williamdejager Reviews

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

What went wrong?

[2/10 · 6 October 2017]

I have to admit, as a true Blade Runner fan, I was very skeptical about this movie. As soon as I heard Dennis Villeneuve, Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford would be involved in the process, I began to smile. Especially after seeing the great movie 'Arrival' last year, I was rather confident the legacy of this true, one and only SF-masterpiece would be in great hands. After seeing the movie last night, my worst fears did come true. Blade Runner 2049 is nothing more than a disaster,judging by it's story. True, all the visuals are STUNNING, Deakins did a great job in creating the dystopian world (again) to the screen. The movie is just too long, and the return of Deckard just adds nothing to the story. Ford also failed in portraying Deckard, to me his performance did not echoed the first film, I thought I saw him playing that old Solo again. But the true moment of disgrace, the true error, lies in it's ending. As a true Blade Runner fan, a fan of Rutger Hauers performance, it's just unbelievable how all these people from the first movie made these artistic decisions in this (unwanted) sequel. Maybe they all just tried a little to hard to lift the great legacy of the first movie, but just failed in doing so because of it's artistic heaviness. Like I wrote, the true error lies in it's ending. It left me stunned, gasping for breath after watching Gosling on the stairs, snow begins to fall and we hear the first tunes of Vangelis Tears in Rain. . Unbelieve, it ruined the movie totally. I just don't get it: how is it possible that Scott / Villeneuve made this awful scene? Totally disgraceful! A true slap in the face of that great scene, that one and only historic scene showing Batty on the roof, the monologue every die-hard movie buff will always remember.

I'm just lost for words, such a shame..

De prijs van overleven (2003)

An underrated masterpiece

[10/10 · 7 May 2010]

I've seen this documentary a lot of times, but every time I see it, It just makes me cry. Van Gasteren has made a powerful, yet underrated statement about the war after being liberated. The story follows Reinier, the son of a former victim from Hitlers concentration camps. We see a person deeply touched en affected by what happened to his father. Not because of compassion, but by trauma. Reiniers father survived the war, but was forever destroyed by the horrors suffered and witnessed in Hitlers death-camps. What strikes me most in this documentary is how one man's trauma, becomes the emotional scar of the entire family. The horrors suffered and witnessed by one man; became the horrors of his wife and children. This story, however sad and moving, is a must-see for all those opposed to war. But those who see war as a reasonable solution to their problems, should see it as well. Plato said it many years ago: Only the death have seen the end of war.

Man on the Moon (1999)

Just great

[10/10 · 27 December 2005]

Jim Carrey delivers on of the greatest acting achievements of the nineties in this stunning biopic about the legendary comedian Andy Kaufman (the man on the moon, according to REM). For me as a European citizen, Andy Kaufman is a complete mystery. I've never seen any of his performances in Saturday Night Live nor have I ever seen any of his live shows. After seeing the movie five times, I as a Dutch not-knowing citizen who had never heard of Kaufman before, can make an image of the man and his brilliance. This is all thanks to Milos Forman and a stunning Jim Carrey, who really becomes Andy Kaufman. According to me, this movie is where Jim Carrey proves that he is just more than a funny guy, and after seeing him in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Carrey has really proved that he is in fact a character actor.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

It's not Jar Jar!

[7/10 · 16 September 2005]

It has been six years since everybody was anxious to see the very first Star Wars movie in sixteen years. When it was finally there, there was a very mixed feeling among the die - hard fans. Some fans found the movie quite annoying, and didn't even considered it as a Fake - Star Wars movie. There was a lot of criticism about the character called Jar Jar Binks. Jar Jar was a Gungan, saved by Jedi Master Qui - Gon Jinn. I've seen the movie so many times since 1999, and I can finally conclude that it is true that Jar Jar is irritating in a way. But according to me he isn't the most irritating character in the movie. Take a look at the little Jake Lloyd. Real Star Wars fans should be ashamed of this little boy, who just can't act, and is portraying one of the most disturbing characters in the entire saga: the (fallen) Jedi Anakin Skywalker, who turns into the dark lord of the sith Darth Vader. I just can't understand why Lucas cast Lloyd and not a true child star like Harvey Joel Osmont. The second most irritating character is the utterly useless Gungan-boss called Boss Nass. He is just so annoying, and poorly animated. So if you did not watch this movie yet, you must be living on mars, keep your eyes shut when Lloyd and Boss Noss make the appearance.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The Force is strong with this one..

[10/10 · 3 September 2005]

A few weeks ago I was very pleased to see that George Lucas his astonishing ending of the greatest film saga in the history of cinema made it to the so well known TOP 250. Like many people I'm a great fan of the original saga, with super heroes like Luke and Han, and a very evil bad - guy called Darth Vader. As a little boy, there was no greater joy than watching the original films with my friends and peers. Years passed since Darth Vader died in The Return of the Jedi, and it was back in 1999 when we Star Wars fans were introduced with a totally new empire of friends and foes like Jar Jar and the terrible Gungan-king called Boss Nass and we met strange new planets like Naboo and Coruscant. But the most terrible thing about the Phantom Menace was a little boy called Jake Lloyd, who in a way spoiled the entire movie. The prequel, Attack of the Clones was a hell of a lot better with living legend Christopher Lee, but it was still nothing compared to the old saga. Until 2005 when the Force was finally brought in balance with this superb film. The film really sums it all up, like most people say, and the scene of the real birth of Sith - Lord Darth Vader should be considered as one of the greatest moments in motion picture history... The whole scene is just so completely tragic, but also so very beautiful: When the mask comes down, and the heavy breathing starts for the very first time, it really sends so much shivers down my spine. Shivers I also felt watching heroic battles in A New Hope or in The Empire Strikes Back: The saga is now finally complete.

Falling Down (1993)

A victim of the modern age trying to get home

[10/10 · 31 August 2005]

Is it just me or is this truly one of the best pictures from the last decade? Michael Douglas delivers an astonishing performance as D-Fens (William Foster) an ordinary guy, who has an obviously perfect job at the department of Defense, until he gets fired and his wife breaks up with him. The following opening credits are, according to my view, some of the best in motion picture history : the whole scene is just so extremely claustrophobic. D - Fens is just ''a victim of the modern age'' just like the writer's wife in A Clockwork Orange (another classic) who cannot stand the normal routine of living anymore, and begins a trial of violence in the asphalt Jungle called Los Angeles.