art direction and photography create an enviroment of certain beauty and LARS VON TRIER proves that he is an extraordinary director.