Reviews

"Bonjour, messieurs. Parlez-vous Français ? Well I'm sorry, but my English is not very good" ( François Truffaut in CE3K ) Greetings from Paris, France, puny Earthlings ! I just saw the French press preview of WAR OF THE WORLDS this morning - one of my favorite books adapted by my favorite movie director, Monsieur Steven Spielberg. Two hours later, I just went out the movie theater, absolutely shocked and confused - like after an massive air attack... WAR OF THE WORLDS is an absolute masterpiece of cold and ruthless sci-fi terror, a shaking experience which will let you breathless. This is neither an spoof of the "Aliens Invade Earth" like MARS ATTACKS !, a brainless summer blockbuster like ID4, nor a Spielberg-wannabe-movie like SIGNS. This is a extraordinary piece of film-making, which hides some subtle re-interpretations of one of the most mysterious, esoterical works of the Story of Mankind - St.John of Pathmos visions, in the Apocalypse. WAR OF THE WORLDS : some kind of a prophecy for the End of Mankind ? The script is faithful to the H.G. Wells's novel ; great acting ( Tom Cruise is great - forget the Katie Holmes/Scientology media mass hysteria crap ; and I mention especially Tim Robbins in a short but memorable, and creepy apparition ), terrific sequences ( the Tripod's first apparition, the Ferry sequence... OHMYGOSH !!! ) and a very chilling score by the great John Williams. I went back to my home after the screening. I looked at the sky - same "color" as it is at the beginning of the movie. I walked in front of a church and looked at some holes in the ground in front of it... Uh-oh... 10/10

I first saw an excerpt of "Close Encounters" at the french TV, when I was a four year kid. It's still graven on my memory because it was the sequence when little Barry is waken up by his moving toys and discovers the extra-terrestrials in the kitchen. I was at least as amazed as he was... any four year kid who sees his toys moving by themselves MUST BE amazed !

Now I've grown up, but I didn't forget my first "cinematographic experience". "Close Encounters" is my definitive favorite movie, with "2001 : A Space Odyssey". Great performances of Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr and François Truffaut ( French viewers must see the film in the original language if they want to appreciate the humor and real sense of his dialogues with the interpreter ); a magnificent score by John Williams, the stunning visual effects of Douglas Trumbull ( "2001", "CE3K", "Blade Runner"... no comment ! ), and Steven Spielberg's touch really make this film a masterpiece. Merci, monsieur Spielberg.

The Phantom Menace has been so much attacked by the french media that it's sometimes little hard for me to defend it against its detractors... Well, I just would say that I liked the movie, not as much as The Empire Strikes Back, which is still my favorite. George Lucas did a great job with this good premise of the famous saga : special effects ( of course ), editing, music, costumes, design( the look of the Nubian Ship is perfect ), all of that is quite good. The story is maybe too complex sometimes, but I enjoyed the political subplot - one of my favorite scenes is Amidala's audience to the Senate. The casting is excellent, especially Natalie Portman and Pernilla August, who are in my opinion the main characters of this episode : they play right two strong and determinate women who have a important place in Anakin's heart. I simply loved them !

Even amputated, the 13th Warrior is one of the greatest films of John McTiernan, and in my opinion the best adventure movie of the last decade. I wasn't usually a fan of Antonio Banderas, but he's perfect as Ibn Fahdlan, the poet who becomes a warrior. Vladimir Kulich's performance is fantastic, he made me think of a modern , noble figure of Conan the Barbarian. I loved too this fabulous score. Jerry Goldsmith is a musical genius. What can I say more ? The epic battles, the Vikings, the photography... It's perfect ! I think I'll pray Thor and Odin for a Director's Cut Edition of this great Nordic adventure.

I've seen Les Grands Ducs recently, because some of my friends have recommended it to me as a cult comedy. Well, they were right : it's a fast, funny and sometimes pathetic comedy, even if the cinematography is a little too shaky. The style of the movie is like the meeting of the Marx Brothers films - the director Patrice Leconte is a great fan of their comedies - with another Leconte's movies, like Tandem. I especially enjoyed the character of Michel Blanc, who made me think about Wile Coyote in Warner's Looney Tunes, and the great Jean-Pierre Marielle, who is really fun to watch in drag!