Stanislaus

A film that is average in its execution, writing and acting, that doesn't surprise, doesn't offend, doesn't impress, and which fades out of your head the very next day, which is a shame, because the potential was there, but unfortunately it wasn't fully exploited. In short, a film that stands out mainly because of how generic and predictable it is.

As a die-hard fan of the original Jurassic Park and all sorts of quality dinosaur movies and documentaries, I was looking forward to Jurassic World about as much as today's little kids look forward to the new Minions movie. And the wait really paid off, as I was treated to the ultimate action spectacle, brimming with nice audiovisual effects, a likeable cast, and subtle references to the original trilogy. For me, as a viewer and a loyal fan in one, it was the regularly dosed bursts of nostalgia that satisfied me the most, plus a rich spectacle of new dinosaur species. (SPOILERS! ) During the final scenes, in which Bryce Dallas Howard is running in high-heels holding a lit flare and being chased by the most famous giant lizard, and during the ensuing battle of the titans, which I’m sure was meant to compensate for the fight in the third movie, I just sat with bated breath, my eyes literally glued to the screen. (END OF SPOILERS!) I can safely say that I left the cinema extremely satisfied, despite a few odd elements in the script, which I was able to put behind me in order to fully enjoy a Jurassic adventure with all the trimmings.

Adapting Georg Büchner's tragic fragment into a film is a difficult task, especially because it is still unknown how the scenes and events follow each other, but Werner Herzog did a pretty good job. I've rated the film three stars, mainly because of the uninteresting plot, which was already awkward and inconsistent in the source material (which again refers to problems with its structure). The performance of Klaus Kinski, Herzog's court actor, must be singled out for praise, as he took very well to the role of the deranged Woyzeck slowly sinking into madness. In short, a film that is undermined by its source material, but was nevertheless filmed quite solidly.

The Sun in the Net struck me as very average in the context of poetic films, which is why I decided to give it three stars. To be honest, none of the scenes stuck in my mind in any significant way, which is a bit of a problem with a film like this, but then again I can't say it was shallow or dull, but it just didn't impress me as a viewer. In short, it’s a film that started the Czechoslovak New Wave, and even though it didn't impress me, I recommend it for viewing on that basis alone.

I must admit at the outset that I sought out this film mainly because of Kate Winslet, but I was also curious to see how Alan Rickman would handle directing. Unfortunately, I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed. From a technical point of view, i.e. in terms of production design, cinematography, costumes and overall historical authenticity, I was quite satisfied, but the stumbling block was the script and sometimes the behaviour of the characters, which did not leave a very positive impression on me. All in all, an average film that is visually compelling, but it’s marred by the plot.

Ashes and Diamonds is a very well made film for its time, and is not lacking in action, interesting historical realities, and excellent performances (especially Zbigniew Cybulski). Along with historical events, the film deals with the question of morality and future prospects, which do not let the main character sleep, but even though he tries to resist everything, he has to settle for defeat. In short, a film that manages to captivate even today thanks to its timeless execution.

I would describe The Round-Up as a fairly authentic reconstruction of historical events that you have no idea about, but on the other hand it's an incredibly soporific and tedious film that lacks any action or build-up except in a few places, which isn't always a bad thing, but in this case it was spot on. In short, a film that rather tediously highlights a history that hasn't always been rosy.

Having never seen the original trilogy, I didn't know what to expect from Mad Max: Fury Road and I can say one thing: I really didn't expect this! What's this all about? The absolutely ultimate action flick, one that has balls and isn't afraid to do it. It's basically one long and briskly shot clip crammed with so much action that you get it in almost indigestible bites, but I personally enjoyed it royally, even though the story was quite simple and sketchy. At times I found it really MAD, so the title of the film is definitely not misleading. One big chase where anything goes, with a plethora of characters ranging from bad-ass oddballs to sheer freaks that won't let you sleep for a while. In short, utter madness and an audiovisual orgy in one that grabs you right at the start, only to eviscerate you like some kind of scum at the end, but satisfaction is in order nonetheless.

Death of a Cyclist is a film that excels in both narrative and technical terms. In terms of the storyline, it is a very well constructed psychological drama that raises the issue of guilt and remorse, which each of the main characters deals with in their own way. The performances are excellent, the actors don't push the envelope and it doesn't come across as too artificial or cheesy. On the technical side, I must highlight the camera work and depth of field, which is handled to perfection here. In short, a film that is definitely worth watching notwithstanding the year it was made.

Subway could be considered a textbook example of French neo-baroque in film, as it exhibits almost all the characteristic features of this artistic movement. The film comes across as one long and very colourful clip, in which we are introduced to bizarre characters for whom harsh words and hits of violence are the order of the day, while the plot is, as the title suggests, set in a subway, which creates the strange atmosphere of a convoluted maze in which different characters pass by to confront each other, all with a haunting musical score. In short, a solid and brisk film that I can highly recommend.