Change Your Image
avezzanoandrea
Reviews
The Spanish Princess (2019)
The Fairy Tale Princess.
After attending the precedent two shows based on Philippa Gregory's series of books on the War of the Roses, It Is natural to follow up with the Spanish Princess. But I soon find out that the little historical consistency, that sense of trying, even with the restrictions clearly percieved in the White Queen and the ingenuities of the White Princess, to portray the way peoples behaved, talked and lived in XV sec. England's royal court, has been replaced in favour of and idolized version that has nothing to do with the word "historical". Even with a better cinematography and a clearly much allowing budget, the show fails miserably, not only in aspects like the costumes (which are mostly totally wrong and feel like a mix between a XIX century based Drama and a Fantasy, with leather cloaks, corsets and ladies with flowing loose hairs), but even in the very understanding of the peoples It wants to portray. So, by this way, the show It's full of modern and anachronistic valours, inconsistencies, errors, and downright trivial contrivances (like the infamous Colombo's Compass), to elevate Catherine of Aragon as a Fairy Tale Princess, who fights the bad English conventions with her courage and cunning and with her sword (Sic...). If it's true that you're not supposed to expect history lessons from a fictional show, It's as well true that an history based fiction should at least get us closer to understanding the real peoples beneath the fictional characters, and in this the show fails completely, showing us characters that of the real historical figures bear only the name. Of course I expect to see Catherine go to battle riding her horse in the second season, just like her mother did in this one...
Sin límites (2022)
A small step, but in the right direction.
After attending others spanish history-based productions, like the ones based on I. Falcones's books or the terribile Isabel, I was pretty much scared that Sin Limites would be another soap opera. And indeed this kind of production seems to not be fully capable of let go some of the genre tropes or putting the necessary care were needed (like when representing the great court of the king of Spain as a empty room with a table and some candles). But, letting aside the various "artistic liberties" the authors took on the real historical journey of Magellan, I was pleasantly surprised to see how they were capable of creating an entertaining and visually pleasing story. The Show is well written and directed, the photography does it's job, and the characters are generally well rounded, even if they couldnt' avoid some classic tropes, expecially on the first episode, but you get the feeling of emprovement as the show progress. In conclusion, even if not completely historically accurate and with some ingenuity, the Show is capable of delivering an engaging story, characters with positive valours of loyalty and strenth, and portrays the ambition, the will power and the dedication that drove the famous voyage. In this time of wokeness, baseness and stupidity it's even more important.
The Flemish Bandits (2018)
A Crime Story dressed as a Costume Drama.
This series tells the story of an ex soldier and disertor, accused for the killing of a camrade, who come back in his own little city in Belgium and became leader of the local group of thieves and rebels. Is indeed a crime story set in the 18th century. I found it really good for cinematography and in general well written, even if lacks sometimes in character development and overall some characters are a little flat, given the fact that some actors should have done better. The ideals of justice and social rights are centre for the developing of the contrasts between the characters. In the end is a good series for those who likes historical drama.
Outlaw King (2018)
An unexpected surprise
This movie is an unexpected gift for anyone looking for a good historical action/adventure drama. It's a shame such a movie is totally unknown, atleast in my country. The cinematography is really great, there is a scene right at the beginning, which goes along in one take as we follow the characters, and culminates with the astonishing view of a giant catapult shooting to a distant castle as we reach the climax of the scene. Really well done! Good photography, good script, my only criticism goes to the main actors, which, even if well casted, are not so invested in their role sometimes. Ah, and, for God sake, they should have hired a good swordmaster for the fight coreographys. However, the great battle scene in the end made me forget the sloppy swordplay of the beginning. In the end, even if not perfectly historically correct, this movie was a pleasant unexpected surprise after so many failing attempts like Ironclad and Robin Hood... 8/10 Go watch it!!
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
Boring and uninspired.
Obviously no one expects too much from a movie were Hansel and Gretel are two badass wich hunters, but this movie ruined even the little guilty pleasure it culd have been. Going for a concetp like this they had so much to work with, and they instead let this movie be just another stupid, redundant, uninspired, lame and cheap piece of garbage only brain damaged and peoples could enjoy. Only thing positive is the concept and design of the weapons, but is clearly not enough. The characters are boring and monodimensional, the actors didnt even try, and there is a fantastic plot twist no one could have seen coming....(sarcasm). Really, 2 stars, for design of the ambientations and of the weapons.
Godzilla (2014)
Finally the Real Godzilla!
After the awful Emmerich's Godzilla of 1998, I wasn't expecting much from this movie, but indeed I had to change my mind. This movie of course isn't a masterpiece, but has the merit of extablishing a good tone for the sequels, and FINALLY presenting us Godzilla for what he really is. Godzilla is not evil, nor good, hes simply a force of nature. In the 98's movie, I felt really bad, Godzilla was depicted as a poor creature who get's killed by the humans, indeed I had the feeling that humans in that movie were the real evil, suppressing an animal who only tried to survive. I felt really sorry, it was like destroing a legend. This time however, is finally showed the real Godzilla, not good, not evil, simply above human perception of existence. Of course, in this movie there are some bad things too, some inconsistencies and contraddictions, some things seems conveniently too simple, like the main character living with his family in the very same place where in the end the action take place and where the monsters arrives from across the globe... But, whatever.. In the end I think this movie has more good things than bad, a great photograpy, a good script and a evocative soundtrack..
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Where is Skull Iland?!
Anyone who watches this movie to find the atmosphere and the suspence of the first Kong will be deluded. The magic of Peter Jackson's Skull Iland is nowere to be found. First quarter of the movie create a good setup, but until they arrive at the iland it's just random things happening and incostincences. They tried to impress with dimensions and odd creatures, but in the end, the lack of caraterization and many messed up things makes this movie just as those old black and white movies with giant monsters fighting, done with colours and cgi. Go re-watch Jackson's King Kong, 100% better than this one.