Stanislaus

The Avengers was a bolt from the blue, the sequel is still a decent movie, but it didn't reach the quality of the first one. The old gang is back together to face an arch enemy who was cruelly toys with the heroes, thanks to their different abilities and a proper dose of irony and humour. What bothered me a bit were the love and family lines bubbling to the surface, and while they were probably meant to balance out the action and drama, they were distracting to me. There's only one thing I can say about the newly arrived heroes, I'm curious to see how their stories develop. In short, solid popcorn entertainment that offers both an appealing audiovisual orgy and a nice supply of catchphrases - but the first episode was unique.

Markéta Lazarová is certainly rightly referred to as the best film of Czech cinema, and even though I think better films have been made here, I still have to acknowledge its unmissable qualities. I definitely have to praise the craftsmanship, which is of a high standard for its time: from the amazing raw images of the Middle Ages, to Zdeněk Liška's unmistakable music, to the incredibly authentic production design. The story is very well constructed by being divided into two parts and interspersed with a plethora of allegories and symbols, but its biggest weakness for me was its excessive scope, which toyed with my perception as a viewer. In short, one of the gems of filmmaking created during the golden era of Czech cinema, shot in such a way that it has been able to stand the test of time.

Even though Sunrise is a film from the silent era of cinema, it still managed to win me over and hold my attention as a viewer from the second decade of the 21st century. I liked the film both in terms of technical workmanship (dramatic scenes, camera work and various effects) and in terms of the story, which was definitely not bland and could easily be translated to the screen even today. One of those films made in such a timeless way that it never gets old and will always appeal to an audience.

A very raw documentary in the form of a probe into the troubled life of a fairly ordinary woman struggling with her own demons across several years, captured in a very evocative way. Helena Třeštíková has managed to select key events from the quantum of material that bring to mind the bottom that a person (indeed any of us) can reach. In short, a documentary for which words like "depressing" and "gritty" come to mind, and which holds its bar decently high.

After Alice, I got my hands on this short film by Jan Švankmajer, in which man is created in a very unconventional and somewhat aggressive way. Again, as a viewer, I was impressed by the animation and the work with the material used to create the man. In short, very good filmmaking that impresses both in its execution and in its theme.

Lewis Carroll's story of Alice entering Wonderland offers a wealth of material that is mirrored in many directorial concepts and adaptations. One of these is Jan Švankmajer's film, which perfectly blends live acting and incredible animation work that is more than admirable given the age of the film. I was perhaps a little distracted by the way little Alice speaks, which seemed a little too monotonous, but I still tried to pay more attention to the formal side of the film, which was more important and indeed unmissable. In short, a very good piece of filmmaking Czechs can be proud of, and which will certainly not be lost in the world of cinema.

Eroticon is an extraordinary and pioneering film for its time - thematically and stylistically - as it offers a number of technically well-executed scenes alongside taboo themes and topics. Gustav Machatý succeeded in making a film that, even after many decades, still commands respect and is still engaging. One of the best films of silent Czechoslovak cinema, of which our small nation can be truly proud.

Wild follows a similar vein to Sean Penn's Into the Wild, and thou the latter is more impressive and somehow more memorable, Jean-Marc Vallée's film is also worth seeing and holds the bar quite high. I liked the interweaving of the present line with the past, revealing bit by bit the reason for the pilgrimage across the wilderness, with the most emotional scenes being those between Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern. A solid film about overcoming the obstacles that abound in life – as soon as you overcome one, another appears.

Every age of our planet Earth has had its animal titans who dominated the times and seemed unattainable. This was also the case in the Ice Age, which was dominated by giant mammoths. This documentary uses computer technology to reconstruct the lives of these formidable creatures and tries to bring them closer to contemporary audiences. In short, a solid documentary that is both informative and visually engaging.

A breathtaking documentary that offers a glimpse of the beauty of coral reefs, which are full of life and hide many secrets and animals of different shapes and sizes, through beautiful images. It also highlights the current state of these ecosystems rich in fauna and flora, which are threatened by the most advanced and dangerous species of our time – us humans. In short, a very well made documentary film, boasting both spectacular audiovisuals and a meaningful message (not only) for our generation.