hadar-20 Reviews

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

What a ride!

[9/10 · 1 April 2023]

Honor Among Thieves finds a great balance between action, humor and gravitas. The film is genuinely funny and exciting. It's also very friendly to people who aren't familiar with the game and wouldn't know their Baldur's Gate from their Harpers. Filled with endearing characters played by actors having a really good time, and a formidable villain. From the people who brought you Game Night, another fine comedy about... a game. Sure, Hugh Grant is not stretching himself here and just doing his usual schtick, but his schtick is so fun to watch that who cares. Monsters, magic and beautiful vistas. The filmmakers have rolled a 20 and scored a critical hit.

A Glitch in the Matrix (2021)

Contemplating the nature of reality

[8/10 · 14 February 2021]

Personally I'm a big supporter of the simulation theory. I find it to be a very logical explanation to the way the world works and to our role in it as human beings. So naturally I found this doc fascinating. Perhaps because it was made in Covid times, the film makes extensive use of animation and the interviews are done through video chats (some of the subjects dressed up as digital avatars). It actually works for the film , considering the subject matter. I would've liked to see more focus on the role of consciousness in a simulated world but the film doesn't go the spiritual route. Being entertainment first and foremost, it focuses more on the wild idea that we all live in some giant computer in some advanced technology's office building. It also highlights the danger inherent when an unstable mind is influenced by the simulation theory. But all in all the movie is a positive and welcome addition to the growing conversation around this topic. There's much more material to mine here, so hopefully we will see more movies about this. At the end of the day, what's more important than the nature of reality itself?

The Happening (2008)

M. Night strikes back: My theory of The Happening

[8/10 · 15 June 2008]

While watching this movie and being rocked back and forth between brilliant suspense and horror and campy comedy, I became convinced of one thing:

Shayamalan is angry.

What he did is basically this: He made a B movie about killer plants. A timely and Eco-friendly theme, no doubt, in this day and age of global warming and pollution. But more than that, I think this is his answer to all his critics, and I'm surprised that the critics didn't get it.

We already saw glimpses of that in the character of the film critic in Lady In The Water. But here M. Night is in full "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore" state of mind. What with the Lady In The Water debacle and the book that came after that, basically painting him as an ego-maniac. Now, I don't know the guy, but I know he's a brilliant, original, filmmaker. Lady in the Water was a misfire, but I'll take a Shayamalan misfire over many other by-the-numbers, boring, recycled movies. (Just look at Made of Honor, for Christ sake.)

What he did is a marvelous cinematic exercise. He made a "bad" film on purpose. That's right. The actors ham it shamelessly. The close-ups are at times ridiculous, especially in the second part. I have never seen any movie like this. It moves from moments of brilliance (the first 10 minutes) to near-camp (Whalberg in the class room).

There's this crazy old lady... Shayamalan isn't in this film, but I think this lady personifies his state of mind just as well.

And of course, the final masterstroke is the twist. The twist is there is no twist. It just ends. This was most surly done on purpose and knowingly. Shayamalan needed to lower the impossible expectations. The critics are waiting for him to fall. Again. So he makes this movie, and he makes it in such a way that he trumps everything. The complaints about his plots, about his twists, about the over-sentimentality. (Wahlberg actually breaks down and cries several times in the course of the film.)

The real mystery here is how he got, or rather, convinced Mark Wahlberg, an accomplished actor, to give such a campy performance. (the kid in the film is the best actress of them all. Again, I believe, on purpose. She's the innocent of the piece).

The Happening is also very violent and scary. It's also very funny and again, campy. The dialog, the performances. I don't know how to describe this film. Again, It's nothing like I've ever seen. It's a filmmaker fighting back the criticism and simultaneously making a disturbing horror film... which is also a spoof of his own style!

This guy is insane. Bravo.

The Pink Panther (2006)

Great remake

[8/10 · 11 April 2006]

The score of 4.7 does not represent the true nature of this very funny comedy, but mostly people's distastes of remakes, and that's a shame. Can't say I blame them, though. Bet many of the voters didn't even watch it. After all, The Pink Panther (or most notably the later films. The original was pretty uneven), with the great Peter Sellers is a tough act to follow. I too wasn't impressed with the idea of remaking "Panther", but this time they got it right. I guess the world of Cinema would have gotten along pretty well without this remake, which is aimed, I guess, to the younger generation, but the movie is funny, really funny. Steve Martin's portrayal of the bumbling clousoue (sp?) is no better or worse then Sellers, it's different, and after a few minutes you just accept him in the role and forget about it. And he does a good job at it, Martin is a great comedian and is enough reason to ses this flick. Supporting cast is also good, especially Jean Reno as the deadpan Pontoon to the hyperactive clousoue. Their relationship enrich the movie tremendously.

The gags keep on coming, the movie is filled with great slapstick and clever "verbal jousting". The scene where Martin tries to learn how to say "Hamburger" with an American accent is priceless.

As remakes go, this is a good effort. They didn't "shame" the original, as most remakes do... but actually it is not a verbatim remake of the original. As a matter of fact, I don't see this as a remake. I think one should look at it as another film in the Pink Panther series, and as that, it is a successful entry.

The new Pink Panther retains the spirit of this wonderfully zany series, and that's the most important thing.

The One-Armed Swordsman (1967)

Fantastic

[8/10 · 6 May 2005]

I'm not a big expert on Hong Kong cinema, or Martial Arts movies, but I've seen my fair share of Kong Fu flicks, and this remarkable picture is definitely among the best. What it has going for it is first and foremost a great story about a one-handed swordsman who wants to quit the "Martial Arts business" but has one last debt of honor to repay. The film sets up its characters and plot in great detail, so we are involved from the outset. The villains are ferocious and the sword battles (this one has only sword battles, not actual Kong Fu) are great. It's a vicious, violent film, but also very tender. Acting is very good for this kind of picture. The heroes are heroic, the bad guys are sneering. Production design is also top-notch, great scenery and props, and be sure to watch it in "SHAWSCOPE" for its Widescreen glory.

Rose Red (2002)

This is not for all you short attention spanners...

[8/10 · 6 October 2003]

For the rest of you, though, this mammoth 250 minutes horror miniseries, is well worth the time. Stephen King has probably created one of his best screenplay-to-screen only works (not based on a novel) in "Rose Red", a chore usually not too successful ("Sleepwalkers", anyone?). This haunted house tale, about a creepy enormous mansion in Seatle, and the intrepid psychics that go there for a "field trip", boasts amazing production design and sets, fine acting, especially by Nancy Travis as the determined Joyce Reardon and Matt Ross as Emery ("Go and warn someone who isn't broke!), and decent special effects (especially considering this is made for TV). Although not everything is always clear, and although the middle part tends to sag a little, this is a high quality mini-series which amazingly manages to sustain interest through four hours of haunted house shenanigans, one of the most overused themes in horror. It's length also allows it to dedicate the first hour to character development and story buildup, so that when the characters walk for the first time into "Rose Red", we are almost as anxious as they are. this wouldn't have worked in a two hour film.

Grease 2 (1982)

Give this sequel a break

[6/10 · 23 May 2003]

There areespecially three great sequences in Grease 2: 1) The opening number (Back to School), a great, catchy tune followed by some wonderful dancing, everything a musical should be. 2) "Score Tonight" which takes place in a bowling alley. Great song! And it's fun seeing everyone dancing with bowling bowls! 3) The biology class and "Reproduction", I dare say you won't stop humming it, hilarious and inventive. Sure, it has its weak spots, including some real cheesy scenes, and maxwell caulfield is no John Travolta (He hardly dances in the picture), he is supposed to look like a "Cool Rider" but looks instead like a Villain from the old "Batman" show with his "Cool Rider outfit". still, do not take this movie too seriously, Grease 2 sure don't deserve all the bad rep it got, and it sure deserves a much higher rating on IMDB. It's a fun little musical, with some great performances, inspired choreography and some really really great songs (And some not so great, but these are in the minority). Michell Pfeiffer is great in this picture and shouldn't be ashamed of it at all. To fully enjoy this, just try to forget that it's a sequel to the most succesful musical of all time (a heavy burden on any film), just call is "Brilliantine" or something instead of "Grease 2", because as a stand alone musical comedy, this flick delivers the goods.

Signs (2002)

give your brain a workout with "Signs"

[9/10 · 20 March 2003]

*Some spoilers*

It began with The Sixth Sense, it Continued with Unbreakable, and now, Mr Shymalan is presenting us with the third offering of his "You think you know what's going on here? think again" series of films. And boy, this time he batted it out of the field. A former reverend who lost his faith in god after his wife died in an accident, lives in a small house beside a corn field, with his son, daughter and brother. Meanwhile, something strange is happening in the world around them. something makes crop circles at their field. something makes noises at night. are they aliens? are they lionel and the wolfington brothers? is this going to make sense in the end? An absolutley brilliant film, directed with marvelous style and confidence, with fantastic cinematography, amazing and powerful Hitchckocian score (The climax is breathtaking), great acting by all. A movie that makes you think. a movie that reminds you why you love movies. A movie to see.

Swing away, Merril.

Last Action Hero (1993)

A great movie about movies

[8/10 · 31 August 2002]

This 1993 action fantasy was, in my opinion, unjustly lambasted by critics. Arnold Schwarzenneger Plays Jack Slater, a cop which epitomizes every cliched action hero you can think off, and parodies himself as an actor, and later on, as a celebrity. This movie pokes fun at the action movies Hollywood makes (Or used to make especially in the eighties), it is filled with great in-jokes which should be appreciated by film lovers, especially those who love American, Hollywood movies. Schwarzenneger parodies himself brilliantly, he has great support from top notch actors like Charles Dance and F. Murray Abraham. The whole thing is directed with great style by action extraordinare John Mctirnan. The co-writer of the script is no other than Mr. Shane Black, creator of the original Lethal Weapon, which is also spoofed here heavilly. It's a great romp, filled with imagination, inventivness and yes, great action. An intelligent, humorous work by everyone involved. Sure, it has plot holes and a sappy ending, but it never takes itself too seriously. And the most important thing of all, it makes us remember why we love movies.

Titanic (1997)

What, are you nuts?

[10/10 · 24 May 2002]

A 7? This masterpiece gets a 7 on imdb? It's sad that 'Titanic' is lambasted by some people only because it was such a huge success on all aspects. This heart warming and heart wrenching love story, set against one of the biggest disasters of modern times, is acted and directed flawlessly, with sweeping score, fantastic cinematography, and its three hours pass so fast, it's amazing. Such emotional and cinematical power is rarely seen in mainstream holywood movies, and this movie deserves its Oscars and huge box office success. Kate Winslet and Leonardi De Caprio are especially good. Rose and Jack are unforgettable characters. James Cameron is truly a gifted filmmaker.

Chelmsford 123 (1988–1990)

One of the most hilarious shows ever filmed!

[26 January 2002]

I can't believe there are no comments about this show. Set in Chelmsford, Britania, in the year 123 AD, it tells the story of Roman Governor Aulus Paulinus's everlasting struggle against a bunch of savage and occasionally philosophical group of Brittons led by badvoc, the man who hasn't had a haircut in 25 years. Marvelously zany humor, superb acting and writing, a true gem from Channel four and "Hat trick" (who is also responsible for the original, and still the best, "who's line is it anyway"). This show is a british comedy extraordinaire, second only to FAWLTY TOWERS, if you have a chance to watch it, or maybe find it in a video store, it's worth every minute.

Not to be missed!

Dream for an Insomniac (1996)

great little movie

[7/10 · 5 October 2001]

This a truly fine romantic comedy about a girl who has given up on finding Mr right just as he enters her life in a marvelous scene where the movie (and her life) changes from grey to color. it doesn't have side splitting laughs, and at some points it gets to be a little talky, but those moments pass fast. It makes you smile all the way through and feel good, seeing true romance happen in front of you, with interesting characters, good acting, mostly engaging dialogue, and a fine direction from a first time director. cynics and people who over analyze films won't like this movie, but for all the rest, for the romantics, for the dreamers, and for those who believe that a story doesn't have to be 100 percent realistic but good, this film is recommended. try and watch it with someone you love.

Urban Legend (1998)

Slasher movie with a script

[7/10 · 29 May 2001]

Urban Legends is undoubtedly one of the best slasher movies of the nineties. It starts with a marvellous opening scene, and unfolds quite cleverly until the very end. I have seen a lot of films of this type, but I wasn't sure who the killer was until the very end. Any movie of this type which suceeds in doing that deserves kudos in my book. compare it to the "Friday the 13th" movies, which are basically "Jason goes around and kills a lot of stupid teenagers" plot, and you'll see how refreshing Urban Legends is, it actually has a well thought out script! of course it has cliches, but what are slasher movies without them, it's all part of the fun. The thing is it doesn't have TOO MANY cliches. It is better than "I know what you did last summer", and comes really close to "Scream". The direction deserves a word of praise, Jaimy Blanks first feature is extremely well done and stylish, he learned a lot from his mentor John Carpenter.

The cast is uniformly good and believable, and it even has humor, as a self-concious modern flick should. It has minor flaws, but I won't be petty, considering what Horror buffs usually have to deal with, this is a treat.