Stanislaus

The fourth live-action adventure of the most famous Gallic duo was a real bummer. The cast is kept afloat by Gérard Depardieu, the only surviving member of the ensemble, but otherwise it was mostly sad (an uncharismatic Caesar, Asterix looking like an alike, a wtf-group of Normans, etc.). The story is so overwrought, with so many different time periods and nonsense being smashed together that it hurts your eyes. This has really hit rock bottom and they should let these Gauls rest in peace (at least for a while).

So, after two years, we finally get to see the complete Hobbit in all its over-digital glory. Next to “The Hunger Games”, “The Hobbit” is another adept production blunder when it comes to splitting a story into multiple parts. Two movies would have been great, but three was really too much. I'm no expert on the book, but I know from knowledgeable people that the bridle was loosened perhaps a little too often, yet it wasn't as much of a dud as originally rumored. I got my fill of realistic looking monsters in Lord of the Rings, here everything is computer-generated, but that's just a victim of the current times. At times it felt to me like they didn't know which genre they should be serving. The biggest fail was Super "Legolas" Mario, who defied all the laws of physics, perhaps even those that hadn't been invented yet. In short, despite the harsh criticism, I was not bored in the cinema, the plot moved along, we laughed from the heart more than once (which may not have been the original purpose), but still, for me, The Battle of the Five Armies was the weakest part.

I'd probably be repeating myself if I said that splitting last parts into two or more episodes is more detrimental to the film itself, and the only upside is the producers' and distributors' pockets are more lined. The same is true of the first episode of the third part of Hunger Games installment. All things considered, nothing much happens. While there are a lot of action scenes, it all feels kind of incomplete. Personally, I liked the third book the least, so I wasn't expecting anything special. In short, I would love to punch the face of whoever came up with the idea of splitting “Mockingjay” into two movies (the last Harry Potter at least had a lot to draw from, but with HG, the books aren't that extensive).

People are like sheep! All you have to do is throw a victim at them and they persecute and abuse it without any substantiated and credible evidence, and you have to look for any hint of humanity. The Hunt is a chilling drama set in a small town where everyone knows each other, and nothing is solved as quickly as the dirt on other people. But the hunt is for a victim who doesn't want to give up easily and be falsely smeared, so she resists with all their might. In short, a very well made and dense thriller that lacks a more shocking touch and conclusion to get a full score, when compared to, for example, the similar 2009 film Deliver Us from Evil.

A chilling and worthy drama that outlines the very well thought out workings of Scientology and its influence and impact on the people who fall into its clutches. Fading hope, dispair and hints of parallels with Nazism - this and more are mirrored in this seemingly unremarkable TV film. In short, a very good German production that shows one of the faces of the harsh reality in which we live.

The very brave efforts of a desperate pig trying to get its hands on a dream jar of delicious cookies, no matter what the cost. This sounds like the perfect idea for a laugh, and indeed it is.

Mama is a pretty weak brew in terms of horror movies, because to be honest, I was kind of expecting more scares. The premise isn't bad, the visuals are also good, but then comes the very strange digital rendering of the monster, which isn't exactly "realistic". At the beginning the film had the potential to become a decent representative of its genre, but unfortunately it became a mediocre item, which is quite common nowadays.

A sweet, funny and informative film about the friendship between an (in)experienced boy and a wise old man, dealing with religion, interpersonal relationships and the issues of growing up. Omar Sharif is a truly charismatic actor and his performance throughout the film overshadows the others. The story just moves along slowly and unobtrusively and comes to a satisfying end. In short, a very pleasant diversification of the afternoon in the form of this seemingly unremarkable French film.

The audio-visual harmony of the locomotive shots with the distinctive musical score, which also surprises with a technically very well managed camera position.

Gone Girl is a chilling thriller that makes you wonder if you ever want to enter into marriage. The two leads play their roles to perfection, the story builds up nicely and is well exposed (I won't say more so as not to spoil). In short, it may not have the same quality as David Fincher's previous thrillers like Se7en and Fight Club, but it is still an above average piece of filmmaking that definitely won't leave an attentive viewer cold.