Inglourious Basterds (2009)

The mere name of director speaks a lot about the film itself. “Inglourious Basterds” was directed by sadistic Quentin Tarantino, who loves scenes full of blood and death. Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Diane Kruger and Melanie Laurent portrayed main characters.

The film is almost a parody to war films. It is quite amusing and enjoyable. If you want to watch semi-serious non-historical film full of blood and cruelty, then this film is for you. But if you cannot watch films that are not based on historical facts, then do not watch it. It is totally useless.

The film was nominated for numerous awards and I do not understand why. Of course, Tarantino is a talented director and the film is good. But good is not enough even for nomination and in my opinion, most of those accolades/ nominations were quite exaggerated.

The film starts with original, sad, cruel, shocking scenes in which Shosanna Dreyfus’ (Melanie Laurent) whole family hiding underneath the floor of farmer’s house gets killed by Nazi. Nazi colonel, cruel and cynical Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) lets Shosanna escape. It takes place in France in 1941 during World War II.

Then we move to American Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), who leads team of Jewish-American soldiers to enemy country in order to kill and scare off German officers. Lt. Raine tells his soldiers that they each owe him 100 Nazi scalps.

Our main good characters never meet, but they fight for the same purpose. When we meet Shosanna again, she is an owner of cinema and her new name is Emmanuelle Mimieux. Unexpected turns and twists gather all our good characters and many high-ranking Nazi officials including Hitler in Shosanna’s cinema. This gives her an opportunity for revenge.

I enjoyed Waltz’s performance, though was surprised to see how his well-worked out character was spoilt and destroyed in the end. Tarantino turned him from gruesome killer into silly and naïve commoner and this is where he made a mistake. Lt. Raine’s moustache and false accent were annoying, but worked well with his character.

You will definitely enjoy this film in the company of your friends. Do not take it serious!

Reviewer’s rating: 7.0 out of 10

The Last Airbender (2010)

This film is based on “Avatar: The Last Airbender” TV series for children aired for three seasons from 2005 to 2008. I loved these series! The idea, quotes, wisdom, stories, characters, all were perfectly worked out and each season brought only fascination and joy of watching.

I had those TV series on my mind when I strived for watching this film (I am sure many others thought like me, thus film earned lots of money). I was utterly and highly disappointed from the beginning of the film. “The Last Airbender” is an example of how beautiful and amazing masterpiece can easily be spoilt by wrong filming and wrong person. I call it masterpiece, because an animation so incredible designed for children makes adults to watch it with pleasure as well.

The film was directed or I should say ruined by M. Night Shyamalan. If you are familiar with TV series, you probably know about four human nations (Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Kingdom and the Air Nomads), that the world is divided into, in the story. Each nation has one of four natural elements: water, earth, fire and air. The lives of people in each nation are based on these elements.

Benders are people who can control and manipulate the element of their nation using martial arts. There is only one person in the world, who can bend all four elements: Avatar. He is the spiritual entity of the world that keeps peace reincarnating into the next nation every time after the death and learning to bend each element from the start in each of his lives.

When Aang, young airbender is told that he is an Avatar, surprised and sad that he cannot be like everybody else, he leaves the Air temple with his flying bison Appa and gets stuck and frozen in ice for 100 years. While the person who keeps peace between all nations is away (people believe he is dead), Fire nation starts a war invading and capturing other nations and benders.

Katara (Nicola Peltz) and Sokka (Jackson Rathbone) are brother and sister from the water tribe, who find Aang (Noah Ringer), the Avatar. This is where the film starts. Whole film is rushed over the first “Book”, which is also season and depth of characters, the wisdom, stories, motives and arts are lost in this rush. The scenes are paced irrationally. The performances are dull and unlikable and the script is garbage. Aang in series smiled a lot, but Noah Ringer seemed confused and concentrated on being something special. Fire nation, that was depicted with squinty eyes and white in series, turned out to be Indian. Beside than intentional mistakes, there were number of unintentional wrongs in the film. For example, Earthbenders were trapped in Earth and they did not fight back. Where on earth did Kyoshi warriors go?

Any person, who is not familiar with series, will get even more confused than those, who are familiar. Do not watch this film unless somebody threatens you with death. Instead watch TV series, which you will most definitely enjoy with your family.

Reviewer's rating: 4.0 out of 10     

City of God (2002) (Cidade de Deus)

“Cidade de Deus” is a Brazilian film directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. All characters are real, and the film is based on true events. It is an adaptation of same name novel written by Paul Lins. The film won numerous awards. Though the story is cruel, violent and shocking, directors gave “Cidade de Deus” some kind of legerity making it quite interesting.

The story is narrated by Buscapé nicknamed Rocket (At different ages, the roles are played by different actors.), a young man, who grew up in the Cidade de Deus and the only person, who seems to be keeping away from gang wars, drug dealing and trafficking. He dreams about becoming a photographer. Yet, his story is not essential. He narrates the story of others.

Cidade de Deus is a neighbourhood near Rio de Janeiro. The film covers period of time from the end of 60s to the beginning of 80s and growth of organized crime during that time. It starts with an original and admiringly simple scene of an armed gang following running chicken. The time stops when Rocket comes across the gang and we go back to the 60s. In my opinion, it is a strong and beautiful start for a film.

After witnessing destructing poverty and cold-blooded massacre of motel inhabitants by sociopath child Zé Pequeno, we jump into the 70s. Zé Pequeno and his best friend Benny are grown up now. They have established a drug empire by eliminating all other competitors. Despite power, Zé is not successful with women and his sociopathic nature cannot cope with it. His actions give a start to the war between the gangs.

“Cidade de Deus” is a breathtaking film, which you will most definitely enjoy. The story of the film is so original, incredible and shocking that even if there were lacks in directing or actors’ performances, you would hardly notice. But directors and actors have done a marvelous job. The scenes are well-paced and well-thought. Only one role was played by a professional actor. The rest of characters were played by real-life favelas, what makes film even more interesting since their performances are amazing.

This film is a great watch in the company of friends. Be prepared for violence!

Reviewer’s rating: 9.0 out of 10

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) (El Laberinto del Fauno)

This is a Mexican fantasy-drama film written and directed by Mexican director, Guillermo del Toro. The film won numerous awards. Everything, starting from soundtracks and ending with scenes, is perfectly worked out in the film.

The story itself is beautiful and touching. As in many films of this type, darkness – real world and light – fairy tale, are interwoven in the story. It starts with a fairy tale of Princess Moanna who left her father’s underworld kingdom for the surface, never returned and died as a human. The king believed that one day her spirit will come back and ordered to leave open the doors to the surface.

After this sad story, we switch to 1944, post-civil war Spain of Franco’s rule. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a young girl who loves reading and fairy tales, travels with her pregnant mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil) to remote army base to join her stepfather  Captain Vidal (Sergi López i Ayats). Captain is a cruel character, who kills innocent people and has nothing good inside. The only person, who he seems to love, is his to-be-born son. But this is just an illusion. This love appears to be just an obsession. The moment he meets Ofelia, his gruesome personality becomes apparent.

On the night of their arrival to the army base, little insect, which Ofelia believes to be a fairy, leads her to the labyrinth, where she meets Faun. This grotesque creature tells her that she is that long-lost Princess Moanna. In order to return to the underworld kingdom, she should implement three tasks. One of these tasks is to get a dagger from the lair of the Pale Man, who eats children. Despite these atrocious details, the real world of her stepfather and ill mother is much more disturbing.

The ending is sad and moving. My adult part understood the reality as it is, while my childish part believed in what turned out to be the end. The director’s work and actors’ performances are excellent. The scenes, make-up, images, soundtracks, characters, dresses, hairstyles and many other things are highly well-thought and flawlessly made.

The film is a great watch in the company of friends. Though, it is based on fairy tale and young girl’s life, “Pan’s labyrinth” is not a film for children, or a family watch. Be prepared for strong emotions and some tears.

Reviewer’s rating: 9.0 out of 10

The Way (2010)

“The Way” is a drama film directed by Martin Sheen’s son Emilio Estevez. They play father and son in the film as well. The film is a bit boring and simple and basically it promotes pilgrimage. But, if you are a believing Christian, and you have never been to El Camino, then it worth watching.

Tom Avery (Martin Sheen) is an American ophthalmologist. While playing golf with friends, he is phoned and informed about his son Daniel’s death. Daniel was caught by storm in the Pyrenees while walking the El Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It is believed that Apostle Saint James was buried in there. The other name of this route is the Way of St. James.

Tom travels to France to retrieve Daniel’s body. After the cremation, he takes his son’s ashes and as homage to Daniel decides to walk the same route together with him. On his way he meets Sarah (Deborah Kara Unger), Irish writer Jack (James Nesbitt) and Dutch Joost (Yorick van Wageningen). Each of them has their own reason for taking the route. They travel together, and become friends. During this time, Tom contemplates over his life and relationship with Daniel. He releases Daniel’s ashes in different parts of the route.

Most of the spots and scenes chosen for filming were beautiful. Unfortunately, I cannot be positive about the actors’ performances as well. Martin Sheen showed very little emotion and grief. On the route (thus, throughout the film), his face’s expression was quite stiff and unreadable. Deborah Unger was somehow annoying with her constant smoking and I did not believe in anything she said. James Nesbitt overacted when he just arrived in the scene. I was not annoyed only by Yorick van Wageningen.

Still, this film is a good family and evening watch. Its simplicity is relaxing. Who knows, maybe after watching the film you will decide to take the same route. Enjoy!

Reviewer’s rating: 6.5 out of 10

Manuale D’amore 3 (2011) (Manual of Love)

“Manuale D’amore” is an Italian film directed by Giovanni Veronesi starring Robert De Niro and Monica Belucci. It is a sequel of Manuale D’amore (2005) and Manuale D’amore 2 – Capitoli successivi (2007). Though I did not watch first two films, I enjoyed watching this one.

The film consists of three parts each following a different couple and describing three times of love: youth (Giovinezza), maturity (Maturita) and beyond (Oltre). Young Cupid, who sometimes has too much make-up on his face, narrates the stories. All characters and stories in the film are related.

First couple –handsome Roberto (Riccardo Scamarcio) and beautiful Sara are deeply in love with each other. Roberto is a young lawyer, who is sent to seaside town in the province of Tuscany, Italy to convince a family to sell their house. There, among adorable simple Italian people he makes new friends and finds a new love. But, soon enough he understands that this love was not meant to be.

Fabio and Eliana are second, mature couple. Fabio has a loving wife and daughter. He meets an obsessive woman Eliana, who pretends to be a psychiatrist. He gives way to her manipulation and to their relationship. As a result, Fabio loses his family and job.

Third couple – Adrian (Robert De Niro) and Viola (Monica Belucci) are introduced to each other by Viola’s father, who is Adrian’s friend. Her father finds out that Viola worked as a stripper and has a huge dept. Here Adrian comes to a help.

The film and characters are quite ordinary and lively. Veronesi has done a great job by making film to reflect real life with its simple and at the same time complicated love stories. The story is romantic and relaxing. You can feel enjoyable Italian culture and passion throughout the film.

If you are tired of Hollywood-ish films, then “Manuale D’amore” is for you. It is a good watch with your other half. Enjoy!

Reviewer's rating: 6.5 out of 10

Despicable Me (2010)

This is an animation film from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment directed by French director Pierre Coffin and American Chris Renaud. The film features actor Steve Carell’s voice, who is well-known for playing Michael Scott on “The Office”.

“Despicable me” is a funny and heart-warming film. Its main character aging Mr. Gru (Steve Carell) is evil-doer (similarity with Megamind) who possesses a weird house and ugly “dog”. He has a partner Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) and big number of small and sweet minions in underground hideaway. At this place they plan evil deeds.

A young villain Vector steals the Great Pyramid of Giza and to outdo this evil deed Gru needs to do something bigger: to steal the Moon. He visits the Bank of Evil to get a new loan for his plan. He is refused, but offered to steal the shrink ray from East Asia facility in order to receive a loan.

Right after Gru gets shrink ray, it is stolen by nerdy Vector. Unable to enter Vector’s house, Gru watches three orphan girls getting inside to sell him cookies. He decides to adopt Margo, Edith and Agnes for the implementation of his evil plan.

Agnes reminded me of Boo from “Monsters, Inc.”. She is a cute and sweet creature much like Boo and they also have physical similarities. The orphan girls and minions bring warmness and cuteness to the film by balancing its evil and good.

“Despicable me” is a fun family film, which I highly recommend for children. You will surely enjoy not only the film, but also the soundtracks, especially the song “Despicable me”.

Reviewer's rating: 7.5 out of 10