Change Your Image
Beauq81
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
American Fiction (2023)
A very nice movie, but nothing new
I was reluctant to see it, because, from the trailer, it looked like it was going to be one of those slapsticky, shame transference dramedies. But I was pleasantly surprised. For one - it's not a comedy. Has some funny moments, but not a comedy. Jeffrey Wright is a great actor, so his performances are always on par. The story had just the right amount of everything and it was masterfully crafted with very interesting and well put together characters. And the storytelling is why this film should be seen.
Still, stories like this and a premise like this have been seen before and, by the end of the film, all I could think about was Robert Altman's "The Player".
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
Amazing how little it would have taken...
...to make this a really excellent show. The overall story was good, casting was decent. Didn't really like the choice for Annabeth, but the rest were ok. The cinematography was nice, they didn't use too much CGI.
My main problem is Percy himself. I haven't read the books, so I'm just judging what I saw. He is, well - Rey Palpatine. He is too perfect, too confident, knowledgeable, especially for a 12 year old boy. For what he is in this show, he should have been at least 16 and to have spent at least a year or two in that camp. Just a few weeks after finding out who and what he is, he wields a sword and his powers so well that he feels confident enough to threaten a god. I mean, come on.
This should have been a longer season, with the first half or so focused on his training, then comes the quest, just like with every other hero from Greek mythology.
Found (2023)
Has the hook, but the execution is daunting
The general premise is good, but there is so much lacking and the makers are aware of it. They keep using fillers like flashy colors and overly dramatic music to mask bad acting and childish dialogue. As usual with the shows centered around a female protagonist, she is the worst character of the show, just like Carrie Bradshaw, Ally McBeal, Meredith Grey, the Gilmore girls... Kelly Williams is, basically, reprising her role from Lie to me. Bret Dalton is just eye candy for the female viewers. Gosselaar's character is too cookie-cutter. The only interesting aspect of the show is the future development of the Zeke and Dhan friendship, as poorly as their characters have been written so far. If this continues past the first season, hopefully they will use the Grey's Anatomy recipe and take the spotlight off Gabi and develop other characters.
Love Again (2023)
They are both too old for their roles
First of all, they are both over 40 and it shows. No amount of makeup or filters can hide it. (The fact that they put Nick Jonas in it didn't help, because it only accentuated the age flaw.) That makes their, basically, teenage behavior - annoying. I've seen Hallmark and Lifetime rom-coms with better dialogue and acting. Which was a disappointment, since I think Sam Heughan is a cool dude and I used to be a Celine Dion fan. And it seems that Pryanka Chopra brought a bit of Bollywood spirit to the movie, because an hour and a half movie felt at least 3 hours long. Not to mention the absurdity of having all these British actors and forcing them to speak with an American accent. The only person, whose role went as cliché as expected was Celine Dion. She was there to play a fairy diva godmother and did it with cookie cutter precision.
Fire Country (2022)
I'm hopeful
It is nicely shot, in a beautiful scenery with a decent cast and has a nice (though predictable) premise, but, like a lot of shows of this kind, it's the ridiculously dumb dialogue that kills it. The constant "we have to put out this fire or something worse will happen" sentences, coupled with the "put me in, coach, I can do it" and the "you have the makings of a great leader if you'd just forgive yourself" . I mean, it is laughable.
If they fix this small, but crucial piece, they have the necessary elements and potential to make a great show. If not, they should just put it with the daytime soaps.
The Winchesters (2022)
The show that shouldn't exist
Like I said, this show shouldn't exist. John had no knowledge of the supernatural world before Mary had died. So, this show is, basically, the Ackles' milking a cash cow by crapping on the 15 years that made them.
That being said, the pilot was OK, typical spin off series nostalgia mush, trying to get us, the fans of the original series, to bite, which will be hard due to the reason mentioned in the title of this review and many like it throughout the episode. Might turn out OK if you forget everything from the original series or if they put in A LOT of effort into
filling the plot holes between the shows. Or if they find a new fan base.
Fistful of Vengeance (2022)
A shame
Wu Assassin wasn't, by all means, a masterpiece of the genre, but it had a fun story and nice action. I was disappointed that there wouldn't be a second season, but was glad when I found out they are making a movie to wrap it up. How sorry I am now... The only good thing in this movie was the imagery of Thailand.
Grace and Gravity (2018)
A pointless movie
I gave this 3 stars for a few decent jokes it had. All in all, very poorly written, acted and filmed. It was made as a propaganda movie, but it doesn't understands the basic concepts of the atheism it was made to preach against. If the point was to bring the unbelievers to faith, it fails. Only made for the entertainment of hardcore believers.
A Discovery of Witches (2018)
Better than Twilight but with the same flaw...
...wrong lead actress. The show is pretty cliche, but very beautifully filmed and has an interesting premise. The main flaw is Theresa Palmer. Faking an American accent is not her thing. She manages to sound OK, but it takes it out of her acting and it makes her an unrelateable character. Especially compared to Goode, who acts circles around her. I hope she improves.
1 Mile to You (2017)
Very hollow
Visually very nice and a really great premise, but that's it. The storytelling leaves huge gaps and, at times, you are left wondering: "When did that happen?".
It starts off very nicely and shows the closeness between Kevin and his best friend, his girlfriend and her father, the coach. Then disaster strikes in more ways than one.
Kevin goes back to school and, although it seems relevant to the story, we're never given the amount of time he was out or the reason he goes to a different school.
Meets a girl, or, as it is portrayed, a new girl forces herself on him. Although they tried to show Hannah as a nice girl who falls for the troubled guy and tries to help him, she comes off as a needy groupie chasing her idol, yelling: "We belong together, we belong together!"
His need for running is explained well enough, but everything else around it is inconsistent. The way he doesn't care about competing, yet the first thing he does after starting new school is join the team; hates it, but fights to stay on it; allows himself to get exploited by the grubby father-daughter team of Coyote and Lynskey.
The character of Jol, the new best friend is thrown in from time to time without any explanation. he just pops up and tells some of the things going on in his life and disappears.
All in all, not unwatchable, but you'll find yourself trying to fill the gaps and finding sense in what you saw.
Oh, and there is such thing as too much indie folk music. While it suited some of the scenes, the movie depended too much on it as a mood setter.
Kyss mig (2011)
Truly a chick-flick
In this movie, the most credit goes to the director, camera and cinematography dept., because it was really beautifully filmed. Acting was also decent, considering the story. My score is based only on that.
The story itself is quite dumb and unrealistic. Not the first part. In it we have two girls, both in serious relationships, who meet, feel the attraction and have a weekend fling. I can buy that, it happens all the time, no matter the sexual orientation.
It is the second half of the movie that bugged me. In it we're to believe that after a roll on the hay and (I have too mention this, because it is important) very few words in between, these two feel that they're meant to be, that they're soul mates and that they can't live without one another. The words they exchange, in both love and anger, and the havoc they wreak after is something that might happen after a long affair, but not after 2 days.
To me, this movie is nothing more than a filmed pulp romance novel - lesbian edition.
The Little Death (2014)
Great, but not a comedy
I really loved this movie. But I went into it expecting something else because of what I'd read in the IMDb summary.
While there are moments that will make you feel like you'll die laughing, this is, actually, a very serious movie. It shows different sides to people through the one denominator that binds us all - our sexuality. And, while there are some scenes of sex - I feel like I have to mention it - they weren't made to arouse (so skip the movie if you wanted to get that out of it).
This movie shows how far people will go in their selfish need to get their own satisfaction, but it also shows how far people will go to satisfy the ones they love. It shows the lengths they'll go to re- connect with the ones they love, and how easily they can lose contact with the world around them.
All of this, of course, would not have been possible without the cast, which was chosen superbly and it shows why, IMHO, Aussie actors are taking over the world stage.
Tyrant (2014)
Great show
The show is amazing. Suspenseful story, very complex characters and masterfully portrayed. All the kudos to Ashraf Barthom! Although he isn't the primary character, he clearly dominates the show. All the other actors have their good and bad moments, but his performance is very true and believable in every scene. Great sets, filming locations and camera work make it visually very impressive.
The only real problem this show has is the fact that they all speak English all the time. It puts a block in the performances of most of the cast. Since it isn't their first language, their body language isn't as natural as it would have been had they been speaking Arabic.
I hope it is as good in its' second season.
The Prince (2014)
Got what I expected
Read the summary here in IMDb, so I kinda knew what I would get. It is pretty generic, but a nice, simple action movie that doesn't try to be more than it is.
It is strange to see Willis and Cusack in fairly small roles like this. Both their parts could be played by any actor, but they just added to the charm. Jessica Lowndes was a bit annoying, but she did the transition from a bitchy party girl to the faithful sidekick well enough.
I liked seeing Jason Patrick. There isn't much of him as the leading man lately.
Anyway, the cast shouldn't get your hopes up, but it is a fun little movie nevertheless.
Non-Stop (2014)
Good one
I like Neeson, always have. He is a good, very dependable actor, who's had bad movies, but never by his fault. After great dramas, like The Schindler's list, Nell, Michael Collins and a variety of good thrillers, he is really becoming an action star, from Star Wars, across Taken, to Non-stop and it really suits him.
Julianne Moore was also good. Her character was a bit redundant, but still good enough. There was no forced romance and it suited me just fine, because the focus was on the manhunt, the action.
This is a really good suspense movie. It has enough of everything action, mystery, heartfelt moments. A lot of good supporting characters. No one is over the top, no one more than they should be and it is a pleasure to watch a movie like that.
Homefront (2013)
This is 40
I won't write about the movie much. I liked it. It's a fairly typical Jason Statham film. A bit more mature role for him, but he does the "tortured hero" routine pretty well and has been doing it for the past few years. It suits him and I think he should ride it for as long as he can. The action is good, on the right side of believable and I enjoyed watching.
What struck me the most was the downfall of Winona Ryder. After her body of work in the '90s and early '00s, I don't think she saw herself in her forties playing not even second fiddle, tweeker hillbilly waitress in a Statham film. Even her 5 second sex scene was kind of embarrassing. Her part could have been done by any actress.
I could say something similar for Kate Bosworth, but her skeletal appearance seamed to suit the part.
Killing Season (2013)
Not as bad as I expected
Being Serbian, I went into this movie with some prejudice: Serbian people being demonized, the entire war blamed on them etc. Saw the first 15 minutes and got a bit irritated with Travolta's accent, some portrayals of Belgrade, but had to stop watching and it wasn't until a few days later that I finished it. In the meantime, I decided to put my prejudice away and just watch it.
And I'm glad I did. It's an OK movie with a story that could be applied to any war in the world. Granted, a lot of things were twisted, but Hollywood isn't famous for it's fact-checking. Neither DeNiro, nor Travolta gave their best performances, but they were quite decent. The scenery was amazing and, as someone mentioned, very reminiscent of First blood. Even the music sounded similar.
I expected it to be a classic good guy VS bad guy movie, but was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. There is no winner in this movie, just two people, scarred by war, coming to terms with their past.
A lot of things were exaggerated for the sake of suspense, but, in many ways this isn't a true action film (although there is a lot of action), but more of a drama.
I hope people get passed the nationality issue and get the true point of the story - that war is an awful piece of business which no one leaves unscathed, but, if you try, you can put the past behind you and move on.
The Last Stand (2013)
I like Schwarzy even more now
Big guy's packing even more punch now that he's older. When you see bodybuilder in his prime, movies tend to be a bit generic, but now, that he's older, Schwarzenegger gives even more character to the action. Even his acting seems to have improved, but I guess that's politics. :) This movie, like The Expendables, proves that, to get a pure action movie, you need to turn to the people who truly represent the genre. The cast is great, the plot is very simple, the comedy is easy and, in many ways, even personal. I hope the Governator makes more movies like this. I really don't have much more to say, I'm just trying to fill my 10 lines of text required to post this.
I Am Number Four (2011)
Got what I expected
When I first saw the film, I had no idea that it was made from a book. I watched it and I wasn't pleasantly, nor unpleasantly surprised. It is what it is - a teenage sci-fi flick with flashy stunts, good looking actors - a typical Michael Bay movie. And, considering how bad "Dark of the moon" was and that I couldn't stand watching even the first half of it, IAN4 is good. I could sense, however, that something was missing and that it was all jammed up in an hour and a half and it was all explained when I found out it was a book adaptation.
Yesterday, I read the book. All of it. In a day. And it was great! A pulp, but a great one. And I saw just how much was missed. The closeness between John and Henry. How isolated John feels before coming to Paradise (he doesn't have a lot of friends in the beginning of the book like he does in the film) and how happy he is that he has a friend in Sam. The love story between Jake and Sarah was very limited. No.6 is completely misrepresented.
I could write more, but I will summarize: if you watch it, you'll be OK, cause it is good for killing time. If you decide to or have already read the book - try to separate them in your mind. No movie ever lives up to the book. Especially if it's made by M. Bay.
Alex Cross (2012)
I knew it...
Whenever I see a "how it was made" on TV and hear the cast and crew talk about the movie, the characters and each other with adoration, I just know the movie will suck. When I heard Rachel Nichols talk about her character, it reminded me of Keri Russell talking about hers in Mission Impossible 3, and I was right - just like Lindsey Farris, Monica Ashe dies in the first half of the movie. And you can just see it throughout the movie that her faith is sealed.
Tyler Perry and Rob Cohen praised Morgan Freeman's portrayal and said that Perry will bring a new perspective and freshness to the role. Let me tell you, I really would have preferred to see Freeman, even at his age - especially at his age - wield a shotgun and fight Picasso. Tyler Perry just doesn't have the same emotional depth, though, I have to admit, he does look scary when he's out for blood.
I won't say it was a complete waste of time, but it still was. There were some scenes that reminded me more of a soap opera, than of an action thriller. Everyone overacted their parts and the dialog was pretty cheesy, but I can't really blame the actors for that, because it's the director who, well - directs.
I have nothing against bad movies. It is the best way to see what is good, but, please, at least make them cheap! I hate to see all that money go to waste when there are people with more creativity, but less funding.
P.S. A month ago, when I wrote the first part, I hadn't yet read a single Alex Cross book. Since then, I read the first 3 and started the 4th and, though most of my previous statements still stand, I do have to say that Tyler Perry is physically closer to the image of Cross I had while reading the book, than Morgan Freeman.
Nikita (2010)
Bad dialogue... Bad dialogue... Bad dialogue... Bad dialogue...
I watched the 1997 show, not all of it, but enough, and the thing that I like in this version more than in the old one, is that it's more outdoorsy. La femme Nikita was filmed too much in a studio.
I'm not comparing the two, they're based on the same premise, but still different shows. I saw the first season and actually liked it, but season two is getting annoying. I'll keep watching in hopes that it'll get better, but from my experience with other shows...
The thing that annoys me the most (as it does in most shows) is that you have a good idea and destroy it with too much bling, coolness and BAD DIALOGUE. Compulsive recapitulation of what happened in previous episodes gets on my nerves. For that, we have Latin soap operas.
As for the characters, I don't really believe Maggie Q is Nikita. Her acting is OK, but in the fight scenes... Well someone as tiny and skinny as her would have a lot more trouble in taking down big, well trained soldiers than she does. (I'm a martial artist, I've seen women fight) Peta Wilson could pull it off cause she's more brawny. Maggie should have, at least, eaten more for the role.
Shane West is OK. He has that good guy aura (though he should lose the goatee :-)), which is good, because this Michael is not a cold killer like the old one (and Roy Dupuis pulled it off perfectly). Bad dialogue ruins the part.
They really should have hired someone else instead of Melinda Clarke for Amanda. Her plastic surgery kills the cold confidence and screams "insecure about her looks". It adds to the maniacal aura, though.
Xander Berkeley is good. I like him as Percy. They should have evolved the character a bit more.
The character of Alex annoys me. For a junkie sex slave, she's too much of a spoiled brat. Lyndsy Fonseca is good in the role, it's just poorly written. Very inconsistent.
All in all, good idea that needs just a little more believe-ability.
Abduction (2011)
An expensive promo video
A part of me was cheering for the "bad guys" because I'm Serbian and I agree with the things Kozlow (not a Serbian name, by the way) said to Nathan at the game, but I mostly wanted some resemblance of an actual life threatening situation. For instance, that guy on the train should have cut off Karen's finger - I know I would if I were an evil henchman.
I'm actually very disappointed to see great actors like Sigourney Weaver and Alfred Molina be in such a movie. But, I guess that's how you promote next big stars - you put better actors as supporting cast. I really hope that Lautner will live up to the hype everyone's creating around him.
I liked the idea, but like so many others this was sweetened up and made into an action chick flick.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Couldn't finish it
Thank God I didn't spend any money on watching this movie! Now, I've seen A LOT of movies. My uncle had a video rental store and I grew up watching everything I could get my hands on and that includes movies from the finest classics to the worst smut and I never, EVER left a movie unfinished. This one I did. That can tell you how bad it is. I honestly don't understand spending all those millions of dollars on CGI, actors, all the destruction if you don't bother to even tell those actors to keep a minimum of quality in their performance. I found nothing appealing in it, not even the "hot chick", who, by the way is worse than Megan Fox, and I don't even like her very much. I understand making movies for the entertainment value only, but there was nothing entertaining about this film.
Touch (2012)
Nice
I really like this show. It has beautifully shot moments and very optimistic premise. I like Kiefer Sutherland, he's a great actor. I plan on watching this show for as long as I can, because I have only one problem with it, which, for now, I can look beyond, but can become a major issue later on and that is - dialog.
The dialog in the series reminds me of a soap opera, and not a good one, but the bad, Latin American ones. Too much repetition of "road map", "it's my/your/his destiny", a lot of recapitulation of the previous episodes. I hope they stop with the over-acting in the next season, because it will become sappy and annoying and ruin what might become a really good show.
This Means War (2012)
God, it stank!
I'm a fan Reese Witherspoon and Tom Hardy's been making some good performances lately, but this is one movie that they should just write off as poor judgement. And I'm really sorry to say this, because it was a good idea and I certainly hope that someone, sometime in the future will take the idea and make a good movie out of it.
The comedy of the movie was too forced, which, I have to say, has been happening to most of the American comedies. I really haven't seen a truly good and funny American comedy in years.They moved to TV.
I'm trying to find specific things to say what was so wrong, but there was too much of it. Firstly, I don't buy the bromance between FDR and Tuck. You just don't see the closeness they talk so much about. No.2, Chelsey Handler is soooo annoying, I actually hoped she'd die when Tuck blew her tires. The whole movie has just too much talking and talking and talking without saying anything (a good movie for politicians LOL). For me, personally, a good movie is quite the opposite - saying with very little talking (guess that is why Woody Allen annoys me so much).
Actually, the only decent performance came from Til Schweiger and I hoped he'd be the last one standing.
And, one more thing, since I'm from Serbia and can't help mentioning, since Sokolov and Tuck talk in Serbian: Sokolov is not a Serbian name, it's Russian. Russian language is not the same as Serbian language. Serbian people, who speak English fluently, speak it with almost no accent and, if thay do, it certainly doesn't sound Russian. I'm surprised that Mike Dopud messed it up.