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Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)
Adventures for the whole family with sympathy, friendship and wonderful jungle landscapes.
This live-action film adapts the well-known cartoons (2000-2019, 175 episodes) to the big screen, based on the popular children's series: Dora the Explorer. Dora is a little Hispanic girl with who goes on adventures with her red boot wearing monkey, conveniently named Boots. During her adventures we also get to meet her talking backpack (or la mochila) and the map who sings an annoyingly cute song. In the series Swiper manages to steal items from Dora and Boots, he exclaims "You'll never find it now!", but the stolen items are always found and retrieved within a few seconds. The main purpose of the TV show is to teach Spanish to English-speaking children. In the film Dora, played by Isabela Moner, is now 16 years old and is going to have to face the most powerful jungle: the High School. After 10 years of exploring, Dora's parents (Michael Peña, Eva Longoria) decipher the location of Parapata and choose to send a now 16-year-old Dora (Isabela Moner) to Diego's high school in Los Angeles while they travel to the lost city. Staying with a now 17-year-old Diego (Jeff Wahlberg) and his family, Dora meets fellow students Sammy (Madeleine Madden) and Randy (Nicholas Coombe). Dora's parents have been trying to locate the legendary city for years, the golden city Inca of Parapeta. When they finally decide to go exploring without her daughter, she must leave the golden Peruvian jungle and move to the USA to the home of her uncle and her cousin Diego (Jeff Wahlberg) and attent at the Silverlake High school. Then they are captured by mercenaries led by Powell (Temuera Morrison) who fly them to Peru. When they land, a man named Alejandro (Eugenio Derbez) claims to be a friend of Dora's parents . Meanwhile, Boots and Swiper (voices of Danny Trejo and Benicio del Toro in the original version) are doing their thing, full of mischief and gibberish. Explorer is Her Middle Name !. Unlock the mystery !. Unleash your wild side !.
A kiddies adventure with thrills, emotion, adolescent friendship and sense of wonder. Stars Isabela Moner (Transformers: The Last Knight, Sicario: The Day of the Soldado) who gives a likable acting as the brave and adventurer teen girl. Co-starring Eugenio Darbez, Michael Peña, Eva Longoria, Adriana Barraza, Jeff Wahlberg, Danny Trejo and Benicio del Toro, all of them give pleasant and sympathetic performances. And special appearance by Isela Vega in one of her last films before her death, playing an old Inca magician with dark secrets. The film unites the classic ingredients of the Nickelodeon series (the backpack, the map, the fox Swiper voiced by Benicio del Toro, Boots voiced by Danny Trejo) with adventures in the jungle full of evil mercenaries, quicksand, lost cities full of gold, and adding the typical High-School stories of teaching including the ordinary nerds, underdogs and bullies.
The agreeable script is by Nicholas Stoller and Matthew Robins and the efficient direction by James Bobin. The latter is a fine craftsman and expert in children's films, having been nominated for 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, 4 awards and 24 nominations in total. And working in cinema and television in several films and series, such as: ¨Alice Through the Looking Glass¨, ¨Muppets Most Wanted¨ , ¨The Muppets¨, ¨The Conchords¨, ¨Enlightened¨, ¨Percy Jackson and the Olympians¨, among others. ¨Dora and the Lost City of Gold¨(2019) rating: 6/10. The film will appeal to adventure-loving children and teenagers alike.
Air Force One (1997)
Nail-biting intrigue and impressive action sequences cap off tour-of-force adventure.
The film starts with a joint special operations mission made up of Russian Spetsnaz and American Delta Force operatives to capture General Ivan Radek (Jurgen Prochnow) , the dictator of a "terrorist regime" in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. While US President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) who is not only tough on crime but tough on action, aboard the Air Force One. His policy is to not negociate with terrorists. Then Air Force One with him, the First Lady (Wendy Crewson) and their daughter (Liesi Matthews) aboard is hijacked by Russian nationalists, led by ice cold Ivan (Gary Oldman). And the first woman Veep Kathryn Bennett (Glenn Close) stuck in D. C. coping with the situation. The leader of the Free World puts his life on the line to rescue family and staff, then wrests control of the plane from maniac beardie Oldman. The most important man, the surest airplane, the most dangerous Hijackers...!. Harrison Ford is the President of the United States, and he wants you off his plane !. Family Man. Commander-In-Chief. National Hero. Any title worth having is never given. It's earned. Impenetrable. Invincible. In Trouble. The fate of a nation rests on the courage of one man !.
A thrilling film with non-stop action, emotion, violence and breathtaking set pieces. Moving film with a strong battle of wills and forces betwen President Ford and nasty Oldman, including thrills , noisy action , nail-biting as well as fast-paced confrontation and somewhat of dry humor. The early suspense stuff inside the plane is competently made. Concerning a cat-and-mouse game betwen two peculiar characters and despite a suspensefully edited final, the movie results to be a tad long. And there's also a subplot that seems to reference the Bosnian and Kosovo Wars. Ford is in fine form as the President who's forced to kick some Commie butt to save the day. Harrison Ford (in Jack Ryan mode) hides in the bowels of the jet and draws on his own resources to work out the move.
Director Peterson is becoming a master in building tension in confined places and puts his strong cast to good use. Most scenes are unbelievable and spectacular with a few hollywood exceptions, as it clearly pays tribute to the presidential staff and the secret agents who protect US Presidents . Highlight of the movie is the efficiently rather than excitingly shot scenes on the plane. Imagines 'Die Hard' in a Jumbo Boeing 747 plus action highlights from 'Airport 1975'. Main cast are top-notch, Harrison Ford plays in his usual style , he meets his match in a spooky assassin magnificently played by Gary Oldman who nearly overshadowed Ford, while Wendy Crewson performs his wife and Glenn Close plays an intelligent Vice-President runs the joint as political vultures jostle for position. Pretty good support cast with plenty of familiar faces, such as : Paul Guilfoyle, Xander Berkeley, William H. Macy, Liesel Matthews, Bill Smitrovich, Philip Baker Hall, Dean Stockwell, Tom Everett, Jürgen Prochnow, Elya Baskin, among others.
It contains terrific and pulsing musical score by the great Jerry Goldsmith. Colorful and appropriate cinematography by Michael Ballhaus. The motion picture was well directed by Wolfgang Petersen, from casting to scripting the movie was notable and our director made a good job. Wolfgang first big hit was ¨Das Boot¨ , following ¨The NeverEnding Story¨, and going on Hollywood productions as ¨Shattered¨ , ¨Enemy mine¨ . And a series of disaster genre movies as ¨Outbreak¨(1995) about the outbreak of a killer virus. This film had shades of an Irwin Allen disaster movie, The Swarm (1978), about the outbreak of killer bees. Both films had the military and scientists clash, also both had choppers all over the place. Then came this ¨Air Force One¨ (1997), about terrorists taking over the presidents plane, this film had shades of a 1970s Airport disaster film . ¨The Perfect Storm¨ (2000) came next, and while the script about a boat at sea in a storm was okay, the constant fake looking computer generated sea water damaged the film. And then came ¨Poseidon¨ (2006) that was Petersen's worst action/disaster movie by a long way, dealing with a passenger ship turning over at sea. Outbreak just hinted at being an Irwin Allen remake , but with Poseidon Petersen failed at boxoffice , it was now official this was a remake of Allen's The Poseidon Adventure . Rating Air Force One : 7/10 . Better than average . Well worth watching . The flick will appeal to Harrison Ford fans .
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Magic adventure with plenty of fantasy , imagination , emotion and breathtaking confrontation.
Second installment of the Fantastic Beasts series from JK Rowling's wizarding World, featuring the adventures of Magizoologist Newt Scamander: Eddie Redmayne. Fantastic adventures with full of action, bizarre events and overwhelming special effects. North American Ministry of Magic, New York, 1927. Everything is prepared for the transfer of an extremely powerful prisoner: the Dark sorcerer Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) though he's unaware of the dangers that will follow to get his project for world domination. Wizard Gellert Grindelwald plans to raise an army of wizards to rule over non-magical beings. In response, Newt Scamander's (Eddie Redmayne) former professor, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) , seeks his help to stop him. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world. The fate of one will change the future of all !. Who will change the future?. What would you do if your beasts escaped ?. Return to the magic !. Warner Bros invites you back to the magic!. The war of worlds starts with a secret !. Explore a new era of the wizarding World before Harry Potter ! .
This second sequel of the five adventures that make up the new cinematographic saga of the magical world created by the writer J. K. Rowling. Starring the magician Newt Scamander who carries out the effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans of raising pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings played again by Eddie Redmayne, it is directed and written like the previous and last ones in the Harry Potter saga by David Yates and written by J. K. Rowling.
J. K. Rowling invites you to a new era of the wizarding world full of spectacular and overwhelming fantastic aventures, set seventy years before Harry Potter arrives in the marvellous school Hogwarts. Eddie Redmayne as the magician Newt Scamander, Jude Law in the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore and Johnny Depp (Mads Mikkelsem replacing Depp in the next entry) as the powerful dark wizard Grindelwald star in this installment of the magical universe created by JK Rowlins for the Harry Potter saga. Here Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander leads a brave group to stop the powerful wizard, undertaking a truly dangerous mission in which they will find old and new magical animals and face an increasingly large legion of Grindelwald's followers. It contains state-of-art SFX , over-the-top thrills , wonderful creatures , though lacking a good character studio and a worst pacing than Harry Potter series. Interpretations are uniformly acceptable , though starring Eddie Redmayne playing an introverted character and a little silly role, along with the botcher but sympathetic role Kowalski : Dan Fogler and his sweetheart Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein. They are well accompanied by a good support cast , such as : Ezra Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Katherine Waterston, Kevin Guthrie, Carmen Ejogo, Wolf Roth, among others. Good of entertainment for kids and adults , although a bit long for the very young .
The motion picture was professionally directed by David Yates, but without originality because we have already seen the fantastic events and even better developed in the other installments . It displays an enlightening and brilliant cinematography by Philippe Rousselo. As well as moving and thrilling musical score by James Newton Howard . This fine filmmaker David Yates is an expert British craftsman who already made other Harry Potter entries : Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , Potter and the half-blood Prince , Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 and part 2 . Las series is formed by: ¨Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them¨ (2016) by David Yates with Johnny Depp Colin Farrell, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston, Samantha Morton, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Clarke Hill, Ezra Miller . It was followed by ¨Fantastic Beasts : The Crimes of Grindelwald¨ 2018 by David Yates with Eddie Redmayne , Katherine Waterston , Zoe Kravitz , Carmen Ejojo, Ezra Miller , Jude Law and Johhny Depp . And ¨Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore¨(2022).
Camelot (1967)
This lavish musical is really a technician's triumph: music, lyrics, cinematography and gowns are all brilliant.
Agreeable musical with patches of interest, long runtime and nice settings. The long-running Lerner and Loewe Broadway musical about King Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot was adapted from T. H. White's book ¨The once and future king¨. An overwhelming, rotund but overlong rendition marred for a weak plot. King Arthur (Richard Harris who also does his own singing) is overwhelmed with sadness in the middle of the battlefield and seeks Merlin's help to find out the cause of his mood. Merlin (Laurence Naismith) tells him to remember how years ago, he was already full of restlessness, waiting for the arrival of the foreigner Guenevere (Vanessa Redgrave), that she was to be his queen. He achieves triumphs on the battlefield thanks to the creation of 'the order of the knights of the round table'. The invitation of King Arthur reaches the ears of the French knight Lancelot du Lac (Franco Nero), who in the company of his squire Dap (Pierre Olaf), heads to Camelot to proclaim his loyalty to the king. Along the way, an elderly man in rusty armor in the woods, he appears to be lost, so they offer assistance. The old man introduces himself as King Pellinore (Lionel Jeffries). Pellinore tells Arthur if he does not face the truth his Round Table is doomed. Suddenly, they are interrupted by a pompous young fellow named Mordred (David Hemmings). The Most Beautiful Love Story Ever!. Relive the songs !. Relive the romance !. Direct from its reserved seat engagement !. Relive the music !. Relive the drama !. Relive the magic !.
A whole new world of magnificent musical entertainment with emotion, duels, adventure, romance and a lot of songs. Cinematic version of the famous Broadway musical that was the absolute record for duration on the theater's billboard. Here there is also an enjoyable picture postcard approach to the mythical history. Resulting to be a sympathetic movie with plenty of panoramic scenary, great photography, lush costume design by John Truscott, are all very pleasing indeed. The notorious legend of King Arthur, created under all kinds of details by a technical team of the utmost professionalism: script by Alan Jay based on his own play, photography in Technicolor, artistic direction by Edward Carrere and music by Alfred Newman inspired from the score by Frederick Loewe. Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero have chemistry enough as the illicit lovers. Richard Harris is strong as the forthright and likable king struggling to hold together his dream, but muddled and heavy direction undermine the effort.
In Camelot(1967) highlights the breathtaking 70mm Wide Screen colorful cinematography by Richard H. Kline and full stereophonic sound. This big budgeted musical rendered very pretty and wonderful look at by filmmaker Joshua Logan. This craftsman was a good director who made successful films, usually dramas and musical, including big name actors, such as ¨Picnic¨, ¨Bus stop¨, ¨Sayonara¨, ¨South Pacific¨, ¨Fanny¨, ¨Ensign Pulver¨, ¨Paint your wagon¨ and this ¨Camelot¨. Rating 6/10. Acceptable and passable musical, but neither notable, nor extraordinary, but decent. The flick will appeal to Richard Harris, Redgrave and Nero fans.
Las leyes de la frontera (2021)
Adaptation of the novel by Javier Cercas and paying tribute to the Quinqui subgenre.
A remarkable and highly recommended film for action lovers , being stunningly directed by Daniel Monzon. Thrilling and thought-provoking look at youthful delinquency in Spain of the 70s. Some young criminals from the city's Chinatown, are immersed in an unstoppable career of thefts, violence and bank robberies. It is the story in which Nacho (Marcos Ruiz) grows up, crossing the line between good and evil, between justice and injustice. Adaptation of the novel by Javier Cercas, it results to be a nice Spanish thriller/action film featuring a newcomer cast , interesting screenplay and thrilling story ; dealing with a small-time traffickers and crooks in Gerona 1978. Introverted Gerona student Nacho meets two delinquents, Tere (Begoña Vargas) and Zarco (Chechu Salgado) from the city's Chinatown and gets caught up in a summer onslaught of burglaries and hold ups that will change his life. What begins as a small romance Nacho (Marcos Ruiz) and Tere (Begoña Vargas) leads a teenage victim of bullying to change friends and spend a summer of robberies, fun and much more.
This exciting film packs romance, noisy action , thrills , emotion , drama , car chases and good pace. The movie takes place in 1978, year of the death of Pope John Paul I, there's a slow start and at the end it seems like several movies in one . Its emphasis is on class and social position and how the law treats criminals from the upper classes differently than those from poverty from lower classes . The somber tone of what begins as a film about high school life is unexpectedly altered with a nail-biting ending pursuit. This adds up to the story of a narrow escape from a ruined life. This is one of the most ambitious action thrillers ever from Spain , with spectacular action scenes concerning delinquents who execute violent crimes. But the main difference with all the films from the 70s and 80s is that they starred real criminals ,such as El Torete or Juan Moreno Cuenca alias El Vaquilla , telling their lives like a legend , as Vaquilla was born in prison where his mother was imprisoned . The best one was ¨Yo El Vaquilla¨ is one of several movies dealing with youth delinquency in Spain during the 70s and early 80s, along with ¨Perros Callejeros I¨ and ¨II¨, ¨ Los Ultimos Golpes Del Torete¨, ¨, mostly realized by Jose Antonio De La Loma , ¨Navajeros , "Colegas", "El Pico 1¨ , 2" , ¨La Estanquera De Vallecas¨ by Eloy de la Iglesia and especially ¨Deprisa , Deprisa¨ by Carlos Saura, among others. These films were notorious in the years of the Spanish transition to democracy including provoking and polemic issues and played by unknown young people . His style is pretty much urban and realistic as well in the atmosphere as in the fresh dialog and attempted to take a position in favor of outcast people. Drugs , delinquency, and generational problems are the habitual subjects in these films and specially dedicated to the underworld of heroin and a very realistic look at drug addiction and offering commentaries on the injustice of a system that condemns some to lives of crime and saves others before they stray too far.
Well produced Ignacio Salazar-Simpson, Javier Ugarte, Mercedes Gámero, Maria Contreras and intelligently written by Jorge Guerricaechevarría , Alex De La Iglesia's ordinary, and director Daniel Monzón himself ; it marks a new hit , getting a big success. The film was one of the most anticipated in a year where Spanish cinema should beat box office records. Very good acting by young newcomers Marcos Ruíz, Begoña Vargas and Chechu Salgado. Being finely accompanied by a fine plethora of familar secondaries, such as: Santiago Molero, Pep Tosar, Santiago Molero, Ainhoa Santamaría, Carlos Serrano, Pep Tosar, Elisabet Casanovas, Estefanía de los Santos Although overlong , it lasts more than two hours and some , the picture is very well realized , it has splendid action scenes with expert stunts and similarly to a USA production but without C. G. I .
Evocative and atmospheric musical score by music by Derby Motoreta's Burrito Kachimba. The soundtrack is enjoyable , fits perfectly with the environment, including songs at the time. Appropriate cinematography by Carlos Gusi (Torrente , Box 507, El Niño) who photographs wonderfully the exteriors and interiors , being shot on location in Gerona, Cataluña, España. The motion picture was well directed by Daniel Monzon , a former cinema reviewer , he undertakes a skill and agreeable filmmaking with some spectacular images such as the motorboat and helicopter scenes . Daniel Monzón was offered financing if he shot the movie in English but he refused because the story didn't make sense in English . He previously directed sword and witchery/fantasy (Heart of warrior) , suspense (The Kovak box), and wrote the thriller titled ¨Desvio a Paraiso¨ ; his greatest hit was the prison movie , ¨Celda 211¨ with Luis Tosar . Fox-distributed Telecinco Cinema production "El Niño," part of Studiocanal's Toronto slate , it has punched the best opening frame for any Spanish film this year . Along with fellow thriller "La Isla Minima" by Alberto Rodríguez , result to be two of the best recent works in Spanish cinema . Rating Las leyes de la frontera (2021) : 7/10. Better than average . Indispensable and essential to see the genre quinqui fans . Well worth watching . The yarn will appeal to action enthusiasts and thriller genre fans .
East of Eden (1955)
Engaging and dramatic film, well paced by competent filmmaker Elia Kazan.
In northern California, the Santa Lucia Mountains, dark and brooding stand like a wall between the peaceful agricultural town of Salinas and the rough and tumble fishing port of Monterey, fifteen miles away. Set 1917 Monterey , just outside the city limits. A Californian farmer (Raymond Massey) has two sons, Cal (James Dean) and Aron (Richard Davalos), with very different characters. The younger is very crazy, the older, however, is very responsible and realistic, both compete to get the affection of their father. They're the young adult sons of the modestly successful farmer and wartime draft board chairman. The situation becomes complicated when Cal finds out that his mother (Jo Van Fleet) is not actually dead, but that she is keeping a secret. Meanwhile, Aron's girlfriend Abra (Julie Harris) gradually finds herself attracted to Cal, who seems to reciprocate her feelings despite her being involved with his younger brother. Of what a girl did . . . What a boy did ... of ecstasy and revenge!. The book only John Steinbeck could write so raw!. The picture only Elia Kazan could film so real!. Sometimes you can't tell who's good and who's bad!... James Dean in the role that zoomed him to stardom!. The most shocking revenge a girl let one brother take on another !. This is James Dean hailed as "the most dynamic discovery of the year" by Look magazine!. The searing classic of paradise lost !.
This Eliza Kazan's explosive production of John Steinbeck's "East Of Eden" contains intense drama, emotion, family problems and romance. John Steinbeck's 'East of Eden' is a story of explosive passions and Elia Kazan has made it into a picture of staggering power. For James Dean this was his first role as the protagonist of a film, a year later he would die in a car accident at only 24 years old. James Dean's most important screen appearance in the first of his three movies: 1ª: ¨East of Eden¨, 2ª: ¨Rebel without a cause¨and his final 3ª was ¨Giant¨. After his learning at the Strasberg Institute in New York proved to be fruitful, the New York stage actor James Dean was recently discovered by Elia Kazan for his latest film. Then Nicolas Ray saw a rough cut of this actor's latest film he still wasn't sure. It was only when Ray met 24 year old James Dean at a party did he realize that this hot new talent would be perfect for the role of Jim Stark, a troubled youth whose world is unraveled in a 24-hour period in ¨Rebel without a cause¨. An attractive film well directed by the great Elia Kazan, obtaining four Oscar nominations and the award for best supporting actress for the wonderful performance of Jo Van Fleet. Awesome support cast formed by newcomers and veterans, such as: Julie Harris, Burl Ives, Albert Dekker, Lois Smith, Nick Dennis, and others uncredited as Timothy Carey and Jonathan Haze.
Furthermore , the film packs a colorful and glimmer cinematography in Technicolor by cameraman Ted McCord . Moving as well as thrilling musical score by composer Leonard Rosenman .The motion picture was very well directed by Elia Kazan and considered to be one of the best films , he said it was his favorite of all the movies he made. During his career, he won two Oscars as Best Director and received an Honorary Oscar, won three Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. Kazan directed four performers to Best Actress Oscars: Celeste Holm, Kim Hunter, Eva Marie Saint and ¨Jo Van Fleet¨. Greek-Turkish director Elia Kazan who being a child emigrated along with his family to United States made magnificent films . Some of them describe memories , emotions and infancy images , narrating the persecution to Greeks and Armenians by Turkish that finished in genocide as in ¨America , America¨ . Kazan directed a string of successful films as ¨Gentleman's agreement¨, ¨Man on a tightrope¨, ¨Panic in the streets¨, ¨Pinky¨ , ¨Splendor in the grass¨, ¨Baby doll¨, ¨the engagement¨, ¨a Street named desire¨, ¨East of Eden¨ and especially ¨On the waterfront¨ his greatest hit . Rating: 7.5/10. Better than average. Essential and indispensable watching for James Dean fans.
The Tarnished Angels (1957)
Good action and fine cast in this drama set in the world of aerial acrobatics.
A nice film based on William Faulkner's 1930 novel ¨Pylon¨ Spectacular story about WWI fliers turned barnstorming aerial stunt pilots including superb flying sequences. The era the picture is set in is mostly the ¨Roaring Twenties¨, specifically the period is between 1926 and 1931, in which bitter pilots are reduced to defying death in air flying circus. Reporter Burke Devlin (Rock Hudson) is writing a story for the local New Orleans paper about a tormented trio of air circus barmstormers. As a disillusioned plane pilot named Roger Shumann (Robert Stack) who had missed flying in WWI takes up barnstorming in his quest for the glory he had missed. The former WWI ace, cares more about flying than he does his sizzing wife Laverne (Dorothy Malone), who's loved-from-afar by loyal mechanic Jiggs (Jack Carson). When Roger's plane cracks up, he uses his wife to obtain use of experimental aircraft in order to win a race and brings disaster crashing around them all. The Book They Said Could Never Be Filmed!. Based on "Pylon" by William Faulkner !. The exciting stars of 'Written on the Wind" !.
This attractive drama about flying results to be an elegiac homage to barmstorming fliers. It features impressive vintage aircraft flying sequences made by expert stunts and professional pilots . However, there are no studio takes in airplanes , all close-ups of actors being airborne were done for real. One of Sirk's great melodramas, here he makes one of the best adaptations made of a novel by Nobel Prize winner and Hollywood screenwriter William Faulkner. Set during the Time of the Great Depression and with Rock Hudson, actor Douglas Sirk's fetish, as starring, the film attempts to combine drama, romance, and aerial adventures.
Excellent black and white photography by cameraman Irving Glassberg with scenes of great spectacularity and wonderful acting works. In addition to star Hudson, appearing Dorothy Malone, Robert Stack, Jack Carson and in more secondary roles, Robert Middleton, Robert J. Wilke, Alan Reed, William Schallert, and a very young Troy Donahue. The motion picture was well directed by Douglas Sirk. He was a fundamental filmmaker who gave prestigious movies, usually collaborating with similar technicians as cameraman Russell Metty , Production Designer Alexander Golitzen, Producer Ross Hunter and writer George Zuckerman. Sirk directed a lot of classic melodramas such as : ¨Never say goobye , Interlude , Summerstorm , The first legion , The lady pays off , Tarnished Angels , A time to love a time to die , Magnificent obsession , All that heaven allows , Written in the Wind¨. But he also directed other genres as WWII : ¨Mystery submarine , Hitler's madmen¨ ; Thrillers and Film Noir : ¨Shockproof , Thunder on the hill , A scandal in Paris , Lured¨ ; Historical : ¨Attila¨ with Jack Palance ; Adventures : ¨Thunderbolt and Lightfoot¨ with Hudson and Barbara Rush ; and even a Western: ¨Taza¨ . Rating : 6.5/10 , better than average . Worthwhile watching.
Barnstorming was a form of entertainment in which stunt pilots performed tricks individually or in groups that were called flying circuses. Devised to "impress people with the skill of pilots and the sturdiness of planes," it became popular in the United States during the Roaring Twenties. The film belongs to Barnstormers subgenre, they were pilots who flew throughout the country to sell airplane rides and perform stunts. Charles Lindbergh first began flying as a barnstormer, barnstorming was the first major form of civil aviation in the history of aviation. Others films are: ¨The Gypsy Moths¨ (1969) by John Frankenheimer with Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr; ¨The Great Waldo Pepper¨ (1975) by George Roy Hill with Robert Redford, Susan Sarandon and ¨Cloud Dancer¨ (1980) by Barry Brown with David Carradine, Jennifer O'Neil .
Bridge of Spies (2015)
A notable Spielberg film about an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy and set during the Cold War.
During the Cold War, an American lawyer called James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy called Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) . Francis Gary Powers was a U-2 pilot who was shot down by the Soviet Union, that it was a huge international incident. Rudolf Abel is accused of being a Soviet spy, in a trial that only pretends to be fair. Committed to the principle that the accused deserves a vigorous defense, he mounts the best defense of Abel he can, before a strict judge (Dakin Matthews), declining along the way to cooperate in the CIA's attempts to induce him to violate the confidentiality of his communications with his client. In the shadow of war, one man showed the world what we stand for !. In a world on the brink the difference between war and peace was one honest man !. Inspired by true events !.
An interesting and engaging film with thrills, emotion, drama , historical events and nice interpretations. Steven Spielberg once again directs Tom Hanks, in a thriller inspired by real events about an advocate at law who has to help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot and written by the prestigious brothers Ethan and Joel Coen in collaboration with Matt Charman. Tom Hanks portrays very well in his usual style Jim Donovan, an insurance lawyer (although he also acted as a prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials), who is entrusted with the defense of Rudolf Abel. The person in charge of giving life to the spy is Mark Rylance, whose performance earned him an Oscar and the BAFTA for best supporting actor as well as a Golden Globe nomination in the same category. Steven Spielberg cast Sir Mark Rylance in the movie after seeing his Tony Award-winning performance in Twelfth Night, which earned Rylance his third Tony Award. In addition, the film won the David di Donatello for best foreign film and was nominated for an Academy Award for best film, original screenplay, music, sound mixing and production. Along with Hanks and Mark Rylance, the cast is completed by other good actors, such as: Jesse Plemons, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda , Sebastian Koch, Austin Stowell, Dakin Matthews, Billy Magnussen, Scott Shepherd, among others.
Evocative scenarios by production designer Adam Stockhausen, Janusz Kaminski's photography and Thomas Newman's music enhance this brooding and attractive historical drama. The motion picture lavishly financed by Jeff Skoll, Daniel Lupi, Adam Somner, Jonathan King, Chris Fisser was competently produced/directed by Steven Spielberg (Schidler's List , Saving Private Ryan, E T , Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Terminal, Lincoln, The Adventures of Tintin ...) . Rating : 7.5/10. Better than average . Essential and indispensable seeing for Steven Spielberg completists and his enthusiast followers .
A Countess from Hong Kong (1967)
An agreeable and slight comedy about an ambassador returning to America meets a Russian countess, a refugee without a passport.
This Chaplin's final film features Natascha (Sophia Loren) , an impoverished Russian countess, stows away on a luxury liner at Hong Kong, determined to seek a new life in America. Meanwhile, stuffy Ambassador Odgen (Marlon Brando) close to being assigned Saudi Arabian ambassador, and divorcing his wife Martha. Odgen and his friend Harvey (Sydney Chaplin)ar e invited by their old friend Clark (Oliver Johnston) to go to a nightclub with three aristocratic Russians (Sophia Loren, Angela Pringle, and Jenny Bridges) on their last night. Later on, Natasha hides in the cabin suite of millionaire diplomat Ogden Mears , which causes an endless stream of misunderstandings and complications, especially when his wife Martha (Tippi Hedren) joins the trip. The ship is is sailing from Hong Kong to Honolulu and Natasha has until then to persuade Odgen to help her. Fun at Sea! His Cabin, His PJs, Her Move!. It's a She Voyage that rocks the Boat!
A Countess from Hong Kong (1967) is an enjoyable romantic comedy but inferior than other Chaplin films. Dealing with the adventures and misfortunes of an ambassador and a russian countess stowing away in the luxury liner asking him to assist her. A comedy of entanglements with nice performances, mistakes, romantic loves, role changes and anything else.
Duo of protagonists, Loren and Brando, give likable performances although Marlon Brando is really miscast. Marlon Brando was a real fan of Chaplin; however, the two cinema mytical figures did not get along during the shooting of this film. In fact, in Brando's autobiography he described Sir Charles Chaplin as a fearsomely cruel man and an egotistical tyrant. There are several members of the Chaplin family appearing in the film, such as: Sydney Chaplin, Geraldine Chaplin, Josephine Chaplin, Victoria Chaplin and
Sir Charles Chaplin himself in his final acting appearance is in a cameo as an old steward. And a good support cast with fine actors, mainly British, such as: Angela Scoular, Michael Medwin, Oliver Johnston, Margaret Rutherford, Bill Nagy and special mention for Patrick Cargill who steals the show as the faithful and embarrassed butler.
The motion picture was well directed and nothing special though. Being first film by Sir Charles Chaplin not only to be in widescreen, but also in technicolor and shot in spherical 1,85:1 hard matte format by cameraman Arthur Ibbetson providing a brilliant cinematography. In his beginnings Chaplin previously had directed 2 or 3 reel short movies, such as : ¨Our hero¨, ¨The fireman¨, ¨Night at the show¨, ¨The adventurer¨, ¨The floorwalker¨, ¨The cure¨, ¨The inmigrant¨, ¨The circus¨ , ¨Burlesque on Carmen¨, among others . After that , he made long feature films such as : ¨The gold Rush¨ , ¨The kid¨ , ¨City lights¨ , ¨The great dictator¨, ¨Modern Times¨, ¨Monseur Verdoux¨ , ¨Limelight¨, ¨A king of New York¨ and his last one : ¨A countess from Hong Kong¨. Rating 6/10 . Well worth watching for Chaplin completists. Essential and indispensable for Charlie Chaplin followers.
Run All Night (2015)
Nail-biting and moving thriller competently directed by Spanish filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra.
Action movie with plenty of suspense, thrills, intrigue, twists and turns. The action of this frenetic thriller about the Brooklyn Irish mafia and the courage of family takes place during just one night in New York. An elderly Brooklyn mob hitman, Jimmy Conlon (Liam Neeson), doesn't seem to find solace except in whiskey. Jimmy is more commonly known as the 'Gravedigger'. Jimmy feels haunted by the sins of his past and also harassed by the police detective (Vincent D'Onofrio) who has been after him for 30 years. But when his honest son, Mike Conlon (Joel Kinnaman) becomes the target of his boss (Ed Harris) and friend, Jimmy has to choose between the criminal family he had chosen to belong and his real family, which he abandoned long ago. No sin goes unpunished !. One night to settle the score !.
This stirring film contains suspense, thrills , noisy action, shootouts , violent fights and plot twists. From start to final the frantic action and fast-movement are unstopped. Liam Neeson gives a top-notch acting as a man tired of life and regretful of his dark past who would stop at nothing to defend his only son and his family. The third collaboration between the Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra and the actor Liam Neeson after ¨Unknown¨ (2011) and ¨Non-stop¨ (2014) and before filming together in 2018 ¨The commuter¨. The film is once again an action film without measure, full of shots, chases, tension and a script that gives no respite or rest.
Along with Liam Neeson, other veteran and renowned actors such as Ed Harris or Vincent D'Onofrio and young people such as the Swedish Joel Kinnaman and the rapper Common share the spotlight. Adding other secondaries in brief acting, such as: Nick Nolte, Genesis Rodriguez, Boyd Holbrook, Holt McCallany, Beau Knapp, Patricia Kalember Lois Smith and Bruce McGill.
It displays a dark and night photography by cameraman Tom Holkenborg. The musician Martin Ruhe composes a tense and moving soundtrack fitting to frenetic action . Lavishly produced, including spectacular scenes, by various producers as Roy Lee, John Powers Middleton, Ray Quinlan and Jaume Collet-Serra himself. This exciting flick was compellingly directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Collet is an expert director/producer of terror movies as ¨Orphan¨, ¨House of wax¨ and for TV , ¨The river¨, as well as specialist in thrillers , most of them starred by Liam Neeson, such as: "Unknown" , "Run all night" , "Non-stop" , "The Commuter" , ¨Retribution¨. Rating : 7.5/10, well worth seeing. Better than average. The picture will appeal to Liam Neeson fans and explosive action enthusiasts .
Double Impact (1991)
Van Damme show against the violent Hong Kong mafia and using his incredible fighting skills
Agreeable thriller with tongue-in-cheek, containing suspense, thrills, noisy action-packed, gun-play, loads of violence and it will appeal the true devotee of main actor. Sheldon directs this film that mixes for umpteenth time: action, a lot of violence and humor in the way that would later characterize the films of the genre from the eighties and especially those starring Van Damme or Arnold Schwarzenegger. This violent film contains thriller, suspense , action , tension and spectacular/well choreographed fights. Jean-Claude displays his usual likable acting and the mayhem is largely wrought by mighty Van Damme, who never delivers one blow or bullet where three will do. Van Damme plays two twins go to a relentless vendetta against Hong Kong mobsters. It begins with businessman Paul Wagner and his wife are brutally murdered in Hong Kong. Their two six-month-old twin children will follow different paths. Little Chad is adopted by a close friend of his parents, Frank Avery (Geoffrey Lewis) . While Alex is left in the care of his nanny, who puts him in an orphanage in Hong Kong. Years later, Chad (Jean-Claude Van Damme) discovers Alex (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is his twin brother he never knew and was given up for adoption. Chad and Alex meet again and decide to look for the murderers of their parents. One packs a punch One packs a Piece together they deliver !. Feel The Impact !. Double Van Damme !. Twin brothers torn apart by violence !. On a mission of revenge !. One packs a punch. One packs a piece. Together they deliver...!. Two brothers separated by the violence. Now together in a mission of revenge. The Other Side of Safety !. The other side of safe !. The nearer he gets to the truth, the closer he gets to the edge !.
Fine flick with more than a semblance of an enjoyable and entertaining story without being excessively cerebral, including thrills, spectacular fighting , mayhem and breathtaking chases. Sheldon Lettich is in charge of directing this martial arts film where Van Damme plays Chad and Alex Wagner twins against ruthless Asian mafias. Bulk fights, karate and a lot of action is the general tone of this blockbuster film that follows in the footsteps of Bruce Lee's cinema. Leading the cast is our endearing Jean-Claude Van Damme as one army man, he did not want to use doubles for the stunts and ended the filming with some wounds and bruises. Van Damme in a deja vu, similar to 'Ringo Lam's Maximum Risk', plays a double role, two identical twins and they go into action when the bad guys chase them. But this lunkhead kick-em-up doesnt take advantage of that gimmick. Entertaining movie , thanks to tight pace, skillful edition and well mounted combats . It's tense and exciting , at time glossy enough action movie and the overwhelming struggles are well done. The basic story would have been the same with just one Jean-Claude. Risk, noisy action and danger aside is not all that bad, what with gorgeous Alonna Shaw as his sib's squeeze benefits much the film. Has all the action you'd expect from a pic with 'The Muscles of Brussels' and more fists, guns, and chases is, of course, the major reason to invest your entertainment here.
The motion picture was average but professionally directed by Sheldon Lettich. Sheldon ensures that fast-paced pursuits and full-throttle combat is well done and visually appealing. He is a craftsman who has written/produced/directed some nice films, most of them starred by Jean-Claude Van Damme as "The Order, Double impact , Hard Corps, and Lionheart" , or performed by other hunk men as Daniel Bernhart : "Perfect Day" , Dolph Lundgren : "List Patrol" , or , Mark Dacascos : "Only the Strong". Rating 5/10. Mediocre but acceptable action picture. The flick will appeal to Jean Claude Van Damme fans. It's a must see for Van Damme fans.
Beowulf (1999)
Loosely based on a legendary and mythical poem in which Beowulf battles the hideous creature called Grendel.
In a besieged medieval land this bloody story of the battle of a brave warrior against a great troll assassin named Grendel takes place. Based on the epic poem, whose author is unknown, it has been variously dated to between the 8th and early 11th centuries. Beowulf, is a hero of the Geats, he comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. It is an epic poem told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and great characters from a heroic past. In contrast to the arrival of Christianity, this is the story of the ultimate hero who confronts a monstrous troll that wreaks havoc on the castle of the king Hrothgar.
A gothic, colorful and spectacular fantasy carried out by traditional effects and an innovative 3D technique. This post-apocalyptic future story is based on the 8th century Saxon epic poem about the knight who battled a monster in a medieval castle. In this story, Beowulf (Christopher Lambert), a boastful great warrior, he is a wanderer who learns about a man-eating creature called Grendel which comes in the night to devour warriors trapped at the Outpost. The Outpost is governed by Hrothgar (Oliver Cotton). He has a daughter (Rhona Mitra), whose husband may have been murdered by the Outpost's master of arms. The latter offers a hefty reward for the death of Grendel so there comes Beowulf , victorious in his own right. The monster, Grendel, is a creature of mythical powers, a being of flesh and blood with i but of shapeless mass, he has furious blood and is driven by revenge. That is until the arrival of Beowulf, a mysterious mercenary who offers help to Hrothgar, the ruler of the kingdom, in hunting down Grendel. But swinging his sword against a large, stinking beast is not such a simple act. The warrior Beowulf must fight and defeat the monster Grendel, who terrorizes the fortress and then Grendel begins to kill out of revenge. ! Evil breeds pain! Survival is ruthless! Face your demons! I will kill your monster! Pride is the curse!. A Fortress At The Edge Of Darkness. An Enemy Within That Only One Man Can Conquer! Unleash your dark side !.
Revenge, loyalty and blood are powerfully intertwined in this spectacular fantastic adventure. Beowulf is a launch pad of dizzying 3D images when the monster appears, dealing with the heroics of man against beasts, set in a besieged land, in which Beowulf must fight against the horrible creature Grendel, a carnivorous being that is killing all living in the kingdom; all of this being set in the eternally adolescent tradition of horror and gothic fantasy comic books. This is a fantastic story of blood, fight and sweat, which removes the mask of the hero-myth, leaving a raw and tangled story. This production begins with a true sense of awe and surprise and develops through continuous battles until a violent denouement. The film contains a lot of action, evocative cinematography, impressive fights and a bit of blood and nudity. Stunning battle scenes illuminate the full-blown adventure with a host of engaging combat action scenes, in which heads and limbs are cut off here and there and everywhere, while other body parts are cut open.
It contains an anticlimatic, and lousy musical score composed by means of synthesizer. As well as a brilliant and picturesque cinematography. The film was mediocrely directed by Graham Baker (Born to Ride , With love from Suffolk, The Final Conflict, Impulse, Beowulf , Alien Nation . Rating: 4.5/10.
Other films about this mythical figure are as follows: ¨Beowulf¨ (2007) by Robert Zemeckis with a well-known casting, such as Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, Crispin Glover, John Malkovich, Bernard Gleeson, Charlotte Salt, Sebastian Roché and Anthony Hopkins. ¨Beowuld and Grendel¨ (2005) by Sturla Gunnarsson. Stellan Skarsgård, Gerard Butler Gerard Butler, Sarah polley, Gunnar Eyjólfsson, Ronan Vibert, Rory McCann, Tony Curran. And ¨The 13º warrior¨ (1999) by John McTiernan with Antonio Banderas , Diane Venora , Omar Shariff.
Beowulf was a poem written in England, but is set in Scandinavia , commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature .Beowulf is considered an epic poem in that the main character is a hero who travels great distances to prove his strength at impossible odds against supernatural demons and beasts. It has variously been dated to between the 8th and the early 11th centuries. It is an epic poem told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past. Although its author is unknown, its themes and subject matter are rooted in Germanic heroic poetry, in Anglo-Saxon tradition recited and cultivated by Old English poets . The poem is divided between Beowulf's battles with Grendel and with a dragon . The main protagonist, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendel's mother with a sword, which giants once used, that Beowulf found in Grendel's mother's lair .
La Navidad en sus manos (2023)
A clearly family-oriented film that aims to conquer the youngest audience.
The film begins a few days before Christmas. It follows what would happen if Santa Claus could not go to his Christmas Eve appointment with all the kids around the world. While doing a test flight with his sleigh, Santa Claus (Santiago Segura) gets into a cloud of pollution and crashes in the heart of Madrid. Seems Santa injures himself falling off and crashing in Alcalá street and later on, a daddy winds up putting on Santa's suit. Unable to fulfill his annual mission of distributing gifts, his only hope to save Christmas is to be replaced by Salva (Ernesto Sevilla) , a hustler with no job or benefit who, however, his son (Unax Hayden) adores. So Salva finds himself magically recruited to take his place. But as it turns out when you put on Santa's suit, you become Santa, and he has then to drive the sleigh with the reindeers and deal with the elves. This Christmas, the snow hits the fan !. What if your dad was Santa Claus? . It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...!. You've Never Seen Santa Quite Like This Before !. Salva must become Santa. No if or and...Just one big butt !
An endearing and soft comedy it is sympathetically starred by Santiago Segura and Ernesto Sevilla who create a competent couple in a low-energy film, where everything is in its place. Amusing , funny and cheerful film filled with silly sketches, noisy action , hilarious set-pieces, tongue-in-cheek and lots of humor. The premise is the following: What if Santa Claus couldn't attend his Christmas Eve date with the children of the World? Joaquin Mazón demonstrates a special touch for knowing how to find the point in different types of comedy, in different ways of understanding the same genre. The film thus becomes a clear candidate for success at the Christmas, by intelligently mixing all those ingredients and offering what he initially proposes. Something that is always appreciated , with a careful production, furthermore, that convinces in the visual section. This is what happens in this tender and fun family comedy in which Santiago Segura gives life to Santa and Ernesto Sevilla to his unlikely replacement. In addition to the always friendly Segura, the film also features the interventions of Pablo Chapiella (¨La que se avecina¨), Maria Botto (¨Risen¨) and the child Unax Hayden (¨20.000 Spices of Bees¨), adding a short and funny intervention or cameo by Joaquin Reyes (¨Capitulo 0¨).
The film follows the style of those films starring Tim Allen : The Santa Clause! (1994), The Santa Clause 2 (2002) of which it even seems to be a Spanish remake, it is the same plot here, we also have an irresponsible divorced father, a retired Santa Clause and a botched substitute.
Directed regular but professionally by comedy specialist Joaquín Mazón, who has already done various films in similar genre. Director Joaquin Mazón is a craftsman who has directed several TV episodes from series such as Alli abajo, Con el culo al aire, Doctor Mateo and Cuerpo de Elite ; being second Unit director and assistant director in other series as Circulo rojo, Fuera control, Cuestion sexo, Los 80 and Manolito Gafotas. Directing films as La Vida Padre and De Perdidos a Río,. Rating : 5/10 . If you like Santiago Segura , you'll enjoy this light-weight holiday comedy about a divorced father and eight-year-old son. This one gives adults plenty of to smirk at while the kids are distracted by all the yuletide yahooey.
The Zone of Interest (2023)
A chilling and unsettling portrait of the commander of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
In 1943, Rudolf Höss, commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, lives with his wife Hedwig and their five children in an idyllic home next to the camp. Höss takes the children out to swim and fish, and Hedwig spends time tending the garden. There, Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden beside the camp. He has his dream job and is very professional at it, leading a very large team of collaborators and garnering praise from peers and superiors alike.
It begins with almost four agonizing minutes of black screen and an enigmatic background sound. This disturbing film contains strange scenes, intriguing deeds, appropriate period piece, evocative photography and nice interpretations. The Zone of Interest (2023) was winner of two Oscars in 2024: best international film and best sound, as well as the Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. This film is a cold, spine-chilling and profound look at the 'banality of evil' directed by the unclassifiable Jonathan Glazer ( ¨Under the Skin¨) and the production company A24 (¨Hereditary¨, ¨ex-Machina¨, ¨The Whale¨). The actors didn't know if they were being shot in a close-up or wide shot, they were totally immersed in the scenes and enjoyed working in that realistic environment. This psychological thriller takes place almost entirely in and around the comfortable and idyllic home of Auschwitz commander Rudolf Hoss and his wife Hedwig, who strive to build a dream life for their five children in this home located next to a concentration camp.
Director Glazer explained: "I didn't want a story with the Holocaust as a backdrop, what I wanted to film was the contrast between someone pouring a cup of coffee in their kitchen and someone being murdered on the other side of the wall, the coexistence of those two extremes¨. Director Steven Spielberg told about this film: "It's the best Holocaust movie I've seen since mine (Schindler's List)."
It displays an atmospheric cinematography by cameraman Lukasz Zal, shot on location in Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, Oswiecim, Malopolskie, Polonia, Oswiecim, Malopolskie, Polonia (Höss's house set built on site), Cieplice Slaskie-Zdrój, Jelenia Góra, Dolnoslaskie, Polonia (Oranienburg exteriors) and Ksiaz Castle, Walbrzych, Dolnoslaskie, Polonia (interiors: nazi officers' party). The picture was slowly but professionally directed by Jonathan Glazer. Director Jonathan Glazer used up to five fixed cameras in the house and garden with no visible crew to capture many scenes. Glazer is a good known director , making a few films , such as : Under the skin (2013) with which he spent ten years to create, Birth (2004) and Sexy Beast (2000). And he directed one Oscar nominated performance: Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast (2000). Rating : 7/10 . Better than average.
Sound of Freedom (2023)
A shocking and dark dramatic thriller, based on the incredible true story.
The incredible true story of a man who wanted to help unfortunate children at whatever cost. Tim Ballard is a Special Agent for the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), where he arrests people who possess and distribute child pornography After rescuing a young boy from ruthless child-traffickers, a federal agent learns that the boy's sister is still a captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her. With time running out, he quits his job and journeys deep into the Colombian jungle, putting his life on the line to free her from a fate worse than death. In this based on real events, Cazievel plays a special agent of the US National Security who works investigating child sex trafficking networks. Based on the incredible true story !. Break the silence !. Save the children !.
A thriller with psychological introspection, interesting dialogues, lots of action, chases, shootouts and strong scenes. In "Sound of Freedom" shines a light on even the darkest of places. The film managed to raise more than 250 million dollars worldwide, becoming a box office success. It is based on the story of Tim Ballard, former agent of the United States Department of Homeland Security and founder of Operation Underground Railroad, an NGO dedicated to stopping child trafficking. James Cazievel gives a nice acting as a former government agent turned vigilante who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue hundreds of children from traffickers. Cazievel's well accompanied by a fine cast, such as: Mira Sorvino, Bill Camp, Javier Godino, Kurt Fuller, José Zúñiga and Eduardo Verástegui who produced as well along with Mel Gibson.
It contains a sensitive, rousing musical score by Javier Navarrete, adding song by Shakira in some really stirring scenes. As well as colorful, evocative cinematography by Gorka Gómez Andreu The motion picture was well directed by Alejandro Monteverde shot on various locations in Bogotá, Cartagena, Colombia, Isla Barú, Colombia and Calexico, California, United States. Sound of Freedom (2023) was finished in 2018 but took years to release; the filmmakers were turned down by various distributing companies as they didn't want the film associated with their output. Monteverde is a good filmmaker who has directed a few films characterized by dealing with human feelings, religiosity, spirituality and high social values, such as: Cabrini (2024), Little Boy (2015), Bella (2006) and Sound of Freedom (2023). Rating: 7.5/10. Better than average. Well worth watching. The flick will appeal to James Cazievel fans.
Richard Jewell (2019)
Clint Eastwood directs efficiently this drama focused on a real case with very good interpretations.
Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser), a helpful and vehement man who always follows the rules, has dreamed of belonging to the police or another security force. Now, during the celebration of the Centennial Olympic Games, he has gotten a job as a security guard. Security guard Richard Jewell is an instant hero after foiling a bomb attack at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but his life becomes a nightmare when the FBI (Jon Hamm) leaks to the media (Olivia Wilde) that he is a suspect in the case. Life turns a nightmare when the security guard is unfairly blamed for an attack at the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Giorgia, during the 1966 Olympic Games. The world will know his name and the truth !. Based on the true story of Richard Jewell !.
An enjoyable film containing drama, psychological insight, a great cast of well-known actors, and great performances. A good cast star in this epic story about media manipulation, parallel trials and false culprits. Here the main actors: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Jon Hamm , Olivia Wilde stand out. With special mention for Paul Walter Hauser who plays excellently a security guard who discovered a bomb and saved many lives at a concert at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and he was seen as a hero by many and a suspect by the FBI and press. Paul Walter Hauser is a somewhat unknown performer but who thanks to this film has achieved glory. And Kathy Bates playing his mother, nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for best supporting actress for her role. The interesting script was well written by Billly Ray (Terminator: Dark Fate ) is based on the article ; American hightmat¡re: the ballad of Richard¨written by Marrie Brenner for Vanity Fair.
We are watching a sensational film in which its message shows us a broody story of wrong guilty, faith, redemption, suffering, pain, friendship and feelings ; a right allegation and relentless denounce against the abuses of journalism, and the errors of FBI authority. Here the maestro Clint Eastwood gives us a film-making lesson from the simplicity of a thought-provoking screenplay. This film along with the filmed in the 2000s as ¨Gran Torino¨, ¨Mulla¨, ¨Sully¨, ¨American Sniper¨, The 15:17 to Paris¨, ¨J. Edgar¨, ¨Invictus ¨ , " Changeling" , ¨ Million dollars baby ¨ ¨Mystic river ¨ , ¨Blood Work¨ make that the dramatic force of this great director turns outs to be breathtaking and still strong despite his years . Rating: 7.5/10, Above average. Well worth seeing.
Hellzapoppin' (1941)
Outrageous and relentlessly hilarious musical comedy that still works pretty well.
A pair of stage comedians (Olsen and Johnson), try to turn their play into a movie and bring together a young couple in love, while breaking the fourth wall every step of the way. A musical is being filmed in a mansion that is the background for the development of two love triangles. They have to support Jeff and Kitty in setting up a musical revue in their garden and want to bring it up on Broadway. The projectionist (shemp Howard of Three Stooges fame) attempts to run the film while arguing with his girlfriend and the stars have to step out of it and remonstrate with him. And Mischa Auer plays a real Russian nobleman who is pretending to be a fake Russian nobleman. A woman with a potted lant wanders through the movie looking for Mr Jones and a mad private eye (Hugh Herbert) keeps adressing the audience. At last it's on the screen! Greater than the Stage Show! Best dance scenes and wildest cinematic tricks for its time!. Blazing, blasting, exploding, fun !. Just The Type Of Entertainment For The Blues !. At last it's on the Screen!. Bigger, better, Funnier, crazier with those two howling madcaps Olsen and Johnson who will have you roaring with glee from start to finish!. The stage's zaniest show...becomes the slap-happiest film ever made!. What show rocked Broadway for 4 solid years? What show is now on the screen...Funnier, wilder, Crazier than ever? Starring the Kings of the Screwball...!.
Amusing and entertaining Olsen and Johnson picture with enough gags for give several movies. It has a lot of funny material and unfortunately intrusive songs. Wisecracks and the incomparable Olsen an Johnson carry the movie. We are faced with a delirious and crazy musical comedy, adapted from Broadaway's hit "Anything Goes", starring the same actors as the film adaptation: Ole Olsen and Choc Johnson. Hollywood's craziest comedy this side of the Marx Brothers , only originally less madcap than the long-running stage show on which it was based. Many funny sequences , this is the most sustained bit of insanity, full of crazy gags , antics and amusement , being now deemed a satiric masterpiece ,and one of the biggest hits. Although it suffers from staginess and musical comedy plotting but gives the zany duo Olsen and Johnson, along with Martha Raye and Mischa Auer, plenty of comic elaboration. It revived the dormant cinema careers of Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson.
There are some of the craziest moments in an unique Hollywood experience, being directed in freewheeling fashion by H. C. Potter. Although few of his films are really distinguished, Potter was a very successful stage director, directing three top Broadway plays which eventually became highly successful films. In 1927 he founded and was a director for the Hampton Players, a Long Island (NY) repertory group. He later worked as a director on Broadway, then moved to Hollywood in 1935. At first he freelanced, then went under contract at MGM (1939-40), RKO (1947-48) and United Artists (1948). Also directed for Disney and Goldwyn. Returned to the theatre in the 1950s. He directed a number of films, the following being worth highlighting: The Miniver story, The Time of Your Life, Mr Lucky, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, A likely story, The Shopworn Angel, The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, You Gotta Stay Happy, The cowboy and the lady, The Farmer's Daughter . Rating: 7/10. Better than average.
Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer (2022)
Extraordinary portrayal of offbeat director Herzog showing his great creavity and awesomeness.
Herzog is one of the founders of the New German Cinema along with Alexandra Kluge, Volker Schlöndorff, Win Wenders and of course Rainer Fassbinder. Throughout his career he has directed, written and produced more than 60 films. With the locations of his films he has been able to take us to the most remote places on the planet and his characters have allowed us to imagine what we thought unimaginable.
This documentary analyzes the work of this visionary dreamer. The director himself, accompanied by those closest to him, as
the writer Lotte Eisner and including his wife, analyzing his career since his beginnings in cinema with Lebenszeichen (1968)
. Together with them, Christian Bale who played in ¨Herzog's Rescue Dawn¨, while Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattison acted in ¨Queen of the Desert¨, review their works with him. Herzog's usual cameraman Thomas Mauch tells his experiences while shooting these spectacular on the dangerous Amazon lands . Wim Wenders tells us how the director helped him reach a wider audience and Chloe Zao tells us about his admiration for him,
There's also a chilling portrayal of Klaus Kinski and his profoundly creative partnership with his friend/enemy Werner Herzog , the latter regards him as a man plunging into insanity but also to lucidity and genius , as Kinski is assaulted from all sides by forces he cannot control between brilliance and craziness . Werner Herzog depicts this prestigious actor as a very strange , mysterious and bizarre person , gradually devolving into maniac instinct and attacks of rage . Werner Herzog offers a sturdy studio from Klaus Kinski , an extremely furious and strong actor , usually providing magnificent performances . Werner Herzog's relationship with Klaus Kinski reached thunderous walks . Being five the Werner Herzog/Klaus Kinski collaborations; Klaus Kinski gave portentous interpretations in these films providing various eccentric , queer , insane characters similar to him . The first was : ¨Aguirre, Warth of God¨ (1972) , from now on , a violent, intense , love-hate relationship was born ; the four remaining and essentially combative relationships were the following ones : ¨Nosferatu, the vampyre¨ (1979) ¨Woyzeck¨ (1979) and ¨Fitzcarraldo¨(1982) , while this interesting documentary depicts the tumultuous relations between them . ¨Aguirre¨ was the start of an extremely stormy, and sometimes violent, professional relationship with Herzog that lasted 15 years .There are frames from films as ¨Aguirre , Wrath of God ¨ (1972) , according to director Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski threatened to abandon the film entirely at one point during the shooting. Herzog says he threatened to kill Kinski and then turn the gun on himself if Kinski left and later declared he was quite prepared to do so. Kinski stated in interviews that Herzog wielded a pistol to emphasize the threat, but Herzog denies this . While in Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) , Klaus plays an outlandish Count Dracula who moves from Transylvania to Wismar, spreading the Black Plague across the land and only a woman pure of heart : Isabelle Adjani , can bring an end to his kingdom of terror.¨Fitzcarraldo¨based on an actual story of a charismatic Irishman's impossible quest at the turn of the Century . Here Kinski gives an awesome acting as the dreamer who moves mountains , carrying out a monumental mission : hauling the ship manually over a hill towards a parallel river . ¨Woyzeck¨ the same dizzy folly as Aguirre , but Herzog´s similarly long perspective conjures as a brooding and thought-provoking film , giving a harsh vision of suffering beyond despair , eventually cracking when Woyzeck discovers his wife's infedility played by Eva Mattes who tells a splendid description about her colleague Kinski . Kinski/Herzog relation was also tumultuous in their last collaboration : ¨Cobra Verde¨ in which he delivers a peculiar and intense acting in his usual style as the freed outlaw Cobra Verde hired by a plantation owner to supervise his slaves , being fifth and final reunion. Even by Werner Herzog/Klaus Kinski standards , their last collaboration was a wild trip, as well .
This documentary was competently directed by Thomas von Steinaecker, though some may find hard to take . This great German director Herzog has made several thoughtful , provoking and interesting films , such as : "Fata Morgana" , "Aguirre Wrath of God" , "The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser", "Heart of Glass" , "Stroszek", "Woyzeck" , "Nosferatu the Vampire", "Where the Green Ants Dream" , "Cobra Verde" ,"Lessons in Darkness", "My Dearest Enemy", "Invincible" , "The White Diamond", "Rescue Dawn" , and without forgetting the prestigious documentaries such as: ¨Grizzly man¨, ¨Into the Inferno¨, ¨Fireball: Visitors from Darker World¨, ¨Cave of forgotten dreams¨ . Rating : 7/10 above average and irresistible movie thanks to the great Werner Herzog . The flick will appeal to Werner Herzog followers.
Fatum (2023)
A thriller with twisted plot, plenty of action, drama, twists and turns.
Fatum (2023) boasts a good cast with Luis Tosar, Álex García, Elena Anaya. Follows compulsive gambler Sergio (Luís Tosar) and his wife threatens to leave him. Despite his promise to stop gambling, he went "one last time" to his usual bookmaker accompanied by his children to make up for it. After receiving a tip-off returns to the betting house trying to recover all the money he has lost , but a robber bursts into the place with a gun and a gunshot will change his life forever. Meanwhile, a police shooter (Álex Garcia) fires his precision weapon against the criminal who is threatening to kill the kidnapped people. ¡A cop is forced to choose between the badge he wears and the son he loves... no contest !. ¡Time is running out !. His son needs a donor to live. ¡ The clock is ticking. The only match is a vicious killer. Now all Pablo has to do is shoot him. Desperate times call for. . .
A thriller with intrigue, noisy action, suspenseful and plot twists. ¨Fatum¨ is a Spanish film co-written and directed by Juan Galiñanes. The initial idea is rather nice; there's a violent robbery, the police are quickly on the scene and the customers are held hostage. The filmmaker has obviously sought to go further than the classic situation of the hold-up with hostages by juxtaposing a second situation based on the notion of responsibility and attachment. The idea seems good but, in practice, its exploitation makes the whole thing fall back into classic patterns that we have the impression of having seen a thousand times, especially in a film as ¨Desperate Measures¨ (1998) by Barber Schroeder with Michael Keaton, Andy Garcia, of which this ¨fatum¨ appears to be an almost remake. We can also reproach this story for being highly improbable. But there's action enough, in fact the entire hospital becomes a battleground, in which a game of cat and mouse takes place between the two main protagonists of the plot and in which a criminal results to be the son's only hope for survival. Cast is pretty good. Luis Tosar is terrific , as usual, as an addicted to betting who becomes involved in a kidnap with fateful consequences. Álex Garcia plays efficiently the deranged father who has to choose between fulfilling the line of duty or saving his son. And Elena Anaya is the police-in-command that gives quick orders to avoid greater evils, though she has a secondary role.
In spite of the known and already seen premise, Juan Galiñanes has nevertheless managed to install a tension that does not weaken, even if the outcome is too predictable. The motion picture was professionally directed by Juan Galiñanes, though with no originality, because this twisted situation we have already seen on other films. Juan Galiñanes is a craftsman who previously was director assistant in animated films, such as: ¨El Espíritu del bosque¨ , ¨El Sueño La noche De San Juan¨ and directing ¨Noche ¿de Paz? Holy Night!¨ (2011) that won various awards and nominations , such as Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain, 2015 Nominado CEC Award Best Animated Film: Juan Galiñanes and Goya Awards 2016 Best Animation Film. And this¨Fatum¨ (2023) is his first live action film. Rating: 6/10. Acceptable and passable. The pic will appeal to Luis Tosar and Elena Anaya fans.
The Visit (2015)
A terrifying and suspenseful film dealing with two siblings become increasingly frightened by their grandparents.
This eerie, mysterious and terrifying movie depicts two brothers while vacationing at a house along with their grandparents. 15-year-old Rebecca 'Becca' (Olivia DeJonge), and her 13-year-old brother Tyler (Ed Oxenbould), travel to a remote Pennsylvania farm to spend a week with their maternal grandparents, whom they don't know. Their mother Paula (Kathryn Hahn) stays behind because of her dark past with her parents. After a few nights the kids find out their grandparents, Nana (Deanna Dunagan) and Pop Pop (Peter McRobbie) have a dark, deadly secret. Along the way, Becca intends to collect all the experiences in a documentary. No one loves you like your grandp-arents. Grandma's Rules: 1. Have a great time. 2. Eat as much as you want. 3. Don't ever leave your room after 9:30 pm.
This is a horror thriller with touches of black humor, told through the images recorded by the protagonists. It is a contemporary rereading of the story of Hansel and Gretel. It is a return to M. Night Shyamalan's early films, shot with a very tight budget and a much more artisanal production than his immediately previous works. A disturbing staging and good editing immerse an essentially malicious atmosphere and well written for the screen by director M. Night Shyamalan himself . M. Night toys with strange ideas, but at times, he buries them under an illogical and rather predictable tale. The film itself benefits from the chemistry displayed by the two brothers, Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, they are quite sympathetic even though they find themselves entangled in a terrifying situation. This the tale of an isolated house in which two brothers arrive and they meet their offbeat grandparents resulting in bizarre events until a revelatory twist at the end. Through the interaction of a few roles, the filmmaker manages to awaken great tension caused by the isolation in the middle of the field and a very strange house with sinister secrets.
The motion picture was professionally written/produced/directed by Night M. Shyamalan, though being slow-moving and some claustrophobic due to be mostly staged at the house. Competently made by Night Shyamalan, many of his films involve pivotal roles with extraordinary abilities or events happening to them and with children always having family problems. Many of his films focusing on everyday terror, prophecy, security, self-preservation, frightening to unknown and natural disasters, where nature becomes something fantastic, overwhelming, almost supernatural. Night Shyamalan is an expert on fantastic and mysterous films with plenty of intelligence and thought-provoking issues as proved in : ¨Signs¨ , ¨The village¨ , ¨Lady in water¨ , ¨The Incident¨ , ¨The sixth sense¨, ¨Old¨ with exception for an extreme flop as critical as boxoffice: ¨Airbender¨. Shyalaman usually shoots in Philadelphia, this is Shyamalan favorite location. Night is an avid comic books fan, which he made the fabulous trylogy: "Unbreakable" , ¨Multiple¨and "Glass" starred by Bruce Willis , Samuel L Jackson and James McAvoy. And his last film ¨Knock at the Cabin¨ (2023) that can be depicted as a story about human beings struggling against the overwhelming power of the Apocalypse. Rating The Visit (2015) : 6/10 . Well worth watching for Night Shyamalan. Acceptable , but neither outstanding, nor notable, but simply decent.
Battle: Los Angeles (2011)
A thrilling warlike movie about a squad of U. S. Marines becomes the last line of defense against a global invasion.
A wartime fiilm in which a two-fisted sergeant and his handful of loyal men are humanity's last hope, as numerous cities around the globe crash down one by one due to an alien invasion. This spectacular motion picture, inspired by H. G. Wells' novel, was professionally directed by Jonathan Liebesman but without much originality. Over the years there have been documented cases of UFO sightings around the world. But now what until then had been simple sightings become a terrible reality when the earth is attacked by unknown forces. While the world witnesses how great cities fall, Los Angeles becomes the last bastion of humanity in a battle that no one expected. On August 12, 2011, a number of apparent meteors land in the world's oceans, near 20 major coastal cities. The objects prove to be spacecraft containing hostile extraterrestrials. San Diego and San Francisco are already lost, and LA has the last military force on the west coast. As Los Angeles (LA) is being evacuated, Marines from Camp Pendleton arrive, including United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart), an Iraq War veteran. Nantz, who was to begin his retirement, is assigned to 1st Platoon, Echo Company, of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. The platoon, flown by chopper to the forward operating base at Santa Monica Airport, is being led by a new 2nd Lt. Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez). They are sent on a mission to rescue some civilians who are trapped at the police station within alien territory. They must fight an alien invasion and invading machines war. No matter how much armaments are utilized facing them, the lethal aliens and flying aircrafts are invincible and impassive . Neither army , tanks , air force or bombs arrange to vanquish the imperturbable and unalterable invasion alien . Later on, TSgt. Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez joins the brave group to tell the killer aliens. It's not war. It's survival.
Lots of action in a Sci-fi film in which the military of the earth have to face a much more powerful army, that of some aliens who a long time ago began to prepare for the invasion. It's a fabulous story , and well paced , about a deadly alien attack and a sergeant and his subordinate soldiers have to save unfortunate people at whatever cost .The film concerns the survival of human specie, the fundamental theme results to be the humanity confrontation and the main enemy: an alien invasion at an exceptional world happening. The destroyed urbanizations, with the citizens going away and the aliens themselves, are stunnningly brought to life and created in state-of-art special effects, delivering eerie highlights. The yarn is developed in the ordinary world, out of Pentagon and White House. It's loosely based on the H. G. Wells notorious novel that remains as landmark in the sci-fi history , but has been changed the location of original novel from London, 1890, to Los Angeles in year 2011. The best thing about the film is the impressive action scenes, with overwhelming combats, made using steadycam and camera above the man, in the wake of 'Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan', in fact from this film most of the images of shootings in the war genre are made in that style. Well starred by Aaron Eckart as the tough Marine sergeant who lead his team, he will have to define the limits against an enemy like never before. Eckart is appropriately accompanied by a good cast with plenty of familiar faces , such as: Ramón Rodríguez, Micahel Peña, Will Rothhaar, Bridget Moynahan, Joey King, Ne-Yo, Jim Parrack and special appearance from Michelle Rodriguez.
It packs an adecuate and atmospheric cinematography by Lukas Ettlin. As well as a rousing and suspenseful musical score by Brian Tyler. Competently directed by South African fimmaker Jonathan Liebesman, who until then had focused more on the horror genre. Jonathan is a good filmmaker , a fine craftsman who thanks to his first horror film ¨Darkness Falls¨ was hired by powerful producer Michael Bay to direct : ¨The Texas chainsaw massacre : the beginning¨. Liebesman has directed a few of blockbusters and successful TV series, such as : t¨Teenage mutant ninja turtles¨, ¨Wrath of Titanes¨ , ¨The killing room¨, ¨The Shannara Chronicles¨, and ¨Halo¨. Rating ¨Battle Los Angeles¨: 6/10, decent and acceptable warfare movie.
Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)
Billy Wilder's satire on greed, lust, and sexual game-playing.
Dino (Dean Martin) , the good looking and lecherous Las Vegas singer, stops for gas on his way to Hollywood in Climax, Nevada. The oily gas station attendant is Barney Millsap (Cliff Osmond) , a would-be lyricist who writes pop songs with Orville Spooner, the local piano teacher. By disabling Dino's car, Barney contrives a scheme to have charming Dino sing one of their songs on an upcoming TV special. Possessively jealous piano teacher Orville Spooner (Ray Walston) , a local songwriter, wants Dino to hear his tunes but knows the cad will seduce his pretty wife, so he hires a floozy (Kim Novak) to pose as the tempting spouse. Meanwhile, Barney sends his beautiful wife (Felicia Farr) , Zelda, away for the night while he tries to sell a song to famous nightclub singer Dino, who is stranded in town. There Was This Girl in Climax, Nevada!. It happened in Climax, Nevada !. Dino...he came to dinner...Polly the Pistol - she stayed for breakfast...Beethoven - he cooked up the whole mess...This picture is for adults only !.
An enjoyable film with funny, amusing script by the compelling tandem LAL Diamond and Billy Wilder. A roguish, vulgar and thorny issue at the time by passing off a local prostitute as the complacent wife of one of them. Chance and infidelities mix in this uninhibited sitcom, one of the director's best. The attack on 'good customs' and the dominant puritanism in broad sectors of North American society complicated the dissemination of the film at the time. It gets better as it goes along, but the whole thing suffers from staginess, being an adaptation of an Italian play ¨L'ora della fantasia¨by Anna Bonacci. However, one condemned as smut, this lesser Wilder effort now seems no worse than a TV sitcom. Rightly agreeable with plenty of sly bits of business and fun-filled , milestone comedy which neatly combines humor , mirth , entertaining situations , a feeling romance and bitterness . Notable direction render this stunning story more funny than usual. Giving a jaundiced vision leavened by a tender sympathy for the frailty of human motives. Dean Martin basically plays himself as a horny Vegas crooner stranded in the boondocks. Drawing heavily on Martin's offscreen persona, this sees him as a sex-crazed, arrogant crooner stranded in a remote Californian town and feigning interest in a songs composer -nicely played by Ray Walston who steals the show- in return for the sexual favours of the latter's wife -attractively played by Felicia Farr.
The motion picture was well directed by Billy Wilder who includes several punchlines . Being one of Wilder's most inventive and furious screen adaptations .Billy was one of the best directors of history . In 1939 started the partnership with Charles Bracket on such movies as ¨Ninotchka¨ , ¨Ball of fire¨ , making their film debut as such with ¨Major and the minor¨ . ¨Sunset Boulevard¨ was their last picture together before they split up . Later on , Billy collaborated with another excellent screenwriter IAL Diamond . Both of them won an Academy Award for ¨Stalag 17¨ dealing with a POW camp starred by William Holden . After that , they wrote/produced/directed such classics as ¨Ace in the hole¨ , the touching romantic comedy ¨Sabrina¨ , the Hickcoktian courtroom puzzle game ¨Witness for the prosecution¨ and two movies with the great star Marilyn Monroe , the warmth ¨Seven year itch¨ and this ¨Some like hot¨. All of them include screenplays that sizzle with wit . But their biggest success and highpoint resulted to be the sour and fun ¨The apartment¨. Subsequently in the 60s and 70s , the duo fell headlong into the pit , they realized nice though unsuccessful movies as ¨Buddy buddy¨ ,¨Fedora¨ , ¨Front page¨ and ¨Secret life of Sherlock Holmes¨, though the agreeable ¨Avanti¨ slowed the decline . The team , Wilder-Diamond , had almost disappeared beneath a wave of bad reviews and failures . Rating : 6.5/10 . Above average , essential and indispensable watching ; extremely funny and riveting film and completely entertaining .It's the kind of movie where you know what's coming but , because the treatment , enjoy it all the same .
El camino de los ingleses (2006)
Uneven and mediocre second film by the famous Spanish actor with international fame Antonio Banderas.
A nostalgic coming-of-age tale charting a group of friends on vacation at the end of the 1970s, including friendship, sex, love, adventures and misfortunes. Miguelito Dávila (Alberto Amarilla) is a young man from Málaga who has just had a kidney removed, which forces him to spend a long time in the hospital. There he meets a cultured man who introduces him to poetry and makes him reconsider leaving his job in a small hardware store to be a poet. Once he leaves the hospital, Miguelito begins the transition from innocence to adult life, embarking on the journey with his friends: Paco Frontón (Félix Gómez) who falls in love for La Cuerpo (Marta Nieto) and the violent Babirusa (Raúl Arévalo). Including some events that will prove crucial in his life with experiences that will reach the limit . Miguelito begins a relationship with Luli (María Ruiz), a beautiful girl whom he deeply loves and in which an older man, Cardona (Antonio Garrido) is interested, and he also starts a relationship with a teacher (Victoria Abril). Following the right path only depends on him.
A coming-of-age story depicting lives of a group of teens, who during the summer experience with mutual camaraderie, the first loves, lusts, obsession, sex, comradeship and violence. Adaptation of the same name from the novel by Málaga writer Antonio Soler, who also wrote the script for the second film directed by actor Banderas, his first was ¨Crazy in Alabama´. But while ¨Crazy in Alabama¨, starring his then wife Melanie Griffith, was a decent film, this ¨El camino de los ingleses¨ result to be mediocre and uneven, including ridiculous situations and a pretty bad filming.
The film was nominated for two Goya awards: best new actor (Alberto Amarilla) and best adapted script (Antonio Soler) and won the Label Europa Cinemas award at the Cine Festival in Berlin.
Among its protagonists appear the youngsters: Alberto Amarilla (Princesas, Mar adentro), Raul Arevalo (La isla mínima), Félix Gómez (Carlos rey emperador) , María Ruiz (Paquirri) and Marta Nieto (Madre). Completing the casting, veterans as Victoria Abril (Tirant Le Blanc), Cuca Escribano (Mapa de la geografia humana), Antonio Garrido (Zona Hostil) and Juan Diego (Vete de mi).
In ¨El camino de los ingleses¨ excels the colorful cinematography by Xavi Giménez and the second unit director of photography was made by another prestigious cameraman, Oscar Faura. As well as the sensitive and attractive musical score by Antonio Meliveo, including catching songs. The motion picture was averagely directed by Antonio Banderas and I think that it includes some autobiographical elements from his native Malaga. Rating: 4.5/10. A so-so film that turns out to be a little tiring and boring.
The Last Full Measure (2019)
An exciting and patriotic American production sensitively shot and with high narrative quality.
Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan) is a happily married young man (to Alison Sadoul) and a member of the Pentagon who is tasked with reviewing the posthumous decoration of a Vietnam War veteran. This is William H. Pitsenbarger (Jeremy Irvine), a paramedic who saved more than 60 lives in the Vietnam conflict. Scott Huffman is a young member of the Pentagon who is tasked with reviewing the posthumous decoration of a Vietnam War veteran. Scott Huffman doggedly investigates a Congressional Medal of Honor application for Pitsenbarger and uncovers a high-level conspiracy behind the decades-long denial of the medal, leading Huffman to risk his own career to seek justice for the fallen airman. The supreme sacrifice deserves the greatest honor!
It is an interesting drama inspired by the incredible true story of one man's tenacious struggle to discover the truth about the death of a soldier that occurred long ago during the Vietnam War, and there are even interviews with real airmen and soldiers who met Pitsenbarger, the paramedic who saved more than 60 lives in the Vietnam conflict. To do this, our protagonist encounters many obstacles, while interviewing those who participated in the battle in which our hero died, and even travels to the same place of events in Vietnam to find a main witness. The film is well shot with serenity, sensitivity and sense of style. An acceptable war drama that tells the true story of William H. Pitsenbarger and the investigation that Huffman carried out. Compiling the testimonies of veterans who knew him and claimed the Medal of Valor for his colleague 34 years after his death. As Huffman delves deeper into Pitsenbarger's heroic story, what seemed like a mere bureaucratic process becomes a passionate struggle to do justice to the memory of the soldier to be decorated.
Well directed by Todd Robinson (Phantom) and starring Sebastian Stan (Captain America, Winter Soldier), the film features film veteran actors playing Vietnam veterans who interacted with the soldier, such as: Samuel L Jackson, Ed Harris, Dale Dye and John Savage from 'The Hunter'. The cast is completed by other younger actors such as Jeremy Irvine (War Horse), in the role of the hero Pitsenbarger, and Alison Sadoul (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) and Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid's Tale), Linus Roache (Mandy) and the already very old Christopher Plummer and Gena Rowlands. The film's large cast includes two Oscar winners: William Hurt and Christopher Plummer; and five Oscar nominees: Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Diane Ladd and Peter Fonda. And this is the last live-action film by Christopher Plummer and Peter Fonda, in fact the film is dedicated to the memory of Peter Fonda. The last Full Measure (2019) rating: 6/10. It is an acceptable and decent film that will attract due to its human values and the long list of well-known actors who act in it.
The Invisible Man (2020)
An intriguing film about invisibility with twisted events, bone-chilling scenes , violence and blood.
Two weeks after having escaped her toxic relationship with the rich and brilliant but abusive scientist Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) , Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) is convinced that Adrian is going to appear in any moment, until she receives a note informing her of her partner's suicide. When Cecilia's ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see. Along the way, a being bearing invisibility causes wreak havoc, mayhem and killings. What You Can't See Can Hurt You !
This horror thriller contains thrills, chills, grisly killings, gory happenings and anything else. Elizabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale, Mad Men) stars as Cecilia, a young wife who begins to re-build her life for the better after his husbad committed suicide; however, her sense of reality is put into question when she begins to suspect her deceased lover is not actually dead. The not very attractive Moss -she never wears makeup nor is she well groomed- gives a good performance as the tormented woman who's really harassed. In this thriller, a new version of the novel of the same title written by H. G. Wells in which the center of the plot is not on this occasion the Invisible Man, but rather his victim. In fact, this 'Invisible Man' has little connection with the classic novel except the situation of invisibility.
After the pale project of the Dark Universe, with which Universal wanted to revitalize its classic characters, ¨Blumhouse¨, the most successful producer of current genre cinema: El sótano de Ma (Ma), Let Me Out y Sagas: Feliz día de tu muerte (Happy Death Day) , The Purge, or Insidious, took the reins of this new version of the H. G. Wells classic, in which the 'Invisible Man' uses his power to continue controlling the woman who abandoned him. Written and directed by actor Leigh Whannel (Insidious 3), the cast also includes Aldis Hodge (Black Adam, Hidden Figures), Oliver Jackson-Cohern (Faster, Emily, The Healer) and Storm Reid (The Nun 2, Missing, One way).
The visual detail is maqnificent with adequate cinematography by cameraman Stefan Duscio , as well as tense musical score by Benjamin Wallfisch. This hair-rising chiller was competently written/directed by Leigh Whannell, although the first half is slow and fails a bit; the second is more moving, intriguing and chilling. Leigh is an Australian actor/writer/producer/director whose starts in small acting roles cropped up from time to time ,including one in Matrix Reloaded (2003). His role in Alex Proyas Australian Garage Days (2002) that finally broke the camel's back. He attended the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology's prestigious Media Arts course, where he met fellow filmmaker James Wan. He called Wan and told him that if they wanted to get a film made, they would have to pay for it themselves and they created Saw (2004) . Writing or producing or directing the following ones : Dead Silence, Insidious saga, Saw saga, The Mule, Cooties , Upgrade, The Invisible Man, among others. Member of the unofficial "Splat Pack," a term coined for the modern wave of directors making brutally violent horror films, the other "Splat Pack" members are Alexandre Aja, Darren Lynn Bousman, Neil Marshall, Greg McLean, Eli Roth, James Wan, and Rob Zombie. Rating The Invisible Man(2020) : 6/10 . Worthwhile watching.