steve_bg_2000 Reviews

Dyad (2023)

Realistic

[7/10 · 17 May 2024]

The movie was well directed and the roles were mostly well played. What's not typical for Bulgarian movies - realistic and non-theatrical. The actors did a good job of using the dialect. Unlike in some other Bulgarian movies, the actresses who play children in this film do not look 27 years old; they are indeed teenagers, around 16-17 years old. All older actors and actresses are amazing, especially both mothers and the travel agent. Silvia Lulcheva overplayed a little, perhaps because the director was intimidated by the reputation of the great actress. The young actresses are doing a very good job.

Yes, it is another misery story as a previous reviewer indicated, but there are not too many happy stories in the poorest country of the European Union. I disagree that the story was told "clumsily" and "dishonestly". Not at all.

Chalga (2023)

Well done Vulev!

[7/10 · 10 January 2024]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie. Unlike many modern Bulgarian films that adopt a theatrical style (which I personally dislike), this one was neither boring nor annoying. In some films, logos on t-shirts are blurred, while in others, the two main characters, fleeing from the police in a truck loaded with a specific brand of waffles, start eating them with unabashed pleasure - a clear nod to the sponsor.

Speaking of criticism, I concur with the points raised in the first review (the only one before mine). However, I find their rating of 4 stars to be overly harsh. Four stars suggest a below-average film, but this one certainly deserves an above-average rating, hence my 7 stars. The moment I found least appealing involved the celebrities and influencers.

The director's cameo as an interviewer was seen by the previous reviewer as overdone, but when I try to understand director's perspective, I see a nation that has lost a third of its population to emigration over the last three decades. This third represented the most educated, intelligent, and industrious segment of the nation, and included the least number of individuals inclined towards chalga. This film serves as a message to the remaining two-thirds of the population, which is why the director felt the need to explicitly articulate his message through his character in the film.

The acting was nice, with almost all actors delivering great performances! The cinematography and editing were also commendable. Congratulations, Marian!

Hard Kill (2020)

"I can't believe this"

[3/10 · 17 December 2020]

Very flat story. Almost like the writers were some aliens from another world. Zero logic. Full with clishes. As somebody pointed out - it is watchable, but still very bad. At some point (without any obvious reason!!!) the actress said:

• I cant believe this!

And I thought to myself - me too!

Away (2020)

Incredibly stupid script

[3/10 · 20 September 2020]

The actors do their best. The directing and the camera are good. The story is written unprofessionally by people who understand zero physics and most probably any science. All high executives are portrayed as complete morons. Those from China, those from Russia and those from NASA too. In zero gravity someone cries and the tear goes down. (Yes, down!?!?). A 8mm hole is drilled in the body of the spaceship. The air starts to evacuate out. That scenario is expected but nobody has a rubber stopper at hand. Instead, they "run" out of the room and close the door until ...better times. Everything is so slow it feels like the original was a 30 pages novel that was inflated to 10 episodes. Virtually all characters behave totally unprofessional. A pregnant female pilot goes to fly with a fighter jet . She puts the costume on, enters the cabin. After she sits in (???) some guy from outside asks "Do you confirm you don't feel dizzy, disoriented and you are not pregnant?". If that's not crazy read further - She closes the hatch without saying a word!!! She thinks for a minute (I wonder what the guy from outside thinks ;-) Next scene - she is out of the plane.

If this show wants another chance the script writers should be immediately fired. As many reviewers pointed out this script brutally insults our intelligence. Too bad the effort of the actors, camera crew , etc was in vain.

Ad Astra (2019)

The script ruins everything

[1/10 · 14 December 2019]

As was pointed out by others the script is a shame. It is an insult to science. It is an insult to common sense. The movie is incredibly slow and boring. The worst part though is that it is absolutely illogical. Brad and Tom are doing the best they could, but absolutely not enough to compensate. Special effects? - Maybe.

Butchered (2009)

Incredibly stupid, boring

[1/10 · 1 November 2017]

I registered in IMDb only to express how blatantly stupid, boring and overall waste of time is this movie. Cannot recall ever seeing something so bad. As it was pointed out by some other reviewers many scenes are useless and unusually long. For example 4-5 men taking a leak together - 1 minute. What an expressionism.