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cakrit
Reviews
Skyfall (2012)
Can it fall any lower?
I'm not one to give single star ratings just to lower an IMDb average, but I was really tempted in this case. I have never seen so many plot holes and idiotic, contrived twists in such an expensive production before. With so many brilliant screenwriters in Hollywood, one just has to wonder how they could screw this up so badly. The premise was cool, the execution terrible. Suspending disbelief is one thing, being asked to ignore your brain completely is another. Great job guys, the way this is going, the next Bond film will only be watchable by school children. Even the action scenes were boring, but that wouldn't matter, if the film wasn't riddled with so many "Come on now, why?" moments. To top everything off, you have the least desirable Bond girl of all time and a Mannipeni you couldn't care less for.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
The first IMDb disappointment ever
I don't usually trust reviews and ratings, but IMDb had never failed me, until now. I used to think that enough intelligent people vote over time, to get the rating about right. I've changed my mind.
I don't care one bit about the brilliant performance of the SS officer, the colors, the pace, or the jokes. The message is so disturbingly wrong, that it trumps any of the positive aspects of this piece of trash. If over 90% of the people who watched the film can not see anything wrong with it, then this world is certainly doomed.
I have enjoyed many of Tarantino's films, regardless of the violence. Up until now, the violence was due to personal and largely justified revenge, or part of the character of very sick individuals. Putting Vermacht foot soldiers in the same basket with SS and Gestapo officers is just plain wrong. I wonder how this film would be rated if it were about a Palestinian squad scalping Jews or marking their foreheads with the star of David.
These issues are not to be trifled with. Not all Germans were Nazis deserving the wrath of Jehovah. Any attempt at generalizations about a large group of people should be condemned, first of all by the Jewish people, who know what discrimination and persecution is. Hateful films like this would barely make it as war-time propaganda and you hail it as one of the best films of all time? I would like to tell you what I think of you, but I bet my review would not make it through the editors, so I will simply suggest you watch it again after you've grown up.
Star Trek: Voyager: Blink of an Eye (2000)
Easily one of the best
This episode is in a league with TNG's "The inner light". It is what sci-fi is all about. Great ideas, based on simple assumptions on the nature of our universe.
The episode would have been perfect, if it weren't for some very annoying details:
- The ridiculous, uncalled for scene with the two astronauts on the frozen Voyager just proves how the writers would do anything for a 'cool scene', no matter how little sense it made.
- That idiot Janeway refusing to communicate with the surface after having completely violated the prime directive and refusing to defend her crew, are just more of the cheap gimmicks so often used in this series.
Chi bi (2008)
Why you need strong characters
This movie has almost everything. It could have been one of the great epics, not only entertaining, but also educational. However, the characters are shallow caricatures. Take away their heroism, combat prowess and knowledge of Sun Tzu's Art of War and you are left with nothing. No internal struggles to speak of, no one to identify with, nothing to expect or wonder about. It's really a pity. The portrayal of Chinese technology and war tactics is unparalleled and at times astonishing to Westerners. Chinese culture also makes a shy appearance in the background, but is sacrificed to allow room for the silly, Troy- like martial arts exhibition of the various heroes against scores of puppet-like enemies.
Wo wanted this to be like Ben Hur, the 7 Samurai maybe even Ran. But he never came close. Maybe he should have stayed away from Hollywood for a couple of years before making it. Its influences stained what could have been a film to remember.
Mockingbird Don't Sing (2001)
Worth watching
This could have been a truly great film. I'll just say that I won't let my wife watch it, because she's too sensitive. It really left me wondering though. What happened to that poor girl? Is she OK? Why on earth would you leave me wondering after making me empathize with her like that? At the end, I was hoping that most of it was fiction, with a poorly written ending. I searched the internet immediately after watching it, looking for answers. The director/producer's comments clarified things a bit. What I got is that it should have never been made into a movie.
You see, you never make a movie if you want to tell a story exactly as it was. You make a documentary. A documentary might have left me with the same questions, but it would have been expected. At least, it would have hopefully been more objective. I agree with the comment that the psychology student is portrayed as a saint, though the facts leave you wondering.
In movies like these, you really need to explore very deeply each character. There were just too many people involved to do justice to each of them. If that female teacher was really as caring and successful, how come she couldn't get her back? If the psychology student was such a saint, how come she didn't sacrifice her career for the child? There were too many events to fit into a movie too.
All in all, watch it by all means. But be prepared for some strong feelings at the end.