El_Mendigo Reviews

Barry Lyndon (1975)

Barry Lyndon, underrated, but not justly so

[9/10 · 14 January 2010]

Barry Lyndon seems to be one of Kubrick's least appreciated films in that it receives very little attention when compared to some of his other movies. I really don't think it should be so underrated, but there you have it.

Barry Lyndon clocks in at just over three hours long and it is understandable why some people might find it too much to take in in one sitting. I had no problems with it and was utterly captivated by the film. It may be slow at times, but I found no moment boring at all.

It's got great acting in my opinion and it really feels extremely authentic to me. Everything from the clothes and settings to the shots using candles as the only lighting. It just feels so...real.

And of course, this is Kubrick so there is that unique beauty which only he could put into his films. That's basically what this film is: beautiful.

This film, for me, is just massive, but it definitely isn't for everyone and that is the reason it isn't as well known as other Kubrick movies. However, for any Kubrick fan this is a must see and I really wish it were that way for everyone. But hey, to each his own.

This movie isn't perfect, but it's pretty damn close. I give it a 9.5 leaning more towards a 10 and recommend this to any Kubrick fan and, really, to any movie fan in general. Even if you don't like it, it's worth watching.

Arsène Lupin (2004)

Not as bad as everyone seems to think

[7/10 · 8 May 2009]

I just finished watching this movie and I'm pretty surprised with all the low ratings. Sure it was a little confusing, but this was probably due to the fact that I could only watch this movie in french with french subtitles knowing very little french and, despite this, the only part of the movie I didn't really understand was the ending.

I don't really have any complaints about the acting or anything. Some people were complaining that it was unrealistic the way he stole womens jewellery right off their neck without them noticing and sure it's "fake" and all, but it's a movie.

I'm not really that much of a Lupin connoisseur so I can't really comment on how loyal it was to the books and such. I enjoyed the movie although it was a little bizarre and at times perhaps a little cheesy, but I still think this is worth watching.