Reviews (1,995)
The Crimson Rivers (2000)
Kassovitz successfully conveys the dark atmosphere, and Reno and Cassel are charismatic enough to pull the whole film off just fine. But there are some moments, or rather, entire scenes that are so blatantly ripped-off of Se7en that it’s almost embarrassing. The ending is also contrived and full of clichés. It’s a pity, without that it would have been a very good thriller.
The NeverEnding Story III (1994)
This is so bad I wouldn't even include it in our Vomit Screen film club program, which focuses on the worst B-movies. The creators of this shite should be served as an appetizer to the Rockbiter.
The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1989)
A prime example of what a sequel shouldn't look like. Wolfgang Petersen, forgive them, for they knew not what they did.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
This is the most beautiful fantasy film I’ve even seen. And the Rockbiter is my idol! If my teeth were like his, I wouldn’t have to go to the dentist.
The Evil Dead (1981)
The first half is excellent. With a minimum of resources, Raimi manages to evoke an oppressive atmosphere of fear. The tree rape scene is something that is not easily forgotten. But the second half is terribly jumbled, as if Raimi didn't know what he wanted to do and was paying for his inexperience as a filmmaker. What I mean is that the scenes are poorly sequenced. In one scene there is a brutal death, and in the one that immediately follows, the characters look uninterested, as if not much had actually happened a few minutes before. I consider Evil Dead to be merely a good, not great, precursor to the flawless sequel.
The Gift (2000)
Sam Raimi is a whiz who can turn a fairly mediocre script into a first-class thriller. It doesn't happen very often when I watch a movie, but I was really scared, and I think that's the best mark.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
One of the few films where I literally fell in love with the main characters and experienced everything good and bad with them. The relaxed performances of everyone involved make me believe that the shooting must have taken place in a perfect atmosphere and the love for the source material oozes out of the film, that is something that is reflected in the final result. Writing how visually stunning this film is, is like bringing wood to the forest. From an acting point of view, I particularly enjoyed Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen, and I was very pleasantly surprised by Sean Bean as Boromir. His performance at the end, when he wants the ring from Frodo, is one of my favourites.
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)
What moral lessons can we take away from this film? The following: if you give beer to your bear, you will make an alcoholic out of it, useless for guarding your personal property. A lesson so profound that it's quite enough to award this entertaining western four stars.
Air Force One (1997)
Wolfgang Petersen forgot about his masterpieces Das Boot and The Neverending Story and made a stupid film that even Emmerich would be ashamed of.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Once again I didn't give in to the critics and it paid off. A.I. is an excellent film and I left the cinema with a warm feeling in my heart. I think it is stupid to look for Kubrick here, this is sensitive Spielberg with all the bells and whistles.