Iron Sky, 2012

Iron Sky, 2012
Director: Timo Vuorensola
Cast: Julia Dietze, Udo Kier, Peta Sergeant


Stage: Kino Šiška, the premiere. With Laibach concert following :)


Iron sky in short: The Nazis set up a secret base on the moon in 1945 where they hide out and plan to return to power in 2018.


Preps: Hm. Am not aware of anything in this movie. I just want fun.


Reality: Well, for once, my expectations have been fulfilled. It is fun, pure fun and black irony, deriving from the facts of the world today. Even though the projection of the year is 2018.
The idea of bringing nacis into the present world is brilliant. From all the people they could have met in the Moon script, they find a black man. From all the places, they could have landed on the Earth, obviously it is NY, and in this segment, it's the growing spot /field of weed. The movie is filled with similar irony and present humour. Bringing out the elections with the great fuss, where people just embrace what seems to be the next bluechip of the marketing or something that seems to be dragging out the crowds from the depression.. well the nazis represent quite a challenge to present people. Not only that they aren't really taken seriously, it is the black guy that gives them a kick in the ass.
The amazing script gives more life to the piece than I supposed. The characters are taken from the best imagination ever. I haven't enjoyed a piece quite like this in a while. I believe it is a parody to all existing political systems as well as our processes, a black humoured side of what we find real or reality. The black side of humanity we can all laugh from, if we are intelligent enough. The parliament of all nations, driving out the best weapons that all have been developing under cover, is simply brilliant. It turns out that US wants to stay on the top, but has a hard time doing so, because all of the non believers had their own agenda. The battle runs out in favour of humanity and nazis go back to be straight, smart peasants, learning about how dreadful nazis have been in WW2 and what could they have done to improve.
I believe the story is one of more original ones I have ever seen. Again, truly enjoyed it. The scenery, the music is brilliant. The delivery excellent. The costumes.. I would have given an oscar for this. Really worth seeing.



My personal rating: 9,0 (a superb ++to this. A must see to every person)


Iron Sky on IMDB

The Fifth Element, 1997

The Fifth Element, 1997
Director: Luc Besson
Cast: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman


Stage: Home theatre, late Saturday TV screening

The Fifth Element in short: Two hundred and fifty years in the future, life as we know it is threatened by the arrival of Evil. Only the Fifth Element can stop the Evil from extinguishing life, as it tries to do every five thousand years. She is assisted by a former elite commando turned cab driver, Korben Dallas, who is, in turn, helped by Prince/Arsenio clone, Ruby Rhod. Unfortunately, Evil is being assisted by Mr. Zorg, who seeks to profit from the chaos that Evil will bring, and his alien mercenaries.



Preps: Seen this already, in fact several times. I love it, as it really poses something extraordinary with unique idea of destruction of the world, being put on screen, with more than enough entertainment.


Reality: As said, this is one of my favourites of all times. There are several points I need to make with this movie, because the story is unique and can be depicted in so many ways, however only few of them are so original and extraordinary as this one.
Luc Besson really nails it again, the images he created, are beyond belief. Plus, he successfully embedded the portray of the hero (of past) into the present in the movie. I am speaking of Bruce Willis, with the same role we have been seeing for some time on screen, but in rare cases it works as good as in this one. The all-time hero, on the quest for saving the world. The similar one as in Die Hard, Armageddon and several more. In this case, the protagonist of the habits people have, the yearning (for love), fight until the last breath, and the fact that the luck shows up at the back of the brave ones (yeah :) ).
In any case, the successful portraying of alternative Earth/Heaven, with the lucky prize contest and the weirdo Ruby Rhod (superbly played by Chris Tucker) - you can just die of laughter when watching him. On the other pole, Milla Jovovich, as the angel which will serve us as a tool to defeat evil. The innocent creature, that comes up to speed with our history and things we do in the most effective way. In some way or up to some extent you can tell how a perfect foreigner would see us from a different perspective. From non-burdened history.. and with the eyes of someone that doesn't have a clue what an Earth person is. The images we can see can trouble our mind for at least some time. Plus, the screening itself and the learning process is really funny. Obviously, like any Earth person would, also Willis finds his angel whom he wants to marry and cherish until the rest of his life. Obviously she falls in his arms and at the end, we have a Hollywood ending. Who could resist Bruce anyway, right? :)
The music in the movie is brilliant, also one of my favourite soundtracks of all times. Eric Serra as the composer, accompanied with some good artists, like Khaled, Lionel Ritchie. Absolutely above average and worth having at home.

The movie itself is unique and something really special, works in many environments and in this sense can be really universally shown. No extra praise upon US nation, just a surreal image of what the future might be in some weird imagination. It will make you think. And you will enjoy the escape with Bruce and Milla. Obviously, the world is saved in the last moment, but the irony behind it remains.

Leeloo: Everything you create, you use to destroy.
Korben Dallas: Yeah, we call it human nature.




My personal rating: 9,0 (one of my favourites of all times. I adore the idea, music, the delivery with the cast, mmmmm. Love to see it every now and then).


The fifth Element on IMDB

Sherlock Holmes: A game of Shadows, 2011

Sherlock Holmes: A game of shadows,2011
Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Robert Downey Junior, Jude Law, Jared Harris




Stage: Home theatre


Sherlock in short: Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) and his longtime trusted associate, Doctor Watson (Jude Law), take on their arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), with the help of Holmes's older brother Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry) and a gypsy named Sim (Noomi Rapace).


Preps: This is a hot cake in our theatre's oven. Especially because of my respect for Holmes I need to see it. However because of part one, I doubt I will like it.



Reality: Unfortunately I am correct. As I stated in my critic for part one, part two is a true example of a movie that doesn't have much to do with the figure designed and written about by Doyle. This Sherlock Holmes is a weird detective in Ritchie's eyes. I would expect a weird and somehow wacky enough movie to impress me by Ritchie. The problem is that I read all of Doyle's novels about Sherlock Holmes and I would love to see something like that series we were watching around 15 years ago.

As said, this piece is nothing like this. Combining action features from Matrix and similar movies, it takes us to Kill Bill like scenes, kung fu fighting and escaping bullets quicker than Tom Cruise in MI. A horrible mixture and horrible piece, if you are seeking for true Sherlock like the one depicted by Doyle.
However, if you are not, prepare for the mixture because it might impress you. I wasn't impressed, because I was looking for some true logic and mind games Sherlock Holmes was famous for. Instead, I got a lot of fighing, some gentlemen deeds and fear of love. Bljah. Ritchie was on something when shooting this. Or when reading about Sherlock Holmes. If you are trying to create a movie about a persona, why do it in such a weird style.. least to Holmes. The unfortunate deed for this critic is that I really adored those novels when I was a child. And am still fighting to see a good movie screening of this. Which Game of shadows definitely isn't. But you will find it intriguing if you aren't obsessed with the Doyle's figure.


My personal rate: 2,0 (despite the good movie quality this isn't really about Holmes. It's about Ritchie).


Sherlock on IMDB

The Sphere, 1998

The Sphere, 1998
Director: Barry Levinson
Cast: Dustin Hoffmann, Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson



Stage: Home theatre, TV selection on a fine Sunday night


The Sphere in short: 1000 feet below the ocean, navy divers discover an object half-a-mile long. A crack team of scientists are deployed to the site in Deepsea Habitats. What they find boggles the mind as they discover a perfect metal sphere. What is the secret behind the sphere? Will they survive the mysterious 'manifestations'? Who or what is creating these? They may never live to find out.


Preps: I have seen this a few times. Every time it gives me shivers. A splendid piece.


Reality: One of last decade's better pieces on extraterrestrial life, time journeys, subconscious fear of machines that can manipulate our mind, journey with scientists (that most of us only dream of).. well, this piece does have a lot of things going for him. In addition, it has a fabulous act, witty scenes and creative dialogues. A good music accompanying most of dreadful and scary scenes. A lot of logic you cannot convey and for this reason you just accept the facts as the scientists introduce them.

Speaking with Jerry, speaking with your subconscious, can be freaky. Being online with an alien mind, speaking to it through the computer, going into spheres, coming out as a complete wacko.. the line doesn't end. And you are thrown into a river that.

"I make a journey. You make a journey. We make a journey together." One of the things that Jerry makes clear to the crew. The point where you wonder if you are speaking to a child or is the child underestimating the speaking party on the deck. He's happy, one of the things that psychologist doesn't appreciate (Dustin Hoffmann in one of his good roles). What if the speaker becomes angry? Well, we see this happen in many different aspects. A lot of weird things happen on the deck, all of them trying to give us the lesson that sometimes we shouldn't poke our nose where it doesn't belong. But this is also the reason we are making progress in many fields, science included. If we all minded our own business, we couldn't progress anywhere. Here the team is prosecuted for doing so and biting their own meat from their bodies (between the members) as they are trying to fight the freaky opponent. How to fight something you don't know or aren't aware of how to fight? Learn in the movie. And find some great scenes along the way, like the one with jello fish and dying because of it.



My personal rate: 8,0 ( You will love the fright you will get several times along the way. And the psychological effect of pure deduction procedures done by brilliant mathematician. A lot of things to find in the piece for you. If you are a sci-fi fan, don't miss it!)


The Sphere on IMDB

In time, 2011

In time, 2011
Director: Andrew Niccol
Cast: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy





Stage: Kolosej, local cinema


In time in short: In the not-too-distant future the aging gene has been switched off. To avoid overpopulation, time has become the currency and the way people pay for luxuries and necessities. The rich can live forever, while the rest try to negotiate for their immortality. A poor young man who comes into a fortune of time, though too late to help his mother from dying. He ends up on the run from a police force known as 'time keepers'.


Preps: Well, one of the hot ones in the movies. A friend draggs me to the movies. She claims it's worth seeing. Hmm.


Reality: What happens if time becomes currency, you divide people in chaotic casts (time zones) and rich people (filled with time)dictate the way you are going to live? Well, in my eyes, the realistic picture of the world today, being put in the level, where you can take it as a game. With a sub joker, that is written on your hand just above your wrist - the clock that serves as your ticket to another day.

The poor are really poor. Live one day to another, chasing minutes and working double shifts to pass time to people they love and need to keep. Your limit to the given time makes all sorts of discrepancies - namely your mother can still look 25 years of age, whereas your grandchildren can look also the same age you have. The boundaries of age are erased, and physically you can only imagine this. However, one becomes fed up being locked in a body for eternity. What would you do if you had eternal amount of time is very similar to the question what would you do if you had eternal amount of money? And eternal youth is something a lot of directors pursued in some movies I have already seen. Nevertheless, this is one of the more interesting ones, even though it keeps me cold. The scenes (dialogues) are trivial, the cast isn't convincing. There is absolutely NO energy between the main actors and no energy in the other relationships. At least not visible to the spectator.
And as far as the story goes - mix Robin Hood, the Matrix, The fifth element, Men in black - and you will get this piece. Obviously the main villain resembles the main villain from Fifth Element. Unfortunately Justin cannot be Bruce Willis in a million years. So it doesn't really work. The main time keeper resembles a renegade that needs to get his priorities straight. To be good or to confine the law. Two very different options. Can't do both, so he stays in the middle, so does his act.

The music.. not recognizeable. Which means I don't even notice it. But I notice a lot of holes in the movie, as the emental cheese it falls apart. The woman is running half the time in so high heals your knees tremble when I imagine running like that. Or jumping from the roof (in the high heels) and continue to run afterwards. Right. Seconds in this movie seem like minutes (No way you can run this far in ten seconds. But I accept we need to be flexible in our mindset).

As my friend is so thrilled to see it, I am more or less dissatisfied with this version of Robin Hood. If everything was of everyone, noone would work. No production means no goods to buy. No money (time) to spend. Unfortunately we are not designed to work in a world where everyone would have everything. As the animals in the zoo, if you took them out, wouldn't survive, we also wouldn't. True as it can ever be.

The thing that is the most destroying in my rate is the lack of idea what to do. The movie shows no solutions, it just points out the problem. The only solution it poses is give every resource to everyone. When even a teenager can cleary see it's not supposed to be like this. Not nowadays. Maybe in prehistoric time, but not now. So no idea how to solve this unevenness in the world. Plus, if I ever see this image of Lara Croft (or did they want to depict Leeloo from Fifth element?), in the same role, it will be too soon. Unimaginative, unreal.


My personal rate: 2,0 (ehm.. not really worth your time and thinking about it afterwards. Not convincing at all).


In time on IMDB

The Source Code, 2011

The Source Code, 2011
Director: Duncan Jones
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga


Stage: Home theatre


Source Code in short: Colter Stevens, a US Army helicopter pilot whose last memory is flying in Afghanistan, wakes up on a commuter train. However, he discovers that he has assumed the identity of another man. 8 minutes later, the train explodes and Stevens finds himself in some kind of pod. He then talks to someone named Goodwin, who tells him he has to go back and find out who the bomber is. He is sent back to go through the whole thing again and attempts to find who the bomber is but fails. The bomb goes off and Stevens finds himself in the pod again. He is sent back another time, yet still cannot find out anything. When he returns, he asks what is going on. Goodwin and Rutledge, the scientist in charge, tell him that he is part of a project that can put someone in another person's consciousness during the last 8 minutes of their life. Stevens then asks why he cannot just stop the bomb.


Preps: some recommendations + a hot thing at the theatres a while ago


Reality: What would you do if you only had one minute left? Made it count? Burn a bridge you left behind, or build it?
Waking up in the "groundhog day" - in this case, groundhog eight minutes, just before a big explosion of a train, trying to figure out where the bomb is and who the assassin is, this is the reality of a soldier, that keeps going back to this train, searching for the villain. To imagine that he's a sort of an avatar that can have as many lives as possible, is the first obstacle in trying to get into this piece. After all, we aren't meant to be a leading actor in a video game. Furthermore, does he play himself or the character he obviously has overtaken in physical sense? The idea you linger quite a long upon, before you see him changing his mind constantly.

The game is simple - retreave the enemy and let us know who he is. In the mean time, get killed as many times as you like, but get us the information. The governmental programme Source code is abusing leftovers from a soldier, whose mind is still functioning, although he's missing more than a half of his body. With the use of technology, they drive him back again and again to that train that only has eight minutes before the explosion takes its place. And every time he's back in the train, he is making a completely new story. Somehow very similar to the Groundhog day guy - it is so obvious to make parallel assumptions, although the topic of the movie is quite different. This, being an action movie, tries to play mind trick with the audience, because even though he is a soldier, the body of the man he possesses, isn't or hasn't been in a combat before. So the question is, if you possess one's body, does this include also the upgrade/downsize of the skills that are in this mind? In this sense, the cute guy, he now is, doesn't know how to be a soldier, yet alone to fight. And there are many fights in this movie. In some sense, when you are playing your avatar, you can also influence his skills, whereas we aren't really in the avatar world here, nothing is played on the computer and noone but the people in the train can see the actions.

The fact, that the government abuses people's trust in order to receive their service (and hide it behind the "do it for the country, son" phrases), isn't something extra new. What is one guy if there are millions of lives at stake? Nothing to the country. In this piece, they try to give him the background so you could develop emotions to him. But fail, because this side story isn't strong enough to survive. The last time he's on the train, he calls his father and speaks with him. And kisses the girl, he continously sees across his seat, whenever he wakes up. And makes people in the train laugh. Because the last minutes should obviously count.
In some strange fiction, this parallel world is continuing without the accident. Now just think how many duplicates could you have with the usage of such a device and how many parallel worlds would exist?

My personal rate: 7,0 (a good way to think about your time and things you care about. And an anti-commercial pointed to the country and its deeds).


The Source code on IMDB

Signs, 2002

Signs, 2002
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Mel Gibson, Rory Culkin

Stage: Home theatre, TV selection of a Saturday night


Signs in short:In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a five-hundred-foot crop circle is found on the farm of Graham Hess, the town's reverend. The circles cause a media frenzy and test Hess's faith as he journeys to find out the truth behind the crop circles.

Preps: None in perticular. But I am aware of the content.

Reality: Wooow, another episode of X files. This time in roles with Joaquin and Gibson. The Ceasar from Gladiator and the man who saves the world for xxx times. Joke aside, I truly feel I have stepped into another episode of X files and I am missing Scully and Mulder. Gibson as an ex priest (not really convincing), Phoenix chasing his life and beliefs. The children that believe in god and aliens. The dogs driving crazy all around them with barking and attempts of violence.

Now, the signs have been intriguing the minds of people for decades. And they aren't easy to be explained. Therefore they are usually said to be a work of aliens and there we have a chase after the designers of this perticular sign. In some sense, this movie isn't something new or won't reveal something we haven't seen in some of the other attempts of this genre. But it has an interesting insight into the philosophy of kids and the way they are feeling about the alien presence. The father figures here aren't neither convincing or they are resolving something. So no upgrade whatsoever from the known movies. The figure of the protective father and brother. The figure of an uncle that isn't as smart as the father. The signs that aren't explained after all. And remain to the viewer to be interpreted.

Not really something to die for, I mean the movie. Easily thrown away into the recycle bin. And easy money for both main protagonists. As said, the genre is easily sold to the crowd. But the movie is not for people that demand more. After all, if we didn't get the Stonehenge and similar signs for centuries, why think you can get the ones that are fresh and made in corn fields :)

My personal rate: 2,0 (a bit amusing at the beginning, with the development, loses its pace for sure).

Signs on IMDB

Contact, 1997

Contact, 1997
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConnaughey, Tom Skerrit


Stage: Home TV selection

Contact in short: Astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway has long been interested in contact to faraway lands, a love fostered in her childhood by her father, Ted Arroway, who passed away when she was nine years old leaving her then orphaned. Her current work in monitoring for extraterrestrial life is based on that love and is in part an homage to her father. Ever since funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) was pulled on her work, which is referred to some, including her NSF superior David Drumlin, as more science fiction than science, Ellie, with a few of her rogue scientist colleagues, have looked for funding from where ever they could get it to continue their work. When Ellie and her colleagues hear chatter originating from the vicinity of the star Vega, Ellie feels vindicated. But that vindication is short lived when others, including politicians, the military, religious leaders and other scientists such as Drumlin...

Preps: Nothing special, as I have already seen the piece and loved it.

Reality: Contact is one of Zemecki's greater works. The strong cast supports the ever lasting theme that is truly popular at any given moment. Now, 1997 was the time when those movies had some kind of romantic perspective and weren't made in a hard way, as we know them now. It is for a fact that ever since ET it has been hard to make an "ET"-like movie that would match Spielberg from a far distance. Well, this is one of the more successful attempts. Foster, playing a dedicated scientist, and McConnaughey, playing the political role inside this.

For what it's worth - this is more a movie about the politics than the movie about ET's. Which could be a good point, since we all want to have an insight into the dirty games the government is playing and the happenings behind the scenes. Here you are dragged right into the snakes pit and bit by lions that are drulling around someone else's work. In this case, Jodie Foster plays the role of a scientist that got f.. with. And was supposed to be left behind. Because of the nature of the character she's playing, she makes sure she's not left behind and turns herself into the role of the spectator. Not being able to influence much, but being able to see the happening behind the scenes. Like a narrator of some kind, or a hidden spectator. Take it as you will.

Now, what is the signal she received - we cannot tell and for sure are having fun while the people in the Nasa, institutions that are dedicated to extraterrestrials, are trying to figure out. With some tips from an outsourced intelligence, Jodie Foster comes up with a key to the riddle and makes things even more complicated.

As said, the movie is more a political movie, making a point about the ways the government works and the games they are playing in the real life field. All the extra terrestrial is placed in our minds as something good and positive. Not to forget, we aren't aware of what we have as neighbours and sometimes, snakes pits should be left alone.

No real revelations in this movie. However, a true perspective of the problem most of the individually driven scientists are facing nowadays. And the lack of respect for their work. Like in parliaments, also the forces here are divided by cash and influence someone has in government.

My personal rate: 7,5 (a good and solid political piece, with a distinction towards optimistical view of the extra terrestrials).

Contact on IMDB

Limitless, 2011

Limitless, 2011
Director: Neil Burger
Cast:Bradley Cooper, Anna Friel, Abbie Cornish, Robert De Niro



Stage: Home theatre, late at night

Limitless in short:An action-thriller about a writer who takes an experimental drug that allows him to use 100 percent of his mind. As one man evolves into the perfect version of himself, forces more corrupt than he can imagine mark him for assassination. Out-of-work writer Eddie Morra's (Cooper) rejection by girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) confirms his belief that he has zero future. That all vanishes the day an old friend introduces Eddie to NZT, a designer pharmaceutical that makes him laser focused and more confident than any man alive. Now on an NZT-fueled odyssey, everything Eddie's read, heard or seen is instantly organized and available to him. As the former nobody rises to the top of the financial world, he draws the attention of business mogul Carl Van Loon (De Niro), who sees this enhanced version of Eddie as the tool to make billions. But brutal side effects jeopardize his meteoric ascent. With a dwindling stash and hit men who will eliminate him to get the NZT...

Preps: Well, a notorious piece a while ago at the movies, but haven't had the chance to check it out. All I know is some kind of viagra, that is taken, but one for the brain :)

Reality: Wow, it begins with an added value. I definitely want to see loser becoming a victory man, Making my dream come true and answer what people yearn for centuries - how to stimulate your brain in order to make more out of all the data coming in every day.. There is supposed to be 5000-7000 various pieces of information stimulating your brains every day. You don't believe it? Of course you don't - because 99% of this you cannot remember. However, with this plastic miracle, you can.

Same as in the matrix, the main protagonist is put under a spell, after taking the drug. Obviously you cannot live without it and no, you cannot go back. What's the benefit? You get to remember everything you ever learned about, you get to maintain and upgrade existing knowledge within seconds.. you get to stimulate girls and make them laugh in an instant (obviously intelligence makes miracles).. etc. You get everything. Now, how about a downfall?
Like every drug, you cannot maintain the level without physical consequences.. therefore, you are screwed, when you run out of them. On the other hand, Cooper gets lucky and has a whole stack of these babies. One per day,.. and he's superman/Einstein/everything he ever wanted to be. Is his soul the same? This seems to be the main question, as he enters another time zone when taking the drug. And another timeframe in his mind. What kind of the person do you then meet, what are that person's feelings, ideas.. what is he when he isn't a god - good philosophical dilemmas hapenning, as we seek towards the end of this. Can he really finish in one year and make a huge amount of money in that time, to make him and his girlfriend rich and happy / least this is what he believes..
The run towards the end of the movie is too long and I get bored in the mean time. De Niro makes a good entrance and a good exit. But where is he in the mean time? Stage not that impressive, music is good enhancement of various scenes. And Cooper's act is quite good. Nevertheless, I think that in its third part, the piece loses its edge and its breath.


My personal rate: 5,5 (a superb idea, but poorly executed. I wish the director would re think the way he made his stage and his workflow..)


Limitless on IMDB

The Last Airbender, 2010

The Last Airbender, 2010
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Noah Ringer, Dev Patel, Nicola Peltz



Stage: Summer theatre under the stars

Airbender in short: The story follows the adventures of Aang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, who must put his childhood ways aside and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations.


Preps: I got two tickets as the result of a winning game. I didn't know about the movie, and after I won, I got on the net to see the trailer and a bit of a background. Seemed cool enough and was anxious to see it.


Reality: The live version of Nickelodeon TV series - animated one. One of very popular ones indeed, and in this sense, ungrateful to put it alive. At least to some extent it is impossible to imagine how a live scene could be taken anyway, because the movie must be filled with special effects. Reign over water, fire, wind and earth cannot be filmed live, therefore a big bow to the special effect unit, because they must have been working truly hard.

The movie lacks a true story you can easily follow. The battles and the martial arts part can be breathtaking, although the movie cannot consist on this alone. The cast is a bit wet behind the ears, in a sense, they didn't show a lot of acting - the scenes seem to be unpersuasive and shallow. Also, a big bucket of movie mistakes - for instance getting burned by the fire, or wet because of the water - in this field, the director fails big time. Also in terms of making the ride smooth (story fluent)for the viewer.

A big bow also to the fragment unit - or shall I say, the team, that takes care of the scenes and the little things worth remembering. The scenery of the town, the copy of the boats, the weapons used and the costumes - truly amazing. It will bring you to a mixture of the Labyrinth, LOTR, and some similar ones. Didn't you always want to have a pet like this, to ride on your way to vacation? A good way to dream away..



My personal rating: 6,0 (in its genre, one of solid (not good) ones. Has a messy story, though and amarican way - a good ground to have sequels. Filled with childhood fantasies, brought alive. A decent way to spend your evening).


Airbender on IMDB

Airbender home page

A bit more on Airbender series

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

Gamer, 2009

Gamer, 2009
Directors: Mark Neveldine, Bryan Taylor
Cast: Gerard Butler, Amber Valetta




Stage: City's colloseum (multiplex cinema)

Gamer in short: Set in a future-world where humans can control other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online gaming environments, a star player from a game called "Slayers" looks to regain his independence while taking down the game's mastermind



Preps: My colleague drags me on a culture day to see a movie. I don't really know anything about it. At first I think that I have tried to see this already at home and gave it approximately 10 minutes before erasing it, but I see it's something different. So I take part of this lottery gladly. You need to do something cultural and not why in cinema, on national culture day?

Reality:

An interesting idea, similar to Avatar's - you get to see two dimensions in one world. One is the player and one is the action hero - this time in reality. In Avatar, it's vice versa. From real life to action hero. Here you are playing with real toys and it seems so logical, how it may have come down to this (in a sense, how did all this occur, that again a brilliant mind takes over the crowds). With all the social network, avatar, internet fuss going on in the last decade, seems even believable. Although I don't buy the technology. I am not a phisician or a medical expert, but I doubt that we could evolve a technology to be embedded into one's brains letting someone else guide the movements while the persons are still being themselves (switch on/switch off). The economy in this concept that movie shows fascinates me and I truly believe it to be a business success. A genious idea and yet, so disgusting it rocks the blood in my veins.

You get payed to be a part of the world where someone, that pays to guide you, actually guides you/controls your movements. In other words, has to do what you tell him/her to. A bit slavish, I think. But brilliant and creepy. All the dirty details some creepy creatures wanted to do for their whole lives (in this case, a fat boy experiences sex with a male, night clubbing, etc), and all the things one wanted to do and didn't dare to (make a tatoo, pierce your tongue 20 times, let the neighbourhood dog piss on your high heels while you are wearing them), well, all this now comes to reality. You pay one to do what you want, wear what you want to wear, speak what you are saying. Superb. Even hurt or kill yourself, if your godfather tells you to.

The whole movie is one of those that remind us where the world is going to - in sense of making internet, games, social networks, computer world not only popular, but essential to survive. And emphasizing what rich people are allowed and where poor people find themselvses in. Something apocalyptic in the whole story. But I buy it and it touches me.

Gerard Butler here is the survivor, the man on the path that (a bit usa stylish) turns to be a successful one. Gerard also excelled in The ugly truth (see it, truly funny and true!), I love his performance here. The new Bruce Willis, I presume.


My personal rating: 8,5 (inspiring, making shivers down my spine when I imagine the world like this). And I want to have a computer room just like that rich nerd - Simon. Who wouldn't anyway :)


P.s. Gamer on IMDB

District 9, 2009

District 9, 2009
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope





Short synopsis: An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.

Stage: Home cinema, without dolby surround :)

Preps: None in perticular. I watch this on basis of recommendation or let's say an opinion that counts in my head. Something about the aliens anyway. In my history I admired the imagination of different directors trying to cope with this vague idea of aliens and what the interaction with them could be like. With a strong idea, that I could never be as impressed with something now like I was as a few - year - old small girl in the cinema watching ET, I lack true believable story in this genre. I mean, something you can relate to or even make it believable in your brains. Somehow I prefer seeking some philosophical challenge in the genre and try not to condemn the directors for the masterarts they are doing with the alien/earthling battles. Everything there can be perceived real. Earthlings do have master experience in wars, so..




Reality: The beginning and the first half of this is somehow exciting and different. Imagine having aliens living in slums, like we know from major cities all over the world. To be even more sarcastic, they get high on cat food and deal weapons with Nigerians to get it at unreasonable rates. The beginning makes me think this is going to be a documentary, but then it turns out to be the for-play and at the end, the after-chapter, put into documentary.

The story is actually simple, once you get the point. The aliens come over Johannesburg with their gigantic ship that just stays there for three months and then the brave Earthlings (americans, who else) break in and find the aliens. They are called Prawns and they are domesticated after that - in a shape of a governmentally lead slum, called District 9, with population 1,8 mio aliens.

Government people then try to move the aliens to District 10 - more distant from Johannesburg (presumabely safer for locals). Within the process of moving, the observer is faced with series of funny eviction dialogues, made by governmental team and aliens. It reminds me of some war - related movies (mostly about the former yugoslavia wars, let's say Nikogaršnja zemlja or ), where it's not important if the people you are talking to, even understand you. But they have to do what you tell them. As long as the brave americans wave with their shotguns and yell at those people /aliens in this case, what they should do.

The amazing turnover that drags my attention is the evolution of alien - human hybrid that the leader of the eviction team is exposed to as he gets the virus inside his body. There were many movie attempts trying to create this and this one is one of more disgusting ones - if you think of it purely physically, mentally the observer unfortunately doesn't know enough. So disgusting it actually makes me more interested in what a person feels like being exposed to something like this. Unfortunatey the director evolves this purely phisically and lets the psychological aspect aside.

The movie loses its flow in the second half, where I am lost in all the fighting scenes. The battle for life or death just distracts me and I am reaching out for some beer/chocolate/other things to keep me happy.

The ending is brilliantly put in a shape of documentary and line of interviews - letting the observer assume there could be similar projects going on right now around the world. Maybe not in Africa (or even there) and maybe not with cat food (this is such a splendid idea - however I cannot tell where the Prawns come to the idea that the catfood is good and how they tasted it in the first place - there I show some respect to the given facts in the movie, such as this one with the cat food is, and don't worry about the background).





My personal rating: 6,0 (decent fun, at least first half. I think the movie will suit the skin of those movie fanatics, that really enjoy alien attempts of various directors and enjoy PS fights alien/earth/other things. In my head, it isn't something truly amazing.)



p.s. IMDB peak: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/