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Madhu-Van-Paare
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Balle perdue (2020)
Finally a realistic action movie thats also funny
So I read all the reviews, and a lot are negative. Now I respect other persons opinions, but in this case I'm wandering what kind of movies they do like.
This is simply a very good movie. Yes there might be some slight continuity errors, and perhaps the hero is made of steel. Which is basically the only real mistake of the movie, that despite its realism, the hero should have been more hurt, like a broken arm, and a dislocated knee etc etc. That would have also been more funny. But as far as I'm concerned there where almost no plot holes, and what most reviewers missed, was the insanely funny French humor. I just could not stop laughing, especially in the beginning.
The only real other minor error (okay second, the cop car was suddenly chasing him from very close, like another reviewer pointed out) was the truck that suddenly disappeared. Furthermore I hated it that the main cop got killed, because he was for me the leading man, and hilariously funny. I was actually looking forward to them going against the drug dealers. A missed opportunity... But finally an action movie, with no real plot holes, and realistic action, especially the big fight in the police station.
Semper Fi (2019)
A very realistic look of life as a soldier in civilian life
Everything in this movie is good. It's basically a perfect movie.
I loved the realism. But there is something missing from the movie, and I don't know what. It reminds me what Freddy Mercury said in Bohemian Rhapsody after he went solo, "I went to Munich. I hired a bunch of guys, I told them exactly what to do and the problem was, they did it. No push-back from Roger, none of Brian's re-writes, none of John's funny looks. I need you, and you need me.""
And that might be the problem, that this script needed some rewrites, the lighting could have been better, some dialogue perhaps, the ending could have been longer, or perhaps completely different. There could have been more music, something... Not sure. What I think it could have had; more input from veterans and put some of their stories in the movie to add to the realism, and give the audience another way to connect to veterans. Which brings me to my last point, as one should end on a high note. I would like to quote another reviewer, just to give you an indication how important this movie is:
"I am a vet and will say that this film is one of the most accurate portrayals of the psyche of the American fighting man I have seen in a long while."
12 Round Gun (2017)
Good performance by the lead
The lead actor, is unrecognisable Sam Upton, who also wrote the script and directed. Now this is a low budget movie, with a script that needed improvement.
The whole cast is okay, although Mark Boone Junior could have done a little better, being the good actor he is. But then again the script, what can an actor do when the script is below par. And the budget was so low that some scenes suffered and made the movie less believable. Anyway, the lead is amazing. He really carries the whole movie, and is really the only one, besides some guys who beat him up, who is completely believable. He really did a tour de force. Jared Abrahamson did a descent job (as did Cassi Thomson, who plays his wife), and also was convincing, especially in the end. In other words this movie has some memorable scenes, it's about pain, and it does capture that. But it's not really clear in what it wants to say. But perhaps that does not matter, perhaps that could even be it's strength. A 6 for effort and the two lead actors.
The Debt Collector (2018)
If you want to know what it means to be a debt collector watch this movie.
Scott Atkins in a more then descent action/buddy movie, with a very deep message. What goes around, comes around i.e. karma. With a very good supporting role of Michael Paré (from Streets of Fire). For me the ending blew me away. My kudo's to the director/writer Jesse V. Johnson. I hope he will make more movies like this. What an amazing message. Very deep. Action is amazing and realistic eg no useless fight scenes where you could/should just use a gun, no plot holes, and practically no mistakes, except maybe for the final scene where the father walks away, clearly the police would see him... Should have ran a little faster, before the police came in. Also descent camera work, and the whole cast is convincing. In short, if you want to know what it means to be a debt collector, watch this movie.
Damascus Cover (2017)
Rather long commercial for overpriced watches
Hate to write a bad review as people work so hard on movies. And I am sure it's hard to write a book as well, on which this is based. But it is really below mediocre, and the current 4.3 rating is due to some people give this movie a 10 out of 10...!?
Anyway for me it is rather long as a commercial for overpriced watches. Other than that, quite descent actors, except for Mr Meyers, whom besides of being completely miscast (he plays a German/Jewish Mosad agent), is revealing his lack of acting chops in this movie. The only reason to watch this, is it being Mr John Hurt's last performance. No idea what he was thinking in accepting this role, he deserved better. In fact he is also miscast, as he plays the head of the Mossad. So how is John Hurt Jewish? Incredible. As is the whole movie, but then again it's not really a movie, but just a long drawn out commercial for overpriced watches.
The Outsider (2018)
One of the worst movies
Sorry to write such a bad review. I understand people work hard on this, and I used to be a fan of Jared Leto (especially Dallas Buyers Club). But after his Joker I started to doubt and now, he needs another movie to turn me around again.
Anyway the main problem with this movie is the plotholes in the story, or rather unrealistic story.
Everything else is good, but to me the story is the main thing. It begins unclear, I did not understand why Jared Leto wants to become a Yakuza. Later it becomes a little more clear, in that he is trying to avoid court marshal. Here are some of the main flaws. Jared Leto is told not to screw around with his Yakuza friend's sister, but he does so anyway. Then his so-called brother does not find out that he is seeing her again, even though they are both in the tattoo parlour (which is also unrealistic for a woman in 1947 Japan to be allowed in there). Then Jared tells him she is pregnant and he receives two amazing swords. In reality her yakuza brother would have killed him, or something like that. Another thing is that the Yakuza boss walks into this open trap, to meet his adversary in a shipyard. Anybody would know that it's a trap. Again not realistic. And this meeting was set up by an 8 year old boy, lol. I could go on, but it would just be a waist of time, just like this movie. Sorry for the folks who worked so hard on this. In short, the acting is amazing, the realism of the sets are amazing, everything is solid except the story.
Don't Take Me Home (2017)
The ultimate fan-football team movie
An excellent documentary. Chronicling the rise of the Wales football team around 2016. The most amazing thing about this movie that it successfully conveys the impact a national football team can have on it's fans and nation. It really conveys the emotions of the team and fans alike. The whole movie is a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Amazing interviews with Gareth Bale and the team of Wales. This could very well be the ultimate football-fan movie, meaning the ultimate movie that explains the love that fans have for their national team, and the love that players have for their national fans. I wanted to give it a 10, but because it's a documentary and because the subject is a bit shallow (in the end it's just a game, even though I think that is not true), I could not. No documentary can stand up against a Sergio Leone movie, but if there is any, it would be this one, as it conveys a bit of that same emotion; a movie about boys dreams and the reality of life.
Jason Bourne (2016)
No script writer - big mistake
Yeah, you read it correctly, no script writer on this movie. Look, I understand that directors sometimes want to get into the writing. It's fine, if he really knows how to write, Quentin Tarantino comes to mind as an exception, and Stanley Kubrick and Sergio Leone are good examples for the opposite. Cause even though Kubrick wrote screenplays, it was always based on a book and script writing, he always worked with writers, even Leone, definitely a man with great intellect and a knower of life, always worked with writers. George Lucas best movie was Empire Strikes Back, not even directed by him, and two others wrote the screenplay. My point is, the editor wrote this, together with the director. Why these people suddenly think they can write? Because they clearly can't. I seriously suspect Mr. Damon for firing Tony Gilroy, the script writer fot the previous Bourne movies. Of course we must admit that Robbert Ludlum wrote the stories for the previous three movies, so there is your problem right there. Perhaps in that light I am giving Tony Gilroy too much honor. Having said that, if you don't base the movie on an original Robert Ludlum story, who is only the greatest spy writer of all times, you gotta shop around and find the next best thing... Anyway big mistake.
It reminds me of Seinfeld, who was offered $100 million for a 10th season of Seinfeld, and he refused, because it would have tainted the show's legacy. I will say no more...
C'era una volta il West (1968)
A Masterpiece, by the master Sergio Leone. A movie that stood the tooth of time, and the inspiration of Star Wars
This movie is arguably even better then The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. It is slow paced, but this is due to an amazing score by life time collaborator and friend Ennio Morricone. Claudia Cardinale steals the show, and gives the performance of a lifetime. In fact the shot after Claudia Cardinal comes in the train station, was made after the music was made, and when the camera pans up, the music accompanies it in perfect harmony (this was duly noted by Brian De Palma, who could not figure out that the shot was made after the music was made, until Leone told him). Best performance of Charles Bronson, and the casting of Henry Fonda as the bad guy is simply genius, and arguably also his best performance ever. It describes the industrial revolution, symbolized by the train, the train tracks, and the train station. And lest we forget, Jason Robards' best performance ever, as Cheyenne. "Hey Mr. Choo Choo?!". This movie is arguably the inspiration for Star Wars and many, many movies.
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966)
Quentin Tarantino's favorite movie, a masterpiece, describing the civil war in the U.S.
This movie is actually more entertaining then, Once Upon a Time in America, which is Leone's Magnum Opus. And arguably even better, because the movie is simply perfect and always leaves me with a good feeling. Eli Wallach's best performance ever. And the most iconic soundtrack ever by legendary composer Ennio Morricone. It describes the civil war. I know some critics call this a spaghetti western, because it is kind of made within that genre if you look at the financing and location, but this is far, far better than any spaghetti western, any western, or any movie. This is simply another masterpiece of the master himself Sergio Leone. Of course there is no Leone without Ennio Morricone, and let us not forget the whole crew especially the camera man. Perfect props, completely according to the time and place, Leone would study history, pictures from those days, etc etc and went to great difficulty to get all the details right and it shows. Frankly speaking there has never been any movie, save and accept Leone's movies, that come close to the historical details like this movie (except, perhaps, Barry Lyndon from Kubrick). And that is nothing compared to the acting, and the story. This is not only part of American film history, and a classic, this movie is painstakingly describing a part of history, the civil war in the U.S., in a way that has never been seen. It is a cynical account of the civil war, yet remains detached, and shows the bigger picture of life, which is, relationships.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Best movie of all time - a masterpiece - Leone's Magnum Opus
One of the most underrated movies of all time. This is simply a masterpiece. It took Sergio Leone, the greatest director ever lived, 10 years to make this movie. It is his magnum opus, and closes his history of America starting with A Fistful of Dollars. After this movie you simply don't have to watch any more movies, it says it all. Best performance of Robert De Niro ever. Watch for Joe Pesci, in a hilarious scene about the 'cock insurance'. Impeccable score of Ennio Morricone, and as always impeccable props, amazing locations, and for me the scene where the young boy dies, might have been the reason why Leone wanted to make this movie. I am still trying to figure out how Leone made that kid real, iconic, moving, and endearing and how he ingrained him on our memory... He actually becomes the impetus for the rest of the story.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
Great special effects, terrible story.
This is exactly what Terry Gilliam means, when he says, quit film school now, and go out and live life. J.J. Abrahams (Alias, which was great, but in hindsight one dimensional) finally falls through, and is exposed as a one dimensional director, with no real intellect to tell a good story. And, be careful, major spoiler alert: killing of Han Solo! Hello!? You just don't do that. You want to pretend to be original and daring by killing of a major Star Wars character, kill bad actor Mark Hamill (please don't kill him either), or kill Princes Leia (please don't kill her either), getting Han and Luke on a rampage, but you never kill Han. Han is un-killable. Especially the way this was done. The guy who shoots a bounty hunter, without a warning, gets mercilessly killed by his son!? I think not. And then what happened to the Storm Troopers who are supposed to be all clones? And now there is a black storm trooper who defects? Wow, who wrote this? The original storm trooper was also black, or colored, and I thought that was awesome (I mean he was Boba-Fett! how cool is that!?), but storm troopers don't defect, that is against all the George Lucas rules. And let's get one thing straight, Star Wars Part IV was not bad, mainly due to Alec Guiness and Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones) and the tension between Ford, Hamill and Fisher, but the real deal was Empire, NOT directed by Lucas. Empire was character driven... Hello! Wow, could this have been a 10 times better movie. What a loss. The only good thing, which gets lost in the one-dimensional acting (due to the bad script) and bad, bad, horrible story, is the non CGI special effects.
Heist (2015)
So bad I just had to write a review
So bad, I feel sorry for people who liked this. OK its a decent action flick. Everything looks okay. And I hate to critique people who obviously work so hard on this movie and put their hearts into it. The acting is good, the directing is good, perhaps at some time the script was good. But this is so bad its not even funny.
There are so many wholes at the end of the script/movie that its hard to think where to start. I think where it really went downhill was when they shot a cop off the bus. That's it, you shoot a cop, no one gets of the bus alive what to speak off without handcuffs. Then the so called hero shoots his fellow crime partner, while it looks like he shoots the bus driver. A very insane, un-plausible scene, just in the way its filmed. Its called cheating the audience. Besides the fact that the policeman gone rogue is never explained, its just very unrealistic, that he climbs on the bus and gives poison to one of the wounded hijackers. But the worst of the worst is that the hijacker/hero (potential cop killer) gets off the bus, everybody gets treated like they walked of a bus that has been crashed not hijacked (in these situations everyone is a suspect), the hijacker/hero just walks off into a cop car. Its so bad that its not even funny. And then after he goes to... anyway I am gonna stop, so bad it makes you stop wanna watch movies. Cuz really, it gets way worse after this...
Dames 4 (2015)
Amazing movie about parents and women
Original movie about women in Holland. Amazing dialog, completely original and realistic. You get an inside look how women sometimes relate to each other, and what happens how relationships change when people are getting children. Good direction, original music, and a good look on Dutch society in a way that it is, not how the media portrays it, or with any romance, even though the movie is very romantic in a human sense kind of way. A must see for parents, or people who want children. Oh and amazing acting by each and every actor, especially the lead, and the two main supporting roles. It is also very, very funny, although it maintains its realism.
The Godfather (1972)
A masterpiece, from the master, Francis Ford Coppolla
Easily Marlon Brando's best performance. James Caan's best performance, and Al Pacino steals the show. Al Pacino's performance is not as good as the one from Dog Day Afternoon, but still up there as his second best performance. Arguably Robert Duval's best performance ever. Off course we must mention Al Pacino's dear friend (also from Dog Day Afternoon), who plays his older brother Fredo, John Cazale; an amazing performance, that he will top in Godfather II. I also need to mention that Johnny Fontane, played by Al Martino, is most likely based on, or at least inspired by, Frank Sinatra... And we need to mention the iconic music, the only score that ever came close to Ennio Moricone's music. In fact the maestro, Ennio Morricone, performed that tune more then once. Some people call this movie the bible... That might be a bit cynical, but it simply is the most quoted movie ever. "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."