s-dalmatkin Reviews

The Big Lebowski (1998)

I had a rough night and I hate the Eagles, man...

[10/10 · 14 August 2023]

The absolute perfect movie.

The big Lebowski, has something special, it's absolutely unique movie even for Coen brothers. There is just once in a lifetime of director that you can create something so perfectly written and balanced.

This is a simple story and as most of the genius things, simplicity stands as a determining factor. Comedy is on another level, the irony and meta message in every scene, no wonder this movie became instant classic.

And even after 20+ years, it's still rewatchable and holds it's place in the culture. It's a one of the best written scripts to date.

10 out of 10 must see movie.

Schindler's List (1993)

Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.

[10/10 · 8 August 2023]

One of the most important movie ever made.

Spielberg shows the very nature of human beings at their "Best" and in nova days it's getting really important to remind what is evil and how it grows and what follows.

The movie itself directed perfectly. Actors are pushing their characters to the maximum, especially Ralph Fiennes. Music makes you cry without watching movie itself.

As Jewish this topic is important for me personally and I'm glad that this movie has been made. Holocaust should not be forgotten, otherwise, we are doomed to repeat it.

10 out of 10, must be seen by everyone especially today.

K-9 (1989)

Do you know you have an animal growing out of your pants?

[10/10 · 2 August 2023]

One of the most favorite movie in childhood.

I honestly don't understand why it's so underrated, I guess Americans see it other way. In my opinion movie is still stands and watchable, much better that modern days comedies.

Belushi is hilarious, maybe he is not as lovable nor charismatic as his brother, but he is definitely keeps the comedy on and chemistry between him and the dog is one of the best in such movies.

Villain portrayed maybe stereotypical, but Kevin Tighe played really well.

Overall it's a great comedy which great to watch once in a while, but maybe it's nostalgia talks.

10 out of 10 not because it's 10, but because it's partly made my childhood so awsome.

Balto (1995)

I am a delicate country bird. I hate going into town

[10/10 · 28 July 2023]

This is really underrated movie. One of the favorite cartoon of the childhood and one of the best ever made.

Story which based on a real events, really inspiring and touching. Balto is a great main character and Goose by Hoskins is hilarious as well as other sidekicks powered by strong casting.

Script is written well, it is simple yet deep.

This movie feels different from Disney movies and it's more daring story. Animation is classic and very beautiful.

Favorite scene when Balto loses hope and white wolf appears, it's so well animated with such a great soundtrack, it's really inspiring and so well made.

10 out 10 not because it doesn't has flops, but because it stands aside and above many others cartoons.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

The two tower of perfection

[10/10 · 27 July 2023]

Second movie as good as the first one and the last one, perfect movie and greatest trilogy.

Once in a while I make marathon of this movies and it never gets old.

Second movie maybe slower pace but for me it's better. The way it's directed it's close to perfect, casting is great, music above worlds. Best fantasy and book adaptation ever made.

After 20 years it still stands above many other attempts to make fantasy especially that were released right after trilogy on the hype.

This trilogy forever will stand in the top movies ever created.

10 out of 10 not because it doesn't has flops, but because it stands beyond and above many others.

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

Point of no return

[10/10 · 24 July 2023]

The last movie is beautifully finishes the trilogy. Great ending for epic space opera and it would be great if Disney wouldn't massacre it.

Movie keeps the same level of quality as in the Empire strikes back. Great and more complex action scenes, solid story with different lines and that feeling of mesmerizing adventure, very personal and local and massive and epic.

The main and most important thing in the old movies and complete lack in modern. It had soul, I do believe in characters, their changes and motivation, simple story, but deep which gives that feeling of real adventure.

Overall, one of the best movies ever made, fantastic story that would be remembered through decades.

10 out 10 not because it doesn't have flaws, but because it stands aside and above many other movies.

Hedgehog in the Fog (1975)

Having passed half of my earthly life, I found myself in a gloomy forest...

[10/10 · 21 July 2023]

Favorite cartoon of the childhood.

Norstein had a dream and had enough talent to put it on the screen. Every time when I watch this cartoon it feels like I'm sleeping, it takes away.

Although I watched it back in childhood a million times, only when grow up I could see the real meaning. Kids will see a simple story about Hedgehog who looks for his friend, the bear, story about friendship, fear of darkness and fear of unknown. But the deep story is actually about journey to the underworld.

An allusion to the afterlife can be traced through the entire cartoon and in the end he founds his friend and realizes that he died as well. Of course it's just an allegory but it shows genius of the cartoon.

Beautiful and meaningful story, absolutely unique.

10 out of 10 without any flaws, just perfect.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

When You Grow Up, Your Heart Dies.

[10/10 · 20 July 2023]

Breakfast club is the best movie of it's genre. I watched it for the first time back in 1995 when I was in 4 Grade back in Moscow and I was amazed. Unfortunately I couldn't rent it or buy it since there was VHS of this movie back in the days. And had to wait until it was on TV again, it took 3 years...

One of the favorite movie ever. The greatest thing about it, is actors. Cast is absolutely great. Characters are believable. There are not a lot teenage movies that works on so many levels and goes deep into personal drama and struggling while growing up as at the same time keep comedy and light tone on the level. It's or American pie and then dumber from that or Juno which is to much drama. And Breakfast club beautifully mixes it and it works perfectly. In modern movies there are close to nothing of that level character development and script writing. 5 characters reveal whole social group and makes it believable.

Overall it's an example of how movies should be done, John Huges is great director who really understood how to put all the parts together and balance it out perfectly.

And the soundtrack.., well it's speaks for it self.

10 out 10 not because it doesn't have flaws, but because it's stands aside and above many others movies.

The Girls (1962)

Classic romantic comedy. Kind, pure, uplifting.

[10/10 · 17 July 2023]

Old Soviet romantic comedy classic. Movie is simple love story about newbie cook on sawmill production.

Young, naive but honest and confident girl got a bet over her. After she refused dance and publicly humiliated local hard core lumberjack, he takes a bet that she will date him in a short time period.

Soviet movies had that pure and simple good and bad, right and wrong moral attitude. That was early 60's Khrushchev Thaw, hopeful and relatively freedom in movies created dozens of classics, that is one of them.

It's bright and simple, always cheers up and returning faith in love, humanity and friendship which is lacking in our time.

Defiantly recommend especially for foreigners, movie is still watchable throughout times and cultures. "She's all that" by1999, but better, purer and without Freddie Prince Jr.

10 out of 10, not because it's ten, ten is not real, but it stands aside and above.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Royale with cheese from Michelin guide!

[10/10 · 17 July 2023]

Movie that within next 100 years won't be forgotten. Pure pulp classic, visionary fiction of a time. Tarantino is unique director. He had some kind of luck to break into Hollywood straight out of video store and I don't think it's possible in the modern days.

Rare thing about Pulp Fiction is that.., what's the movie about? It's hard to say, nevertheless it works which is basically impossible scheme for any other movie. It just works.

So overall, great writing, acting, soundtrack etc., this is one of the favorite movies and if you somehow didn't see it, stop whatever you're doing right now and watch it immediately.

10 out of 10 not because it's ten, there are no real tens. Just there are movies that stand aside and above.