Reviews

Before I watched it, reading the title I knew it wasn't going to be a good movie, but hey, I like some b-movies from time to time, particularly on hot summer nights, so I gave it a chance. I have to confess I was under warning, I had watched "Dead Snow" and, despite the fact of being a Norwegian film, which it seems to give some points to people for their reviews, I didn't enjoy it. But, as I've already said, B-movies with crazy plot may be welcome…or not.

Let's get into the movie. The intro: After a thousand stereotyped production for this kind of works (pseudo-gothic American way adaptation form an European, mostly, tale) I must say it wasn't bad, though it's ruined by the last line which I don't want to remember. Also, seeing MTV as producer it's a very bad sign telling us this won't improve. Plot: Absurd, but I repeat, this is b-movie, no one would search logic here. But makers could have avoid anachronism which could embarrassed even apes. Kung-fu witches, "Wild Wild West" style weapons, annoying kid friend, Hansel and Gretel as the center of witchcraft, chosen heroes not by working class (sorry John).

Casting: It has bothered me, particularly Stormare's character which is totally out of place. Janssen as karate diva is too weird, doesn't work for me. Renner is too old for being the same age brother of Arterton, hot as hell with her leather catsuit, by the way, there is no chemistry between them, even there is more between Gretel and the Giant, most funny and interesting character of all.

In short, the director has gotten a bigger budget to develop all the stupid action set-pieces, for example coven's shooting, something to be ashamed. Seeing what I have seeing Tommy Wirkola is a name to avoid in the future.

TV movie above average, where the performances are acceptably good (taking for granted that the casting is not Russian nor Slavic) and the relations between them are fine too. Slow but safe rhythm, good ambiance of the soviet times in, in this case, Rostov na Donu. It shows some problems of that time and situation, the secrets and the need for being close and be capable of show great competence and look to big men of the Party.

I would have like they had dug deeper in the figure of Andrei Chikatilo, Rostov's Butcher, which is lightly represented in the film, how I said the film is more focus on relations between, Rea and Sutherland.

Random fact, thrash band Slayer (poor Hannemann) wrote a song based on this disgusting man called "Psychopathy Red".

Amusing TV show, though it's canceled, about the adventures of a couple of private investigators, great performances, on the streets of San Diego.

I decided to watch it because some reviews I read which said it was a magnificent show. Well, I wouldn't say it reached that level; it's true it has a strange soul (maybe all that light and brightness, most common thing in South California) The big hit is the performances, specially of the p.i. couple with great chemistry, the ambient and it's entertaining. Opening theme (Gunfight Epiphany of Rob Duncan) helps with its happy tune to strengthen the whole show.

Less strong points: soft plot which it leads the audience to tedium sometimes (but characters come to rescue it) and the lack of antagonist with charisma.

So, easy to see show, but I understand the reason why it was canceled, and people didn't follow it (however, without a great campaign behind and in a small channel is difficult to keep on surviving).

Curious piece of Zhang Yimou who is far from his common work here. This is paranoia, comedy in modern ambient, new China. Eccentric characters, absurd situations, hand held camera, 90's urbanism, western music, documentary-experimental look, that kind of crazy Asian friendship relation so strange here in Europe. These are "Keep Cool" characteristics. It starts very gut, entertaining us and keeping us curious in the couch while Jiang Wen chase Qu Ying (più bella donna), this beginning is perfect and I was hooked on it: rhythm and curiosity. But it is only for a moment, after a little piece of time I started to get bored because mostly of the lacks of rhythm, lack of empathy with character, the disappearance of Qu Jing, there is no script (besides there are a few localizations which is the worst thing to avoid the boredom and emptiness). The thing is that Yimou doesn't pay attention to himself and doesn't keep his head cool to make a good story. Good start and nothing else

I have to thank and appreciate the intention OK the makers of this movie of doing films like this, but when you don't have the talent or the know-how to create this kind of pictures it's very hard to accomplish the mission and impossible to nail it. So, what we get it's a Tarantino movie wanna be. I'll start saying the main scene and "leit motiv" fails 'cause it's badly recorded, first dialog may embarrass the creator, the edition is pretty lame (no excuse about the trying of fracture action), personages without charisma, Bruce Willis don't care about his role, I don't know what for is Forest Whitaker in the movie, senseless. Only Akerman (I have seen lately some of her movies and I hope she will get a big role soon and become a top level movie star)cares about performances. Best thing: some songs and the opportunity of seeing Malin Akerman, and Debora Ann Woll (she needs bigger roles in bigger movies as well)too,

Big drop of quality in accordance to first season. This second started good with mysterious characters, pretty good atmosphere, suggestive plots, mental wanderings (of course) and a collection of horror movies topics caged in the typical psychiatric catholic hospital. There are all: Nazis with their experiments, half zombies, lesbians, aliens, nymphs, "le diable", catholic church, slashers, possessions…. I'm all right with this, if they can make it work, credits for them. However, from the episode number four or five all start to decay. Plots become boring, main characters disappear, you don't care about some others ("mental handjobs" as we say here), softness start to reign and, this is the worst, where is the horror? Casting is good. Jessica Lange is very good with an attractive character; Sarah Paulson awesome; Zachary Quinto has the look for a disturbed person, easy for him; James Cromwell good as well; Lily Rabe the best in my opinion, great performance. The rest are worse than them. Can't forget, Chloe Sevigny appears too. Manufacture, as in the first, is top quality, one of the best ever seen, from the opening titles to the end. Spoiler: all the story about the blonde guy asshole and their women, Arden experiments (what happened, they could use them more), Ana Frank, really!?, soon death of sister Eunice…and more, are thing I didn't like it and I think they affect negatively to the last result. Let's wait for the third part of American Horror Story, I hope they can get up.

I am with some other reviews who say in this movie there are two different part. The first, when she was a little kid, and the second, she as a teen. The first half, the star as a kid is awesome, nothing more, nothing less. Perfect length too. The aesthetic, blue tone, somber tale and perfect cast in this disturbing and sad story combine to produce one of the Spanish cinema peaks in the 90's. The other half, it's not bad as many people said, but with any trace of doubt the quality drops a lot. Annoying new characters, the loss of the atmosphere because the movie escapes to reality from that isolated world tale from the first half. Movie changed. Great technical work, good music and casting (specially the two girls who has disappeared from the scene inexplicably).

Affectation of story full of chances to become (and it should happen) in a muscular film full of testosterone, cheap movie or blockbuster. But it dropped in the hands of a pu**y soft hand of an executive (Disney) how Homer regretted when he helped Mel Gibson.

Let's see, soft story with an absolute prick of a kid (I don't know why they put them in so many movies, I can't stand'em… JEBEM!)and his father, Disney redemption, and robots, of course, to give coolness.

They tried to give us "cat for rabbit", Spanish idiom, like Chinese restaurants. Tough guy atmosphere with that Midwestern smell, rodeo, tattoos, beers and booze, hot girls; all fake, you just need 10 minutes to get sick of this pretending film. Come on, bad "Over the top" remake, think something new, and without this kind of sons, please.

Best, Hugh Jackman, who does what he can, and the first song. For kids, di**heads, but kids.

Tapped balloon, I don't think it would get up; even it wouldn't have been canceled. But the first part of the show is great, and sure, one of the best things done in TV about TV. It shows what that world really is; fighting for advisers (in USA more than anywhere due to all the lobbies they have) and how difficult is the making of a politically incorrect show). Episodes are entertaining based upon solid scripts and smart dialogs, very TV-maked; recipe proved good in "The west side of the White House". It shows us the diary making of a late night show and the relations between the staff and with other groups as executives, investment groups, lobbies… The cast is not bad, Perry's character is made for him (he's Chandler at work), Paulsen is good at it as Weber. But I have to mention to Amanda Peet , one of the most perfect faces ever but with a career below the big expectations. I didn't like Whitford and Hughley, too stupid for me. Despise of the great beginning, soon starts the drop (proving 24 episodes per season and high independence level of the plot between episodes is an old fashion formula). Absurd relations; stupid friendship; too plain and stupid theological, political, racism or patriotism discussions; exaggerated situations; are themes which showed up through the show which ruined the beginning. Also that American moral whiff does not help out. As I have read in some reviews when you feel is going down, better quit.

Delightful and bizarre movie by Miike's perverted mind. Funny, curious, original and irregular too; like all his production. Using football (soccer) terms, it reminds me to a typical attacking midfielder (f.e. Özil, Guti) who plays like god one minute but the next plays like the worst player of the worst team; too much quality but discontinuous. That's how I see him, if you make a thousand works per year it's very hard to keep high standards of quality. Let's focus in this film, great staging, well used resources (good option using stop-motion for most complex scenes), delirious characters (Sagawa, sumo and the schoolgirl are awesome), big hit moments (when the first body is found out, I laughed a lot with the family) and the plot… well, the plot doesn't matter. Aesthetically it's a great work, from an original and bold film maker; there is no doubt about it. But I may say, in my opinion, there are points which don't allow this movie be perfect. Some of this points; most of musical interludes are boring and childish, lack of rhythm in some passages (musical moments don't help with this), father's character performance doesn't get me at all (perhaps is something cultural, some Asians performances exasperate me due to their lack of realism and that submissive silence I can't understand). In short, it's a worth see movie and it will sure split people in their opinions. But we must put aside our conventions and prejudices to enjoy it and let us embraced by the creativity and the universe of Takashi Miike.

I'ts a fact this film is too old and his old-fashioned ways. But I can understand its rate because I know the old classic use to be overrated (I do it too).

Well, this move has rhythm, good performance by two of the biggest stars, good work but Hawks who knows how to do it in this field (I have to say I prefer him in westerns by far). OK, it got its points. Though the addition of ridiculous situation (not a surreal or absurd theme), people's reaction and the trivial problems of the "elite" provokes in me indifference, big indifference, boredom I could say. Maybe I'm not made by this kind of movies, romantic comedy not my genre, I don't like Julia Robert's or Sandra Bullock's most movies (most screwballs are like this two actress movies today).

Still I can recognize the merits of this old production, buy I may say not old times were better and not old-made things have to be better than today's made.

One of the biggest hits of the "Italian Comedy", starred by the top of the Italian star-system. De Sica give us a solid film all along the length, taking us from drama to comedy, they're separated by a faint border; as the life itself.

Obviously, the time has passed and some points are old-fashioned (technical resources, technology, life's perspective) but it's true the film gets one realistic approach (it couldn't be less being this film one of the examples of Italian neo-realism) about the drama of a woman who looks for dignity and fights for the good of her children.

This pink neo-realism sows us the common life of Italian people after WWII. Mediterranian country, misogyny, catholic, conservator, noisy… similar to Spain (españolada, Landismo), Greece, etc.

Good performances form Mastroianni, who is a playboy but with a good heart at least, and, especially Sophia Loren, at her prime, as Filomena, a prostitute who will fight for her honesty, dignity and her sons, a woman with attitude, tough in her acts and with some real curves. In other words the best "donna", along with Magnani, in all history.

De Sica, without reaching the lever of previous works in the 40's, makes a gret work in a field he controls like only a few people more. Good photography and ambiance. Music as Italian music, little cloying but it don't bother and it suits the film.

Thou, there are some negative points: - Relationship with children and their reaction are unnatural and the aren't worked as it'd be necessary. - Story could be analyzed in a deeper way. It's a good topic. - Make-up of Loren at 17, she doesn't look even for a moment, her body is different, no one can't do it something about it with that clothes, but the make-up could be better.

But it's a good movie, despise of these thing and the fact that is a movie made in the early 60's and other things I can't remember. You can enjoy this film and discover if you didn't make it earlier the refreshing Italian cinema.