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Reviews
Koudelka (1999)
A jewel..
I originally bought this game because I liked the cover art(back then that was good enough for me) and I soon discovered that it was one of the best choices I've made. Gameplay is very hard and will annoy you a lot but the rest of it is so amazing that you don't really care Wonderful eerie atmosphere, music that captivates you and one of the best if not the best voice acting jobs I've heard. The look of the game is also phenomenal. From mold ridden places to beautifully decorated rooms, courtyards to towers, this game has stunning locations The characters all feel very real and subtly make you sink into their world. The voice acting is a big help but they are also very nicely written. Unfortunately, I don't have the game anymore but I plan to buy it again as soon as I find it. Definitely worth playing. It's a must have.
The Thin Red Line (1998)
A POEM OF CINEMATOGRAPHY...
There are times, when the word "masterpiece" cannot fully express the excellence of an artwork. And words as "poem", or "saga" try to fill the void. But in some occasions, the phrases and words seem so empty, when we're looking at an experience of cinema so majestic and flawless... "The Thin Red Line", or "TRL" for short, is one of the few poems of the modern Cinema. Hopefully, not one of the last as well. Because the watching of "TRL" creates a feeling of elevation, a feeling that there will never be something so wonderful again. "TRL" has all the elements of a successful film. The cast, which brings together some of the greatest performers of our time, is guided superbly by a director who knows perfectly what he wants to say, and manages to say it without doubts or fears. The location, a bloody battlefield. A hell in the middle of paradise (or is it paradise inside hell?), captured magically by the camera lens, appearing almost alive, with its own will and rules. The score, both meaningful and beautiful, helps in pointing the tension and the flooding emotions of the characters. In one line, we could say that "TRL" is a perfect example of technology that supports characters, not vice versa. And this could be the key to a successful film in our hard, weird cinematographic times...
The Saint (1997)
A great film. As simple as that...
Let's face it. 'The Saint' is a film without a complicated story, without (over)elaborated special FX, without super-special costumes or immense stages. Yet, the result is very professional, and very positive. And 'The Saint' is one of those films that make you feel glad for the existence of Cinema. Val Kilmer, as Simon, and Elisabeth Shue, as Emma, give to their characters their very own souls. Despite the fact that 'The Saint' is basically an action film, the characters do not lack emotions, and do not appear lifeless. On the contrary, they're very human and realistic. And this is what makes the film so simple, yet so great. Feelings of happiness and sorrow, joy and depression, fear and courage, are mixed up-as in real life-in a story of adventure and romance, (with a lot of funny moments too) which captivates our total interest. As previously mentioned, special Fx or costumes, photography or art designing, are not an extraordinary aspect of the film. But that doesn't mean in any way, that a good job hasn't been done in these areas. What is a little more special and should be mentioned, is the very emotional music score, a perfect match for the film. In conclusion, it is safe to say that 'The Saint' is a film that very few won't enjoy. "The Saint" is a great film for those we seek two hours of action, feelings and joyful smiles. As simple as that...
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
One of the 10 best films ever made...
I have watched "Lawrence of Arabia" more that 10 times in the last 2 years, and each time seems to be a new experience of true art. A film almost 40 years old, which hasn't lost a trace of its initial vigor and beauty. A hymn to a time, where no computer wizards or elaborated FX could 'cover' acting or directing deficiencies. "Lawrence of Arabia" is a film where the natural, wild beauty of the desert, provides the perfect set for the unfolding of T.E. Lawrence's adventures. The splendid photography, both beautiful and meaningful, revealed the life and soul of the landscape, while the unmatched music score gave the blood for the heart of the film. The actors. Peter O' Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, and the rest of the cast, directed superbly by David Lean, gave one of the best performances of their rich careers. Maybe the best. Each sentiment, each feeling expressed in the film, is so vivid, so genuine, that creates the impression that you're watching NOT just a film, but the real thing! The real adventure!
I would rate many films with a '9'. But with a '10', very few. And "Lawrence of Arabia" is rightfully on of them. Certainly, one of the 10 best films ever made.
Anna and the King (1999)
GREAT FILM, WEAK SCREENPLAY...
First of all, we have to admit that "Anna and the king" is a beautiful film. A splendid job has been made with the costumes, the sets, and the photography. With one word, the production designing is purely professional and inspiring. Luciana Arrighi, Caleb Deschanel, and Jenny Beavan have accomplished a difficult and challenging task, and the reward was the academy award nomination for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. The cast's performance was brilliant, with Jodie Foster and Bai Ling being fantastic. Bai Ling in particular, was simply PERFECT. But the questions begin when we look at other aspects of the film. "Anna and the king" is eye-catching, but is it actually what we call a "good" film? The taste that leaves in the end is kind of bitter, and that because it makes you feel as if you have just watched the best film of the year, though.without a script. Without the unfolding of a story. The screenplay is generally lacking emotions, feelings, sentiments. It gives the impression that it can't decide exactly what it wants to tell. And here comes the director's responsibility. Andy Tennant has made a great job overall, but he didn't manage to cover the screenplay's flaws. And that because he shaped the relationship between Anna and the king to fit in the political events, when it should be probably better to do the opposite. In the end, "Anna and the king" is a film that will be remembered for the photography, the costumes, the sets, and of course for Jodie Foster and Bai Ling, who brought some tears in our eyes with their performance.