Stanislaus

Maleficent is another in a series of new adaptations fairytale classics that haven't aged with time, and as a lover of Disney films, I couldn't pass up such a feat. And I have to say that this film is beautifully stylized, they really took care not only on the production design, but also on the look of the characters, both human and mythical. I’ve never been a fan of Angelina Jolie, I was quite put off by her Lara Croft, but this role really suited her perfectly and won my sympathy. As has been mentioned in other reviews here, I also liked the development of the relationship between Aurora and Maleficent, which for me was the centre of the whole story and was handled brilliantly. Who really is the villain in this story? Not everything is as it seems! Finally, I must not forget to mention the magical song "Once Upon a Dream" by Lana Del Rey. All in all, a very well made film which, like all fairy tales, offers a clash between good and evil, alongside a nice audio-visual experience and a likeable cast.

The trailer alone looked wacky, but since there wasn't another thought-provoking film on the bus, I decided to watch The Magicians. Well, it was pretty crazy. I think what annoyed me the most about it all were the utterly creepy and unlikeable characters, and the movie overall didn't strike me as a comedy at all. The only major redeeming quality perhaps worth mentioning was the casting of Alan Arkin, that's all. All in all, a film that disappointed me, though I must admit I didn't expect much from it to begin with.

Yes Man has a particularly imaginative premise and the casting of the likeable Zooey Deschanel, but it’s also marred by a rather annoying Jim Carrey (I think I've had enough of his monotonous facial expressions) and the fact that I didn't laugh much, which is a bit of a problem with comedy. The romance line wasn't bad, but overall nothing above average. All in all, a pretty easygoing affair where you can actually switch off and not think, because this type of movie doesn't require it.

I was really looking forward to the new Godzilla, I was waiting with anticipation for the premiere and finally I got it. I haven’t seen the very first 1954 film, nor the other Japanese kaiju-monster films, so I was "grew-up" on Roland Emmerich's American version. I have a weak spot for 1998’s Godzilla, I find time to watch from time to time, and I don't care that the script is rather dodgy at the expense of decent visuals, but the latest version from Gareth Edwards is completely different, and definitely better, no doubt about it. The story is much more colourful, the actors don't act so silly and they really act (and don't "act"). The visuals of the monsters were very well handled, and Godzilla is more "realistic" in a way, though it's true that perhaps they don’t show up that much, but I was nevertheless very impressed by the various depictions of them throughout the film (in archive footage, on TV, as backgrounds behind the military action, etc). Probably the best scenes for me were the train+tunnel+bridge and the jump from the plane, accompanied by the now-familiar music from the trailer, while I would also like to praise Alexandre Desplat's score. All in all, a very good film that has some flaws, but I got exactly what I wanted, so I give this popcorn audiovisual orgy a thumbs up.

Steel Magnolias is a film that brings together a stellar cast of actresses who know how to play their roles. It gives us the opportunity to follow the joys and sorrows of the lives of several female characters who perhaps couldn't be more different, yet are united by friendship and family. The one who impressed me the most was Shirley MacLaine, who was convincingly obnoxious. All in all, a very well made and acted film about the lives of quite ordinary people with whom many of us could identify.

Neighbours is a nicely edgy, slightly brutal in places, but still quite funny American comedy with a likeable cast. As far as the story goes, it's clichéd in places, but the film still holds the bar pretty high. The Zac Efron vs. Seth Rogen conflict was not bad at all, and while I'm not exactly the fatherly type to gush over little kids, I have to admit that Stella was really cute. In short, a movie that doesn't offend but doesn't surprise either, just pure average for me.

The Other Woman is a typical American comedy that cannot surprise anyone with its plot, so it has to score plus points with the performances and funny scenes, both of which were average within the genre. Leslie Mann was a bit of a handful at times due to her hysterical outbursts, but she can act, she just had a bad role, but I found the performances of Kate Upton and Nicki Minaj quite dull. Cameron Diaz is really “washed”, but she can still play her part. As for the funny scenes, I have to admit that I had more than one good laugh, so mission accomplished. In short, a film that is one big old familiar cliché that degrades the female species, but it’s entertaining if you don’t take it seriously.

I've seen Brotherhood of the Wolf by Christophe Gans before, an interesting but in my opinion inconsistent film. Beauty and the Beast is quite similar. As for the audiovisual aspect, I'm at a loss for words, because it was just beautiful. The visual effects were very good and that was on a pretty low budget. The soundtrack was amazing, I absolutely loved the title song. As for the costumes, the designers deserve praise to the ground as it was a complete fashion show. It's just that, on the other hand, the story gets on the way. The relationship between the Beauty and the Beast was a little too aloof for my taste, without any development to illuminate the ending. In short, a visually sumptuous spectacle with a wonderful musical score, which unfortunately suffers from screenwriting flaws.

A lot of users here complain that this film is boring, uninspired; the same old fairy tale. But I personally liked the second/fifth outing of Spider-Man and got everything I needed at the cinema. On the audiovisual side, it is good, the effects are nice and impressive, and it was all underscored by Hans Zimmer's impressive music. The story was simple, but I wasn’t expecting anything else. I both laughed and grieved at the film and marveled at the action sequences. Halfway through, I thought I would only give it three stars, but the last twenty minutes made me rethink everything. In short, a typical popcorn movie that will disappoint especially those who expect too much from it – I was satisfied, though.

I love British cinema, so A Long Way Down was an obvious choice when selecting a film to see in the cinema. The four main characters could have come together at any time and in any circumstance, but their attempted suicide was indeed imaginative. The cast was likeable, the story had both comic and tragic moments, with both components used effectively. And I must certainly not fail to mention the unforgettable soundtrack, which I also enjoyed. In short, a nice little film that both entertains and moves.