Armageddon, 1998

Armageddon, 1998 

Director: Michael Bay 
Cast: Bruce Willis, Liv Tyler, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck

Stage: Home TV selection, a holiday day

Armageddon in short: It is just another day at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a few astronauts were repairing a satellite until, out of nowhere, a series of asteroids came crashing into the shuttle, destroying it. These asteroids also decimated New York soon thereafter. Then, NASA discovered that there is an asteroid roughly the size of Texas heading towards the Earth, and when it does hit the Earth, the planet itself and all of its inhabitants will be obliterated, worse, the asteroid will hit the Earth in 18 days. Unfortunately, NASA's plans to destroy the asteroid are irrelevant. That is when the U.S. military decides to use a nuclear warhead to blow the asteroid to pieces. Then, scientists decide to blow the asteroid with the warhead inside the asteroid itself. The only man to do it, is an oil driller named Harry Stamper and his group of misfit drillers and geologists. As he and his drill team prepare for space excavation... 



 Preps: Bruce per se. Don't need to say more. There is energy in the piece by default if you know he's in. Something he changed with Die Hard and let the trace in our hearts. Plus, superb cast. Have seen this several times and am aware of its faults. However, no action like saving the world, that can brighten my evening. 



  Reality: Storyline is similar to tons of pieces on the topic. Something is flying towards Earth and it will cause a great crash, up to the extention that it will blow the hell out of us and make us all freeze to death, if we somehow survive the crashing. Now, obviously you know that US has a backup plan and yes, Bruce is the man to save the world. Drilling oil, this is the US back up plan. Now, as we have seen Die Hard already, we know he can save the world and I believe the average viewer doesn't have anything against it. The crew, the training, preps, everything is upside down, but the curiosity speeds up as the movie delivers to the very end. Will they make it or die trying :) Another jewel in this piece is the music. Aerosmith gave a good taste to the movie, as well as some other performers. Crash itself and stages before it comes to the crash, are equipped with some nice pieces of instrumental music. Plus, we get to see how Nasa is supposed to work inside out. A special mentioning also goes to the effects of some crashings of the tall buildings and impacts some of the stones that are falling down, are depicted and vividly shown. Some great deeds are shown, as a some token just before they go on the mission. The day when you know you could end it dead and saving the world (which doesn't really bring redemption to your soul given you are dead and cannot inhale the fresh air anymore. Who wants to be a dead hero anyway. However, in this mission it is clearly shown what kind of assignements we sometimes need to cope with, even though we don't like them or accept them truly. Love between his daughter and one of his crew members is shown loveable and a bit naive. Still, it is a perfect role for Liv. I haven't seen her truly in some serious casts (in the sense she fits in the roles of sensitive dames, depressive women, touching spirits, etc. She feels fragile and should cast also in movies that support this. On the other hand, Willis as her dad, is the antipod in every cell he posesses. " I address you as the citizen of humanity", the glorious words of US president before he lets the wild 14 bunch on stage. No doubt, they will succeed. With a bitter taste of some lost souls. But what would a true heroic US movie be without fallen heroes, right;) ?  


My personal rating: 6,0 (solid adventure, no hard feelings when you leave it in the middle to get something from the fridge. On the other hand, Willis rocks the boat as hard as he can to escort you to the end of this piece).


Armageddon on IMDB

Love Happens, 2009

Love Happens, 2009
Director: Brandon Camp
Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Dan Fogler, Frances Conroy



Stage: Home TV selection, Sunday night


Love Happens in short: Burke is a motivational speaker whose book about dealing with grief is a best seller. His wife died in a car accident three years ago. He's in Seattle to lead a week-long workshop on healing and to negotiate a major multi-media deal. But something's amiss: he's a closet drinker, he won't ride elevators, his moods swing, he's estranged from his wife's father, and he's very much alone. In a hotel hallway, he bumps into a woman arranging flowers, tries to chat with her, and gets the brush-off. She's Eloise, a local florist who's just broken up with a boyfriend. He's persistent and they eventually go to dinner - it goes badly. What's blocking Burke? Can the physician heal himself.


Preps: Hm. I have seen this romantic comedy. Seems like a nice choice to end the weekend with.


Reality: Yep, this is a good one to end the weekend. A nice romantic comedy. It is not one of the best, however, also above average. Jennifer Aniston probably graduated in roles like this and seems they fit her like a glove. This perticular case deals with getting over a loss (if a person you love doesn't really leave you, but dies), falling in love, healing.
Getting over with an attitude means a lot of things. The depicted in the piece is one of them. Making a book, writing about it, can be a way. But getting it commercialized and being the next best Oprah, maybe isn't the greatest idea of them all. You might insult the memory of the lost one in this way. It is hard to tell what is the right path. Everyone needs to find one that works for him/her. I am in no position to judge the path someone chooses. However, the depicted one is corrupted. Because this person makes money out of his wife's death. You might call it economic, I call it immoral. To be in a group to discuss it, good. To find some help to get over, even better. But do not make money out of it. Or other people. In this case, the loss transfers in means of money and the moderator is the guy that never got over it.
I believe the story, the romance seems genuine. I feel the movie and it touches my soul. This is an example how dilluted a good thought (or good deed) might come out. I am deeply offensed that the guy isn't over his loss and teaches other people to become better, get over, find a way, etc. In some sense, his heeling is just happening, yet he's already making money out of it. He seems like some of the dilluted speakers we have here also in Slovenia, with the group things, hand shakes, big applauses, sessions he has, the unique way of saying OK, etc. I despise such "gurus", because I believe they are as f... up as this guy, deep down inside, and they are always wearing a mask. This piece lets me see beyond the mask and therefore I appreciate it. Plus, it is always a pleasure for me to see Aniston in one of her romantic schemes :)


My personal rating: 7,0 (cool and genuine. I love a lot parts of it. Plus, the most romantic date with her inviting him to the concert and then seeing it on a construction tool ).


Love Happens on IMDB

Spanglish, 2004

Spanglish, 2004
Director: James L. Brooks
Cast: Tea Leoni, Adam Sandler, Paz Vega



Stage: Home Theatre, TV selection of the week


Spanglish in short:John Clasky is a devoted dad whose skills as a chef have offered his family a very upscale life, including a summer home in Malibu and a breathtaking new Mexican housekeeper, named Flor. She and her daughter Cristina have recently emigrated to L.A. from Mexico and are trying to find a better life. When they move in with the Claskys for the summer, Flor has to fight for her daughter's soul as she discovers that life in a new country is perilous!


Preps: Wanted to see this several times, because I was told it was a good one. Never had the opportunity until now.


Reality: mmmm, music by Hans Zimmer, one of my favourites. The music is really good, although in this piece doesn't have the same value as in several where his music is really put on the pedestal. But it gives the movie a romantic sense and touch, so you feel quite safe and loveable while it poses down your veins.
The second surprise is the duet Tea Leoni and Adam Sandler. As I saw Sandler in some movies, he strikes me more of a family romance type of movie. Or a "chick" movie per se. Which means that this should be his genre and definitely feels very comfortable in the shoes of a modern guy that gets a good looking girl at the end, as a reward for being a good guy. As oppose to his wife, who screws it up and finds herself alone and miserable.

The funny part of the story is tackled right at the beginning. Being a maid and serve for a family that doesn't understand a word you are saying (and vice versa) gives a playground for many funny scenes so the director really took good advantage of those. Plus, all of those scenes are really easy to penetrate into your mind and make you laugh. The beauty of the new maid gives a flashy add on to those scenes and at the end you are just waiting for the chemistry to happen. I might add that during the movie you don't really have the feeling of some attractions going on between the two.
On the opposite side, we have a battle between a poor mum that loves her child and a rich mom that wants the best and needs to buy it. Something we see in Desperate housewifes developed to the last bit :) But in this case, there are serious disputes, deriving from the limits that poor people have, regarding education, home supplies, modern devices, etc. And the influence that these can have on a child. A good ground for you to think about it and what would you do if you were in her shoes.

The jump into this story serves as basis for university entry from the only child the spanish maid has. And the story how her mother was her biggest influence and inspiration. Sort of a tribute to mum. Therefore, all of mothers that are dying to get praised by their children, are definitely a target audience for this piece. And the message, that there is no love like mother's love, shines through.


My personal rating: 6,5 (a solid romantic piece about making a better future. Or to reason with the teenage child, if that is even possible).


Spanglish on IMDB

Dying young, 1991

Dying young, 1991
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast: Julia Roberts, Campbell Scott



Dying young in short: After she discovers that her boyfriend has betrayed her, Hilary O'Neil is looking for a new start and a new job. She begins to work as a private nurse for a young man suffering from blood cancer. Slowly, they fall in love, but they always know their love cannot last because he is destined to die.



Stage: Home theatre, late Sunday night, TV selection



Preps: None in perticular. I am in for a movie. And our local TV makes a hell of a selection on late Sunday nights. Like they knew it would be better sleeping however you cannot resist :)


Reality: A truly sad story about love. And lovely at the same time. It is ironic how love caters us in the inappropriate moments. Like in this piece, you fall in impossible love, one that cannot last and you have the option of taking what's on the plate and enjoy it while it lasts. Or never go along with it because it is doomed to end because of an illness.
A lot of us go along in life perfectly. And some of us cannot seem to find the grasp of love that is portrayed like this in the piece. What to take, the happiness that won't last forever, or seek the forever lasting love? Sometimes we find out that heart doesn't choose like our mind does. Therefore you are thrown into a situation you cannot defy or deny because your heart wants it this way.
In this sense, falling in love with a guy that is sick to death (literally) is a no no, if you look at it from mind perspective. Julia Roberts has one of her cuter roles in being a nurse to this doomed man and falling in love with him. It is lovely to watch the roses grow, on the other hand the rituals they go through when the cancer shows its teeth, are disastrous.
Sacrifice is the main word for this piece. And love, indefinitely. Endlessly. Forever. No matter what. It is a movie for people that like romantic dramas and real life content. It will serve your veins like peas and carrots, that go well together. It will show you the sweetness and sorrow. It will make you laugh and cry. It is not a movie for those that have no respect in this or don't want to waste the time on romance.


My personal rate: 7,0 (a solid piece, worth seeing if you are a romantic soul, looking for something to think about. Would you take the risk of falling in love with someone that is dying? Compared to Sweet November, it is the same thing. If you liked that one, you will like this for sure).


Dying young on IMDB

Life as we know it, 2010

Life as we know it, 2010
Director: Greg Berlanti
Cast: Katherine Heigl,Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas



Stage: home theatre


Life as we know it in short: Holly and Eric were set up on a blind date by their friends, Peter and Allison who are married. After Peter and Allison are killed in an accident, they learn that they have been named as the guardians to Peter and Allison's daughter, Sophie. So they move into their house and try their best to honor their friends' wishes. But raising a child puts a crimp on their style and they don't exactly get along.


Preps: None in perticular. Not aware of anything, haven't seen it at the movies and do not know who is the actor. So I am in for a surprise.



Reality: Wow, a surprise indeed. A cute start, having a perfect family with usual affairs and troubles. It gets complicated as the parents get killed in an accident. And the trivial question - who will take care of the child, gets solved in the most unusual way. I would never expect of any parents to live the child to their best friends for the simple reason, that they cannot stand each other.
Now the funny element in the piece derives from living under the same roof with the person you are obliged to just because your friends requested this as their last wish. So you want to respect that and get over it.
The problem here is not only social (the taking care of the child, which is obvious), but is more like this - can you get over your feelings for a person you hate and really not just pretend that you can get along in the same household? A philosophical cliche, I might say, but in this piece distributed in the most funny way possible. The scenes somehow remind of the better ones from Three men and a little baby /(the french version)/ or What happens in Vegas. I mean really funny scenes you cannot escape with having two persons not knowing how to take care of a baby and a baby in one scene. Entertaining, even more.
The other cliche we cannot escape is that opposites attract. It's pretty clear that one way or another the two main actors are going to get involved, the only remaining question is, if it's just having sex or something more. Since we are in Hollywood pack, it's quite clear it's going to be the second. Of course not without some complications, but still, the second choice.
The good thing about the movie is that it reminds us that having kids isn't just peaches and sweet cream. It's also the other way. And on our paths some mean things can happen to us. Maybe worth considering, what if, every now and then. The piece is more than average and Heigl has this good chemistry she passes in this type of movies. Really lovely to watch and I enjoyed the ride all along the way.


My personal rate: 8,0 ( a cute comedy, you will find a lot of scenes amusing and you will find the complete piece relaxing)

Life as we know it 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

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

Stranger than fiction, 2006

Stranger than Fiction, 2006
Director: Marc Forster
Cast: Will Ferrel, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffmann


Stage: Home theatre


Stranger than Fiction in short:

Everybody knows that your life is a story. But what if a story was your life? Harold Crick is your average IRS agent: monotonous, boring, and repetitive. But one day this all changes when Harold begins to hear an author inside his head narrating his life. The narrator it is extraordinarily accurate, and Harold recognizes the voice as an esteemed author he saw on TV. But when the narration reveals that he is going to die, Harold must find the author of the story, and ultimately his life, to convince her to change the ending of the story before it is too late


Preps: Again, a recommendation from the circle I trust that something recommended from this circle will play hard in my brains.


Reality: Perfect start. I feel like in a Truman show. It takes me a while to realize we are having a narrator present in one day of a single person - Harold Crick. Everything we see is a stage, until the guy realizes that he's hearing the voices. Therefore he has the power to influence his own life. Or doesn't he? The problem is, that something is already written down, in sense, he is performing it already, delivering what he's supposed to. The stuff that isn't already written down is something he can influence. In this sense, the viewer will always question, what is the written destiny of Crick and what is the one he's making at the moment he's in (like therapies with the shrink - Dustin Hoffman; looking for the writer of this play he's playing in, etc). Just to think that you are a writer and the character could hear you speaking about his life, is hillarious.

Somehow I switch to the perspective of Crick. He is changing his life as the writer is trying to write something else - at least this is how it seems. He meets a lady he likes and despite the business dispute they are having, turns the gig into a romance. Brilliant - and yet I think it isn't really written in the book. Somehow the awareness of being a character, makes him indulge the life more than he would probably if he didn't hear anything in the first place. The question here then is, which story are we following, the written one, or the side one? And the story of the writer is also brilliantly put - an addict that needs a personal secretary to finish up the job? I would make this an official business, but not only in the writer's world, also in other creative jobs, where the depression, followed by a wave of creativity, is absolutely a must. And in this sense, the job of such a secretary would come handy. I loved this side role.

The complete movie will rock your alternative mind. It will make you switch from the side of the spectator to the side of the role player. And you will get confused, which ending you would like to see. As set, the writer is a drama queen. And the Hollywood endings don't fit her.


My personal rate: 9,0 (somehow it reminds me of Allen's movies. I loved it and found it creative and fun to watch).

Stranger than fiction on IMDB

Vicky Christina Barcelona, 2008

Vicky Christina Barcelona, 2008
Director: Woody Allen
Cast: Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johannson, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall




Stage: Home theatre, another viewing (seen before on the movie festival LIFFE)


Vicky Christina Barcelona in short: Sexually adventurous Cristina and her friend Vicky, who is bright but cautious, holiday in Barcelona where they meet the celebrated and wholly seductive painter, Juan Antonio. Vicky is not about to dive into a sexual adventure being committed to her forthcoming marriage. But Cristina is immediately captivated by Juan Antonio's free spirit and his romantic allure is enhanced when she hears the delicious details of his divorce from fellow artist, the tempestuous Maria Elena.

Preps: I am a huge fan of Allen's work, therefore I need to see this regardless of what it might do to me :)

Reality: One of the typical Allen's perspective is to go into a woman's soul, making ironic scenery and drive sarcasm out of the soul of the spectator. Which is truly why I love his movies. And somehow, I find it amusing that he can put Johannson into so many different roles, as I see her as his sexual muse.

This piece is set in the beautiful scenery in Barcelona. The place we absolutely agree on, everyone should go for the summer. So in this sense, a dream becomes reality and you get to see all the dirty details of one's summer in this city. The beginning seems quite undemanding to the viewer and the storyline is pretty simple. When Bardem gets his visio in the scope of the camera, this is the place where everything gets complicated and Allen gets his piece of the pie. The love triangle, where Johansson plays a giant role of a traditional woman, that strives to check out something completely out of her scope, at the end realizing it's not what she wants (oh, what a surprise there ;) - no fairies last a long time, right? ). It's amazing to see all the quarreling between an old couple, combining it with a newcoming love into a formation of a sort of triangle, after that receiving every bit of positive side of this for a while, then turning into a flashlight or a sparkle and fading away. In a sense, a lection on how things fade away even though they seem quite sparkled at the beginning and how we should cherish life when it's happening, not mourning when it's finished. That goes for special moments as well.

Nevertheless, Barcelona in this sense is a metaphore for an escape. I see it in some aspect as the famous phrase "what happens in Vegas.." in this sense, of course, what happens in Spain.. I could easily claim the movie to be anti commercial for Spain (or american women), however, I see a deeper point into making your soul cope with metaphores and giving them a chance to breathe in the real life. Marrying a guy, running right afterwards in a strange country you don't know, falling in love with someone else and forgetting about it when you return to real life? Or, on the other hand, falling in love into the same guy as your friend, coping with life with his ex in the same house, making love to both and then at the end of the day, living with yourself, if you were brought up with traditional values and despise the fact that you are this way? A pile of challenges, Allen in his own way, exposes to the viewer. The movie will lie down on your soul gently and will comfort you with the way things turn out. Nevertheless, I believe the ending to be too average for Allen and I don't like it. I just don't see life as rosy as it turns out for the two ladies. And if it does stay in Spain, it for sure also stays in the mind and soul.


My personal rate: 7,0 (a fine, loveable piece I enjoy watching all over again.)


Barcelona on IMDB

3 Idiots, 2009

3 Idiots, 2009
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Mona Singh



Stage: Home theatre, nice afternoon scenery

3 Idiots in short: Farhan Qureshi and Raju Rastogi want to re-unite with their fellow collegian, Rancho, after faking a stroke abroad an Air India plane, and excusing himself from his wife - trouser less - respectively. Enroute, they encounter another student, Chatur Ramalingam, now a successful businessman, who reminds them of a bet they had undertaken 10 years ago. The trio, while recollecting hilarious antics, including their run-ins with the Dean of Delhi's Imperial College of Engineering, Viru Sahastrabudhe, race to locate Rancho, at his last known address - little knowing the secret that was kept from them all this time.


Preps: None in perticular. A good recommendation


Reality: Well, it seems that every time I run into a Bollywood scene, it evolves in somehow romantic perspective of the world. Is India really the place, where the only two options what to become in life, are doctor or a scientist (engineer)? Saving the last penny for the kid to go in school, placing all your bets on his good being and trying to feed yourself while the youngster comes home with a degree, ready to serve the nation and bring home the big bucks? Maybe so.. however, much in this piece, that I simply cannot buy without research. Is there really so many suicides in India, and all of them because of a bad grade, bad choice in faculty, your parents forcing you to live up their dreams? Might be also true, however, in this piece it's depicted somehow from a perspective of a romantic scenery, "all is well" saying, so juvenile, not convincing at all.

Nevertheless, a cute piece, suits perfectly to the Sunday atmosphere, trying to relax and watch something amusing up to some extent and not demanding from a viewer's perspective. This is a genuine description I am giving to this one. Because the story doesn't fit the reality, the main characters are at least ten years too old to be hanging around the faculty. The times of Beverly Hills 90210 are over, you cannot have the audience by implementing elder people in the roles of students. Nevertheless, a relaxing one, trying to make you visit India (because of the scenery and the music, and evidently openess of the people involved, the habits they have, the poverty that seeks for foreign capital.

Nothing really thrilling about this piece. But can make you smile and laugh hard in many moments. Therefore, a nice perspective for the afternoon, nothing more. How come all the Bollywood movies seem to have a happy ending? Need to see more, I guess. Not all of them should be like this, I am sure.


My personal rating: 5,0 (amusing Sunday entertainment, even a bit more, from my perspective. Could be shrinked to one hour and a half, though)

3 Idiots on IMDB

No Strings Attached, 2011

No Strings Attached, 2011
Director: Ivan Reitman
Cast: Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Kline



No Strings in short: A guy and girl try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it's not long before they learn that they want something more.


Stage: Home theatre, late Sunday night entertainment
Preps: Hm, lately I have become a huge fan of Portman's work and I am still curious what kind of roles Kutcher is capable of, because I need to see him also in something serious rather than a wide range of goofy comedies. Nevertheless, the perspective of this movie seems a comedy again, but let's see. Should be interesting and I am slightly aware of the plot/storyline.


Reality: Hm, a nice choice of a Sunday movie or to speak at least of the genre - romantic comedy. Portman is somehow lost at the beginning, but through the storyline and the script she holds to the arguments that she doesn't possess. I try to figure all the time she's on, what are the arguments for her decision - obviously she's the one, controlling the game and she's the one that needs to decide. Seems in this matter, Kutcher is not in the middle of deciding, he has already made up his mind - even at the very beginning of the movie, it's quite obvious.

The movie also has some delicious scenes and script candies - the scene at the beginning fills me with humour.

"I don't believe relationships are meant to last forever. I just don't."
"Oh..what a shame..Can I finger you?"

It's the mere perspective from two teenagers that drags me into this movie, filled with funny scenes and witty dialogues. And all in all, you buy the story and you buy the act between the two. Even though I wasn't convinced she could do a good comedy cast, she is good, Kutcher goes as we are used to him - in his friendly goofy style, the same way we are familiar for instance with Will Smith in those casts, and love him for that.

The idea of having a sex relationship and nothing more, is not really fresh (and as pointed out in some of the dialogues, he's living every guy's dream - according to his friends). That's argumentative, really. I don't suppose this is every guy's dream, even more, I don't buy that most of the people are dreaming about something like this. In my honest opinion I think this type of a relationship suits only to few, whereas most of people really want a steady, monogamous relationship. The movie poses an insight into a short term sexual relationship, where feelings pop out (nothing really unpredictable here) and you follow the main protagonists wondering whether it will be a happy ending or not. The funny part in all this, philosophically speaking, is, that the roles are slightly turned. She acts as most of guys probably would, and vice versa, he's the one that wants to cuddle and walk hands in hands, whereas she refuses any part of the relationship being serious. Now, the director could have chosen a less mushy (my idea of a cuddly or sugarly) ending, nevertheless, the movie has a soul and will get you in a romantic mood.

I always wonder in these sorts of movies - how come they always show doctors that are probably George Clooney clones - I mean all of the doctors shown in movies are usually dazzling, and so are female doctors. In real life I haven't seen a good looking doctor .. or have I - one in 200? But in movies all of them are witty, good looking, smart, etc. Ehm.. Hollywood perspective :)


My personal rating: 7,5 (a smartly put together piece, brought to life to sparkle a lovely Sunday evening. Perfect to watch at home and fun to have in mind even after the movie is long gone).


No strings on IMDB
No strings home page

I am number four, 2011

I am number four, 2011
Director: D.J. Caruso
Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron



Stage: Local theatre, colloseum.


I am number four in short: Extraordinary teen John Smith (Pettyfer) is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events-his first love (Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.

Preps: A friend of mine drags me to the movies. I haven't been there for a while, so I don't really care what she will pick. She claims this one to be a good sci-fi. Let's see.


Reality: Well, this isn't a sci-fi movie, just to be clear at the beginning. But it's a good high school adventure - I am not sure, but maybe we should come up with a new genre, that includes vampire movies and similar ones. This piece definitely reminds me of the Twilight saga. Does it come from the same root? Doubtfully, however it does circulate in my mind, everything about teenage vampire movies. This piece is again, located in an unknown city, filled with young high school teens, waiting for some action. And voila, it comes in a shape of extra terrestrial survivors from another planet, that are being chased by another bunch of ET's. The humans here are more in the role of an inhabitant of a certain planet (or playground) of these aliens and the chase until the death is on, while the viewer is pushed with an indefinite romance between an alien and earthling in shape of a lovely (yet wacky) girl.

It just happens every now and then, when I am in the middle of the movie, that the mind drifts away to this concept of a wild goose chase and an impossible romance. The concept is so similar to the Twilight, that in my honest opinion, if you are a fan of that saga, you will absolutely adore this piece. Nicely put together, a strong posture in terms of adventure chase/fight/battle scenes and good versus evil. However in this case, the saints are the one to be rescued. This is the distinctive competence in aspect of Twilight. There you should first adopt the idea of liking vampires and then the fact that they could have feelings too. Here you have an adorable kid that strives for true love and wants to be a member of a regular family instead of the one he's having, being tired of the chase and wants to settle forever (isn't it funny how we never are satisfied with the things that are ours and always want to have something that neighbour has (even if as in this case, it comes in a shape of a cheesy dinner with parents that are cracking unfunny jokes and making a positive attitude towards the family spirit - if you buy that, of course).

The ending of this piece is pretty predictable, yet another flash arrives in a shape of an avenger (the number 6), and the dog, transforming into chimera (or being chimera and transforming from a dog to a poisonous animal). It brings the last breath out of the spectator and yes, I recommend it to all of those, that die when watching something similar to lately popular vampire teen movies. Could it really be a new genre that we are seeing here? Most probably.


My personal rating: 7,5 (a very highly positioned movie in its genre and a good combination of teen love, striving for something new and unusual, yet old and traditional when trying to settle in. Fresh and new cast, new faces and a good act).

I am number four on IMDB