Chronicle

A sympathetic film that is not as small as it might seem. Everything is based on an idea as if taken from the Czech The Flying Cestmír, but the fireworks of ideas that the creators have presented are really great. For example, "just" the idea of letting the main character endowed with telekinesis film with his handheld camera and fly around with it so that the shaky home video shots suddenly become almost professional camera rides. I also wanted to scream during the scene with the flying in the clouds, I closed my eyes during the scene with the spider... It was definitely impressive. The director and screenwriter seem to be Star Wars fans in addition to comic book fans, which was especially evident in the incredibly imaginatively shot or rather "recorded" finale (but the similarity only came to me in retrospect, I didn't have time to make any comparisons while watching it). (09/03/2013)

A very nice little film. It’s a fun, tense, undemanding (but not stupid) sci-fi snack that may look like a little brother next to this year’s upcoming sci-fi tentpoles like Prometheus, but, compared to last year’s In Time and Source Code, which are in the same category, Josh Trank, Chronicle’s director, delivers the best job. His film works simply far more smoothly in its universe. The found-footage format is at times as questionable as in every other found-footage film (why the fuck are they filming?!?!), but if you accept this, you’ll have fun. The climax is awesome. I went for a seven, got a seven, I’m satisfied. 7/10 (02/05/2012)

Watch a few randomly selected meaningless home videos about bored teens on YouTube loafing about, every now and then add in some random special effects, and you'll immediately have a sequel to The Chronicle that is indistinguishable from the “original"; if you're interested in the Thai remake, watch a few randomly selected meaningless home videos about bored teens in loafing about Thailand on YouTube... And you know the rest. (05/27/2012)

A novel approach to a superheroes movie. Trank’s experiment with found footage, this time not from one but from several cameras, worked out just great. The rotating shots are effective, especially thanks to Andy’s well-practiced telekinesis. The evolution of the three main protagonists is like out of a textbook (and a good job of acting). Basically, none of the characters behaves black and white and they have logical reasons for their actions. Setting the movie in Seattle gives a welcome touch of reality. For just a few bucks extra we are treated to more tasty visual morsels than any regular fan would expect. (02/06/2013)

Perhaps no other film set in the “real world” enjoys the denial of the world’s physical laws more than this one. Chronicle is a likable, tasteful and quite cool joyride. But it doesn’t have the same WOW! factor as Cloverfield – the screenwriter let his imagination go too wild to be taken seriously and achieve any tension. The effects are very good, however, and the film has some kind of an idea. Teen audiences should be satisfied. (01/31/2012)