Change Your Image
laszlozoltan
Reviews
Rollerball (1975)
overlooked classic
An overlooked classic from the mid-seventies, Rollerball took elements of escalating violence of the NFL and NHL, the emergence of corporate global domination, consumerism and the encroachment of network television and repackaged it for domestic consumption. " There are no rules..." On the surface we have a fairly simple story of a future sports star athlete in what might be his final season, yet beneath there are elements of a far greater story being told. It is only a shame that this underlying story is told perhaps too obliquely. For example, listen to the awful corporate anthem played at the beginning of the game; a pathetic meandering combination of sounds- completely heartless, without spirit- it is just there to fill a void where it saw one, and it has no purpose beyond that, and so it fails to inspire. We have a team of men united together playing a sport that is so dangerous it frequently kills them. This is where when we consider why they choose to do this we can begin to see the outline of an underlying story. Rollerball is a fairly exciting movie to watch on any level. Not nearly as mystical as the Matrix, but the warning is perhaps far more ominous because the reality is already here.
Bully (2001)
cutting edge clarity
few movies as powerful as this have this absolute cutting edge clarity. based on a true story, it is a tale that re-enacts itself every few years it seems ( reena virk, British Columbia Canada 1997 ), where teens gather and gang up and murder another- we see the children and ask where are the parents ?
the acting is superb. the writing flawless. there is not one point in this movie you can stop and say it's false. this is not a documentary about what happened, but a dramatisation of what happened to some kids, and COULD BE HAPPENING TO OUR OWN KIDS NOW
it is a movie for adults, with sex and drug use prevalent. the value of this movie is not as a morality tale, but as a precautionary alert to the sprawling mess north America is becoming and the fate it brings our children when we, the parents, are not there.
Out of Mind: The Stories of H.P. Lovecraft (1998)
fantastic realization of a master's vision
As a fan of HP Lovecraft, I have read quite a few of his stories and although there is a common thread throughout most of them, sometimes it was hard to visualize the creatures he described. This movie however brings together more than a few scenes from his tales blending in the fantasy-horror with believable reality. This is exceptionally well done with profound subtlety, because most horror films become overblown comic ventures. This film is not really scary or horrifying itself, but is rather a fantastic realization of a masters vision. Truly, the folks that brought us this film should be given the opportunity to fully address a wider audience with a larger production.
Peacekeepers (1997)
superb "war" film
a superb war film about modern day peace keepers on the front lines. there really is nothing flawed about this movie- it is far more "real" than any current "reality-show" you will find on tv. i think what makes it so real is that there are no dramatic shortcuts/ simplifications. we aren't given "the other side of the story", we find ourselves in the middle of the war, no good guys no bad guys just people with guns who say they need guns to defend themselves against people with guns. the job is simple, take the guns away and help bring peace to the community. we see soldiers commited to the task and honour a fallen comrade by placing his blue berret on him as he lay on the stretcher. this is a great war movie because war is presented not as a video game, but more as a test of will.
The Game (1997)
garbage
this movie tries hard to play upon the senses of the viewer using the medium of the film itself; but it completely fails this due to implausiblity of how perfectly this "game" is planned out. the movie is flawed from the start- Micheal Douglas is a 2 dimensional cut-out "jaded" and "mega rich"; but there is no sense that he is a real person; there are no books, magazines, papers and other various paraphernalia visible in his office or his home. given this type of hollow scripting, the ending while trying to provide a twist, ends up being the predictible outcome from the start.this whole movie is a waste- a waste of time to watch it and a waste of time, talent and money for those that did make it but could at least have done a much better job if only someone really tried.
Basic (2003)
basically a waste of time
I am surprised having just seen this movie and now on this site reading so many positive comments on it; because this is a bad movie folks... Everything occurs the same night; from incident to investigation and finale- 3am, 4am ... but no one thought to have an actor yawn or look tired- everyone yawns at night, even night shift workers. Investigative protocol is lost. No one took notes during an interrogation. Lack of detail hurts this movie which suffers terribly. There is no character development; so we see things have happened but are completely careless because those involved mean nothing. It is like watching a movie of a wall; not being built, torn or crossed; but just there a wall- such are the motives and personalities of the characters in this film. Shot, it seems entirely in a studio "jungle"; no bugs no dirt no creepy crawles. None of the actors in this movie will be noted for their performance here- all lost and forgotten.This movie had a lot of hype about it- but basically I think it was the marketing dept just trying to get the studio to break even on this waste of time.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
It is beautiful
A very moving and thoughtful journey about the bond between a mother and son. (Oh, but he's not really her son, you say? but did she not breathe life and the ability to love in him?) The futuristic backdrop and trappings are mere convience here. The whole story is a boys journey to go home to his mother and her embrace. Its depth and simple significance should not be lost within the grand spectacle of the movie itself. There is timelessness here and of ending, only a robot would not be moved to shed a tear.
Never on Tuesday (1988)
a movie made the way more should be
unpretentious and unassuming, you may easily miss seeing this movie for one that is. but don't. stick around for a bit and be drawn in to this movie. it ebbs and flows into an unusual panorama that makes a story good. it is like your favorite short story, basically a small chapter in a book of life; what happens before or after is inconsequential. this movie is one i remember years after i saw it, perhaps so shall you.