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Reviews
Valkyrie (2008)
German WWII conspiracy lost in translation
I'll make it short. Any movie based on historical events has already lost most of its suspense from the outset. This movie is no different. However a strong performance by the Director and cast can make up for this. Valkyrie is based on one of many failed attempts to kill Hitler during WWII. Tom Cruise plays the main character and does so convincingly. All other actors (and mind you this is a star class of actors) play their parts very well.
What doesn't work and this is why I rate it the way I do, is the fact that almost all of the suspense is killed by the English language. It is the very essence of the menace of the Nazi regime and the very insidious image of Adolf Hitler that is now lost in translation. This movie would have been an A plus if it had used the German language and if that resulted in a few star actors having to be replaced by native German speakers, so be it. The Dutch actresses actually make it look somewhat authentic European, although their roles are too marginal to actually save the entire film.
This film might work for the US market, since they don't like subtitles but for the European market, it does not work even though the events depicted are part of the single most important era in European history (if not world history).
Jarhead (2005)
A truly terrifying experience
America will never be defeated in a battle (any time soon) but will it ever win the hearts and minds of the people they are supposedly liberating as they did during WWII? After WWII many wars have been fought but all have been lost in the eye of the general public. This motion picture is scary for anyone outside of the US. Especially those who think of the USA as the good guys, the A-Team for the world, the country that promotes truth and justice and stands for honesty and civil liberties for anyone. This motion picture is a wake up call for all those who think that American soldiers are there to protect the innocent, to fight for a good cause, democracy. American soldiers are no longer fighting for truth and justice, they fight for commercial reasons, special interest groups in Washington define the targets. Soldiers have no moral problems in this movie to pull the trigger, they want to kill, they were trained to kill and therefore they are going to kill. Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime.
This is in essence a portrayal of the downfall of American moral. Any legitimacy for fighting abroad has disappeared and Jarhead is the Full Metal Jacket of a nihilistic generation. A truly terrifying movie.
From Inside (2008)
Don't see this
Last year I saw Machine Girl at the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival (2008), now it's called Imagine (2009), God knows why. I thought they didn't get any worse than that movie, but I was wrong, dead wrong. From Inside is terrible, really awful. What's the point of this story? Everyone dies, the animation is slow and has a very old school feel to it. Anyone who has seen the 80's Lord of the Rings animation knows what I am talking about. But the point is this, this movie has no point and during its 70 minutes the audience is thinking something like this: "what is this? it must be a metaphor? but for what?".
Peolple left the screening room disappointed, and so did I. This movie is not recommended at all, not even if you could see it for free.
Kataude mashin gâru (2008)
Don't watch this!
As a fan of Asian cinema, as a fan of anything out of the ordinary, I can only warn you to not watch this movie. I watched it at he Amsterdam fantastic film festival 2008 and I had just seen 7 other films of various quality. This one tops the list of the worst film of the festival. The first 5 minutes are the best, after that it is boring beyond belief. I was curious, but to be honest had a lot of trouble holding on to the end of the movie. My friends were mad at me for bringing them to this film and I cannot blame them. Nothing really can be said in favor of the film and I am not going to try. Don't rent it don't buy it don't watch it, just don't.
À l'intérieur (2007)
Sick!
One has to be rather sick in the head to come up with the script for this movie. It is as brutal as it can get, and rather disgusting to be honest. Horror movies like this are very hard on the stomach and have no real entertainment value since you feel guilty watching such a sadistic display of violence. However, having said that, it is captivating and the suspense is everywhere. Thumbs up for that, but it is just way too much for me too give it a high rating. The story is simple; pregnant woman about to deliver her baby is visited by unknown woman who wants the baby out by all means. Well whatever you imagine could happen, the director has doubled that and then added some more, just in case you think you have seen it all. This is as hardcore as it gets. Anything more, and you should apply for a job in the local ER or join the triage officers at some war zone across the globe. Sick and demented.
The Signal (2007)
Someone actually financed this..
This movie starts like a terrible cult-like 70's style horror flick, transforms into something that actually on the subconscious level critically comments on today's society with all it's electronically transmitted influences, then slides into comedy, quickly goes back to sheer and utter gore and horror and ends up leaving the viewer really depressed. If anything, The signal is actually the only signal that transmits crazy images and makes you want to kick and scream at the director of this movie. It's so depressing, dark and senseless that the message is actually lost. The message being; we are driven to the brink of insanity by media images/ transmissions a.k.a. the signals and we knowingly commit horrible acts because of it. I am afraid the message or better yet the signal has some interference problems and does not reach its audience as intended.
Rambo (2008)
Welcome home John Rambo!!
Sylvester Stallone's alter ego John Rambo is back in action, presumably for the last time. This film resembles Stallone's final goodbye to Rocky Balboa, which was shot in a slow 70's style. This one is shot in a fast 80's style. However it has the brutality of today. Images we see on the Internet or on news casts every day. Stallone does not hold back on the graphic details of violence and, although Rambo does not talk much, it sends a clear message: the violence is not glorified, nor justified, it's just there, part of reality as we have created it over due course and we have to deal with it whether we like it or not.
Finally John Rambo faces the fact who he really is and accepts it. The final shot is a nice homage to First Blood and it serves as a fitting end to one of Hollywoods all time action heroes. Stallone has paid respect to the character that made him an international superstar. For that he deserves all the credit. If you're a fan of Stallone or of the Rambo character, this is a must see. If you like action movies, this one is also recommended. If you don't like graphical violence, nor Stallone or Rambo for that matter, don't watch it.
Storm Watch (2002)
A glimpse of the future?
Before anyone starts ranting about the highly unlikely plot. Read this: In 1997 former Secretary of Defence William Cohen is quoted as saying: "Terrorists are engaging in an eco-type of terrorism whereby they can alter the climate, set off earthquakes..through the use of electromagnetic waves". And if that isn't enough: In 2005 the USA enacted the Weather Modification Bill. Go figure how serious some people in the US Government apparently take William Cohen's remarks. Now for the movie: I expected nothing and got a decent movie, with some fine acting and a nice cast along the way. Not bad really. And given the fact that this movie was released prior to the major weather disasters in the USA one can wonder whether or not there is more to this movie? What did the Director know and when did he know it?
06/05 (2004)
Interesting conspiracy movie of Dutch origin
Conspiracies by virtue are US made. The Dutch have never cared much about conspiracies. The events of the day that Pim Fortuyn was murdered have triggered a wild variety of conspiracies about almost anything nowadays. The Dutch have become Americans in more ways than they would like to acknowledge. This movie is clearly based on Oliver Stone's masterpiece JFK. Theo van Gogh has made a clever attempt in pointing out facts that almost everyone who had something to lose in the elections of 2002 or something to gain wanted Fortuyn out of the way. The resemblance with the death of JFK is apparent.
It is a fact that heavy police activity was noticed in the area of the assassination prior to the shooting. It is a fact that Mat Herben was a little known politician who rose to power after the election. In true conspiracy style Van Gogh links the election with king makers very much like the king makers in Being There. Reference is made to the Bilderberg Group. Apparently Mat Herben was spotted at one of those secret meetings. Mat Herben is known to be a Freemason. It is interesting to note that then Prime Minister Win Kok was quoted as saying "that he thought that political assassinations were a thing of the past". No journalist ever followed up on that rather odd remark.
The movie is entertaining, the acting is much better than expected and the plot does contain holes as Van Gogh took too little time to further develop the story. The Dutch have a lot to learn about conspiracies in general. They make the fundamental mistake of filling in gaps left in the official story without asking the right questions first. In JFK the movie, there is a famous quote by Jim Garrison: "Ask the question!". Maybe, just maybe the official story intentionally leaves holes for conspiracy theorists to make the number one mistake..
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Powerful Oscarworthy John Hughes picture!
Comedies don't fare well at the Oscars, do they? This should have won an Oscar for best picture at the very least. Hughes' best movie so far. John Candy is absolutely outstanding and so is Steve Martin. The musical score towards the end by Dream Academy "Power to believe" is so 80's and so beautiful. Oscars are practically given away for far lesser performances nowadays, so why on earth should the bar be set so high for a comedy like this? If you like the 80's, if you like John Candy and Steve Martin, if you like Hughes' movies in general, then this is a must see. Even now after 2 decades, this still is an outstanding comedy with a very emotional ending. Powerful stuff that makes you really miss John Candy and the fact that movies like this are no longer made.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Underrated classic!
It is hard to believe how low this movie is rated on IMDb. If you are a Carpenter fan you will like this movie even if Michael is not in it.
This is a Halloween story, very much like The Fog is a ghost story. If you would treat it like that, you will enjoy the story, the music, the camera-work and the acting. Even today, the movie is entertaining. The connection between the alignment with the stars, Stonehenge, and Halloween is true to the origins of Halloween. As such the story is more or less historically correct and makes more sense if you are interested in astrology, the occult and myths and sagas in general.
Would it have performed better at the box office had it not been titled Halloween III? This movie is recommended if you are into the whole 80's look and feel of movies. The musical score by Carpenter is awesome, for that alone you should watch and enjoy this film.
Alpha Dog (2006)
Gritty American Dream
What can one say about a film based on actual events? Intellectual fatigue on behalf of the Film studio? If this is the American Dream being sold to the rest of the world nowadays, please keep it. Why do all those doped up teenagers look the same? You can't really tell them apart. The character development of some of the actors is basically the only thing worth mentioning on the plus side. Two votes for that. As for the rest, teenagers high on drugs, alcohol abuse, peer pressure, violent MTV video clips, guns and loads of teenage sex. Welcome to the world of today. The sad thing is that this is not fictional. Even worse, the rating on IMDb is really high for such a poor movie. Not recommended at all.
Shooter (2007)
Modern day homage to 70's conspiracy movies.
If you love 70's conspiracy movies, this one is an excellent modern day take on that theme. The set up when Bobby Lee (Lee Harvey Oswald anyone?) finds out he is framed for the alleged killing of the president of the US, is a tribute to the best conspiracy movie ever made; Alan J. Pakula's Parallax View. Then there is the obvious link with the JFK shooting (twice). The Masonic symbols can be spotted if you look for them, the website being used by Bobby Lee, the book he is reading (the official 9/ 11 report). That's the modern take on conspiracies. And then there is the Senator's speech, basically a repeat performance by Ned Beatty from his stellar speech in Network (one of the best movies ever made). It's fast paced, so it will not bore the modern MTV-generation. All in all recommended!
The Departed (2006)
Scorsese's affairs with the Oscars.
How would you feel being nominated (like) 10 times for best director with some really original work and being beaten by let's say Clint Eastwood (every time)? How bitter is it then, to finally win an Oscar for a remake? If you have seen the original, you can't help but wonder why Americans would want to remake something that is already a classic? Americans complain that Asians copy all of there stuff, and here we are copying the Asians. I guess this ultimately underlines the current state of Hollywood and its lack of originality? Don't get me wrong, the movie is great, the actors are great, the story is great. But it is a copy and we should pay credit where credit is due, and it is not Scorsese's. If you have not seen the original then this is a great movie and you should stick to this one alone. If you have seen the original, well you know how Scorses must feel. Expect loads of violence, bad language and some sexual reference.
The Good Shepherd (2006)
A tour de force for the viewer.
For some odd reason I kept on watching 'till the end. This movie is slow paced, rather difficult to relate to if you do not know anything about the American secret service, the cold war or intelligence operations in general. What makes it even more difficult is the constant switch in time, back and forth, without the main characters aging one bit. That way, you keep on guessing where you are in this story. This movie is complex, almost like Oliver Stone's JFK. However nowhere near as thrilling as JFK. During the movie I kept wondering what Robert de Niro's fascination with the CIA is? And why did they choose Angelina Jolie? She somehow gives us the impression that what we are viewing is a glimpse in her own future as an actress. Matt Damon is unemotional, almost like Kurt Russel's character in Soldier. Furthermore, the tape recording scene is clearly a reference to Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation. All in all, a long ride, uneventful at times, demanding a lot of foreknowledge from the viewer. Recommended only if you have some knowledge of the intelligence history of the US and if you like to know the reference between Skull and Bones and American power structures in general.
JFK (1991)
JFK is a true cinematic masterpiece
JFK, the movie, is cleverly made by Oliver Stone. With so many possible people, groups and or government agencies/ officials who wanted Kennedy dead, no wonder he was killed. With that in mind, it is nothing close to a miracle that this movie holds up right until the end. In all fairness, making a movie with such a difficult plot could (or maybe should) have resulted in a bomb. Instead it delivers a knock out punch. Costner does well as Jim Garrison the public prosecutor who goes after the real killers of JFK. All other characters, even the over the top ones, are perfectly in line with Costerners performance.
Anything related to JFK sparks controversy and this movie heats up the debate like no other. Whether you feel comfortable with the official story or with the dozen alternative theories does not really matter to still enjoy a magical performance by all artists involved, in front and behind the camera, in making this movie. Highly recommended, Zapruder film shows graphical violence and foul language is used throughout the movie.
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Alternative history; the human kind.
Planet of the Apes teaches us to take a closer look at ourselves. From the opening speech by Heston as astronaut Taylor all throughout the movie, we, as a human species, are simply given a mirror to watch ourselves. The apes simply tell a tale of ignorance and abuse. It's a mixture of ape science and religion, just like the real world, the human world we live in. In that respect this movie has not dated at all.
Most mirror aspects are the 'in your face'-type. A more subtle one is right before the famous ending when the apes have dug up artifacts of a previous civilization that was more advanced than theirs. This finding is ridiculed by the apes eldest, the wise one. If anyone has ever looked into the aspects of alternative history 'the human kind', one will find out that the reaction of the apes eldest is typical of the human scientists in our every day lives. Anything contradicting their theories is ridiculed based on beliefs, never on scientific proof. Just because it is more convenient. The same comment is given by the elderly wise ape. He knew and has always known about the old civilizations, he just tried to hide it. Although Planet of the apes is rather slow in the mid section, Heston is great and this movie is thought provoking when you take all aspects into account, not just the obvious ones. Recommended, even today.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
Gone is the fairy tale called Twin Peaks..
They say it's a prequel to the series Twin Peaks. However, it is in stark contrast to the hit series. This movie is dark and raw, colors are flat, nothing comes close to the slick looks of the series. It is almost a ritual farewell by David Lynch regarding his Twin Peaks the series. Gone is that fairy tale like feeling of the series, this movie is B-style in your face drama with typical Lynch weirdness.
If anything it's prequel to Lost Highway and Mulholland drive. Disturbing images, road rage, shots of a highway at night. Twisted characters. Nothing makes sense at first, you cannot take it literally, you have to read into it. When stripped of its madness, what's left is a tale of an abusive father, raping his daughter. And she uses drugs to escape this reality and ends up in the darkness of our lives. A side we all know is there, but try to deny for as long as possible. The opposite of the fairy tale so to speak.
So if you're a fan of the series, this one might just be too raw for the senses. Expect violence, nudity, drugs and disturbing images.
Les mercredis de l'histoire: Opération lune (2002)
excellent documentary that could easily fool anyone
Amusing, to say the least. Very convincing in the beginning, rather ludicrous towards the end. Contrary to popular belief this documentary does not state that the USA never went to the moon. It merely hints at the possibility that the pictures the world saw in 1969 were in fact staged. The documentary makes fun at the lunar hoax-theory, and cleverly, as mentioned before by someone else on this board, it could very well be a contra lunar hoax theory by the Government of the USA. What makes this documentary really stand out is the fact that top ranked officials speak uncandidly on camera. The viewer is left wondering why serious politicians would collaborate with a French documentary on a conspiracy theory? Maybe there is more to this documentary than the fact that it is meant to make fun of the lunar hoax theory. All in all, very entertaining.