[9.00/10] Prometheus [3D] (2012)

Prometheus [3D] (2012)

Brief review: Scott's most talked-about movie in years, "Prometheus", can be considered a prequel to "Alien" as it's similar in style and has a last-minute connection with it, but it also works as a standalone piece, that deals with a completely different subject about discovering the origin of mankind. Even though "Prometheus" leaves more questions than it provides answers, it's still a constantly intriguing and quietly absorbing sci-fi horror with a taut, thoughtful and intelligent story, that grabs your interest and never lets go. There are some truly intense and frightening moments in it too, with the 'surgery' and 'engineer vs creature' scenes deserving a special mention. Even from the stunning opening sequence you could tell that "Prometheus" will be yet another strikingly-looking movie from Ridley Scott, who once again demonstrates his unique visual style and attention to detail. There's a certain sophistication about his direction, that makes the film gorgeous to look at, but in a subtle sort of way - the set design is imaginative, the cinematography is atmospheric, and the use of 3D is impressive. The cast is absolutely stellar. Noomi Rapace delivers an engaging performance as the clever and daring, yet fragile scientist, Elizabeth, Idris Elba is superb as the spaceship captain, Fassbender is perfectly-cast as the insensible android, and Ms. Theron draws the viewers' attention every time she shows up on screen.

Overall summary: Compelling, expertly-made and visually-stupendous, Ridley Scott's "Alien" prequel-esque "Prometheus" is an out-of-this-world cinematic experience, that lives up to the hype, thanks to the unlimited creativity and remarkable directing skills of its genius creator.

[9.00/10] The Help (2011)

The Help (2011)

Full review: Adapted from Kathryn Stockett's novel of the same name, "The Help" is about a young journalist, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, who decides to write a controversial book from the point of view of two black maids, exposing the racism they're faced with working for white families. This adaptation deals with an uncomfortable subject matter (or in other words, racism), but does it with a sense of humor and a dose of irony, which makes it unique in its own way. "The Help" truly is rollercoaster ride of emotions - it's sad, yet uplifting; inconvenient, yet enjoyable; tearful, yet heart-warming, but it's always engrossing and never fails to engage the audience with its inspiring story and delightful characters. Minor flaws aside, the adapted script is clever and fantastically-written, with each line being important and necessary for the overall impact of the movie. "The Help" has an amazing ensemble cast, and every single one of the performances in the movie deserves an Oscar nomination. The charming Emma Stone shows another different side of her, and proves how versatile she is as an actress. Her character is likable and very engaging, and you can't help but feeling connected to her. The uber-talented Viola Davis that delivers another strong, powerful and moving performance as the humbled, yet bold black maid, Aibileen, but it's Octavia Spencer that steals the show as the feisty Minny Jackson, bringing huge personality and lots of laughs. The connection between these three characters is strong and believable, and without a doubt the main driving force of the movie. The supporting cast does an excellent job as well, with the two main standouts being Bryce Dallas Howard, who gives an incredibly convincing performance as the prejudiced and malicious Hilly, and Jessica Chastain, who delivers a hilarious performance as the quirky, yet sympathetic Celia, who's being rejected from everybody. The technical aspects of the film are truly a work of art. Set in the early 60s, "The Help" has this cool retro vibe to it, that makes it very appealing, visually. The production design looks incredibly authentic and represents the era quite perfectly, the costumes are chic and stylish, and the color-effect filters used by the cinematographer create a soft reddish tint on the visuals, that makes the film look warm as well as dazzlingly eye-catching. Tate Taylor's direction is so slick and skillful, you'd never guess "The Help" is only his second full-length film, plus, it's complimented by a brilliant editing that smooths the pacing, and makes you forget about the 137 minutes long running time.

Overall summary: Brilliantly-written, wonderfully-acted and beautifully-filmed, "The Help" is as touching and emotionally-powerful as it's uplifting and delightfully absorbing, and will win your heart and stay in your mind long after the credits roll, simply because it's one of the best movies of 2011, and one of the finest book adaptations ever made.

[9.00/10] Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Full review: Ten years after Tim Burton's disasterous entry into the long-running franchise, director Rupert Wyatt brings us the latest "Planet of the Apes" installment, and much to our surprise, he not only manages to pull it off, but he delivers arguably the best and most entertaining of all "Apes" films released since 1968. Story-wise, "Rise of the Apes" doesn't really break any new grounds, and its plot feels a bit familiar here and there, however the lack of true originality is compensated by the smartly-written script, the fantastic cast, and the absolutely slick and spot-on execution. Moreover, the movie's perfectly smooth pacing and 'evolutionating' plot development draw us more and more into the story as the movie progresses. Some minor faults aside, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is as visually-breathtaking, as it's absorbing. Rupert Wyatt does such an incredible job behind the camera, it's really hard to believe that this is just his second full-length film. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is so skilfully-shot and creatively-composed, it feels more like Wyatt has a huge directing career behind his back. He provides us with tons of fluid, yet dynamic camera movements, plenty of inventive angles and lots of diversity, and the end result is nothing short of spectacular. The settings are excellent, both indoor and outdoor, but it's the visual effects that make the biggest impression. All of the apes shown in the movie are stunningly-designed, deeply-detailed, incredibly realisitc and crafted to perfection. Although the action comes a bit late in the film, it's striking, brilliantly-staged and worth every second of waiting. Apart from Rupert Wyatt's amazingly stylish direction, and the absulutely first-rate special effects, the most impressive thing about the latest "Apes" movie is Andy Serkis' sensational performance as Ceaser. He brings the ape to life in a very believable and natural way, and he turns in one of the most memorable non-human performances in history of cinema. James Franco grew so much as an actor over the past couple of years, it's really fascinating. Last year he blew us away in Danny Boyle's "127 Hours", and now he delivers another strong, mature and convincing performance as the tough, yet sensitive young scientist, Will Rodman. The beautiful Freida Pinto know for her role in another Boyle film, "Slumdog Millionaire" gives a solid supporting performance as Will's love interest, Caroline. John Lithgow also delivers in his formidable role as the nutty, yet sympathetic father who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

Overall summary: Featuring innovative direction, clever writing, brilliant performances and some of the most polished CGI effects ever put on film, and filled with action-packed thrills and electrifying moments, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is the best, most gripping and visually-striking movie of the summer so far, along with "X-Men: First Class".

[9.00/10] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 [3D] (2011)

Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows - Part 2 [3D] (2011)

Full review: This year, "it all ends". Sadly. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" is the last and arguably the best, darkest and most mature entry in the hugely-popular franchise. A few dragged-out scenes and some rather unnecessary flashbacks aside, "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" is thrilling and thoroughly captivating from beginning to the end. The story unfolds at brisk, yet smooth pace, balancing action-packed, epic scenes with dialogue-driven ones quite well, while the long-awaited conclusion is utterly predictable, yet somewhat satisfying. British director David Yates simply outdoes himself this time around. Back in 2007, he did a good job with "Order of the Phoenix" and his direction was competent and everything, however, not necessarily exceptional. Yates stepped things up with "Half-Blood Prince", but his directing skills were still far from perfect. Having said that, last year with "Deathly Hallows - Part 1" he proved to all of us he already 'gets' the whole Harry Potter concept 100%. Now, with "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" it feels that he has gotten even more comfortable with the source material, and it's more than obvious that he grew up loving the characters and the entire story with all his heart, as his fourth installment is filmed and crafted with such a passion, imagination and zeal, it shines through the screen. In terms of visuals, the film is nothing short of spectacular. The grim, washed-out cinematography fits the dark tone of the movie incredibly well and creates an intense, yet magical atmosphere, and the uber-slick production design is so stunningly impressive you will be wowed by it for sure. The CGIs are absolutely first rate and a true feast for the eyes, and the action scenes range from great to stupendous, with special mention goes to the Tresor/Dragon sequence in the middle of the movie, which is, in my book, the real highlight of the film. Another memorable moment is the attack on Hogwarts, which sadly ends up a bit shorter than expected. The 3D effects are passable, but they hardly add any depth to both the visuals and the story. Acting-wise, "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" also meets and even exceeds our expectations. The charming trio Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are all better than ever before, and the top-notch supporting cast does an incredible job at bringing their characters to life, however, it's Ralph Fiennes that steals the show as the mean and vicious Lord Voldemort.

Overall summary: Compelling, emotionally-powerful, wonderfully-crafted, and visually mind-blowing, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" not only ranks as the best installment in the super-successful franchise along with Alfonso Cuaron's "Prisoner of Azkaban", but it's also a great and truly magical way to end the series. Farewell, Harry Potter!

Numerous QuickRatings PART 1: Pre-2009 Movies

To Live (1994)

QuickRating: With its splendidly-executed and remarkably-realistic portrayal of one family's struggle during China's pre-revolutionary era, Zhang Yimou proves yet again that he's capable of turning a seemingly simplistic story into something so deeply-moving, heart-wrenching and emotionally-powerful, it may touch your heart and soul forever.

My Rating: 9.00/10

In My Skin (2002)

QuickRating: Although it deals with the disturbing subject matter of self-mutilation, "In My Skin" is neither as shocking nor as effective as it thinks it is, and its bleak, grinding atmosphere and obnoxious characters, make it an unpleasant and rather bizarre experience, that never fully manages to get under your skin, despite its graphicness.

My Rating: 4.50/10

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

[Director's Cut]

QuickRating: Thanks to its excitingly action-packed plot, compelling characters, eye-candy cinematography, top-notch special and practical effects, and stylized goriness, visionary director Snyder's debut feature, "Dawn of the Dead", ranks as one of one of the most most polished and accomplished horror remakes in cinematic history.

My Rating: 8.25/10


The Wrestler (2008)

QuickRating: Exceptionally well acted, yet rather unimpressive compared to Aronofsky's previous efforts, "The Wrestler" is a compelling if slightly overrated character-driven drama, that surely marks Mickey Rourke's comeback as a serious actor, and showcases director's talent, but the film itself is as flawed and inconsistent as its main character.

My Rating: 7.00/10

[9.00/10] Under the Hawthorn Tree (2010)

Under the Hawthorn Tree (2010)

Brief review: After his sumptuous piece of eye candy, "Curse of the Golden Flower", Chinese master Zhang Yimou is back to being himself with this deeply-touching love story, that takes place during Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and '70s. Though quite simple, this romance between a young woman and a man from different economic backgrounds, is probably the purest love story ever put on film. From the enthralling beginning to the tearjerking finale, everything about this beautifully-told story feels real, authentic and sincere, and you may find yourself emotionally involved with the characters and their feelings. Even though, this is Dongyu Zhou's first time in front of the camera, her performance is nothing short of impressive. She acts extremely naturally as the tender and innocent Jing Qiu, who faces life's struggles with strong will, and you can't help but feel engaged with her delicate, yet lovely personality. Shawn Dou, who's also widely unknown, is absolutely captivating and very likable as Zhou's love interest, who's extremely loyal and dedicated to his feelings for Jing. Though not nearly as lush and lavish, as Yimou's previous masterpieces "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers", "Under the Hawthorn Tree" is equally as stunning, visually. The Chinese countryside scenery is breathtaking, and beautifully-captured by Yimou's camera, almost to the point of distraction. The muted color palette, used by cinematographer is smooth, elegant and gentle as the film itself, and the art direction dazzles with its simplicity.

Overall summary: Remarkably genuine, profoundly moving and beautifully-filmed, "Under the Hawthorn Tree" is yet another gem in the crown of Zhang Yimou's amazingly impressive filmography.

[9.00/10] The Fighter (2010)

The Fighter (2010)

Brief review: "The Fighter" centers on the life of professional boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his older half-brother - a former boxer who suffers from drug abuse. Taking a tired subject matter and making it as compelling as it possibly can is a hard thing to do, but director David O. Russell manages to achieve exactly that. His latest effort, "The Fighter" offers a wonderfully-crafted and thoroughly complex less-about-boxing-and-more-about-family story, filled with multi-layered characters with human flaws and frailties, which evolve vastly as the movie progresses. In fact, aside from the slightly cliched ending, "The Fighter" is pretty much the perfect boxing movie. "The Fighter" is also technically-brilliant, with its pitch-perfect editing, David O. Russell's diverse direction, and the intentionally rough, grainy and unpolished, yet stunning cinematography. However, the most impressive and notable thing about this film is the exceptional performances delivered by the best ensemble cast of the year. Mark Wahlberg plays the central character in the movie, and he delivers a very confident and solid performance. Christian Bale is sure to win an Oscar for his fantastic supporting performance as the troubled brother, Dicky. He just blows everyone else out of the water! Melisa Leo plays the tough, 'money-obsessed' mother and manager of Micky, and she delivers the second-best performance in "The Fighter". Amy Adams shines as well, as she gives a very convincing performance as Charlene.

Overall summary: With its enormously gripping story, utterly compelling characters and top-notch direction by David O. Russell, "The Fighter" is undoubtedly one of this year's very best films, and also a serious contender for next year's Oscars.

[9.00/10] Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)

Legend of the Guardians:
The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)

Based on the beloved series of children's books by Kathryn Lasky, Zack Snyder's "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole", follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole - an army of winged warriors who once fought an epic battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. When he and his brother become the Pure Ones' captives, Soren makes a daring escape, and, with the help of other young owls, sets out to find the Guardians and bring them back to defend their people once again. First things first, "Legend of the Guardians" is completely and utterly underrated, as Zack Snyder's very first animated feature is a gorgeously-crafted children story for grown ups, that dazzles with its unique atmosphere, spectacular visuals and thoroughly compelling story. This film may not break any new grounds in terms of storytelling, but it's consistently gripping, flawlessly-paced, and high in entertainment value. Personally, I wasn't bored for a second and I'm not sure how anyone could have been. Sure, the plot feels a bit rushed, especially in the beginning, but this is one of the few weak spots in this otherwise excellent film. With "Legend of the Guardians", Zack Snyder proves yet again what an amazing director and incredible visual genius he is, as his first first-ever animated flick is a pure CGI extravaganza, created with love, thought and passion. He truly uses all his imagination and creativity to bring this story to life, offering one of the most striking visuals and CGI characters ever put on film. The owls themselves are gorgeously designed, beautifully-detailed and nothing short of adorable! The look so real, and their eyes are so expressive and warm, it's like you could feel their emotions. Despite their common origin, every owl has its own unique look and personality, that make them so distinctive and individualistic, you won't have any trouble recognizing the different characters. The film's dark tone and gloomy, yet sophisticated graphic style perfectly suit the changing mood of the narrative and the overall atmosphere of "Legend of the Guardians". The director uses muted colour scheme accented with amber and golden tones, in order to achieve a specific mood, that while a bit too dark and scary for small children, will certainly ravish and captivate the older audiences. Snyder's trademark slow-mo sequences are as amazingly-done and breathtaking as his high-energy action set-pieces, with 'flying through the rain drops' scene in particular being absolutely thrilling and jaw-droppingly beautiful! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see the 3D version of "Legend of the Guardians", therefore I can't comment on the 3D effects, though I'm pretty convinced those are brilliantly-done. The voice acting is also quite admirable. The voice cast is enormous, bringing together huge talents such as Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neill, Hugo Weaving, Anthony LaPaglia, and Helen Mirren, along with some less-know actors, mainly from UK and Australia. They all do a phenomenal job in bringing their feathery characters to life! With its mindblowingly sumptuous graphics, enthralling and adventurous story, and extremely adorable characters, "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" ranks as one of the most imaginative animated features ever created, and it's certainly the most visually-stunning movie of 2010.

• My Rating: 9.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 50% (5.6/10)
• IMDb: 7.1/10

[9.00/10] The Loved Ones (2010)

The Loved Ones (2010)

Premiered on last year's Toronto International Film Festival, but wide-released this autumn, this Aussie horror flick, "The Loved Ones", tells the story of Brent Mitchell, a high school senior tormented with the guilt of his father’s death. He tries to escape the guilt and his emotional mother through drugs and metal music and only has his beautiful girlfriend, Holly, to keep him grounded. It’s time for prom and he knows who he’s going to take, but instead, Brent is sidetracked by a twisted secret admirer that puts him under a disco ball and gives him his very own prom. After a slow burning, yet spicy beginning, "The Loved Ones" turns into a boiling pot of extremely graphic, yet stylish torture fest, that tests how much the audience can handle. However, the most shocking and terrifying thing about this film is not the gory violence, but the perversely sick relationship between Lola and her "Daddy", which makes "The Loved Ones" even more disturbing... in a funny way though. Combining top-notch production design, great camera work, effective performances and excellent gore effects, director Sean Byrn delivers a fun, tense, unpredictable and visually-striking horror gem, that works on every single level. He also perfectly handles the balance between the horrific terror against our protagonist, Brent, with a secondary story about Brent's mum and girlfriend, who are slowly trying to put all the pieces together. And that makes the film even more grippingly entertaining! Acting -wise, "The Loved Ones" is also fantastic. Robin McLeavy steals the show, as she gives one hell of a performance. McLeavy is so convincing as the psycho freaky teen Lola, that she's downright nasty and truly horrifying. She's just TOO good. Xavier Samuel as Lola's vicitm, Brent, also does an amazing job, as he relies mostly on his facial expressions and body language to express his struggles and the pain pain he feels, since his speech is paralyzed when Lola injects an unknown blue preparation into his vocal chords. John Brumpton is just as creepy as Lola's depraved "Daddy". Richard Wilson and Jessica McNamee also giive great performances as Sac and Mia, who deliver most of the humor in the movie. Despite its small budget, visually the film looks quite slick, thanks to to cinematographer Simon Chapman and editor Andy Canny. The torture scenes and the practical gore effects are highly-stylized, yet so convincing and realistic, it's like a dream-come-true for the blood-thirsty audience. Dementedly-sick, extremely gory, brilliantly-creative and nightmarishly-funny, "The Loved Ones" is a true modern horror masterpiece!

• My Rating: 9.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 90% (7.3/10)
• IMDb: 7.2/10

[9.00/10] Aftershock (2010)

Aftershock (2010)

Feng Xiaogang’s disaster drama "Aftershock" is based on the 1976 Tangshan earthquake that claimed the lives of at least 240,000 people, making the tragedy the largest earthquake of the 20th century by death toll. It deals with the heartbreaking fallout between a mother, played by Fan Xu, and her quake-surviving daughter, played by Jingchu Zhang, and their eventual reconciliation. "Aftershock"'s plot is multi-layered and complex with all the small sub-plots introduced during the developement of the story, but the film is so perfectly-paced and the setting is so picturesque, it's super-gripping and enormously entertaining. Director Feng Xiaogang doesn't deliver an ordinary disaster film that relies on heavy CGIs and the earthquake itself, but one that touches deeply the essence of our heart and soul, by affecting some truly important themes of personal human drama such as sacrifice, loss, sorrow, hope, survival, love. The entire cast deliver stellar performances. Zhang Jingchu's acting is remarkable. Her performance is very believable and touching, without being overly melodramatic. Chen Daoming is just as incredible, as the caring father of Zhang. Xu Fan, who is Feng Xiaogang’s wife in real life, delivers a sensational, emotionally-charged performance as the mother, who expresses sincere grief at the loss of her daughter to perfection! The earthquake sequence is so impressively-handled and so terrifying, it's more frightening and chilling than any other scary scene in horror movie this year. It's sad and shocking, yet breathtaking to watch. Feng Xiaogang's direction is fascinatingly elaborated and truly top-notch, and the script is precisely and smartly written, paying great attention to all the characters in the film and interactions between them. The cinematography is rich in details, striking and truly arresting, capturing the period incredibly well. Aside from the predictable melodramatic climax, "Aftershock" is a masterfully-crafted, visually-spectacular and emotionally-powerful disaster drama, that perfectly combines fiction with actual historical events. A triumph of style AND substance!

• My Rating: 9.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• IMDb: 7.5/10