Pethushka

Nice effects are everywhere these days. And so we get an accumulation of bland films that are nice to look at but evoke almost no emotion. Apart from a bunch of gimmicks, there was nothing to get me into the plot. Blake Lively is beautiful and Ryan Reynolds is quite likable. Except that I knew that before I saw it. Where are the days when I was rooting for the main character and couldn't tear myself away from the screen? Now I'm just watching him phone it in to see what he looks like doing it. A weak 2.5 stars.

A beautiful and relaxing film with a simple plot. The charismatic Woo-seong Jeong did not disappoint again and the likeable Yuanyuan Gao pleasantly surprised me. I enjoyed seeing their relationship and their gradual exploration. I wasn't moved, but it did evoke some emotions. And I didn't mind the English here, surprisingly. A strong 4 stars.

This is why I watch movies: to find a gem like this. I had emotions coming out of my ears, my heart was pounding at 106, and tears were streaming down my face. Drama combined with sports is kind of thin ice. The games have to entertain, they can't be overdone, and they don't mean anything if the drama doesn't come through. But here the foundation is solid, the story is catchy, and the actors have an incredible zest to perform. An amazing cinematic experience. 5 stars.

I don't know if my rating is completely truthful and objective. I sat in the cinema with my mouth almost gaping, and after the show it was full of criticism again. It was very nice to watch and all the effects and beautiful shots were very appealing. My ears can't complain either. The cast was very good, but for a while Henry Cavill didn't sit well with me. Plot-wise, I guess you could read a lot into it as well. But what I was hurting for the most was some sort of climax, which the viewer desperately needs in a film like this. This way I felt that nothing much was happening. A weaker 4 stars.

I'm quite pleasantly surprised by the excellent thriller atmosphere, which made the film fun to watch. The plot may not be anything new, but at least it's not unnecessarily drawn out and boring. And even though everyone probably knows what's going on from the very beginning, I was eager to see how it would turn out. The ending wasn't bad either. The cast isn’t overused and in most cases was well chosen. Penn Badgley in particular was a good fit for me. A better average... 3.5 stars.

Once you get a taste for Geun-young Moon, she’s like a drug. And this role especially suited her. Plus she was given an equal partner, so the acting was above standard. Many scenes moved me to tears during the movie... that doesn't happen all the time either. I liked how the emotions and atmosphere changed. Even the music suited their story nicely. I just have nothing to complain about. One of the most beautiful Korean movies. 5 stars.

I haven't seen a movie in a long time that allowed me to enjoy and gush over it like this. For me, the denouement was totally unexpected and that moved me all the more. Jay Chou shows that he is multi-talented and you can see that he knows how to use it. The main character was also very nice to watch. It's a feast for the eyes, ears, and heart. The final scene is brilliant to say the least. A wonderful show that seems to be without flaw. 5 stars.

Even though the film is only 80 minutes long, I got pretty bored at times. Some of the dialogue was rather uninteresting. Maybe it was because I hadn't seen Before Sunrise and had nothing to draw on. On the other hand, I like how realistically it's filmed. I'm not a big fan of Julie Delpy, but she works well here. Both act naturally and handle their roles well. 3.5 stars.

It's the little things that make this film great and in a way brilliant. Unfortunately, that only applies to the first half. Once the main character gets jaded, the plot starts to get more American and isn't as entertaining. Victor Navorski's character certainly has a lot in common with Forrest Gump. I really enjoyed his good-heartedness and ingenuity. And given the situation he's in, there are a few elements from Cast Away as well. It's no fun crashing at an airport... unless Tom Hanks is the one crashing there. 4 stars.

A beautiful and unpretentious film with a slight touch of romance. I appreciate the magical atmosphere and the lightness of the story. No need to wonder if it's even possible for something like this to happen. It's fantasy and anything is possible. Anyway, it caressed me and made me smile a little, even when I wasn’t in a good mood. And that's the strength of movies. 4.5 stars.