MVictorPjinsiste Reviews

Jackie Brown (1997)

Just A Minor Heist

[7/10 · 20 April 2024]

A more mature Tarantino film about his favorite subject; A heist in LA's lowly criminal world, rich in racial interactions, dialogues that feel authentic, glorious 70s' music, and sleeper humor, that can only be awaken after a few viewings.

Sure, the violence, an espect where Tarantino is without peer, takes a distant second seat here - never did this movie gets escapes his control, as he takes his time exploring each character with love.

And talking about characters, he is helped here by extraordinary actors, some of them stars from the same seventies that he likes so much, the two most prominent being Forster and of course, the magnificent Pam Grier. But the one who really got to me was DeNiro's character: I knew the guy is a prime actor, but how does he manage to eliminate all signs of intelligence from his eyes still got me baffled after each viewing: If I didn't knew the actor before, I would have tought he was just some amateur actor with no future. He literally transported the film elsewhere each time he appeared on-screen, being the wildest element in Tarantino most diciplined film. What an actor.

Planet Patrol (1963–1968)

When Compared to the Andersons'...

[6/10 · 9 February 2024]

... It may seem a bit cheap, less luminous, and less about fantastic vehicules. The puppets, more realistic than the Andersons' first ones but less than their later ones, were obviously smaller, but the animators themselves were of some merit. Music is absent, and the general soundtrack is rather sinister, with electronics and even some pre-industrial stuff. Some creature designs, intended as adorable, are in fact quite frightening when taken out of context.

All of this give a rather clautrophobic, anxiogenic feel to the final product, which strike an odd space between dark realism and puppet show. Stories and characters were however well-developped, maybe enough to inspire a young Gene Rodenberry, more apparent in Star Trek's pilot, featuring a more Husky-like Spock.

It is an interesting curio for the genre's aficionados, for sure. But I don't know if a could stomach a sustained viewing. But in terms of creativity, it's quite impressive.

Black Adam (2022)

Ah Come On It Isn't So Bad...

[6/10 · 6 December 2023]

... Sure, there's the superhero fatigue phenomenon, the agonizing end of both the Marvel and DC cinematic universes, the excess of CGI etc etc, but when all's said and done, this flick is actually entertaining, if a bit long.

Actors are goods, Brosnan and yes, the Rock are standing out, but also that woman who plays the spirit of the movie. Her kid, however, isn't so good, alas. Costumes were beautiful, and close enough to the originals - I'm a comicbook purist, I like this. Fights were a little pointless, having almost no significance as everyone is a bulletsponge whenever the need arise. Powers were rather dull and deja-vu. Music was a bit redundant, and loud. I have a problem with the whole "Justice Society" coming out of nowhere in the DCEU, and I can't understand why this wasn't linked to "Shazam".

And yet, It's satisfying. Like for "the Suicide Squad", the locale is foreign (meaning "not in the US"), adding some exotism, there are next to no dull moments. I saw it when it came out and quite a bit later, and for me it aged better than a contemporary Marvel phase 4 movie. I really wish there was suite to the after-credit scene... But IMO, it's getting quite late for that.

Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

Makes You Root For The Egyptians

[6/10 · 27 July 2023]

Injected with a modern dose of grit and spectacular effects, EGK takes on the cherished legend earnestly, a curious gamble since "the original" sets such a high bar. It's dedication to his brother Tony explain, maybe, the motivation.

It's a Ridley Scott film indeed, with the typical blue hues, the slow rythm, the rich musical scores etc. It is also extremely well-filmed, no doubts there, but here is my problem; I was hardly rooting for the 'good guys' here, as Scott chose to despict God as a quite petty, petulant and cruel character, amplifying his malicious intents as well as the effects of its cruelty. It made for a great show, but (I don't know, maybe terror isn't what it used to be since 2011) one thing is certain, I don't remember empathizing that much for the Egyptians in the "original".

Maybe because Edgerton was the best asset here, evidently wanting to be as evil as he can, and yet he transmitted his feelings quite well. Oh, Bale was great too, he always is, so I guess that's kind of expected. The oither actors were fine albeit with limited roles.

Good bible movie for sure, but maybe I would have prefered it if it went more fantaisist, a bit like "Noah". But it stays an Ridley Scott movie, not hgis best neither his worst, and even Scott's worst makes for a good time.

W. (I) (2008)

It Came Much Too Fast

[7/10 · 24 July 2023]

The last of Stone's "Presidential" trilogy after JFK (which was better) and Nixon (which wasn't), "W" relates the days of the USA's 43th President, George W Bush.

It came up as the heat about the subject's presidency was still felt, while opinions were still hot, and yet the movie is surprisingly subtle and empathic, walking a fine line between biopic and comedy. Also, it is neither an attack on the Bushes, or on the Republican party - what would have been expected from rather liberal Stone. In fact, Bush the father's sole term is even referenced as a time of sober wisdom and sound management. Despite Stone's haste, the film stands the test of time admirably.

Actors are absolutely remarkable and well-directed, everyone of them. Photography is expertly executed. Music is, however, of some curiosity, and its circus-like presence does a big part in lightening the tone. That odd tonal dysphoria makes the film quite hard to classify, and even for the interested, a second viewing might be necessary once the expectations are out of the way.

All in all, what we have here is a fine movie. If you are an American conservatives, or even someone who voted Bush in, I really don't think you'll be outraged by anything here, to the contrary, maybe, as Bush is made human beyond the drama/comedy of his administration. I heard Clinton personally gave Bush a copy of the movie, saying he'd like it.

The Last of Us (2023– )

One of the Best Game Adaptation

[7/10 · 24 April 2023]

Not too crazy on zombie stuff, and I never played the titular game. Which makes me a true neutral viewer here, and yet the immersion was fast. Good, good.

The first 2 episodes were IMO the best: The pilot in particular, was rich, fast and multilayered in terms of emotions. After that, it becomes more episodic, and deals much more with the various bands of survivors encountered on the journey than the infected themselves, some of which were typical video games contraptions.

The tone is personal as the two main characters slowly unveil themselves to the other, but there are a couple of episodes where they focus elsewhere, both of them with homosexual overtones (which by now are mandatory I suppose). Remove these flashback episodes, plus the pilot which sets the terrain, and that's what, 6 episodes, all of them under an hour?

That's not much but it is enjoyable, for the good dialogues, excellent cinematography and great acting. It isn't an action-packed zombie flick (althought there are some good action scenes here and there), but more like a road movie. I will probably watch again.

Rampage (2018)

Where's Breanne Hill?

[6/10 · 20 November 2022]

Rampage is of course a movie based on a late 80s video game, and one without such an extensive story enough to justify a film, IMO, so I guess Hollywood is really in need for new written stuff.

And, surprisingly, the result is quite entertaining, with decent CGI and a lot of emotivity in the form of George the albino gorilla, a surprisingly efficient character. As is the Rock, or course - I rather like actors from the wrestling world, as they know a bit about charisma. And Dwayne Johnson is one of the best-known one. Here he leaves a lot of visibility to the CGI monsters, but he still delivers an athletic, sympathetic performence.

The other actors varied from okay to fine, and on that note I noticed Breanne Hill, whose beauty and warm smile illuminated every scene she was in. It's too bad she leaves the picture quite early as the potential love interest - she definitely would have been what is called a plus-value. Malin Ackerman was also fun to watch.

So in conclusion, this is the kind of movie that is quite fun while it lasts, but soon after the lack of, eeerrr, 'intelectuality' makes it easy to forget, but hey, if you have seen the arcade game...

Evil Dead II (1987)

Maybe the Best Horror Flick Ever Made

[9/10 · 6 November 2022]

Yes, absolutely. And yet it is so simple in its plot: Dumb, lovestruck teens venturing out to a cabin in the woods and awakening a dark evil, with decibels of screams and buckets of fake blood - some of it green, of course.

But the devil is in the execution: Raimi has filmed a hell of a ride, an over-the-top, theatre-like extravanganza that leaves the audience exhausted and spent. All of the classical horror elements he brings are pushed to their grotesque maximas, without taking itself too seriously, which makes it a perfect balance of Lovecraftian horror and grim comedy.

There is stop-motion in there, but what steals the show is the camera work, the way it moves and how one scene melts into one another. And also, Bruce Campbell, who bears half of the movie on his shoulders alone... thus became a fan legend.

Rarely is the second iteration of a cinematic precedent is as good as its predecessor, but this isn't the case here, as this movie stand on an equal, if different footing than the original. The Evil Dead II (Death by Dawn) is an essential entry in every horror fan's filmography.

House of the Dragon (2022– )

Nice Maturity

[8/10 · 24 September 2022]

Let's play the GoT Comparison game: I think the first seasons of GoT were not its best (nor its worst, of course): Too much useless tits, useless blood, useless aggressions... They threw a lot at the wall to watch what would stick. But by the time of HotD, they already knew that. HotD isn't clear of all these things, but they now have a purpose - and that, in a nutshell, is what this show is about.

'House' follows but a single plotline, compared to GoT's complex, multi-theatre drama, and it takes a "fast slowburn" approach, leisurely pacing thought years of events. It's quite a masterclass in storytelling we've got here.

And that's what makes this show so captivating: The slightest changes in one actor's characters, the alliances, the treasons - because it's based on real, timeless storytelling values, great actor direction, and efficient cinematography. With the first five episodes I watched, the show sure earned its dues.

A last word on 'wokeism': It is not a woke show, and gahd knows how much I hate these - just check out some of my reviews. The black actors are a whole House clan, not just a character here and there among whites, which makes it very plausible, and GRR Martin is alright with it. Yes, there are 'strong females', but these can also be wrong, or killed, and they are given no idiotic free passes like beating up 3-4 armored men twice their size - they are no Mary-sues here (much less than in GoT in any case - yeah I'm looking at ya, Arya Stark), just hard-headed women like there are in our world.

So in conclusion, HotD is a simplified, experienced successor to his much larger GoT parent, one that will satisfy greatly written and acted drama fans, instead of throwing away eye candy over more mediocre, woke content like some contemporary shows do.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

The Grown-Ups' Star Wars

[8/10 · 20 September 2022]

Take up a good SW movie, eliminate all of the cute, kiddie stuff, add good dialogues and Rogue One is what you get.

It strike a comfortable middle ground with clear, well-defined action sequences, familiar faces and technologies of the past, new, likeable characters, and tragedy: the large-scale effects are particularly well-rendered, like in any SW movie.

The air was spicy with the upcoming SW rebirth at the time. It is kind of interesting to get back to this movie and imagine what the franchise could have been if the right persons were assigned at the right places since.

Second or third best Star Wars movie ever made, IMO.

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

It's Okay...

[6/10 · 18 July 2022]

... Sure, it doesn't have the philosophy and sentiments of the first movie, but it's nonetheless a good entry in the 'barbarian' genre, with lots of action, swords, flesh, blood and dark sorcery in some warped prehistorical times. Classic stuff.

Momoa is credible in the role, giving a more 'academic' performance than Arnold's (which had the unexpected charm of innocence). Ron Pearlman is great as usual, and steals the scenes he is in. Always a pleasure to see him.

Maybe it lacks a bit of flavour, of something that would make it special in some way, but it still is an efficient, well-oiled production that will entertain aficionados of both Momoa and Howards with great looks and good fight scenes.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Now That's How You Remake.

[8/10 · 8 June 2022]

Strong female characters fighting the patriarchy - another woke remake right? That's what I thought and I was wrong.

First, there are real strong characters in this one, many of them who happened to be females - really strong because they get by even if they don't win every fight against opponents twice their weight classes. They're strong like old strong cinematic women were; Their strength doesn't come from their sex, but from their personalities. They get no free passes on their heroine's journey like it is currently the norm.

Theron here is as reliable as ever, more and more credible as an action figure. She is the main character of the movie, and she deserves every bit of it. She looks right at home in this arid cyber-diesel dusty drama, made out of monster contraptions, fanatism and cheap life.

Now, for those who weren't sure about it, this is a movie filled with action scenes, but all of them have an odd element that makes one suspended at the edge of the seat, captive yet entralled. And those pictures! Truely a worthwhile son of the Road Warrior here.

Batman Forever (1995)

... And Yet Schumacher Did His Job

[5/10 · 25 April 2022]

... He wouldn't understand why all of the hate. He was asked to do a campy, colourful, over-the-top Batman and that's exactly what he delivered.

Whereas people saw Carrey and Jones attempting to out-ham one another, Schumacher just saw a repeat of the Burgess-Romero banter that worked so well in 1967. What we saw as absurd fights staged like batuzi dance contest, he saw it as a continuation of the "BOOM" and "POW" fights of the originals.

Besides, his colour palette, highly distracting, has been nominated for visual awards. He got big names for this, including Nicole Kidman (who looks quite out of place in this teenish flick). Why were the critics so cold?

Maybe that was because his movie was a follow-up to 'Batman Returns', which was the one Batman movie that striked the perfect balance between noir and fantasy.

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

Incredible Party Movie

[8/10 · 17 April 2022]

You just put in in the background, with or without the soundtrack. It moves, it crashes, it runs and it burns for all of its long course, rippling with crazy stunts and crazy attitudes. An energic, epic comedy without compromises. They sure don't do them like this anymore.

Super 8 (2011)

Absolutely Charming

[7/10 · 11 April 2022]

Overtly nostalgic movie about a bunch of kids stumbling on a secret weapon blunder while making a zombie flick. Yes, it is an obvious hommage to Spielberg, that much have been said.

The kids are remarkable, everyone of them. In fact, as soon as the movie moves away from them, it suffers, althought Kyle Chandler, reliable, does a good job with non-verbal acting. The one kid I liked most was the "directing" one, reacting with slight disgust at the thought that his own sister (she must have been ugly when younger) could actually be attractive to others, but all of them had their quirps that made them likeable in their own ways.

When compared with contemporary Stephen King's "It" adaptation, which is similar in many ways, it is less lurid and graphic, and adults are less of a threat, but the nostalgia factor is doubled. I especially liked the middle-class settings and realities, the small Ohio town. My favorite moment was when they actually showed the full movie the kids made ("The Case") during the end credits, which makes it the most agreable end credits I ever witnessed.

Alas, not all was perfect and the main CGI creature is somewhat of a wet petard, and some characters were less than convincing, like the stoner guy. It is however a movie with a heart. Or maybe it's me who's getting too old.

Everything's Gonna Be All White (2022)

Petulant.

[2/10 · 26 February 2022]

This show is like watching spoiled brats complain because they feel they didn't have as much gifts as they should. Petulant princes and petulant princesses, in their luxurious flats, trying to convince the viewers that they are in fact martyrs, and that the colour of one's skin determines one's whole life - to the point where nothing else matters.

That would have been a solid opinion if it was made a century earlier, but this is the 21st: there has been a black US president since, and everybody on TV is black (and/or sexually deviant). Times have changed - and it's time we give more importance to talent and skill, qualities that have actual merit, rather than skin tint or sexual orientation.

Peacemaker (2022– )

It Starts Rather Slow

[7/10 · 6 February 2022]

Peacemaker was a featured character in James Gunn's Suicide Squad, where he came across as not too intellectual, but frighteningly efficient and zealous in action - kind of like a misguided Cap America. When I learned that he was to have his own serie, I was glad - I guess I expected a political, cynical view of super-heroing.

And that I got, but not as I wanted (althought I was expecting it a bit): Peacemaker is a woke show, yes, with its mandatory leather-clad, straight-faced ass-kickin' chick, its token black lesbian couple, its incompetent white hetero male incels, and all of the same boring tropes we are now familiar with - but then these characters got interesting as the serie moved on, gaining humanity. Thus, the wokeness of the show was subverted with self-awareness and a bit of second degree, making it more palatable somehow - and this is one achievement on its own.

The first, less enthusiastic review I wrote was after viewing just the first two episodes, when the show didn't sem to have any direction other than being a raunchy comedy, a mistake because each episode is indeed better than the one before, and slowly, a good story takes shape. So I had to edit this review.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Better Than I Thought, By Sapho's Lips

[6/10 · 22 January 2022]

There were bad reviews about this movie all over the 'net, and the poster wasn't too engaging, with Gadot's makeup seemingly applied with a shotgun. I also hate the 80s style with an un-common intensity, having actually experienced it.

Why set it in the 80s in the first place if it isn't to cash in for nostalgia's sake? There is no other reason to do so, and even hindrances as a prior appearence of WW dismiss Snyder's ensemble view. Starts off on a full two strikes, right?

Turns out it was a relatively agreable movie, with relatable actors and I rather liked the morale; It was really Wonder Woman-ish if one happens to read the comics, especially the first ones. It's just silly like that. Action scenes were okay even if, academically, there were conceptual mistakes here and there about the (constantly shifting) powers.

All in all I was agreably surprised in the end - it wasn't as wokeish as I first thought, and I found myself intrigued by the story. I think it is about as good as the first movie, in fact.

Batwoman (2019–2022)

Ready For Some Bat-Estrogen?

[4/10 · 9 January 2022]

Yeah, weird review title for one that's three year after the facts. Well, I'm like that, beating the irons once they've cooled down a bit. And this one was hot with hatred at the time - hatred for men from the show, then hatred of the targeted demographics in return - we all know the tune by now.

So much that I was disapointed in how mundane it was when I finally listened to a couple episodes. I must say that by now, I am used to the hysterically preachy and hate-filled shows that want so much to 'educate' us that they litterally forget to entertain us.

And that's it about this one. It's all about the feelings and sentiments of a bunch of women, all lovers, former lovers or cousins, in some incestuous estrogen pool. Of course, every white guy in there is somehow lessened or suspicious, his only possible salvation being sexual deviance or total subversion. It's like the "L word" show but with costumes (layers and layers of it) and without the wit - Exactly as I expected.

I don't dislike Ruby Rose, but It takes a lot of exotic dope to find her intimidating in a Batman suit. Already built like Oliver Twist, it makes her look even smaller, like a twelve years old boy at Halloween's. Are we supposed to pretend along? And if we don't we're what, _ists of some sort, that's it?

Not, we're not; We just want to be entertained. I don't mind a morale, or even some message as long as the characters and stories are interesting, no matter their sex or ethnicity. I can't wait for this era to pass.

Airport (1970)

Still Effective

[7/10 · 4 January 2022]

Excellent thriller, with good pacing, great actors (including Deano), and overall quality. The old-fashioned way was a good way in this case.

It's got both humorous moments as well as more empathic ones, all played with subtelty as there is no real 'vilain' nor single 'savior' but rather convergeant elements, taken in charge by many in their own capabilities, which re-inforce its credible aspect.

Daisy Town (1971)

Epic (Animated) Western

[8/10 · 4 January 2022]

Being of a french culture, I was a Lucky Luke fan since childhood (all boys of my age wanted to be 'cowboys'), and this 1971 effort is its best one.

It just feels so authentic, and is genuinely funny - something that just can't be done today, alas, as violence, smoking and national stereotypes, to name a few aspects, are banned from our more "educative" (and boring) contemporary productions. That, in return, insured that this movie is one that gets older along with its public.

And an epic movie it is. Even at 75 minutes and without the screen-filling lush of modern cartoons, this one carries an air of gigantic proportions with its shots, pacing and music,which also includes square dancing, honky tonk, one Ennio Morricone 'hommage' and of course, "Poor Lonesome Cowboy". French know-how at its best.

And yet the movie is filled with Americana. Morris, as a intense US traveller, just knew how to seize the spirit of that very particular era, and as such it assumes some nostalgy.

Santa Inc. (2021)

All '10' Reviews Are From 1-Review 'Critics'

[3/10 · 18 December 2021]

It's easy to see - just click on their username and notice their sole effort, a '10' for this one. It's this turnip, can you believe, that was strong enough to spark them out of their bubbles. Ha ha ha.

Because a turnip it is - it's facile, vulgar, preachy and un-funny. Animation is excellent I guess, but the text is terrible, infantile stuff. Reviews of '1' are almost equally biaised, and give it too much importance; this is a three, a well-executed fart of some sort.

And no, Mr Rogen, it's not because people have good taste, and decency, that they are necessarly white supremacists. The show was just bad, so eat the crow like a man and try to stop messing up next time.

South Park (1997– )

Trey Parker for President

[10/10 · 13 December 2021]

That's how good this show is. Not that much in the early years, but now we would be hard-pressed to find a better aged spirit. It's always relevant and objectively right on target. It's the Mozart of animated shows.

Parker is obviously possessed by a higher form of intelligence and/or wisdom. Also make him Dictator for Life, while we're at it - then he'll tell us what to do, and a new, marvelous age will thus begin.

Chapeau.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)

Bizarre Godzilla Experience

[5/10 · 7 December 2021]

Yes, it's weird. There's animation, interesting in itself if out of place, psychedelic music and overall look, big blunty environmental message and a gnarly, scrawny Godzilla that borders on the ridiculous.

There's a general happy atmoshpere of "what the heck is going on" downing on the viewer during all of the movie. And yet it isn't as suffering to watch as it may seem; First, it is a Godzilla movie so some sillyness is mandatory, and second, it doesn't take itself seriously, like, at all.

If you are making a movie night, play this one when people get a bit tired or drunk. Laughter will come easy.

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)

Spirit of 2016

[4/10 · 17 November 2021]

I recently watched this on demand TV; It is a sequel of a movie that wasn't such a masterpiece itself to begin with, but rather good ol' fashion fun, greatly acted. And of course, the copy is a bloated, wokeish production that underperforms in every way when compared to the original.

So why did such a mediocre footnote in filmaking grew up to be such a social phenomenon? Because it was out in 2016, you know, the year Trump became PotUS. And this fim symbolized the Anti-Trump, the politically 'correct' people. You are a US citizen and (willingly) went to see this movie in the theatres? Then you were obviously voting for Clinton. You didn't like it (for lotsa valid reasons)? Then you were worse than Hit... worse than Trump himself - the horror.

That is the social phenonmenon. The movie itself? Self-indulgent, cringe suckage, with all of the same infantile tropes, exactly as you imagined, to your own pleasure or disgust, depending on where you stand on the sex war lines. Come to think of it, the social aspect is more interesting. By a lot.