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adamkovic
Reviews
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
An interesting alternative
I've seen many versions of Jesus' life story. Though I'm not a practicing Christian, his life has some magic for me. I liked the musical version by AL Webber, but its plot didn't differ a lot from most Jesus' movies. Always there was a clear distinction between the good ones - Jesus, St.Peter and his Apostles and the bad ones - Pontius Pilatus, farizees and of course, Judas. And small parts for women. I always felt something doesn't work right in these plots. Life ain't thus polarized. Scorsese must felt it the same, because he broke these axioms. The main hero, called by himself Son of Man has all marks of humanity. He does sin, he loves a woman, he collaborates with Romans and what more - he doubts. His doubts are so strong that at his first speech to the Nazarethans he doesn't know what to say. Then the God uses his mouth to spread a word of Love amongst the people. As Jesus said to Judas, these weren't his words. He is just a poor human looking for his God. But the God has chosen him to show his will. To tell the people of Israel, and not only Israel, that everybody can reach salvation. That they should prefer love to hatred. And that all uneasiness in this life will be awarded by Him later. Judas played by Harvey Keitel is another interesting person. A nationalist who wants to get rid of the Romans and to install a real Jewish rule. His task was to kill Jesus but his way of finding God persuades him to wait with the execution. Judas is his closest friend, who is not like the other Apostles (rural people without education) - he knows politics and he knows what he wants. After Jesus 'fails' to claim the throne of Israel, Judas refuses to punish Jesus for destroying his dream. Instead he is even reluctant to betray him. Jesus has to make him to do so, otherwise salvation of the world would be impossible. Apostles are a group of useless farmers and fishermen. After Jesus is captured at Getsemane garden, they runaway. No stress on their further deeds. They are not important for the story! Then came the last temptation. Vision of life with a beloved woman, children and so on. Saul/Paul later shows him that he is not important himself but his salvation and win over the death. Later a vision of elderly death comes. Apostles are useless again, but Judas is his true consciousness. Thus Jesus can fulfill his doom and choose to die on the cross, escaping the temptation of angelic Devil.
Osmosis Jones (2001)
Healthy life promotion
Frank is a ZOO worker. His dream of enjoying holiday takes its place in Buffalo (chicken) Wings Fest - 122 sauces for 99 forms of wings. He wears something we call beer-belly (space enough for 20 pieces :o). His daughter is a clever 10yr old Shane. She doesn't like the way her father deals his life - beer and McDonald's-like food. Not an interesting plot so far. But the movie has its animated part too. Takes place inside Frank. So called City of Frank has millions of inhabitants - cells, viruses and a villain politician - Mayor. The City is in a pre-poll era. The mayor wants to keep it without any turbulences. An outcast cop - leukocytus Osmosis Jones, joined by a cherry-taste cold pill Drix find out that an evil virus, Thrax, has found his way into the City. His aim is to kill Frank within 48 hours (he's kind of vain, his best performance yet was 3 days, so he wants to get better ("Ebola is just a flu compared to me!")). But hunting down the virus is just the kind of disturbance the mayor doesn't want to accept in order to be reelected... What will prevail? Shane's and Jones' will to save Frank or Thrax's plan to rewrite the medical books and mayor's standstill? Really worth watching.
Pacho, hybský zbojník (1976)
Grotesque
I think this movie was originally meant as a parody of Slovak national legend of Jánosík, the king of thieves, some kind of Central European Robin Hood, who lived in 1688-1713 (executed to death). The legend makes Jánosík a Superman. Pacho has a pure luck and a little more knowledge of the world and combat than his fellow thieves (for he served in an Austrian imperial army) - thus he easily becomes a leader. Jozef Króner who plays Pacho is one of the best ever Slovak actors, best known for his starring in Oscar winning "Obchod na korze". Thieves are not like the legendary "100% positive" heroes - they have their needs and a lot of negative characteristics and are, modestly said, a little bit dumb. The aristocracy, endangered by Pacho's successes, gets afraid and calls in an army. But the female part of the aristocracy finds the thieves extraordinaly SEXY... The empress Mary Therese rules such a big Empire, that she and her servants aren't even able to find "Hybe" region on the map that covers the whole floor of her audition hall... Pacho's favorite drink, frndzalica, a cracked liqueur with nitroglycerine-like effects seems to be his greatest power for fighting the disoriented army - and also crucial to his wins. Just like original Jánosík, he finds himself betrayed by the ex-chief and when frndzalica used up, he is sentenced to being buried up to his head - Jánosík was betrayed and hanged by a rib... In the last scene a small boy, who could be Pacho's son, tells Pacho's head on the ground he is Pacho the thief-chief... again, the criminal becomes a legend.
Tri veteráni (1984)
Satirical fantasy
This movie is one of the best tales ever filmed in former Czechoslovakia. It is a story of three veterans released from the army. During one night spent camping in the country they one by one wake up and meet three elvish brothers. Each of the veterans is given a magic item - one gets magic harp that provides him with servants by wish, other one endless pouch of gold and the last one owns magic hat that can create all the staff excluding money and people.
These three guys travel, enjoy their newly acquired treasures until the time when Bumbac fells in love when he spots a picture of princess Bosana at her country's border. But king, his advisor and even the princess herself are so greedy of veterans' magic items, they decide to demand them as a dowry. When they put their hands on harp and pouch, veterans are jailed and deported from the country.
They decide to get their staff back - elves meet them again and present them magic pears. They get back, selling the fruits as mysterious sources of beauty. Greedy princess buys them and her nose starts to ashame all the elephants. In a while the nose's tip crosses the border of tiny kingdom and pays "official" visits to Austria, Germany, ... Three veterans now turn to three sages who get hired to cure the princess. Cure is composed of changing princess's character, returning the magic staff and eating one more pear.
The Iron Girl (1994)
Ashes to ashes
It's a pity that so much celluloid was wasted on a movie like this. The worst movie I've ever seen. Regret spending two hours of my time. Only suitable reason for seeing it may be that you're bored. Thus the weakest "karate scenes" in history could make you laughing. Really stupid story...
Vrchní, prchni! (1981)
Perfect comedy
This is one of pearls of Czech filmography. The intro-song Severni vitr (The northern wind) links the fate of the main character with the goldseekers of Northern America, though his territory is much more common - restaurants. Here he finds his original way out of financial problems.