frank_raijmakers Reviews

The Old Fox (1977– )

one of the best.

[10/10 · 17 December 2012]

The Old Fox (original German title "Der Alte", lit. "The Old Man") is a German crime drama created by Helmut Ringelmann. It premiered on April 11, 1977 on ZDF. Since 1978 the series is part of the legendary Friday Crime Night of the network.

It depicts the crime solving activities of four police detectives, Chief Inspector Erwin Köster, played by Siegfried Lowitz until 1985, from 1986 to 2007 Chief Inspector Leo Kress, played by Rolf Schimpf, from 2008 to 2012 Chief Inspector Rolf Herzog, played by Walter Kreye and from 2012 Chief Inspector Richard Voss, played by Jan-Gregor Kremp.

Humble and unassuming in appearance, chief detective Köster is the "Old Fox". By understanding the psychological make-up of his suspect, the "Old Fox" craftily leads the criminal into his own trap, to the great surprise of his often perplexed staff. The "Old Fox" has his own way of working. Wearied by the negative elements he has witnessed so often in society, the "Old Fox" provides a unique insight into human nature.

Armed with the wisdom of age and experience, the "Old Fox" hunts down criminals in Munich, assisted by his colleagues Werner Riedmann, played by Markus Böttcher, Gerd Heymann, played by Michael Ande, and Axel Richter, played by Pierre Sanoussi-Bliss.

My Week with Marilyn (2011)

based on a true story? i don't think so..

[1/10 · 30 December 2011]

My problem with this movie is not so much the acting, it's the story.

I've read the book, and halfway through i could not help thinking, this sounds to good to be true. The skinny dipping + sleeping with Marilyn + the way she needed advise from a 23 year old boy saying things like: Ooh Colin please tell me what should i do. etc...

It reminded my of a similar fantasy book written by a one time maid of Marilyn: Lena Pepitone and of story's told by Marilyn's neighbor Jeanne Carmen.

Unimportant people in Marilyn's life claim to have been Marilyn's confidant and best friend and decide to share these fabulous memories with the rest of the world years after all key witnesses are no longer alive.

It's a shame that serious talent, money and time was wasted to create a movie based on a shameless exploitative book like "my week with Marilyn".

Marilyn, dernières séances (2008 TV Movie)

What a horrible mess......

[1/10 · 5 August 2010]

What a horrible mess. The 1 star, is only for Marilyn, who left us so many beautiful footage of which you see some in this film. This for me is the only reason to watch it.

The story is such a blur of facts and fiction, blown out of proportion accompanied with footage randomly picket only for dramatic effect. Throughout the whole film you hear this very annoying "i'm sorry" sung by Brenda lee. Why? To show us the chocking picture from Marilyn at the morgue was not very classy nor was it necessary to show us the sex movie she never did.

Instead of just playing the tape and let us listen to Marilyn speak about herself, you hear short bits and pieces of it used out of context and quickly taken over by a voice over who continues in her place.

All in all this film pretense to lift the veil of secrecy on Marilyn Monroe, but does the opposite: fabricating a more mysterious mess then ever before. Once again making money wins over paying tribute and respect. 48 Years after she died Marilyn Monroe is still being exploited .

Downfall (2004)

makes me wonder what i self would have done (or not done)

[10/10 · 3 August 2008]

the message is clear. this picture shows us in one hit by a historical example, the almost unlimited extremity's the human race is capable of. under the right circumstances it can lead to fatal results. examples:

PSYCHOPATH (Hitler) not every psychopath becomes a Hitler, and there is more to it to become what he had become. but the extreme belief in himself without any self criticism or doubt and the lack of a conscious telling him wrong from right took away (in his mind) all responsibility of what he had caused.

INNOCENCE (traudle junge) at her age and unspoiled mind, she's incapable of imagining that the people she's surrounded with are capable of doing things she herself would not be capable of. it's life experience that teaches you these things.

FANATISM (mrs goebbels) being so obsessed in the believe in the regime and what it stands for, that life after the end of it is simply unthinkable. and because her children are a part of her, if she go's: they go with her.

GREED/POWER/WEAKNESS etc.... just to name a few "flaws" of the human race that can lead to disaster. people kept saying after the war: we should learn from it to prevent it from happening again. what i learned is that the human race hasn't changed (and probably never will) it's the circumstances that made and make it possible. the right people at the right time (or the wrong people so to say) will make it happen again.

back to the movie: we see masterfully filmed and acted how different people live and see things there own way. the fantasy world of eva braun was very impressive.

it's an overwhelming movie. i need to see it a few times more to capture it all. but the message is clear.

Shooter (I) (2007)

chocking !!

[25 April 2007]

i hated this movie from beginning to end. macho nonsens !! there where few characters who did not kill in this movie. killing -whitout having nightmares about it afterwards- becomes a quit normal thing to do. even the sweet girl ended up killing her kidnapper/rapist and walked away like nothing had happened. i think movies like these are partly responsible for people (kids) deranging like the one who caused the massacre in virginia last week. it's time we face it: sigarettes causes cancer; movie's like these causes a sick community. the movie makers and all involved becoming rich with these horrors should be made responsible.