Stanislaus

I was quite excited to see Xavier Dolan's new film, but I wasn't completely satisfied with the product. The visuals are very nice, the atmosphere is quite agonizing and bleak, but somehow the story didn't grab me. Or rather, the story as a whole, because I somehow didn't get into the plot and moreover I didn't understand the very irrational behaviour of the characters. Quite possibly this was the director's intention, but it bothered me. In short, a film that is well made, no question about it, but I just couldn't get into the world I was presented with – unfortunately.

A slightly wacky, slightly dramatic flick that's perfect for a free afternoon, without having to think too much. The biggest upside was the character of Candy, who was really kooky and funny, the other characters weren't as colorful. The story was quite cliché, but it didn't offend or irritate. In short, a film where the viewer can completely switch off.

I didn't expect any miracles from In the Into the Storm, and in fact I didn't get any. This disaster film, shot largely with a handheld camera, and into which family drama finds its way, is perhaps most impressive in the field of technical workmanship. The story is simple and unremarkable, but it doesn't offend (I've grown accustomed to those formulaic family dramas in American films). In short, a film that is more suited to the cinema, but it won't stay in your head for long.

I really enjoyed Serial (Bad) Weddings. I have to say, I haven't laughed so much in a movie theater in a long time. Imagine being a die-hard Catholic French parent and your daughters find a Jew, an Arab, a Chinese and a black man and you're in for a good dose of funny scenes. Christian Clavier is a really good comedian, but the other actors aren't lagging behind either. All in all, a very good comedy that perfectly fulfilled its purpose.

Lucy is a very strange film, on the one hand it captivates with its theme and execution, on the other hand it raises many questions and offers many illogical points. The idea itself is imaginative, a bit controversial, yet noteworthy. Who knows what would have happened if 100% had actually been achieved. Almost any scenario can be offered within the sci-fi genre in this regard, yet at times I thought it was a bit much. Nevertheless, I must praise the initial interweaving of the fiction sequences with the documentary footage, which together corresponded perfectly, and last but not least the magical music by Eric Serra. In short, a film that I admit I didn't fully understand, which isn't always a bad thing, but in this case it affected my judgement.

The second episode of the Planet of the Apes saga impressed me comparably to the first one. The bleak vision of a near and post-apocalyptic future has been brought to the screen many times before and like the others, this one had something to it. I liked the use of both sign and normal speech in the apes. The look and especially the facial expressions of the primates were incredibly authentic, and the technical workmanship was of a decent standard. All in all, a very well made sequel that ranks among the better than average sci-fi flicks these days.

With Return of the Jedi, the Star Wars saga reaches its climax, and the film's story takes on the highest quality and consistency. For me, the third (sixth) episode of Star Wars is the best ever made. Everything is perfect, I wouldn't want to repeat myself, but the plot, the special effects, the production design, the music, the costumes and make-up effects are (for their time) flawless. In short, an incredibly spectacular ending to the most famous space saga that deserves one of the brightest spots in cinematic history.

The much darker sequel to the galactic saga is properly armed with a better story and execution than its predecessor, which already set a high bar. The Empire Strikes Back offered me everything from action, adventure, to gorgeous production design, perfect technical workmanship, costumes and make-up effects – everything that the first installment did for me, plus a little something extra. With Empire I was able to get more into the storyline, which I found richer. And there was the wise-cracking character of Yoda, whom I love. In short, in almost all ways, if not all, a perfect must-see film.

So I finally got around to the original Star Wars trilogy, which I kept putting off watching. And this may sound like a cliché, but I was incredibly deprived of one of cinema's gems. The iconic theme tune that always accompanies Darth Vader, the exceedingly good and groundbreaking technical workmanship for its time, the perfect work of the makeup and costume designers - this film has more than just that. As a result, having seen all the old Star Wars films, it was this first (fourth) episode that I liked the least, but still above average. In short, a very well made fantastic sci-fi ride not lacking in action and adventure that every lover of these genres should see, and certainly shouldn't wait as long as I did.

As a cult classic, The Exorcist may not have been one of the best horror films I've ever seen, but it still deserves recognition and attention. The truly frightening scenes could be counted on one hand, but the transformation of Regan and the special effects were terrifying in their own right. The beginning was a bit drawn out, incomprehensible to me at times, but later the plot began to build up to the very finale. In short, one of those films that over time has found its rightful place among the must-see films of a lifetime.