DaViD´82

Just like Carl Denham, Peter Jackson should have had a good producer at hand to keep a tighter rein on him while making this movie. As the saying goes: “less is more" and (even in the extended edition which, unfortunately, mainly contains new scenes with dinosaurs and only here or there something meaningful) King Kong is a prime example of that. The entire island part is over-combined and the fact that Peter was just making his childhood dreams come true here is no excuse for it. The scenes with Kong and Ann are splendid, but unfortunately rather sidelined by scene with the dinosaurs fleeing from other dinosaurs, something that you soon get fed up with. The only scene that works in this pulp dime action respect is the one with Ann, King Kong and the trio of T-Rexes. Basically, as long as Kong/Ann are on screen, then everything is perfect and when they aren’t, then it’s just mediocre. Of course, any objections go aside as far as the New York finale goes (which lasts almost as long as a feature-length movie) and I have no qualms in giving this a full set of stars. ♫ OST score: 3/5

It must be said that this is a picture with a miserable screenplay that is barely good enough for an hour-long tale. It also has a needlessly dragged-out introduction and the relatively average Andy Nyman. Luckily, otherwise there are just positives. We get perfectly functional (and appropriate) black humor, a few scenes and snappy lines that stick in your head (most of the deaths, for instance). It considerably helps the picture that it was written and filmed by a Brit, while taking place in Prague, so it has that “outside view" of us, which makes for some funny situations. However, the greatest ace that it has up its sleeve is the absolutely excellent Karel Roden. He carries the whole movie on his shoulders, even during some of the weaker scenes. Considering it cost a mere three million crowns (somewhere around 150,000 dollars), it looks pretty good in technical terms and you can see that you can make a movie even with a minimum of funds. Objectively this is a only slightly above-average picture, on the other hand I was in the right mood and happened to like it more than lots of other movies I have seen recently, so I am absolutely content. However, I can’t shake the feeling that with a better screenplay it would have been on the way to being more than “just" a very good black comedy.

A desperately unoriginal picture, which wouldn’t matter so much because similar types of comedies (Big, Freaky Friday etc.) depend on the actors and their comic talents. Unfortunately, Jennifer Garner has none in this movie and comes across really lame throughout. At the good moments. At other times, she is simply unbearable. The only pluses are Mark Ruffalo, Serkis and, once in a very long while, a good joke or two.

A well-made movie that has one problem that you have to get over: that it’s so terribly dragged out. However the screenplay failed to milk much from attractive subject matter and overall the movie would have benefited from being cut shorter than its rather over-the-top two-hour running time. Caine and the other actors give us just their standard, rather than any unforgettable performances and so it is a relatively decent, albeit needlessly mediocre movie which certainly could have turned out significantly better.

A fine courtroom drama with an interesting and attractive premise, from which I will only remember the absolutely brilliant ten-minute or so scene of the actual exorcism of Emily Rose. It doesn't let you breathe and becomes a clear highlight of scenes of this kind, including The Exorcist.

The passable book and the (once upon a time) good director inspired hope in me that this adaptation of Crichton’s story could turn out not so badly. Unfortunately the fact that the book was just another in a long line coming out of the Crichton factory didn’t help. And so again this adaptation was a fumble and resulted in an action adventure hybrid that is the epitome of mediocrity on all counts. But Tyler’s music came along to save the day at least a little.

A series about a jail break. On the face of it, a well-worn topic, however in this case the first impression was quite wrong. The biggest asset is how it is so incredibly easy to identify with the main protagonist - you just can’t help rooting for him. Each episode comes along with several mostly unexpected and surprising situations that have you watching with bated breath. However, the above applies only to the parts in prison and unfortunately not to the “on the outside" side-story. This always takes up about a quarter of each episode and, despite also having some qualities, it becomes rather mundane and seen several times before. But still, it is well worth being part of Scofield’s gripping escape from Fox River State Penitentiary, because it sucks you in and won’t let go... Run Scofield, RUN! Season 1 (5/5) During the first two episodes the gains pace that grips you and doesn’t let you go. Impetuous, playful, intelligent and suspenseful like nothing else on earth. This applies up until episode 13, where the series was originally supposed to end. Originally it was “just" a filler to fill the gap until another season of 24. But it was hugely successful, which forced the creators to drag it out into a longer affair. Unfortunately. So as of episode 14 the quality starts to drop, or rather the breakneck pace relaxes. It is still perfect, but without the “condensed adrenaline". Instead of bated breath, here you get just a couple of priceless moments alternating with tolerable filler. But what keeps it from going over the brink perfection are the separate characters and the actors. Toward the end of the season, the quality starts to get back on the rails, leading to a climax in a perfect and absolutely flawless penultimate episode which is the premature climax of the entire series. But the overall impression of the season is wrecked by the last episode which, in terms of quality, fits better in... season 2 (3/5) ...this season of the series. The only good news is that Prison Break isn’t boring. But it is no longer suspenseful even for a second. Any suspense is diluted by dozens of various uninspiring storylines. It is sad just how unintentionally ridiculous it is, especially in terms of conspiracy theory (and the following seriously-intended monolog in episode 2x14 sums it up perfectly: "So,this is the conspiracy,huh? Bunch of little boys in suits running around, trying to kill each other. It's pathetic…"). And it really is. Most sitcoms would turn green with envy. The carefully built characters and their motivation is ruined. Coincidences, nonsense and screenwriter glitches rule. But as I say, it’s SO VERY BAD that you will laugh your head off. Toward the end, the quality level begins seemingly to return along with a feeling of déjà vu from past seasons.

Corpse Bride is an excellent movie, which is imbued from the very first shots with the typical Burton atmosphere and with his strange humor. It has momentum, gorgeous execution, wonderful voice casting, and a great soundtrack from Danny Elfman. But it's unfortunate in that it came after the brilliant Nightmare Before Christmas, and apart from the maturity of the animation, it can't compete with it in any way. Everything that is here at a very high level was one step better in Nightmare (it is especially noticeable in the songs). I also can't shake the impression that this is another in a line of movies based on Burton's tried-and-true (and thankfully still working) recipe for "his" kind of movie. Maybe it’s time for a bit of a change, Tim. ♫ OST score: 4/5

Had it not been for the terrible screenplay, this could have been a more than decent thriller. The interesting introductory premise remained criminally unused. At the same time, from the beginning (or in the first hour or so of the movie) everything looks pretty good until the "shocking climactic twist", which while everyone anticipates it, at the same time everyone hopes with all their might that it wouldn’t come to this... But it does. After the psychological-mystical introduction comes the action-dramatic finale of the worst and saddest type. The screenplay is truly weak, with poorly written characters. At least the actors give as much as possible to these desperately one-dimensional and mostly useless characters. Even the director tries to disguise the weaknesses of the screenplay as much as possible, but it simply cannot be done and so it remains a mediocre affair in all respects.

A mediocre sci-fi series through and through that seems like a failed live-action version of Cowboy Bebop. Certain elements of originality and unconventional ideas are definitely here; yet, the negative aspects are significant, especially the tremendously uneven quality of individual episodes. While I get where the cult nature of this show comes from, somehow I don’t get where its proclaimed quality is hidden.