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Reviews
Sentimental (2020)
Much better than I anticipated
Amazingly rich, potent, funny, deep, realistic, dynamic script. In each of the characters I managed to see some people I know, and even a bit of myself.
I laughed a lot on lines that felt natural and were still hilarious, unlike "traditional" Hollywood comedies, where a cliche joke gets shoehorned in every 40 seconds.
Visually the film is a little flat and boring, some a-la-Wes Anderson visual flair would go along way to underline the flair in the script. But it also looks warm and comforting.
The acting is top notch, maybe the psychologist looks a bit harder to sell, but luckily I know people who look and act exactly like her, so it wasn't unconvincing for me.
Overall it's the happiest I've been with my decision to invest time in watching a film in a while. Definitely a nice combo breaker from the high-budget American schlock I've been spoon-fed in the past years.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Subspace Rhapsody (2023)
This is what love looks like
This is the most beautiful thing I have seen, being a fan of StarTrek for 20 years.
My jaw just dropped when I got a hint of what the concept would be for this episode.
I can't even express the absolute shock and admiration, it was like watching a Christmas tree light up for the first time.
I can't say I'm a die-hard fan of musicals, there are some I do enjoy. This episode happily ranks among them now.
I don't even care about everything else in the episode, good or bad, the singing is precious enough to carry it to 10/10 on its own.
As long as it doesn't become a trend, of course.
I'm just... happy now.
Thank you!
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
PS3 graphics, roll out!
Transformers films have always been dumb, but now they also looks cheap. The only thing these movies had going for them was that they were a visual orgy of complex CGI and animations. And now it's bland, lazy, boring, budget.
The cookie-cutter main human characters have zero chemistry, zero relatability, questionable acting.
The bad guys have a faceless drone army and a skybeam.
The script is below Cartoon Network level.
The fight scenes manage to have zero originality despite featuring characters like no other movie.
Every "badass" character is voiced by clones of the same "i smoke 8 packs a day" voice actor.
Overall this wasn't even fun.
Gets a bonus star for making fun of StarWars, tho.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Another overrated "classic"
Book aside, if that movie came out today, it wouldn't make it past 4/10 and would be considered an instant "B" movie.
The plot is ridden with holes, the characters have no arcs, the script is nonsensical, and it's a 2-hour drag.
Jack Nicholson plays Jack Nicholson yet again.
The supposed "villain" - nurse Ratchet - shows restrain, professionalism and competence which should be considered heroic in her position.
All the other characters, aside Chief, have memorable quirks but zero contribution to the plot.
The movie can't make up its mind whether the main character is indeed crazy or not, which would be ok had it been left "a mystery" for the viewer, but instead it's just flipping the coin every 10 minutes.
It's hard to decide what's more unrealistic - the boat scene, or the finale.
Cinematography is ok, but nothing to write home about.
Overall a complete waste of time that's only good from the rose-tinted glasses of a bygone era.
Acting is pretty decent, though, and the cast is great, gotta give them that.
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Way beyond my bravest expectations
I thought a perfect sequel to the trilogy couldn't exist. And it doesn't. But this movie is the perfect loveletter to it. It feels as if it was made for me. My life was heavily affected by the original trilogy, and I was afraid this would ruin all my memories. I had all my guards up, but never needed them. I'm grateful this exists. I don't care what others think about it. I've watched the original trilogy close to 50 times, and this movie just feels *RIGHT*. I am a happier man today for having seen it. Thank you!
EDIT: Why I loved this movie:
1. It doesn't retcon anything from the original trilogy. It doesn't go from 0 to "Morpheus was gay the whole time" like J. K. did.
2. It is tonally completely different from the original trilogy, which allows me to easily separate it from it, and not be forced to consider it an inegral part of the franchise.
3. Neo's new setting perfectly explains the duality of his soft and dramatic new persona, and Keanu's wooden acting.
4. The movie parodies the circumstances of its forced creation while at the same time being a tribute to the original material.
5. Action scenes are clean and GCI is not annoying, unlike "Reloaded".
7. The expendable cast mostly stays out of the way.
8. The drama and romance elements that had no real chance to sneak in the original trilogy are fully developed.
9. The new "evolved" Smith is terribly out of place, but shows an interesting potential plot point about the unwilling humanization of the most mysantropic character imaginable, when faced with the reality of his own failures.
10. TRINITY <3
This movie, regardless of how it is being marketed by WB, is a 50% parody 50% tribute, and as such, is absolutely brilliant.
Cats (2019)
Avoid at all cost
With the exception of the brilliant acting of some of the misfortunate casualties of this production, i was thoroughly disgusted by everything.