Category: comedy

Copernicus was a woman. “Sexmission” (“Seksmisja”, 1984)

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directed by Juliusz Machulski
© 1984 Film Polski. All Rights Reserved.


Writing this post is not easy for me. The film I’m recommending you is a classic sci-fi/comedy, perfect for a relaxing evening. However, the reason why I decided to write about it today is because we’ve just lost one of its actors – Jerzy Stuhr. He was a marvellous artist, there was no role he couldn’t handle with pride. Jerzy was truly meant to be an actor. An Actor! He’s given us so many wonderful moments to remember and I’ll definitely have a big rewatching of his productions. What’s more, he made my childhood a bit brighter because he was the one who dubbed Donkey in “Shrek”. You don’t know this about me, but when the first part of “Shrek” was out, I went to the cinema 5 times to see it. Even now, I can recite most lines – that’s how much I loved the film. And obviously, Donkey was my favourite character. Later, I discovered the films in which Jerzy played not only with his voice, and I admired his talent. He was incredibly authentic in his acting, no matter whom he played. In order to remember him and also introduce him to those of you who haven’t seen his roles, I’d like to recommend you “Sexmission”. We move back to 1991 where two brave men, Maks and Albert (Jerzy Stuhr & Olgierd Łukaszewicz), agree to be hibernated for three years in order to support one professor in his experiment. Unfortunately, they are woken up in 2044, so over 50 years later. Turns out, the world looks totally differently from what they remembered. In 2044, there are no men due to a bomb explosion that destroyed male genes. All people left are women who reproduce with the use of parthenogenesis, bringing up only girls, obviously. They don’t know who men are and what they are for, so Maks and Albert have to do everything to teach them about themselves and gain the women’s trust. Otherwise, the last men of this planet might be feminised, if you know what I mean. Before you even think about it, yes, this film is rather controversial in our times. Perhaps some extreme feminists would even say it’s disgusting, because it kind of shows that women wouldn’t be complete without men in such reality. But if you take it as a comedy, I bet you’ll have a lot of fun. After all, it’s a sci-fi production from the 80s – it’s awkward and ridiculous, and that’s how it should be seen. Besides, I actually notice a great message coming out of this film. Women are absolutely capable of doing everything – they can be leaders, mechanics, scientists – 100%. However, life seems more colourful when both men and women coexist, even as friends. At the same time, all the ladies in the story are incredibly independent and proud, which was a rather surprising concept back then in the 80s. This film isn’t about favouring either of the sexes – it’s about totalitarianism and how harmful it may be. If any group is discriminated and limited, there won’t be peace, balance or natural order. But this is more of a deep analysis so, in my opinion, if you don’t take the story seriously, you’ll have a lot of fun and a great time. Jerzy played here an iconic role and his lines are quoted up to this day. He’s made millions of people laugh, which is of the biggest value, and I believe that’s what he’d like to be remembered for. Dziękujemy za wszystko, Mistrzu!

My rating: 8/10
S.

I’ll date his brains out. “No Hard Feelings” (2023)

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directed by Gene Stupnitsky
© 2023 Sony Pictures Releasing. All Rights Reserved.

I needed to see some silly comedy to relax my brain, but I ended up with a story that covers quite important social topics. Why does it always happen to me? Oh well… at least I have something new to recommend you, so a win is a win. In this film, we get to know Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence), who’s an Uber driver and bartender. Not the easiest or best-paid jobs, but she’s managing somehow… until the day when her car is taken away due to unpaid taxes. It’s quite hard to be a car driver without a car, right? So not only she cannot commune, but she also loses one of her incomes. The situation is really bad because Maddie may lose her house. Then, she finds an unusual offer from a very wealthy couple – they’re looking for a girlfriend for their son, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman). The boy is 19 and he’s incredibly shy, so flirting and dating are something he struggles with. Soon, he’s leaving for Princeton, so his parents wish to boost his ego and “make him a real man” before he becomes a university student. In exchange for dating Percy, the couple offer a Buick Regal, an expensive car (I’m terrible with cars so please don’t ask more questions, it’s just a fancy car and worth all kinds of sacrifices, apparently). Maddie is desperate, so she agrees to seduce Percy and become his girlfriend, despite the age gap between them. You see, Percy is only 19 and Maddie is already 32, but the boy’s parents see some benefits coming from such deal. After all, Maddie is more experienced and she won’t fall in love with the boy – she will just… you know… “make him a man”. But no matter how attractive and sexual Maddie tries to be, Percy is, as we may say, undatable (or another word but I don’t want to be obscene). Will she manage to open-up young Percy before his university life? You have to see yourselves. Obviously, it’s a comedy, resembling those silly comedies from the 90s/00s, which is a plus because we need such productions as well. However, I’m glad it was made because of two more reasons. Number one – we may see a relation between an older woman and a younger man. Times change and we may know more of such couples nowadays, but let’s face it, such combination is still not as popular as when the man is the older one. And if you ask me, I believe young men would benefit so much from a relation with a more experienced woman, especially if it’s their first relationship. Not talking only about sex, but they could learn certain behaviours that mature women appreciate. Plus, for some women it’s a great feeling when they can lead such young man into adulthood, so let’s stop treating it as a taboo topic, because it’s beneficial for both sides. And the reason number two (*SPOILER COMING*) – I like how this film reminds us that we shouldn’t just go with the flow and change ourselves because others are different. Percy is an intelligent introvert, full of emotions which he expresses in his own way. Perhaps his peers are currently dating 3 women at a time and party all night long, but he wants to focus on himself, on volunteering in the shelter, on education, and when the right time comes, he’ll open up for someone. But the time has to be right for him, not anyone else, so feel free to change when you’re ready. Or don’t change at all. As long as you listen to yourself, it’s fine. So, here’s a very sexual comedy with some taboo topics to reflect on – what a great option for a Sunday watch, huh?

My rating: 6/10
S.

Why don’t you know it off with them negative waves? “Kelly’s Heroes” (1970)

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directed by Brian G. Hutton
© 1970 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. All Rights Reserved.

Losing actors and actresses is always very shocking to me. Perhaps it’s because in the films I watch those people never age. They are always young (or young-ish), fine and healthy. And then, one day we get horrible news and this cinema magic is slightly lost. Donald Sutherland has recently passed away at the age of 88. The actor was struggling with a long illness, which I had no idea about, so this loss moved me a lot. How come such a brilliant actor with an incredibly characteristic voice and great charisma has suddenly left us? I guess cinema is the only acceptable treatment right now, because thankfully, we may get back to Donald’s films and make him stay alive at least on our screens. Today, I’d like you to get back to 1970 and remind yourselves (or learn) about the character of Oddball in “Kelly’s Heroes”. Personally, I’m not a big fan of war films, but there are those few gems that I appreciate of this genre. In this one, we follow a group of American soldiers who learn about a bank full of gold bars and decide to rob it. Because why not? I mean, at first there’s only one soldier, Kelly (Clint Eastwood), but he cannot work alone so step by step he recruits the whole little crew. After all, the bank is storing about 14 thousand bars of gold, so even if they share the treasure, it’s still a lot per person. However, robbing the bank might not be the biggest issue here considering the fact that it’s situated behind German lines. So in order to even reach the storage, the soldiers have to be smart, sneaky and pretty crazy, let’s face it. Luckily, they have Oddball (Donald Sutherland) who’s the crew’s madman, often full of ridiculous ideas, but surely not lacking positivity. If you’re not into war films like me, I suggest you watching this one, especially now, after losing one of its actors. Except the fact that Donald played a memorable role there, it is a pretty entertaining production. I’d say it’s more of a comedy than an actual war drama, so many different cinephiles may actually like it. Fun fact, it’s kind of inspired by a true event. The screenplay was written basing on one story in Guinness World Records and the further investigation confirmed that such robbery had happened, even some stolen gold bars have been found. To make the background of the film even funnier – let me remind you that the story takes place during the WWII, Americans fighting against Germans in France, but the comedy was mainly filmed in… Yugoslavia (currently Croatia). Because why not? So if you’re looking for some good production to watch in tribute to Donald Sutherland, there’s no better option. His role of Oddball really shows what a wonderful actor he was. May he rest in peace, with no negative waves.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I choose to be joyful! “Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó” (2023)

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directed by Sean Wang
© 2023 Even Odd. All Rights Reserved.

Ladies! Today is your day and you deserve all the best that’s on this planet (and beyond). So in order to sweeten your holiday, I’d like to recommend you a short documentary that’s nominated to Oscars, which, in my humble opinion, is a beautiful 22-minute-long wish to you all. It’s a story about two lovely elderly women, who share their everyday life with us. They live together as best friends and their house couldn’t be happier. Despite their age, they know how to have fun and they don’t slow down, oh no. They play, they dance, they fart loud and nobody is allowed to change that. They are a human form of “you only live once” and to me, this short documentary is filled with inspiration, love and warmth. Since the film isn’t long, I won’t keep this post long either. I believe this nominee is a winner (at least my personal), because it’s unique, funny and tells an incredible story, which seems so common, yet eye-opening. I wish you all such friendship and so much joy in life. You already have this joy – all you need is to spot it. Sometimes it’s hidden in your morning coffee or favourite armchair you like to sit in. So it’s time to notice such joy and your life will be sweeter. Stay lovely, stay strong and watch wonderful films!

My rating: 8/10
S.

People want to feel absolved. “American Fiction” (2023)

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directed by Cord Jefferson
© 2023 Orion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Boy we needed such film so badly! If you’ve seen this title among the nominees and thought “mhm whatever, something else will win”, you’re probably right, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see this one. Since I try to see as many nominated productions as possible before the big night, I obviously watched “American Fiction”. Simply because it was on the list. And you can’t even imagine how glad I am it’s there, now. We get to meet Monk (Jeffrey Wright), a writer and professor. He’s incredibly intelligent and whatever he writes is appreciated by the academic society, but the man has bigger ambitions as wishes to be seen as a great novelist all over the country, or even the world. A lot happens in his personal life, but you’re not here to read about that, you will see everything in the film, so I’ll get to the most important part – Monk decides to write a satirical novel. Why? Because he’s Black. I know, you’re probably wondering what’s going on here, but it’s true. He’s Black and whatever he does, all those common stereotypes are following him everywhere, so he decides to write the most Black-ish novel by a “very Black author”. Since this stereotypical narration about the Black is so popular, why not mocking it and earning some extra money, right? And how surprised he is when the book turns out to have a huge potential for a bestseller… And now, what is this film about? I feel like each person that has seen it and talked to me about it has a totally different opinion. But since it’s my blog, I’ll gladly share my own: to me, this film is about the ridiculous social situation we’re living in. Monk is a guy, who could embarrass you with his knowledge, yet he cannot get rid of the label purely based on his skin colour. Even though times have changed, certain behaviours haven’t. I believe this story shows something that has been bothering me (and hopefully not only me) for a long time – stigmatisation of people. Here, we’re focusing on a Black character, but we could really make a similar film about millions of other people. Why can’t we just appreciate someone for what they do and who they are? But not “who they are” meaning where they’re from, what colour their skin is or who they like dating in their free time. Who they are as a person. And I have a small task for you – mention one book or film which tells a truly positive story of a Black person. Not a success story where the main character has to go through hell in order to reach their goal. I’m talking about an honestly positive or at least neutral story where the main Black character isn’t presented as miserable and unprivileged. None? Well, no surprise. This film points that out, in my opinion. That’s exactly what Monk is mocking in his book and what he’s tired of. And you know what? That’s exactly what’s happening with Oscars. We force ourselves to diversify the nominees just for the sake of diversity. Are those people good artists? Of course, no doubt. But are they all that great and there aren’t better ones who got disqualified simply because they are too “ordinary”? Answer yourselves. And the fact that this film is nominated as the Best Picture is such a beautiful roast The Academy has done to themselves. Congrats. I’m glad, because it’s authentic and of good quality, so no matter what pushed them to nominating this production, in the end, it was a surprisingly marvellous decision. Applause!

My rating: 8/10
S.

World is decay. Life is perception. “The Holdovers” (2023)

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directed by Alexander Payne
© 2023 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

Do you recall those family lunches during which there’s a comedy/drama from the 70s playing in the background? So imagine going to the cinema, sitting in a dark room with a huge screen and feeling exactly the same as during those lunches. At least that’s how I’d desribe my experience. Everyone was telling me what an adorable film that is before I decided to see it myself, and I’m here to share a different opinion: it’s dark humour, cynicism, depression and trauma covered in snow and glitter. Excited to read more? I hope so. The main character of today’s film is Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a grumpy and extremely demanding professor at a boarding school. You know such kind of teacher for sure – the one that is hated by everyone yet there’s no chance for getting rid of them, so they basically enjoy torturing their colleagues and students without a pinch of hesitation. That’s Paul. Anyway, the Christmas break is coming and not all teenagers are getting back home, so there has to be a professor to stay with them during this time. That’s also Paul. As you can imagine, the students aren’t thrilled to know who their guardian will be, but it is what it is. At this point we also get to know Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), a boy who was supposed to spend the break with his mother, but the woman has changed her plans and told Angus to stay in the school. As you can guess, Paul and Angus dislike each other, but they will have a wonderful opportunity to either change their minds or one of them won’t survive till January. Anyway, if you’re wondering whether this film is worth seeing in the cinema – my answer is “YES!”. Why? Since the story is set in the 70s, the crew has stylised the film so it actually looks like one from the 70s. They even made an old-looking title card with logos of Focus Features and Miramax, so from the very beginning you feel as if you moved back in time. It was a really cool experience in the cinema, which allowed me to completely forget about the reality for those around 2 hours. Besides, the story sounds like a silly comedy about a conflict between a teacher and a student, but it’s just the first half of the film. The longer you’re watching, the darker it turns, because you get to know the characters from this less shallow point of view. You’ll understand why Paul is so stubborn and cynical, and why Angus is so angry and rebellious, because their characters are the consequences of certain events. There’s also a lovely lady named Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who’s a cafeteria manager and takes care of their tummies during the holiday break. I’m a huge fan of her facial expressions, which are hilarious at some points, but in fact, she’s a tragic character just like Paul and Angus, but that’s for you to discover. Generally, I see this film as a story about the power of superficiality. At first you may see Paul as an annoying teacher, Angus as a spoilt kiddo and Mary as a standoffish cook, but then you realise that there’s a reason why they are seen this way. Sometimes it’s worth giving the other person a chance to open up and reveal what’s hidden deep inside. And perhaps you can support each other, even though both sides might be in need of help themselves. I know this sounds like a story you’ve heard many times, but there’s something extraordinary about this film and I really fell for it. When it comes to acting – chapeau bas. In my personal opinion, all three actors should be awarded, because they presented a fresh versions of well-known kinds of characters. Unfortunately, unlike Paul and Da’Vine, Dominic Sessa hasn’t received a nomination for an Oscar, but I’m giving him all my personal awards. In fact, I’ve seen something even more interesting in Angus, which is perhaps my interpretation, but I believe that Angus is neurodivergent. As a representative of the group, I loved those little moments where we could see Angus’ perspective (for example the scene when he spaced out during the party when he spotted a snow globe). Maybe it’s just my overthinking (which is also common for neurodivergent people btw, so now you know where all my interpretation theories come from), but I believe Angus was an example of such kiddo, whose life was even more miserable back then. In the 70s, neurodivergent children would be called “naughty” and they’d have to be living with such label. Now, we give them a chance to understand why they see the world a bit differently than their peers, which can really change their lives. And I believe that Dominic did a magnificent job in this case. So, to sum up, three amazing actors, a time machine to the 70s and lots of sarcastic lines that will make you laugh for sure. One of the best productions of 2023 – consider it a must-see.

My rating: 8/10
S.

You have the right to be happy. “Someone, Somewhere” (“Deux moi”, 2019)

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directed by Cédric Klapisch
© 2019 StudioCanal. All Rights Reserved.

If you’re single, I’ve got something for you. Today is the day of people in love, people in couples, people in other romantic combinations. And today is also the day when singles may feel even more single, so I’d like to recommend a film to all the individuals who have nobody to give an overpriced box of chocolate to. Even though it’s also labeled as a romance, it’s not what you might be expecting. Indeed, we have two main characters, yet they are not a couple and they don’t even know each other. Rémy (François Civil) is a rather shy and introvert man doing a simple job, which he loses due to the modernisation of the working process in the company. When that happens and his routine is ruined, he starts realising how lonely he is. In the meantime, we get to know Mélanie (Ana Girardot), who’s a scientific researcher and very passionate about what she does. So much she’s kind of forgot to take care of her love life. Therefore, she starts using a dating app, but each date is an even deeper level of hell. If you’ve ever used a dating app, you know what I’m talking about. If you’re too picky, you don’t match with anyone, but then if you lower your standards, you waste your time with people asking you about your favourite colour for several hours. Or you just hook up with a person whose name you don’t even know and then never see them again. I’m not religious, but I do believe in hell because using dating apps is exactly that. Anyway, those two characters don’t know each other and we’re just following two separate stories, which have three things in common – the guys are both in their 30s, both single and both depressed in their own way. If you think it’s one of those film where such characters ACCIDENTALLY bump into each other and fall in love at that very moment, then no worries, not happening here. As I said, this is not really a romance, unless you count those awkward dates Mélanie goes to, then call it whatever you want. But generally, it’s a very peaceful comedy about being single. Personally, I had a pleasant evening watching this film and I feel that if you’re single, you’ll appreciate it. Especially today, when everything is focused on happy couples. And here’s a story of two depressed singles that reminds us they also have the right to be happy. So does you. Now go get yourself a box of those overpriced chocolates and enjoy. At least you don’t have to share them with anyone, more for you.

My rating: 6/10
S.

If the world treats you like a criminal, you become one. “Flamin’ Hot” (2023)

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directed by Eva Longoria
© 2023 Disney+. All Rights Reserved.

One day you’re a drama queen of Wisteria Lane, another day you’re directing your debut about a man who went from “zero to hero” thanks to Cheetos. Welcome to the world of cinema, take a seat and enjoy. Today’s recommendation is based on a true story of Richard Montañez (played by Jesse Garcia). He grew up in southern California, yet he’s of Mexican origins, so from the very beginning he felt somehow excluded from society. I bet you know what kind of exclusion we’re talking about here. Since he wasn’t taken as seriously as white citizens, he decided to stay in a gang and do all those illegal stuff that let him survive. However, when he gets married and has children, life becomes more complicated for a criminal, so Richard finds a simple job at Frito-Lay factory. He’s not paid well, but it’s a chance for him to change his reality. Still, from the very beginning, he cannot understand why employees are so divided into specific groups, based on their status. Curious about all the machines in the factory, Richard starts talking to an engineer maintenance leader (Dennis Haysbert), who finds Richard quite clever and is willing to help him learn. In the meantime, Richard is slowly working on an idea that may revolutionise the world of crisps and also let him become something more than just a criminal or a janitor. As I said at the beginning, it’s a success story about a man who managed to significantly change his life despite difficult beginnings. And if you don’t know Richard’s story, you will see what he finally achieved. I didn’t have high expectations and I rather thought it’d be just a silly comedy, but in fact, Eva managed to do something extraordinary with this film. I mean, it’s still simple and funny, but not ridiculous and it doesn’t give you parody vibes at all. In fact, the comedic atmosphere made me sympathise with Richard even more. He was a good guy who wanted to do great things, but due to his origins, he was constantly considered a loser, a criminal, a guy who’s not allowed to dream big. And that’s all a huge bullsh… This film is a real empowerment story reminding us that no matter who you are, you can work hard and reach your goals. Don’t listen to others who label you without hesitation. Let them create those labels while you’re climbing to the top of that mountain, honey. I had a lot of fun and I feel inspired, so no reason to dislike this film. Congratulations to Eva and the crew, it’s a good production right there.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I am finding being alive fascinating. “Poor Things” (2023)

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directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
© 2023 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Another production by Yorgos Lanthimos and I’m still not sure what to think about this director. On the one hand, he’s very original, controversial, not caring about taboo topics, so I enjoy how unexpected his films are. I never know whether I’d cry, laugh, worry or vomit. Never know. On the other hand, he likes to prolong the duration of certain scenes that even if I liked them at the beginning, next several minutes are boring me. Besides, his films are his. I believe that he doesn’t make films for people, he makes them for himself. And just by the way shares them with us, the audience, to perhaps join his extraordinary world. To me, that’s a huge plus, but I don’t always want to accept the invitation. Still, I believe that “Poor Things” is his best production so far, so if you didn’t like the previous, perhaps you’d like to try this one out. Yorgos is taking us to Victorian London, where we meet Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), a surgeon with a complex life story and quite original ideas. He asks one of his students, Max (Ramy Youssef), to assist him during his home experiment. When the young man arrives, he finds out that the said experiment is a young woman, Bella (Emma Stone). She’s acting unusually and is considered retarded, which seems fascinating to Godwin, because he can observe her reactions and very slow development. He asks Max to constantly follow Bella and take notes about her, especially when the surgeon is busy. As the woman is progressing, at some point she wishes to leave the house and explore. But Godwin is a bit worried because, in the end, Bella is an experiment and she’s not accustomed to society. I tried my best not to spoil too much writing this fragment, so I still hope you’ll get surprised when you see the film. Especially about how Bella was “made” (don’t watch trailers, let it be a surprise, trust me). As I said earlier, this film is definitely my favourite by Yorgos, but I cannot explain you why. Perhaps it’s because of the idea, which is ridiculous and disgusting, but at the same time fresh and unusual. Personally, I’m tired of copy-paste productions, so I definitely appreciate such creativity. Besides, Emma Stone is marvellous as Bella. Generally, she’s a great actress, but in this film she had a very difficult job and she needed to present various faces and skills of hers, which I watched absolutely amazed. She’s so raw and authentic in this fantasy world that I’m not surprised she’s appreciated for the role. Then, there’s the message coming out of the film and I believe that’s a mystery for viewers to solve. Yorgos likes to play with surrealism, so we cannot take everything we see in the film just as it is. To me, this is a story about female oppression and how they’ve developed in society to be seen as equal or sometimes even more competent than men. Bella is surrounded by very different men and at first, she considers them as mentors who surely want all the best for her. At some point, she realises, that she can make much better choices on her own. I recommend you to observe and analyse Bella’s relations with each man and each woman in this story. That may give you an interesting perspective. Perhaps you’ll find it mind-blowing, but I’ve read somewhere that this is a perfect film to present what it is to be an autistic woman. I cannot really confirm whether it’s true or not, we would need to ask such woman, but there’s a lot of points that support this theory. Bella sees and experiences the world differently, which is nothing wrong, but still it’s unusual to most people. I am very happy Yorgos made this film and I hope that he’ll keep on progressing as a director as well. Perhaps one day I’ll be more sure about my opinion on his filmmaking style. But for now, I’m very much positive.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Who’s bad? Sin-bad! “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” (2003)

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directed by Tim Johnson & Patrick Gilmore
© 2003 DreamWorks Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Surprisingly, I’m starting this post telling you about another film: I’ve just seen “Nimona”, one of the animations nominated to Oscars this year. I’d love to write about it, but unfortunately I’m incredibly disappointed. The screenplay is messy, the introduction is unclear and way too short, the animation style is not my cup of tea, and I felt like the message they were trying to share within is actually too hidden in this fantasy world, which looks like a combination of several stories. So it’s a “no” from me. But, while I was watching, I couldn’t stop thinking about the two characters – there are two knights competing with each other. And I had this feeling as if I’d seen them somewhere else. At some point, a lightbulb over my head shone and I realised that the knights might be a cheap copy of Sinbad and Proteus, who are the characters of the film I’ve decided to recommend you today. If 2023 doesn’t give us quality animations, let’s get 20 years back, shall we? Sinbad is a pirate who does rather pirate kind of things – travelling and robbing, simple as that. His life seems peaceful, if being a thief can be considered peaceful, until he decides to steal the Book of Peace. It’s a magical book that protects the world, so if he manages to rob it, the authorities will pay all money possible to get it back. So, the plan is to grab the book, exchange it for lots of gold and spend the rest of the life in Fiji. Unfortunately, things get complicated. The pirate meets Eris, the Goddess of Discord, who offers to pay him even more than any human for the Book of Peace. Sinbad obviously agrees, but when he attempts to steal it, he changes his mind seeing his old friend Proteus, whose life would change drastically if that book went missing. So when the pirate gives up, Eris impersonates him and steals the book herself, but in the body of Sinbad, so now everyone blames him. When Sinbad is sentenced to death, Proteus tells him to find the book and if the pirate fails, Proteus volunteers to be killed for him. Will Sinbad ignore the fact that his childhood friend might die? Or perhaps he will save him? That’s for you to see. Watching those two knights from “Nimona” I just saw Sinbad and Proteus. In fact, they even looked the same… Call me a grumpy old cinephile, but I appreciate the old animation much more. It used to be one of my beloved films, because it’s adventurous, funny, exciting, surprising and moving, so while watching, you’re riding an impressive rollercoaster of emotions. Besides, Proteus’ fiancée Marina joins Sinbad’s crew and we get one of the coolest female characters. She’s such a badass, I swear! Not only she’s stubborn and brave, but also horribly smart and mentally strong. All characters in this film are well-written, but Marina is that cherry on top. When I was a child, the animation was just fun, but as an adult, I see much more in the story. To me, this film is not only about true friendship, but also about staying yourself. You may be a fair person no matter if you’re a prince or a pirate (although that may seem strange to read), so don’t let others tell you how to live – experience, learn, discover and then you’ll know. Could there be a better message to share with children? And that’s the kind of animations I miss the most. Feel free to see it, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it very much.

My rating: 8/10
S.