agentmiky

I have to agree with the majority opinion. While Denzel won an Oscar for this film, I think Ethan Hawke's performance was somewhat overlooked. The audience fully immersed themselves in his role, from which there was essentially no escape. He played the rookie role with real finesse, and his transformation from a naive young man to someone who understands the corruption within law enforcement was impressive. On the other hand, it’s not a groundbreaking film that would knock me off my seat. Denzel delivered his standard performance as a detective playing by his own rules, a character archetype that’s well-established in cinema. Nothing surprising, but it served its purpose. The intense dialogues between Hawke and Washington were a joy to watch. The action was present but sparse, as Antoine Fuqua seemed more focused on depicting the darker side of police work, which he did quite well. I might have expected a more chilling ending that would leave a stronger impression, and as it stands, it fizzled out a bit. Still, I recommend it, and I give it 79%.

Scorsese is indeed a master artist. He manages to extract the maximum from a simple premise, squeezing every bit of potential out of it. I haven't seen the 1962 original, and I'm not sure if I'll ever be in the mood for a film that's over half a century old, but I can say that I find it hard to believe that the original could surpass the remake. The standout here is Robert De Niro, who delivers an iconic performance as a maniacal lunatic with impressive ease (that slicked-back hairstyle might have added to the believability). Nick Nolte also delivers a strong performance, but De Niro maintains a slight edge and doesn’t let anyone surpass him. The revenge plot is fairly ordinary, but the execution compensates for that. The intense music and the suffocating atmosphere of the impending moments, where you have no idea what the slimy criminal will do next, were striking. De Niro’s emotionless face shots were especially unsettling. The only thing missing from a perfect score is a more developed ending; everything that survived bordered on fantasy. Still, it’s a well-executed film, and I give it 81%.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film; it’s been a long time since we got such an original sci-fi movie. For a modest budget, Leigh Whannell delivered a film that I’ll remember for a long time. The initial trailers promised something grand. The first thing I have to mention is the camera work. Although it sometimes seemed like it was operated by a madman, it didn’t induce epileptic seizures like the latest Resident Evil. The dynamic capturing of all the fights, while still looking sleek and recognizable, is quite rare. The plot with artificial intelligence might seem clichéd, but the idea of an implanted chip with built-in AI is something I haven’t seen before. Add to that adrenaline-pumping fistfights, a proper bloody bath, and a more than capable doppelgänger performance (Logan Marshall-Green fully showcased his talent here), and we have a contender for sci-fi film of the year. The Australians have once again shown Hollywood that you don’t need a huge budget for a great film (just look at Wyrmwood as an example). The ending was a definite surprise, and everything made sense by the end. Now, I just hope for a sequel where STEM could be in a human body like the T-1000. I really hope for that. I give it 85%.

I can understand why many people view the film as a perfect minimalist experience that is rarely seen. However, I belong to those who were not particularly impressed by it. From the opening scene, I started having questions, and I couldn’t come up with a coherent answer. What the hell is this going to be? Did someone go off the rails here? As the film progressed, these questions ceased to bother me, and the idea of the story being told from a book intrigued me. It might have been the casting that played a role in this. Gyllenhaal, as always, delivers a top-notch performance (I don’t know of a film where he hasn’t), and Michael Shannon's casting as the tough Texas detective also couldn’t have turned out badly. As I mentioned, the detective storyline was fine, but the one set in the present didn’t captivate me. I don’t think Adams is to blame, but it just didn’t appeal to me. And of course, the ending completely ruined it for me. As a viewer, I expect a thriller’s conclusion to hit me like an arrow to the chest. That effect wasn’t achieved here. I give it 61%.

One of the most creative directors of today, especially in the realm of animated films, has once again delivered an exceptional film. Not everyone might see it as their cup of tea, but it undoubtedly found an audience that appreciated it. Wes Anderson won me over with Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Grand Budapest Hotel, and now he has completed a truly unique hat-trick of bizarre, yet one-of-a-kind films. Setting the film in Japan speaks volumes on its own; I was particularly impressed with the decision not to translate some of the Japanese dialogue, allowing the viewer’s imagination to play a significant role. The animation may not be groundbreaking, but the moving figures still have their charm, and the scenes of the four-legged furry creatures with their fur blowing in the wind were very calming. There are also hilarious moments, and while another person’s attention to detail and perfectionism might cause uncountable issues, you don’t have to worry about that with Wes. A genius like him with a sense for detail has no equal. This was quite a film, and I give it 86%.

A fantastic animated film that surprised me in every way. While I don't consider myself an avid fan of the first one, I always enjoy watching it. With sequels, it's hard to please fans, and often there's a tendency to go for bigger, more bombastic action. This film certainly delivers in that regard; I was thoroughly impressed. But what’s more, it didn't forget to include humorous situations, often centered around little Jack-Jack. As many have already noted, he steals the show, whether it's with the raccoon or in the hilarious sequences involving Edna. Brad Bird once again proved he excels at creating well-balanced animated films and can still deliver nearly flawless entertainment. I said "nearly" intentionally—something was missing from the villain to make him top-notch. Therefore, I can't give the film a perfect score without reservation. Still, I award it a strong four stars and highly recommend catching it in movie theaters. It’s worth it. I give it 86%.

A short animated film that personally didn’t resonate with me, and honestly, I wish I could get those eight minutes back. The animation was fine; that wasn't the issue. However, when it comes to the idea and story, that's a different matter. I understand that many people saw this film in movie theaters before the new Incredibles (I’m also in that group). And by "many," I mean the younger audience. I believe the story about a living dumpling and its subsequent consumption isn't suitable for children. I get that they were aiming for a metaphor about life (dumpling vs. son), but the execution was lacking and, more importantly, the target audience wouldn't grasp it. Some kids even found the nearly horror-like moment unsettling, which is problematic. It gets 32%.

A film I kept postponing, I just didn’t feel like watching it. Now I can say with a clear conscience that it was a huge mistake. The film tackles very serious social issues, strong neo-Nazism and the associated racism towards minorities, and isn’t afraid to show their true side. Everyone should see this film, as it also serves as a documentary depiction of their customs and acts as a kind of probe into their lives. It’s not easy to watch, it’s quite intense. Both Edwards are truly excellent, Norton, in my opinion, opened the doors to Hollywood with this amazing performance; after this film, offers must have been flying onto his desk one after another. On the other hand, it’s a shame that such a talented actor is no longer as utilized these days. At times, the black-and-white filter further intensifies the dense atmosphere. I don’t know the director well, but anyone who manages to make you genuinely hate the main character at the beginning and then, by the end, when he tries to reset his life and start with a clean slate and simply live normally, makes you sympathize with him, has accomplished something. The ending is crushing, as expected. You simply can’t escape the past, no matter how hard you try. I might add a few more percent over time; for now, it’s a strong four stars, and I give it 86%.

A crazy barrage of cringe-worthy situations and such clichéd and bad jokes that, in the end, it actually worked and slowly became a cult classic, at least for me. It’s abundantly clear who Robert Rodriguez's spiritual father is, as Tarantino’s unmistakable style is immediately recognizable. The film is teeming with one famous name after another, so everyone gets their moment. Danny Trejo doesn’t say much; instead, his beloved machete speaks for him. Such a plethora of truly original ideas is rarely seen, whether it’s using intestines instead of ropes or mounting a rotating machine gun on a souped-up motorcycle. Like, seriously, this isn’t a normal, everyday thing. The story can be considered absolutely ridiculous, but that’s exactly the point. It’s hard to say what makes this film stand out so much. The very concept of a machete-wielding killer sounds outlandish, but the execution turned it into a brilliant piece. Add to that the beautiful Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez, who balance out the brutal male violence, and you’ve got a perfectly balanced hit. I give it 84%, and I might add more over time. Now I’m gearing up to watch the second installment.

I was expecting a somewhat different approach. From the trailers, one might think that Justin Lin would deliver a series full of luxurious action sequences and an overall adrenaline-packed ride. No, that didn’t materialize. It might serve as light entertainment for an afternoon, where you switch off your brain, but it was a bit of a letdown for me personally. Some of the cases tackled by the SWAT team don’t seem to fall within their jurisdiction; they end up functioning as all security agencies across the USA, and thus the series doesn’t really focus on credibility. Even when there are a few tense sequences, it all still looks like cheap B-movie fare. Definitely not something from a director who significantly contributed to Star Trek. The cast is decent; Shemar Moore is a very charismatic actor, and the role of Hondo seems tailor-made for him. So, I advise you not to expect too much. If you don’t have high expectations, you might enjoy it. I give it 63%.