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Reviews
The Space Between Us (2017)
While you are here and alive, love is a powerful force, beautiful images and beautiful story
A cool idea and great performances, especially Britt and Gary, OK, Asa's performance was exaggerated (but that was his role), and you can see the quality of this young man.
A teenage romance? Yes, that's beautiful, it's a beautiful story that no one, no matter how old are you, will not be happy to see and feel again. This is a good and beautiful movie... has its fun moments, a sort of action, romance without being cloying, and a great message of love and search beyond boundaries.
In addition, it has many really beautiful images of earth and mars (real or CGI; but very good worked).
Spoiler: Do not let the error in communications be a factor for the complaint ... it's the fiction role.
Mother's Day (2016)
There is a diamond hidden in this movie
One must rate films in relation to their context, and it is true that this is a simple film with many clichés, but within all, there is a hidden jewel in one of the stories, related to the characters of Britt Robertson and Julia Roberts.
Sometimes the blood ties are not the best thing for people, and I'm not talking about the Julia Roberts character, but Britt's grandparents; deep down, you could say that the character of Britt have had a better life by being away from them, besides she had the opportunity to live with wonderful people, as she describes her adoptive parents. In the end, you can see her liberated and fully alive (that's the most beautiful part of the movie).
It is very true that pain, by feeling abandoned, and even more when reason is not known, is a burden; but in its essence, I think the beauty of this message is: True human beings, we do not need the blood ties to love other people with our whole being. Likewise, the lack of understanding and postures of some people, can hurt the people we supposedly love in the biggest ways.
Often the goal of a movie is just giving us fun, and that's fine, but it's even more appreciated, when they also carry a message like this.
By the way, Britt surprise me again with her acting skills, this time a young mother with much anxiety in her person. It's an amazing thing to see her body language in all her performances.
White Rabbit (2013)
A film about redemption and much more
A strong story that touches some very delicate and striking points: the fragility of children and how something, like the bullying, can trigger a terrible action when it is combined with a mental impairment in progress.
While it is true that the bullying is not the cause of the final action in the film, this is largely a catalyst and, in the end, what turns out to be the trigger is a heartbreak. But bullying and a broken heart is not enough to turn you into a killer, there is something deeper in the mind. A childhood with huge emotional conflicts; as underestimation, frustration, anger and helplessness and loneliness, can lead a fragile person, and with a broken psyche, to a total detachment to others with a fatal outcome.
In the end, the vulnerability of the girl (the character portrayed by Britt Robertson) and the memory of having acted unfairly and without any real motivation in its infancy, make him reassess their actions and, fortunately for her, gives to policemen enough time to act and finish the attack. That is why, we can see the final scene where he, as a child, is seen releasing the rabbit instead of kill it. It is an allegory about redemption you get when you forgive someone innocent (the "White Rabbit" is the helpless girl). And the rabbit in his mind, is the representation of his own guilt, and the inner voice who, at the end, says him that it's time to leave, the indication that he is dying and this is the end... without being able to fix the things that he has made.
Ask Me Anything (2014)
I must to write not just a review, but also an analysis of men's attitude in our society.
This is one of those films where one would expect more recognition. The story and direction are really good, additionally, you will see a good cast and a very pleasant surprise regarding Britt Robertson (Katie). Britt is an incredible actress, and her performance is so strong and superb that she really magnifies this good story. The film is fascinating and deep, and is hard not to be touched emotionally. In short, this is a piece of art, such a smart and strong story, and with a powerful and multilayer message, which leaves you a mixture of deep feelings.
Here you have a strong message about how easily men, and some women too, can harm other woman; the struggle of women who have been hurt and without any support of relatives, friends and society; and the incapacity of some people to read the signals of help. But I see a more wide message because, even when the trigger is the abuse in Katie's childhood, the problem is not recognized, underrated or even increased by the attitude of society and mostly by men (sad to say, but the behavior of the men in the movie is very common in real life).
Katie's attitude regarding how she handles their sexuality, and her behavior in general, is very understandable when you see how she has been hurt in the past, the lack of communication and support which this young girl has had, as many others in real life, during the most vulnerable moments of her life: the childhood and adolescence. It is not a good behavior of course, but she really asks and needs love, support and comprehension. "Ask Me Anything", paradoxically sounds like a door that Katie left open in her blog, unwittingly and in a search for help. People some times are just waiting for the right question, and it is very easy for all criticize and judge others.
In the movie, is really disappointing the attitude of all the men around this fragile and vulnerable girl (except Sheen's character, which sadly, has a despicable story in his past); the exploitation, egotism, indifference, or stupidity which all of them show to the young and beautiful Katie. By the way, the two elements which make her so desirable, irresistible and fragile at the same time. The beauty and the youth of women, in this society, sometimes is a double-pointed knife with very sharp edges. But for the movie, I must admit that I really appreciated the way in which Robertson's beauty is captured in all the approaches and long shots (don't get mad about this, is just an aesthetic appreciation of the beauty of this woman and is a clever way to make a huge empathy with her character).
My hassle is related with men's attitude, and therefore with the reality in our society. Stepfather's attitude is unacceptable: Would you let your daughter be back with someone who assaulted her? How relaxed are they (mother too), with the sexual activity of Katie? I am not a puritan, sex is natural and wonderful, but there are ways, places and persons. In her room and with that guy? The room in your house is the safest place for her. Even when that affirmation is true and she has 18 years, this is not best way; where is the respect that should be shown to others for her? Society is bigot and hypocrite, so you must prepare, protect and teach your love ones for that. Is impossible to avoid sex relations of the youths, because they will find a way to do it, but then is when education, communication and concern are important. For people is quite complicated, but without promoting or prohibiting sex relations, there are so many ways to help the youths with their sexuality (maybe is more easy to say and execute if you have a democratic education).
About the characters of Slater and Long, they should have acted with more maturity, they are men and she is a really young girl, not so innocent as the slogan says, but disturbed and in need for love. OK, she is so beautiful and provocative, and is easy to fall in their enchantments, but then your moral and intelligence will solve the situation. About the other guy, the depressed one, no one must pay for the sickness of the others. For the perverted Solagee, there are no words, and the father of Katie, no matter how much he really loved his daughter, he proves that he was an idiot in some aspects: you cannot talk in that way with your daughter (or any other woman).
And about the end, I have the other part of the message: the last smile of Katie in the tub, even when she is so young and has been constantly hurt, shows a strong woman in the process of leave behind her past and maybe in the path of a new and better future. She is looking forward, for the love and support that will come with her child, and with the hope to avoid the same mistakes which so much damage did her. Hard for her mother and a selfish decision the Katie's vanishing? Yes, but people get hurt many times by the actions of their own past, even when seems to be not deserved, and many times is really hard for people give or receive the forgiveness and sometimes is required a healing time in order to move forward and take the next step.
So, the message is not just related with victims like Katie and her situation, but for all of us, and with multiple connotations.
The Finest Hours (2016)
A very good movie... but with Disney's stigma
It's really a shame that good movies like this one, and based on true events, are not received as is deserve. This is a good movie, great scenes in the sea, emotion, suspense, and with a love story very well embedded, like Titanic did it, even when this time it is not the center of the story (for good). And even more amazing, is that the real story has enough heroism... all of us know that sometimes scripts are adjusted for the big screen (sometimes to dramatize more than the necessary).
But the main problem is the stigma of being a Disney movie. Disney has accustomed the moviegoers to sea monsters or a funny guy like Sparrow, walking like he was drunk in the crucial moments (unfortunately, for a lot of people, that is a generalized idea when they listen Disney... sometimes bad movies without any kind of message, and just for kids).
But no, Disney has confirmed, and most recently, that they know how to make good movies, and not just movies like "Frozen"; don't get me wrong, Frozen is an excellent movie (I really liked), but is a very different movie. In fact, my disappointment is that "The Finest Hours" reminds me of course with a totally different plot, another great movie of Disney which bet to originality, and which unfortunately was not appreciated as had to be: Tomorrowland... a gem very underrated (in fact, I think until now, Tomorrowland is the best Disney movie outside the animated jewels that they posses, because the originality of their story and its message).
Maybe they need a new brand for the promotion of really good movies like this one, or another kind of publicity, or a different approach to the audience, because the Disney brand is resulting a bad reference for the promotion of some of their greatest films.
My final thought is: If you like an adventure movie and with the human touch, you must watch this movie.
The Captive (2014)
A movie very clear and predictable, but good.
Once again, a very decent and well directed movie with very low rates. The performance of almost all the cast is very good. I don't known why some critics always are trying to make an autopsy of every character. They need explanations about anything, what is going on in the mind of the captive girl?, how the couple of detectives fall in love? what happened in 8 years? etc.
There is a lot of complaints about a very predictable movie, not so realistic (OK, we can make a small concession here), a cliché, not a real thriller or without mystery because every character is very visible since the beginning, etc. But those critics are like the detective who doesn't believe that a child older than 4 years can take a nap in the back seat (but the difference is that he was bothering)... so square. Others complain too, about the leaps in time of the plot, but the plot is quite simple to follow, and there is not difficult too feel what are trying to deliver us: desperation, sadness, guilty, madness, desolation, hope.
I mean, is this kind of movies, like "Prisoners" (a very similar movie with a little more graphic plot, and maybe the reason why got a better reception), in where your emotions explode instantly. In every of these movies, I really feel angry and desperate because is something that is actually happening in every moment (I mean kidnaps and pedophiles). And I must say thank you to Egoyan, because at least lets us imagine that sometimes in the real life this situations can have a good ending (I always liked a sugar cube in such a bitter dish).
Deadpool (2016)
To be a superhero movie, finally a good one
A very good movie. I was really tired of bad superheroes, bad plot, ridiculous scenes which exaggerate the comedy in an awful way (the new Spiderman saga, Thor 2, Iron Man 3, Avengers, the last movie of the Fantastic 4 - no matter if Kate Mara is Sue, etc.). But this time, was a big surprise for me.
Fortunately for us, this time a suitable version of a "relatively good" Deadpool (or at least no a really deranged one) was chosen for the big screen, and creates a credible superhero, with very human and understandable motivations. And most important, this is a superhero which is not an idiot who thinks that bad guys deserve a second chance. That is what you really like in a movie like this. A real hero (even when sometimes is not really super).
The Longest Ride (2015)
A very decent (romantic) movie
I am really not a fan of this kind of movies. And honestly, I just see this movie just for Britt Robertson. In every performance that I watch her, she is really good, and as always, she doesn't fail in this movie (a chameleon actress, this time is a normal and very reasonable girl with no big issues). But, surprisingly, I found a decent romantic movie, I mean, this is a movie based on a book of Sparks (I haven't read completely a book of Sparks, but there is no need to do this to know the style).
So, I don't know why some people see a problem with this movie, which follows two love stories through a healthy, successful, and good looking couple? Unlike other cases, there is no a deeper problem (a trouble of the psyche... I am not talking about the real problem of Ruth and Ira), that require to think more than the necessary, you just need to enjoy the movie and eat your popcorn, and of course for us (men), watch to Britt is always nice. It is a story about a simple, but real problem of some relationships. OK, this time the story has a really happy ending and they live happy forever. But don't underestimate the plot, there is a message. A cliché. Yes. But, what is wrong about that?
To be a romantic movie, achieves the goal, so then, you could say that is a good movie. Of course, if you are not a fan of this kind of movies, don't force yourself to watch it, you will not like it. Maybe that is why a lot of "critics" give a bad qualification... like those in Metacritic. I have no doubt about how bad are the "critics" of Metracritic, Rotten Tomatoes, etc., etc. A lot of times, the average of the reviews people is more reliable (even when this is not a unfailing rule).
I have just a complain: some scenes are dramatized (not in the best way) more than necessary and really affect story and the characters, and, whom edited the video of the accident that was uploaded to the web? A great edition... for a movie ;)
Sucker Punch (2011)
Another misunderstood great film
*** SPOILERS too for Life of Pi & Tomorrowland *** I must remark that this review have spoilers about those excellent movies too.
Honestly, I don't know what is wrong with the movie. I think that too many people does not really understand the message in this movie, or even talks about another kind of messages which really are not there (like feminism... some people maybe are on defensive mode all the time) I mean, the message is clear as a crystal, others messages are subjectives... even the feminist message which a lot of people finds. OK... I must agree with something there, women, by far, have suffered more abuses in our society than men, and because all characters are women in a hospital, you can believe that the message is more related with the women condition, but you can carry this message to everyone. And honestly, this really confuses me, because there is a lot of misunderstanding and incomprehension in our society. I believe that the message in a very simplistic way is: "A brave way to escape or fight against the cruel and unfair reality, armed with a good human will which sometimes is almost unbreakable". Some people complain about the meaning of the Babydoll lobotomy. What is the purpose of this action in the movie? Well, its very clear when you link this action with the word "unbreakable" (there are a lot of people making lobotomies in our society).
And, because I am trying to explain my astonishment with this phenomenon of the incomprehension or misrepresentation of messages in the movies, I must refer to two great films too.
*** Big SPOILER of Life of Pi ***
For example in the "Life of Pi", I encounter people who still have doubts whether the adventure is about a shipwreck with a tiger; even when he explain at the hospital that it is not the true story, and that actually Richard Parker, the tiger, is he (is totally understandable why, a good boy who was pushed to make raw and cruel actions, really wants to forget this chapter of his life and never get back... that is why Richard Parker disappears in the jungle without a look back). Life of Pi, like Sucker Punch, is another way to show this will and the way that some of us overcomes, or at least fight, until the very last moment, with the really bad things in life. Maybe some people doesn't like the style of this movie and likes more the form in which the same message is portrayed in "Life of Pi", but that doesn't make this a bad movie, in fact, is another great movie.
*** A little SPOILER, but a spoiler too, of Tomorrowland ***
By the way, Sucker Punch reminds me too, in some particular way, the film Tomorrowland. Another jewel not really recognized and with a great message, but this time, an optimistic and beautiful one, which people doesn't understand because most of them were waiting a lot of rollercoasters in the movie... as if that would make of Tomorrowland a better movie. Honestly, even when I don't like the term of Cult Classic, Sucker Punch, like Tomorrowland, must be called like that, obviously in their respective frames... just like other movies as Donnie Darko did it, or "The Iron Giant"; another masterpiece of Brad Bird (the same director of Tomorrowland).
Another Earth (2011)
Great movie with something special about our inner person
I like a lot this movie because it contains, an original script, a good actress, a simple message that you don't feel as a sermon, and a very special magic with the original idea of the other earth and this "other possibility" in our lives.
One thing really admirable, is the performance of Brit Marling, how difficult must be get empathy in her role: A stupid girl which destroys a family. You really feel bad for this girl, and that is a great achievement of Brit. And, in a very simple way, the movie makes you think a little more than usual when this kind of themes are explored.
OK, speaking technically, it's not perfect, but you can ignore those glitches only by the final product that you get: Music, story, acting, photography, direction... a real piece of art. Sometimes a slow plot? Sure, if you are looking for a Sci-Fi movie like War of the worlds.
Triple Dog (2010)
I must qualify the girls performance
True that the movie is not the best movie that you could see, but it's a good movie because creates a good teenage story. There are few big mistakes in direction, but in general, not related with the girls performance. And there are too some magnificent details, for example, the psychological background involved in such a subtle action like when Robertson is waiting to be called by the principal. Her reaction when door is opened and she stops biting her nails, is a reflex of a great direction and a great acting, or the facial expressions of Janel or Carly McKillip in almost every take... in fact, all personalities of the girls are really well defined and shows an amazing work of the director and the writer.
If you focuses on the girls performance, Scout Taylor-Compton, Emily Tennant, etc., and especially on the performance of Britt Robertson (of course because she is the main character), you can see why am giving such a high score to the movie. Britt's performance deserves a 10, and drags the whole movie to that place with the help of the amazing work of the rest of the girls (10 for all the girls). Some people may love or hate her character, Chapin, and that's where it's strength of her performance. If you see her performance, and compares it with other movies, you can see how much talented and versatile actress who really she is.
If you look for a simple and pretty movie in order to have a good time, this movie will accomplish the goal... if you can enjoy the skills of these young actresses.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
OK, Mad Max was awesome... but the 1979 film
Some people would say that I have no good taste for a masterpiece of art. I must agree with this: good sound, photography and... nothing else... OK, beautiful girls in distress. I heard direction? Come on, if I were the director, the first thing I would have done: ask for another script.
This is like a bad joke compared with the strength and the whole package of the first Mad Max movie; even with some deficit in the performance of the villains in that movie, and much less FX. By the way, Max has no charisma in this new film.
They tried scare us with this new post-apocalyptic world? A funny guy playing the guitar in a truck? That was funny, really funny (at some moment I thought that Duffy or Bugs Bunny could be playing a mandolin next to him). By far, I am still more scared with the raw cruelty and reality of the vision in the first movie of Mad Max, because is more near about how will look the world in the future for a lot of us.
What happened to Miller?
The 5th Wave (2016)
Good theme... nonetheless, and sadly, a disappointment
OK, I love this kind of movies, and I was hoping to watch a good movie. I like a lot the acting skills and charisma of Chloë, but even her and the theme, were not enough to save the movie.
The movie was good in the beginning. And when a movie goes in a good path, I forgive even technical mistakes (I make a wink), but this time, the movie starts to go wrong in the middle and doesn't stop. It's not credible at all, how easy can you remove alien technology from your body (I mean, I don't complaint about if you can do it, but come on, they are an advanced civilization, and are doing the final attack to clean the Earth from humans, so, I could believe that this could require a little more effort); a love story which has been already understood and which is not necessary to explain again near the end during the attack to the station (there is no need to explain that the Other already has chosen to Cassie); and the action scenes near the end, reminds me when I was a small child playing war games (how can be possible, with all the technology that they have, that only one attacker destroys a station which is used to training for the soldiers of the 5th wave?). By the way, the use of young soldiers is a good concept, because we are using this technique in all the world (I have no complaint about the plot in general, but about how was developed).
I really want to give a better qualification, and that is because my reviews are more oriented about how enjoyable a movie is to watch, or to have a good time (if it makes you thinking, or leaves a good feeling), but sorry, this time I cant do that.
Tomorrowland (2015)
The good, the bad, and the worst...our modern Wizard of Oz
I will try to be simple:
The good: Direction, original story, performance (especially the two young actresses), FX. A real jewel, and not only without a glitch, but with funny moments and action at every minute, or even, some of them, very touching.
The bad: ... It's supposed to need to write something? OK: nothing at all.
The worst: All the bad appreciation of critics which really have no good taste for art. A lot of people does not understand that the movie is not just about Tomorrowland, but about a journey inside the heart and will of the people... and with this, as if that was a small achievement, an odyssey.
If you want to see a good exponent of the 7th art, don't hesitate to see this movie. If not, just listen some critics. ;)
Additional comments: Some people say the movie has technical failures, but believe me, there are none, and the reason is because this movie returns to the most pure essence of Sci-Fi. Maybe some people does not liked because it touch sensible fibers about a very common and well known message, or maybe because they believe that it was only to promote a Disney attraction, but even if that was true, doesn't diminish the quality of the movie. A little childish, OK, the movie was intended for all the audience, and this is not a bad thing, in fact, is an incredible and amazing way about how to show the essence of something really beautiful. Finally, I see some comments about an over-acted Britt Robertson, but if you have seen some of her works before, maybe you can see that the little histrionism that she injected in her character is very intentional, and then you will see the talent of this great actress.
"In a world where values, commitment, common sense, courage, curiosity, and thinking capacity are weakening, this movie is a beacon of hope for children... and adults too".