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simon-gangl
Reviews
Atonement (2007)
Beauty and perfection
To say it straight away ...
I can't remember a movie before Atonement to picture such a broad spectrum of the human soul in one single movie, and yet is every aspect portrayed with such detail and beauty.
In this movie everything seems explained; guilt, love, sorrow, hate, hope ... crime, war, peace ...
The direction was really impressive, the cinematography just beautiful, the soundtrack was perfect, the sound editing thrilling. I don't want to give everything away, but if you see this movie, is hard to look at the movie itself, because there are all those perfect details in direction ...
As for the ending ... I guess some will love it as the whole movie, some (including me) will find it "inapropiate" to the movie, stealing a bit of its beauty!
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)
An overseen masterpiece!
If you look the rating here and read some comments you will probably think that this movie is just one of those horror flicks.
BUT!! I think everyone should see this movie and make his own opinion, because it has so much good elements, with a very strong and human message, that would be: It is the nature of every human being, to want someone by his side.
Even if he (Frankenstein, or in general: anybody!) looks like an ugly monster he still feels the need for someone who loves him. (To all who don't get why Frankenstein was made to look so "bad": It just underlines the contrast between how he looks and how he is for real.
So much about the not recognized message! Why wasn't it recognized? The movie is made in a bit unusual style. From the sets, to the costumes and sometimes also the acting. But in the end all this isn't that bad, it would ruin the movie!
If you can handle this, then Frankenstein is a movie you should definitely see! A movie with an very interesting look to the 19th century, with lots of perfect (and disturbing) parts (SPOILER: The wedding night; when Victors leaves Elizabeth alone and goes to look for "the creature". When we see it above her and later how it pulls out her heart and shows that (still beating) to Victor. - one of the most disturbing scenes, not only of this movie! END SPOILERS).
For it's beautiful message presented in the most disturbing way, a 10/10. If you have the chance get this movie and see for yourself!
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Did i see the same movie??!! That was really cheap,stupid...
I saw the movie and thought it will have here a rating somewhere near 5.
And then i see a TOP250 rating!!!
Did you (who voted this so high) see the same movie as I?!
Let me list just some stupid things about this "masterpiece":
MJ (how can someone in serious movies even call someone like this!!??) Mary Jane Watson (LOL) and her love story is one of the most stupid things filmed.She doesn't even know in whom she is in love with.She nearly marries someone;but she is far away from loving him.And then all this "surprising twists" in this love story.That was really too cheap. And shall i write something about the famous scene (where she leaves the church, the sun is shining, the music is playing...)?! Better I don't.
Or what about about Peters Aunt. And the scene where she hangs on an umbrella.That was more stupid than words can say.
Or the great special effects? Some praise them. Hm; saw the same in the first part. Saw much better in X2 (which is a REAL movie with a REAL story).
But OK, these are just stupid pieces of the whole movie. My most important point,and i can't understand the others didn't notice that. It is the completely stupid mixture what this movie is. We have some really stupid scenes (mentioned above).Then we have some scenes which try to show us the big emotions from movies for grown people (when Peter tells his aunt he could have saved his uncle).And then she walks slowly and quiet away (it tries to be great emotional cinema; but IMO this reaction was completely unrealistic; especially when they meat the next time!).Or when we see she hasn't enough money and mas to move to another apartment. But on the other side there are such stupid moments in here(umbrella...) That doesn't work out; it doesn't fit; it is wrong. At least it felt so to me. I made me go "oh oh" !
And there is even more of this "mixing". There is even more comedy (the newspaper scenes), but there are also some horror elements (doc oc - LOL, another stupid name in this movie).
At all: this was much more a comic as it was a movie. If it would focus on a more serious or on a more funny story...both would have be OK. But this?! No, that was anything else but OK. As the first part was!
My rating: 4/10
Band of Brothers (2001)
This is not (mini), this is the best WW II movie!
This movie shows so much!
There are very good made battle scenes (Day of Days, Carentan...). But we also see the emotions and the changing of the men through war. We see how the soldiers learned about the KZs...It is great and epic!
But, my most important thing to say:
As i found this i first thought, (mini)... A series, come on, the people give it good votes because its not a real movie. Now i saw it myself (the whole 10 parts in 3 days!), and it really is magnificent.
For me one of best WW II movies; OK, Schindlers List was better; but still a 10/10.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Really an extraordinary movie!
Not extraordinary good or bad, but its just "strange". It doesnt fit into one of the standard genres. It is a bit like X-men, but come on, the Victorian age, with a 900PS car and a submarine high 50 meters which drives through Venice.
This movie has lots of plotholes and a VERY strange story. But it also offers very good effects, action ans sets.
I sure believe there are people who will like this very much. The whole movie seemed to me unnormal, but go and look for your self. There is an amazing part in the movie, Dorian Gray (maybe you know him from Oscar Wilde...), because of his part 6/10. If he werent there 5/10!
Schindler's List (1993)
Best movie of all time!
Right after "The fellowship of the ring". I liked the second one more because of its story, effects, sound, acting and its a really magnificent movie. But on the other hand we have a moving, perfect movie. It presents a so important part of history, reminds us of what happened in a very emotional way, but never gets boring (sorry, but many other great movies have this HUGE "error"). With Liam Neesons (Oscar Schindler) and Ralph Fiennes (Amon Göth) we see two of the best performances ever (together with Marlon Brandos and Robert de Niros Godfather).
It has also some moments which stand out from the whole movie and will stay with me for all time (what is a proof for really good movies). Here are 2:
-When the first train wrongfully brings the Jews to Auschwitz and we see a colon of people walking into a building. Then the camera moves slowly to the top where we see a huge chimney, out of it coming black dust and we hear only the sound of the fire...
-When Schindler is "recrouting" people for his factory he also employs a teacher. When the teacher is sad by the Nazis he isnt "important" he cant understand it. He says: Since when arent literature and history important? I love this sceen and its in my opinion the best of the movie. History-we must know the history so we dont make the same mistakes as people already made (racism...). and literature- literature represents of what are humans possible. Creating something beautiful, that has not really a practical use (dont misunderstand this!) but its made for higher reasons. The Nazis dont understand higher reasons, they just want them to work, so they can win the war. There is no space for something beautiful.
-Finaly one of the last scenes: When Schindler is driving away at the end. He starts to compare things to human lives...: This symbol, its made of gold. For it i could save two lives!...
And there are much more! One of the best movies of all time and for all time!
Pet Sematary (1989)
SCARY!!!
Hell, i´m 17 and thought that no movie could really scare me (maybe 6th sense a bit), but "Pet Sematary" is a real shocker. Even if there is much blood, the scariest scene is about Zelda, Rachels sister (í'm sure everyone who saw this movie will agree this is one of the scariest things ever made in a movie). There are many positive things about this movie: a very good music, a good story, nice effects. Only thing that wasnt realy good was the last 20 minutes, which were a bit less scary, and the other thing was the wooden acting... I give it 8/10 (6th sense: 10/10).
But anyway, if you want to see a good made horror movie with an interesting (also disturbing) story this is the perfect movie!
PS: Guess from where M. Night Shyamalan (6th sense) got the inspiration for the kind of scary effects (suddenly someone walks across the screen...) he used? In this movie its twice (at the beginning and towards the end) used in the very same genial way!
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Arnie is back in T3! Will we see him in T4?
It´s not better then T2, and I think its not (much) worse. As others said, the acting, effects, action was ok, but Mostow wasnt the right man for this movie. The T-X was as good as the T-1000 (acting), and Kristianna Loken is not the one to blame if you didnt like T3.Here are just some things:
1. When Mostow saw Arnold in the leather jacket he said: Now we´re making a Terminator! Well, I´m very sorry to tell you that, but you were making a Terminator also before that. The movie needs too much time to start! Untill the machine is looking into the screen (this was very chilling to me) it´s OK, but then there are a few minutes really, ugly sh... and nothing hapens. Instead of showing Kate and John so much, that should be shorter and he should show us how Arnie got the gun... Then suddenly the Action starts, too suddenly! I think the composition of the movie is very bad, this is indicated even by the fact the movie is just 1:40 long (and for this Arnie had to pay extra!!).
2. Humor is OK, but it was too much! It was funny and I liked it (more funny then Bruce Almighty and Anger Management), but somewhere the director must say: It´s enough!
3. My most important point (and why I think the movie is not as good as the first 2 Terminators): In T1 and T2 John Connor is not born or hes not very important to the movie. Through the movie we see a cold fight, with less emotion... T3 has too much of John and Kate and their emotions... Even the Terminator is funny...! John Connor is "The One", the leader of the people, but this is during the war, this here is before it, John Connor isnt so much important here!
It seems that Director and Producer must have a T4 in their minds. If it will be without Arnie it is already sh... and not worth of making it! When Arnie will be back (I doubt in this!), then you need a story directly after the war started, in which John Connor wont show us his emotions, but show us why he is so important; it cant be just that he says he´ll take the lead.
Roger & Me (1989)
Less controversial then "Bowling for Columbine", but much more moving.
I still prefer "Bowling for Columbine" because it has a wider spectrum, but "Roger and Me" has also it´s great moments.
The most here write it´s a movie about GM. Well thats true, but it´s much more a movie about the people who worked for GM. Many here also think GM has the right to close it factories where and as much it wants. They see just GM gave the people in Flint work, they don´t see that the people of Flint also made it possible for GM to become that what it is. And, don´t tell me you need to close everything to survive! I bet if they closed the half or lowered the payments it had the same effect!
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
A terrible movie!
The message (or idea) of this movie is that 100%, everyone, who take drugs die in a painful death, or they live a life you can´t really call a life! Thats not true, and to say that it´s stupid, like this whole movie.
But the fear of drugs it tries to spread is not the only one in this movie. When Marion needs drugs, she goes to a BLACK ugly looking guy. Why do you think he is black? Continue yourself...
Well, if the makers of this movie had made Philadelphia (a very good movie, with very good acting) all of the people around the main character had also died because of AIDS. Why? I doesn´t mater, it´s just shocking and cool... His friend would be an ugly black guy
Tom Hanks would probably die in terrible pain and shout: "If you´re gay you will die of AIDS!!!".
Also, the whole movie is a huge logical mistake! At the beginning they take drugs, and it seems they´re used on it, as they already took it years. Then suddenly in half a year (or a bit more) they die. How does this fit? It doesn´t!
If you want to scare someone of drugs (and of somebody else?) this is your movie! But if you believe this, you´ll never try just one cigarette, or drink a cup of coffee because you´ll die, and the doctors will kill you with electric shocks or something else (thats the point of this movie!)...
But the movie has also another message: Life sucks! Life is ugly and nothing worth! And because of this message I really hate this movie (I loved it to give it a 1/10!!). If you want to see a good REALISTIC movie go and watch Philadelphia. It has another look on the life, which says: Even you´re practically already death, there is still something worth fighting for!
Ying xiong (2002)
A nearly perfect movie with fantastic scenes and cinematography!
It´s nearly hard to express how magnificent this movie is. First I thought it will be packed with perfect Martial Arts and lots of computer tricks, but it has other, much more impressive things.
I enjoyed the playing with the colors very much (first red, then blue, white and green). Possibly they have a deeper meaning (4 seasons?), but it´s better to sit and let the colors make an impression on you. From this point it would be an 10/10 movie.
Then there are the Martial Art and the effects. They looked to me very unnatural. It´s so obvious the actors are hanging on some thin ropes. The story is a little bit confusing, and here the colors are very good used to make it easier to understand the movie.
In all a beautiful experience, with one fantastic scene after the other. For me the best one is when Moon and Flying snow fight in the forest, but see it your self!
American History X (1998)
With no question a really good movie!
But in some way I expected a speech (or at least a memorable sentence) against racism. But it´s more the quiet way of protest.
And for me a question, what will happen after Danny was shot?
It wasn´t just meant as a shocking end, but it also gave you the possibility to discuss.
Will he again become as he was earlier, or will he see where this all leads?
I´d like to believe that he will see it, but the ending means for all the others it continues as before!
Psycho (1998)
I give this movie a 10/10.
The same as for the original!
If you divide a movie into 3 components (acting, sound and "graphic"-that what you see), why should it be worser then the original:
-in the first review it says, the sound is the same!
-then the graphic, which is far better, because blood is in black & white just a brown or black point on the white surface and that looks idiotic; then every scene when the house on the hill is shown at night there is nothing to see, just the windows, and that is bull... The graphic is in the new version much better, the screenplay is the same!
-the acting: in "Psycho" there is one important person, thats Norman Bates (all the others just help to develop his story, and have no really importance), and even if it´s in both versions nearly the same somehow I prefer Vince Vaughn, he just seems more to fit into the role.
To that who say the first movie is a 10/10 and the second a 2/10. Maybe you also believe a document (a Word file for example) is "better" when it´s on a diskette then on a CD. Thats the completely same insane thing.
And, I find it a good idea to make nearly 100% copies of old movies. This would be a possibility to bring also old but good films into the cinemas.
Triumph des Willens (1935)
Actually it´s just propaganda, what means the movie is sh...
And because it´s Nazi propaganda, the movie is even more sh...
But there are 3 things that make the movie interesting to see:
-you shouldn´t watch it as a real movie, but take it as a history lesson; I mean you see a 70+ year old movie, like it was real shown as propaganda to the crowds. (probably it´s one of the oldest things you get over the net!)
-the scene when 3 men (one of them is Hitler) slowly walk through uncountable (I think there are about 50.000), not moving soldiers. It´s a very impressive ceremony of death. This is one of two good scenes in the movie)
-during a speech to thousands of boys and girls, Hitler lists things how they must be, to continue his Germany. He also says they must be peace-loving!!!, but strong. For me it was an interesting aspect the movie was made in 1934. 5 long years before the war. Could it be, he had in this time other plans. In the end I think no, but why should he "lie", if he anyway built a huge army?
At last: If you watched this, and you saw how the crowds celebrated him.... What an effect must it have on normal people watching movies like this every day, to hear every day his speeches, to see everywhere (it shown very well in the movie) his symbols...?
Memento (2000)
@Jacob-Mugo and all
I watched the movie just once, but I think I understand it more or less (can it be understood? No, I just have my version!).
I believe Dodd was the second man that attacked Lennys wife. His "friends" were Teddy and Natalie. After the murder they started to realize, that he lost his memory and they started to use him as a killer, they just had to give him some hints and he thought he is after the murderer of his wife (maybe the first time it happened was on the picture he burns?). Then Natalie somehow got the money and wanted Dodd and Teddy to be killed, so she made up all the things to bring Lenny to kill them both.
Well, thats not very fascinating (as the movie is); the fascinating on it is Lenny. His life is just one thing, he tries to find the murderer of his wife, so he follows the clues. How often did it he already? I think 2 times (the picture I mentioned and Teddy), but after a while he will somehow start a new hunt for the murderer and he will find new clues!
I think this would explane from where the "Never answer the Phone" could come (this was a very important part of the whole movie to me), or the huge "Teddy G rapped my wife" (or somehow like this). I think this text was written by someone else on him (why should it be backwards?).
A fascinating, complex thriller (maybe I didnt understood it...) worth seeing it more times!
City of Angels (1998)
The Movie is just beautiful!
You can say what you want, it´s the only romantic movie that came form Hollywood and it´s worth seeing it. It´s not the stupid FUNNY love story (How to lose a guy in 10 days?, Just married, Sweet home Alabama..........), it trys also to tell something, live itself is beatiful (smell air, taste water...; it´s not meaningless!!). And beside this there is a love story (one of very rare ones) that hasn´t a stupid happy end (why does it remember me on Julia Roberts and Richard Gere?), but it has beautiful images, and one of the beautifulest soundtracks I ever heard!
Why I repeat beautiful, because it´s not impressive, unbelievable or something like that, it´s just as it is, beautiful (nearly as beautiful as the scenes in the Shire from "The Fellowship"!