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My Norwegian Holiday (2023)
Abysmal
Wow. That's one of the worst movies I've ever watched, and I don't think one has to be Norwegian (like me) to think so.
The acting is both wooden and cringe, but most of the time it seems like they're not even trying.
The plot is both weak and ridiculous, but most of the time it's outright boring.
Starting the movie, I didn't know if Hallmark movies were as bad as I suspected, but it sure subceeded my low expectations.
Since the actors clearly weren't Norwegian at all, they barely spoke the language, and when they did...let's just say I have foreign friends who speak my language much better than they do in the movie.
In short, don't watch this travesty. There are better ways to waste your life.
The Shining (1997)
Stephen King's "The Shining"
First of all: Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" isn't the original of anything but itself. It's a good movie, but it isn't Stephen King's "The Shining". Like it or not, this miniseries is the first real adaption of the novel. It is not a remake of the Kubrick movie.
I watched the movie first, many years ago. Then I read the book last year or the year before that, not sure. And now, I've watched this series.
I think, perhaps, that for one to like all three (which I do), they have to be seen/read in that order. If I'd read the book first, I'm pretty sure the movie would've annoyed me.
Anyway, if you haven't read the book, the movie will be more satisfying than this series. It is less complex, more thrilling, straight to the point (which is terror) and all in all great art, cinematically speaking.
But the thing about the novel is that it isn't really about the scares. The scares are ornamentation. Like all works by King, it paints people and their lives realistically - and only when it's established that does it pour on the supernatural stuff. So what is the book about? It's about a man falling victim to his own demons, and about a family falling apart because of it (with actual demons trigging it, of course). If you want to watch THAT, watch this miniseries.
I think it does that effectively. I like the performances from the three leads, and I think it's a good adaption. I enjoyed it. 8/10
Signs (2002)
Extraordinary suspenseful
When humans fear darkness and death, the real fear is the unknown. Whatever hides in the shadows is very often scarier than the beast itself. Shyamalan keeps the danger from us. We feel it, but we don't see it. And that is always scarier than constant gore and jump scares.
I think Gibson and Phoenix did very well in this movie, their response to this atmosphere is very believable, the execution brilliant. The little girl does well too, the boy is okay.
The score may be what impressed me most, it creates dread like nothing else in the movie. Along with the cinematography and the plot, it creates a constant unsettling vibe continuing throughout the entire movie.
This is, in short, a brilliant thriller. 9/10.
It (2017)
A scary movie that isn't scary.
The opening scene is good. From there on...not as much.
I guess this movie will please those not familiar with the book much more than those who are. That being said, I don't think it is possible to make a satisfying adaption of "It" without doing it the Game of Thrones way. More time is needed to dwell on each of the novel's parts to create the feel the book gave us. To tell the story as it was told on paper. So I guess I'll forgive the filmmakers for that.
The kids are okay. They've managed to portray the losers and the relationship between them decently enough- considering the running time. Again: more time is needed for better development. Much of what actually happened between the kids and It has been cut, but again - running time. They had to.
That they've changed the setting from the 1958 to the 80s was a bad choice, and so are the other changes. They're creating scenes that aren't in the book. They're changing things that are there. The biggest problem I have with the film is the execution of the horror. Constant jump scares, way too much CGI, and a complete lack of understanding of the fact that less is more. Waiting for a scare is the scary part of horror, and this movie just throws everything at you constantly. It just isn't terrifying. At all.
I didn't find myself bored, though. Besides the poor performance when it came to being scary, it is an okay movie. It just isn't a good adaptation.
It (1990)
"A film with memorable imagery, (but) it was poor as an adaptation"
That is what Stephen King said about Kubrick's version of "The Shining". He did not think so when it came to this adaptation; he was reasonably pleased with it as I recall it, but his quote about the 1980s horror classic sums up how I feel about this 1990 miniseries.
The Losers and Henry Bowers comes off so very one-dimensional, superficial. They lack the depth that King gave them in the book. I don't really care about what happens to them, since I never get to know them like I did when reading about them. Curry did a good job with what he had to work with, but you just can't convey the power of over 1,100 pages in the space of three hours.
In short; this is a more or less okay show for what it is, but it just isn't a good adaptation. It never could be with the limits it was given. It would've been really interesting to see what could be achieved with a modern 10 hours and episodes production a la "Game of Thrones". THAT I'd like to see. Maybe the upcoming duology will be close to that.
5/10.
Bully (2011)
America's heartland...
I was bullied myself as a kid. It affected me then, and the scars aren't completely gone. They probably never will be. That being said, those scars are small, and the bullying kids I knew back then has turned into good persons as adults. They are sorry for what they did, and I've forgiven them. Still, I will always remember it to some degree.
I'm starting this review by recounting those experiences of mine to put in perspective how horrible the things the kids in this documentary experience are. Because my experiences are NOTHING compared to this. Deep down I knew that bullying can get as bad they do here, but it was a real shocker seeing with my own eyes. It's heartbreaking.
We meet Alex, 13 years old. His appearance is affected by the fact that he was born very prematurely, and as all bully victims know; standing out always makes you a target. The kids bully him physically and mentally to the point where he just shuts himself off emotionally. The worst part, however, is the adults. The scene where the father tells him to stand up for himself, that he makes himself a target by not retaliating?! What the f-ck is that?! Children are NEVER to blame at all for being bullied! Is he supposed to stand up to the whole school himself? No, sir, you need to change your attitude if you want to help your own son. The responsibility lies with the adults, and with the adults alone. Of course, there is also the employees at school...they see it, but they do little or nothing at all. It just won't do.
Then there's the girl with the gun...what is wrong with your laws, America? You don't hold 14-year old children legally responsible for their actions! Children don't get the privileges of adulthood (such as driving, the right to vote) so they shouldn't get the burdens either. What angered me the most though was that STUPID sheriff trivializing bullying. It's as clear as day that he doesn't understand that psychological wounds go much deeper than physical ones. If the American society could understand that guns don't make already civilized areas safer the whole story could have been avoided. Those views and laws on firearms were sensible in the Wild West, (where you actually needed guns for security) they are not anymore.
Kelby...she's so strong! That town astounds me, I didn't think whole societies centered around 19th century-viewpoints still existed in the western world.
An attitude change is needed, here are some points that WILL get results.
1. Kids will not be kids. If you know your pedagogy well, you can raise kids who won't be bullies. Children are a reflection of their parents or guardians.
2. Bully victims are never to blame for any aspect of what has happened to them, don't give them that impression. Don't worsen their situation. Take whatever actions needed to stop it yourself and deliver nothing but comfort. It is your responsibility as an adult.
3. Spread these messages.
About me: I've worked with children for seven years in kindergartens. I've done several pedagogy classes (I am in fact doing one this very semester) on my way to becoming a high school teacher. This is my field of expertise.