paaskynen Reviews

Sex Education (2019–2023)

Jumped the shark

[5/10 · 2 October 2023]

Sex Education started out as a funny and thought-provoking show about secondary school students somewhere in England. I appreciated that the show runners had taken pains to mix European and American culture and obfuscated the time setting, so as to make the appeal more universal.

The ensemble cast did quite a good job in a storyline aimed at highlighting real-life personal problems of teenagers in a somewhat light-hearted way. LGBTQ+ issues were dealt with without sensationalizing or glorifying it. On the whole it was a solid show that deserved its accolades.

All that was undone in season four. A bunch of characters from the previous seasons were unceremoniously dropped from the storyline and the remaining students were parachuted into some kind of LGBTQ+ fantasy land. Any pretence of realism went abruptly overboard and, boy, did it go far off the rails! The cherry on top of this departure from the original tone is when an LGBTQ-friendly god literally comes down to earth...

It left me wondering if Netflix tasked an AI to write this season and then lost control of it. Or maybe, they just didn't care.

You & Me & Me (2023)

Charming take on the twin dilemma

[7/10 · 19 May 2023]

Of course, the dilemma faced by identical twins when romance comes between them, has been done many times before, but this charming Thai film gives it a fresh setting. The young actress who plays both sisters does an outstanding job of giving each her own personality. (This would naturally not have been possible without the stand-in who plays the other sister in scenes where split screen was not an option.) The story unfolds in a mostly urban environment in the year 1999. The fallout of the Thai economic crash of the late 1990s and the hullabaloo about the turn of the millennium, as well as the fear of the Y2K problem sparking the end of the world play in the background. The story does not need any beach settings or tourist attractions to hold the viewer's attention. It is the interaction between the sisters, complicated by their first crush and financial strain on their family life, that carries the story forward. I liked it.

Copenhagen Cowboy (2022–2023)

Even pretty shots become boring without anything to shore them up

[3/10 · 20 January 2023]

I started watching this TV-series completely blank, going only by the short Netflix description. I really wanted to like it, but the makers would not let me. A few action scenes are connected by endlessly slow and dull sequences. The makers have a particular weakness for painfully slow 360 degree pans and toe curlingly slow zooms which they throw in whenever they possibly can. The dialogue is pretty minimal and uninspired and, did I mention, slow. The storyline is messy and pointless. I played the last four episodes at 1.5x speed and I still did not miss a single thing. In fact, it was still sluggish!

In short, this TV-series is a pretentious pile of steaming dookie and I would advise anyone reading this to give it a miss.

One Magic Christmas (1985)

A mixed bag

[5/10 · 21 November 2022]

The start of this movie presents us with many fun cultural expressions from the 1980s, however in the middle the film gets very dark indeed and basically holds the protagonist at ransom: either you believe in Christian Xmas or else your kids and husband are dead! That is a very bad message to send at Christmas, the happy ending notwithstanding.

Yes, we need Christmas movies that show people struggling and still finding the Christmas spirit. This is the reality of today in the US and many more countries. What we do not need is some fickle supernatural hold of our destiny, craving submission to one myth in hope of solving real world issues. That is in fact creepy, but there we are in America now.

Who Pays the Ferryman? (1977)

Aegean nostalgia

[8/10 · 28 October 2022]

This ten-episode TV series was a great hit in the Netherlands in 1978. Pretty much the whole country stayed home to watch it and the theme music climbed the hit charts.

The story breathes the relative idyllic atmosphere of Greece in the late 70s. The military dictatorship had been overthrown in 1974 and the country was opening up to foreign tourism like never before. The future appeared bright, though at the same time the memories of the Second World War remained fresh as many had lived through it.

This is the background against which the story is set. Inside scenes were filmed in the UK, but all outside sequences were filmed on Crete with lots of local extras, which lends the story a lot of authenticity. The fact that the main Greek characters are played by British actors does not take away from that. They do an excellent job.

While referencing Greek mythology, especially in the episode titles, the story remains grounded in real life intercultural and interpersonal conflicts. It builds up over the episodes to a magnificent climax at the end. I cannot but recommend this series.

The village of Elounda, featured prominently in the series, became something of a tourist magnet as a result and grew into a major seaside resort on Crete.

Home Sweet Home Alone (2021)

So bad I had to stop it.

[2/10 · 19 November 2021]

This film is the next level of bad. One already had low expectations of a Hollywood remake (in view of all the other recent Hollywood remakes), but this one takes the cake. How is this a Christmas movie? The kid defending the house is evil and the people trying to get in have been sorely wronged. One cannot possibly side with the obnoxious kid, which makes all the punishment dealt to the wronged couple painful and thoroughly unfunny! I normally watch a film to the end, but this one I simply could not tolerate; horrible, shameful, a total dog.

The Forgotten Battle (2020)

A positive surprise

[8/10 · 15 October 2021]

Having seen a number of Dutch Second World War films, If have to say, I was positively surprised as to how close this film aimed to come to actual situations on the ground. Most of the island of Walcheren had been flooded by the Germans and by Allied bombing of the dikes. One of my uncles survived the battle for Vlissingen in a flooded cellar, floating with a tobacco barrel under each arm. Ironically, he died of lung cancer fifty years later.

As war films go this one is actually pretty good.

Inés of My Soul (2020)

A decently engaging story

[7/10 · 29 April 2021]

The advantage of TV series set in on an actual historical timeline is that you know there will be a proper ending without the watering down and dragging out that plagues too many serialised stories. Inés del alma mía is a good example of such a story, based on true historical persons and events, even if the plot author has taken some liberties with the timelines for dramatic effect, condensing some events, leaving out some more, and moving forward others. The budget also limits what could be shown. Battle scenes are all shown with narrow focus, since it was not possible to field hundreds, let alone thousands, of extras in period attire.

Inés is portrayed as a thoroughly modern woman in a time when that would inevitably have led to her demise, but the special circumstances in which she comes to find herself, make it plausible that she could have prospered as she did. On the whole a quite palatable story that was worth telling and is worth watching.

Cuties (2020)

Did I see the same film?

[7/10 · 29 January 2021]

I am one of the many who watched this film on Netflix to see for myself what all the hubbub was about. I saw a tragic story of a girl desperately trying to belong and pushing her boundaries in her quest to be liked and accepted, with the playful ending providing a glimmer of hope. The much maligned dance sequences are meant to be uncomfortable to watch, as they reflect the reality of the pervasive sexualisation of youngsters pushed by social media. This sexualisation is an exponent of the popular culture of the very country where the majority of the critics hail from (the idea of toddlers and tiaras, which I had to look up after reading some reviews, is much more revolting to me and it ran for seven seasons!). Methinks many of the negative reviews are from people who did not watch the actual film, or who got too hung up in the controversy to see it for what it is.

Last Christmas (2019)

Just OK

[6/10 · 21 November 2019]

In order to stand out, critics are always sorely tempted to exaggerate... The worst film ever, eh? Where does that leave Blubberella? No, Last Christmas is not as bad as it is made out to be. It is not very well done though. Its greatest failing is that the protagonist is pretty unlikable throughout the story, or so unlikable initially that redemption comes too late to warm to her plight. Emma Thompson could not make her character work; I kept seeing Emma Thompson. The twist was too predictable and most (though not all) of the jokes fell flat. On the upside, the side plot of "Santa" and "Boy" is fun and the sound track contains some entertaining classics. Do I regret seeing this film? No. Would I want to watch it again? Nope.

Bon Bini Holland (2015)

Charm only goes so far

[5/10 · 28 January 2019]

This film builds on the personality of the main actor, who enjoyed success with a series of funny sketches set in a fast food restaurant in which he plays several ethnic characters. It was always going to be a challenge to extend short sketches into a feature-length plot.

The humor is based on very over the top, some might say offensive, stereotyping applied to most of the characters in the story. It is also pretty specific to the situation of Carribean immigrants in the Netherlands; Non-Dutch viewers might not get all references and consider it decidedly unfunny.

On the upside, the main actor in the story is quite charming (in the protagonist role; not so much in the other four roles he plays). The island of Curacao (and its capital Willemstad) are colourfully featured at the start. It is also refreshing that the scenes in the Netherlands are not set in Amsterdam, as always, but in the city of Rotterdam with its more diverse architecture.

All in all a mixed bag.

The Resistance Banker (2018)

Not every banker

[7/10 · 5 January 2019]

Foreign viewers will inevitably find it hard to judge the valiant actions of the protagonists in this movie at their true value. Resisting the German occupation of the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation meant risking your life as well as the life of your family, literally. What the protagonists in this move achieved was hugely important even though none of them ever fired a gun. They saved the lives of thousands with their financial machinations. Let credit be with those bankers who earned it... there are plenty who did not...

Our Souls at Night (2017)

We are getting older

[8/10 · 24 November 2018]

I watched this flick on account of a YouTube review, so far so modern, but after I had started the film I had to pause it for a while. The Sundance Kid and Barbarella had met again in an On Golden Pond scenario and they looked every bit their age! It did make me feel old. However, when I had resumed the tale, more and more, the age of the characters was overshone by their personalities. For a while I thought the introduction of the child would reduce the story to soppy sentimentality, but instead it made it stronger. On the whole a surprisingly good flick!

Little Brother, Big Trouble: A Christmas Adventure (2012)

Not enough weasel

[6/10 · 23 November 2017]

The real charm of the first Niko movie was the weasel character that with irreverent lines made the somewhat soppy story enjoyable. I especially liked the weasel's song and dance routine.

The sequel, unfortunately, as sequels tend to go, reduces on the charm and increases on the cheese.

Still, for parents with children, especially those from a broken home, this is not a despicable movie. The characters are on the most part likable and their motives understandable.

Still, I would advise viewers to watch the first instalment first, before engaging with this one, since it explains much of the needed backstory, including the mesmerising weasel performance.

The Midwife (2015)

Lost potential

[5/10 · 4 November 2017]

This film was touted to me as the first one set in Lapland during the often forgotten Lapland War between Finland and Nazi-Germany (1944-1945). This was false marketing for the story is mostly set in Russia and the Lapland War does not start until two-thirds into the film.

The plot aims to be a love story between lovers from opposite sides in the conflict, against all odds, but that angle is obfuscated by side plots and the paper thin story, in which everything is treated with the same greyish brush.

Furthermore, the special effects in the action scenes are mostly not believable. Bombs repeatedly explode literally two meters away from the protagonists who are standing up yet miraculously remain unharmed, while German soldiers, instead of seeking cover, fire at attack planes with pistol calibre small arms.

I assume the film makers wanted to create an artsy, dark film to gloss over the fact that they lacked the budget to depict realistic action and atrocity scenes and they failed in that attempt. There are some good scenes, but on the whole the story feels disjointed, the characters have little chemistry and their actions appear poorly motivated.

It is too bad that a story with potential did not meet with a better execution. For a better film set in the same area and during the same time period, watch Kukushka (2002).

House of the Rising Sun (2011)

Yeah, this was preeetty bad

[2/10 · 17 March 2017]

OK, I knew that one cannot expect too much from a flick that headlines Dave Bautista, but the DVD was cheap and the cover suggested a tag team of him and Danny Trejo. And they had a few decent B-movie stars to back them up. It looked like uncomplicated fun.

Unfortunately, Trejo has no more than a cameo in this movie and plays virtually no role in the action at all. Bautista lacks the acting skills to carry the movie on his own, especially since the role does not exploit his considerable physical assets.

The title also put me on the wrong foot, leading me to think this might be a precursor to Badasses on the Bayou. Nope, a lifeless wronged-cop-gets-retribution flick is what I got. Too bad about my one Euro.

Mitä meistä tuli (2009)

Charm on a shoestring

[6/10 · 22 October 2016]

This film was clearly made by young people who had to make up for a very low budget with a lot of enthusiasm. The result is a bit uneven, but nonetheless charming relationship drama.

Central to the plot is the weird relationship between Jake and Erika, which has somehow been put on hold due to a traumatic event during their childhood. Closure is only obtained during a cathartic class reunion aboard a party ferry where the diverse story lines come together and matters are finally resolved. Uncharacteristically, for a Finnish film, the film makers even manage to squeeze out a happy end for all.

Shoestring production values, overuse of flashbacks and uneven acting performances handicap the film, but overall it is not a bad product and managed to keep me engaged.

The Aquatic Effect (2016)

Runs out of air

[7/10 · 14 July 2016]

L'Effet Aquatique is a Franco-Icelandic co-production and it seems the efforts were divided over two teams that delivered work of differing quality. The first half of the film is set in France and develops the relationship between the protagonists in a believable way.

Unfortunately, once the story moves to Iceland, it gradually loses its freshness. The wonderful vistas of Iceland's nature easily outshine the French cityscape, but the interaction between the protagonists falls apart in a failed attempt to bring a sense of magic or predestination into it.

Score 7 on the strength of the first part.

Lapland Odyssey (2010)

I thought it was good plain fun

[7/10 · 13 September 2015]

In the past years a smattering of films was released that were set in Lapland. Swedish titles like Frostbiten and Babas Bilar (both from 2006) come to mind as well as in Finland Rare Exports and Lapland Odyssey (both from 2010).

All these films are characterised by what may be described as a typically northern, undercooled type of humor. And, typically, they are all set during the dark, snowy Arctic winter.

Lapland Odyssey (Napapiirin sankarit) is more than the others a straightforward comedy. The protagonist is your typical slacker. In an American road movie, he'd be a pothead, but in Lapland alcohol is still the drug of choice. This loser is set the task to, for one time in his life, not disappoint his girlfriend. His fluctuating luck sees him among other things nearly drowned by an all-female underwater rugby team and nearly shot by Russians and after all his tribulations he is left empty-handed standing in front of the house, ready to acknowledge defeat when a deus ex machina arrives...

I thought it was actually worth watching.

Flight World War II (2015)

Could have been both better and worse

[4/10 · 8 August 2015]

Had I known this was an Asylum product, I would not have given it my time, as I find their disregard for reality (laws of physics anyone?) too chafing. This story had something going for it though. The script writers have cleverly nipped criticism of historical inaccuracies in the bud by revealing that the story largely unfolds in a parallel universe with an alternative history.

The weakness of this flick lies therefore mostly in the rather uneven acting performances of the supporting cast and in some poor story elements aboard the aircraft. Still, it is not a total wreck.

What I do have an issue with are the obviously planted reviews unashamedly praising this film as a masterpiece. There is already too much disinformation on the net as it is.

San Andreas Quake (2015)

OK, it watched this film

[3/10 · 3 July 2015]

I did not know it was an Asylum product, so I must admit I was positively surprised to see a mediocre, rather than outright crappy product. The Asylum takes care not to advertise itself on DVD covers anymore, I tell you! I have not yet seen the ripped off title, San Andreas, so I cannot compare, yet in view of the other, worse than awful, releases by the Asylum, we can count ourselves lucky that this one is not as bad as could have been expected. Yes, the geophysics are wrong, but not as bad as in the original (which got it spectacularly wrong), and the rest was roughly equal, bad but not inexcusably wrong.

So despite my prejudice against against the Asylum, I cannot completely destroy this title.

Dragon Hunter (2009)

Not as bad as THAT

[2/10 · 14 May 2015]

OK, this film was pretty bad in every aspect.

However (You knew there was going to be a but), it is consistently bad, no aspect of bad outdoes the other, which makes for a relatively balanced bad film.

Forty years ago, this might actually have made it to the big screen as a passable fantasy action flick.

Too bad it was made in 2009.

One must hope that the crew who worked on this poor product will have learnt from this experience and will do better next time.

Otherwise this whole exercise in silliness would have been a waste.

Therefore, a well-earned 2 out of 10.

Suddenly (2006)

Swedish melodrama

[29 October 2013]

This is a film about guilt and catharsis.

Jonas and his father survive a car accident that kills both the mother and brother of Jonas. He and his father, who was behind the wheel, must find a way to move on. The father decides to move to a natural surrounding in the archipelago to find healing in the midnight sun. Both he and Jonas meet the angel who can redeem them.

The father is memorable in his guilt-ridden grief, but most memorable is Moa Gammel who, in her role as Helena, portrays perhaps by far the most desirable Swedish blonde since Bibi Andersson. It is unreal that it takes Jonas most of the film to succumb.

Worth seeing!

Stand Off (2011)

No chemistry

[5/10 · 8 September 2013]

This film is an attempt to make a British crime comedy for an American audience. It gets off to a promising start (if we disregard the wholly unnecessary exposition explaining why Brendan Fraser's character left the United States). The three main story lines are introduced and succeed in raising interest in the protagonists, but as more and more superfluous side characters are drawn into it, the plot starts to unravel. Yaya Dacosta turns into a cardboard cutout placed in the scenes to present stock reactions in the background. What little chemistry existed between her and Fraser evaporates in the silliness of what are supposed to be plot twists. Fraser and McCann had no spark to begin with. Really, this film is carried between Colm Meaney and Michael Legge.

Passion Play (2010)

An Occurrence at Angel Creek Bridge

[6/10 · 20 January 2013]

This at times charming film features la Fox in her best role to date, even though she still comes across as a living doll at times (What's with all that lip gloss?) Mickey Rourke basically plays Chet Baker in his later years, a gifted and once-handsome trumpet player ravaged by drink and drugs, and this role fits him like a glove.

Needless to say, Bill Murray is brilliant as the psychopath mob boss.

The film contains many symbolic references to the nature of the story, that may cause the plot to be too predictable, unless they pass unnoticed.

Altogether not a bad pastime, but as far as angels go, I would prefer Angel-A.