Change Your Image
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjM1MTk5NzYyMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjE3MzY0OTE@._V1_SY100_SX100_.jpg)
Bored_Dragon
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Kings Row (1942)
Some people grow up, and some people just grow older.
Some people grow up, and some people just grow older.
In a seemingly idyllic small town in America, we follow the lives of several young people, their coming-of-age friendships, loves, and problems, some everyday and benign, while others are existential and tragic. Through their stories, we see the hypocrisy and darkness of the provincial mentality at the turn of the century (XIX/XX). It is a classic period drama of the golden age of Hollywood, pleasing to the eye, not particularly demanding on the brain, with no prominent flaws and virtues that would inspire me to write something more. Nice movie, worth watching.
7,5/10.
Scream 2 (1997)
Same s***, differ... same packaging
The sequel has all the flaws of the original, which is not surprising since it is practically the same thing, packaged a little differently. When I say different I mean less fun. To me, this seems like a lame attempt to cash in on the old glory, although I don't even understand why the first one was so popular to make it possible. So far, after the first two movies, "Scream" is the weakest horror franchise I've watched. I didn't expect that, considering that "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is by far my favorite, and both are Craven's.
4/10
" It's some dumb white movie about some dumb white girls getting their white asses cut the f up."
Beat Street (1984)
A black and Puerto Rican version of "Saturday Night Fever" - Chicago Tribune
From the point of view of objective cinematography quality, this film is mediocre at best. There isn't much to complain about, but it doesn't stand out either. Clichéd ghetto coming-of-age script, amateur cast, mediocre directing... Nevertheless, "Beat Street" became a classic, because it immortalized the early era of hip-hop culture in a way that was receptive to a diverse audience, hip-hop that in addition to rap includes break dancing, DJ skills, as well as the art of street graffiti. Besides, for those of us who grew up in the last quarter of the previous century, the nostalgic value of this film outweighs its objective values. If you look at it as a long '80s music video, it deserves at least
7/10.
Speak No Evil (2022)
- Why are you doing this? - Because you let me.
- Why are you doing this? - Because you let me.
From the technical side, the film is very well done, but I was not too fond of its essence. At first, it balances between boring and unpleasant, as it goes on it becomes more and more painful to watch, and in the end, it left me with bitterness in my throat and a cramp in my stomach. I had the urge to give up several times and now I regret that I didn't, because this is a soul-damaging movie and a totally unnecessary experience in my life.
I must emphasize that I am a big fan of horror and psychological thrillers. Still, although this film is technically both, it is not in the way we are used to, and watching it did not bring me any pleasure, only an all-pervading feeling of nausea and spiritual pain. Without particular explicitness and with a very slow pace, the film achieves its horror with an incredibly effective atmosphere and natural acting, which largely cover the obvious illogicalities in the story. It derailed me so nonchalantly that a high rating practically goes without saying, and yet, I would never watch it again, nor would I retell it and recommend it. I'd rate it a zero if it could wipe it out of existence.
7/10.
Hercules (1997)
Good, but far from great
Good, but far from great
First, I must emphasize that I watched the version dubbed into Serbian, so I cannot comment on the original voice actors, nor did they affect my impression of the film. On the other hand, since the iconic Warner cartoons I grew up with in the eighties, I can't remember seeing a better domestic dub. It is not the level of Nikola Simic and Predrag Ejdus, but it is far above anything I have had the opportunity to hear with my children in recent years.
The story is only tentatively based on the myth of Hercules, but I can't take that as a bad thing, because after all, this is a Disney cartoon, not a lesson in Greek mythology. Although cliched, it's not a bad story. The humor is quite sharp and in my opinion, is the strongest asset of this production. However, "Hercules" left a hollow impression on me, it draws too much on the recycling of "Aladdin" and "The Little Mermaid", and at the same time, it lacks the main feature of Disney cartoons - a catchy and impressive song that gets etched in the brain and stays with us even when the film itself is long forgotten. I'm not saying that the music in the film is bad, it's just forgettable. "Hercules" doesn't have its "Under the Sea," "The Bare Necessities" or "Hakuna Matata."
6/10.
House of the Dragon (2022)
"Game of Thrones" wannabe
If the last few seasons of GOT were a disappointment to you, don't even start on this 'GOT for the poor', because it's in the same manner as GOT, but not even close to its quality in any way, even compared to the worse seasons. Huge time jumps clutter the story and don't give you time to get interested and attached to anything. As far as the characterization is concerned, even the main characters are lousy compared to the secondary characters from GOT, and the changes of some actors, while others remain the same and for some reason do not age, only add to the confusion and kill any possibility of getting attached to them. Watchable, but compared to GOT, it leaves the impression of a Latin American telenovela.
6/10.
Near Dark (1987)
Dyin' for a bite
Screenwriter and director Kathryn Bigelow intended to make a western, but since westerns were not particularly popular in the eighties, she decided to mix it with horror. She was not wrong. In a sea of similar vampire movies of the time, this one stands out with ... well, practically everything. Instead of a clichéd vampire horror, we got a Western drama, with an almost noir atmosphere, good music (Tangerine Dream), strong emotion, and striking characters. It is interesting that the leading duo (Adrian Pasdar and Jenny Wright) are supported by a cast (Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Jenette Goldstein) simply taken from the movie "Aliens" (1986), thanks to James Cameron, whom Bigelow soon married. It would be unfair not to mention here the outstanding performance of Joshua John Miller. Overall, a warm recommendation.
8/10.
Les triplettes de Belleville (2003)
"It's over, Grandma"
An orphan who lives with his grandmother grows up to be a cyclist who, with that same grandmother as his coach, goes on the Tour de France. There he is kidnapped, and the grandmother in search of him arrives in America where, with the help of a faithful dog and a trio of elderly singers, she performs a crazy rescue mission.
The film stands out at first sight with its retro surreal animation, bizarre humor, and dark atmosphere. It's extremely ugly in a nostalgically overwhelming way. Also, it is almost completely dialogue-free, accompanied by interesting music. I also liked the tributes to Django Reinhardt, Charles Chaplin, Josephine Baker, and Fred Astaire, as well as the iconic Citroën 2CV. There are more that I won't list now, and I probably didn't even notice many of them. But that's where the praise ends.
Although there are several humorous, entertaining, and touching moments, they are dissolved in 80 minutes of a linear, simple story about two-dimensional and unimpressive characters, which for the most part balances on the edge of boring. The whole movie is one big caricature, promising at the beginning, but then it continues to repeat itself endlessly and soon stops holding attention.
6/10.
Cherry 2000 (1987)
"Remember, gentlemen, life is an adventure"
In the future, robotics has advanced so much that many wealthier people opt for female androids instead of complicated male-female relationships (which are far more complicated in the future). When Sam's (David Andrews) partner (Pamela Gidley) experiences a short circuit, he hires a tracker (Melanie Griffith) to retrieve the same one from an abandoned warehouse in a lawless desert.
I watched this movie on television as a child and it remained in my vivid memory. In the decades that followed, it often crossed my mind, but I was too lazy to search, until a few days ago I stumbled upon it again. Often, re-watching beloved childhood movies only brings me disappointment and spoiled memories, but that was not the case this time.
The retro-futuristic and somewhat post-apocalyptic story and setting are very reminiscent of the cult "Mad Max", but this is on a lower level. "Cherry 2000" combines an adventure story with some humor, a love triangle, and beautifully directed action at a pace that holds the attention from start to finish. The characters are likable and interesting, except for the main villain, who in my opinion was a miscast, and then thirty-year-old Melanie Griffith steals every scene she is in. With her irresistible charm and unbelievably good looks for a woman who gave birth just before filming, Melanie is by far the strongest asset of this film.
7/10.
Vamp (1986)
"After Hours" meets "From Dusk Till Dawn"
To be accepted into a fraternity, two teenagers (Chris Makepeace and Robert Rusler) go in search of a stripper for a college party. Of course, things go wrong and turn into a teenage horror-comedy.
While watching the movie, scenes from Scorsese's "After Hours" (1985) and then from Rodriguez's "From Dusk Till Dawn" (1996) flashed through my head. Later I saw online that many people had the same associations. I wouldn't be surprised if this film was inspired by Scorsese's, as well as if the iconic Rodriguez was inspired by this, with Salma Hayek being, in my opinion, a convincing step up from Grace Jones.
Grace Jones got a relatively small, but important and very impressive role, which should combine sexual sensuality with mystery and fear. She presented the mystery and horror perfectly, but it is completely incomprehensible to me to associate Grace Jones with sexiness, although this lack is obviously subjective, since I didn't find people sharing my opinion. I would also like to mention the leader of the albino gang, who is played by Billy Drago and who is probably the only character that will remain in my memory. The rest of the cast and their performances don't stand out from the sea of mediocre teen comedies.
The same goes for all other aspects of the film. I have no complaints, but I have nothing to praise either. The movie is entertaining, holds the attention, but nothing particularly stands out. Ok for one viewing.
7/10.
Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar (2023)
People of the Earth! This is NOT Dethklok!
Ten years after the phenomenal "The Doomstar Requiem" comes the sequel "Army of the Doomstar", this time as a feature-length animated film. All the technical aspects of the series we loved are here again, everything is apparently the same as it was, except for the most important - humor. Not that this isn't hilariously funny, but it's not even mildly entertaining. One big nothing dragged out for almost an hour and a half, with characters rendered pathetic, rare and failed attempts at humor, and without a single catchy track. Not only is there nothing memorable, but it is so boring that I did not manage to watch it all at once. Shame.
5/10.
The Leftovers (2014)
WTF I just watched, but in a good way
WTF I just watched, but in a good way
At one point, 2% of the world's population simply disappears. 140 million people simply evaporated, seemingly at random and without any reasonable explanation. Three years later, the world is still struggling with this trauma, and the three seasons of this series follow that struggle over the next four years.
All three seasons are very different, thematically, atmospherically, tempo-wise, and one could even say genre-wise. What they have in common is that two-thirds of the time you'll have no idea what the hell is going on and why. From the premise, through the situations it causes, to individual human reactions, everything is completely insane. But once you manage to accept that craziness, the story takes on some internal logic of its own and is quite consistent with it. You will get answers to a very small number of questions right away, to many by the end of the season, to some you will forget until you are reminded of them by the denouement in the next season, and many remain a mystery left to free interpretation until the end.
If you're looking for a sensible story that ultimately gives you a rounded denouement and satisfaction, bypass "The Leftovers" in a wide arc. But if you like mindfak stories, which, albeit slow, make your brain speed up to overheat, if you like superb acting that brings a variety of characters to life with depth and believable humanity and powerfully conveys the emotions and drama of human existence, then prepare for an experience you won't easily forget.
9/10.
Fright Night (1985)
"Apparently, all they want to see are demented madmen running around in ski-masks, hacking up young virgins."
"I have just been fired because nobody wants to see vampire killers anymore, or vampires either. Apparently, all they want to see are demented madmen running around in ski masks, hacking up young virgins."
At the end of the eighties, I often went to visit my uncle. His son had a big poster for this movie on his bedroom wall. A poster that fascinated me and aroused my curiosity, and because of which I nothing would made me stay alone in that room. At that time, I didn't have a video recorder, and I don't think there were any video clubs, and even if there were, I doubt that my parents would have let me watch horror movies. Three and a half decades later, I finally watched it.
"Fright Night" is without any competition the film that has been sitting on my watch-list for the longest time, and probably decades of anticipation and childhood fascination raised my expectations unrealistically high, but I must say that I am quite disappointed. This movie is not bad, far from it, but it is even further from horror. To whom this is scary, "A Nightmare on Elm Street" would cause a stroke or a heart attack.
A typical representative of the light-horror films of the eighties, at a time when slashers were at their peak, "Fright Night" returns to the vampire mythos and combines it with teenage romance. Characteristic make-up and special effects of that era horrors, with a fair amount of humor and obligatory comic-relief characters (Peter Vincent - the vampire killer, a witty name that alludes to Peter Cushing and Vincent Price). The film is in all respects quite nicely done and entertaining for a relaxing afternoon, but also quite unimpressive and forgettable.
6,5/10.
The Hunger (1983)
Style over substance
The rating on IMDb is 6.6/10, Metascore is 52, but how could I resist it when the movie stars Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon, and opens with the Bauhaus number "Bela Lugosi Is Dead".
Ignore the description on IMDb. There is no love triangle here, and the film is a horror only because there are vampires. It is an atmospheric, slightly psychedelic and surreal drama. Although he is the male lead, David Bowie plays a minor role here with a relatively brief screen time, while the focus is on the fairly good characterization of the Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon characters and the lousy development of their relationship.
The story, at least from my perspective, is quite original, but not developed enough. Although the film is slow-paced, the story is rushed and just as it started, it reached the closing credits. The acting and characterization are satisfactory, although it could have been much better. What really counts in this film is the stunning atmosphere of the fantastically filmed, slightly surreal sex scene between the two female protagonists. Everything else is mediocre at best, and the ending is total nonsense.
6/10.
Three Amigos! (1986)
You son of a motherless goat!
Three silent Western stars lose their jobs and accept an invitation to perform a show in a remote Mexican village, unaware that there is a misunderstanding and that they are actually expected to fend off an attack by a real gang of gunmen.
John Landis' ("The Blues Brothers") parody of the Western genre, with an accent on "The Magnificent Seven", is by no means a masterpiece of the seventh art, but it is a masterpiece of lighthearted comedy of its time, a film that does not take itself seriously. Without the profanity and forced humor that are increasingly the basis of comedies of recent date, "Three Amigos!" combines slapstick gags, witty remarks, and humor suitable for all ages into a relaxing film for the whole family.
Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short give us no more and no less than we've come to expect from them, entertaining performances, without much to praise or complain about. Good music (Elmer Bernstein, who also did music for "The Magnificent Seven"), a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere even, if not especially, in "tense" situations, a couple of absurd and a few really hilarious moments, make this movie a classic of the eighties.
If I were to rate it from the perspective of an elementary school student, which I was when I first watched it, it would be a straight ten, but if I suppress the nostalgia and try to maintain objectivity, I think it's realistic to rate it
7/10.
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
Not the worst, not even close
I have repeatedly come across comments that "Manos" is the worst movie ever. How can you resist and not see it for yourself? Even though I'm very poor with my free time and choosing what to spend it on, I couldn't resist my curiosity. I watched it, it's bad, very bad, but nowhere near the worst. I've seen a couple of thousand movies and some were quite worse than this one.
Basically, the idea and the script aren't that bad at all, the problem is that it was shot totally amateurishly, with an obviously ridiculous budget and equipment, by people who barely knew what they were doing. It's as if someone without any film experience filmed a home movie for the fun of it. It could pass as the first attempt at a feature film by first-year students, but mostly it looks to me like a recording of a theatrical performance of some amateur theater. Seen from the latter perspective, it is not so catastrophically bad. I wouldn't even rule out the possibility that it was done that way on purpose, because at times it has a vibe of a misunderstood art.
All in all, "Manos" is a very bad movie, but it's not bad enough to deserve the cult status of the worst, nor is it bad in the way that some movies turn the game around and fall into the "so bad it's good" category. Any way you look at it, it's a waste of time.
3/10.
The Killing (1956)
"None of these men are criminals in the usual sense"
Kubrick's third film tells us the story of the racetrack robbery, detailed planning, and successful execution, which ends ingloriously. You could say this black and white noir is the "Ocean's Eleven" of the fifties. In fact, "The Killing" is the film that inspired the original "Ocean's Eleven" as well as many other iconic films, including Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" (1992). With its non-linear flow from different perspectives, it confused the audience of the time, and it did not do particularly well back then, but it was appreciated by filmmakers and secured Kubrick the direction of "Paths of Glory" (1957).
Many consider this film to be Kubrick's first masterpiece. Perfectionist that he was, Kubrick paid attention to every detail in this film, and the script is impeccably precise and the film superbly shot, but even though I love Kubrick, it didn't leave a particular impression on me. Maybe the movie has aged badly, maybe I've seen too many movies and I can't put myself in the perspective of the fifties, when this was something new and exciting, but with all the objective qualities, the overall impression was quite unimpressive. Except for the unforgettable ending, which is simultaneously hilarious and tragic and, I suppose, represents a lesson that crime does not pay.
7/10.
Nefarious (2023)
The most anti-woke movie that I've ever seen in a movie theater. That alone, in today's world of über-woke movies, was totally worth the price of admission. - William Sullivan
A psychiatrist comes to the prison to perform a psychological evaluation of a serial killer and judge whether he is insane, or sane and therefore eligible for the death penalty. The film is classified as a horror thriller, but that can easily lead you to the wrong expectations. There are no spilled guts, no jump-scare moments, no monsters, no action. Although some of the scenes it verbally evoked in my imagination are more gruesome than they could visually present them. The entire film is reduced to a dialogue between two protagonists, one of whom is an atheist, and the other claims to be a demon.
Although it does not have many other qualities, "Nefarious" makes up for it with an intelligent and well-written philosophical, theological, and moral discussion of opposing points of view, which presents the problems of the human individual and society honestly, directly, without without masking and beautification. Since the conversation is dominated by a demon (Sean Patrick Flanery nailed the role), who tries to convert an atheist psychiatrist, many dismiss this film as Christian propaganda. I did not experience it that way, even though I am an atheist. I experienced it as a refreshment in the sea of politically correct works in the same mold, which threaten to completely suffocate the seventh art.
7/10.
Romance & Cigarettes (2005)
"Living till you die is hard work"
A middle-aged, working-class couple's marriage falls apart because the husband cheats. Three grown-up daughters support their mother, while the father is torn between his wife and his mistress. A story about ordinary people, everyday sins and redemptions, told in an unusual way, through a movie that is and is not musical.
James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, and Christopher Walken are the names that pushed me to watch this movie. But "Romance & Cigarettes" is not even close to the level I expected from a movie with such a cast.
The theme does not stand out, the characters are mostly uninteresting, and the story is too silly for drama and too pathetic for comedy. Everything is kind of messed up, even though nothing seems to be happening. Vulgar, an unimpressive movie that will ambush you with random musical sequences. I think Turturro tried to be original under the strong influence of the Coen brothers. It's quite original, and it's somewhat Coen-esque, it's not boring, but even though I watched it last night, I don't remember half of it already. However, I should probably mention that I don't like the Coen brothers, and that this movie might leave a stronger impression on their fans.
On the plus side, the cast alone is worth the time, there are some really funny moments and crazy dialogue, and the soundtrack is good too. For me, the musical sequence for the track "Delilah" is by far the most impressive part of this film, and I also liked the emotional "A Man Without Love". Good, but not great. Worth a look.
7/10.
Le règne animal (2023)
Too weak for such a powerful premise
An unusual phenomenon is spreading in the world. Humans randomly start mutating into animals. The cause of this process is unknown, and the treatments do not give results. The film focuses on a high school student who lives with his father, while his mother is in the process of mutation in a specialized institution.
"The Animal Kingdom" is a coming-of-age drama with elements of fantasy and horror and some humor. It can be interpreted in various ways, literally and metaphorically, but I don't want to get into that multitude of interpretations, let everyone judge for themselves. I will present only my impressions, positive and negative.
The film is visually beautiful. Cinematography, make-up, and effects are superb, and for much less money than in Hollywood. The creatures, for lack of a better term, are striking and endearing. Romain Duris is good in the role of the father, and Paul Kircher in the role of the son gave an Oscar-worthy performance. I like the messages that the film sends, and the main asset is certainly the originality of the premise and the approach to it.
However, in my opinion, the script is too weak for such an original and interesting idea. The story is insufficiently developed, especially for a film of over two hours. You will not find out how and why these mutations occur and on what scale. If humans devolved into lower primates, the film would fall into the realm of sci-fi, but as they randomly mutate into literally anything and everything, not just mammals, but insects, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, I'd rather classify it as fairy tale fantasy, which conflicts with the very realistic tone of the film. I get the impression that "The Animal Kingdom" got dissolved in trying to cover too many themes and send too many messages across too many genres, and as a result, it felt sketchy and tepid. The authors bit off more than they could swallow and failed to fulfill the big potential of the project they embarked on.
Overall, a technically good but essentially disappointing film. Still, it's worth watching, if for no other reason than for the contrast to the garbage America is showering us with, the original ideas and performance of Paul Kircher.
7/10.
The Mangler 2 (2002)
Useless peace of American garbage
Seven years after the rather good adaptation of King "The Mangler", director Tobe Hooper refused to direct the "sequel". It is not surprising, because such a scenario would be rejected by anyone who has any self-respect. The movie is at least a class below the worst installments of the "Scary Movie" franchise, without being a parody, but a film that takes itself seriously. It is so bad and in such a way that it cannot pass either as "so bad it is good" or as a guilty pleasure. This is just plain and simple miserable on all fronts, to the point of exhaustion, and accompanied by unbearably irritating music. Right now I can't think of a single movie that has a worse soundtrack. Do I even need to mention that it has nothing to do with King... Ok, the girls aren't that bad (one is half-naked for almost the whole movie), but everything else is. Why Lance Henriksen agreed to play in this movie and how this script was even approved for production is beyond me. It says Horror/Sci-Fi... true, it's fantastically scary how I wasted an hour and a half of my life.
2,5/10.
American Horror Story: Requiem 1981/1987: Part 2 (2022)
'80s again, but from quite a different angle
The gay community in the early eighties. On the one hand, an irresponsible, loose, promiscuous, and apparently joyful 24/7 party, on the other hand, ignorance and rejection by society and institutions. Two serial killers are lurking in the shadows. One with a crazy agenda, skilled, cunning, ruthless, but still catchable. The second, much more cruel and dangerous, invisible and unexpected, will turn the end of the twentieth century into one of the greatest horrors the gay population has ever faced. Together with the rest of us.
A story that deals exclusively with the gay population and in which almost all the characters are gay, but without even an undertone of modern LGBT propaganda and Woke culture. And it was not made in the '80s, but now! It's nice for a change to watch a gay series that keeps both feet on the ground and doesn't stick a finger in your eye. These are gay people you can relate to and sympathize with, because they are portrayed non-aggressively, as common next-door guys, as they mostly are. With real problems of real people.
The atmosphere is quite serious and it stands out from the previous seasons, which were obvious parodies and caricatures of clichés or at least pulled in that direction. The impression that I don't watch AHS anymore is reinforced by the fact that almost the entire cast is new, with very few returnees. But the fact that they are new does not mean that the acting is any worse than what we are used to in this series. The sound and music are very well-blended and atmospheric. The ending is also completely different than in the previous seasons. Instead of twists and surprises, typical of horror, "NYC" gives us a calm, sad, natural epilogue, which nicely wraps up the story.
Unlike the horror genre that aims to scare and entertain, this season is more of a drama, strong, poignant, and human. Although, of course, there are explicit horror and other elements typical of AHS, just so we don't forget what we're watching.
8/10.
American Horror Story: The Future Perfect (2021)
A conspiracy parody
Have you noticed that since the middle of the last century, technology has advanced more than in the previous few thousand years? If you are interested in what caused such a sudden jump and accelerated development, watch the last four episodes of the tenth season of "American Horror Story".
"Death Valley" is not horror in the true sense, but more reminiscent of a long episode of "Twilight Zone", by Rod Serling. While previous seasons dealt with a different approach to the most typical horror clichés, this one devoted itself to alternative history and an attempt to connect famous American scandals and conspiracy theories into a logical whole. From famous Kubrick's Moon Landing, through Area 51, all the way to the Watergate affair, find out the fates of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, and Marilyn Monroe.
Unfortunately, only four short episodes, but very ingeniously designed and fantastically shot. I am delighted.
9/10.
American Horror Story: Winter Kills (2021)
"Once you sell your soul, it's gone"
The tenth season of "American Horror Story" is divided into two stories. "Red Tide" occupies the first six episodes. Although it deals with one of the most prevalent themes in horror, the approach to this theme is surprisingly original and interesting. Some things are visually done rather naively, but the story itself is a well-developed psychological horror-drama, with some really macabre moments. Again, the returning cast didn't fail, and I didn't even recognize one of the actresses till the second episode, even though I watched her season after season. Acting is truly the strongest asset of this series.
Dark and poignant, with a good analysis of human nature and the occasional nicely blended dark humor, a story that, although slow-paced, strongly holds the viewer's attention. The characters are impressionable and quite decently developed, considering the relatively small number of episodes, and their epilogues are somewhat unexpected, which is a pleasant surprise for the horror genre. However, the finale wasn't striking enough.
When the sixth episode ended, I didn't realize it was the end, and when I played the next episode I was totally confused to see a new, unknown story, without any connection with this one. I didn't know at the time that the tenth season was a double feature, of course. Now, that my impressions have settled, I can't say that the story remains unfinished and every part of it is nicely rounded, but the real grand finale, the striking ending, is missing. Like when a hard rock or metal song ends with a fade-out, it's a bit disappointing.
8/10.
Bis ans Ende der Welt (1991)
"Sometimes the greatest happiness happens in the worst times"
"Sometimes the greatest happiness happens in the worst times"
Wim Wenders worked on this project for 14 years, spent 23 million dollars, and traveled halfway around the world, filming in 15 cities, in 7 countries, on 4 continents. He called it the ultimate road movie, although, in my opinion, it doesn't fall into that "genre" at all.
The film was released in 1991, and he set the action in 1999, so that he could insert non-existent technology into the story, while keeping the feeling as close as possible to the present. From today's perspective, the film is more retro than sci-fi. After all, the technology is only there to establish the premise for drama, adventure, and characterization and development of the characters.
Movie reviews usually include a brief description of the plot, but in this case, I don't know how to formulate that synopsis. But, it's the least important. The story is full of holes and illogicality, it is drawn out, full of meanders, and on the verge of boring, so I will not even deal with it. The other aspects of the film are what make me recommend it.
Visually, the film is gorgeous. Except for the depiction of futuristic technology, which is totally retro and silly, with Super Mario-style animations, and which possibly serves as comic relief, every frame of the film is a soul-capturing art photograph. The cast is numerous, diverse, and up to the task. Everyone can find themselves in some character and they are all built so nicely that by the end of the film, you have the impression that you knew them personally. Admittedly, the film's duration of almost 5 hours contributes to that impression quite a lot. There is also a half-shorter theatrical version, which I haven't seen, but I can say with certainty that it's not good. This movie simply cannot be cut in half and retain its qualities.
And finally the music! Wenders contacted his favorite musicians and asked them to write tracks for the film in the manner they thought they would create at the end of the century. The response was fantastic and, as he couldn't bring himself to make a shortlist, he decided to include them all. Joke or truth, Wenders said that because of the total duration of these songs, the film had to be so long. In my opinion, a wise decision. The soundtrack for this film is probably its strongest asset. If you don't have the nerve to watch a 5-hour movie, at least listen to the music, which can easily be found on YouTube.
!!! Spoiler Alert !!!
"There's a line that should never be crossed, and we passed it a long time ago."
"Until the End of the World" held my undivided attention for 4 hours and the overall impression was somewhere between a nine and a ten. Unfortunately, the final leg of this adventure, the part after the Aborigines leave the whites, turns into agony. It's as if this part was filmed by someone else. The story descends into insane exaggeration, the acting into overacting, and everything turns into something on the verge of embarrassment transfer and boredom. There are endless scenes in which we watch the protagonists of the story watching the "protected witness" quality of the image on their mobile monitors, interspersed with scenes of their psycho-physical descent into madness, all totally unconvincing and quite boring. But the excessive, pretentious, and somewhat pathetic last hour does not diminish the magnificence of the first four. Although I probably would have ended the film with the scenes closely after the death of the mother, even with this crazy, and in my opinion unnecessary, extension, the film is still very impressive and worth the investment of time.
8/10.