Change Your Image
Aginor
Reviews
Sacred Planet (2004)
Brainwashing
This is another lousy God selling commercial movie, it 'sells' us "All life is sacred, and everything is the spirit of one." Apparently there are some natives, somewhere in the wild world, they have lived by these ideals since time immemorial, but now they face extinction. They want their voices heard and it's time for us to listen! Sadly we don't hear their voices; their voices are dubbed in English, and to give the native flavor, they have been dubbed in native-sounding 'bad' English! The movie speaks about how all life is one spirit, and how it is proper to see the earth as a mother, yet it presents these ideas so conceptually, with makeup but without feeling; we are almost forced to agree with it, because it sounds so logical and there are so many beautiful hypnotizing scenes. The movie has no philosophy. It doesn't touch the ground, it doesn't say anything. There's nothing that 'evolves' or 'developes' in it. Some people may find it relaxing to watch the beautiful landscapes, but after you relax, the constant commercial sounding assertion that all life is divine, sensing the hidden manipulation that we should all become new-agers and live like tribal men gets boring fast. Everything is covered in a wave of nostalgia. It makes you feel stupid. The spiritual depth of the concepts are taken very lightly. I would wish this God, whatever it is, would stay inside the movie and rule there whatever it wants. I want my movie to stay in the movie. Don't stretch out of your boundaries and teach me reality!
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Unimaginative and boring
I went to see this one with much expectation. Quite unfortunately the dialogue is utterly stupid and overall the movie is far from inspiring awe or interest. Even a child can see the missing logic to character's behaviors. Today's kids need creative stories which would inspire them, which would make them 'daydream' about the events. That's precisely what happened with movies like E.T. and Star Wars a decade ago. (How many kids imagined about becoming Jedi Knights and igniting their own lightsabers?) Seriously don't waste your time & money on this one.
X-Men (2000)
Both thumbs up! 11 out of 10 !!
Although I'm very interested in the science-fiction genre, prior to watching this movie I knew almost nothing about X-Men at all. I went to the film expecting much; afterall wherever Patrick Stewart acts, he always adds that magical spark, but the movie really exceeded my expectations ten times... It's quite basically one of the most successful science fiction films I've ever watched!
Be it acting, scenario, or special effects, this film is well equipped to please the audience in all areas. I also liked the way X-Men were introduced: since I knew nothing about them (and for the likes of me) certain information was necessary. However an unbalanced introduction could have caused the veteran X-Men readers to get bored perhaps. The movie manages to keep both newcomers and old readers satisfied.
Perhaps some may argue about acting, for usually there is not enough space left to act in science fiction movies (which by the way is not what I think at all. Just the usual comment I keep hearing now and then.) I really liked certain mimics of characters, most especially Wolverine's. When it's the fiction genre you're talking about, and again when you're dealing with characters who have plenty of super powers, you have to balance the information of what they can do, with enough data about their personality. Here, the body language is a great tool, and certainly it has been of a great assistance for providing a good insight about the heroes of this movie.
The film at one point reminded me of "Blade", which is also based on comics. Both of these films use similar techniques (in my humble opinion) to re-create the atmosphere on the silver screen. And it works pretty well.
Well, Patrick Stewart is... well he is a living legend for sure. And in this movie, he is as incredible as ever. But for me, the star of the movie was Hugh Jackman. And most of the storyline revolves around him. (Wolverine). I am hoping to see equally successful sequels to this movie with the same cast.
The drawbacks? None!... It's flawless, it's beautiful, it's entertaining.. An all around adventurous trip in 100 minutes and gets my both thumbs up. 11 out of 10!
Fight Club (1999)
Might be interesting for some, not for me...
I have been told to watch this one a thousand times, so I followed the film as carefully as I could. It did keep me interested in the first half, in fact it was more like I forced myself to watch the 1st half, because the same people told me the movie will not make sense until the end. So I was expecting something very clever, something crazy enough that would make me think for days (The type of intelligent ending that shocks you like the Sixth Sense did). I was very disappointed when I did reach the end though. I thought it was predictable. And the movie was just TOO violent to deliver its message and made my stomach turn many times. The film did get some good reviews, so try it out for yourself if you wish, but be prepared for mindless and an unnecessary amount of violence and bloodshed. And do not expect too much from the ending. While watching, I constructed many ideas and possible endings that could perhaps make it more interesting and I was fairly displeased.
Kull the Conqueror (1997)
Could have been so much more
I particularly enjoy fantasy type of films that are set in medieval times and these films are so rare in todays market, that I forced myself to enjoy this one. It's not really bad and I love the performers individually but something just doesn't quite happen with this one. The effects are OK, the soundtrack is very good (very interesting heavy metal & orchestration) and reflects the mood pretty good. But overall, the films is definitely very far from where it could be :(
Hideaway (1995)
Why??
I saw this movie just two weeks later I read the book, so I was pretty much eager to see it. The book is definetely a must. I was thrilled page by page on this Dean R. Koontz's classic. Unfortunately the movie is about everything the book isn't.
Minor changes always take place when adapting a book to a movie either for good or for bad, so I guess it could have been acceptable up to a degree. But so many important events and characters have been altered in this one, and I just can't hold myself to ask : "Why?"
The characters never develop in this film. We know almost nothing about Hatch's wife or about Hatch for that matter, which gives us little reason to care for them. The same goes for the villain Vassago too, but most importantly I was shocked about Regina. She's one of the characters that is richest in detail in the book, and just I couldn't accept her at all in the film. So much of the fun and thought has been excluded. In fact the only common thing between the two Reginas is their name! Perhaps the film makers thought it would be more 'commercial' if they put someone who is sweet, sexy and popular (Alicia Silverstone). And oh yes, of course Regina has no disabilities like in the book, she has a pretty hand with all fingers... It would be improper to put a Regina who had some physical disabilities in a Hollywood film, wouldn't it??!
I don't usually compare movies and the books they are based on, but unintelligent changes of events and characters have taken out all the fun out of this one. If you forget about the book, it's just another horror type of movie. (Because they chose to neglect the parts that made the book unique)
Shame...
(2 out of 10)
Kull the Conqueror (1997)
Could have been so much more
I particularly enjoy fantasy type of films that are set in medieval times and these films are so rare in todays market, that I forced myself to enjoy this one. It's not really bad and I love the performers individually but something just doesn't quite happen with this one. The effects are OK, the soundtrack is very good (very interesting heavy metal & orchestration) and reflects the mood pretty good. But overall, the films is definitely very far from where it could be :(
Le Cinquième Élément (1997)
Just great!
Chris Tucker's Ruby Rhod character is just way too amazing. I've seen this one over and over again. All the performances are very fine. Mila makes a pretty good 5th element and she really manages to pull out a funny character (Multi Pass!). The Diva Plavalaguna scene (the opera) is a great musical accomplishment. It has all the needed to make a comedy/action and more. Perfect!
Krull (1983)
I still remember it after 16 years
I've seen this one some 16 years ago, when I was just a little kid. But it left such an inspirational mark on me, I still remember scenes from it. Perhaps it's this film that caused me to love fantasy type of films. I think, though the film has an ordinary plot, the details do make it interesting. That great mind controlled blade for example, I still remember that. This one's a classic for me.