The Horse Whisperer, 1998

The Horse Whisperer, 1998
Director: Robert Redford
Cast: Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Neil





Stage: Home TV selection on a good Sunday night


The horse whisperer in short: A teenage girl riding a horse is hit by a truck. To help heal her troubled/injured daughter, and horse, the mother takes them to Montana to recuperate at the ranch of a 'horse whisperer', a horse healer of mystical talents. The mother proceeds to fall in love with him, as well.


Preps: I have seen this several times. A beautiful piece, therefore I watch it for the soul reasons (as well as blog reasons). And I expect to be dazzled as always.



Reality: Amazing, beautiful piece on love towards animals. Living on a farm, living somewhere where time is a constant and not a dynamical component. The plot is fairly simple - the only way to recover a car injury (accident) is to get away from everything and try to figure it out. The same goes for animals than it goes for persons - in this case a married mum with her daughter.

The scenery is marvellous, the dialogues are good (solid). Considering that the director is the main act (I normally make fun out of those movies because you cannot be in god's role and play god's father. In other sense, you cannot be the main cast and director in my opinion). Nevertheless, this piece shows it can be done - maybe because of the crew, the genre, I don't know why in perticular. However, this drama/romance is pretty genuine and it touches your heart. Especially if you are fond of animals and feel sorry for the psychologically deluted ones, the ones that need special care, affection, attention. Those are also the ones this piece is targeted to. You will love the nature and sceneries chosen for the dialogues. The irony in bringing a city girl in the nature or on to the farm, makes place for funny scenes. And makes place for jokes you couldn't place on another location/time/space.

The mere idea of whispering to the horses seems funny until you see it for real. Some truly amazing footage of horses and the process of curement. A cover story for the relationship story that is really happening from behind (escape from everyday normal city life; parents never being present; time flying away differently on the farm as in real life for the people that are stealing the nature moments to fly away to their imagination). There are many stories that could reveal themselves, however they remain in cocoon of director's imagination.

A nice piece to have on a lovely evening. Nothing more, nothing less. I love the animal feeling, I adore the music and the scenery. I just love the idea of escaping in the nature and living there without the pressure of everyday life. I am sure that the most audience of this movie will appreciate the last few lines I have been writing. The escape is what we all want. The question is, do we have the courage.




My personal rate: 8,0 (beautiful piece, it will fill your soul and heart. Especially if you are fond of horses)

Horse whisperer on IMDB

Bad Teacher, 2011

Bad Teacher, 2011
Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake





Stage: Home theatre

Bad Teacher in short: When her wealthy fiancé breaks it off, gold digger Elizabeth Halsey returns to middle school: she's an awful teacher but wants to save for breast-implant surgery. She brightens when Scott, a new teacher, turns out to be rich, and she stops showing films and sleeping in class when told there's a bonus for the teacher whose class scores highest on the state exam. Her competition for Scott and the bonus is cheery and tightly wound Amy. Amy digs for dirt on Elizabeth who cheats her way toward Scott's bed and the money. Honesty with students seems to be her only skill. She ignores Russell, a droll gym teacher, who looks on. Will she succeed with Scott and get those new breasts?



Preps: hot thing in our movies. Am not really anxious to see it as I don't believe that Diaz and Timberlake could do something amazing, but am curious, so here we go.



Reality: This isn't the hottest thing you could see in this period in this genre. Cameron Diaz plays a teacher that acts as if she was taken from outer space. Which virtually means she hasn't a clue what to do with children while she's teaching (or supposed to teach them) something. At first, it's amusing, however, later on in the procedure, it becomes annoying and so imaginative, that I start hating the piece as a whole.
Unmistakeably, Justin Timberlake is better than I expect. However, he's still a singer and every time he opens his mouth, I wait for him to start hopping and singing like in one of his videos. My bad, i know, however I cannot help it. The role he has is so .. cheesy. Cheesy beyond belief. A teacher in male role that would read, talk, think like this one does? I don't think so. Some of the obstacles I personally see in this piece on its way to make it work, are definitely hidden http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifin expectations that this "bad teacher" has from life; perspectives about making your tits bigger and then the guy will fall (do you really want a guy that is so stupid that all he sees are bigger tits?!?); do you want a guy that will read you books you cannot bear to hear, or poems you don't want to be read to you?
The rivalry between teachers is a classic, however, in this case it goes beyond any serious perspective. I just don't buy it. The principle would never go that far in order to indulge some teacher. To have a teacher cooperating at a school fund raise in a sexy way? Maybe it fills the seats, but it's really unreal! Or would a teacher go this far to make the class win a state championship (here hidden in forms of formal tests). Too many weak moments of this movie make it extremely bad. Yes, Diaz can be sexy as hell and Timberlake cute as an angel, however, to make a good piece, this is by far not enough.


My personal rate: 3,0 (not really worth your time. Or mine :)


Bad Teacher on IMDB

Friends with benefits, 2011

Friends with Benefits, 2011
Director: Will Gluck
Cast: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson


Stage: Home theatre

Friends with benefits in short: While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan and Jamie soon discover however that adding the act of sex to their friendship does lead to complications.


Preps: Ahm,.. not another one on the same topic? I am curious, can we make so many movies on the same topic and just switch actors? This must be the third or the fourth this year alone. Well.. Mila Kunis is the intriguing person I want to see. Timberlake? Yeah, well..



Reality: I must confess I am positively surprised with this piece. Playful, fun, yet realistic. Can this cliche be something lasting forever and ever? Definitely not. At some point someone will fall in love (if he/she still hasn't). In this sense I know we must be looking for this perticular moment in the movie. Up to that point this piece in perticular is sexy, funny and relaxing. Nothing more, but also nothing less. I absolutely adore the playfulness that surrounds the main cast. Timberlake is exquisite in this role (as opposed to the dork he was playing in the Bad Teacher). I cannot believe that he can also show good acting, and I am subcounsciously applauding him for that). The same way Lopez made her way to the stage, he could also. Just read an interview with him claiming that he is more work than play. Plus, here he is showing an extreme sexappeal - the same as Mila Kunis.

Now, the topic is overdone, nevertheless the movie seems fresh and inspiring. It will drag to your hearts if you are a fan of romantic comedies and Hollywood endings. In its genre it's one of better ones in this period, therefore more than worth seeing.

The scenes aren't really smart, however the music is something you will love and the image of successful career people you will see throughout this piece.


My personal rate: 7,5 (good, funny, nice piece to see on a good Sunday evening).


Friends with Benefits on IMDB

The Maiden Danced to death, 2011

The Maiden Danced To Death, 2011
Director: Endre Hules
Cast: Endre Hules, Bea Merkvi, Deborah Kara Unger, Boris Cavazza


Stage: Kino Dvor, local art theatre


The Maiden Danced to Death in short:There were two brothers - two dancers - in Communist Hungary. One defected, the other stuck it out. One gave his soul to commerce, the other to the Party. After twenty years, they meet again. And the dance begins.



Preps: I only heard the best critics about this piece and I am more than curious.


Reality: This piece is more than made excellent. It has several levels that one can dive into and search for inner wisdom to help in seeking the right way. Two brothers reunite after 20 years, one still in Hungary doing major projects with a dance group noone will sponsor and seeking the love he felt for dancing inside the management of the group, the other brother is a famous manager that replaced the love he had for dancing and dancing itself with high level management on global level. Which means that the same roots they once shared now turned into two completely different paths.

One story we follow is the reunion and the difficulties the two guys have when trying to act as if nothing happened (which is truly only on the surface), on the other hand trying to figure out the way to work together again.

It's a completely balcan perception that if you are abroad, you must have a lot of money, therefore you need to give it to your family. Regardless of the relationship you have with them, you are obliged to help them. In this sense, a true separation occurs when the supposeably richer brother refuses to do so at the beginning and then inclines to the emotions he feels (or is it the feeling of the guilt?) Of course he smells also money, he's not doing it just to please some historical emotions. On the other hand the project he's taking under his wing - cannot be delivered half way as the other brother perceives. The first one, with outdoor experience, knows that it takes dedication and non-diplomatic actions to make people to breathe for the project. On this path a voulter side of the brothers takes its stage moment. The relationship between them couldn't be more complicated. They are both filled with guilt and pride, the worst combination to have in business. However, they somehow manage to get over it and make it work - the dance has its important role here, as it acts as an accellerator of passion, emotions, and also tools to calm down and take a deep breath before acting.

The stage is more or less limited to the dance floor, where they are preparing the show. The other story we are following, is the relationship between long lost brother and his parents. Surprisingly, they are Slovene - what a concept. I am sure that all slovene people when seeing this, feel some sort of patriotism and pride :)
To stay on the safe side, the movie is definitely a hungarian one. However, it has a global meaning. It could be put into any environment worldwide.
In the scenes with father, the father figure is brilliantly played by Cavazza. Such a small, yet so exclusive, powerful one. I loved him, and the concept of the insulted family, he's trying to pull off as he fights with his lost son. It isn't until the end of the movie, where a sudden twist lets us know what the deal was and why he went away. Through the movie, you are just collecting pieces and guessing. Superb!

The third story is the love triangle between the brothers and the wife of one of them (mistress of another in previous periods of life). Flirtation, passion, hectic time when they argue one with another. Expressing love, gratitude, remorsement, sadness about the way things turned out and yet, a chance to escape they never take. A deep, passionate relationship that is depicted in a way that will shake your breath.

The piece, as in whole, one of the better ones this year. I absolutely adored it!


My personal rate: 9,5 (brilliant, in any aspect possible!)


The maiden on IMDB

Unfaithful, 2002

Unfaithful, 2002
Director: Adrian Lyne
Cast: Olivier Martinez, Richard Gere, Diane Lane



Stage: Home TV selection

Unfaithful in short: Connie Sumner has a loving husband, a beautiful home, and a wonderful son, but she wants more. When she's approached one day by a handsome stranger while trying to hail a taxi, she becomes obsessed with him and eventually starts an affair. But her selfish actions soon catch up with her.



Preps: Now why haven't I seen this one already? Cannot believe I missed something with Richard Gere (I am a big fan of his charm, as well as some others I never afford to miss)..


Reality: A hard and solid drama. Woman, getting into a relationship with a complete stranger to spend days with him having sex in his appartment, while a handsome and rich /overloaded and overworking husband is at work. Taking care of a small child inbetween. Plus, the stranger is incredibly sexy and appealing. Now, how to cope with this? What is the moral of the story? Do bad girls get punished? Do good husbands get punished for not being at home while the life is happening?

Sometimes we could see our lives as something that passes by while we are killing ourselves to make a living. In this piece, you see a solid family breaking apart because of an affair. Could she not have it? Of course. The matter of a choice, that may not be simple, but it's quite obvious she's playing with fire for choosing to have an affair. How do we come to this if we have a prerequisite she has - on the outside the image of a perfect life? Can a handsome stranger happen to anyone? Of course he can or she can. The thing is what to do with him/her once it appears in front of us.

The movie suggests one version of this. However it will make you rethink your ideals and your values. It will make you think that everything will turn allright, when the movie will take a deep turn and make you think again. How about killing the guhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gify that is having sex with your wife? Who's the bad guy now? Risking everything you have because your feelings have overtaken your mind - one option. Another is to stay blind and say nothing. But then.. you could end up empty.

Good and solid cast, scenography, dialogues. And passion between the triangle.. extremely good and vivid. Diane Lane in the role of a passionate wife and mistress. And Olivier Martinez as the sexy french guy every person would like to have for a second. A nice setup for a fraud and a good delivery in the end. You need to see it in order to rethink the way you are living, more in terms of why you are living this way and what would you do if..


My personal rate: 7,0 (good drama / thriller. With an amazing turnaround)


Unfaithful on IMDB

Soapdish, 1991

Soapdish, 1991
Director: Michael Hoffmann
Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Kevin Kline, Sally Field, Robert Downey Jr.





Stage: Home TV selection


Soapdish in short: Celeste Talbert has been the queen of the soaps for over two decades. Montana Moorehead needs to get her out of her way before she can move on and begins her program to get her to leave. She hires an old boyfriend of Celeste to be on the show and has Celeste become a murderer in the script, but each attempt has unforseen consequences.

Preps: I have never heard of the piece and the cast in the beginning drives my attention sharp. Therefore I sit and stare :)


Reality: Making soap operas must be a killer in terms of scenarios. Always same issues, same drama, same settings. How to make this interesting and appealing to the crowd, this is the big question.

This movie tries to give a background to the soap operas, however, while doing this, it turns into one of them. This piece is namely, nothing more than previous setting of soap dishes it is trying desperately to give a serious insight into. instead, I am looking at a version of a Jerry Springer meets Oprah Winfrey, seasoned with some of the favourite dishes of the past (Dinasty, Dallas, and some of the spanish http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifcuisine of these days.). The only thing missing is Antonio or Alfonso or Jose, coming with his open arms, claiming everlasting love. Nope, I am wrong, here he is. Kevin Kline in role of Jose Armando or whatever those spanish clowns are in soap operas.

In any case, if you are a fan of soap operas, you might enjoy this one. It doesn't have any body, any realistic story, any plot that I could stick my eyes into and no real ending. Which is quite good for a soap opera remake. But very bad to my standards and definitely not my genre. The cast is awful, eventhough distinguished. As if they were making fun of making the movie or presenting themselves. I am sure all of them can do better.


My personal rate: 1,0 (bljah!!)

Soapdish on IMDB

Horrible bosses

Horrible Bosses, 2011
Director: Seth Gordon
Cast: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis




Stage: Home theatre

Horrible bosses in short: Nick hates his boss, mostly because he's expected to work from before sunrise to after sunset and his boss, Mr. Harken, calls him out for being a minute late and blackmails him so he can't quit. Dale hates his boss, Dr. Julia Harris, because she makes unwelcome sexual advances when he's about to get married. But Dale is on that pesky list of child offenders so he can't quit. Kurt actually likes his job and his boss, well, up until his boss dies and the boss's coked-out, psychopathic son takes over. But who would be crazy enough to quit their jobs in such poor economic times? Instead Nick, Dale and Kurt drunkenly and hypothetically discuss how to kill their bosses, and before they know it, they've hired a murder consultant to help them pull off the three deeds.


Preps: Hm. seems interesting, but on the other hand, I fear that it cannot exceed comedy genre (or to say it differently, I fear that it's making fun out of things that aren't funny).



Reality: Your boss is your biggest priority. The only task you have is keeping your boss satisfied in all senses /and all possible interpretations. True? According to the piece so true.

People aren't machines. This means they come programmed with feelings. And that sometimes relationships between the boss and the subordinate are beyond anything you could imagine to have to bear with. And in most cases it's definitely done the way the boss wants it. Like it or not, you are here to make him happy and you aren't spending your money, but the money he's signed up for or is responsible for. If the boss is the owner, then you are actually spending his money. So sometimes it needs to be according to the saying "your money, your game". which means we are forced to turn the boat as the boss likes it and not as we would.

This piece shows a rebel yell of three individuals that despise their bosses for different reasons and plan how to kill them. The abuses we can see prior to the stupid plan and delivery of it, are quite common in business world and even though they might not seem real, they are real and we often hear about this. However, there's nothing really an individual can do to avoid this. Rather than sharing the thoughts and dreams how to kill the boss, I would think of how to deal with this. There is no universal recipe, but the pain is universal. Does the power you hahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifve on one position equip you also with means to hurt your subordinates? Yes, it does. But how to avoid the temptation to tread on people like the ones you knew treaded on you? That's the remaining question.

The piece is below average and besides thinking on the way I could handle my own career life with another solution, the movie didn't offer me anything. It's really sad that I managed to see another piece surely underestimating the audience. Cast is respectable, yet thin in delivery. The setting is pretty much unimaginative. The only thing true are the issues that these guys are facing. But this question remained unanswered - how to be a subordinate that deserves /and knows how to push with this/ to be respected.


My personal rate: 2,0 (surely a waste of time!!!)


Horrible bosses on IMDB

The Change Up, 2011

The Change Up, 2011
Director: David Dobkin
Cast: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Wilde


Stage: Home theatre, Friday night.


The Change Up in short: Growing up together, Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) and Dave (Jason Bateman) were inseparable best friends, but as the years have passed they've slowly drifted apart. While Dave is an overworked lawyer, husband and father of three, Mitch has remained a single, quasi-employed man-child who has never met a responsibility he liked. To Mitch, Dave has it all: beautiful wife Jamie (Leslie Mann), kids who adore him and a high-paying job at a prestigious law firm. To Dave, living Mitch's stress-free life without obligation or consequence would be a dream come true. Following a drunken night out together, Mitch and Dave's worlds are turned upside down when they wake up in each other's bodies and proceed to freak out. Despite the freedom from their normal routines and habits, the guys soon discover that each other's lives are nowhere near as rosy as they once seemed. Further complicating matters are Dave's sexy legal associate.

Preps: This is now hot stuff in local theatre. So let's check it up. According to the trailer, it won't be a shocker if I hate it.


Reality: My hunches are sometimes so true. First of all, the topic is insanely abused by many pieces, seen so far.
Secondly, most of those pieces exceeded this one. This is a bad example of a remake of a lot of remakes.
Hm.. two people, desperately wanting to get out of their lives, wanting everything to change and then after one week realize that life is precious? Ok, I see the value in this, however the delivery is horrible. You need to piss in the fountain to get laid? Really?
Anyhow, Reynolds and Bateman pair up in Hanson and Gretel, one picking up breadcrumbs from hot women, the other one taking responsibility. OK, lesson learned. Married life means that your woman farts too. Well, goes hand in hand with pre-assumptions and land of milk and chocolate, if you aren't aware of this fact before you marry the girl.
And all of the sudden Reynolds becomes serious and wants a serious relationship. Really? I buy that Bateman as a married guy wants to repeat his vowels, but does a mindset that has various women under his roof almost each night, change after one week? Well, could be, but how long will it last before the predator inside him approaches again?

Bad delivery (director), bad cast. Implying that work isn't everything and that we run around chasing minutes and seconds instead of living the life. Agree, however it's something great thinkers told us hundred years ago. Doesn't mean it doesn't apply to today, however, a chewed-up story with a cheesy ending. A no no.


My personal rate: 1,0 (yuk. another one bites the dust. Do something better with your time!!!)


The Change Up on IMDB

Che. Un hombre nuevo, 2010

Che. Un hombre nuevo, 2010
Director: Tristan Bauer
Cast: Documentary with real shots from Che's life. Voices: Ernesto Guevara, Rafael Guevara, Tristan Bauer



Stage: Local theatre Dvor, late Friday night



Preps: None in perticular. I am a fan of biographies and think they are a good way of getting insight into persons you admire (or don't admire yet). I strongly feel they should be a part of learning history - to be shown to students.


Che in short: Ernesto Guevara, “el Che”, murdered at the age of 39, has become one of the most outstanding iconic figures of our times. His image, work and thinking have nowadays an amazing strength.
This documentary film, built from an intimate Guevara´s subjective perspective, remarks his continuous education and coherence, his poetic view of reality, his studies and thinking in the service of action and of the building of a new world. The film is based on family and military files that have never been shown.



Reality: Amazing to see some of the shots that were never seen and never heard of. Definitely an insight into Che's life and way some people saw him and interpret what he was doing and the way he was making revolution in the world. I believe he was the father of many different mindsets in eyes of many people. And the base for many dramatical hapennings throughout the territories he wanted to liberate.

Although the insight is resourceful, I cannot imagine that everything was depicted without any restrictions - census from governmental side. We can truly see some critical moments in his life and some emotional moments, from the starting scene, where we hear his last words to his wife and ending point, when we hear them again. The piece holds us in attention for most of the time, however in some aspects I asume that it ran out of "meat", or they simply had some things to put in the documentary even if it affects the audience attention. To be more up to point - I would feel quite comfortable if the movie was shorter and not so biorhythmical - which means that it had my attention and both ears/eyes for 75% of its circle, but 25% were more than my veins could process.

Despite this, I believe it's a true documentary and real piece, that most of us should see for historical /learning point and there are assumptions in my head that there were quite a lot of things that were not included and needed to get out because of diplomatic reasons of any kind. A strong man, depicted as an icon that masses would follow, a true flirt with the camera and exploiting all the powers that communication and marketing could do in that period.. quite amazing man and definitely a must see in each aspect of its way to the public.


My personal rate: 7,5 (see it. it will make learning history about important men valid).


Check out more about Che ..http://www.cheunhombrenuevo.com.ar/index.htm

Lahko noč, Gospodična (Good Night, Missy), 2011

Lahko noč, gospodična (Good Night, Missy), 2011
Director: Metod Pevec
Cast: Polona Juh, Jernej Šugman, Mila Fürst, Marjana Brecelj, Pia Zemljič, Jan Cvitkovič



Stage: Local theatre; the newly (re)opened Komuna in the centre of Ljubljana


Gospodična (Missy) in short: "Good Night, Missy" depicts a story of a young woman, Hana, who leads a seemingly perfect life with a husband, a daughter and a well-paid job. However, after finding out that her husband is cheating on her, she returns to her mother, where she has to rethink her priorities after meeting a lover from her student days.



Preps: Hmmm. I always have this urge to see a slovenian movie. There aren't so many, + you need to support local production + the movie has received several international awards + the roomer is that it's really cool. So no brainer, I definitely need to see it as soon as possible. Plus, I really adore Jernej Šugman, although I am used to him from real stage and local theatre.



Reality: Yup, a must see. It's a splendid interpretation of a relationship falling apart and trying to set it back together at first, however after downfall, breaking the mirror images of better selves and picking up the leftovers from a once happy life of one couple.

It could be any couple in the world, so universally shown truth can be deployed from the piece. If two once joined souls spend a lot of time apart with separate interests, it is inevitable that they will grow apart and find someone else to share interests, funny and loving moments with. In this perticular case, the male side of the partnership decides to have an affair, and wife when finding out, normally freaks out. The deciding point is shown later in the movie. To make it even more complicated, the "child issue" is brought up, the devastation that a child feels when the parents decide not to live together anymore.

Another view on the matter is given by her mother, because she is used to this sort of relationship from her own experience (hard quotes like - "Men are men, they cannot help themselves, they have needs".. and " I thought we ran out of crying over men and got used to the fact that the world is like this and accept it as it is). The quotes are taken from my memory from the screening, however they are quite similar to actually said words from the mother and hit me hard when thinking about that. What is then the line between the two and what are the indicators one should be careful about not to fall into the same trap as those two did? Or maybe is it realistic to have two souls that can work together as one for a limited period of time and then fall apart and maybe, just maybe meet in another life circle or period of life. The complication that derives from a mutual child can be resolved up to some extent, however it remains complicated with new people arriving to their lives (new husbands, wifes, etc)

The cliché that the father falls for the babysitter is amusing, because I would imagine that a person from business perspective comes along - because he does spend a lot of time away from home. Another cliché of being in a sexual relationship with your ex - predictable and yet, inspiring, as it serves merely as a tool on the road to her independence.

The amazing thing about this movie are also the animations (metaphores for relationship), that are depicted while she's telling stories to her young daughter. Brilliant execution, I really enjoyed them.

As a strong competitive advantage to "usual" slovene movie, this piece is optimistic and strong. Normalwise we cannot extend our reach beyond classic depression and negativism, hopelessness in slovene movies. This piece has a downfall, dealing with the problem and optimistical conclusion. And this is how life really works - in sense that if you have a decision, you will find a way to deliver it.


My personal rate: 9,5 (a good and solid piece. If you have the chance, see it for sure!)

The Art of Getting By, 2011

The Art of Getting By, 2011
Director: Gavin Wiesen
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano




The Art in short: Believing the quote that you are born alone, die alone and everything else is an illusion, George doesn't see the point of life, school, or homework. Then he meets Sally and he now has a reason to go to school and make friends, even if he's not ready to admit to himself or to her that he likes her. The school's principal and art teacher introduce him to an alumni, and successful artist, Dustin, who can help guide George along life's path, but other distractions start surfacing, and George might not even be able to graduate from high school.


Stage: Home theatre, Sunday evening


Preps: Don't have a clue what am I about to see. Don't know the plot, don't know who the actors are, never heard of this movie before.

Reality: The movie has a lot of weaknesses, in perticular the underestimation of an average viewer. Maybe the target group is a bit younger, however, even that target group deserves some respect in terms of dialogues, true acting, creative scenery, well played interactions between the crew, maybe a touch of reality. Because this is what this piece is lacking.

The general impression is extremely bad and I get easily bored when watching this. It does have some biorhythmical ups (in terms of - I get more excited and think that something is going to happen), but the downfalls are even steeper each time the movie takes a turn. Which is quite often.

A teenage love is a well built term, many times represented in various pieces. However, this one is one of the worst screenings I have ever seen and I strongly disrecommend it. The story will annoy you, young couple will annoy you as they have nothing else to do but to look at each other without real energy. Is one of the messages that if you are not in school in the time you should be, should you be in the movies watching something good, or eating noodles (creative way of being out of school)..
Maybe the valid lesson is that you need to take responsibility for your assignements. This is the one truth, driven from this movie that stands for universal moral standard. And maybe the only good thing about this movie.


My personal rate: 1,0 (don't watch it. Don't. Use your time more wisely :)


The Art of Getting By on IMDB

Congo, 1995

Kongo, 1995
Director: Frank Marshall
Cast: Laura Linney, Tim Curry, Dylan Walsh




Stage: Home theatre (surprisingly our local TV has numerous good pieces from recent past)



Kongo in short: A megalomaniac C.E.O. sends his son into the dangerous African Congo on a quest for a source of diamonds large enough and pure enough to function as powerful laser communications transmitters (or is it laser weapons?). When contact is lost with his son and the team, his sometime daughter- in-law is sent after them. She is a former CIA operative and, accompanied by gee-whiz gadgetry and a few eccentric characters (including a mercenary, a researcher with a talking gorilla, and a a nutty Indiana-Jones-type looking for King Solomon's Mines), sets out to rescue her former fiancé. What they all discover is that often what we most want turns out to be the source of our downfall.


Preps: again, I have this piece in my head as one of the more polished ones in terms of raising animal abuse issues, human greed, beautiful nature and underestimation of pure nature's abilities to defend itself.


Reality: This piece is one of the more dominant in the time it was made. However, nowadays it seems somehow out of date, in terms of delivery. By that I mean, I have enjoyed watching this much more for the first time. Apart from the plot (storyline), which is always something we should think about - everything else seems somehow under my expectations. In some ways the cast is awful, the only true relationship I see in the movie is between the scientist and his Amy, gorilla. And it breaks my heart as he tries to bring her into environment she yearns for, only to see human abuse of natural wonders, gold yearning and diamond search. Obviously, nowadays even more, the race for diamonds, gold, silver, oil - seems more and more aggressive. In this piece we see abuse of animals as the means to get to the goods. The way the message is delivered - is very pure and brings pure flesh and soul of the deed in front of the viewer.

However, everything else - bad gorillas (grey ones) that represent the ghosts that are guarding the treasures - well, this is not really likely (not shown as if they were real). Now I see that the costumography, scenography made a HUGE step forward in delivering this and more could be done at that time. In 1995, I was really thrilled to see this piece, now I see it as really something average or on average level, not even close to what I would have expected.

Some truths still remain, though, Kongo and unknown teritory is hard to handle if you aren't an expert or at least a warrior. A lot of "hidden treasures" in shape of animals, that might eat you while you are strolling down your way, well, those creatures are waiting for you. Still, the underestimation of the nature wonders and nature itself will show in a decent way that you will be swollen by some weird animal or a plant. To show respect, a human should always consider himself as a part of the chain, not the leader in it.

The movie has a Hollywood ending and all is well - obviously. It might have a better message. For instance, Gorillas in the mist has some conotation with this piece (in terms of gorilla abuse and chopping down the forest). However, a much stronger movie compared to Congo on all levels.


My personal rate : 5,5 (watch it, but don't get overexcited about it :)

Congo on IMDB

Jane Eyre, 2011

Jane Eyre, 2011
Director: Cary Fukunaga
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell







Stage: Local theatre, with one of my best girlfriends - her pick

Jane Eyre in short:
After a bleak childhood, Jane Eyre goes out into the world to become a governess. As she lives happily in her new position at Thornfield Hall, she meets the dark, cold, and abrupt master of the house, Mr. Rochester. Jane and her employer grow close in friendship and she soon finds herself falling in love with him. Happiness seems to have found Jane at last, but could Mr. Rochester's terrible secret be about to destroy it forever?


Preps: None in perticular. I am familiar with the novel and the content. However, I am curious, as the critics were very positive about the piece. The drama and love content should suit me well, and I am eager to see the movie reproduction of one of the greatest love romances ever written.



Reality: Jane Eyre fills me with strong feelings. On one side, the hatred towards the kind of bringing up that was normal for that period, on other side the yearning this woman feels when being inlove with the master she (for normal standards) never could have hoped for to win. The devastation that childhood brings into her soul reveals many years afterwards and reflects in her character.

A truly good interpretation, directly (strictly) following the book, as if the book was providing guidelines. In other aspect, if you don't read the book, the looking of the movie will provide you with the feeling you have - in some sense rarely we see such a smooth copy paste of the script and so deep emotional cast as in this case. Because we have nothing to compare the reality with (the reality of that time I mean by that), we need to assume that Austen gave us a rare and true glance at the circumstances in which a woman was brought up in those times - along with the fact that they were not treated equally or even close to that, that the love was mostly pre-arranged and marriages followed what the position of a person could afford.

In some sense, the true meaning of Jane for me is in her liberated mind and ways she picks to fight the system, in some sense making a strong example for every female person that feels that she has lost her way and needs to pull some strenght out of something that seems beyond the dreams. On the other aspect, the fulfilling a true love will according to the piece come, if you yearn long enough to get it. And furthermore, if you don't deny who you really want to be and strive for it, it will come eventually.

Brilliant setting, good cast, all the good pluses I need in a movie. And inspirational music to go along with this. A strong must-see!


My personal rate: 8,5 (a strong piece, worthy of seeing. However I doubt many male population will embrace this. Hard to admit, but it suits to girls' nature much more. I could be wrong, and there are some enthusiasts to prove me wrong :)


Jane Eyre on IMDB