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paint9698
Reviews
Nachthelle (2014)
Homophobic woman pontificates on morality!
An extremely homophobic woman descends on a home (with a boyfriend young enough to be her grandson) to be met by her ex-partner with his new boyfriend. What follows is basically a cinematic diatribe of said woman trying to come to grips with her hatred of gay men, presumably because a gay student in her past-came on to her then boyfriend (her ex-partner), who the commits suicide because of her assault and vindictiveness. The film takes the woman's side and sees her as a victim, rather than a symptom of rampant homophobic hatred. Nazi's still exist-even in this horrible woman's fantasy life!
The Taste (2013)
Just Bad
Did not like (only one episode in). The show is just a gimmick where supposedly formidable cooking talents sit around humiliating people i.e. bullying for (what are bound to be) "low" ratings! And also mugging painfully to the cameras. The 'awesome' foursome Ludo, Malarkey, Nigella and Anthony spend a lot of time speaking to the camera telling how wonderful and noble there fellow judges are (filler?) And then there's the question of "blind tasting" which has become standard since Masterchef and presumably a sign of fairness. Except in this show the votes are not actually locked in until after the contestants appear and there does appear to be low levels at least of homophobia given the responses to some of the contestants. No this show is ugly (not fun) and bound to get worse. Everything feels contrived, but may have been improved if the conversation surrounding the bite size portion of dishes had have been extended for a few minutes rather than the standard 10 seconds. Hopefully this will have a low shelf life. This show is Malarkey (no pun intended) i.e rubbish indeed. Opium for the masses.
Kitchen Confidential (2005)
A disappointment
I was expecting a lot from this show-bought the all episode DVD and found a very tame show that seemed to be very at odds with Jack Bourdain's sardonic, eccentric way over the top exploits. The best that can be said is that it's mildly amusing but never really taps into Bourdain's seemingly raucous energy-professional and otherwise.
A big part of the problem is the casting. Bradley Cooper is a fine actor and good in the central role. But his go to men-Owain Yeoman, Nicholas Brendan and John Cho, are not up to scratch-trying too hard and just not that funny. Only Jim Francis Daley, Bonnie Somerville and Sam Pancake (as a gay waiter) provide any spark-unfortunately they are not used nearly enough. Idea was good, not the execution.
Beloved (1998)
Very disappointing movie
How can you do justice to a great book? The answer, judging from this film is you cannot. The film is polished and professional and lots of money has been pumped in-but it's all wrong. Jonathan Demme never ever achieves a sense of how emotional/spiritual and physical obliteration can be adequately portrayed (Why is the cinematography so pretty?).There is an adjunct between the material and it's treatment-it's shot in an epic form ("Gone With the Wind" from the other side)-when it should have been a pointed ghost story allegory about an horrendous past-more experimental, dreamlike and a lot angrier. The film is way too noble (and literal minded in a way the book is not) to be truly successful. Only Kimberly Elise manages to give some life to this ponderous, earnest(like "Schindler's List) narrative. Also why are African American men portrayed(as in "The Color Purple") as betrayers, liars? It is never made clear. Disappointing to say the least. 'Beloved" is proof positive that good intentions don't make good art.
Star Wars (1977)
garbage well and truly
Honestly for crap like this I wish there was a 0 option for rating. It's a contemptuous fantasy about the "great empire". Garbage. Call it glamorizing the military. No wonder so many people don't have trouble with the Iraq War (or any other) for that matter-they get their ideas on war from 'Star Wars'-from Hollywood, ne'er a battered or bloodied body in sight and no impact beyond the tediousness of the good vs. evil battle. The special effects are unsophisticated, the acting non-existent. A formula movie made with the absolute minimum of skill. This is a movie that's success speaks like no other about money, advertising,media saturation and POWER. And a small aside to the adults, acting like kids still praising this rubbish-GROW UP
The Vicar of Dibley (1994)
a disaster of a show
Utterly unfunny...I mean honestly is there any truth in a sex crazed, chocaholic vicar who has nothing but disrespect for what she's supposed to be ACTUALLY doing. I found the whole thing cynical, unconvincing and treating country folk like they're nothing but morons. Very ugly, nasty even...But to top it off it's poorly written, Dawn French can make nothing of what are supposed to be witty one liners.It's the sort of sitcom where after every line you go UGGGGGGHHHHH... The rest of the cast are no better, the town millionaire, his idiot son and his comatose daughter-in-law try to act as merrily idiotic as is humanly IMPOSSIBLE. And that doesn;t even mention the half witted farmer and the slutty old lady...all supposedly hilarious. Truly abysmal television
In Bruges (2008)
Awful. The Pits.
Atrocious film-making. Two morons, that by the end we're meant to find adorable, arrive in Bruges for some sinister mission. What follows is basically a hate filled diatribe humiliating gay men (shock horror), dwarfs and women. There's no sophistication in the supposedly brilliant writing. It's the kind of lousy movie that seems to have been inspired by rednecks and writing on toilet walls in pubs.
Reading some of the reviews of this film is mind boggling. Most harp on and on about Farrell's redemption but given that this particular element in the script is so utterly unconvincing (Is this what McDonaugh considers irony?) and simply used as a device to validate Farrell's rampant homophobia and misogyny-the result is sickening, not illuminating.
Yes, Bruges looks wonderful but who cares when you're watching offensive rubbish of this nature. Painful.
Life in the Freezer (1993)
Superb
Simply the best nature documentary I have ever seen. The cinematography and narration are beyond peer. The film (series) delves into the breeding cycles and lifestyles of animals ranging from various types of penguins (Emperor, Adelie, Chinstrap, Macaroni, Gentoo) seals (Crabeater, Weddell, Antarctic Fur Seals, Elephant and of course the deadly Leopard) birds (Cormorants, Snow Petrels, Antarctic Terns, Albatross, skuas) to minuscule micro biotic life in the oceans depths. So comprehensive. You feel as if, you are actually there witnessing it all. And as a result it is profoundly emotional and at times overwhelming. A very factual, honest and very painstaking account of life in Antarctica. A must see for nature lovers and anyone really who has any curiosity. Wish this had have been shown in the cinema. Vastly superior to 'Deep Blue'and 'White Planet' Long live David Attenborough and the BBC.