It could happen to you

It Could happen to you, 1994
Director: Andrew Bergman
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Bridget Fonda, Rosie Perez


Stage: Home Tv selection (amazingly, they know what to show sometimes :)

It could happen in short: Charlie and Muriel Lang have led simple lives - for most of their existance. That's until they win $4 million on the lottery! There is a problem, however. Prior to winning the lottery, Charlie had eaten at a cafe and hadn't been able to tip the waitress. He had promised her, jokingly, that if he won the lottery he'd give her half of it. This is why his wife, Muriel decides to leave him. She doesn't want the waitress to get a cent of their money. Infact she wants all $4 million for herself!


Preps: I have seen this once, however do not recall it. I see that it's shown on TV and I decide to see it. Cage, Fonda,.. kind of have a clue, but am not sure. So I see it again.


Reality: The whole movie is around samaritanism.. and giving away, even if it takes the last dime you have in your pocket. Sometimes you get lucky. And sometimes you don't. For these two characters everything turns out lucky. Cage casts his all time favourite role of a victim (see him in City of angels, or something similar). Perez is this chick you have to hate. And I hate her in all her roles. I cannot believe you can be that annoying. See it in this movie, you will know what am I talking about. The whole time you wonder what in the world he is doing with her and how can she be that stupid or annoying. I wouldn't stand one hour with her, but him, for some reason, just takes on her silly way of life she's handling. Fonda's cast isn't that brilliant, however, she is supposed to make some magic with Cage, but doesn't succeed at all.

In my opinion, the movie is a good reminder of good deeds that some people still carry within themselves and the way we could look at the world if we wanted. As I said at the beginning, sometimes you get lucky and most of the good stuff you give away comes back in some shape. How about when it doesn't? Who's to blame? To blame god or some upper being is just so.. naive. And to blame yourself if you were good and did well and didn't get anything back?

The movie is a cute Sunday workout in front of TV, nothing really more to it. But it has a good message - with the samaritanism, I think. I don't suppose an undecisive and blury guy like this gets a girl ever in his life. And I don't buy giving away 2 mio USD, if you have 4. People like this just don't grow on the trees. An interesting idea, though :) (both, to have actually that amount and to give it away :)



My personal rate: 6,0 (cute and gets into your moral veins - you would love to be a samaritan if you had so much money, I am sure ;)

It could happen to you on IMDB

Remember me, 2010

Remember me, 2010
Director:Allen Coulter
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Caitlyn Rund, Pierce Brosnan



Remember me in short: A romantic drama centered on two new lovers: Tyler, whose parents have split in the wake of his brother's suicide, and Ally, who lives each day to the fullest since witnessing her mother's murder.

Stage: Local theatre

Preps: Wanted to see this for a while, has been in our theatres. However, never got to it. Also, had it at home. Some of my friends persuaded me to see this on a festive day. So I went. All I knew from this was that it was a drama and the gorgeous Twilight angel is part of cast - Robert Pattinson. One good reason to go to the movies - to see him twice the real size :)


Reality: A bit slow and dull in the beginning. Nothing really astounding happening after the first scene and until the half. However, in the half and until its end it reflexes some deep issues one has to face when a member of a family (brother, mother) is lost and depression, anxiety, sadness attacks - especially a way the family evolves after the death, is stressed.

I like the way the relationship between the two young people is pictured, also the way the relationship between Tyler/his father and Ally/her father is created in totally different way and also the way both cope with their parents. There are a lot of different family issues, that are pictured in the movie, however, only some of them get their turn. For the others I am sorry the director didn't use them in the first round of the movie (at the beginning) or evolve them by the end.

The ending is absolutely brilliant and makes the whole worth watching. However, I would not connect the end with the 9/11. It makes me think it only was because of the US viewers. This tragedy could have been shown in another way. On the other hand, it is one of the most surprising endings of a movie lately and a brilliant connection to 9/11. The dramatic ending can bring tears to your eyes. Also, some brilliant dramatic scenes when trying to solve relationship problems. I loved the vision of the main players - although I am scared that Pattinson will for now only have the roles of a student /cute high school guy; the role he was introduced by with the Twilight Saga.



Memorable quote from Tyler:
Gandhi said that whatever you do in life will be insignificant. But it's very important that you do it. I tend to agree with the first part.

Something he pulls out of this in the movie and I absolutely adore this:
Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it. Because nobody else will. Like when someone comes into your life and half of you says you're nowhere near ready, but the other half says: make her yours forever.

My personal rate: 7,0 (you will like it, however wait until the first half is over. The ending made me fall inlove with the movie completely.)


Remember me on IMDB

Official sites

When in Rome, 2010

When in Rome, 2010
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Cast: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston


Rome in short: Beth is a young, ambitious New Yorker who is completely unlucky in love. However, on a whirlwind trip to Rome, she impulsively steals some coins from a reputed fountain of love, and is then aggressively pursued by a band of suitors.


Preps: one of the hot ones in the local cinema at this point. I was wondering what it was, although I have known for a fact that it has to do with the fountain of love in Rome. Since I have never been to this (supposed to be) the most romantic place in the Europe, I thought the scenery would be taking place there so I can at least fill my eyes with what I once will see for real. And a romantic sort of comedy, that was my expectations. Hence, no movies, but a home set

Stage: home theatre (home laptop, if I am quite sincere).

Reality: Ahhhh, my expectations were too high. Just a glimpse of Rome and there's nothing more to it. However, the story seems intriguing at the first side. I tend to buy some of this romantic stuff the producers sell in these kinds of movies. This in perticular plays with a romantic perception of a fountain of love and the punishment one gets for stealing coins out of them.

However, the perception of love, that follows this deed, is something that keeps me thinking even now, when thinking of it. How many people would take love, even if it came out of a spell? Is love just a spell, or is something more to it. And, can it be created by a powerful wish coming from a coin in the water?

After chasing her whole life (in this sense this is somehow stupid, everyone can see she's really young and has the whole life in front of her) her true love and is exhausted from it and from her career, she doesn't want to settle for true love, coming from a coin. A set of comical scenes of potential lovers chasing her, leave me with a nice feeling in my gut, that I wasn't the one, getting those damn coins out of the fountain. However, the movie fills me with a wish to see Rome for real. Maybe that's all it will give to you too if you see it :)



My personal rate: 5,0 (you won't miss a thing if you don't see it. Definitely a nice thing to do on a dull Sunday afternoon, but in my opinion this genre offers more than this movie shows. Thus, not a recommended movie from my side.)

Rome on IMDB

Official site

Soul Kitchen, 2009

Soul Kitchen, 2009
Director: Fatih Akin
Cast:Adam Bousdoukos, Moritz Bleibtreu, Birol Ünel



Soul Kitchen synopsis: In Hamburg, German-Greek chef Zinos unknowingly disturbs the peace in his locals-only restaurant by hiring a more talented chef.

Tagline for this one: "Leben ist, was passiert, waehrend du dabei bist, andere Plaene zu machen" (Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.)


Preps: I wanted to see this as a part of my selection on Liffe, the movie festival in Ljubljana. However, since I bought really a huge amount of movie tickets, this one remained unseen, I was probably too tired to see it. However, I have wanted to do this since last November and finally it has arrived as a part of regular schedule of the movies. Theatre Dvor usually has a selection of fine movies that are still a virgin towards Hollywood things you can see in other theatres. Therefore, a big bow to the movie and in I went.


Reality: It's a mixture of everything. A greek brother-led restaurant somewhere in the middle of nowhere - in my opinion at least. If I was taught in the university, that for a success of a restaurant (or a pub, coffee shop, etc), three L's are responsible - Location, location, location, in this movie, the location is somewhere on the railroad station (or so it seems) and breaks everything you thought you knew about the economy. At least in the first third of the movie. However, in the second and the third part, you see, that another "law" of economy is really worth paying attention to - word of mouth marketing. After a night with new people from the neighbourhood, which bring new and new customers, the place "Soul kitchen" is full.

Of course, also the quality of the things you offer, counts. The owner is persuaded by his new chef, that also the food has to be carefully selected and presented to the customers, and it turns out that he was right.

As a mixture of everything, a serbian soup, it seems, the movie, as I am watching it. The set of funny scenes rocks my stomach in laughter. The owner, running around with a serious injury of his back, or his brother, just going out of the prison every day and returning in the night, the band, that finds a new place to practice inside the restaurant, Zinos freaking out on a funeral and hitting a chinese small boyfriend of his ex.. and my favourite - the erotic effect of a desert that is served for a dinner at one point, that turns everyone into wild animals and the place into the orgy-house.. well, these are some highlights of the movie I saw. A different and inspiring piece, a plus is also that it's in german language. Refreshing and very unpredictable.


My personal rating: 7,0 (a cute Sunday thing I think most of you might fancy seeing. Like you eat fish sometimes on Sunday, instead of mashed potatoes with Wienerschnitzel and sauce).


Soul Kitchen on IMDB
Official sites

Clash of the Titans, 2010

Clash of the Titans, 2010
Director: Louis Leterrier
Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes


Titans in short: The mortal son of the god Zeus embarks on a perilous journey to stop the underworld and its minions from spreading their evil to Earth as well as the heavens.

Stage: Local theatre, Colloseum. (a bunch of lunetic teenagers on all sides around me, grrrrr). A simple version, not 3D


Preps: One of my best friends recommended this piece. And the trailer is amazing, the kind of movie you need to see in the theatre, for the effect or sound sake.


Reality: The movie reflects a genuine reconstruction of greek antique tales. The myths, the cities, the way people are dressed, everything is thoroughly set and to the viewer, a pure spectacle of flying horses, human gods, beautiful women, cursed by a myth, sacrifice of the virgins and the action - it is absolutely amazing.

The photography and the scenery couldn't be better - it is put in naturally vivid and grateful environment - Greece, which is picturesque as it is, however also the nest of the gods from antique times. As such, everything gets the impression of being true and honest. The Medusa is just as you would want her to be. The Kraken is borrowed also by the Pirates of the Carribean, however, the magic still works. Some of the scenes are truly funny and bring sort of relaxing feeling to the viewer, as they release the tension. In a similar way, humour was also embedded into the Pirates of the Carribean - therefore I think a fair assumption that a lot was taken out of that trilogy also when preparing this one.

The story isn't the strong point of this movie. If you want to see what modern technique with a good director can bring out of one scene that seemed uncomplicated, you will be satisfied. It is rewarding in terms of scenes, land, costumes and this modern spectacle. The cast is good, but not really the best I have seen from these people so far. Apart from that.. well, it lacks in sin. And I forecast a sequel :)



Titans on IMDB
Official site of the great men

A time to kill, 1996

A time to kill, 1996
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConnaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey



Time to kill in short: A young lawyer defends a black man accused of murdering two men who raped his 10-year-old daughter, sparking a rebirth of the KKK

Stage: home theatre, TV production

Preps: none - I have seen this masterpiece in 1996 at the local movies and I was so impressed I wanted to see it again somewhere in the future. However, I never had the chance until now, so I grabbed a finer (surprisingly) TV selection on a Sunday evening at home.

The movie is a remarkable piece on the way we are surrounded with prejudice, which we carry from our neighbours, childhood, state we live in (country), maybe ourselves and our fear. The reflection of hatred against dark/black people shocks me to my very bones and frightens the hell out of me. We still have those dark places in the world, where we all behave like animals - a piece of that is embedded in this movie. There are animals inside of each person (different species), which awaken, when threatened, when provoked or when they see a bigger point in it. And they cannot be controlled.

Things around black issues spread in this movie like plague. The action revolving around the case is astounding, the crying is real and the feelings of disgust run through my veins. The cast is brilliant, from Samuel, to Kevin Spacey and furthermore, to the selected team on the justice side. The story about the young girl, who was raped, at the final lawyer speech, shocks every person in that court and also every individual behind the screen, watching this movie.

It will rock your sympathy, it will make you think about the eternity and who are those that really deserve to live and die. It did in my case.


My personal rating: 9,0 (pure rage and dissappointment upon human cruelty will shock your nerves)

Time to kill on IMDB

In her shoes, 2005

In her shoes, 2005
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Anson Mount, Tony Collette


Stage: home theatre
In her shoes in short: Straight-laced Rose breaks off relations with her party girl sister, Maggie, over an indiscretion involving Rose's boyfriend. The chilly atmosphere is broken with the arrival of Ella, the grandmother neither sister knew existed.


Preps: None, I have seen this one time a long time ago, now I see it's a regular screening on the television. I generally like to watch a good drama, and this one reflects a relationship between two very different sisters. And I remembered I loved the shoes :)



Reality: I am still impressed about the way the diversity of the two sisters is shown. There couldn't be two more different human beings that were supposed not only to get along, but to also love each other no matter what. Least this is what I hear about family relationships or what they were supposed to look like. This movie gives an insight into difficulties one might face, when being serious and tuff, and on the other hand, the other person is irresponsible, gets along with luck and has never had a hard day's work in her whole life.

The relationship, established by the girls and grandmother, that turns out of the blue, is in my opinion, not that optimal - it underestimates the viewer and his intelligence. Even though this is USA, you just don't get along so well after all this time just because you are a relative. Nowadays, we get to choose people we spend our time with, especially when we are grown up, which the two sisters are. You just don't deserve the love just because you are a relative, not in my world.

And going from a successful lawyer to a dog walker is .. well bizzarre, I don't buy it :) However, interesting from many perspectives.


My personal rating: 7,0 (a quite amusing drama, with some comical scenes you wouldn't want to miss. And I loved Steiner when he ordered food at the japanese restaurant :)

In her shoes on IMDB
In her shoes Official site

The Bounty Hunter, 2010

The Bounty Hunter, 2010
Director:Andy Tennant
Cast: Gerard Butler, Jennifer Aniston



The hunter in short: A bounty hunter learns that his next target is his ex-wife, a reporter working on a murder cover-up. Soon after their reunion, the always-at-odds duo find themselves on a run-for-their-lives adventure


A bounty hunter is..The person that chases the ones that skipped bail or their punishment at the court, any kind of illegal activity of a person.

According to wiki, it goes like this A bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward (bounty). They are legal in USA and Philippines.


Stage: home theatre

Preps: Gerard Butler is the person inspiring me to watch several movies when I see he's taken one of the lead casts. Jennifer, on the other hand, is notorious for her dramatic romantic nonsense movies, but a cute ass, so one has to look her for one or another reason. if not repelled by her prior to these two options.


Reality: Apart from Butler's and Aniston's cute butts, nothing in perticular that would attract my brain cells. The comedy has also some ups - in terms of some dialogues and funny scenes deriving from ex-relationship and things running around or revolving around this fact, but nothing more. Luckily I didn't take my chances at the cinema, I am glad I got to see this at home. The story isn't persuading, the script has some holes, the flow.. well, it's lacking of everything, this movie. You cannot build a movie if you just see two actors in it and think that a good thing is going to come out no matter what you tell these two to say, to look like.. I am truly dissappointed. I honestly don't think anyone should see this, because it's a pure waste of time. If Butler or Aniston don't make you hot as far as they are in the scene, don't take your chances.

My personal rating - 2,0 (only for the sake of some funny quotes I saw..
Nicole Hurley: Life is making mistakes.
Milo Boyd: And death is wishing you had made more.


Bounty on IMDB
Official site

My one and Only, 2009

My one and only, 2009
Director: Richard Loncraine
Cast: Renee Zellwegger, Logan Lerman, Kevin Bacon


My one and only in short: An unusual road trip movie about a mother driving her two sons from New York to Pittsburgh to St. Louis and eventually Hollywood in her quest to find a man to take care of them all.


Stage: Home theatre

Preps: None. I don't know the movie, I see Renee and I am satisfied. I like to see her act as she has grown tremendously in the last five years. Each role I find something interesting and unusual in this attractive actress and most of the roles she plays, are tailored for her. However, I never lose the Bridget Jones image :)



Reality: I tend to think about the time this was filmed - I mean the time presented in the movie. In my opinion, Zellwegger in this cast would more suit in the beginning of this century than in the nowadays. The fact that she's a lady, a spoilt lady, never used to work, just doesn't fit in the present figure we have in our minds with a woman nowadays. Still, she acts it brilliantly, as she struggles to keep her spirit and her pride in the act against her husband.

The only thing you need to know about women is something that keeps me smiling long after that man, she is chasing, is gone. They are either too hot or too cold. So you need a pullover or something to make them warm, if they are cold, you need to have it at you at all times. There are several topics in the movie, that are true and honestly addressed, and the struggle for life is real. How to know your children when you don't know them at all. And what is the purpose, the happiness of the parents, or the children? For they cannot be satisfied at the same level, the movie implies. I agree totally. See it. I think you might like it :)


My personal rating: 6,0 (a good script, good act, a bit poor on the flow, gets a bit unreal and unbelievable somewhere in the middle and to the end of it. But Bacon and Zellwegger get some more than decent dialogues and I think it is more that just one of the pieces in this genre.)

One and only on IMDB
The official site

Triage, 2009

Triage, 2009
Director:Danis Tanović
Cast:Colin Farrell, Jamie Sivez, Branko Đurić



Triage in short: The wife of a photojournalist sets out to discover why he came home from a recent assignment without his colleague.

Stage: Home theatre


Preps: I do have a thing about psychological effect of wars. If I say in few other blog posts I don't like war movies, by that I mean I don't like to watch 1,5 hours of someone cleaning his rifle, or just wandering around clueless, and also the scenes of constant battle. However, I do admire the pieces, put together on the effect that war has on people. Either locals or the armed men that fight /or in this case, take photos. I am aware that this is one of the coolest things right now, happening at the cinema. I do take the chance and watch it at home.

Reality: This is one of better movies I have seen lately on this topic. I am relieved that the scenery is in Kurdistan, I was sure that Branko Đurić will make another thing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am sure we have seen so many crimes there and so much pain that we are somehow spiritually distant from this, maybe because we don't want to see so much pain in the neighbourhood with the fact that we cannot do anything about it (or couldn't in that time).

Nevertheless, the scenes from Kurdistan will rock your boat. Pure, uncensored pain driving through the veins, and all this time I am wondering, whether it's possible you have a war zone and right in the middle, two reporters, just taking photos (and not getting killed for that matter!!). Well, we've seen this in many hollywood attempts, but in my opinion, they stay only in the battlefield. The difference that this one makes compared to others, is in trauma that Mark brings home when he returns, without his friend. Slowly, the psychological personal drama reveals and hurts not only his soul consciously, but also all that he loves around him. The way he copes with this is simply breathtaking, Farrel is brilliant in his role, and on the other hand, everything is not put into viewer's lap at first. What happened to his friend.. well, we find out in the last lap of the movie. And it's the reality this reporter has to face to the rest of his life.

There are several important things the psychiatrist/his wife's grandfather Morales reveals to Mark, I remembered the speech he gave him on the dead and what happens to them:.

Why are you so concerned about what happens to the dead?

Mark reveals some of the "adventures" or shall I call them scenes, he had with his friend on the field, or alone, and they are so cruel and vivid it will rock your peaceful boat very hard. The scene with the skeletons, or the one where a young boy is shot before his eyes.. The scene with his friend David is left almost by the end of the movie, as it is the toughest. Just imagining that one could be going through all that is.. somehow not acceptable and really hard. What must be like to really live this.. I can just imagine.


My personal rate: 8,0 (a truly good piece on the trauma you bring sometimes with you and the way you can or cannot deal with it)

Triage on IMDB

She's out of my league, 2010

She's out of my league, 2010
Director: Jim Field Smith
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T.J.Miller



She's out in short: An average Joe meets the perfect woman, but his lack of confidence and the influence of his friends and family begin to pick away at the relationship.

Stage: Home cinema

Preps: Current hottie in the movies, but I sense there's a great deal of high school things involved; humour, sexual jokes, kind of like American Pie. At least after seeing the trailer I am not that excited, but let's check out what slovenian movie scene offers at this moment.

Reality: I am sad to admit that I was right. This is a somehow clone of the American pie. 90% of the movie consists of high school dilemmas; will you have sex with her and when, you are not good enough for her, she is not good enough for me, I will be alone for the rest of my life,... 10% of the movie has some good jokes, or at least funny scenes (should I call them a bit yukky or at least amusing) - the shaving of his penis; the scene with her parents, when he comes in his pants just before meeting them; some funny scenes at the airport..

All in all this is a comedy you shouldn't waste your time on. I don't recommend it, as it didn't make any smart impact on me and I am sure it will not on you. In this case, at least there are some unknown (relatively) actors that try to get their way into this genre. But as a whole, this piece isn't something remarkable.


My personal rate: 5,0 (hmmmm, if you don't have anything more attractive to do with yourself. And the girl looks extremely hot, too. But won't leave any important trace in your brain cells as it didn't to me)

She's out on IMDB

The negotiator, 1998

The Negotiator, 1998
Director: F. Gary Gray
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse



Short synopsis: In a desperate attempt to prove his innocence, a skilled police negotiator accused of corruption and murder takes hostages in a government office to gain the time he needs to find the truth


Preps: I have seen this piece one or two times. As one of better movies I have set my eyes on in this genre (negotiations in perticular) - one of the better ones is for sure The phone booth, for instance, or Die Hard trilogy - well, I wanted to see this again.

Stage: Home TV, regular choice of a Friday evening :)

Reality: Again, I find new things about this movie I admire. Samuel L. Jackson is brilliant on his side - there is something that can make his facial expression violent and all seems he can act a true villain if he wants to. It is a masterpiece to create a violent person that the audience loves and this piece, the Negotiator, creates precisely that. We all understand that there was no option than violence in this perticular case, although I would bet that most of the viewers are pacifists by their personal claim.

On the other hand, Spacey act is remarkable, on his own side, a true reconstruction of what a negotiator should do, make, think, act, .. I just adore the dialogue these two have. Filled with black humour, participation from one side or the other, filled with trauma and subconscious thoughts. Also a vivid recreation of what a cop/governmental institution follows, and even though sometimes you believe it's the negotiator that runs the business in such cases, there are often political dilemmas involved and orders from above, that can solve such cases, but with some corps to go along.



My personal rating: 8,0 (A good piece, worth seeing. HIghly recommended. Also, you see the softer side of Jackson, which is also worth your time.)


Negotiator on IMDB

How to train your dragon, 2010

How to train your dragon, 2010, animated
Director: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders
Cast (voices): Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera

How to train the dragon in short: A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.

Stage: home theatre


Preps: One of the hotties this time of the year in our local cinemas. I am a huge fan of cartoons and this new technology brings them more to real than ever. Sadly enough, nowadays directors think the story doesn't count. Well it does to me. I go to see it hoping the story is as good as I would want it to be.


Reality: I am correct in my assumptions. The cartoon/animation drives me mad. So beautiful and vivid, a unique story that involves everything a good animation movie should have - the fight between the evil and good; the bursting of one ugly duck, finding new values and seeing things differently than you were taught to see them; to learn from your heart and not always listen to what others tell you to be. To be yourself and find your dreams. A remarkable piece, in every perspective, one of the best animations lately.

Also the drawings of the characters - for once they are something else, nothing like I have ever seen or seen so far - the different faces, gestures, not that attractive as the audience is used to, but truly good ones. This reality that they posess inside their characters - in the sense, that the drawing shows what this character is supposed to represent - good or evil, well, this reality truly impressed me. And the relationship, true bonding to your pet, this is like it would have been shot in real life. Because to people their pets are members of their families.



I think that everyone will find something in this one, because it is filled with messages that you can think about over and over again. Filled with positive attitude towards the world and standing up for what you believe in. Of course, a cute ending, what else. A classic or.. a textbook example of what a superb animation should be - in each aspect possible. I highly recommend it!!! :)




My personal rating: 9,5 (in its genre, brilliant. stunning 3d effects, cute story, adorable pets and adorable message. just what you need for a cosy evening)



The official site of the cute Toothless
More posters of the cutie

Armored, 2009

Armored, 2009
Director:Nimrod Antal
Cast: Matt Dillon, Lawrence Fishburne, Jean Reno



Armored in short:A newbie guard for an armored truck company is coerced by his veteran coworkers to steal a truck containing $42 million. But a wrinkle in their supposedly foolproof plan divides the group, leading to a potentially deadly resolution.
Stage: Home cinema
Preps: I see it has some good ratings on the web blogs, so I decide to check it out. However, I don't know it - hasn't been in our theatres anyway.


Reality:Well, I admit the story could have a drive. Taking governmental money, never get caught, all in the sense to serve your abandoned brother and yourself and in this sense, not be really guilty, well this has something to it. And in my opinion, in some cases, really good representation in the movie. However, this is not the case in this one. I don't like the scenery, it is passive, nothing really is happening, the story doesn't evolve like it could have (the internal fight between the colleagues that has its roots, doesn't get to be a tree anyway, nowhere near that. Just a few mushrooms on this piece of land get to grow - honesty and decence get rewarded, cruelness and villains get their punishment and the good guys get to go home.

A poor act by Dillon and Fishburne - how come he always has to be a martial art hero of some kind, like Seagal always has to be a part of the marine squad - very predictable and really annoying sometimes. It is a cop internal movie, once to be seen and then forgotten. I don't recommend it. Nothing truly fascinating about this piece.

My personal rating: 4,0 (don't watch it if you have something else on your mind, like picking wood or something useful you can show to the world :)




Armored on IMDB

Shutter Island, 2010

Shutter Island, 2010
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo di Caprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley



Scene: local cinema/Colloseum

Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Drama/Psychological Sci-Fi

Short synopsis: Drama is set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island


Preps: One of the hotties right now at the movies. Some of the people I do give a damn about their opinion thought it was good. Well, I got the chance to see it in the movies, so here it goes.


Reality: I am somehow impressed by its half and dissappointed by the second half. The beginning is good, but as predicted, I saw it on the powerful trailer. Two cops investigating a murder on an island, full of mad people in a funky institution. With hystorical tools, as the scenery is from 1954. Classic story, which I like to follow, because I adore cop investigations in a movie and psychological moment gives me a drive. Also, the flow goes on smoothly (with the story)

Right in the middle, I am puzzled, the movie loses me. The halucinnations that Teddy has, are just too much. Ok, he has them, but do they have to be one third of the movie? I start to feel a bored itch in my shoulder. Such a shame because of the good beginning. I never got to see how the hell the lady went out of her room :)

The turnover 15 minutes before the end is amazing. I kept wondering whether all of this was in Caprio's head or not. What really happened and how it happened, was it all a governmental trap or something. Anyhow, in the last round the movie offers a new dimension, for which my personal rating just exploded from prior maybe low 4,0 to a solid 8,0. Absolutely great. I just love unexpected turnovers, especially that all you have seen so far was a fragment of your imagination and Di Caprio just fits into these roles. I subconsciously think of The Beach, where he also diluded into one of his fantasies, at that point due to pot, this time due to.. I wonder what. And this is what made this movie again a good one and worth seeing again.

By the way, you will hate the institution. You wouldn't even want your mother-in-law (in case you hate her) there, yet alone think about being treated there. Spooky indeed.



My personal rating: 8,0 (the twist made me change my mind and I believe I should see it again, as I believe it might be worth it. Will skip the middle, I think, or fast forward it for a bit)



Shutter on IMDB
Shutter official site

The Lake House, 2006

The Lake House, 2006
Director:Alejandro Agresti
Cast:Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Christopher Plummer



Lake House in short: A lonely doctor who once occupied an unusual lakeside home begins exchanging love letters with its former resident, a frustrated architect. They must try to unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it's too late.


Stage: Home theatre
Preps: I thought I have already seen this one. Seeing Sandra Bullock and Keanu sort of ringed my bell. But I fully remembered after 10 minutes. A beautiful love story, a chick movie, definitely worth seeing for another time.

Reality: I was right. A beautiful story about the longing, waiting and trying to find the one true love we all seek. And then, ironically, finding it two years before your time. The idea of having something like a post box (a real one, not an e-mail one) as a gateway between two worlds, is amusing, romantic and sets all the butterflies in me. Again, Bullock cast is one of her typical, not like in her latest The blind side, still, you will adore her, if you are a fan of the genre. And furthermore, Keanu here is not a hot shot like we saw him in the Matrix, but in my opinion, from time to time he suits damn well into these cissy romantic comedies (see drama Sweet November and his cast there - also worth seeing if you like the genre).

Don't watch it if you don't like romance in a movie and wet eyes. Definitely watch it to dream away in the night, how cool would it be to.. well, you know what I mean. And the main idea I believe is, that it's once in a lifetime you find something really worth waiting and fighting for. Completely agree.

Fav. quote.. She was more real to me than anything I have ever known.. when describing his relationship with her


My personal rating: 8,0 (in this genre, one of the good ones :)

Lake House on IMDB
Official sites

My dad's six wives

My dad's six wives - the six wives of Henry Lefay, 2009


Director: Howard Michael Gould



Cast: Tim Allen, Lindsay Sloane, Elisha Cuthbert

















Stage: Home theatre

Six wives in short; A grieving daughter tries to arrange her father's funeral, while putting up with all of his ex-wives.


Preps: Again, one in a row. I got a recommendation that this one is amusing, so let's check it out. I don't know anything about the story, but at the first glance seems like a comedy.

Reality: It's amusing and black - humoured, just the way I feel today, and I love some scenes that can drive some people mad. The guy runs off with anyone that wears a skirt and gets married in a week or even less, if she says yes. And even gets a faster divorce. THe viewer is faced with some really funny scenes when getting to know the guy, and also, when he's supposed to be dead, meeting all his previous wives, his past and revealed secrets. Everything, from pedofily (his newest wife is as old as his daughter), to obscene scenes - being married, he gets engaged and sleeps with the third girl.

Nothing really deep about this movie, however, a true decent entertainment, when you have nothing to do and you aren't very catholic so you can suck the scenes down and even respect the humour they truly posess.

In my opinion, one of the best scenes is with all of the wives at the gas station, fighting to get the ashes of the guy, spreading them all around and then staring at the broken tin, like puppies that don't have their bones to chew anymore.

My personal rating: 6,0 (not extremely wealthy in content or scenery, photography, but I think you will be rewarded with a pile of irony :)



My dad and the wifes on IMDB

The Heavy, 2010

The Heavy, 2010
Director: Marcus Warren
Cast: Christopher Lee, Vinnie Jones, Shannyn Sossamon




The Heavy in short: The Heavy tells the story of two brothers; one (Gary Stretch) a henchman for a successful, yet shady businessman (Stephen Rea), the other (Adrian Paul) with ambitions to be Prime Minister.

Presented with an opportunity to take a long considered revenge against his estranged family (Christopher Lee, Jean Marsh), while being hunted by a psychotic police detective (Vinnie Jones), our conflicted anti�hero must come to terms with the fact that, sometimes, getting out means getting even. As the story unfolds, the protagonists find themselves drawn into a web of lies and deceit, from which no-one will escape unscathed.


Preps: None in perticular, was just one in the row, curious as I tend to be, I just had time to watch it and evaluate the piece.

Stage: Home theatre


Reality.. this is supposed to be a thriller. At first I am amazed, ok, UK movie, fine speech, I expect something on the verge of Snatch meeting Lock, Stock and Two smoking barrels. God knows why, but the scenery somehow reminds me of this. And there's way too much blue in the photography in this movie.

I am dissappointed. I stop watching after 45 minutes. A waste of time. The story is going from one end to another (in some cases this is a splendid idea - see Memento for instance to see where I'm heading with this), which is driving me crazy. I don't get this, some kind of revenge of one brother to another, a kind of gangster movie, or thriller wannabe.. ehm.. I don't recommend it. Don't waste your time!




My personal rating: 1,0 (I stopped watching it, since I found nothing in it to see and no intriguing things. The one derives because it's an UK attempt, happening in London, which I really love. But nothing more..


The Heavy on IMDB
Official site

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 2009

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 2009, animated
Directors: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Cast (voices): Bill Hader, Anna Farris, James Caan



Meatballs in short:The most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. Inspired by the beloved children's book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain.

Stage: Home theatre, sunday morning entertainment


Preps: This piece of action is currently running in our local cinema, with a lot of success with the kids. I was curious what the fuss was all about and I am generally a fan of cartoons or animated movies.


Reality: Meatballs plays with child's fantasies - in sense that everyone would love to see their favourite food raining from the sky. However, the adult version is that the food must come on a plate, in its predicted shape, otherwise it's no good.

The animated action kindly reminds us of the importance of being good to your parents and the unrevealed truth that they mock us just to inspire us and that you are supposed to know they love you no matter what the shape of that love (read: things they say to you) is. I don't really buy that, however, for this animation it's good enough. As good as the idea of having a cheesburger running into your hands, falling from the sky - untouched (and we know how solid a hamburger is if you throw it somewhere). I was a bit surprised that all the food that is coming from the sky, is typical american junk food. We are in times when healthy food is marketed and you see reminders of "home grown veggies", "cerealed bread with dark wheat", "yogurt-like sweet stuff", "fruit instead of desert", anyhow, in this cartoon I get a feeling that we all long for marshmallows, hot dogs, cakes and candies, ice cream..

Typically american, I claim again. However, your kids will enjoy it, I am pretty sure, just be prepared to take them into the nearest McDonald's afterwards (maybe they sponsored the movie anyway, so it seems). And what's wrong with sardines? I don't get this part. The cartoon is an anti-sardine campaign. Still, much healthier than cheeseburger. But I don't suppose that was the point of the directors. Living up your dream, even if the dream might kill people or lead to the disaster and then repaying in a Bruce Willis (Armageddon) style, that was the idea, I guess.

My personal rate: 6,0 (as said, Armageddon of donuts and cheesburgers, tornado of spaghetti (the meatballs derive from the spaghetti), and a romance between a weird local scientist and a weather girl.. well, it might amuse you.)

Meatballs on IMDB
Check out the cool official site - truly a storm of food. Also, a food selector, to make it rain the food of your choice (I believe in my case it would be cheese and olives)

The other man, 2008

The other man, 2008
Director: Richard Eyre
Cast: Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Romora Garai, Antonio Banderas



The other man in short: The story of a husband who suspects his wife of adultery, and sets out to track down the other man in her life.

Stage: Home theatre, ready with a bowl of pop corn, to be strongly americanized and romantic :)

Preps: Seeing the trailer I know that Liam Neeson, who I adore, acts here and I expect again a set of action items on the list he has to work on when driving through the movie. I loved him in Taken (see it and you will know exactly what roles he's brilliant in in my opinion) and I adore his voice, so father-like. Also Schindler's list, Nell, Rob Roy are one of my favourites for his act.
In this case, the title of the movie projects a fraud or a deception in the movie.
Liam was nominated for an oscar for this role!


Reality: It is amazing, how a post-mortum discovery can influence someone's life. When a family is torn apart by her death (cancer that leads to death due to her not being ready to go through a serie of operations), he discovers she had a lover. She was away many times, on business trips. And on one of them, she found a new romance, she had with an italian guy (brilliantly presented by Antonio Banderas). It happened ten years from this present moment, and the husband is eager to see who this man was (or is).

Pretending to be her, longing for touch with an old romance, he travels to Italy, meets the guy, leads him on and discovers fragments of her past life that both, hurt him and on the other hand, make him understand her more. Or not understand her. The dilemma, whether it's worth discovering something that hurts you in the end as much as it hurt him, makes the viewer wonder whether it wouldn't be better for some things to stay under the cover, since there's nothing you can do in the present moment, as the person, involved with this, is dead. And yet, there are numerous people that are convinced that the truth should and must be revealed no matter the time, no matter the cost.

The way the husband reveals the password for the folder she was hiding in the computer, is a miracle, and so are some scenes in the movie. The rage, with which he looks at the pictures, taken while she was having the romance, the despair and crying, this is however, very real and gives me shivers as I watch it. And she puts it brilliantly, when talking to him.. it's a matter of choice.



My personal rate: 6,0 (decent movie, however it brings out the question - what is worth discovering something after the person is gone.. Is knowing the truth worth living a lie?)

The other man on IMDB
Official site

The Island, 2005

The Island, 2005
Director: Michael Bay
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johannson, Djimon Hounsou



The island in few words: A man goes on the run after he discovers that he is actually a "harvested being", and is being kept along with others in a utopian facility.

Stage: home theatre

Preps: I have seen the Island as one of the first movies on my home theatre field, being one of the examples I took with the HD quality. At that point I liked it so much that I decided to see it again. Seeing movie that you loved again can bring you alternative perception of the same problem/idea. And furthermore, Scarlett Johannson and Ewan McGregor are just a lovely sight to the eyes, worthy seeing again. I absolutely adore the girl, she's a sex goddess in my opinion, or a true Venus as I would see her.


Reality: The Island is a shortcut to human organs. Offered to wealthy people, it offers them a chance to get a substitute of their organs that might stop working, or would need a replacement for any kind of reason. Since the organs are the clones of the real thing (the factory reproduces the clone of a human to get the organ which won't be rejected by the original), they must be harvested from real human beings. Unfortunately, noone predicted that the clones would know how to think, react, would have a soul, a good chance to fall in love, etc. .. the whole moral dilemma that the viewer is faced with in the first third of the movie, is simply breath taking. The clone generation is locked in cages, being directed from the first morning opening of their eyes until the last breath. The stuff they eat, the way they move, everything is being directed from the "big brother" above.

The ultimum, for which every clone person is striving, is being selected by a lottery, to go to the island, the metaphore for heaven in their world. They don't know what the Island is, but they were told it's a heavenly place. The reality is devastating - whenever someone goes there, it means, that its sponsor needs the organ and the clone is going to be killed.

A true manufacture of organs, simply a brilliant economical idea, if you overlook the moral aspect. However, the real drama starts when the sponsor (e.g. the owner) of a clone is faced with its clone and sees that this is not something in a thin epruvette, or something like a piece of meat. This is a true thinking person in flesh and blood. Most of the sponsors probably wouldn't go for it, if they knew how the organs are reproducted. And some of them would, because looks is something some people cannot afford to lose, or at least so they think.

The movie is a superb show-off of the achievements in science that lead to exploitation in economical sense, regardless of the victims or regardless of lies they are ready to release in public. A true remarkable piece on clone technology and a superior look on what this might lead to, at least through Michael Bay's eyes.


My personal rate: 8,0 (highly recommended, the action is good, the scenery is amazing and the moral dilemma.. well, it will strike your bones as hard as a good metal tune). Try to see it in HD!


Meet Island on IMDB
Their official sites

Runaway jury, 2003

Runaway jury, 2003
Director: Gary Fleder
Cast: Dustin Hoffmann, John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Rachel Weisz



Stage: Home selection on TV (indeed surprising, sometimes they can pick)

Preps: Just being home at the right time. Somewhere deep I remembered I loved the movie. The cast is amazing, all the icons I admire, and the woman that grew to my heart in these years that I have watched her. And the case with the jury. Something I wanted to be when being very young. So promising I wanted to watch it again and make some comments.

Reality: Even better than I expected. This time the theme sucks me in, the involvement of a crime in a place where no crime is expected or tolerated, in a sense that noone picks it up until the end of the movie. Cusack is simply brilliant, in the way he puts the minds and develops everyone in the jury with the flow of the movie (or shall I put, the development of the case). The case isn't important, politics is, this is the truth until the last five minutes, when a sudden turnaround happens to the surprise of the viewer.

In my opinion, a piece worth seeing, if not for a superb critic of the american justice system, then for a thorough insight on how you can guide someone's mind or opinion, how you can persuade a bunch of people to take you for what you want them to take, to think how you want them to think and in the end, decide on what you have decided when you first set eyes on them. The justice-representative, attorney, fights a glorious battle, that couldn't be won, except if there wasn't some philosophy and deep revenge down below in the base of the case. For which you don't know, only assume that something is happening and is revealed in the last minute of the movie.

Highly recommended.

My personal rating: 7,5 (a remarkable piece on usually boring attorney/prosecutor cases or movies describing something going on in the court. Can compare it to Erin Brokovich, except this one is mainly happening in the court).



Runaway on IMDB

The Keeper, 2009

The keeper, 2009
Director: Keoni Waxman
Cast: Steven Seagal, Liezl Carstens, Arron Shiver



Short synopsis:Roland Sallinger is an LA cop who after nearly being killed by his greedy partner, flees to New Mexico to work as a bodyguard for the daughter of a wealthy businessman. When mobsters kidnap her, he hunts them down to rescue her and protect her.

Stage: Home theatre

Preps: One in the row, I see Steven Seagal is main cast. Superb, generally I love his SWAT team roles, as he kills someone with an eye or disarms someone with a touch of a hand. And all the bad guys pee in their panties when they see him. I expect nothing less.

Reality: Well, there was nothing more. It's a good follow up on the Bond movie I saw a day before. Again, Mcgyver scenes, Bond-like falling into the case and solving it left-handed. This time, I don't enjoy this one as much as I would want to. Maybe still that sour feeling from the last Bond movie I saw. Seagal still fights like a dragon and smacks everyone's butt off, but that's it. Nothing upgraded in this one. I vote against. If you aren't a fan of kung fu scenes, it will be boring to you. And I bet Seagal can do casts that go beyond this one.

My personal rating: 4,0 (well, I still admire Seagal, but that's it. Don't waste your time)

Keeper on IMDB

Quantum of Solace, 2008

Quantum of Solace, 2008 - the last James Bond
Director: Marc Forster
Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench


Stage: Home theatre


Short synopsis: Seeking revenge for the death of his love, secret agent James Bond sets out to stop an environmentalist from taking control of a country's valuable resource.

Preps: Uff, I am definitely not a fan of James Bond. I didn't want to see it in the movies, as I don't like this saga about a man who can turn the world around with a box of matches. So it's been waiting for me for ages in my box to come to its turn. I don't expect to be impressed.


Reality: I am right for once again. If you don't like Bond, if you don't get impressed with his McGyver scenes and Martini shortcuts (not shown this time, the shaken, not stirred thing), then you won't be impressed either.

The movie is filled with action scenes, fast racing, killing after someone slapping Bond for ages and after a few disastrous falls that are a few meters high at least (still surviving), sort of a Bruce Willis, but in the clothes. With bruises and with last breath, Bond saves the world again. The woman looks good, but that's also nothing new. However, there isn't a bomb to be found and rescuing the world from exploding, up to the half of the movie I don't really know what he's chasing. Is someone trying to kill M? Well, he succeeds to kill all the bad guys, sleep with all the women, go to all the parties and still get a drink at the end. Very predictable, but if you are a fan of James, you will love this nevertheless :)

My personal rating: 5,0 (just for the sake of Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan and line of guys, trying to kill all the world of the bad guys in previous parts. In this one, you will love this man's beautiful blue eyes. For me, the only trigger to stick to the end. )

Bond on IMDB
Official site - see the domain, truly interesting!

Timeline, 2003

Timeline, 2003
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Paul Walker, Frances O'connor, Gerard Butler, Billy Connoly



Short synopsis: A group of archaeological students become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor. The group must survive in 14th century France long enough to be rescued.

Stage: Home TV, randomly chosen movie on the TV

Preps: I remember seeing this once and I loved the idea of seeing it again, this time with a bit maturer, different eyes, perhaps different feelings. Time travel is a very grateful topic, everyone wants to do it. Go in the future, dig up the past, very tempting and ideal to build a movie story around it. In my opinion, one of the best comedies in this sense was an oldie - Back to the future. Still one of my favourite attempts to show how it could look like - time travel.


Reality: This isn't one of the greatest gifts to the movie industry. It's full of mistakes, smartly hidden in the movie - from dissappearing when already dead, appearing alive on the other side (in the future), to achieving what any normal being couldn't (in unimaginative circumstances). I am dissappointed this time even more, the movie shows potential, but nothing more - I mean in terms of story and the flow. The hunt for the missing professor and getting killed inbetween shows some credibility to virtues and vain missions.

Nevertheless, I like the idea that is exposed - to like the time you aren't a part of, so much that you want to live there forever - we have seen this in prior movies and in later ones (for instance Avatar). The idea of succeeding in a world where noone knows about you and your sins, problems, background is so tempting that some of the characters decide to stay here forever. Even if it will be in middle ages.

The scenery is impressive, the costumes, the streets and the landscape is pretty authentic, I am more than impressed. But this is unfortunately the best that this movie has inside.


My personal rating: 4,0
Timeline on IMDB
Official pages