Reviews

In the end evil wins: is this the message by writer Cormac McCarthy? But..is it? Where is consciousness? Police cannot help in this movie. They just watch the developments. Anyway, Javier Bardem turns to be very exciting in his continuous search for the taker of the money. Josh Brolin seems to be not so resourceful, he makes serious mistakes as the accidental cowboy who finds the money near Rio Grande in an area where the fight between drug gangs occurred. Existentialism can be proud as a theory that found ground in these characters. This movie is major thriller, different from regular westerns, pure antihollywood stuff. Speed is not so important when you want to draw characters and their governing philosophy.

Kazantzakis installs the Nietzsche philosophy in this masterpiece though in Kapetan Michalis or Christ Recrucified goes deeper into characters with a different literary form. Kakoyiannis gives a vivid colour of rural Crete with village problems and expectations. It would be good to see a version with Greek actors in the leading roles but maybe the international perspective will not be achieved. Alan Bates depicts a writer so much delved in reading that misses essential areas of social life. Anthony Quinn speaks some funny Greek that give extra flavour to the environment. Lila Kedrova plays the miserable lady waiting in vain for Cannavaro. Giorgos Fountas is the bad guy like in Stella. The widow by Irene Papas turns as the best appearance for a lady stabbed for rejecting the Mavrantonis' son.

Folcloric elements, religion in the form of a mountainous monastery, sea turmoil, countryside scenery and peasants mingle together to produce a mosaic of Greek culture and lifestyle.

Three guys related from marrying three sisters (Batzanakides) meet in Northern Greece at Lake Volvi. The two of them (Panos and Michalis) have as have as destination the Thasos Island whilst the third guy (Antonis) comes to see what is happening with other two falling behind. Panos was struck with the view of a beautiful accompanied girl during the route. Antonis will fall in love too (with the one of the two nurses of Panos) Two old ladies (Sultana and Arhontoula) sitting nearby will act as DJ using a CD player offering very good popular music that suits to the evolution of the movie. Antonis will go to Porto Carras Hotel at Halkidiki with the two nurses for casino playing and will use the number that fails for Panos and Michalis.  The movie turns into a study on how men perceive marriage and the impact economics have on their life.  "Eheis dikaioma na meineis i na fygeis" (Music: Nicos Zervas, Lyrics: Stavros Tsiolis) was a later success with Antonis Remos.

A solitary writer sleeps on his past success until he meets a young boy with exceptional writing capabilities.The boy will confront a teacher at college and this will bring the writer back to action to defend his friend.A movie dedicated to important elements such as the Connery autobiography,the task of writing a novel and the tradition of previous novelists who embellished the structure of literature.Unique scenery from New York city adds to the soft atmosphere assisted by jazz music in an environment of quality and escape from the commercial exploitation of the cinema industry that is met in other movies. Well done Connery!A movie for 10/10!

An epic film everybody will enjoy.It was about time,'Ben Hur' goes very old.A new effort to give epic,touching and human moments from the Roman Empire at 180 A.D..Marcus Aurelius trusts only Maximus but his son Commodus will do everything to obtain the power.Great fight between gladiators,lack of big actor names,Spielberg assists in production uncredited and at overall this film will entertain for sure.

A happy-merry-go-round comedy with Madonna willing to have a kid at any political cost(erase the word 'political'). The ignorant father will love that child and will fight to keep him by his side.Touching moments,motherly care and a bright kid that can conquer any sympathy.Excellent act by Rupert Everett.Without him,the movie would go for a big flop because Madonna is not so convincing. Good plot and effectual philosophy on human relations,on the gay issue and the theoretical ground of 'father'.

In a tortured climate,Kourkoulos portraits a brave man fighting for democracy in Greece during the dictatorship of 1967.Following the techniques of the film noire,Thomopoulos shoots in a slow pace illustrating the love of two young persons and pinpointing the problems in modern Greece with social perspectives.Espionage,terrorism and human interactivity construct the framework of this movie.

One of the few charismatic movies one can view.The will of a

very old man to visit his brother living in Wisconsin and being ill due to a stroke.A man hoping to make a huge change in his life by attempting to travel on a tiny John Deere mowing tractor to make the route Iowa-Wisconsin:excellent field scenery of the States and adventurous scenes.The human touch looking for a new meaning in life even when very old in age.Relations are highly marked,characters are closely depicted and some scenes are approached very slowly to show an element of philosophical thought:amusing moments.Great movie!

Lakis Lazopoulos gives a great performance in his debut to movies.He personifies the twin brothers of a Cretan village.The first-born brother has to revenge the killing of his grandfather though the other brother is the one who has the guts to do such a thing.Magnificent music by Mikis Theodorakis,unique scenery from Crete and amusing plot in Australia:these are the basic elements of the movie.Hilarious comedy mostly in English but enhanced with the perfect personality of the classical 'evil woman' of the Greek cinematography,viz. Tasso Kavvadia.The agony of the vendetta and the power of love form the basis for this well-conceived story.Rural life in contrast with the city mess of buildings create a solid ground to enjoy concepts of Greek tradition:hospitality,willingness to help('filotimo') and respect for women.Clever jokes and a warm hymn to friendship and love embellish the 2-hour story of human joy against pain and seclusion.

A comedy with plenty of tragical elements.It is very usual to make combinations in movies these days.Bruce Willis plays the husband that tries his best to communicate with his wife (Michelle Pfeiffer).The children take the role of the basic factor that can save the marriage.Noone can predict that the marriage will be a real problem in the future.If psychology and logical approach to marriage could give some kind of guidance,then this movie would not address such a big issue.Effort and good will can contribute but exogenous and mental parameters impinge on any thought.The theory of behaviourism by Skinner takes precedence here.Nothing is free in this world.If you want to survive,you've got to fight for yourself.Never rely on others.Friendship is not primary.Courage is.

It has been from 'One flew over the cuckoo's nest' to get the opportunity to see a 188-minute masterpiece with Tom Hanks as the senior guard in a prison designed for executions on the electric chair.A Goliath-shape prisoner,John Coffey,will change everything.He is apparently innocent but he cares to cure suffering people.Perfect mirroring of prison life,the adverse character of Percy,the amusing movements of Jingles the mouse and the all-around astonishing performance of Hanks with the real help of officer Brutus(Brutal) construct a magic scenery that will keep the interest unabated.It is weird that this movie did not receive any Oscar when its strength is so ubiquitous.At least 10/10.

a masterpiece of good direction signed by Milos Forman and vivid performance(Jack Nickolson).Movies like this and 'Francis' draw the line on the problems in institutions caring for the mentally sick people.Human solidarity against the brutal conduct of the supervisors create the scene that accuses indifference.An end to lack of interest for suffering people must be given in a cruel society.

This movie will teach you one thing:never remove a tooth without some kind of anesthesia.Beyond this,you can enjoy the magic Thai scenery but do not expect act performance.The plot is not adequately interconnected.The meaning and the importance of any incident cannot be justified.The absence of any serious venture affects the originality and the creativity and the effort can hardly convince.6/10.

A young boy,Lefteris is neglected during primary school.He cannot read.A newly-appointed teacher undertakes to rectify the mistake done by previous teachers.The headmaster will react adversely.The boy's father will not support his son.Her mother will help at her best.The teacher will fight to accomplish an educational goal.The technique of communication will be utilised to achieve a major change for a boy that managed to build his bicycle by his own hands.Social problems in modern Athens are well depicted.A simple,strong and carefully-conceived movie with Alexandris as a conscious teacher and Halaris as the small boy with the granite will to learn.A good sign that greek cinematography goes better than ever to create a new tradition of philosophical and social movies.

The remake of the 1955 film edition based on Graham Greene's novel brings the extra thrill needed after the 'English patient'.Ralph Fiennes is here again in an era movie showing London bombarded during WWII.Julianne Moore will suffer the consequences of fierce jealousy by her lover.Psychology and social relations take precedence in this philosophical novel.Sarah Miles will promise in her great faith to God not to see her beloved Maurice Bendrix if he survives the explosion and stay with her husband Henry forever.Hard decisions intermingled with passionate feelings in a conservative society of that timeline.The act of love in a war catastrophe gives colour to difficult ways of life.

A suburban guy faces the problems of middle age. He meets and falls in love with the classroom mate of her daughter,a very attractive girl.His wife has a relation with a rich property developer and his daughter is monitored by the videocamera of a teenager drug user/dealer living next door. Human relations,sexual profanity,lack of communication between a married couple,adolescence confusion,rose petals reminding of the word 'rosebud' in 'citizen kane'(actually the developer is called kane).After 'american graffiti' and simultaneously with the 'american pie' comes a rather social masterpiece going for a 8/10 rating and nominated for 8 oscars.A good soundtrack with the 'seeker' by Who.

Guitarist Ry Cooder discovered that some old Cubans are very precious in keeping the traditional music that inherited Latin folk and Latin jazz to modern times.With concerts in Cuba,Amsterdam and Carnegie Hall-NY,Ibrahim and the others entertained the universe via the great CD with the same name.Wenders works in documentary style that will not capture the full attention.The musical value of the movie though is unique.

Elia Kazan illustrates the social environment for a woman coming to visit her pregnant sister.A violent Stanley Kovalski will attack the confused Dubois at every occasion.In the birthplace of jazz,New Orleans at a time when poverty was in the first line,Vivian Leigh plays the fate-struck English teacher that will be contempted by the vulgar master of the house impersonated by Marlon Brando.The impact of bad memories will be apparent in every human interaction.Tennessee Williams gives the way for the study of woman's psychology in relation to a opponent attitude by the man.The spouse of Kovalski will not be able to see the gap formed by atrocity,social humiliation,urban poverty and the waterproof norms of modern America.Blanche will not hide her dark past and will not give any effort to hide things from an admirer.People fall victims of their own wrongful doings and they are willing to accept the consequences in life's struggle.Women suffering like the ones in Almodovar's 'All about my mother',a movie that persisted in showing excerpts from this Williams' play.

After the great success of 'Safe sex' comes a rather good movie that will not enjoy the same number of tickets as the aforementioned one.Comedy is a hard kind.Women searching for ex-spouse relations in a fast environment with language idioms that will make the spectator trying to follow.Major elements:a small city near the sea,a gymnastics center,web presence,a hidden camera,blackmail,sexual mess,a newspaper director with his cigar,a bulldozer fleet owner,a hairdressing saloon with a gay hairdresser.The movie will convince that sex is torturing under these uncontrolled circumstances and someone has to define the meaning of love.

Spanish cinema excels.Almodovar masters the study about woman.A mother willing to make every sacrifice for her son.Willing to meet the transvestite father of her son.La Agrado,a transsexual that will give lots of laughter. Nina,her problem with AIDS and the distance from her mother. In the background of a theatrical play like 'A streetcar named desire'.Women trying to survive,get to know each other and give a happy meaning to life.A movie dedicated to every mother.

What if Bruce Willis leaves the Armageddon situation trying to solve another problem? What problem?A kid is tortured by dead persons willing to speak whenever to whoever at any cost. A thriller based on the unexpected.It can help you learn what that dead familiar person thought about you... Child psychology,spiritual events and the meaning of death are questions to be addressed by this movie studying terror.

Nicos Koemtzis ordered a zeibekiko,a dance designed to be performed by one person only originating from the oriental family of dances.Most people believe that the song ordered was 'Ta dyo sou heria pirane' by Vamvakaris.Some viewers argue that the song that it is heard in the movie is 'Antilaloune dyo fylakes'.This remains a problem in the noise produced in music places.1973:the dictatorship era.An order(paraggelia) for a song to be danced by Koemtzis.Some people interfere during his performance by dancing simultaneously.Eight persons are stabbed,3 of them killed.Koemtzis will be sentenced for life(in 1996 he was granted a grace).'To makry zeibekiko gia ton Niko' by D. Savvopoulos is one of the songs illustrating the Tasios' movie.The political ramifications of the story are uncleared.The movie can be seen as a mosaic presenting human pain and humiliation.Koemtzis became a symbol of courage.This kind of dance continues to be a legendary expression in the context of movies like 'Zorba','Stella','Drakos','Evdokia','Rebetiko' and 'Kaixis' which are all related to the history of music and dance in contemporary Greece.

A film belonging to the few that are deemed as masterpieces of the world cinema.Orson Welles at 25 directed this clever movie inspired from the life of multimillionaire publisher Hearst in the role of Kane.A film that was pursued to be destroyed but finally saved.New cinematography and sound techniques are utilised in this movie.The life and works of a very rich publisher controlling the media,his effort to become a political figure,his quarrels with his two spouses,his traumatic experience when he was a kid,his friendship with Leland and the search by a reporter about the meaning of the word 'rosebud'.

Harrison Ford excels as an Internal Affairs officer searching after a plane accident on why his wife went to Florida for no reason.Human relations and romance mingle together in a context of mysterious events.Revealing the truth can be torturing but sometimes it is the only way to satiate human anxiety.