Alexander's Talk

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

fantasy film starring Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy and Jim Broadbent. based on the novel of the same name by C.S. Lewis. directed by Andrew Adamson.

a magical wardrobe leads to a world where a wicked queen, called The White Witch, rules and where animals speak.

never having read the books as a child, I was kinda iffy about this one. however, it was much better than I had thought it was going to be. I look forward to seeing the rest of the series.

very enjoyable family film.

Shrek the Halls

animated flick featuring the voice talents of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas. directed by Gary Trousdale.

in this made-for-television special, Shrek sets out to make the perfect Christmas for his family... and learns the true meaning of Christmas along the way.

cute little Christmas-y flick that'll make the whole family laugh. good stuff! ♥

Olive, the Other Reindeer

animated flick featuring the voice talents of Drew Barrymore, Edward Asner, Joe Pantoliano, Dan Castellaneta, Jay Mohr, Peter MacNicol and Michael Stipe. directed by Steve Moore.

when Christmas loving Olive (Barrymore) sees her owner putting away the decorations and hears him say that "Christmas is over", poor little Olive is heartbroken. but then she overhears a bulletin on the radio... Blitzen has injured himself and won't be able to fly! Santa tells the reporter that hopefully he will still be able to make his Christmas run with "all of the other reindeer", which Olive mistakes for "Olive, the other reindeer". so Olive sets out on a journey to the North Pole to save Christmas.

I watch this one every year. very cute little Christmas flick that leaves you with a good feeling. one that the whole family will enjoy! ♥

Revanche

Revanche was an Austrian crime drama romance. I simply loved the story and the characters and all the events seemed to follow so natural. There was not so much dialog, no music score only simple nature sounds like birds and raindrops. One man's revenge thoughts, who lost his girlfriend by a policemen on duty, after robbing a bank. Both men, the policeman and the robber grieved and felt guilty for this woman death.It was not a movie for every taste, due to some heavy scenes and some were repeating like Alex chopping wood or his dad playing the accordion which can test your patience to watch.I guess this was typical of European movies, the end was left for the audience's imagination. Good movie.

Avatar

Are there enough stars here?? No! Is this movie over hyped? No,although I thought it was ,this is the first time I actually was steering clear of reviews,trailers and wanting to know anything about a movie before seeing it.SO it made it even more epic and unreal than what I ever could have imagined.So here is the brass tacks.Should you see this movie the answer is YES,but only in 3-D and only in the theater.This is an experience fore sure the story,is breathtaking and beautiful and the Avatar world that is shown to us so gradually is so much more than your friends are trying to explain to you.This is one that when someone says you have to see it for yourself,its because its completely true.Is it groundbreaking? My God undeniably it sure is! The effects are so smooth and the transitions between the Avatar world and the Human world are seamless.This is really an amazing story.I honestly had not read reviews or watched the trailers for the very reason I wanted to take this whole experience in and not have my head all full of judgment and other peoples ideas and I am glad I stuck with my decision on that.Its a visual masterpiece,I guarantee won't be even half as great on Blu Ray or whatever when that is released.Seriously people,I know times are tight but really treat yourself to this ne,I guarantee you will not be disappointed.By the way there really is something here for everyone,We have the Action,Romance,Special effects,science fiction,my God that's the tip of the iceberg,I cant imagine someone walking away from this movie and not liking it at all...if that's the case they are complete Morons.See it in the theater!!!

Before the Rain (Pred dozhdot)

Before the Rain brought the war miseries in the former Yugoslavia perfectly.The beauty of this movie was not only in the look of war, but it was a perfect example of time circle.It was amazing what director Manchevski accomplished with this wartime drama. The first and third part were set in the former Yugoslavia and was more touching and authentic.Alexander Kirchov a prize winner photographer returned to his homeland after 16 years and witness the war in his village.The director showed us the meaning of the movie title, like something heavy was about to happen, before the rain.The story did not deal with the political aspects,but more human passion and it could lead in different and unexpected directions and how that could affect lives regardless where you are. Beautiful.

Law Abiding Citizen

Once in a while a really good thriller comes along, which isn't really something special... but it certainly meets my preferences and taste for high adrenalin thriller in the tradition of 7, The Negotiator and Four Brothers.

I like F Gary Gray films and this is an absolute thrill ride, despite what others may think, I just really enjoyed the movie. It starts off violently and tragically - as a lawyer I'm also interested in the concepts thrown into the movie, which are correct in some ways. Though fictional, it does provide an honest insight into the legal justice system, specifically how it fails others. Not everyone can have justice.

It was a simple movie, the thrill factor is very strong the first time around. It is a no frills, cold hearted flick which is designed to show pain, anger, fear terror and grief, which is portrayed and embodied by Butler really well. But in comparison to others, there was something lacking - it just wasn't as good as the others in my view. But it didn't fail... it just didnt reach the epic height I've put movies like The Negotiator or The Italian Job on. I think because the ending was very flat.... it didn't reach that supreme crescendo when the two rivals meet and have the shootout. It would have been great if Foxx finally snapped and did a Brad Pitt in "Seven." But thats done and dusted.

But still... definitely worth watching. People have been caning it for stupidity and a braineless plot or perhaps useless acting - I might only agree on the acting. The rest of the movie was okay for shock value and does keep people interested till the flat ending - it just ran out of gas.


Enjoy - if you can.

Speed Racer

Visually stunning but feels more targeted at a younger audience. Made me curious about the japanimation original though.

District 9

A Directorial Debut that is ure to please any "Sci-Fi" fan, and maybe some who aren't!

It's a way above average film, for a small time production. It is also very very gory, and gross at times. This film is definetly a shocker, but the ending dissapoints.

This film is a film in which you will be saying"I liked it, but then some scenes i absoulutely hated,but were needed to make this film complete and as good as it was"

A great directorial debut that from me, gets "Three and Half Stars out of Four"
Somewhat highly Reccomended!

District 9

A Directorial Debut that is ure to please any "Sci-Fi" fan, and maybe some who aren't!

It's a way above average film, for a small time production. It is also very very gory, and gross at times. This film is definetly a shocker, but the ending dissapoints.

This film is a film in which you will be saying"I liked it, but then some scenes i absoulutely hated,but were needed to make this film complete and as good as it was"

A great directorial debut that from me, gets "Three and Half Stars out of Four"
Somewhat highly Reccomended!

District 9

A Directorial Debut that is ure to please any "Sci-Fi" fan, and maybe some who aren't!

It's a way above average film, for a small time production. It is also very very gory, and gross at times. This film is definetly a shocker, but the ending dissapoints.

This film is a film in which you will be saying"I liked it, but then some scenes i absoulutely hated,but were needed to make this film complete and as good as it was"

A great directorial debut that from me, gets "Three and Half Stars out of Four"
Somewhat highly Reccomended!

Julia

Julia was a drama thriller directed by for me unknown Erick Zonica. Tilda Swinton was amazing in her role as the ,sexy crazy alcoholic woman.In one of her meetings at the AA she met Elena who asked her to help her kidnapped her son Tom, from his rich grandfather.Julia who was so desperate for money, agreed and that triggered the rest of the movies journey through crime, suspense as Julia failed to play the game of criminal, cause she started to feel affection for the boy. Aiden Gould played the role of Tom very well. Although I liked the movie, I found it too long, and also some scenes in Tijuana Mexico was sometimes beyond belief. But overall it was very entertaining.

The Desperate Hours

A dense cat and mouse game featuring old Bogart, still pulling it off, maybe not as menacing as he could have, but it is his charcters rogue-like ambiguity that carries the movie. A hostage drama at its core, the movie features a many characters and depicts their conflicting interests. Of course, the increasing tension between the captors and the glooming disaster is what fires up the heat of suspense. Very good. HX

Avatar

How much money were spent on that? A waste! Absolutely a waste...
Plot? Boring! Performances? Nothing special! Special effects? Ok I suppose they were good, but what happens when u sit on the crappiest seat on the cinema like I did? What happens then, when u are not able to enjoy the special effects? I will tell u what happens. You get bored, you grab your seat and u say;"Ok be patient, it will be over in a while", but it's not over, so u grab your hair and u say ;"Ok be MORE patient, you can make it though! U paid 12 euro to watch this crap on 3D and u will stay the distance!" It wasn't even a cool movie, damn! About the race of Navi... They were rediculous! By the way Sam Worthington was cuter as an Avatar than he was as human.... An episode of Lost is 1,000,000 times more interesting than this movie, holy shit even Desperate housewives are more interesting
Cry James Cameron, CRY!
You all just feel sorry to say that the movie was lame, because he spent so much time and money on it.

The Hurt Locker

I got The Hurt Locker recommended and it seemed to be nominated also for Awards.That was the reason I watched this movie.The movie was shot in a documentary style, so it gave an impression of realism. However, it was far from being realistic. It was about a team of bomb experts in Iraq count down their time before they can go home. Every time that caption came up, to tell how long they had left, caused this movie to drag on and on. It just felt like it used too many cliches. The actors were good, some parts were entertaining but overall I felt I was wasting my time watching a movie that had no message, no goal, no inspiration. Don't watch it if you are a war movies fan, you'll be disappointed. Average movie.

Disgrace

Disgrace was an adaptation of novel written by J.M. Coetzee and directed by Steve Jacobs. The main character was English professor David Lurie, a cold and uncaring man played by John Malkovich.He was a professor at an South African University..He started an affair with one of his students which cost him his job. He left to Eastern Cape to live with his daughter Lucy. She grew flowers and vegetables,to sell in the local market. One day three young black men appeared and asked to use the phone. They raped Lucy, nearly killed David, and shot all Lucy's dogs, destroying the house and stole David's car. Being a dog lover myself, this movie was very hard for me to endure. It was a heavy movie about race, sex, revenge, dog mistreatment and apartheid.

Beauty and The Beast (La Belle et la bête)

"Love can turn a man into a beast, but love can also make an ugly man handsome."

LA BELLE ET LA BÊTE (1946)

Director: Jean Cocteau
Country: France
Genre: Drama / Fantasy / Romance
Length: 96 minutes



The 40s was a splendorous time for French filmmaking. The famous French surrealist Jean Cocteau was internationally known because of his multilayered, provocative talents within the art of cinema after directing his first feature film, Le Sang d'un Poète (1930). In the case of La Belle et la Bête, one of the most beloved and famous fairytales ever known by all generations of mankind, he adopts a different facet. This time, he displays a more strict and conventional narration for obtaining a more accessible storytelling. Marcel Carné had directed an astoundingly moving and passionate epic of romance last year, Les Enfants du Paradis (1945), and Jean Cocteau heals the injuries of the hearts of the Second World War the next year, an era of reconstruction and of a new beginning. The surreal influences of Luis Buñuel and Jean Cocteau himself are noticeable throughout the filmic style of La Belle et la Bête. However, it is undoubtedly the best and most magical and moving cinematic adaptation of the immortal play by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, including the great, colorful musical Beauty and the Beast (1991) directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise released by Disney 5 decades later.

Belle is one of three daughters and a son of a nearly ruined merchant. Her two other sisters, Félicie and Adélaïde, are authentic termagants who exploit Belle as a full-time servant. After returning from a business trip one day, the merchant gets lost in a forest nearby and stumbles upon an isolated castle. He knocks the door expecting for an answer of the owner, receiving no answer. Finally, he decides to enter the magically surreal and fantasy-filled castle and picks up a rose for Belle. On his way out, he finds the owner of the castle, who just happens to be a half-human, half-beast monster with magical powers. The Beast sentences the merchant for death unless he agrees to give up one of his daughters. The tender and always faithful Bella decides to sacrifice herself for the father and, after being sent to the castle of the Beast and living with him, he finds out that the Beast has also human qualities and feelings despite her monstrous appearance. Director Jean Cocteau won a Prix Louis Delluc in 1946.

In Cocteau's adaptation of La Belle et la Bête, sentimentalism abounds. However, it is this sentimentalism the one that exalts the human condition and assigns to the nature of man a physically scary and unpleasant appearance. The original play serves the purpose of being a representation of intolerance, an unintentional objective successfully achieved by the books that inspired the retelling of the story The Elephant Man (1980), by David Lynch. This message is fairly summarized with the statement "people are frightened by what they don't understand". Director Jean Cocteau was very careful at considering such fact and, although significantly reducing the total running time, displays a massive amount of mythical symbolisms, fantasy elements and allegorical imagery. The concept of the Beast is not derived from a meaningful humanization, always paying tribute to the concept that the Beast symbolizes the sadness, the ego and the external solitude we build in our lives through the significance and influence of our particular actions. Belle, of course, represents love as the solution of all problems, the powerful machinist of expressive sentiments and the escape train from a seemingly inescapable, internal doom.

Due to its classical and bourgeois nature, the atmosphere of the movie represents both sides of the coin: good and evil, materialism and snobbishness versus modesty and conformism, ambition against benign intentions, superficiality contrasting emotional profundity and the appreciation of the soul, and the list goes on. The plot elements inside this metaphorical love story maximize the importance of the heart. Through an extensive use of fantastically groundbreaking and underrated special effects principally obtained through the clever use of diverse camera techniques, the internal walls of the castle acquire a dense atmosphere of gloominess and surrealism. As the merchant walks in, candles start to light by themselves while arms coming out from the walls hold them. Several casual artifacts in the dining room become alive in front of Cocteau's lens while the expressive gestures of the protagonists react to the supernatural phenomena. Performances, therefore, carry a heavy importance in the story.

All of this would not be obtained without a dazzling art direction and an exquisite, elegant and varied costume design that resembles a 19th-Century Paris. The screenplay written by Cocteau contains a delicious amount of poetry and self-reflexive dialogues of impeccable precision and thought-provoking messages of love and morality. Josette Day incarnates the character of Belle, the misunderstood and mistreated sister whose loyalty forces her to give her life for the most important person in her life: her parental figure. On the other hand, we have the theatrically multiphacetic artist Jean Marais, who plays three different and respectively important roles: Avenant, The Beast and, naturally, the handsome Prince that appears at the end thanks to the power of respectful empathy and corresponding love. Despite the fact that the actions of our dear female protagonist have the influence of an emotional background (her father), the humanity inside Beast is the one that awakens her humanitarian interest of help, even slowly persuading Beast to achieve redemption. Regardless of the reason behind the initial, monstrous transformation of the character, it is treated as the least interesting fact. This event is never explained, not even presented as a prologue. The true moral message is given in the end, when the already known final transformation of Beast to a stereotypically handsome Prince occurs due to an interesting, climatic decision of a supporting personage. Nonetheless, this strictly male stereotype of bourgeois aroma is not supposed to be taken as a cliché: it is a symbol of perseverance and the oblivion of a past that should be used as a reference for the correction of today's decisions.

Basically, La Belle et la Bête is a French masterpiece that cannot be subject to a review that contains new ideas to say: everything has been said before. Even so, it does not really matter. So much magic and haunting moments never seem to tire the audience of repeating the experience of reading the play, of seeing the act in a theatre, of seeing the musical of Disney, of analyzing and falling in love with Cocteau's version. It is a spectacle for the eyes and a sonata directly written for an inspiring commotion of the heart. The screen offers a tear-inducing and breathtaking finale, just to leave the viewer hoping for more. Every single technical and cinematographic element of this gorgeous and definitive magnum opus makes of Cocteau's best film a beautiful experience to live. It is one of those artistic creations that should make Jeanne-Marie very proud. Much more than a family film, it is a feast for the soul and one of the best adaptations ever written.

100/100