rawkidd Reviews

John Wick (2014)

I'm disappointed big time

[3/10 · 14 January 2015]

It's good to see Keanu back on the silver screen but unfortunately this film wasn't his best choice.

If you're into shooting, killing or "one man against the rest of the world" then this is for you. The movie reminded me of 3rd person shooter game, not only because John Wick moves like a game figure, also because there's seems to be a certain range of skills he uses to bringing the bad guys down.

If you're into thrill, story or dialog: simply forget about it, there's nothing like that in this movie. The plot is so weak, I think you hardly can call it a plot. It's rather a "cause and effect" thing. You did me harm, so I'm gonna do you harm too. That's it.

What I liked the most about the movie was it's cinematography and style and that actually kept me watching until the end. The CGI is OK, although in some scenes (shooting from close range) too obvious.

All in all, I found this movie very disappointing and I think it's more a huge budget B-Movie.

Get on Up (2014)

One of the best chronicles

[8/10 · 28 December 2014]

As a huge James Brown fan I had to see this movie. But to be perfectly honest, I was scared. You know, Hollywood slaughtered biopics from great artists in the past. Thank God, my fears were arbitrary.

Choosing Chadwick Boseman as James Brown was the perfect decision, and as some of the reviewers already mentioned; this guy definitely deserves an Oscar. Director Tate Taylor did an awesome job as well.

In particular I liked the way he tells the relation between James and Bobby Byrd. Throughout the movie I always had the feeling, me being there with James, Bobby and the Band. I felt as a part of the whole setup and that's something you don't experience much these days.

I think some things could have been more detailed e.g. what to his father happened when he left him, or how and who James was inspired by, but that's me as a musician who's eager to know everything about his idol.

Anyways, this movie not only is for James Brown fans, it's for people who'd like to witness a painful childhood, a dramatic youth and the rise of a true artist. Thank you Mr. James Brown for true art that made and still makes the difference in my life.

Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

Mediocre

[4/10 · 26 December 2014]

Let me start with the actors first.

Without any doubt, Christian Bale is a great actor, but in this movie he's totally misplaced. I wouldn't say his acting is bad in this one, no, but the way he portrays Moses is too much of an action or warrior figure but eventually, I think he's done what he's been told to do.

Then there's a heavy weight like Ben Kingsley in the movie, but has almost no game in those few scenes. And why Sigourney Weaver? I mean, why throwing a classy actress into this pot but giving her no lines? What's the point in that?

Overall the movie ain't bad, but it ain't really good either, let alone being epic. In my opinion the storytelling is too shallow at times it wastes too much time on by plays and has big gaps between important happenings.

I don't know what Ridley Scott's ambition here is, but the movie lacks every ingredient to be epic or monumental. At the of the day it's a mediocre, at times CGI driven thing, with too little emotion, depth and drive (besides the war scenes)

Iron Man Three (2013)

What Special FX can do

[3/10 · 26 May 2013]

Well, one thing must be said: The Trailer fully served the producers goal: Drag as many as possible people into the theater.

Like a lot of people already said: Iron Man 3 is fully packed with CGI, VFX, XYZ but has everything else than a compelling story or such. I don't want to spoil anything but come on, this is all you can do with a fantastic cast?

By the way: Robert Downey Jr. needs to go over the books when it comes down to choosing the next movie roles because while making a fortune with these popcorn movies he dangers himself by losing role credibility. Why? In my opinion these kind of movies don't require acting skills very much this is Downey Jr.'s 4th appearance in the Iron Man series (Avengers included) so I tend to think he's choosing roles or movies that make him tons of money but don't challenge him as an actor.

Anyway, I think you really have to be an Iron Man fan in order to spend your money on this. I went to see this because of the horrible weather on a Sunday afternoon. And this is, what the movie does best: it distracts you from something annoying.

The Dilemma (2011)

This movie is OK, but not good!

[4/10 · 26 April 2011]

When I saw the trailer of the movie I knew this can't be a top notch comedy flick. And you know, sometimes trailers unravel the most funny parts of a film upfront.

In my eyes the storyline is OK, since one can imagine himself in such a uncomfortable position with ease. At least this goes for me. The storytelling though has some problems like Ronny's gambling addiction. The first hour not a single word is being said about it and then out of a sudden it is Ronny's key issue. Vince Vaughn and Kevin James do their jobs as expected especially Vaugh has some very good moments. Something else that bothered me was the time lapse in general. First you have the impression it's about a few days, after some point you think some weeks or months have passed and that causes confusion.

In general the movie isn't hilarious but as mentioned before has some good moments. It's a "easy to watch" movie but that's pretty much it.

Adventureland (2009)

total waste

[1/10 · 26 April 2011]

I'm a 80's guy which means those were my teenager years. I guess I was interested in that movie because of the fact it takes place in 1987. And latter is the only thing I can agree on this film. Besides the real lame story, I have a problem with this Jesse Eisenberg guy, who has only one acting-face! Just compare his performance in this film, with the social network. It's completely the same. This fast-nerdish talking mediocre guy who bores with everything he says or does might be OK for 10 mins. But beyond that point, he's just annoying. No, I'm not talking about the character in the movie: I'm talking about Jesse Eisenberg. It's him who spoils the character with these frozen face expressions.

The storyline is not even standard, it's just a pain in the a.. to watch. The pace doesn't really drag you into it and the other characters just don't matter. I didn't expect to see a comedy or something, but at least, I hoped something interesting or well told would come along. But noooo, it had to be this non-passionate sleep drug that's only designed for Eisenberg fans.

Sorry guys, I don't even want to go into the story since even this would be a waste of time.

Battle Los Angeles (2011)

Forget about it

[1/10 · 11 April 2011]

Somewhere I read this could or would be the new Independence Day movie. Well, whoever that wrote was bloody wrong. Independece day may serve a well known cliché but at least it was fun in terms of having a storyline. Latter doesn't exist for this flick. Come on, ya can't be serious with this Running and Gunning nonsense film in MTV style. Aaron Eckhard plays OK, but you can forget the rest.

Besides the bad camera the aliens even didn't look good, scary or whatever which means, the costumes are bad as well. And yes, these aliens travel quadrillions of miles across the universe but have machine guns like ours? Come on, please. I'm not saying they've gotta have laser guns or something, but assuming they're far more developed than human kind, at least they need to have something special.

Usually I'm not that cruel in critics but this movie made me really mad since there's absolutely nothing behind all the spent dollars. Well yes, some special effects, lots of lots of shaky camera and unnecessary close-ups to hide environment scenery flaws.

I'm sorry to say this, but this movie is not worth a dime.

Clash of the Titans (2010)

Just ridiculous

[1/10 · 12 April 2010]

Yes we're living in times of the 3D hype. Animated flicks made the start a few years ago, then Avatar dragged it to the top and now a bunch of wanna be 3D movies use this hype. Having said that let's go back to Clash of the Titans.

I don't want to start comparing this remake with the original one because I think that every decade has it's advantages and disadvantages and a comparison does no good. But let me tell you this. CGI is not everything in a movie and Hollywood has to comprehend this finally. This movie has awful dialogs and the story is super porous. I mean come on a guy who was fisher all his life fights like a superhero. OK you might say he's the son of Zeus and a demigod but then again, why couldn't he save his family from drowning in the beginning. Sam Worthington surely is the Shooting-Star after having appeared in blockbusters like Terminator and Avatar but if he isn't careful in his role choices he'll end up where all these wanna be action stars from the 80's have been categorized.

You know I don't even want to list all the leak of this film but after 20 minutes I was bored to death and regretted badly I spent my money on this waste of time.

Clahs of the titans is the worst movie I've seen this year so far. I definitely do not recommend it.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

What a disappointment

[3/10 · 1 February 2010]

I've been a Sherlock Holmes fan since my childhood days. I've read the books and watched the movies. I won't be telling you which movie or book was best etc. I just wanna say, that this film just ain't about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

In this movie you're going to watch two men, one is very eccentric, most of the time some sort of tiddly, a fighter and wanna be brilliant mind, the other is snobbish, violent, vain and some sort of male model of those days. Now, here's the question: Does that sound like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson ?

I'm sorry to write these lines but they transformed these two characters into action heroes, trapped in old London and put them in a long-winded story. I really like Downey Jr. and Law a lot and they do a good job but the movie is total waste of time and money. It is too long and the pace is too slow. Boring, dinky and spare.

Righteous Kill (2008)

Very mediocre

[4/10 · 6 February 2009]

Like most of the people here said. You have two great actors, man come on, we're talking' about DeNiro & Pacino, that act clumsy since the characters and the storyline's lame.

I had a bad feeling already, when I saw the trailer for the first time. But i gave it shot since, once again, you have these two brilliant guys. There are so many things about this movie to complain about. And like someone said before. It's really like an episode of Law & Order or another mediocre TV series.

Yes a lot of people have or had HEAT in mind, just like me, but guys, don't even dare to compare the HEAT performance with this one here. The script is poor, very predictable, the actors especially Pacino seem to be bored and somehow I can't get rid of the feeling that DeNiro and Pacino were not satisfied with the result either.

As a matter of fact, these two legends got really old and don't fit into these kind of movies anymore.

Traitor (2008)

Good storytelling and photography

[8/10 · 4 November 2008]

After having seen Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda I was blown away about his performance. When I heard Don's in this one I took the chance to watch the movie.

Well first of all, I'm very glad they didn't distort the story to a superhero agent thing. This one has a very different approach to a sensitive subject. What I liked the most was the storytelling which shows both sides motivations. Once again Don Cheadle convinced me what strong character actor he really is. Guy Pearce plays his part very realistic, since as above mentioned he's no super agent who can handle everything with ease. I think after having watched this movie a lot of people will get a closer look to complicated religiously driven policy convictions.

I also think Jeffrey Nachmanoff did a fantastic job with his style since I think the movie has a splendid photography.

Into the Wild (2007)

Storytelling by pictures

[8/10 · 25 March 2008]

This movie is a great piece of work and art. I was so touched by the story which mainly is being told by the pictures, I enjoyed the dialogs between Chris and the characters he meets during his way to Alaska. Especially the friendship between him and the old man (Ron) is very moving.

What I liked most on this picture was this clear, non-Hollywood point of view. And this makes INTO THE WILD very real. And at the end of the movie, when the real Chris (photo) is being showed you're getting closer to him and feel sorry (for him), anger (against his stupid Dad) and think, "oh man, this can't be true". But it is.

Sean Penn and his people did a great job and have my respect once again.

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

So Great

[9/10 · 4 January 2007]

Besides the story is so well told, it was Don Cheadle's acting which makes the film so great.

Watching this film is witnessing mankind's virus of hatred. But nevertheless, real hero's don't wear a red cape with a golden S on their chest. Or costume themselves in red/blue body-tights with spider design. Nor they command young people to a country to bring them western democracy or peace.

Hotel Rwanda is shaking, thought-provoking and mainly great piece of filmmaker work. Which does not mean, that this picture should be seen as entertainment, because it's simply not.

It's really hard for me to write about technique, screenplay or storyline, because the movie almost is a documentary about those horrible happenings down there in 94.

Bravo, Don Cheadle ! Bravo, Sophie Okonedo ! Bravo, Terry George !

And everybody who gave their best in this movie to make the world a little bit more clear, that we cannot turn our eyes away or consume just news on TV, as it were just a show.

Rocky Balboa (2006)

And now, what's it all about ?

[5/10 · 28 December 2006]

As a fan of the Rocky series i really was very excited when I went to the theatre to watch the Italian Stallion. So the first quarter of the movie let's us know that his beloved wife has died of cancer and he somehow tries to manage his emotional life and little restaurant business. Although in the end of Rocky V, when Balboa wins back his son we've been told in the new movie that after Adrian's death Rocky and his son split up again. Rocky junior can't handle his father's popularity which is still unbroken.

The boxing-sports part in the movie is really far fetched and lame. The current world champion is being hated by the crowd and his managers try to get him sympathies back and make money with a folk-hero, who is thinking about doing a last last last fight. And because a software says "that'll be great if the Italian Stallion would fight the Lion". Come on, we're talking about the really last Rocky movie. There must be more than this.

Of course, brave and strong as always, Rocky does well, although he's around 50 in the movie, and....what ? I mean, he loses the fight by 1 or two points and bids the crowd farewell. Good. But what does this movie tell us really ? I DON'T KNOW.

There are some interesting scenes, like when Rocky meets little Marie and the get good friends and also there is a good dispute between Rocky and his junior but that's it. There is nothing more.

The boxing scenes are boring and it almost looks ridiculous how Rocky or Sly looks. I really hoped that this last one, which is not called Rocky 6, no it is wearing that great boxers name Rocky Balboa would be the final firework of Rocky's amazing life and career.

I really was disappointed when I left the theatre and had to agree to what a lot of critics said up front. But at least there is good news. It is not worse than Rocky 5, which was a disaster in my eyes.

Lovelorn (2005)

never boring

[8/10 · 14 December 2006]

After having seen Sener Sen in Eskiya my expectations for Lovelorn were really high. The movie starts in a silent manner and makes you nosy about the forthcoming. The story and its eagerness rises as soon as Nazim finds himself in a family dispute. The change of Nazim's situation respectively feelings, from the helping citizen, to some kind of father figure and afterwards almost to this woman's lover is really interesting to observe. And the most killer-scene in this movie is, when the young woman asks Nazim, if there ain't a third way out of the messy situation before she leaves, in hope of Nazim saying, stay with me or be my woman or whatever.

All things considered Lovelorn took me in its spell as the story proceeds. It is a warm and realistic story, taken from life. Sener Sen is a great actor and he involves you in his twist.And Meltem Cumbul is remarkable.

Of course there are some little spoilers, like the scenes with that over-sized Fullmoon, but this doesn't really lowers Lovelorn's quality. I really can recommend this movie to everyone who is looking for a heart touching movie.

Broken Flowers (2005)

Not really sure

[4/10 · 21 March 2006]

Broken Flowers surely is a movie that demands lots of patience. OK, Murray is the perfect man for this role, but i don't consider "staring and talking less" style acting as a masterpiece.

The mood of Broken Flowers is somewhat of unspectacular and ordinary, what makes it very plausible. Although I can't deny myself of saying some parts are too dozy. Maybe it gives you time and space to think about Don's situation, but the story plashes scene by scene into boredom, it's a pity.

The women in this movie are just wonderful. Sharon Stone is more or less in a expected role, Jessica Lange amazed me once again, Tilda Swinton unfortunately has a little part but all in all, they're great.

The end of the movie is a real deception. So many questions are being left open and Don's efforts end up in a big "nothing". Why ? And you ask yourself, what does do movie say ? Once again: Nothing ! So I really come to no conclusion, since with such an ending the movie is whether a drama nor comedy, nor something else.

The New World (2005)

Too less

[3/10 · 20 March 2006]

I was looking forward to that movie. Not only because Colin Farrell is playing some sort of character he really handles well, also I hoped to lose myself in a sweeping story and picture.

First of all: The real annoying soundtrack. It starts in the opening scene, where these discoverers are arriving. Goodness, who decided to put this weirdo-sound into this movie ? I think it is one of the worst sound i've ever heard in a movie.

The story respectively the dialogs are brain-dead stupid insomuch. Although i've tried hard to sympathise with any character, i didn't make it. I just couldn't. There is nothing personal in the story, nothing captivating. The pictures look not bad, since they often return some kind of hidden mystery, but it is too less.

It is boring, annoying and just a dumb waste of time and money.

Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak (2006)

The other side of the medal

[7/10 · 23 February 2006]

As mentioned before here somewhere, there is a true hysteria on going in Europe about this movie, which i don't understand at all. Why is it, that people get up now and denunciate the content. What is wrong with them guys ? I mean Hollywood produced Bullsh.. for years, and told so called "true" stories one-sided and no one ever said a word about their manipulative policy. Russians have been showed bad and evil for years, then the Japanese, then the Arabian world and it always was OK. Who says, the good guys are always American ? Who says justice is being made by stars'n'stripes ? Once Oliver Stone dragged a whole country and its people in the mud and every consumer thought, ooohhh yeah, so this is what Turkey is about. And when the Turks complained about that movie, Hollywood's answer was: Hey, it's just a movie. Don't take serious. Exact the same thing word, is what I'm saying now: Hey, it's only Showbiz !!! But back to the movie.

Valley of Wolves sure has some lacks in professionalism but what has to be said: the movie is thrilling. Besides the American actors, which are chosen very well, the Turkish ones have some work to do to take place in the higher class. But of course, there are also very touching moments, like the Hospital visit from the main character. The special and action effects are not bad but are too limited in its volume to be really spectacle.

I think it is a solid action movie and for once told from the other side than the usual "hero saves the world" stuff.

cheers.

Midnight Express (1978)

chasing the sensation

[1/10 · 27 December 2005]

I've seen the movie, after i heard so many times, what kind of thrill and dramatic story that is. Straight ahead, to be honest: This movie is waste of time and beside that, it twists the truth. People might say, that it is just entertainment, but this movie comes up with the ambition to show the world, how brutally corruption in mid-east countries exist.

The problem of the whole storytelling is the one-sided point of view. I'm telling this, because you can't approach seriousness and afterwards when the audience, i think especially the Turkish, is getting angry at your spoiling work, turn around and save your butt by telling, hey it's just entertainment. This is cheap recreancy.

The movie itself is driven by known feeling-games, portraying "bad-good" skirmish without any draft to endorse the story. After some certain point it's getting boring and annoying, since there is too little atmosphere in the movie, and that leaves a cheesy aftertaste.

It's a pity, why Olive Stone didn't go deeper into the characters, because then the audience have had some knots to cling to some interesting aspects. So in the end, Oliver Stone fails and produces a bunch of crap, sorted by a bad story.

rawkid i'm the audience, i decide.

G.O.R.A. (2004)

Turks in space

[7/10 · 19 May 2005]

Well, first of all, this movie is a good project. There is no science-fiction film in the history of Turkish cinema, and if you think about the budget, which was about 4 Mio. USD and nevertheless huge for Turkish proportions, George Lucas wasted a budget of 125 Mio USD for Star Wars Episode III, then it is the optimum of what has been created.

The story is no revolution, but no one ever expected that. Cem Yilmaz realised his vision of "Turks in space" and made his work well. His love for details is average.

To understand everything in that film, first you gotta be Turkish, since a big part of the humor is based on the street language that Cem Yilmaz is using perfectly. The second thing is, you have to know some US Science-Fiction movies like Star Wars, Matrix or Star Trek. Only the combination of these two requirements makes the movie really funny.

G.O.R.A is unusual to the Turkish public, so this is why some people didn't like it I think. I consider this work as new era of special fx in Turkish movies.

In the end, it is a solid Turkish space movie.

Mustafa Hakkinda Hersey (2004)

Between anger and sadness

[8/10 · 19 May 2005]

"Mustafa hakkinda hersey" is the best Turkish movie i've seen this year so far. Its interesting story is being told very excitingly, and Fikret Kuskan who plays the betrayed husband called Mustafa, delivers a masterpiece of work.

Director Cagan Irmak is telling the story bi-linear, since you're always changing sides between the betrayed and betrayer while watching. I really can recommend this Drama to everyone, who wants to find out his own feelings between anger and sadness.

There are also 1 or two things that maybe should have been told more precise, for instance like Mustafa's childhood. Also the final dialog could have been better, since it is one of the most important parts of Mustafa's story. But it is not screwing up things.

Bravo to everyone who worked on that film.