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Reviews
Samsara (2001)
Thank you
I just wanted to express my gratitude to Pan Nalin and the entire cast and crew of "Samsara" for creating this brilliant film. I have watched it many times by now and it's one of my favorites.
Being Bulgarian, I am also proud that there's a significant contribution of Bulgarian artists to the production.
But "Samsara" wasn't just a *good film experience* for me, and that's the reason I write this. It changed me.
Everyone has a path in life and we all discover different signs along the path.
"Samsara" was a sign for me.
The story, the music, the visuals... something happened in my mind that is beyond my ability to explain.
Truth is beyond words and that is the purpose of making art - to try and capture a *feeling of truth* and transmit it in an earthly, impermanent form - a poem, a song, a kiss, a film.
"Samsara" touched me and helped me.
Thank you for this.
I'm looking forward to your new creations.
The Beach (2000)
A metaphor for human society...
This movie is really something...
It is a film metaphor for every possible relation, choice and mistake that a person can have in relation to other people.
A metaphor for what human society really is, for what we think we want, and for what we really need.
It is also symbolic for many utopias and social experiments that humanity has undertaken in the course of its conscious history.
The film shows once more that the road to hell is covered with good intentions and that what we consider paradise may actually turn out to be something very ugly.
And what is paradise? Is it in the social or in the asocial? Is it in civilization or in the jungle? The movie asks all these questions without giving straight answers... well, almost...
In that relation, the very last shot of the movie is sheer storytelling brilliance.
The music, the voice-over, the photo slowly appearing and the overall message... universal... fundamental... almost made me cry and I didn't want the story to end... I really had a moment there...
What more would you want from a movie?..
It's perfect for my taste, but probably not for every taste - 10\10.
..
I, for one, also believe in paradise... I don't know what it is... I can sense it sometimes... it's close and I believe that everyone carries it inside... sometimes it happens when we're alone, and sometimes - when we're together... but one thing's for sure...
It's there... and it's close...
Go find it, people !
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Good but flawed
This movie is very well made.
Well written, good actors, convincing set design, costumes and cinematography.
But it has a major flaw.
It is not Russian. It doesn't feel Russian. The main reason is language.
The actors are well cast and all of them could pass for Russians, but the way they act and deliver lines is utterly non-Russian.
The same thing with Doctor Zhivago and The Beast of War, for example.
All very good movies and worth watching, but fake.
For West-European and American audiences they're probably OK, and actually that's their target audience. But for Slavic and Eastern European peoples - they feel fake. Not to speak for the Russians themselves.
So, in my opinion, these kind of movies are a waste of money.
The right way for Hollywood would be to make a co-production, with entirely Russian (or other) cast, and preferably Russian (or other native) over-the-line crew - writer(s), director, set designers, cinematographer.
Something more in the Mel Gibson way.
Nevertheless, such movies are a way for western audiences to get acquainted with other cultures, events and history.
In overall - a good watch: 9\10.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Russell Crowe
There are two things that make this movie exceptional.
First one is the score - the main theme of the movie is maybe the strongest musical illustration of the phenomenon called "genius" - that indescribable flight of the mind, the spirit and the imagination. Just listen to it... it's like you can touch the source of all invention and life in the Universe... like you've been touched by a genius yourself... like enlightenment... like...
---
The second is Russell Crowe's performance...
I believe this is one of the highpoints of movie acting... EVER.
It is so brilliant, that it actually frightens me.
I've discussed this with psychologists and they say that Crowe's portrayal is extremely realistic and believable - John Nash's posture, movements, look and expression.
Again - it's so good, that it frightens me... I really hope Crowe is doing well :).
And the scenes with the old Nash... Man!... A masterpiece of a role.
"A Beautiful Mind" is perfect in every way, but these two elements stick out immensely.
10\10.
You Only Live Twice (1967)
The things I do for England...
This movie is simply perfect. Pure entertainment. And fits so well in its genre.
All the nonsense and things happening "like in the movies" don't spoil the show but rather enhance it. It is so well made.
The Japanese scenery and cultural inserts are awesome and John Barry's score couldn't be more appropriate.
The film's dialog is overfilled with great lines as the one I've put in the title of my comment.
Some of you may say that I'm a crazed Bond fan, but I'm not.
As a boy, I was a great fan of Bond movies and now I've started to watch them again, just for fun.
I watched Dr. No and it is crap, apart from Ursula Anders there's nothing valuable in it. But You Only live twice is different, it is simply very well made - well written and well made.
Forget realism for a while! This is fun!!
10/10.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Well balanced movie
This movie strikes a very good balance between the popcorn-mainstream-pure-fun kind of film-making and a serious attempt at dramatic storytelling.
On one hand, there's the adventure line - Hollywood-styled action sequences, loads of appropriate funny lines, a good amount of unreal-but-acceptable-and-still-enjoyable moments.
On the other hand, there are sufficiently-deepened social and cultural topics involved: the Crusades, growing to maturity, father-son issues, brother-brother issues, other cultures (Islam), the social context of rich and poor, love...
Man, you could almost recognize Karl Marx's communist ideal in the camp preparation sequence, which is very big fun. :))
Serious issues that don't go too deep, in order to keep mainstream audience from falling asleep.
The humor is interwoven on many levels throughout the script. And this is tough!
All of the actors give good performances.
Cool and entertaining antagonists in the faces of Alan Rickman and Michael Wincott. The bishop is also haunting.
"Father Tuck"
:))))
Morgan Freeman is amazing as always.
Kevin Costner's accent is a problem somewhat, but it also adds to the funniness of the picture.
Way to go! To give pure entertainment while including serious dramatic elements is quite a task! Way to go!
I'm surely biased, cause I grew up with it but
I love this movie!
If I give it anything less than 10, I would betray my childhood and I would also insult the good sense for balance in film-making.
Watch it - it's quality time.
10\10.
Stealing Beauty (1996)
Watch this more than once
I had the opportunity to watch this movie twice in a single day - first in the morning, and then, unexpectedly, again - in the evening.
Maybe it was my destiny.. Just maybe...
So at first, I gave it a "9" because I thought there were some minor plot weaknesses.
But when I saw it again, everything just worked...
This isn't a movie that you watch once and you say "Oh yeah!" It just requires more attention. You have to think harder and, something more - you have to feel harder...
As with every great work of art, you have to experience it several times, in order to actually get into it...
And when you do, you could find anything in it...
In time, I'll watch it again, and I hope I can learn something from a true cinema virtuoso.
Watch it more than once - 10/10.
Braveheart (1995)
True and High Art
Without any doubt, one of the greatest motion pictures ever.
It is impossible to describe what an effect this movie has on me... every time I watch it... I can stay for hours, just blinking,... overwhelmed by emotions and thoughts,... unable to do anything at all...
Thinking of the good and true things, that are so few in this cruel world.
Knowing that there are still innocent victims and peoples under oppression.
I remember when I saw Braveheart the first time, back in 1995,...
It was a unique experience not only because of the movie, but also because of the effect it had on the audience. Such situations are very rare.
Everyone in the theater, down to the last man, cried at the end... EVERYONE. It was a big theater and a big crowd too.
When Murron walked from behind the crowd at the moment of Wallace's beheading, I felt something like a cold blade of happy sorrow, going through my throat.
You can't help it.
It was even funny to watch some of my friends feeling uncomfortable because they had cried, while they're trying to play the "macho-down-to-earth" role in life. :) It was very funny :))).
The entire audience was like hit with a sledgehammer, people slowly and quietly going out of the cinema, discussing the movie.
Then it started raining :).
Good old Bulgarian rain
falling straight down
If we should analyze the movie, I think there would hardly be any flaw to find:
FLAWLESS script, master directing, great cinematography, supreme performances by the actors (the Scottish accent of Gibson!),
a devastating score,.. pushing the cold blade even further
In short:
If you haven't watched Braveheart, you haven't watched anything
A true Work Of Art and a touch of the Divine.
God bless you, Mr. Gibson.