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tick, tick...BOOM! (2021)
Join the dreaming in this musical niche story worth the look
We are in the era of brick sized cell phones, windows 3.11 and real social interactions, namely New York in the 90s. Here we go, straight into the universe of musical composer and ambitious talent Jonathan Larson, who struggles hard getting people interested in the play he wrote over the last decade of his life. He enjoys the bohemian live with his friends, having a dream, fantasy thoughts and a problem...time. As he turns 30 soon, he is in stress to get forward in life as his friends and partners do, fully focused on getting his first musical off the ground. Nothing helped, neither musical classes meeting his idol Stephen Sondheim, nor his agent.
Suddenly we are in the musical itself, about Jonathan getting his musical off the ground. Reality joins dreaming and narration carries you through the journey from the chance of showing investors the play in a workshop, to writing the final bits and pieces of songs throughout the struggles in his work life balance. As audience we are taken on a rollercoaster of enthusiastic, humorous, exciting but also sad emotions carried upon music and a marvelous cast with Andrew Garfield and Vanessa Hudgens.
Join the unexpected, mostly unknown story of a dreamer and his success. You will be surprised of this Broadway fairytale.
Death on the Nile (2022)
Marvelous Mr. Poirot in an ancient world
As we join master detective Hercule Poirot on his second adventure, at least with Kenneth Branagh embodying him, we see a consequent sequel to Murder on the Orient Express from 2017. Again, a grand cast, various outstanding actors and faces, a fantastic scenery showing the roaring twenties brining several individuals together witnessing a mysterious murder. We just switch train to boat and snowy mountain to dreamy Nile delta.
As this movie builds on the story structure and style of its predecessor, it is also trying to be a little more of everything. While we meet rich and beauty starlet Linnet Ridgeway, played by Gal Gadot, and her dangerous love triangle, everything in the story tries to be faster, more extravagant, more musical with a shinier lifestyle. We also experience more background story of our lead hero and are pulled in by deeper emotions. And while all are wondering, who killed our starlet during her wedding weekend in Egypt, we see major points to critique.
First the last movie left us with Poirot being called to Egypt because of a murder. This does not fit anymore, as the murder did not happen yet. Second, all these increased facets of the movie do not make it better. We see overacting, exaggerating and the new cast is not as rememberable as in Murder on the Orient Express.
Overall, despite being a little rushed in the end, we see a reliable entertaining detective story á la Hercule Poirot, which will be loved by fans and maybe seen boring for action or crime enthusiasts. So, be the bystander of the world's greatest detective, as he will return as sure as Belgian chocolate is amazing.
Uncharted (2022)
Another video game movie that's not a treasure worth hunting for
Finally, again an adventure as we are waiting for Indiana Jones to return, having conquered the National Treasure and even followed the Pirates of the Caribbean to gather boxes of gold.
So, it is all there, the boys obsessed with a treasure story, their expertise in history to solve riddles, the good and bad guys hunting down greatest treasure of all times carried by Magellan and his furious 18 that was lost, the secret rooms in old cities and the X that marks the spot.
But unfortunately, Tom Holland as charming and witty lead cannot rescue this wannabe persiflage to all the movies I just referred to.
While we are pulled in into a fast-pacing hunt around the globe for hints and secret rooms, we constantly get distracted by head shaking moments.
So instead of enjoying the ride, we see the quite redundant cast in a constantly contradicting script, like
-) No explanation why and how Nate and his brother are such history experts for exactly that story
-) Mark Wahlberg is just an older version of Tom Holland, but is he now rich and a master thief or clumsy as in the rest of the movie?
-) The female antagonists are great, but one time they can open a lock easily, then they just put their knife in and wonder why it doesn't work
-) Let's shoot around in a café in the city center, no police will come anyhow
-) Creating a huge mess during a robbery but waiting in the car in front of the door is fine
-) Running and chasing each other works because you just pop out of nowhere and still be close to the hunted one
-) There are catacombs and secret rooms not found for hundreds or thousands of years, but well there is a club opened in it and you can see it from the sewer grill
-) The final treasure island is not only on the route, it is even called "gold" in Spanish, but nobody checked
-) There is a family resort on the treasure island, yet nobody ever went diving in the relevant cave, despite having markers there
-) You can also find the treasure ships from the whole in the ground above, but also here nobody ever hiked
-) Don't touch the worthy treasure ships as they are super fragile, but we pull them out roughly with the helicopter...
-) ... and despite I warned everyone not to damage it, we now fight on it and even crush both ships into each other to win the fight
-) I don't need the criminal wealthy mastermind, I can organize a huge logistics fleet for treasure transport...maybe Uber or something
And this list would go on with no explanations on how and why. Sadly, these massive plot holes are ruining the whole entertainment around great visuals and action sequences a lot.
When there is the "raise the torch in a secret cave moment" you immediately think, "wait, this was there all the time?!"
To sum up, Uncharted may be one of the better made video game movies out there, and it is for sure a brainless charming entertaining adventure flick. In the end, you just cannot expect a serious well written story. So, brains off and lets fly a Spanish caravel!
Shorter version with @themovonka.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
Don't compare generations...
In short, Space Jam 2, is what it was expected. A modern, colorful, chaotic kids' movie following the legendary vibe of Michael Jordan saving the Loony Tunes by playing basketball to an unforgettable soundtrack. You have everything, from nice graphics, kids oriented jokes, a modernized story using the streaming and social media universe instead of the old hole on the golf court and the hint for the parents in the cinema, that big data algorithms making entertainment might not be the preferred future. Next to a lot of marketing for the Warner Bros movieverse, you recognize that it was really tried to catch the never aging charm of Bugs Bunny and co within a faster changing world. You even see in the senseless story, that today's kids are expected to have less attention span, hence everything must be in a hectic and fast pace.
But well, it will entertain kids and it will earn its cost. What it can't be called is a worthy sequel. The original is timeless as it caught the perfect timing. Michael Jordan was on basketball cards in every kids' room from wherever to even Vienna and Chicago Bulls were heroes without having seen one game. Cartoons were on the edge of dying out but still accepted in cinemas, and with "Believe I can fly" we have a song that is still played on parties today. Now we have a lead actor that only a few will know around the world (not talking about US), the hype is over, we have other major sports and trademarks to follow and with all the cameos and references, there is not one charming connection to the original, despite disappointing comments. In summary, a nice kids movie but a poor tribute to the legend of Space Jam.
Ready Player One (2018)
Happy Easter...Egg
Ready Player One may be criticized and reviewed out of many perspective. Let me summarize it like this. Alongside a quite weak and superficially installed story where virtual reality becomes standard daily life, a mediocre cast pulls through 140 minutes try hard writing including all the modern e-sport wordings they could collect. So most of the general viewers would rate it as an ordinary fantasy/action movie.
Still, I have never experienced such pop culture celebrating festivity for the joy of 80is and 90is kids. If you have a little nerd in you, have been playing video games and watching movies during your life time and feel happy to see Ninja Turtles alongside with Halo fighters supporting Japanese anime characters and hints for our all-time favorite movies like "Back to the Future", "Jurassic Park", "Breakfast Club", "King Kong" or many more, well then enjoy smiling to the screen, looking out for more hints and goodies in the background and jump on the quest of Ready Player One to rescue the OASIS.
Steven Spielberg used his pack of licenses, contacts and that he is the creator of so many pop cultural artefacts to present us a never ending avalanche of lovable things we players and movie enthusiasts can relate to. Not an "outstanding" movie, but a great homage to our inner kid!
Bullyparade: Der Film (2017)
Bullyparade forever - A movie for fans
The boys are back! Christian Tramitz, Rick Kavanian and Bully Herbig, who brought us one of our favorite German comedy shows the Bullyparade from 1997 to 2002, let hearts of fans jump high reviving their old roles and characters in an episode movie. Bullyparade: The Movie shows exactly the most beloved main scetch sceneries, including Sissi, empress of Austria and her devoted husband, the Kasirske brothers reminiscing of good old DDR times, the Winnetou persiflage, Lutz and Löffler and of course the emotional aroused crew around Mr. Spuck. Bringing back these roles in five separate short stories, the team is able to setup gag after gag and include citations and side characters fans are longing so see.
If you have no clue what I am talking about, fair enough. Then my critique hits in correctly, as this movie is made especially for the fans. Taking the very best out of the iconic comedy show and sew it together loosely is entertaining and keeps a smile on audience faces seeing how much fun the trio had in creating this movie. Even if the script lacks of a real core sometimes and seems to be written in a short period of time, the focus obviously lay in putting up clever jokes. You may look out for your personal favorite ones, as a lot of jokes happen in the background or are hidden in written form. These details make it worth a watch alone. Example giving, one of my personal big laughs was one no other in the cinema understood as it needed some historical background knowledge concerning the Bavarian king. You will get what I mean.
Is Bullyparade: The Movie a good movie? No. Is it fun to watch, absolutely, and this is the only thing that counts in the perspective of the purpose of the Bullyparade in general. I forgive that jokes are not igniting temporarily as intended and oversee the forced try to connect the sketch episodes to each other, but I personally love the Bullyparade style and always will.
Note: Please consider this critique only for German speaking countries, as this movie cannot and should not be translated, as comedy is based on German characters and word jokes.
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
Misleading title, but intense end of an epic journey
To start short and simple, yes the "War of the Planet of the Apes" shows no war at all. The misleading title, trailer and even posters let expectations arise to see the conflict of the second movie intensify and peak in an enduring battle between last human armies and the settled ape fighters to establish their colony for good. Well, you don't get that
According to this aspect, I understand a lot of disappointment in the critics, but let me tell you, audience trades in that expectation with an intense emotional experience about the desperate fight for survival of the apes, led by their liberator from hour one, Caesar. This is why in Austria and Germany, this movie is called "Planet of the Apes: Survival" and suits much better.
You feel with the always on the run colony of apes, as Woody Harrelson hunts down the enemy race of wild animals in his perception in a classically established psychopath Apocalypse Now manner as the Colonel of a separatist human army. As he drifts away to madness, long and slow pacing scenes as well as high class CGI close ups bound viewers with the fear of the chased ones. As the brutality narrows down to single destinies of ape characters, fear changes to will for vengeance and the guerrilla fight for a better future of apes begins.
Here the movie establishes the pace and structure of how should inferior technology beat the crazy humans with all their military power. Consequently, as war is brutal, there is no Rambo story to see the good fighting the bad, but a story taking you deeper and deeper into the desperation of being chased and jailed. Suddenly Caesar and his tribe find themselves captured and enslaved in a concentration camp, mixing the movie temporary with Schindlers List and Unbroken moments. But as apes are strong together, the fight for survival continues for a better future, for which Caesar would sacrifice everything, even his principles.
But let's be honest, there are obvious issues with the plot. From the very slow speed to allow strong bindings with ape characters and a good side of the human race, embodied by a lost lonely girl who shows a solid performance to enrich empathy, the movie takes a long road until the big dramatic final. Slow motion and long dialogues dominate over swift fight scenes like in part two. As this is subjective to like it or not, still some problem occur in the script. Entering a front door, when you follow as guerrilla troop is linked to high risk of loss. Even without military education the apes could know better how to avoid being seen. On the other hand, entering a concentration camp, leaving it or hundreds of apes disappearing out of a cage is not recognized by any guard who should be trained? I don't think so
And yes, the final has its peak as a second human army is just deleted by a coincidentally useful avalanche. That was an easy script move to shorten the end in favor of the apes. But well, to be honest, history is written with such coincidence, and even if it looks ridiculous, would anybody have thought the Spanish armada is beaten by British thanks to storms and winds or did anybody complain about that in Dunkirk the German troops stopped to march on? Still it happened like that, so you just can accept the "history of the planet of the apes" by the creators of that movie even if there would have been more elegant ways of pursue that development of the story.
Fighting against those harsh critics, giving 1 out of 10 stars, just because of the stated issue points is absolutely absurd. Still the movie is well paced, breathtakingly executed and well-acted. Not meeting the strong expectations of certain viewers does not make it a bad movie I would say. But please go and decide for yourself. You are now well prepared to enjoy or avoid the big final of the Planet of the Apes Trilogy.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
A legend reinvented
Speaking about a King Arthur movie is always linked to comparison. The legend has been told in various ways and key figures, plot and ending is widely known among the audience. As every generation has its impersonated King Arthur, which is Sean Connery for me, Guy Ritchie succeeded in one thing – Reinvention.
While we are told the shortened life story of Arthur, true heir of Englands crown, the audience is pulled into a fast and entertaining story telling style full of magic and over the top characters. As the plot starts, it is immediately clear that there is more than the characters tell right now. We see King Uther, simply interpreted by Eric Bana, rescuing his son, fighting with the power of Excalibur and starting the story of how Vortigern enslaves the kingdom. An orphan now, Arthur is adopted by the community of a brothel to start his criminal career in the streets of Londinium. As from now on the story is clear, Arthur is detected as heir, pulls the sword Excalibur from stone and fights for the freedom of his people, the main focus is now on Guy Ritchie. The director shows from this moment of Arthur's rescue the way he goes with us. Entertaining and fast pacing.
As the childhood is shown in a speed collage, still the message of the ties between the main character and his people is transported. Continuing by exploring the plot via flashbacks, comedy oriented dialogues and a coolness to loosen up the legendary heroic part, this movie is different than others of its kind. Historic or epic movies with long dialogues, deeply suffering characters or intense stretched situations are not part of this movie. It is recognizable, that Mr. Ritchie does not like these aspects in in general, like seeing the whole childhood of the character for over 30 minutes. He gets to the point and pulls strings in parallel to fasten everything up. This is why you end up in an action movie with swords visualized in the individual way we already saw somehow in Sherlock Holmes. By OK acting from all the main characters and forgettable sidekicks despite for the perfectly cast mage Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, you are taken on an event which never let go from showing the next step, next fight or next revelation. As a lot of CGI complements the concept of the magic based world, King Arthur increases the action and happenings on screen until the third act. Unfortunately, there we have the big issue. As magic and fighting started in an exaggerated way, everything just gets more and more overdone and ends up in a mediocre boss fight. You just saw a final moment of a video game in cinematic environment.
Speaking a verdict is still easy. This movie is very well and inventively done with a King Arthur story never told that way. Entertaining and sympathetic characters let time fly to avoid boredom despite the small weakness in the end. But you have to like the style. CGI magic and characters jumping ways over the acceptable top besides the missing parts of what a lot of people love about historic or epic pictures affect most of the negative critiques out there. These people are right, as long as you belong to this audience group. If you are interested in a fast innovative and comedy supported storytelling without much seriousness,happy entertainment to you.
Let us see how the audience splits up in lovers and haters, support or hinder the planned sequels and if we see Guy Ritchie's interpretation of the noble knights of the round table fight again. I'd raise my sword for a yes.
American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story (2017)
The naked truth about the Playboy story
"American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story" is an interesting way of modern biography to invite viewers to be part of the history of an empire led and built by Hugh Hefner and his long term comrades.
With the meanwhile usual approach of reenacting key scenes in the development of the Playboy Magazine including its whole empire by young actors as Matt Whelan or various actresses to embody famous playmates over the years, a young generation can experience the roller-coaster of a successful enterprise and the life of its founder.
By combining the recreated series plots with original footage, interviews and pictures, Amazon offers a well-structured and entertaining documentary to feel informed and motivated for own ventures to build, own ways to pursue and own values to live for. Despite the ten episodes are well cut to deliver high points in the 60 year Playboy story, highs and lows repeat especially concerning the way how positive Hefs life, decisions or thoughts are presented. In the light of personal tragedies, business decisions or love dramas, the series is a little too black and white instead of fair gray to reality besides a questionable impersonation of Hugh Hefner by the quite different looking main actor. This does not lower any entertainment, but gives away mostly idealistic opinions only. You may all challenge by yourself, is Hef really happy, wasn't he quite fake to his first wife and kids, is he true to himself anyhow and is Playboy lying about their core business model to avoid critiques?
I say, have fun in discussing it after being pulled in into the world of Business, Boys and Bunnies of Playboy.
Power Rangers (2017)
I want to be the red ranger...
...words I haven't said since I was 8 or 9 years old, but what a surprisingly good reboot of the Power Rangers reminded me of. In times of reboots and remakes, the classic 90ies TV series about clumsy Kung Fu fighters in spandex suits earns its screen time too to show us the modern newbie rangers challenging Rita Repulsa under the support of Alpha and Zordon, played by Brian Cranston.
When 5 young problematic teenagers come together like the breakfast club, easy storytelling and old fashioned individual issues with friendship, gossip and being different bind people to become friends and a team. When they discover 65 million year old stones that chose the kids to be the new Power Rangers, the world has to be saved by them.
So far, so uninspired. But the good thing is that the movie knows that. Taking it not too seriously, the characters are more likable than maybe assumed by the trailers and entertainment sets in very soon. Not that we see a good movie here in terms of high class film making, but we see an entertaining, definitely funny kids action movie also reaching out to us 90ies fans smiling at the moment dinosaur robots fight to "Go Go Power Rangers"-music.
For all out there who were like me, thinking this cannot be good and will be a Dragonball Evolution disaster, it is not. Nobody is as surprised as me, but it reaches more Tennage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot level and so I am fine with more movies here to come. Despite the fact, that it takes a while until you see the colorful rangers jump around in their new alienware armors, the team did a good job to make viewers look forward to a second part.
Go, go for it!
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Disney, the professional
Well, let's be honest. The beauty and the beast, a tale as old as time, even as most of us know it since 1991, is a story that maybe never needed a remake, never needed any improvement from the iconic original Disney movie and especially will split viewers in haters and lovers. Here is why.
Emma Watson, a heroine for the whole Harry Potter generation with acting skills one could discuss but a charm and beauty you cannot ignore, embodies the new Belle in a way the story fits to our society. Luke Evans sticks out with perfect role fit, awesome skills and IS and will always be the real life Gaston. Dan Stevens as a CGI overloaded beast, Josh Gad as funny, gay and sympathetic companion on the bad side, and many stars more to fill the flick with life, music and fun. They all are a cast which let you agree, yes, if it was real, that's how the people were!
But, and there is the split, what never is emphasized that much in a comic movie, is how fake and kitschy most of the backgrounds, costumes, dialogues and if you want the musical scenes are looking. Critiques are already summarizing missing singing skills of some cast members, the bad CGI and the fake atmosphere and I agree, still I absolutely loved this movie. You cannot expect a copy of the comic movie with talking closets, candlesticks or watches, a horse that finds the way and obviously stupid villagers doing illogical stuff all the day without looking fake. What was easier in Jungle Book, were the only week spot was the human, is not comparable with the more musical oriented script of Beauty and the Beast. Yes maybe the wolves and the beast could have been better, but if you are ready to jump into the musical entertainment show with all your kids heart from the 90ies, you are going to feel with all characters and situations the way Disney want you to and smile at the screen with every melody you could sing along immediately. If you were never one of these guys, then Disney could have done whatever you want and you would not have been satisfied.
To summarize, chapeau for Luke Evans, thank you dear filmmakers for showing character and sticking to small gay gags and erasing a lot of illogical things out of the comic movie to make it "more" realistic and consistent, congratulations for Emma Watson enchanting the next generation of kids with a beloved story and melodies and I pay all my respects to the so often criticized Disney company for just knowing what they do for fans. Besides company policy or whatever I am not the one to judge, in filmmaking they are professionals, period.
The Great Wall (2016)
Go Go Power Rangers wrong movie you think?
Dear people, please hear my words. In this pathetic tone I would like to start the exaggerating speech about a movie taking away screen time in IMAX and other highly visual entertaining cinema formats to show you a piece of trash with a huge budget.
This movie can be summarized very easily, when Hon Kong movie industry tries to get over the international borders, what they do a lot with really great work, and try so hard that it hurts. Including the reviews here in this forum, speaking about a great historical movie, a visual stunning entertaining action movie with great acting
.I say that is all wrong.
Following some adventurers into the legendary and mystical (not historical) China to see how they struggle with their decision to finalize their mission or help a secret elite army to fight undefined alien monsters, coming out of an asteroid every 60 years in the same valley, to the same spot to do the same thing
eating. That is what the Chinese wall should be here for, to stop them raiding the whole country.
I would not say the story is the issue. If this is a legend about the Chinese wall, which I doubt, then it is for sure the surface of it. But that would be OK. The real issue is the commercial abuse of cinematography in all possible aspects. To market this movie globally, Matt Damon got a huge paycheck to be the "white guy" hero, as the Chinese actors cannot get rid of their obvious overacting style, which is common in Hong Kong and Easterns. That's absolutely OK in general as well, as most of the time it origins from a translation reason. (See Ip Man). But in this case, it is just cliché. There is a reason, why we laugh at the power rangers (Japanese
I know), there is a reason why there are cultural differences in film making, as society sees behavior and manners or ways to express yourself differently. When you show this accurately and with honesty, nobody bats an eye, but to try to be something you are not, that makes a trash movie.
Yes I said it, "The Great Wall" is a high budget trash movie with sometimes nice and sometimes still cheap looking CGI, following a massively simplified story with bad dialogues and acting. I saw the Power Rangers on the Chinese wall. I know how important the Chinese market is right now, I know how nice the idea might be of merging movie styles, but not in form of trash like that. Matt Damon does the Nicolas Cage, if you know what I mean. Hopefully only one time
Moana (2016)
A typical Disney princess story without the prince...
Disney did it again, an amended princess story. Queuing into the load of critics, I may not add spectacular insights, but summarize my opinion for those who are undecided to see Moana in the cinema or not.
Let's keep it short and simple. Moana (Vaiana in Austria and Germany) starts a world rescue mission within her mythical world of Maoris and Oceania in the best possible way. Disobeying her father the chief she starts a visually beautiful journey to help her people with the support of a likable demigod, sweet or funny sidekicks and not always comprehensible reasons within the story. As usual, the "princess" of the island sings her way through mythical creatures and magic tricks. So far so good, but unfortunately nothing new.
Let's take the ocean scenario away and agree on the key argument the creators spread in every interview, namely there is no romance as main motivation. OK, that's fine, but still I have seen this story a dozen times.
What does it mean for you? Just that you see Merida, Arielle or what have you in a new disguise. New but similar songs, new but similar characters and new but similar characters. It's up to you to decide if you prefer sailing between the islands or riding a horse in the Scottish highlands. So Moana is a well-made, funny and nice feel good movie, but nothing you don't know yet.
As a result, decide on the trailer. Do you like the scenario, then go for it but don't expect a big Disney surprise.
Sing (2016)
What a pity...
I fear Sing" has to be described as nice. Only nice. With this short sentence I don't want to disappoint any fans or viewers, but it is the best thing I can say about this ambitious music movie.
With emotions, fun and great singers to perform hits and mashups to entertain the audience like Sister Act, Pitch Perfect or other music oriented movies, Sing should have been a great flick in the pre-Christmas time. At least the trailer looked like this.
In the end, we got an superficial, easy going kids movie with slight laughter and standard radio hits we all hear every day. Besides maybe one original track, it appears that creators licensed only from one or two sources to allow themselves flexibility in music selection. In combination with a straight forward story-line with no twists, deepness or surprises, it is mostly interesting for children who loves a koala bear in a suit.
Instead of going out of the theater with music in my head, a song to sing along and a great feeling inside, I felt as I have seen a mainstream short term typical kids TV movie on a Sunday afternoon with some music aside. Seen and forgotten – What a pity
Suicide Squad (2016)
Rise of the good Villains
Let's face it, many critics have been published splitting the community of movie lovers and DC fans in many fractions. So I want to join those appreciated colleagues, who tried to give you an honest feedback of Suicide Squad and its story of really bad guys who can do something good.
As neither a DC nor Marvel hardcore fan, nor more than a mainstream comic book reader, I was still as thrilled as many with the promising picture orchestration the various trailers showed us. A new set of remarkable characters in the dark universe of Man of Steel and Co should entertain the wannabe super villain in us, who wants to cheer for the bad but cool guys. The new interpretation of the Joker alone, kept us on the edge of the seat in awaiting the best movie experience ever. Well, here we have the problem
the hype.
As always, expectations were tremendously high and people set unreachable hopes into the follow up after a disappointing Batman vs Superman. People expected the Joker to be a main character and a legendary movie to be created. I tell you the truth, if you leave that away, the movie is really good.
In a short living action flick, with a really innovative compilation of pictures and soundtrack, the viewer experiences a straight origin story of a team of strange but somehow likable guys. From the famous crazy Joker sidekick Harley Quinn, over the human reptile Killer Croc, to Will Smith as Deadshot, we see a more or less loose newly created team growing together to kick some
well whatever the henchmen are. Additionally we see guest characters to make the DC universe more believable like the Joker, Batman or the Flash. To be honest, of course the story is fast pacing and not much individual origin story of the main characters is told. Yes the dialogues and story line has gaps, highs and lows and yes I understand that people wanted more of the Joker. BUT if you are open minded, the balance of all the issues with the focus on action, entertainment and fun will turn out as absolutely fine for the level a comic book movie may have. The Joker as side character has much more screen time than in most critics stated, as well as the story does not give so many mistake possibilities as reviewed mostly. For sure, the reason for that is the simplicity behind the movie, which could have a deeper story, as well as not all scene cuts were done very clever. Still the two hours will run by and keep you smiling. Please try to be forgiving for the fact, that maybe Harley Quinns relationship with the Joker is misplaced as too romantic, Deadshot is too focused on his daughter or how could this squad ever stop Superman if each of them can be hold back by five police men with a Taser Gun. As a result you see an awesome summer movie, which my twelve year old me can recommend with peace of conscience.
In short, better than reviewed most of the time. Not the best movie or story, but a great spectacle and show!
Kick-Ass 2 (2013)
Discover the superhero in you!
Long time no beating, are the words that come into my mind after being reunited with the young real life superheros of "KickAss". Those kids surprised me in an awkward fun movie, where no-names stood up and beat the *
* out of even more awkward villains. Blood, bone breaking martial arts and Nicolas Cage in a cheap Batman costume caught my excitement faster than Hit Girl could strike down five Ninjas. Now the kids got older and the life has been changing for the main characters. Hit Girl has a new legal guardian who insists on keeping the superhero in her down. Despite that situation she can't quit past experience and keeps on training. So she trains Kick-Ass too, who got bored in his bog-standard High School life. But while KickAss gets his ass kicked, the "Motherf*" rises, seeking for revenge for his father. With a bunch of real life heroes, costumed and trained to support old ladies crossing the road or similar heroic deeds, our two protagonists have to stop the little wannabe super villain and his gang of crazy stereotypes.
The story might seem simple, but even more complex are the messages which lay behind. In a great style mix of comic like scenery, quick camera movement and ordinary colorful images, "KickAss 2" resembles his predecessor and improves slightly in continuity. Within these images you recognize the real life aspect in the whole story without forcing any moral code. You see stories among stories. Teenage girls growing up, men who want to mean something, people getting friends and even though you are entertained by bloody violence you cannot take seriously. Additionally an expanded cast by Jim Carrey and Donald Faison creates an unknown creative mood in the KickAss universe, by distracting a bit from the core cast. Hence you will find the directors messages quite easily. Believe in yourself and remember that we all wear masks. Be aware that there are superheros out there, with or without cape and costume and things may end, but they are a new start too.
With these subconscious messages you will enjoy a crazy and dignified sequel. Preposterous vulgar language, silly humor, astonishing brutal kids and even some romance result in "KickAss 2", the different superhero movie.
Despicable Me 2 (2013)
What would Gru be without his Mignons...Mignons FTW!!
They are back, even when I did not know how much I missed them. The sequel of "Despicable Me" was none of my most anticipated movies of this year. Neither has the original movie been the big milestone of animated movies. Still the story around the super villain Gru, three little orphans and above all the little yellow helping fellers, his mignons, was entertaining and had some unforgettable scenes. I just say "fluffy". Now the creators had a hard job to do. Gru became a "nice" father, ended his evil career and became business man. Ordinary problems like annoying neighbors and hyperactive kids can only be managed with his army of clumsy yellow guys. But his past reputation gets Gru a job at the AntiVillainLeague, where his know-how should be used to catch another bad guy. The story begins
Without spoiling anything, because I guess everybody knows that Gru will succeed, this sequel shows how it is done! Creators really listened to the fans and did a remarkable job. They took everything what was great in the original movie, what had the highest potential and bundled it together to create a hilarious and enjoyable sequel, bigger and richer in variety, similar to the step "Shrek"/"Shrek 2". More of big eyed Agnes and much much more of mignons are the main pillars which prop the new adventure of Gru as Secret Agent. What is more, new characters like Mr. RamsBOTTOM and crazy Lucy, Grus big fan and more than just a helping hand, enrich this story tremendously.
To sum up, "Despicable Me 2" shows in special graphic style how movie ideas should be developed and how entertainment potential can be used effectively. With more screen time, the mignons may finally live up to the importance they deserve and I would not be shocked, if a mignon-spin off would follow. In short, great fun for every age!
Vikings (2013)
Join Ragnar Lothbrok and his raid
In a culture where the honorable death has the highest priority, men were tall grown bearded warriors and there was no place for weakness and fear, Ragnar Lothbrok invites the audience to witness his legendary rise among all Vikings.
Based on the northern legend of "Ragnar Lodbrok", a conquering hero sailing west to enrich his tribes, captured, betrayed and killed by the English King and revenged by his son's army known as the "Great Viking Army" in 865 A.D., Michael Hirst delivers a modern historical TV experience for every action and history fan around the globe. Despite for historical inaccuracies, an entertaining plot presented in a similar style of "Game of Thrones" works great for the harsh world of the Nordic men. As harsh it might seem, as well structured and sophisticated it was. To bring these aspects to the spectator, the character of an English monk let us feel the process of understanding all the unfamiliar cultural and religious traditions with him. Pegged to an additional balance of brutality and honesty, the series captures our sympathies even when main characters act like villains.
In the end, the world was never black and white only. The enemy of one is the hero of another. This dichotomy shows as realistic and entertaining as possible the unadorned world of the 9th Century through a Viking's eyes. May Odin be with this series.
Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
Gerard Butler never negotiates with terrorists...
As it seems to be trendy to conquer the White House cinematically this summer, "Olympus has fallen" tries to present the unpleasant scenario superficially and action packed.
While CIA security expert Mike Banning, played by Gerard Butler, has to suffer from being displaced as the main protector of the US president, North Korean invaders attack "Olympus", take the president hostage and threat the whole nation with the use of its atomic weaponry. Career and patriotism driven, Mike Banning tries to reclaim the White House, eliminate the threat and rescue his friend and leader of the western world.
So far, so uninspired. As easy the story sounds, actually it is much more trivial. In the dust of mediocre special effects arises a movie which entertains with the fact to be full of action and un-whitewashed brutality. Ignoring every logical aspect of how to enter the heart of a city with a fully armored airplane, the fact that the US-helicopters are slower than garbage trucks and a perfectly equipped special North Korean army, outnumbering local security, can move freely within Washington, this movie is the perfect popcorn cinema event for action lovers and US-fanatics. While patriotism hits the audience with full tilt, Gerard Butler hits the invaders brutally and effectively. Nice fight scenes and his believable strategy distract from his luck that the squatters only attack in very small groups.
To sum up, when the US flag is perforated and the Washington monument is destroyed, the audience watches the bloody "one man rescue show" with pleasure to see how the enemy is brought to justice. In the end, as long as you have switched off your brain, you saw a nearly classic action movie. So let me end with the sentence I heard several times during this movie. God bless those trivial movies and God bless the USA.
The Last Stand (2013)
Er hat ja gesagt er "will be back"...
Wie Wasser auf deren Mühlen, die immer felsenfest behaupten, die heutige Jugend kennt weder härte noch Durchhaltevermögen und ist chancenlos gegen die ältere" Generation, ist Arnold Schwarzenegger's Vollzeitfilmcomeback The Last Stand".
Als alternder Sherriff der letzten US – Stadt vor der mexikanischen Grenze, fungiert er überraschend als letzte Bastion um den flüchtigen Kartellboss aus dem Nachbarland zu stoppen. Dieser, trotz modern ausgerüsteter Armee und eigenem Vorteil durch ein Sonderklasse Fluchtauto mit um die 1000 PS, bemerkenswerter finanzieller Ausstattung und hohem kriminellen Talent, findet seinen Meister im legendären [Äkschn]-Star, der weder Tod noch Teufel fürchtet und für Ehre und Kollegen jedweden Schmerz in Kauf nimmt.
So weit so klassisch. Doch hat es Arnie noch im Blut die Zuschauer zu begeistern. In The Expendables 2" machte er bereits eine gute Actionkomödienfigur, wenn auch nur als Nebendarsteller. Nun, und hier hebe ich die englische Version hervor, führt uns The Last Stand" zurück in die gute alte" Zeit des Actionfilms, in welchen ein Schwarzenegger trotz desaströser Aussprache und Schwerfälligkeit ein Unterhaltungsfaktor auf hohem Niveau darstellte. Diese Actionkomödie, wobei komödiantisch wird es natürlich unfreiwillig, bietet genau diese altbekannten Werte. Wenig Handlung aber große Feuerkraft gepaart mit ironischen Dialogen und unbändigem Siegerwillen bei der hoffnungslos unterlegenen Fraktion der Guten. Das ist der Sprengstoff aus dem Schwarzenegger-Filme gemacht sind.
Also weder lobe ich hier Schauspieler oder Drehbuch, es gibt nichts in Ausstattung oder Design zu rühmen, dafür ist der Film zu trivial gestrickt. Was ich aber loben kann, ist der Unterhaltungsfaktor der aus dem Gesamtkonzept herausschießt. Ist man nun Sympathisant des Governators oder nicht, diese Generation hat es einfach drauf, draufzuhauen".
Les Misérables (2012)
Do you hear the Stars sing, singing the song of angry men...
Wir schreiben die Jahre nach der Napoleonischen Ära, ein König ist zurück auf dem Thron Frankreichs, die Revolution scheint geschlagen. Doch inmitten der Reste der französischen Revolution herrschen Armut, Elend, Krankheit und Tod. Jene, welche die Macht und das Geld besitzen dem feinen höfischen Sitten gerecht zu werden ertränken ihre mangelnde Hygiene in Puder und Parfum, während der Pöbel im eigenen Dreck vor sich hin vegetiert. Doch gerade in schlechten Zeiten treten wahre Helden in Erscheinung. So wie Jean Valjean, der, um seiner Schwester Kind vor dem Hungertod zu bewahren, zum Dieb wurde und durch die harten Strafen des Gesetzes, eisern verfolgt und vollstreckt von Polizeiinspektor Javert, die Hölle der damaligen Gefängnisse für viele Jahre durchleben musste. Die mit Auflagen behaftete Freilassung von Valjean, sein Aufstieg zum Bürgermeister unter falschem Namen, die Rettung einer Waisen und die Unterstützung der Studentenaufstände im Licht der ewigen Flucht vor Valjean, ist die episodenhafte Reise von Les Miserables", die man wohl vorrangig von den Broadwaybühnen kennt.
Musicalverfilmungen haben es schwer, kommt diese doch mit unvergleichlicher Starbesetzung in unsere Kinos. Hugh Jackman, ausgebildeter Musicaldarsteller, Anne Hathaway, die mit dem Broadway Klassiker I dreamed a dream" unvergleichlich erdrückend von ihrem Elend singt, und Russel Crowe, den man wie Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia" eher weniger in diesem Genre erwartet hätte. Dennoch ist die Transformation von Bühne auf Leinwand etwas heikel, bedienen sich doch beide Medien anderer Gesetze der Illusion. Bleibt also die Frage, ob es Tom Hooper geschafft hat die Stars nicht zu lachhaften Liedersänger zu degradieren und die Musicalfangemeinde zu erstaunen. Ein bisschen was von beidem, wenn man mich fragt.
Doch beginnen wir am Anfang, am optischen Eindruck den bereits die mächtige Eröffnungsszene bietet, die sämtliche Gefangenen bei ihrer Strafarbeit zeigt. Hier wird deutlich, dass Fans des Musicals bestimmt zufrieden sind mit detaillierter Darstellung der sonst auf Bühnen angedeuteten Schauplätze. Kostüme, Technik und Ausstattung wirken so detailreich, wie es dem frühen 19.Jahrhundert würdig wäre. Ist diese Sorge umschifft, erstarkt bereits die Nächste, wie eine Rattenplage in den Gassen. Das Drehbuch, welches sich sehr an die Vorlage des Musicals hält, hat die fast unmögliche Aufgabe den Handlungsverlauf so darzustellen, dass man Zeit- und Schauplatzsprünge nicht als überhastet und plötzlich wahrnimmt. Sprich ein Lied ist zu Ende gesungen, Auftritt nächster Sänger. Dies wurde zwar bestmöglich gelöst, wirkt aber dennoch teilweise unlogisch. Das zufällige" Zusammentreffen ausgerechnet der 3-5 relevanten Personen irgendwo in den Gassen ist nun mal leider etwas, was auf Bühnen weniger aufgesetzt wirkt, aber auch hier notwendig war, um die Handlung voran zu bringen.
Doch vergeuden wir nicht die Zeit mit Hintergrundwirkungen. Worauf es wohl am ehesten ankommt, ist die Qualität und die Darbietung sämtlicher Musikstücke, die Die Elenden" bereits zum weltweiten Kultmusical gemacht haben. Wie bereits erwähnt, ist die Starbesetzung ein positiver Aspekt für dieses Projekt, wobei zusätzlich hinzukommt, dass keine Sänger im Nachhinein synchronisierten bzw. generell im geschützten Tonstudio die Lieder aufgenommen haben. Tom Hooper ließ seine Schauspieler direkt spielen und singen, was die Wirkung um Welten steigert. Natürlich wurde technisch nachbearbeitet. Dennoch wirken Lieder weniger künstlich inszeniert als eher emotional gelebt. Hervorzuheben ist hierbei die Glanzleistung von Anne Hathaway als Fantine, deren traurige Erkenntnis ihres zerstörten Lebens bereits im Trailer zu bewundern war. Auch Hugh Jackman brilliert mit überraschend qualitativer Gesangsleistung. Generell ist aber zu sagen, dass man in dieser Verfilmung nicht mit der höchsten und besten stimmlichen Leistung rechnen darf. Samantha Barks, welche hauptberuflich tatsächlich ihr Geld am Broadway verdient, zeigt dies in erstaunlicher Weise mit ihrer Ballade On my own", die deutlich macht, was stimmlich noch in so manchem Lied stecken würde. Dies führt mich zu einem sehr bemühten und gar nicht schlechten Russel Crowe. Und obwohl er die Töne einwandfrei trifft und sich ganz der Rolle verschreibt, ist er eben kein Sänger. Die merkliche Obergrenze seines Stimmpotentials kommt besonders in den Duetten mit Hugh Jackman hervor, der ihn natürlich an die Wand singt. Dennoch, ich ziehe meinen Hut vor dem Mut und dem doch vorhandenen Gesangstalent des Gladiators.
Was also an Wirkung nach dem über zwei stündigen Musikfilm bleibt, ist die Tragik und das Schicksal, welches aufgrund der Distanz zur Bühne wohl noch nie so nah und wirklich in Les Miserables" dargestellt werden konnte. Schauspiel und Crew holen alles aus dem Musicalstoff heraus und rutschen nie in das theatralisch Lächerliche ab. Und selbst wenn man so manches Lied bereits besser gehört hat, so motiviert dieses Werk nicht nur sich der nächsten Revolution heldenhaft anzuschließen oder sein Leben in ehrenhafter Weise zu leben, sondern auch sich das ein oder andere Musical wieder einmal anzusehen. Vor allem natürlich die tragische Geschichte um Jean Valjean, den Hoffnungsträger der Elenden aus Frankreichs Aufbruchszeit.
Flight (2012)
Don't drink and fly...
Unantastbar lässig als Pilot, gebrochen depressiv als Mensch. So steht es um Flugkapitän Whip Whitaker, dargestellt von Denzel Washington, dessen Alkoholproblem sich nach einem verheerend Flugzeugabsturz, aus dem er zu Beginn noch als Held aufgrund einer spektakulären Notlandung hervorgeht, als Endstation seines bisher so aufregenden bzw. lasterhaften Lebens herausstellt.
Während der intensive Beginn von Flight" den Zuseher sofort in den Bann eines Flug-Katastrophen-Filmes zieht, wird sehr bald nach der außergewöhnlichen Landung klar, dass der Fokus auf dem persönlichen Drama des Hauptdarstellers liegt, der durch Alkoholismus, Drogen und Überheblichkeit nicht nur sein Privatleben sondern eben auch seine ganze berufliche Karriere aufs Spiel setzt. In über zwei Stunden wird versucht Beteiligte von Flugkommission und Zeugenstand von der Leistungsfähigkeit des Piloten zu überzeugen und die Schuld an dem Tod von 6 aus 102 möglichen Personen im betroffenen Flugzeug in technischem Versagen zu finden. Aus einem Katastrophenfilm wird also ein kleiner Justizthriller gepaart mit großem emotionalem Drama.
So brillant Darsteller und Drehbuch diese Geschichte darbieten, so langatmig folgen nach der ersten halben Stunde Moralpredigten und private Fehlereingeständnisse. Ist man von genau diesem neuen Fokus gepackt, erstaunen Dialoge und ungeschönte Darstellung des Alkoholismus ohne jeden Zweifel. Generell zieht sich jedoch der Film in den letzten zwei Dritteln zu der längsten Don't drink and drive/ride/fly" Werbung aller Zeiten, deren amerikanische Scheinheiligkeit vor allem am Ende deutlich wird.
Doch dazu soll natürlich nicht allzuviel verraten werden. Was bleibt ist ein etwas anders ausgelegter Film, als zumindest von mir erwartet, der unbestritten das Potential hat, als hervorragend und ergreifend zu gelten. Mir hätte hier aber ein Kurzstreckenflug ebenfalls gereicht.
The Last Stand (2013)
Er hat ja gesagt er "will be back"...
Wie Wasser auf deren Mühlen, die immer felsenfest behaupten, die heutige Jugend kennt weder härte noch Durchhaltevermögen und ist chancenlos gegen die ältere" Generation, ist Arnold Schwarzenegger's Vollzeitfilmcomeback The Last Stand".
Als alternder Sherriff der letzten US – Stadt vor der mexikanischen Grenze, fungiert er überraschend als letzte Bastion um den flüchtigen Kartellboss aus dem Nachbarland zu stoppen. Dieser, trotz modern ausgerüsteter Armee und eigenem Vorteil durch ein Sonderklasse Fluchtauto mit um die 1000 PS, bemerkenswerter finanzieller Ausstattung und hohem kriminellen Talent, findet seinen Meister im legendären [Äkschn]-Star, der weder Tod noch Teufel fürchtet und für Ehre und Kollegen jedweden Schmerz in Kauf nimmt.
So weit so klassisch. Doch hat es Arnie noch im Blut die Zuschauer zu begeistern. In The Expendables 2" machte er bereits eine gute Actionkomödienfigur, wenn auch nur als Nebendarsteller. Nun, und hier hebe ich die englische Version hervor, führt uns The Last Stand" zurück in die gute alte" Zeit des Actionfilms, in welchen ein Schwarzenegger trotz desaströser Aussprache und Schwerfälligkeit ein Unterhaltungsfaktor auf hohem Niveau darstellte. Diese Actionkomödie, wobei komödiantisch wird es natürlich unfreiwillig, bietet genau diese altbekannten Werte. Wenig Handlung aber große Feuerkraft gepaart mit ironischen Dialogen und unbändigem Siegerwillen bei der hoffnungslos unterlegenen Fraktion der Guten. Das ist der Sprengstoff aus dem Schwarzenegger-Filme gemacht sind.
Also weder lobe ich hier Schauspieler oder Drehbuch, es gibt nichts in Ausstattung oder Design zu rühmen, dafür ist der Film zu trivial gestrickt. Was ich aber loben kann, ist der Unterhaltungsfaktor der aus dem Gesamtkonzept herausschießt. Ist man nun Sympathisant des Governators oder nicht, diese Generation hat es einfach drauf, draufzuhauen".
Red Tails (2012)
George Lucas gibt den Tuskegee Airmen endlich filmische Starterlaubnis
Vieles wurde erzählt aus der Zeit des Zweiten Weltkrieges, doch den Männern der ersten von afroamerikanischen Piloten betriebenen Airforce Schwadron hat man noch wenig Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet. George Lucas hat sich in Red Tails" deren Geschichte angenommen und eindrucksvoll in Bilder gemeißelt.
Während die Tuskegee Airmen wenig ernst genommen werden und sinnlose Kontrollflüge durchführen müssen, bleibt das Experiment, Schwarze fliegen zu lassen in der Heimat als wertlos betrachtet. Wie auch, wenn nie zu echten Einsätzen gerufen. Dies soll sich ändern. Aufgrund erhöhter Verlustquoten bei Bomberangriffen werden diese Männer den großen Maschinen als ständiger Schutz zur Seite gestellt. Plötzlich gelingen ungeahnte Angriffswellen. Talent und Mut prägen die erfolgreichen Einsätze der Tuskegee Piloten und sie ebnen den Weg für den zukünftigen afroamerikanischen Pilotennachwuchs.
Gut besetzt kommt Red Tails in Bomberjacke und hervorragende CGI Technik daher. Endlich wieder Luftkämpfe wie man sie sich schon bei Der Rote Baron" aus dem Jahre 2008 gewünscht hätte. Doch, abgesehen davon, dass dieser Film an deutschsprachigen Kinos überhaupt keine Beachtung fand, bleibt der Film sehr oberflächlich und trotz heroischer Basis etwas uninspiriert. Nur weil eine dramatische Wendung im Drehbuch steht, muss sie bekanntlich nicht im Zuschauerbereich landen". Somit bleiben außer ein paar beeindruckenden Dogfights kaum große Erinnerungen an spezielle Schauspieler, spezielle Momente oder gar den ganzen Film. Schade, haben sich doch die Männer dieser historisch wichtigen Einheit ein filmisches Denkmal verdient und Fans des Fliegerfilms bzw. des Kriegsfilmes ein etwas tiefergehendes Epos erwartet.
Gangster Squad (2013)
Man verhandelt nicht mit der Mafia...
Tötet sie alle, ihre Frauen, ihre Kinder, ihre Onkel und Tanten, ihre Hunde und ihre Katzen
So oder so ähnlich klingen die markanten Sprüche des Los Angeles' Mobboss Mickey Cohen, der die Stadt nach dem Krieg mit brutalen mafiösen Mitteln an sich riss. Eine kleine unbeugsame Polizeitruppe, nicht gerade aus den vorbildlichsten Gesetzesmännern bestehend, widersetzt sich diesem korrupten System und nimmt es als Gangster Squad in einem Guerillekrieg mit dem Empire des Möchtegern-Paten auf.
Ein neues Gangsterepos unserer Generation, einen Paten für die moderne Zeit, kurz einen zeitlosen Mafiaklassiker wollte Regisseur Ruben Fleischer mit seinem Werk aus dem Geigenkasten ziehen. Geworden ist es ein unterhaltsamer Actionfilm, bestückt mit Bausteinen von bereits in wesentlich stimmigerer Form bekannten Gangsterklischees wie harten Jungs, stillen Mördern, bestechlichen Beamten und Unmengen an Tommyguns. Aufgrund genau dieser Masse an Klischees und vorhersehbaren Charakteren kann dieses brutale Werk niemals an den Paten", Scarface", Goodfellas" oder Es war einmal in Amerika" herankommen, da mithilfe dieser Klassiker jedweger Handlungsinhalt bereits einmal mit wesentlich beeindruckenderen Darstellern verfilmt wurde.
Doch versteht mich bitte nicht falsch. Schauspiel und Ausstattung, Szenenbild und Drehbuch sind stimmig und man langweilt sich bestimmt nicht. Wenn Josh Brolin alleine einen Mädchenring sprengt und das Entführungsopfer lässig mit Willkommen in Los Angeles, Ma'am" begrüßt, weiß man bereits welche Art Actionfilm, aller guter alter oberflächlicher Schule einen erwartet. Auch Sean Penn liefert einen widerlich brutalen Mafiosi, wider aller klassischen Glorifizierungen ab, dessen intensive Darstellung den Film unbestreitbar aufwertet.
Was mir unterm Strich fehlt ist aber der Charme, das Flair und die Glorie der Mafiafilme aller Die Unbestechlichen" und andere bereits erwähnte Werke. Schießereien, Schlägereien und kühle Einzeiler sind unterhaltsam aber verfliegen in der Filmerinnerung so rasch wie Officer Max Kennard seinen Revolver zieht. Was bleibt ist eine zweistündige Actionkomödie, die Freunde des Gangsterfilmes enttäuschen, aber Fans des Genres unterhalten wird. Lehrreich ist es auch. Immerhin weiß ich jetzt, dass Tommyguns einfach nicht zum Treffen gebaut wurden und man beim Zielen dorthin schießen muss wo der Sauhund" sein wird, und nicht wo er steht.