Reviews

Full review on my blog max4movies: La Casa Lobo (international title: The Wolf House) is basically an animated dark fairy tale that achieves a wonderfully haunting atmosphere due to the unique and disturbing animation. It's an art movie in the truest sense of the word and the art direction - namely stop-motion animation with three-dimensional paintings and papier mâché characters - is stunning. While the characters remain mostly vague and the plot cryptic at best, the dreamlike quality and eerie atmosphere really take the crown. All in all, La Casa Lobo feels like you're watching a slowly evolving nightmare that, although it's not entirely yours, is still terrifyingly creepy.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Nayak (international title "Nayak: The Hero") is an Indian Bengali-language drama about a famous actor traveling to Delhi to receive an important award. At the height of his career, he is confronted with his past as a struggling theater actor, when an educated young woman interviews him. The movie is a thoughtful drama, that pays great attention to its characters, who behave in an authentic and believable way. Without becoming pretentious, the movie addresses several important social issues - while not shying away from also criticizing how the movie industry often only produces cheap entertainment. In addition to the mostly efficient writing and the strong and down to Earth performances, the cinematography is marvelous and makes for some memorable scenes.

Full review on my blog max4movies: La Caza (international title: The Hunt) is a drama about three aging friends reuniting for hunting rabbits. The heat and talking about past mistakes make the men increasingly aggressive, until a catastrophe happens. The characters' backstories are told in an unconventional way and because of the wonderful cinematography the movie succeeds in presenting believable characters on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Although the hunt sequences overtly depict violence against animals and could have easily been toned down, the dramatic escalation is well-written, and the conflict between the men feels authentic.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Zvenigora is a Soviet silent black and white drama about a mysterious old man who spends centuries to find a legendary treasure buried in the middle of the Ukraine. The movie is essentially an epic fictionalized retelling of the country's history. Using recurring characters, who should be seen as symbols or embodied ideologies, several historical struggles are retold (e.g., the invasion of the Poles in the 18th century or the October Revolution in 1917). However, as there is no real plot to tie the several episodes together, the movie all too often feels fragmented and disjointed. Together with the symbolic dialogues and that at least some basic knowledge of Ukrainian and/or Soviet history is needed to understand certain scenes, the overall movie alienates many viewers. And while the production values and the cinematography are often impressive and the mix of historical events and surreal elements is ambitious, Zvenigora falls short in presenting a coherent journey.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Wir (international title: We) is a dystopian science fiction drama set in One State, a totalitarian regime strictly regulating how people live, work, and think. The plot mainly focuses on D503, a loyal mathematician working on a space shuttle, set to explore other worlds and potentially impose their system on the people there. However, when he meets the rebellious I330, he empathizes with an underground group of revolutionaries. Based on the 1920 Russian dystopian novel "We" by Jewgeni Samjatin, the movie mostly stays true to the source material, but it also struggles to capture the scope of the novel and the acting performances are generally not impressive. Due to the low budget, the visual presentation is rudimentary, however, the few different set pieces look great and really convey the novel's concept of mass surveillance (i.e., like a giant panoptikon city). Still, because of the mostly decent cinematography, the well-written dialogues, and the interesting world building, the movie can overcome some of its more technical flaws.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Atunci i-am condamnat pe toti la moarte (international title: Then I Sentenced Them All to Death) is a drama set in the last days of World War II in a small Romanian village. The mysterious death of a German soldier kicks off events that lead to the village leaders trying to convince the local idiot to take the blame for the murder. Apart from the strong and obvious social commentary about the exploitative behavior of people in higher social classes, the movie simply looks stunning with a great sense of framing that makes several moments feel chillingly claustrophobic. In addition, most actors portray their characters authentically, which makes the dramatic elements, as well as the more light-hearted moments believable.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Ambavi Suramis tsikhitsa (international title: The Legend of Suram Fortress) is the fictionalized retelling of an ancient Georgian tale about a fortress that could only be built with a human sacrifice. Visually, the movie looks wonderful with vibrant colors, perfectly arranged set pieces, and a striking choreography. And while the plot remains mostly simple and central aspects and characters even seem obscure, the heavy use of symbols give the movie a dreamlike quality. Certain scenes - although aesthetically pleasing - seem to lack a clear connection to the plot, which is why the overall allegory about political oppression will remain vague for some viewers.

Full review on my blog max4movies: The Spider's Web is an action movie serial about Richard Wentworth, a rich criminologist, who fights crime as the masked vigilante The Spider. In 15 episodes, Wentworth's fight against the criminal mastermind The Octopus is shown, who plans attacks on the country's transportation systems to gain control over the most important industries. While the basic premise is intriguing and some action sequences are still enjoyable, the movie's entertainment value is largely due to nostalgic reasons. By modern standards, there are many drawbacks, like the jumbled narrative, the redundant cliffhangers, and the poor performances of side characters. Considering its runtime of about 5 hours, the movie serial never quite accomplishes to tell a coherent story with genuinely interesting characters - although some episodes are fun to watch.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Mirageman is a low-budget action movie that focuses on a more or less realistic story of a bouncer turned vigilante. The independent production lacks in cinematography and the plot and the comedic undertones may not always work as effectively as they should. However, this doesn't mean that Mirageman is simply a cheap copy of similarly themed movies like Kick-Ass with a considerably higher budget and well-known actors. The stunt work and choreography are impressive and the gritty performances make the movie feel realistic and compelling. The movie also never takes itself too seriously, which makes for some light-hearted and funny bits - that are also accompanied by some more serious discussions about the morality of vigilante actions in general. In total, Mirageman is a convincing and entertaining action movie package.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Les Maîtres du temps (international title: Time Masters) is an animated science fiction movie about a rescue mission of a young boy, lost on a hostile and strange planet. The movie features a wonderfully unique art direction that is used to create a strange but fascinatingly atmospheric universe - even if the animation quality for movements and characters' facial expressions are of a noticeably lower quality. The ominous 1980s synth score also efficiently brings the hostile locations to life. Plot-wise the movie lacks a thorough exposition and the ending may seem rushed to some viewers - but the central ideas are intriguing and the main plot twist is still believable and emotionally touching. Overall, Les Maîtres du temps is a wonderful example of how an imaginative art direction can create a thrilling science fiction epic.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Solyaris is the first adaptation of Stanislaw Lem's novel of the same name. It's a two-part made for television movie about a scientist who encounters his dead wife on a space station orbiting a sentient planet. The movie heavily focuses on philosophic discussions about morality and stays more closely to the original novel than the other cinematic adaptations by Tarkowski and Soderbergh. Technically, the movie is dated and the generally low production values and the minimalistic setting will turn off some viewers. In addition, the slow pacing of the frequent dialogue scenes and the sometimes middling performances don't necessarily make the movie entertaining. However, the plot is intriguing and faithful to the source material, some dialogues are clever, and the black and white cinematography also make this science fiction drama atmospheric.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Blancanieves (international title: Snow White) is a drama with fantasy elements that is inspired by the fairy tale Snow White by the Brothers Grimm. It's set in the early 20th century in Seville, Spain, and focuses on a young girl who grows up with her evil stepmother and her paraplegic father. The movie imitates the style of silent films of that era, e.g. with black and white cinematography and title cards for dialogues. In addition, it introduces an elaborate backstory to the characters and the element of bullfighting, which is popular in Spain. Because of its visual style, the coherent plot, and the mostly great acting, the movie is highly memorable. All of this makes for a unique viewing experience and a thrilling retelling of the well-known fairy tale.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Wax, or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees can probably best be described as a philosophic journey through the paranoid consciousness of the narrator, which is presented in the form of a science fiction pseudo-documentary. Much like documentaries on conspiracy theories, the movie is cluttered with seemingly random information about beehives, ghosts, and weapon's testing - just to name a few central themes. These concepts are mostly interconnected but overall the narrative still lacks structure and coherence. The visual presentation is perplexing with distorted images and heavy use of computer-generated effects, but the abstract shapes and intercut shots of bees match the dreamlike and hypnotic atmosphere of the movie. Overall, the movie presents some great ideas (e.g., criticism of intelligent weapons), and the presentation is, although being a low-budget production, unique and fascinating to watch - even though some aspects don't come together all that well.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Verdens Undergang (international title: The End of the World) is one of the earliest preserved science fiction feature films. The plot is about an imminent collision of a comet with Earth, possibly resulting in a catastrophe in North-Western Europe. Due to the social commentary, the comparably well-made special effects, and the allegorical nature of the plot (cp., many have interpreted the social unrest as a result of World War I), the movie is considered a science fiction classic and is still an interesting watch. However, technically there are some drawbacks, not only regarding the visual presentation (e.g., heavy artifacts and muddy shadows), but also regarding the uneven plot and the disappointing character presentation.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Russkiy kovcheg (international title: Russian Ark) is a period drama about an unknown man who finds himself roaming the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the late 19th century, while being invisible to others. The movie is an impressive work of art and, as of 2020, still one of the longest movies shot in one continuous take. The scenery of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg is hauntingly beautiful and the well-choreographed moments with hundreds of actors are simply stunning to watch. In its best moments, Russkiy kovcheg is very much like a beautiful dream come to live. However, the movie nearly completely lacks narrative structure and the camera work has its flaws in the more somber moments (e.g., distracting zooms, low lighting). Ultimately, while still being a technical achievement, viewers looking for a plot and without knowledge of Russian history will be left in the dark.

Full review on my blog max4movies: The Mind's Eye is an experimental short film featuring several computer-generated episodes, that were mainly produced as promotional or commercial material in the late 1980s. Although some episodes are fascinating to watch and a fun throwback to the rudimentary technical possibilities during those days, the structure is generally not coherent and only rarely elevates the film. In addition, most material used wasn't even state-of-the-art in 1990 and the range in quality is extremely broad. Still, the short film is a fun reminder of the days in which computer-generated images were still rarely used in movies and not considered a form of art.

Full review on my blog max4movies: De sidste mænd i Aleppo (international title: Last Men in Aleppo) is a documentary about the White Helmets, a voluntary nonprofessional organization in Syria that has been helping people after bomb attacks since the civil war started in 2013. The documentary features footage that was shot between 2013 and 2017 and mostly focuses on three young men and their dilemma whether to stay or leave Aleppo. There is few information provided and no additional material was used (like interviews or external media coverage), which is why the documentary feels authentic but also raw. The conflict in Syria is a contemporary geopolitical crisis and, thus, the documentary is topical, important, and although few scenes actually contain graphic violence or gore, the catastrophe feels personal and heart-breaking. Although there are some technical drawbacks (e.g., structure and editing), the subject matter is simply too important to disregard.

Full review on my blog max4movies: The Black Pirate is a silent adventure movie about a man who infiltrates a pirate crew to bring justice to the men who killed his father. It features great set pieces and boasts generally high production values, however, apart from the frantic finale, there are only few action sequences. The performances and the stunt work are often great, which is why the movie is very entertaining. Apart from being one of the earliest color movies with a broad release, the movie is still very influential (e.g., the sliding down the sails scene). The plot is rather conventional, and the ending clichéd, but considering its age and impact, The Black Pirate is still very entertaining and fun throughout.

Full review on my blog max4movies: 41 is an independent science fiction movie about a student of philosophy, who discovers a trap door in a motel room that leads to the past. The premise is basic but interesting, and the movie is mostly well executed, with great cinematography and an atmospheric score. The performances are somewhat middling, but the main actor mostly does a decent job. The plot is overall thrilling and clever, however, the ending will throw some viewers off, due to a central plot hole. Still, the movie is efficiently made and demonstrates that science fiction can also deal with very down-to-earth issues.

Full review on my blog Max4Movies: Siworae (international title: Il Mare) is a romance about a young couple that is connected through a mysterious letter box although they both live in different times. The premise is great, and the time travel aspect does serve the plot nicely. What really sets the movie apart is the outstanding chemistry between the lead performers and the beautiful cinematography. However, due to the at times slow pacing and some cheesy elements, the movie also feels a little longer than it really should - still, it never overstays its welcome.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Blood Tea and Red String is a dark fairy tale realized through stop motion animation and featuring a high degree of symbolism. The latter makes for an interesting and unique viewing and can be compared to surreal films like Eraserhead (1977) or Un chien andalou (1929). Although the plot is enigmatic and rather superficial at times, the animation is solid, and the many details are wonderful to watch. Considering this was all done by one woman on a low budget, Blood Tea and Red String is a truly remarkable and haunting experience.

Full movie and review on my blog max4movies: Az Ember Tragédiája (international title: The Tragedy of Man) is a Hungarian animation epic about the first man and his search for how to transcend his own existence. The movie draws heavily on Christian mythology (e.g., the Biblical origin story) and Western culture (e.g., Renaissance or Ancient Rome) to present mankind's everlasting struggle for transcending mortality and fighting against the decay of cultural achievements. Thus, the presented themes are complex and for a mature audience who look for a narrative that poses these questions in a clever and sometimes stunningly animated way. Due to the movie's troubled production history, the animation quality differs vastly between the various segments, but most are still stunning and/or animated in a clever way.

Full movie and review on max4movies.blog: Based in part on the classic story collection Arabian Nights, The Thief of Bagdad centers around a young thief living in the streets of Bagdad. As the wants to marry the princess, he travels to fantastical places to find a magical box that grants wishes. The movie is a stunning example of an adventure epic from the silent era that mostly still holds up today. Technically groundbreaking at the time, some practical effect may seem mediocre at best, by 2019 standards. However, the stellar performance of Fairbanks, the great stunt work, and the marvelous orchestral soundtrack make the movie impressively entertaining and easy to watch, giving its hefty runtime.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Tropa de Elite (international title: Elite Squad) is a crime drama set in 1997 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and focuses on two new recruits of a paramilitary police squad. The movie raises some interesting questions about the ethical situation in the favelas and tries to contrast police brutality and organized crime. However, due to the uneven pacing and the inconsistent plot, these aspects are neglected in the latter half of the movie - leaving the viewer with some thrilling action scenes and middling character drama. Technically, the movie looks good and the raw pseudo-documentary style helps to create a tense and thrilling atmosphere; but these features are also overused during the movie's runtime and sometimes even distract the viewer from what's happening.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Mahal is a romantic drama with supernatural elements about a young man who is driven insane by the supposed ghost of his lover from another life. Several elements work great, e.g. the visual presentation and the eerie atmosphere. However, the movie lacks a more focused pacing, as it features several irrelevant songs and scenes that distract from the fate of the main characters. The theme song is very memorable but often the songs are entertaining which sometimes works against the serious notions of the tragic love story. Still, the main performances are captivating, and the atmospheric beginning and the clever ending make up for some of the apparent long-winded moments in between.