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Midnight in Paris (2011)
Beautiful...simply beautiful
Amazing. Beautiful. I fell in love with the movie. It starts with shots of Paris-cafes,parks,during the day,during the night,while raining...is there a more beautiful city than that one? Gil loves Paris. He also is a writer. And he struggles. Nothing weird there. Owen Wilson is great in a role and Rachel McAdams is great as his rich,but very different finacee. While he is an intellectual she comes off as a snoby shallow rich girl. From the beginning it is clear they are not for each other. She wants to live in elite Malibu while he wants to live Paris. He would like to walk on the rain while she obviously isn't keen on the idea. And so one night when he gets lost a car stops...and gets him the world of gold 20's where he meets Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald,Hemingway,Piccaso and his beautiful mistress played by Marion Cotillard. He is instantly dazzled by her. I don't wanna go through the whole movie because I would write an essay. In the end doesn't marry Inez of course and Adriana stays in the age of Bel Epoque-for her the golden age of Paris. The message is:people are never satisfied with what they have or where they live or when they live. Gil wants to live in 20's while Adriana wants to live in 90's of 19th century while people living in that age wish they lived in renesance..."the grass is always green on the other side." In the end Gil is walking and meets a girl he met before while buying some old things.. Gabrielle played by Lea Seydoux has been on dinner with friends...the rain starts and she says how she doesn't mind rain because "Paris the at its most beautiful then". The music is beautiful. Carla Bruni also makes a nice cameo...all in all...beautiful. "Say hello to Trocki!" Brilliant.
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Beautiful to look at...but not much else.
The cinematography and costimography are beautiful. The houses,the clothes,the parties...it all gives you that "good" feeling when you watch it. It's style. Over substence. I felt that dialogue is only something that is in-between lavish parties. Luhrmann in his style put the accent and more thought in the way movie should look and how lavish parties should be than the real story and what that story means. The thing you will remember after you watch the movie is style. The story? I never felt that Luhrnamm thought about that much. Toby McGuire is widely miscast as Nick. To make it worse they totally changed Nick. In the movie he ended up in sanatorium and is telling the story to the doctor but because of this we can not trust his judgement and what he tells us about people he is talking about.The characters never impress and never seem that much relevant or complexed. It is like they are merely figures put in the grand clothes and grand houses. Di Caprio as Gatsby was good but the problem is that there was more focus on parties and houses and music(I'll get to that later) to appreciate the characters fully. He made the best he could from an underwritten script and role. I never fully felt that Gatsby is such a grand,mysterious but at the same time complexed character. It was all said in the build-up prior to seeing him for the first time but once that happens there is not much excitement.Carey was OK as Daisy but didn't impress that much.Again the focus wasn't on the characters that much so that's a part of problem. Now-the music. Just another proof how Luhrmann didn't wanna make a faithful adaption of the novel that will actually get a point of the story but a blockbuster. A soundtrack is a bold,original move but distracts from the feeling that these are gold 20's. It is even disturbing to watch a party that was supposed to be in the 20's and hear Jay-Z raping.There is some kind of a mix in some songs(will.i.am's Bang Bang or Fergie's "A little Party") between jazz and modern and while that's interesting it's a prime proof of what Luhrmann was going at.A loud,sparkly,flashy movie that is remembered primarly for that.Luhrmann uses his "the more the better" rule and puts all the attention to the parties while nothing comes out of a story. When you look under the surface this movie is bland and empty and gives no impression when it comes to storytelling and the characters. I like the scene where Gatsby throws his clothes down at the bed. It was beautifully shot. Also,Lana Del Rey's "Young and beautiful" captures the character of Daisy and I'll give a plus for that. But the soundtrack should have been made of primarly 20's music-not putting modern music in the movie-it detracts from the feeling that this is set in the 20's. Overall,I'll give it 6/10 simply for the visual beauty of the movie,a good build-up for Gatsby- shots of his back only,"Mr.Gatsby does not exist","You must know Gatsby"...etc. and a good songs from soundtrack-but for TODAY'S WORLD.
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Brilliant...almost.
Michael Apted was chosen as a man who would direct a Bond movie because they wanted to add more complexity and emotion to Bond. Did the succeed? The answer is almost. This movie,in many ways seems to be similar to On Her Majesty's Secret Service-a movie where Bond marries. they both feature skii chase sequence,TWINE opens in swiss bankar's office and there is a similar scene in OHMSS as well. This movies also gets its title from OHMSS-Bond family motto "The World is Not Enough" was first mentioned in that movie. But most of all they feature a relationship that is more genuine than usual. the are many similarities between Tracy and Elektra-both are excellent on skiis and seem to be strong women while deep down they are vulnerable and insecure. Of course-we think that of Elektra before we find out she is in fact a villain. It's a great twist-heck,a brilliant one. Elektra for my money is an absolute best character that ever graced the series. At first we see her as a strong young woman who has the opinion that "there is no point in living if you can't feel alive". But when she gets traped she goes through a panic attack. Bond starts to sense she is a remarkable person but a badly damaged one. The story hints thay her and Bond are attracted because they are both wounded. Bond hids it under his boyish charms. We actually see more dimensions of Bond in this one. At its best moments movie shows Bond caught up between his duty to protect the heiress and his own growing attraction. The love scene is for my money the best one there ever was. The screen just cracks with energy every time Sophie and Brosnan are together. Apted commented on the love scene:"There are no light quips and puns. This is the real deal." Bond seems to be quite tender with Elektra. At one point I got the impression he wants to cuddle. He genuely wants to know how Elektra survived the kidnapping. He seems to be affected by the story. When she asks him what does he do to survive he answers:"I take pleasure-in great beauty" this was first and foremost a compliment for Elektra at that point but Bond takes great pleasure from beauty of life- luxury. He escapes the sense of danger that way. It's a wonderful line spoken during a wonderful scene. Aside that we have a great pre-title sequence and opening in swiss bankar's office. Bond is cool,highly skilled professional with sophistication and charisma that just needs to be admired. Brosnan is brilliant. So the first hour is fantastic. but then the problem comes. Denise Richards as nuclear scientist. Named Christmas simply so they could make a pun at the end. A huge huge mistake. Even though Bond is supposed to be hurt deeply by the revelation that Elektra is more than she seems the ending simply undercuts any truly emotional and complexed feeling. I beg Apted to explain himself. It's like he wanted to do something different but he wasn't smart enough to make the ending right- Bond actually being affected by it all. Just like her name implies Elektra's death should in one hand be a tragedy. Her behaviour was a product of things she went through. It seems if she received proper help and care she wouldn't got the point she came. Even M seems to acknowledge that much when Renard says how Elektra is worth fifty of him. Elektra is an incredible character-truly unique and truly fascinating. She is so sure Bond wouldn't kill her because he would miss her. But Bond does kill her-in cold blood commenting:"I never miss" it's a stunning scene and the moment after that is like that as well. Bond comes closer and touches her face like her mourns over her. M vitneses it and Judi Dench is incredible. But Christmas Jones and the ending undercut any sense that Bond truly cared or was affected by her even though earlier in the film and in the last moment between Bond and Elektra it seems that way. The ending is in Roger Moore style- Bond being caught with a girl and doing a pun.Michael Apted needs to explain this tonal mismatch. A shame because for my money this could have been THE VERY BEST Bond movie ever. That's right. For performances-Brosnan IS Bond,Sophie is incredible and Judi Dench is great- as always.Denise on the other hand is awful. There is absolutely no other room for any other Bond girl aside Elektra in this movie and the presence of a supposedly brilliant nuclear scientist who wanders around in hot pants showing her tattoos is one fatal mistake-it could only be described like that. and the torture scene was brilliant. "You should have killed me when you had the chance-but you couldn't not me not the woman you loved." But the movie provides a secondary designated Bond girl...Apted...I am waiting for an explanation.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Fun and...Matthew McConaughey
Starring charming Matthew and easy- going Kate Hudson.It's an entertaining comedy and I don't see what's wrong with that. Do films need to be work of art to get a good grade? Movies are meant to entertain and this one certainly did. It's funny,sweet,entertaining. The gala night at the end was great. Also-Hudson's character hoped she would get to write about things she is interested in. Things that aren't bags,perfumes or shoes. She wants to write about something more meaningful. see,the movie even has a message. It's fun,humorous and it features two great leads. Charming Matthew and likable Kate! Kate's character prepares so many fun and awkward situations for Matthew's character! It's great. Worth a viewing.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
The devil sure as hell wears Prada
I watched this movie for about 100 times-I'm a girl and this is a chick flick. The clothes is superb. not Andy's in the beginning though. And I like the music in the movie. Now on a more non-superficial side. This movie shows rightly what the world of fashion is like. Meryl Streep plays Miranda brilliantly. Emily Blunt is also great as Miranda's first assistant-Emily. overall,the movie doesn't bore you and it goes fast. The pacing of the movie is good.I like how they showed that Andy grow apart from her friends because she was in a world they were not event though she didn't exactly change personally. She changed her appearance.The world of fashion is seen as shallow and also full of tricks and cunning plans to survive in it. "Who wants this life those choices are necessary." ,says Miranda at one point. But Andy doesn't want this life. Miranda think that's ridiculous-because everybody wants that kind of life. And it is true. The glamour,the luxury,high couture. Women love that. And we would all want it-deep inside no matter how hard we would try not to be superficial. just how the song in the movie says-it's all "tres,tres chic"
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The first Bond movie I ever watched
This is the first Bond movie I ever watched. I think it's a great companion to a superb GoldenEye. While GoldenEye dismantled the character and questioned whether he fits in the post Cold War world this one proved Bond is still very much the thing with all the classical Bond tropes. The crazy villain with a crazy plan. Bond doing something Bondesque every five minutes and the famous theme kicking every time he does that. Bond "learning a new tongue". The plot is about starting a WW3 so Elliot Carver could make a hell of a lot of money with ratings. He is splendidly over-the-top and he has to be-the plot is grander than life as well. Sure,this movie isn't as smart,sophisticated and well-though out as GoldenEye but it is an unashamed throwback at the classics like "You Only Live Twice" and "The Spy Who Loved Me". All three films were released in years that end with 7(1967,1977,1997),they all feature plots about starting WW3 and they all feature Bond in a commander suit. This movie also features that wonderful British empiralism. While GoldenEye dismantled the character this one picked him from the ground up. The classic soundtrack that just screams "Bond". It is a big,loud confirmation that Bond was truly back. This movie is generally looked as a "not-as-good as GoldenEye" but it's a great companion to it. It features all those so-well-known things that one expects from a Bond movie. also-I need to mention the scene that is undoubtly one of the best in the series-the one with Dr.Kaufmann. Dr.Kaufman is splendidly amusing and Bond is barely amused with his techniques. He kills him in cold- blood and the sets the things up so it would look like he committed suicide. it's brilliant. In the end-this is the very first movie I ever watched and it's always going to hold a special place in my heart. The scene were we see only Aston Martin at Oxford and then Bond practicing his Danish. Pure Bond.
GoldenEye (1995)
A big comeback
GoldenEye saved James Bond. After a six-year hiatus Bond was back. And what a comeback that was.This movie gave as a great twist in a villain- Bond's friend,agent 006 who faked his death nine year prior. The character of Alec is so cleverly constructed that he just might be the best Bond villain. His parents were Lienz kozaks and Stallin executed them in WW2 second. With that he wants to justify his plan- robbing the Bank of England and the firing secret weapon called GoldenEye that was made during the Cold War. Bond even says how he just wants to justify a common bank robbery with his trauma from childhood. This movie also analyzes the character of James Bond. From M(played brilliantly by Judi Dench) to the Bond girl Natalya Simjonova to the 006 himself. "Oh spare me the Freud James. I could ask you if all those vodka martinis ever silence the screams of all the men you've killed. Do you find the forgivness in the arms of all those willing women-for all the dead ones you failed to protect". It's a brilliant line spoken by a great villain played by the great Sean Bean. It's brilliant. And so is this movie. And I can't just pass this and not mention James Bond himself. Pierce Brosnan-the man who was nailed as the ideal Bond ever since Remington Steele. And rightfully so. He has everything Bond needs to have. The man IS Bond. He is the first one I ever saw and he will always be my favourite and the best for me. The charisma,the sophistication,the ability to be both cold-blooded and humorous when the situation requires.
From Russia with Love (1963)
The best of the best
From Russia With Love is for me the best of the best. Starting with a brilliant title to the brilliant plot. To the brilliant everything. Someone here wrote how this movie is "espionage at its absolute best" I can only agree with that.
The best moment is when Kromsteen,one of SPECTRE's operatives says how "the person that MI6 will almost certainly give the task would be their agent-James Bond." Even though he is the best man in MI6 he is just that well known. I mean isn't that brilliant or what? A classical espionage trap. A beautiful girl a great sidekick,chilling operatove Rosa Klebb,the big bad with the white cat. The pre-title sequence is also brilliant. Every thing is brilliant. It's the best of the best.
Goldfinger (1964)
The movie that made Bond a phenomenon he is.
Goldfinger is often looked as the absolute best Bond movie. I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. Sure,Goldfinger is the movie that perfected the Bond formula. It's the movie that made James Bond an event. But it isn't necessarily the best because of it. Sure it has many iconic stuff and scenes. "No,Mr.Bond I expect you to die!" Pussy Galore,the car,the very first time Bond uttered the "Martini,shaken not stirred" line. I'll give you all that. But in my opinion,From Russia With Love wipes the floor with Goldfinger. It has a terrific plot and I find everything about the movie to be superb. it has that essence of espionage that Goldfinger doesn't have that much. So,is this movie in the top 5 Bond movies? Yes,definitely-it is the most iconic Bond movie. But is it the best? No.In my opinion it is not.