Almasidis Reviews

Civil War (2024)

Missed chance for a greater film

[5/10 · 13 May 2024]

This was a great concept, especially when considering the current polarised political situation in the US. However, I regret to say that Garland missed this great opportunity. His perspective solely focuses on the micro and ignores the macro perspective entirely. Let me explain. The movie starts by showing there is already a Civil War, there is no information as to what series of events led to this. Why did the civil war happen? I think it is a fair question to ask. Instead he focuses strictly on the perspective of photojournalists and their experiences. With such a grand event you have to give the audience more information about the major thing that is happening, otherwise it is just some personal experiences from photojournalists with a "civil war" theme happening in the background. I'd love this movie to had a balanced approach, alternating from macro to micro, to have a spherical approach.

Generally there were one or two scenes that were a bit unnecessary. I agree with all the reviews suggesting that Garland missed an opportunity with this film and that the trailer and the posters not exactly capturing what this movie is really about. It is about photojournalists photographing people during a civil war.

From me this is unfortunately, and I mean it because I love the premise and the relevancy of it, a 5.5/10 movie.

Black Mirror: Mazey Day (2023) Season 6, Episode 4

Seriously, werewolf?

[2/10 · 28 June 2023]

Unfortunately, after a long wait of about 4-5 years the entire 6th season is dramatically failing to match the quality of the previous seasons. The plots presented are not as near as good as the previous seasons and are poorly thought through and needless to say predictable. It reminds me of a cheap version of The Twilight Zone. This episode is perhaps the worst of the 6th season. She's a paparazzi, trying to photograph a celebrity who turns out to be a werewolf. For crying out loud I don't understand how they can green-light such story lines. It seems they wanted to capitalise on the franchise's name and ended up producing bad content as it usually happens. I hope if a 7th season is agreed the plots will be better because this was a disappointment.

Jane (II) (2017)

Unfitting music and editing.

[5/10 · 30 September 2019]

The story itself is quite good. Is a story worth telling absolutely. I also found the shots, the cinematography in general, very pleasing too. What it was a bit unfitting is the music and sometimes these editing sequences which gave me the feeling I was watching a trailer that lasts for an hour and a half. The music, which was the same rhythm over and over again, was many times overwhelming and too much. I think it didn't serve the image well enough and so did the editing sometimes. It was sometimes fast without a reason, just shots over another shots. It was if the pace of the film was unstable and it was weird because you don't expect that from these kind of documentaries. I truly believe if the music was more appropriate and the editing more careful the movie would've been even more beautiful.

Victoria (II) (2015)

Please, let's all applause the Cinematography

[8/10 · 15 September 2016]

This movie starts very light and with a sense of naiveness. As it unrolls things get very serious and dramatic. The director pulls you into the trip, in the action, as if you were another character.

The Direction and Cinematography were spectacular. Shooting a 2 hour feature film in a single shot and with that kind of result is something we should all applause. Cinematographer (Sturla Brandth Grøvlen) had a tough job to do.

To make this kind of movie requires tremendous teamwork, continuous collaboration and this movie ace it.

Great movie, good story, fantastic trip!