[6.75/10] Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2012)

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2012)

Brief review: Adapted from Paul Torday's novel of the same name, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is yet another 'winner' from "Chocolat" director Lasse Hallström. Balancing drama and comedy well in a film is undoubtedly a hard thing to do, and many filmmakers in the past have struggled to produce successful movies that fit into this hybrid of a genre. That's not the case with Swedish director Lasse Hallström, who manages to pull it off quite effortlessly and naturally in "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen", and he deserves credit for that. Thanks to his flair and skills and Simon Beaufoy's clever, well-adapted script, this movie has as much heart-wrenching moments in it as it has laughs. Yes, it gets a bit too sentimental at times, and its romantic bits often aren't as emotionally powerful as they should, but "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is still an intelligent piece of cinema that fully benefits from its strong source material. Furthermore, Hallström's subtle direction, combined with Terry Stacey's super-smooth cinematography that features many breathtaking landscape shots, make this film as pretty as a postcard. To put such a talented cast in one movie is a winning move, and director Hallström takes full advantage of the their acting skills. All the actors involved work brilliantly together, with Blunt and McGregor sharing a believable on screen chemistry, and Kristin Scott Thomas bringing the laughs.

Overall summary: Although not always as enjoyable and emotionally-engaging as it's supposed to be, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is still a warm, charming, beautifully-crafted and wonderfully-acted dramedy with heart, soul, brains and pretty sophisticated sense of humor.

This review is also featured on TVFilmNews.com

[6.75/10] StreetDance 2 [3D] (2012)

StreetDance 2 [3D] (2012)

Brief review: Forget about all the dance flicks you've watched so far, because this one is the real deal! UK's answer to the "Step Up" series, and this successful sequel in particular, tops everything you've seen in any dance movie, in terms of choreography, creativity and execution. "StreetDance 2" is not just another movie about hip-hop, as it boldly infuses Latin dancing in its routines to set itself apart from the bunch. You think Latin is boring? Well, think again, because this flick will change your mind completely. "StreetDance 2" may have the exact same issues most movies of this genre do - it's shallow, its plot feels fabricated, and the acting is sub-par - but who cares, since "StreetDance 2" is all about the dancing. The Latin routines are sexy, very passionate and beautifully choreographed, each and everyone of the hip-hop routines is inspired, hard-hitting and massively entertaining, and both combined lead to a spectacular result - a dance fusion that is not only creative, but also a pure joy to watch. "StreetDance 2" is also much more stylish than its predecessor in terms of execution. Duo Giwa & Pasquini's direction has become much more versatile, the use of lighting is amazing, the music score is exciting , the 3D works and the dance routines themselves are wonderfully-shot. The cast definitely dance better than they act, but the hot Sofia Boutella makes you overlook the flimsy performances.

Overall summary: It's contrived, superficial and basically plotless, but "StreetDance 2" makes up for that with jaw-dropping dance routines, innovative choreography, adrenaline pumping music score and attractive cast, and the end result is a hugely entertaining dance flick.

This review is also featured on TVFilmNews.com

[6.75/10] Mirror Mirror (2012)

Mirror Mirror (2012)

Brief review: It was about time someone to put an ironic, comedic spin on one of the most popular stories of all time, without ruining the magic of it, and director Tarsem Singh does it with flair in “Mirror Mirror”. Unlike the upcoming “Snow White and the Huntsman” which, judging by the trailers, has ‘grimness’ written all over it, the delightfully lighthearted “Mirror Mirror” never takes itself too seriously, and shows a whole new fun side of the classic story. Singh knows his movie is rather superficial, but he manages to make up for the lack of depth with an amusingly ironic script, full of cheeky slapstick humor, engaging characters, and last but not least, splendid visuals. Over the years Singh has proven himself as a true visionary director, and “Mirror Mirror” is yet another visual stunner from him. From the lavish, exuberant sets and gorgeous costumes to the eye-catching color palette and stylish cinematography, everything about this pretty movie is executed to perfection, and pure eye-candy. Unsurprisingly, Julia Roberts steals the show as the wicked and manipulative, yet rather insecure ‘evil’ queen. Lily Collins doesn’t impress with great acting skills or strong screen presence like Roberts does, but her looks are just perfect for Snow White. Armie Hammer gives a passable performance as the dashing prince, but it’s the quirky dwarfs, presented as a group of rebels, that contribute most to the story.

Overall summary: It lacks substance and it’s too forgettable to become a classic, but Tarsem Singh’s “Mirror Mirror” is still a witty, enjoyable and thoroughly refreshing rendition of “Snow White”, that fascinates with its vivid, sumptuous visuals and truly enchanting atmosphere.

Read (and comment on) the extended version of my "Mirror Mirror" review, written exclusively for White Cat Magazine HERE.

[6.75/10] The Hidden Face (2011)

La Cara Oculta a.k.a.
The Hidden Face (2011)

QuickRating: Although it suffers from a frustratingly uninteresting first half that feels rather pointless, later on everything falls into place perfectly, and half way through "La Cara Oculta" transforms itslef into a thoughtful, intense and uniquely claustrophobic thriller that quickly falls into the category 'like nothing we've seen before'. Plus, Martina García delivers an anxious and extremely convincing performance.

[6.75/10] Babycall (2011)

Babycall (2011)

QuickRating: This Swedish horror thriller feels a bit muddled at times, and the subplots don't fit together as neatly as they should, but what makes "Babycall" effective, gripping and disturbing is Noomi Rapace's brilliantly intense and vulnerable portrayal of a confused, paranoid and mentally disturbed mother. Plus, director Sletaune maintains an eerie atmosphere throughout the film, and the twist ending, while hardly satisfactory, works well.

[6.75/10] The Awakening (2011)

The Awakening (2011)

QuickRating: It lacks originality and it's more creepy rather than scary, however, "The Awakening" proves to be more than just another ghost story - it's clever, stylishly-shot, intelligently-written, full of chilling moments, and has a fully satisfying twist ending you won't see coming. Visually, it flaunts an atmospheric, gorgeously murky cinematography and a beautiful, yet truly sinister setting, plus, Rebecca Hall turns in a fantastic performance here.

[6.75/10] Young Adult (2011)

Young Adult (2011)

QuickRaitng: It has a dark nature, hence, it's hard to call it enjoyable, and its grim visual style is far from appealing, but "Young Adult" is nonetheless a well-balanced and engaging dramedy, that has as many laughs as it does serious moments. The gorgeous Charlize Theron delivers a very charismatic lead performance, and even though it's hard to feel sympathy for her barely likable character at first, later on you'll find yourself in love with Mavis' childish naughtiness.

[6.75/10] Ronal the Barbarian (2011)

Ronal the Barbarian (2011)

QuickRating: Featuring irony, dirty language, lots of gore, big boobs, naked bumps, and even bulges, "Ronal the Barbarian" is definitely not suitable for little kids. The older audience, however, will enjoy all the hilarious naughtiness on screen. This cool Danish animated feature spoofs "Conan" and "Lord of the Rings" in a very refreshing, clever and witty way, and the animation is polished and well put together.

[6.75/10] Rundskop a.k.a. Bullhead (2011)

Rundskop a.k.a.
Bullhead (2011)

QuickRating: Belgium's official Oscar entry is definitely not easy to watch, and the plot structure is kind of complicated, even though the story itself seems fairly simple at first, but what makes "Rundskop" truly unforgettable, powerful and affecting is the lead character Jacky Vanmarsenille, played outstandingly by Matthias Schoenaerts, as well as his shattering, yet incredibly moving personal story of struggle.

[6.75/10] Friends with Benefits (2011)

Friends with Benefits (2011)

QuickRating: Yes, it mostly relies on its charming and fabulously good-looking lead duo and some overly familiar cliches, but "Friends with Benefits" still distinguishes itself from the bunch of lazy Hollywood rom-coms with smartness, wit and fearlessness, plus, it's energetic, constantly amusing and quite sexy. Furthermore, the chemistry between Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake is believable and so hot, it burns.

[6.75/10] Haywire (2012)

Haywire (2012)

Brief review: After last year's hugely underrated gem, "Contagion", Steven Soderbergh brings us his latest project "Haywire" - a fast-paced and finely-crafted spy thriller, that despite some overused plot cliches, still engages with its well-structured storyline, spot-on execution and thrilling action scenes. Although "Haywire" is a bit ordinary in terms of aesthetics, Soderbergh's distinctive visual style is still recognizable, plus, the film impresses with nice variety of settings, including Barcelona, Dublin and New Mexico. There is no intense music or loud sound effects during the action scenes, but that doesn't make them less exciting. The fights themselves are realistic, well-shot and brutal as hell, and contrast well with the funky and absolutely mesmerizing original score by David Holmes. Newcomer Gina Carano is by no means a great actress, but she nevertheless delivers a believable, down-to-earth portrayal as the young and feisty female spy, Mallory. Behind her cute Britney Spears-like face and sexy curvy body, she hides a strong powerful woman with big brains and incredible skills. Since the main focus throughout the film is on Mallory, none of the other A-list actors really shine. Having said that, all the supporting cast including Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Angarano and Channing Tatum do a solid job despite their extremely limited screen time.

Overall summary: While certainly not one of Soderbergh's strongest and most memorable films, "Haywire" still works in a simple but very effective way, thanks to its sharp, well-written script, excellent ensemble cast, and straight and clear, yet somewhat stylish direction.

[6.75/10] The Innkeepers (2011)

The Innkeepers (2011)

QuickRaitng: The suspense takes some time to really build, and Sara Paxton's over-the-top performance gets truly annoying after a while, but "The Innkeepers" is still a spooky, atmospheric and finely crafted old-fashioned ghost story, with a spine-shiveringly scary final act, set in a one of the creepiest basements ever put on film. That being said, the film is nowhere nearly as ominous and terrifying as Ti West's previous effort, "The House of the Devil", which remains a classic.

[6.75/10] In Time (2011)

In Time (2011)

Full review: Set in 2161, Andrew Niccol's latest sci-fi thriller is all about time. Literally. In the not-so-near future, people earn time, sell time, loan time, steal time, pay with time and trade with time, because their life literally depends on time, and conceptually, this premise is as just as intriguing and original as it sounds. Although this idea is hard-to-execute, Andrew Niccol manages to pull it off excellently. The director represents the future in a very believable way, where the world is divided into two categories - very rich and very poor. Those who have centuries of time on their 'counters' live like kings, and those who doesn't, live day by day in constant stress and fear. Having said that, the film is not without its flaws, there are some unnecessarily extended scenes and a couple of dull moments, but apart from that, "In Time" never fails to entertain and captivate the audience, but most importantly, it makes you think about what if something like this happens in real life? In terms of style and concept, there are some similarities between "In Time" and director's 1997 sci-fi hit "Gattaca". The latter remains one of the sci-fi masterpieces of the 90s, but Niccol's latest effort, while still creative and original enough, feels clearly inspired by its predecessor. That's not a bad thing by any means, because on one hand, it's an intentional reminiscent of "Gattaca", and on the other hand, it showcases the director's signature style and arsenal of inventive ideas. Thanks to the polished production design and slick cinematography, visually, "In Time" is as stylish as it's authentic. The poor areas of the world are grim, plain and gloomy, while New Greenwich, the city of time 'millionaires', is posh, lavish and sophisticated, and this visual juxtaposition represents the two very different types of life amazingly well. Since the characters in the movie are genetically engineered to stop aging at 25, what you can expect from the cast is only young, fresh and pretty faces, and it feels great to watch a movie full of beautiful people. Justin Timberlake is a hit-and-miss type of an actor, but he really doesn't disappoint this time around. The role suits him perfectly and he does a capable job of portraying his character's aims and struggles. Amanda Seyfried is just as talented as she's beautiful, and she delivers a fantastic performance as the spoiled, yet smart daughter of a time magnate, Sylvia. The supporting cast shines as well. Cillian Murphy gives a solid performance as the humble and loyal timekeeper, and his character is probably the most sympathetic of all. Alex Pettyfer is the biggest surprise here. No one would have guessed that Pettyfer could play a bad guy so convincingly, and believe me, he does it with a bang. Maybe for first time in film history Olivia Wilde's presence is not that annoying (Sarcastic quiz: Can you name a movie she doesn't star in? LOL.), but that's probably due to the fact that her screen time is very limited.

Overall summary: Although it gets a bit tiresome towards the end, and it's far from perfect, Andrew Niccol's futuristic thriller "In Time" still dazzles with its original premise, inventive script, atmospheric visuals and engaging cast, and it feels like a breath of fresh air among the sea of remakes and sequels that Hollywood continuously spews these days.

[6.75/10] Sint a.k.a. Saint (2011)

Sint a.k.a. Saint (2011)

Brief review: Last year's Finnish horror movie "Rare Exports" showed us the evil side of Santa Claus. This year, Netherlands brings us more 'holiday' horror fun in "Saint" - a horror comedy that depicts St. Nicholas as a murderous bishop who murders children when there is a full moon on Dec 5. The best thing about this Dutch horror movie is that it never takes itself too seriously and shows us what a great sense of humor its director actually has. Dick Maas knows perfectly that his film is superficial, but he demonstrates imagination, originality, and some good skills behind the camera, offering us a horror comedy that is well-balanced, entertaining, action-packed, and visually effective, but most of all, fun to watch. Set in the murky, yet beautiful Amsterdam, "Saint" captivates the eye with its gloomy visuals, atmospheric snowy settings and stylish cinematography that suits the dark tone of the film. The make-up and gore effects are also spot-on. Although it's far from scary, "Sint" is quite creepy and gory and there a few jump-of-your-seat moments that will raise your adrenaline. All the actors do a good job in portraying their characters, though you may struggle to figure out which characters are the main, and which are the secondary.

Overall summary: Despite its ridiculous premise, "Sint" remains a unique, clever, and finely-executed little gem of a horror comedy, that provides some good laugh, decent scares, tons of gore, and a surreal dark holiday atmosphere that makes it perfect to watch on Halloween.

[6.75/10] Priest [3D] (2011)

Priest [3D] (2011)

Brief review: "Legion" director, Scott Stewart, brings us his latest sci-fi horror flick, based on on the Korean comic of the same name, and set in an alternate futuristic world full of blood-thirsty vampires. Despite its unsteady pacing, cliche-ridden script and complete lack of humor, "Priest" still manages to entertain the viewer, thanks its talented cast and Scott Stewart's eye-popping visual style. The post-apocalyptic, yet futuristic setting of the film is as gloomy and forbidding as it is imposingly spectacular, and the washed-out almost colorless cinematography compliments the dim art direction, and the overall grim mood of the movie. The CGIs are absolutely first-rate and downright flawless, and the 3D effects range from decent to excellent, despite that the film is not being shot-in-3D, but post-converted. The vampires themselves are not in human form, but an amazingly-designed eyeless creatures, that will surely give you the creeps. The action is also a feast for the eyes - the stunts are impressive, and the slow-mo sequences are stylishly-shot and executed with precision. Paul Bettany turns in a strong performance as the tough and protectful Priest, Maggie Q simply dazzles as the Priestess, and Karl Urban does a great job as the vicious Black Hat.

Overall summary: Featuring stunning futuristic visuals, outstanding production dsign, great action sequences, and some of the slickest creature effects ever put on film, "Priest" is a hugely entertaining guilty-pleasure-kind-of-movie, that delivers everything it promises.

Numerous QuickRatings PART 8: Foreign Horror Movies

Captifs a.k.a. Caged (2010)

QuickRating: This French torture porn flick may be brutally realistic, extremely graphic, violently gory and nicely-acted, but it suffers from a cliched premise, unimaginative execution, and lack of actual thrills and chills, plus it often feels like a rip-off of another French gorefest, "Frontier(s)".

My Rating: 5.50/10



Zwart Water a.k.a. Two Eyes Staring (2010)

QuickRating: Moody, monotonous and unnecessarily overlong, yet gripping, enigmatic, incredibly atmospheric and beautifully shot, "Zwart Water" proves that Dutch horror film makers are also capable of delivering decent horror movies, despite their lack of experience in this area.

My Rating: 5.75/10



Die Tür a.k.a. The Door (2009)

QuickRating: More of a mystery thriller rather than a horror, "The Door" is a one-of-a-kind experience about parallel realities in life, that dazzles with its uniqueness and unpredictability, and drives a plot that delivers suspense and intrigue, but unfortunately, it falls apart in its final act and quickly loses its efficiency.

My Rating: 6.75/10

[6.75/10] The Mechanic (2011)

The Mechanic (2011)

Brief review: Simon West brings this nicely-executed action thriller, that follows an elite hit man, as he teaches his trade to an apprentice who has a connection to one of his previous victims. Though "The Mechanic" starts out a bit sloppy and somewhat moody, it picks up speed and energy very soon, to turn itself into a clever, gripping, uncompromising and spectacularly-violent action flick, that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end. "The Mechanic" may lack originality, but its cliche-ridden plot is compensated by a fantastic cast, some atmospheric visuals and West's creative direction and action staging. The action itself is one of this film's main strengths - the shooting scenes are high octane, the stunts are spectacular, and the fights are extremely well-choreographed and brutal as hell. Jason Statham is perfectly cast for his role as the harsh and cold-blooded professional assassin, Arthur. He's silent with his words, but very expressive with his eyes and body language. Ben Foster often steals the show with his tough, yet emotionally-powerful performance as the troubled Steve McKenna. His character is as enigmatic as he's engaging, and you can't help but being captivated by his screen presence and undeniable charisma.

Overall summary: Despite suffering from some pacing issues and an uneven editing in its first half, "The Mechanic" proves itself a thrilling and thoroughly entertaining kinetic action flick with brains, that delivers everything it promises.. and then some.

[6.75/10] I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Brief review: Director Steven R. Monroe, best known for making mediocre TV movies and low-budget crappy horror flicks ("It Waits" anyone?) brings this surprisingly well-crafted remake of the 1978 "cult classic" of the same name. While the disgustingly gruesome original was trashily-made, this 2010 version completely delivers in terms of execution. Not only "I Spit on Your Grave" is smoothly-paced and almost flawlessly-shot, but it's also quite striking, visually. A very important element in the movie is the choice of location, as the rich forest scenery of Louisiana is downright stunning, and beautifully-captured by Monroe's camera. The magnificent pale color palette used in the film's artful cinematography also adds to the quality of the visuals. Sarah Butler gives a confident and extremely convincing performance as the abused young writer, who seeks revenge and both Jeff Branson and Andrew Howard give truly disturbing performances. The unrated version includes a never-before-seen footage, that contains some seriously disturbing goriness, and even more grotesque images. Violence-wise, "I Spit on Your Grave" is absolutely uncompromising, and full of creative torture sequences that leave nothing to imagination.

Overall summary: Thanks to its precise direction, arresting visuals and sheer bone-chilling brutality, "I Spit on Your Grave" is, surprisingly, the second horror remake released in 2010, along with "Let Me In", that easily surpasses the original in terms of quality and execution.

[6.75/10] Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010)

Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010)

Brief review: Directed by Joe Cheung, "Kung Fu Wing Chun" is a different take on the story of the origin and development of the Chinese martial arts style, Wing Chun. Though a bit cheesy compared to the Yuen Woo-Ping's 94 version, it's still a well-choreographed, entertaining and visually captivating 90's style kung fu flick, full of engaging characters and exciting action sequences, that instead of taking itself too seriously, brings the fun side of Wing Chun. As a martial arts flick, it features plenty of stirring, if unspectacular fight scenes, filled with excellent wire work. Visually, the movie impresses with its exotically-gorgeous production design, some vividly beautiful images (even though many of them being CG), and a vibrant yellowish cinematography, that exudes richness. Тhough the film has a relatively large cast of actors, the main focus is one Bai Jing, who absolutely steals the show as the title character. Jing is as quirky as she's sweet and likable in her role as the rebellious tomboy, Wing Chun, determined to develop her martial arts skills. Colin Chou, mainly known to the audience for his role as Seraph in "The Matrix" franchise does an excellent job as the villain, while Ye Shaoqun is just okay as Chun's love interest.

Overall summary: Although it often borders on silly, "Kung Fu Wing Chun" is an enjoyable, action-packed and nicely-crafted martial arts comedy, that successfully maintains the 'fun factor' throughout.

[6.75/10] Bedevilled (2010)

Bedevilled (2010)

Brief review: Jang Cheol-so's debut feature, "Bedevilled" takes place on an uncivilized island near Seoul, and tells the unusual story of Bok-nam - a woman, long time harassed by her husband, who seeks revenge for the death of her daughter. Despite being slightly pretentious and suffering from slow development, this blood-soaked revenge flick is a consistently gripping and thoroughly effective shocker, that while lacking in suspense, is filled with scenes of extreme violence, disturbing images and buckets of blood. Acting-wise, "Bedevilled" truly succeeds. Ji Sung-won does a great job as the complicated and lonely Hae-won, however, she's completely outshined by Yeong-hie Seo, who delivers an incredibly convincing and truly disturbing performance as the rejected Bok-nam. The supporting performances are as good as they're intimidating. Koren director Jang Cheol-so has an eye for detail, and an incredible sense of visual style, and it certainly shos, since "Bedevilled" is one of the most beautifully-shot and visually-stunning slashers I've ever seen. The choice of location is his smartest move regarding this film, as the Geumodo Island's scenery is simply breathtaking, and a beautiful backdrop for this otherwise grim story.

Overall summary: As gritty and violently brutal, as it's visually striking, "Bedevilled" delivers plenty of shocks, chills and spills, despite its oddness and pretentiousness.