1966nm's Reviews

Les sous-doués (1980)

10/10

11 September 2006

Back in the years of high school, a perfect age for this film, cinema for me mend summer time, sky roof theaters, uncomfortable canvas seats, mosquito repellants and a wish that it wouldn't rain.

And one day, I was old enough to take the bus for an one hour travel to the big city where the real cinema theaters were. Together with by best friend, I had my first experience of the short going to see Spiderman. At that age it actually looked good. But the second time we dared to make use of our teenage freedom, we went to this film. The theater was foul. The audience was delighted. We were laughing all the way to the end of the function and some even applauded when it was over.

I never forgot this experience. All the movies that followed had to be compared with this one.

Back in the '80s, in Greece, this film became a legend. French comedies were predominant in those days and we knew French comedians better than their American colleagues. A whole fashion of school movies was provoked by the success of this idea and several bad taste local versions were produced.

Today, apart from me and my friend, probably no one else remembers the comedy that thrilled the country. Personally I still wish for more.

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Backroads (1997)

9/10

The history of modern Spain

16 November 2005

Warning: Spoilers

I think. Watching this film I can't help thinking that it is an allegory of the social history of this country. I am not an expert on the subject but it all makes sense.

Although the movie is filled with nostalgic references to the past, which could make it a little autobiographic at points, the general idea here is that a broken man who doesn't know his real condition, a fallen "aristocrat" who doesn't accept his new status, tries to make a living by cheating. The perfect opportunist, he hides the truth about him from his son, his beloved companion in this road movie, but it seems that he believes in his own lies more than his son does.

Patty Hearst is in the news, Franco is dying, color TV appears in the market, American military bases are an opportunity rather than a political issue and living on the others seems the only acceptable way to live for a man who is used to another kind of life. Anything but a job. Women in this story are but vehicles that get him farther on the way. A future high class singer is only a meal ticket really and when she is not available any more a casual green grocery girl from the neighborhood is good enough as long as she provides a worm bed and a financial solution for a man too good for this world.

His son in the meanwhile is a problematic teenager who hates his father's ways, has his sexual wakening and starts to understand what his life is. In every sense he is more noble than his well bred and mannered father, although a troublemaker. He respects women and he is uncomfortable with rackets, but he could actually do better than the small time crook of his father. He is more intelligent, more flexible and his principles are more than a protocol to him. He is I guess, the boy who grew up to take control of his country in our days.

Clear political messages are his love affairs with the American girls and his resistance against the police during a riot he finds himself into by mistake. When the youth stands up in front of the forces of oprecion they do back up, according to this. It did happen in Spain and most of Europe.

In the end, just when things seem to get worse, all gets better, Not because of a personal success but from an unexpected turn of fortune, barely related to the process the two heroes have been through. The dictatorship is over and their poverty as well. Thanks to someone else's money, they can enjoy the life they want.

That's my interpretation of the film anyway. I hope it also was the intention of the makers. :-D.

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As perimenoun oi gynaikes! (1998)

10/10

A rare masterpiece

20 May 2005

One of the best Greek comedies ever, this film is a silent satire of the modern Greek reality; that of a forgotten political passion, eternal struggle for gaining and lack of self-criticism.

True to their identity, the heroes of this film, men, relatives, passionate, are a microcosm of a whole nation, which always complains, always falls in love and always tries to make the most out of every situation. Moral when it serves them, ideologists when they are allowed to be, are "always right", always victims and always do what they want in the end.

The dynamic confrontation of Panos and Antonis (played by an established artistic pair, with natural chemistry) takes this film away from the typical atmosphere of a Tsiolis work, making it more oral and approachable by the wider public. Yet, it functions perfectly as a representation of two typical characters of Greek life.

Argiris Bakirtzis, the standard protagonist of the directors latest and best films, functions here as a balance factor, that only displays any personality "between the lines" covering the final third of the national character pool. Now the representation of the modern Greek man is complete! Women are almost absent in this film although men always appear under their influence. A superficial influence that even in the form of a marriage or mad love, play a second role in the eyes of these modern men. Women don't need to talk much here. Maybe because men don't listen anyway.

Tsioli's direction is as always more optical than integral. What people say is of little importance anyway, since it only serves them as a mask of sound to cover what they really are, and you can always see it in their actions, that never lie. The characters here talk a lot more than in other of his films, mostly because they are by nature big mouths. But the story again really takes place in their movements. Movements sometimes picturesque and stylistic, that reaches the level of pantomime.

Still, the comedy works really well, making it by far the funniest film of the director and one of the funniest Greek comedies ever. Yet, again a difficult one, for a non-Greek to appreciate, with all these inside jokes.

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The Battle of Crete (1970)

7/10

Typical of it's time

20 May 2005

I really have no idea of what the Italian or Spanish versions of this film look like. But the Greek one doesn't look that bad and it appears unmistakably at least once a year in the Greek TV, during the anniversaries of the battle of Crete or the German or Italian invasions.

The action is of theatrical rather than cinematographic kind and fails to satisfy the international public, used to the spectacular "realism" of the Hollywood flicks.

Unknown outside the borders, the actors were very well known in Greece at the time (some of them still are today) and for a Greek movie it was not that cheep. Trying to turn it into an international production didn't work that well and it is clearly distinct among Greek war movies for that.

True to the spirit of the time (a military dictatorship was running the country) it tries to glorify the allied struggle against Nazism, underline the usually forgotten Greek factor in the WWII and whisper accusations about the failure of the anyway doomed Greek defense against the German invasion.

I guess the strong point of the Greek cinema was hilarious cheep comedies and human dramas rather than imitations of war epics.

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Daughter of Deceit (1951)

8/10

They just don't make them like that anymore.

19 January 2005

Not of the kind of films that made Buñuel famous worldwide, this is one of the good old movies that you have the chance to see in the Mexican TV 3-4 times per year. This ever popular film is really a comedy with some dramatic brushwork here and there and the kind of extreme human characters that you expect from the director to work with.

Fernando Soler is simply excellent as always and Fernando Soto has some great comic moments. Lily Aclemar is my favorite among the women (with a nice musical number as well), as for the rest of the cast, I think they really won their pay check.

A very presentable work from the golden period of the Mexican cinema, maybe typical of it's time, but nothing more than that really.

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Vlad Tepes (1979)

9/10

A nice little epic

20 August 2004

The communistic states used historical films to make propaganda on their policy, as well as to promote national pride. Romania was not an exception and this film is one of the most interesting of its kind.

It presents the true story of Romania's national hero, prince Vlad Tepes of Vlachia, a man who tried to reform his country and resist the Ottoman invasions, using every way available, no matter how cruel, in order to succeed. The idea is that the cause justifies the means and for this, Vlad Tepes was a perfect example.

Having cinema treating their national hero as a monster since 1922, the Romanians have every right to present him as a cruel BUT great leader, which he practically was. There have been other films about this topic but no other has approached so much the historical truth as this one.

Worth the trouble of watching if you don't hate history.

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Harakiri (1962)

10/10

a 10

14 April 2004

I feel a little shame to write anything about this film, because my English does not permit me to use the poetic language that is necessary to make any remarks on this masterpeace. But as I 've noticed, other brothers in IMDb have already done that so its OK I guess. Like "Brasil", this movie I've seen only once in my life and many years ago, but for some reason, I still remember it (as well as the feelings that it gave me) very vividly. It is against my principals to call anything "the best", no matter what it is. After all, opinions are like butts. Everybody 's got his own. But "Seppuku" IS one of those films -I can count in my fingers- that tempt me to give it such a title. It made me fall in love with the cinema of the rising sun and loose my good opinion for the Bushido. Later, "Ghost Dog" helped me to balance this a bit. 8)

The tragedy that rolls down throughout the story forces any sensitive person to take sides and get involved with the plot, and the incredible action movie ending can only produce enthusiasm to the viewer who feels more thirsty for revenge than our ronin!

Well, anyway, if you are {a} a man {b} who has the sense of honor and {c} don't consider Bush as the best thing that ever happened to the USA,

this is your movie!

(Few things in this century are still treated with such respect as the samurai tradition. Mostly because people do not understand its full dimentions. Watching this controversial and highly realistic film can make someone loose all his respect for beautiful legents who are mostly based on lies and an invented sense of honor and duty).

Tolerance for old B/W films who don't have any special effects but they do have a plot, is also a must for enjoy it.

Eutyhite!

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Oscar (1967)

10/10

Unforgettable

10 March 2004

The film that almost killed my friend R-G, from an overdose of laughs, "Oscar" has a special place in my cinema loving mind, not because it is original or something, but because it's so damn good!

The best big screen version of a theatrical play, (Sylvester Stallone didn't do too bad, but when you compare with Louis de Funès you are doomed to loose!) it practically takes place inside a house, during one day. The confusion that is created by a series of misunderstandings, carries you away and makes you feel compassion for the desperation of Louis de Funès, during the breaks you take from laughing, in order to breath.

Sorry for my enthusiasm, but I like this one a lot. I know that opinions vary, but in my opinion, "Oscar" is one of the best comedies ever made, mostly for the amount of funny situations it serves you throughout the entire film.

8)

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Compañeros (1970)

9/10

4 March 2004

I believe that every film should be judged according to it's nature. For what this film is, it's almost excellent. I can still remember the first time I saw it as a child in a summer time cinema in my town and not only it left a mark in my subconsciousness about the kind of films I was watching at that time, but the music never left my memory and easily comes back without me ask for it. And I don't mind at all. But enough about me!!! Like so many other Italian western films, it actually is... a political film. Yes! And a very obvious one. The Mexican revolution as pictured here, has little in common with the real stuff. Also the basis of the Mexican food is corn! But that's not important. What matters is the hope that so many Europeans had in that time for some kind of revolution here also. So, Mexico is just an excuse.

The movie plays with the sentiments of the viewer, who slowly finds that he wants to be a part of it, even if he is a money loving European like Yolaf Peterson. In the (incredible) end, when everything about this wonderful, crazy song you hear all the time makes sense, you are so captivated that you would never forgive Yolaf for making any other choice than the one that you also would have made given the chance. When can I see this film again?

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Siluri umani (1954)

10/10

Great war film

4 March 2004

The Italian navy in the second world war, was strong and efficient, but somehow only had negative results to saw (good for us Greeks). But there was one area of the naval war in which the Italians were not only the first but also the best. The unorthodox naval war of modern times was their invention, and no other navy, including the British, was ever capable to match them.

This film, made only a few years after the real event, tells the story of the most famous and successful enterprise they ever accomplished, against the British navy in Crete, in 1941. We follow the training and the personal stories of the members of this group of special men who prepare themselfs for a most dangerous mission and finally we see the scene of the attack, very well made for the time. The film is patriotic rather than antiwar but since Italy was on the side that lost the war, you get to see a lot less propaganda than in the American films of the kind.

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Modern Times (1936)

10/10

Always modern

4 March 2004

Somehow, this very old film is particularly modern today and the exaggerations are not really sooo extreme compared with the real world. The humans, enslaved by the machines and by those who control them, become more and more small and insignificant, like the hero of this very funny comedy (one of the best in the history) that speaks about very ugly things in a very amusing way. The Tramp, is not a tramp in the beginning. He has a real job in a modern factory, that almost kills him, as the factory becomes more and more modern. He becomes a tramp when he stays without a job. Picking up red flags in the street can get you in a big problem with the police, who are there to serve and protect the rich. An honest man can stay honest even in prison and get benefits from this. Even a new job. But honesty is not really enough. Trouble is always around the corner and modern society doesn't permit you to make a new start easily.

Love gives you wings, or at list hope and the power to continue. A beautiful girl of the streets is more than our hero is asking for and he is ready to do whatever necessary. Even put his safety in danger to take care of her. And she, appreciates this. In the end, when everything is lost once again, all they are left with, is each other and that's all they really need.

For the first time is his cinema career, our Tramp will find a girl that will stick with him and support him. (Chaplin obviously felt with Paulette Goddard something that he didn't feel for his earlier women, and I don't blame him).

And this story of modern times, like all of Chaplin's films will end up with an optimistic feeling in a unhappy end. Never is everything lost.

With obvious inspiration from Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" and maybe René Clair's "À nous la liberté", it made the strongest point about THE where we 're going, in all the cinema of the 30's (I think) 8) and with only Marx bros' "Duck soup" being able to stand anywhere close to it. Maybe the most complete, funny and mature creation of the best comedian of the seventh art, with a lot more than a non stop production line of great jokes to offer. If made without a single joke, this film would still be one of the greatest of all of our modern times.

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Under Siege (1992)

9/10

an opinion

3 March 2004

Now, this is a ridiculous film. BUT, I give it a 9/10 because: First of all, you get to see Erica Eleniak a) come out of a cake with the proper outfit b) look helpless under the situation, and helpless she looks good, and

c) perform well her part, which is a nice thing. Then, you get to see Tommy Lee Jones play bad (in my opinion) and its nice to see that even he is not perfect. Then, its a Steven Seagal movie and you get to see the people with big authority be the bad guys. I am not sure that Steven Seagal is a nice person in his real life, but if you want to see a film where the people in power have dirty hands, then you need to see one of his films. So, he can't be all that bad! And anyway, you must judge a film according to its nature. This one is not a Fellini movie, its just for fun, and some cheap accusation (always wellcome), and as this you must see it!

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I'm Shy, But I'll Heal (1978)

10/10

old memories

3 March 2004

Once, France was the world capital of comedy and Pierre Richard was one of their very best comedians. It's a period that looks completely forgotten today, but I grew up with this stuff and I think I still carry the "marks" and the influence in my personality. Particularly from movies like this one, that in the time I thought was made specially for me. A guy, too shy to... even live, in his personal fight to "get better", with the help of a friend that he gets in the way and slowly he WILL gain self confidence and determination, but only after a lot of laughs. My favorite joke of the film is the scene of practice his self confidence in a restaurant. More than classic! They just don't make them like that any more 8)

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The Saragossa Manuscript (1965)

10/10

What a film!!!

3 March 2004

I saw this one on TV many years ago and I was captivated! In the second change I had, I recored it on video and when my cassete was destroyed, I made a hopeless search in the internet, only to find that soon I could buy it on DVD. And I did. I just can't get away from this masterpiece of cinematography. Based on a book, clearly inspired from the 1001 nights, telling a story inside a story, inside a story (I love this), with a lot of Jorge Louis Borges magic I guess, celebrates the true joy of cinema, where nothing is more important that watch the film itself! The story is incredible, but just, doesn't matter! All I want with this one, is to see it again and again, not trying to understand the dark parts of it, or the connections between the stories, or to find my way out of the labyrinth that is build around you as you continue more inside its plot, but just to loose myself in it, be a part of it, and not wish to get out.

Not for everyone, but probably a great choice if you don't like Chuck Norris too much!

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The Exterminating Angel (1962)

10/10

Only for a few, I guess

3 March 2004

There is a big house of an aristocratic family that is giving a party for elite guests. But the commoners who are serving the house, for some reason just don't go to do their job, and once the guests are inside, for some reason they cannot get out of it. What is there waiting for them? If it was a Hollywood movie it would be a thriller. But it's a Buñuel film and the otherwise crazy plot, suddenly makes seance to

those who know what he was always up to. The high class

society is trapped inside the word that they've created

and they control, but surrealisticaly enough has imprisoned

them and becomes their nemesis. Go figure! These things just

don't happen. Or do they?

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The Voice of the Heart (1943)

9/10

A silent scream

27 February 2004

This very little known film, of great historical value, is important mostly for existing! The technology of modern cinema arrived in Greece only just before World War II, which stopped any such activity in the country under German occupation. But two years later, with the occupation costing the life of almost 10% of the population, this little film appears and fills up the theaters with viewers hungry for food and hope, giving lots of worries to the occupation authorities. Ignored today by everyone, it remains a treasure of the modern Greek culture, really a symbol of the soul of the nation!

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O Mihalios tou 14ou Syntagmatos (1962)

8/10

Not bad

27 February 2004

Typical Greek comedy of the 60's, made around Kostas Chatzichristos, with a lot of very good actors, just supporting him. The direction and the editing are rather sloppy and the plot continues the standard topic of most of Chatzichristos movies. The inteligent peasant (this time in the army) does really well in the society of the city folks and wins in the end, even if things get very rough for him. Social education for the new urban population of the time and some nice jokes and the Greek keep on enjoying this film over and over again.

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The Ogre of Athens (1956)

10/10

Greece after the WWII

27 February 2004

This is the first Greek film of that "Artistic" nature, that years later would almost destroy the Greek cinema. But in the 50's it was a great novelty for the local production. On a first level, it's talking about the story of a little man who is tiered of being this little man and decides that he 'd rather have the short but glorious life of a famous criminal. His borrowed reputation, soon gets him the tragic but exceptional end that he almost is wishing for. Still, this is not really a crime movie! It's a political film, made in a time when this was not permited by the authorities. The wounds from the wars that passed, the 2nd world war and the Greek civil war (a taboo topic at the time), are obvious to the viewer with eyes open. The poverty that dooms the life of the nation and the influence of the USA in Greece, not by their model of life but with their unethical, political involvements, is underlined with the only way that it was possible for the Greek cinema of the time! A beautiful, lyrical tragedy, with a message to read between the lines.

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What a Man Has to Do to Survive (1970)

1/10

Friki

26 February 2004

Now, this is one of the most terrible films in the history of the Greek cinema, so terrible that makes you wonder, just how they made it! It is my strong opinion that Hatzihristos, was capable for the very best and the very worst, and although this is not his worst film, it still makes you think if he is the same actor who made films like: "tis Kakomoiras" and "Makrikosteoi kai Kontogiorgides".

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Ziteitai pseftis (1961)

10/10

Always modern

26 February 2004

Excellent comedy, of the golden age of the Greek cinema, when making simple and yet great films was not only possible, but the rule maybe. Dalianidis is setting up a political satire, pointing out in a very fanny way the corruption of the political life and of those who are involved in it. A parliament member (Pantelis Zervos, in one of his best performances, in my opinion) is cynically asking for a liar as his personal assistant. Dinos Illiopoulos IS his man and he does very well, even confronted with his own lies (giving in this case, one of the funniest scenes in the history of the Greek cinema). In the end, he will be (almost) defeated by the wife of the PM, simply because she is a woman and therefor better liar 8) Still our hero, has one parthian arrow to throw in the end, making us wish that we were as capable as he is. The second best moment of the film is maybe a dancing number, performed by Martha Karayanni (always a pleasure)! It is funny to think that 6 years after this political film, Greece got herself a dictatorship and the Greek cinema started to decline!

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Goma-2 (1984)

7/10

An 80's European adventure

26 February 2004

A profesional hit-man has started a new life as a track driver in Spain. In a travel to France, carrying oranges, escorted by his lovely wife, he will run into a lot of problems, because of the local mafia that is trying to control the market of fruits. He will try to stay away from trouble, but his beloved wife, by mistake, will find a horrible death, trapped inside the truck, when They will put fire in it. After this, he is simply forced to return back to his old ways, find through his old contacts all the guns and information that he needs and then kill each and everyone of the bad guys. Simple film, with ordinary plot and flat characters, for entertainment without any expectations. For those who like this kind, not so bad for rent and see in the video.

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Thimios in the Land of Striptease (1963)

1/10

1 for awful

27 September 2003

This film proves that a great comedian is never enough to make an -even- acceptable movie. There is no kind of proper story or connection between the scenes, but Chagichristos at his worst, being stupid. The direction is terrible and even the strip-tiz numbers are not good. I don´t know what he as thinking when he made this film!

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Makrykostas and Kondogiorgis (1960)

10/10

The best

27 September 2003

This is the most funny (in my opinion always) comedy of the old Greek cinema, with very intelligent story and action and two of the best greek comedians at their very best. Like most Greek films of that time, it means almost nothing to people of other nationalities, but a viewer familiar with the language and the customs of Greece, is difficult not to appretiate this genius comedy, not really a typical one of the time.

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World Gone Mad (1963)

10/10

A perfect moment

27 September 2003

The best film of Chagichristos and one of the very best Greek Comedies ever, is a movie very simple and depends only in talent and dialogue, witch is very sufficient in this case. Very funny, but unfortunately, only for Greeks!

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Saving Private Ryan (1998)

7/10

Not an antiwar film

26 September 2003

I happen to like a lot the war films and this one contains two of the very best battle scenes in the history of cinema; one in the beginning and one in the end. Unfortunately, between these two scenes, the film is very simple, to say the list and full of hidden propaganda (very logical, since the film was made with the blessings of the American army). I didn't see anything against the war, like I expected, only that in a case of it, we should be doing our duty, even if it is a terrible thing and a lot of us will die a terrible death. What I understand is that following the correct formula, you can make very impressive films and a lot of money.

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