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ymghali
Reviews
Et maintenant on va où? (2011)
sound cinematic language
Nadine Labaki proves she is a talented director with a lot to say. she breaks many "regional" taboos, like the use of candid language, only to be honest in the messages she wants to deliver and the picture she wants to reflect. In a way, due to lack of film production in the region, society has evolved and changed a lot in the past few decades and now we need someone like Nadine to provide a true mirror and a strong message. Dealing with the question of religion in a country that suffered from civil war is not an easy task, yet it is done in a subtle way that doesn't offend anyone. Delivering messages of the role of woman is also presented delicately and a nice sense of humour, thus ensuring the message is spelled out clearly without any preaching. It is a very positive film, well crafted in all aspects, scenario, shooting and most importantly, depicting the characteristics that makes any society special, yet part of the eternal human quest for a better life. There was a bit of too much melodrama, but in defense of the film - and from first hand experience, this is the way mothers lament and wail when losing a child. It is a very Mediterranean thing; perhaps the Italians and Greek can understand this element best. I avoided reading any reviews before drafting mine in order not to be influenced by any thoughts. In short, it is a well done film that revives hope of cultural life sprouting again from this region and reaching the world. Well done Nadine, looking forward to see your next film.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Good Stuff
Pixar does it again (yeah everyone says that because they deserve it), funny - sorry hilarious, didactic for both kids and adults, dramatic, and definitely first class entertainment. Technically speaking, all characters outsmarted their earlier performance both animation-wise and character-wise. What we expect Woody or Buzz to do is right there. At one moment, when Buzz goes Spanish all the theatre exploded in laughter it was hilarious. When Andy is giving away the toys you could hear people crying both young and adults and unashamedly. The didactic feature gains more importance because it is not straightforward. Toy Story makes us think about themes such as boredom, the purpose of our existence, retirement, loyalty, friendship, trust, the environment, giving for charity, the fact that at one moment we need to let go of things we cherish because holding on to the past makes things stagnant. We only learn to appreciate the things we have (including emotions) when are about to lose them. Yet, we must be courageous enough to keep moving forward. All are great lessons. What's more important is that there is no glorification of crime Hollywood style. I advise people to watch it again and again and take their kids too.
The Informant! (2009)
should be a documentary tele-film
Being based on a true story, "The Informant" lacks the action needed for cinema as medium, including psychological action. It can make a good documentary or a tele-film but a film meant to be shown on theatre screens it is a failure. It is always a huge challenge to produce a story that was published in a book and based on true events. In "Troy" they shamelessly changed the order of events and main elements f the story which raises questions about how much one can be free when producing a well known story. "The Informant" talks about bipolar-ism as if everyone who watches films knows about the symptoms of this psychological illness disorder. It is a boring experience to watch the film as it narrates incidents in a documentary style and makes no attempt to shed light on what led the main character to behave in this way. Some may say cause is because it is based on a true story, a poor defense for not knowing how to maneuver while maintaining the thin thread between actual facts and explanatory efforts.
2012 (2009)
great visuals, cliché content
For its genre as a disaster movie, 2012 delivers what it promises: excitement, great visual effects (though over-stated as "digital") and suspense. However, it lacks the creativity and novelty expected in the 21st century. Unfortunately, the one thing that I wished for not to be present in a "global" disaster movie, was very much there indeed: the clichés about the different people that make up the population of our planet. For a film that takes glimpses of nations and people across the Globe, it failed to provide real "human" knowledge about the characteristics of different communities on the planet. Stereo-typed Indians, Russian "nouveau riche", rich Arabs, religious Italians, authoritarian corrupt Chinese, simple Tibetan monks and of course, the American Super Hero, make the main characters. The plot is weak as these is no elaboration on the predictions and scientific causes of the disaster other than the naive statement that the Earth is becoming a "microwave" because of the alignment of the planets. The symbolism of Noah's Arch and having a child-character by this name had a bad influence on the suspense element. In defense for the movie, one can say that great efforts were done to produce convincing visual effects and that it makes a good entertainment film. Perhaps I aspired for a more enriching experience that would relate to human intelligence. I was wrong. I advise those who haven't seen it yet to do so but not to expect more than "good" and "decent" entertainment.
The Dark Knight (2008)
great film, bad message
There's no doubt that The Dark Noight is one of the best 2008 films so far. Its first half is full of action, never boring and surpasses all expectations. However, in the second half, the action subsides and it turns into a suspense picture, and may I say, not so successfully as it is based on the famous comics. For people who haven't read or seen x-batman stories and movies, The Dark Night fails to capture their attention or focus as there are many information gaps that the director hasn't been careful enough to bridge for them. No matter how popular the story of a film is, still it should present a complete unit of meaning for new spectators. The performance of the lead characters is amazingly good, the special effects are convincing and they add more value to the "Batman Legend". When the action slows down in the second half, the philosophy of the "Joker" is amounts to call for anarchy. Between the ambivalence of life, the everlasting struggle between good and evil, there's plenty of roaming in grey areas. I know that the director can't change the main incidents but at least he could change focus and tone. Still it is a great movie and soon will be a classic that deserves watching it again and again.
WALL·E (2008)
cry of warning
Stupendous. although my comment says there might be spoilers, I'll minimize talking about the events of the movie to the extent that helps prove my point of view. Pixar takes us through the short cartoon at the beginning that smartly relaxes the audience and puts them in the right mood, to a stunningly well-animated well-woven story where machines have feelings and humans have been automated. It can be described as a "cry of warning" about the currents human and political condition of the world. In his efforts to anticipate everything and protect life, Man has forgotten the basic principles of logic and even instincts. The political dimension isn't absented as there is a character that leaves very little room to maneuver in guessing who it is, or what it represents (let the auto pilot take over). On the other hand, a robot follows his instincts and finds a love so great that it can save humanity. Beautifully illustrated, the facial expressions and animations are amazingly illustrated, the E voices are so full of emotions that they surpass all ex-Pixar films and leave no doubt that they are The Masters. Wall E is a great work of art that has a strong message for those who want to use their heads.
What Happens in Vegas (2008)
didactic?
obviously most viewers agree that it's a funny movie, which is fair enough. however, i want to tackle a different issue here, the ever so beautiful Cameron Diaz character starts the film as a woman who plans meticulously for everything, her work, her bf birthday party ... etc. She's so busy making plans about plans to the extent that she begins to lose any sense of happiness in her life. there's a famous saying in Arabic which when roughly translated means "it is impossible to please everyone". i won't spoil the film for those who haven't seen it and would like to watch it and consider this "didactic" or serious angle. apart from that "What happens in Vegas" delivers what it promises: some fun and a few good laughs. perhaps the chemistry between Ashton and Cameron has to do with it. what i liked most though was that the director chose not to bore us with too many scenes in Vegas which is great.
Into the Wild (2007)
elevates the soul
This is a straight ace film, never boring and very clean. It truly elevates the soul. The great scenery is well captured. There was a scene where people were singing country songs, you could almost "smell" the aroma of the open air gathering. Running away from family and conventional society in search of one's identity and aim in life is by no means a new theme, but the authenticity of the story and the director's deep understanding of his work never makes you board. The didactic element is spelled out clearly because "Chris" came to the conclusion that "happines is real only when shared". While people may have virtual names and characters in today's cyber space; while we may sometimes shrink inside ourselves or run away from our surrounding conditions; this film comes to say: live your own life, no disguise no running away, be surrounded by people because this is what life is all about, sharing happiness. The performance was amazing. But the most important thing is that ,since it's a true story, it's a tribute to the young man whose adventures made him realize that life is simpler than it seems to be. Just ask yourself if you can burn the little cash you have and go out on the road, think if you can resist physical temptations when the opportunity arises. can you abandon everything and go out and look for the meaning of life? Shooting the moose without being able to feed on it was the biggest tragedy of Cris's life. How guilty does that make us feel. We only realize the importance of food towards the end of the film. Thanks for all involved in the making of this wonderful work of art. Actually what makes this biography an excellent work of art is the director's successful use of flashbacks, thus getting away from routine and melodrama.
10,000 BC (2008)
Children stuff
Just came out from the theatre where i saw the movie in Dubai UAE. I can only say that I had a big disappointment. First I have to admit that having seen the trailer raised my expectations and then the truth hit me: the plot is very simple, more like a children's tale. The dialogue is too shallow. The routine goes like this: every time there is a challenge it is solved through prophecy, or the solution can be predicted through prphecy, thus killing all suspense. It was not historically accurate: Pyramids were graves for the Pharaohs. Ancient Egyptians, and indirectly Arabs, are being portrayed as savages. Discoveries near the pyramids in Egypt revealed that construction workers were well taken care of both medically and nutritionally. Mammoths were extinct long before the pyramids were build. It can't be argued that ancient Egypt isn't the place because of the shape of the pyramids. The way those Egyptians are dressed is so out of context site and history. Had my expectations been less it would be a nice entertainment. The things is the title of the movie entails the way the viewers perceive it. A title with a specific time-reference such as 10000 BC, makes it impossible not to think of historical elements. I recommend that children aged 8-12 see it and forget it. D'leh is being portrayed as a tragic hero who is so honest that he doesn't want to claim glory unless rightly deserved, that's the only thing that makes us sympathize with him and to some extent, provides a moral lesson.
Rendition (2007)
no problem-roots discussed but still a great film
Rendition was satisfactory in the sense that it revealed the extent to which average innocent people are affected by the turn of events after 9/11th. However, the film doesn't, nor does it claim to, discuss the roots of the problem. No shedding of light on the emergence of extreme movements is attempted. The whole thing is brought to an unnamed country in NA. What I liked is that it concentrated on how average people are affected by both: extremists and governments that endeavour to fight them. People caught in the middle of a vicious crossfire are usually not remembered; but here is where the importance of rendition comes. It says look at how ordinary people are affected by the ongoing war against terrorism. Myrel Streep's performance was amazing as usual. The Arab cast was very good, Zenib has a future, remember that name folks.