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dhahn
Reviews
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Problematic, but with nice visuals
So yes, there are some nice visual effects. Apparently for many, that justifies the movie already. And to be honest, it's not that I don't appreciate some eye candy, but the story is really beyond cringe.
My main gripes are weird portrayal of "indigineous" culture, and the somewhat dysfunctional family dynamics (in a storyline focusing much on "family"). While the teenage kids are supposedly the focus of the story, the family dynamics are a kickback to the 1950s. The father as the unquestioned authority, tasked to "protect the family". The mother as an emotional sidekick - unless, of course, she goes batshit crazy and on a killing spree to defend the kids. Because, you know, women.
While the teenagers are supposedly driving the story lines, they get mostly talked down to, scolded and grounded, and not listened to, and are supposed to conform. I honestly tried to remember when I last saw a movie where a parent was unironically addressed with "yes sir". I don't think it was in this century. And no, it is not an excuse that the father is also a military commander. Taking teenage children to military operations (and, of course, only the sons) is not a sign of good parenting.
Moreover, the movie borrows heavily from Native Americans, Maori and indigenous cultures, but narrative is from a white, western, middle-class viewpoint. It doesn't fly well.
The "fake native" angle was already a weakness of the first part - but at least in this one we were supposedly watching the "natives" through the eyes of the "invaders" by means of the avatars, so it made kind of sense.
But hey, we got some great underwater animation, so who's to complain?
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
Yup. Emo girls.
And I fail to see how it could appeal to anyone else. In fact, I fail to see how on earth this could have even been written by anyone over sixteen.
Movies are captivating if you link with the characters. In this case, bonding with that bunch of obviously lobotomized people (or supernatural beings, whatever) requires a heightened state of hormonal imbalance.
So, if you're in that special age and still believe in those deep feelings, go and see it. You won't learn anything about love, or life, but you won't care either.
For the rest of the population, especially those with more than half a brain, its better to stay away.
Ghost World (2001)
A movie going nowhere
It wasn't that this movie was particularly bad. I like the pictures, there are characters you can identify it and still: The film is not going anywhere, it's just moving along. It's a series of mini-plots, loosely connected by having the same characters in it. The parts are well made, but the composition is arbitratry in a way that the movie is actually less than the sum of it's parts.
The problem is that the protagonists don't have a goal. They are undecided in what they want to do with their lives, and they never actually make that decision and stick by it. That may or may not be an accurate description of real life in the suburbs, but it certainly makes for bad drama: Somebody without a goal can neither succeed nor fail, she's just going nowhere. Everything will just go round in circles, with slight changes from time to time. So what's the point in watching? Nothing will come out of it anyway.
So ultimately this movie looks like somebody decided that it might be a cool idea to point a camera at two girls and an older guy and see what happens. After the time is up, still nothing has happened. So we just switch off at that point and call it a movie.
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
One of the goodies
If no miracle is going to happen, this is certainly one of the best movies in 2001. Of course the movie's merits and shortcomings could be discussed in great length, but all I have to say is this:
It is refreshing to see that there are still people out there who can simply tell a simple story, a love story, a fairy tale without resorting to vulgar humor, silly effects and brand-name faces to hide their creative shortcomings. It helps to know that someone is still out there who can still characters who are not "realistic", but unique, and who get a life of their own. And at last, it is also good to see that people still honor good work and fresh ideas - that ideas that are not produced to be 100% mass-compatible are still honored.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
One word: Ouch!
What surprised me most about the movie are the good grades it keeps getting. All right, the visuals *are* great, and the technical perfection is impressing (well, it will remain so for about a year, probably). Some scenes are even worth watching.
But still the fact remains: The whole background story appears to be the machination of some weird New Age freak (probably possesed by an evil spirit...), and the so-called dialogues... well, they could be fabricated by tearing up a 13-year-old-girl's diary and putting the words back together in no particular order.
If nothing else, somebody should have told the authors this: Too much pathos kills romance, and nonsense remains nonsense, no matter how gravely it is declaimed.
If you can see this movie for next to no money, you may still want to it as an unintended satirical play, but do not forget to bring some alcoholic beverages. It makes it bearable.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
One word: Ouch!
What surprised me most about the movie are the good grades it keeps getting. All right, the visuals *are* great, and the technical perfection is impressing (well, it will remain so for about a year, probably). Some scenes are even worth watching.
But still the fact remains: The whole background story appears to be the machination of some weird New Age freak (probably possesed by an evil spirit...), and the so-called dialogues... well, they could be fabricated by tearing up a 13-year-old-girl's diary and putting the words back together in no particular order.
If nothing else, somebody should have told the authors this: Too much pathos kills romance, and nonsense remains nonsense, no matter how gravely it is declaimed.
If you can see this movie for next to no money, you may still want to it as an unintended satirical play, but do not forget to bring some alcoholic beverages. It makes it bearable.
The Cell (2000)
Pointless
The makers of this movie tried really hard to hide that this is basically a pointless piece about nothing. Just looking o.k. is _not_ enough for a movie.
One of the most disappointing experiences this year - the guy who made it should either learn how to tell a story, or go back to his music videos.
Coyote Ugly (2000)
Average
Completely average Hollywood entertainment: Plot completely predictable, ages-old story and an almost unbearable cheesy ending.
Nevertheless, it _was_ an entertaining feel-good movie. If you're not after a deep-going plot, Coyote Ugly is certainly worth the ticket.
Am zin (1999)
Hollywood just doesn't make 'em like that...
Not high art, not even exceptionally innovative, but a thoroughly enjoyable movie. Funny, fresh, intelligent - there are still people out there who don't need millions of dollars to hide that they're out of ideas.
When you compare this to your average Hollywood action flick, you're comparing a homemade meal with a big mac.
The Cell (2000)
Pointless
The makers of this movie tried really hard to hide that this is basically a pointless piece about nothing. Just looking o.k. is _not_ enough for a movie.
One of the most disappointing experiences this year - the guy who made it should either learn how to tell a story, or go back to his music videos.
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Very intense
Very rarely have comments differed so widely on a movie. Dancer in the dark isn't for everyone (certainly not for children), but it was a very intense experience.
It takes a while to get used to von Trier's "shaky-hand-camera-style", but once you warmed up, Björk delivers a stunning, and very emotional, performance.
By the way: Despite the dancing scenes, this is hardly a musical...
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Nice nothing...
This one has no storyline to speak of, no character development, no second thoughts. And thank goodness, it doesn't pretend to.
When I saw the Angels, I got what I paid for: Plain fun and action.
Showgirls (1995)
It can hardly get worse
There are people who claim this movie is "satire", but I wonder, about what? American culture? Then it's probably something only Americans get, because I certainly don't.
Even worse, besides the claim of "satire", the movie has nothing else. The story is thin at most, the nude girls are not even remotely erotic, and the whole experience has been one of intense boredom.
Harold and Maude (1971)
One of my favourites
This movie is definitely one of my all time favourites, it's intelligent, witty, surprising, simply brilliant. There's not much more I can say: You can't tell this movie, you have to see it.
However, it does require an open mind to enjoy Harold and Maude, it's definitely not of the MTV-Generation, and maybe people who thought "Starship Troopers" was patriotic do better to avoid it.
Erkan & Stefan (2000)
The worst movie I have ever seen
I have never before voted 1 for a movie on the IMDB, but for this one I am sorry the scale doesn't go down to -10.
All I can say abou this movie is that I saw it in a Sneak Preview, and it was my worst movie experience ever. I don't mind the stupid jokes. I can live with the silly story. But when I see those dumbly grinning "main characters" with their pseudo-foreign speech (only Germans will understand what I talk about), I felt I kind of loathing I never thought I was capable of. (If they had left them out, the thing may actually have been acceptable...).
There's not much more to be said about this one. You may laugh once or twice, because it's so ridiculous, but that doesn't make it any better. It is definitely not funny.
If you live outside of Germany, be happy and rejoice that this awful work will most likely never make it to your cinemas.
If you do live in Germany, avoid this movie at all costs.
Croupier (1998)
It works, but what was the intention?
Croupier is one of those films that you probably never wanted to see, but which are still worth the money should you get in by accident.
Take an incredibly cool guy (you know, the type where you expect ice crystals to form on the forehead) and give him a job as a croupier, to allow him to act out that severe superiority complex he got.
Then add some women who hang around for a chance to be mistreaded by said jerk, as well as some other people to act as props. Give them incredibly braindead dialogues, which sound like the characters have been fed on bad philosophical textbooks for too long.
After that, all you have to do is to write a storyline that won't get boring and add a good amount of dark humor to the setting.
"Croupier" managed to do all that. If you like satire, you will most likely like this movie. Nevertheless, you will always wonder if the makers genuinely tried to force some deeper meaning into their dialogues and narration. If that was the intention, it failed gloriosly, but in a satirical way. The pseudo-philosophical statements from the off are so shallow that it hurts to even consider them as serious. On the other hand the whole thing may be created as a satire in the first place, so there would be some meaning on a different level...
Nevertheless, I'm quite certain that there will be people who are going to beat some sense into those senseless lines - even at the cost of mental sanity. It'll be great fun to see what those people will come up with.
Celebrity (1998)
It simply works...
I left the cinema happy, with a big grin on my face. I don't know many Woody Allen films, so I'm not into the usual comparisons, but the man is certainly still a master of his art. The film simply works: It's sharp, witty, funny, and never boring. (And even Leo DiCaprio managed to pull something off... you have to imagine that)