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Kill Bill: Vol 2
2007-07-03 00:10:00
I watched Kill Bill : Vol. 1 already a while ago, but I still knew pretty clearly what is was about, so when I saw Kill Bill : Vol. 2 last night I didn't have any problems with getting back into the story. I guess not that much happens, beside all the amazing fight scenes. I'm not sure yet which one I like better, but then again I rather think of them as one film. It's not really a sequel. Just like in the first part there are really cool characters and lots of one on one fighting. I already found Daryl Hannah's character the most interesting, apart from Uma Thurman. She's really bad-ass in this film, which fits her quite well. And in this part she is even more cool. Too bad she didn't whistle, but she still had her eye patch. I really loved her fight with Uma. The close-ups and dialogue were great in that scene. Also during the fights with Pai Mei the camera almost seems to be jumping from one place to all of a sudden a close-up of his face. It so reminded me of these old Samu...
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Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer
2007-06-30 10:56:00
A lot of people I know had already seen it, but I didn't got the chance to. But yesterday I went to the library to get myself a new movie to watch, and tadaa, it was there: Perfume , The Story Of A Murderer . So last night I immediately watched it and I have to say, everyone who told me this film is very good is right. There are so many things to love. First off, it's a very accessible film and highly enjoyable for people who like the smaller indie art flicks and the more big budget blockbusters. Tom Tykwer, highly respected director and someone I've been following ever since the great Lola Rennt, does an amazing job bringing the big novel of writer Patrick Süskind to the big screen. I have to admit I haven't read Das Parfum, nor really knew what it was about. But I did know there was a boy involved who likees to make perfume of young beautiful women. And the way Tykwer brings the main character Jean-Baptiste Grenouille to life is a real feast to watch. He zooms in on noses and o...
More About: The Story , Tory

Good Night, And Good Luck
2007-06-29 10:48:00
This is only George Clooney's second time as a director, but as with Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, he again, does a really good job. The film features an astonishing performance by David Strathairn, who is casted perfectly as Edward R. Murrow. I have to say this wasn't an easy film. It realy is about a serious subject. It isn't a film where you can just lay back and see how relationships between characters develop. This film really is a historical piece. The way it was handled is quite remarkable. The feeling of the work environment of CBS at that time really comes through. You really feel you are taken back into time to watch it all happen. The camerawork was great, so was the fact that everything was shot in black and white, which worked very well. I loved the smoke coming up from Murray's cigarette. It gave him a bit of mystery and feeling of power everytime he sat in front of the camera to present the latest news to the American viewers. Strathairn really resembles Murro...
More About: Night , Good , Good Night , Luck , Good Luck

Lady In The Water
2007-06-27 22:25:00
So I've just seen Lady In The Water . A film I was very excited about when it first came out, but which I lost a bit of interest in because of all the negative reviews. But still I really wanted to see it, because I loved The Village, which also got negative reviews. Now that I've seen it I can say the reviewers were probably right, I can understand that they've got some problems with this film, but it also makes me feel they didn't quite get Shyamalan's point. At first I thought some of the characters were kind of strange, I felt they acted a bit over the top. For instance the Chinese girl. From the beginning she is always very happy, acting almost a bit silly. But then as you come to understand that some of the characters living in the apartment complex are part of this story, this story of a girl who is called Story, and who herself is the story. She's the one who everything revolves around. She is the story's heart. As you come to understand all this you start to think abo...

The Big Lebowski
2007-06-26 10:08:00
This has been far out the funniest movie I've seen in a long time. The Dude, how awesome is that. Jeff Bridges, I didn't know he could do this, much respect. I have to say I haven't seen a lot of films with him in it nor payed any real attention to his career. I thought he was just this old guy actor, playing a cop or loving husband, or some other of those filler-up kind of roles, with no real challenge to them. So seeing him as the dude really surprised me.This movie is so much fun. The characters totally rock. John Goodman as Walter was flat out hilarious. The way he keeps blaming everything on the Vietnam war and his sudden bursts of anger. Crazy. And he made me feel really bad for Donny, always telling the poor guy to shut up. The dialogues are crazy good, so is the very chilled out music. And I love these stories where a regular guy gets in the middle of all these people's problems he never was part of. Reminded me a lot of The Hudsucker Proxy, which is also a very nice fil...

The best 3 of May
2007-06-24 15:11:00
After watching movies for another month, some great, some a bit crappy, but overall, totally amazing, it's time to choose the top 3 of films you must-see. All three of these films I will remember as beautiful experiences. They all are great pieces of cinema and tackle very different subjects. These three really reflect my love for cinema. May definitely was a good month, being very diverse and seeing some films from directors that can be considered true artists.1. The FountainA highly remarkable experience, a great mind fuck. This really is one the most amazing films I've seen in a long time. The way it sticks long after you've watched it is brilliant. It really lingers on and makes you think of your life and life itself. Totally extraordinary and like nothing Ive seen before. All praise for Darren Aronofsky.2. Anche Libero Va BeneA great drama about a family coping with the absence of a mother. Wonderfully acted by both the parents as the kids. Very moving, showing characters wi...

Ocean's 13
2007-06-24 14:32:00
After the first one and the sequel they for some reason thought that it was time for another one and this one had to be better than Ocean's Twelve, which afterwards the cast and crew themselves weren't that crazy about. Nowadays almost everything has to turned into a trilogy in Hollywood, therefore also the Ocean's series. So this summer they're back with Ocean's Thirteen. Gone is Europe and gone are the Julias and Catherines. Still there are Danny Ocean and his men. New are Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin, who's the new leading lady of this latest installment. I have to say I myself wasn't very fond of Ocean's Twelve either. It was fun, but the story was way too confusing. At the end you weren't entirely sure of what exactly had taken place. But it was fun and it was partly shot at the beautiful train station of the city I live in, Haarlem, which was presented though as being part of Amsterdam. With ocean's 13 the men go back to the casinos from the first film and it seems the...

Duo Luo Tian Shi
2007-06-24 13:53:00
It is only my second film I've seen by director Wong Kar Wai, but again I'm totally in awe. This man's not only a director, but a painter and the screen is his canvas. My first film of him was 2046, which I loved, but Duo Luo Tian Shi (a.k.a. Fallen Angels) I like a bit more. The film is pure magic. I loved the characters. Especially the guy who decided not to speak again and the quirky blonde who's in love with the rain. Almost all of them get to be narrators, which gives the viewer a glimpse of their wonderful thoughts. This film seems like a dream, which probably all of Wong Kar Wai's films feel like. The visuals are amazing. I love the way he switches from colour to black and white, without having to give the switch a real meaning. Also the scenes where there's fighting or a shooting taking place are done magically by kind of turning it all into a slow-motion kind of blur. I also loved the scene where He Zhiwu talks about man and woman being like water or something like th...

The Station Agent
2007-06-22 11:20:00
This morning I finally watched The Station Agent . I had it on tape for a couple of weeks now, but because I waited too long I kind of lost interest in the movie. But finally today I decided to see it. I'm really amazed by the beauty of it. It's this perfect little film. Everything about it is great. After the first couple of minutes I suddenly felt this rush of joy come over me, this feeling of intense fulfillment. And all of that because of the great, interesting characters. This film touched me so much. I really haven't felt about a film in this way in quite a long time. It's weird, 'cause it's just such a simple premise. It's just about regular people. Nothing big happens. But the characters are so moving, especially Patricia Clarkson's character, Olivia. And she's played so well. Patricia has this very natural way of acting. She really gave her character personality. Yesterday I watched Walk The Line and even though I liked it, I did feel it missed something. This film ...
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Walk The Line
2007-06-21 13:46:00
I was supposed to see this movie on Tuesday, but I was so tired that I fell asleep short after the first couple of minutes. So today I decided to watch it and not fall asleep. Of course everyone has heard about this movie and so do I. It received a lot of Academy Award nominations and even landed Reese Witherspoon her first Oscar, which I have to say, is very deserved. The acting was top-notch. I loved Joaquin Phoenix's performance. He IS Johnny Cash in this movie. Just like Reese who is tremendous as June Carter. Sure you start wondering what's so great about their performances. So did I. But when you watch this film and compare those two performances with the rest of the cast, you really see the difference. For instance, take Ginnifer Goodwin. Her performance as John's wife was great, but she just didn't own the screen as Reese does. When June comes in the picture it's all about June. Reese takes away all of your attention from everyone else. Even a bit from Joaquin at some m...
More About: Line , Walk

AzuloScuroCasiNegro
2007-06-17 16:23:00
I heard nice things about this film, so I thought let's go and watch this film with the very cool title. I had no idea what the story was about, 'cause I kept myself away from reading anything that had to do with it. So I wasn't sure what to expect. Seeing it today I have to say I was a little bit dissapointed, just because apparently I expected a lot more from it. But either way it was a really nice film. Cool story, sometimes funny but also very sad. It also feels kinda raw. This film isn't so much about shooting sentimental pictures, but really more about the characters and their relationships. It's a coming of age kind of film with very good used music. I especially liked one song that was performed by a friend of one of the characters. I really like moments like that. For me it gave this movie that little extra which it needed at the time.What is it about?The story is about Jorge who lives together with his father whom he takes care of. He finished his studies, but can't ...
More About: Negro , Azul , Sine

25th Hour
2007-06-16 11:25:00
I watched 25th Hour for the second time last night. I was very surprised, cause I liked it even more than the first time I saw it. I remember the first time that the beginning was kind of difficult to watch, 'cause I wasn't really aware of what exactly was going on, but then at the end I felt I got this great reward. Now watching it the second time I loved it from the beginning. I really found myself loving each scene and appreciate the wonderful conversations between the characters even more. The dialogue is awesome, just as the acting. Edward Norton really is one of the best actors. I always try to watch as many movies he's in, 'cause I learn so much by watching him. Also Barry Pepper gives a great performance. The first time I saw this film I was very surprised. He's just that good in this film. Watching this film is like getting a masterclass in acting.Final Verdict: *****The pace of the story is very nice, very relaxed. I really like that all the scenes, the conversations ...

Match Point
2007-06-14 13:04:00
I finally saw Match Point last night. It's always nice when you watch a film that got good reviews and now you can finally see what's so good about it yourself. It is really a fantastic film, very intense, great development of characters. You would think all of this would be done before, there wouldn't be anything new to this story of betrayal and an unfaithful husband. But somehow Woody Allen takes it to a whole new level. The ending is full of suspense. It's greatly done. Even the great Alfred Hitchcock came to mind at some point. The film starts slowly, then at the middle everything takes its place to end with a bang. For so many times you're left unsure of what is about to happen. What is it about?It all starts off with Chris Wilton, a former pro tennis player who now only teaches. When Tom Hewett starts taking lessons from him they notice they both share a love for opera and soon thereafter Chris is invited to the opera house to watch La Traviata. There he meets Chloe, Tom...
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Zodiac
2007-06-13 12:02:00
Just yesterday I saw Zodiac , which is a very good, solid film. Great performances and a great story with lots of suspense. It even got a bit scary sometimes. And as for me who never gets scared by movies that's a really cool thing. Where horror movies with ghosts, doesn't scare me at all, a film like this, which is based on true events, really gave me some shivers. At one point I even thought: 'nooo don't go in there, just leave, this doesn't feel right!,' when Jake Gyllenhaal's character gets to play detective. Also there was a very graphic scene where a woman was stabbed. That one made me cringe in my seat and wasn't a nice sight. The acting in this film is great. First off Chloë Sevigny was in it, which is always a pleasure, since she is one of my favourite actresses. The characters she plays are always really nice and even if they're just small, like this one, she knows how to give the character that little extra that it lacks on paper. Her presence is always a delight...

Pirates Of The Carribean: At World's End
2007-06-13 11:43:00
Like almost everyone I also saw Pirates Of The Carribean : At World's End a while ago. As for all the summer blockbusters it is probably the most anticipating one. The earlier two has been reaal box-office smashes gaining billions of dollars. But while the earlier two were very good and fun, this one was kinda lacking it. It was very long and also a bit confusing at times, even though I did manage to understand everything. Compared two the first two this one was a big dissapointent. Thinking about it right now, I don't even remember what it was about exactly. So much happened. But what I do remember is that it really felt like a the final part of a trilogy. All loose ends got finished with and the all live happily ever after. Well, beside Will Turner who is dead and has to spend his dead bringing other dead people to the underworld.Final Verdict: ***I have to say I kind of lost interest since the last one. But this one was even worse. Elizabeth and Will had no chemistry at all. She...
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Bin-Jip
2007-06-13 11:28:00
Some weeks ago I woke up and decided to start my day watching this Korean movie by Kim Ki-Duk I rented, called Bin-Jip. It was my first time watching a movie by Kim Ki-Duk and since then unfortunately I haven't been able to see another one of his. But I definitely still want to see more, I've heard amazing things about him. And I really start to love Asian cinema. I really loved how Ki-Duk's style really came through. Even though it was my first film of him, I could immediately notice it. There's something so serene and at the same time mysterious about the images he presents. The two main characters don't say anything at all. Just at the end the woman speaks two sentences. But besides that there is almost no dialogue.What is it about?The story's about a young man who breaks into houses of people who are on holiday. He doesn't steal anything. All he does is use their things and spends some time in their house. He bathes in their bath, he eats in their kitchen, he even sleep i...