Category: fantasy

Some things were not meant to be found. “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life” (2003)

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directed by Jan de Bont
© 2003 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

How could I leave you without the sequel? Get ready for another adventure with Lara! This time she’s taking us to Greece. During another mission, Lara loses a secret orb from the temple built by Alexander the Great as two criminals steal it from her. The woman, however, manages to escape with a mysterious medallion. Soon she finds out about Pandora’s box, which is said to be hiding some deadly plague. In order to find it, she would need that exact orb which was stolen before. Why finding it? Well, for sure because if she doesn’t, someone else will and perhaps they will decide to use this legendary box for their own purposes. I think I like this part a little bit less than the first one, but the sequel’s ending is marvellous. I remember when I watched it for the first time and I was left with my mouth wide open. And this is the part where Lara has a companion helping her getting the orb and that’s Terry played by Gerard Butler. Gerard Butler and Angelina Jolie in one film. I mean, is it my birthday? I adore them both, so it’s hard to dislike a production with them. But honestly speaking, I think Lara Croft films are actually very decent action productions. I’ve seen the reboot from 2018 with Alicia Vikander as Lara, and as much as I think Alicia is a wonderful actress, she totally didn’t feel Lara. So I’m sorry, but you won’t find my recommendation to watch the reboot, but do it if you want. I’m team Angelina and that won’t change I’m afraid.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I woke up this morning and I just hated everything. “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” (2001)

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directed by Simon West
© 2001 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Say what you want, but I loved Lara Croft. And no, I’m not one of those people who are amazed only by Angelina Jolie’s beauty. I think that Lara was spectacular for me because she was a female protagonist who intimidated all the men around her, yet deep inside she was a lady with a very sensitive heart. And I absolutely loved it about her character. But if you’ve never seen the adventures of Lara Croft, let me invite you to her world. Lara is… hard to say who she is. She’s a fighter, an adventurer, an archeologist, an explorer and a very talented woman. She’s living with a technical assistant Bryce (Noah Taylor) and butler Hilary (Chris Barrie). Her father was lost during one of his missions and Lara decided to continue his work. One day, the woman finds a mysterious clock. Seems like this clock is actually a very important element that may lead her to finding the Triangle of Light, which according to legends allows to control time. Unfortunately, Lara is not the only person who knows about this clock so she has to keep it safe and act fast in order to find the Triangle first. I’ve seen this film several times and I’m never bored. What I find the most enjoyable is the ending. I think that it’s a nice cherry on top and after the whole film I feel satisfied. And in fact, I love Angelina in this role. There were many actresses hoping to get the role of Lara, but despite lots of criticism about choosing Angelina, Simon West, the director, said: “Lara sleeps with knives and doesn’t take shit from anybody. That’s Angelina down to a tee.” Amen to that!

My rating: 7/10
S.

We kill witches! What do you do? “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” (2013)

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directed by Tommy Wirkola
© 2013 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

To save the honour of remakes, let me present you a quite decent one, which was also based on the Brothers Grimm’s tale. Unlike the horror I wrote you about yesterday, this one, in my opinion, was actually a good idea and personally I enjoyed watching it. In this version, Hansel and Gretel (Jeremy Renner & Gemma Arterton) are adults and we find out what happened to the siblings after the events in the forest. They are currently witch hunters as they are somehow immune to all their spells. Now, that’s an idea, right? Of course, an idea is not enough, but luckily they managed to produce a pleasant thriller out of it. First, it’s fun and entertaining. Second, the actors playing main roles are chosen on point, but I might be subjective as I’m a fan of Gemma Arterton – I think we should see her on the screen more often. Third, everything looks well-prepared and the story gives you chills. It’s more of an action film than a horror, but you may have to cover your eyes from time to time, especially if you’re sensitive. Maybe it’s not my beloved remake ever, yet I liked it and I think it’s necessary to share it with you as an example. This film was made in 2013, so 7 years before the yesterday’s horror. As you can see, technical development means very little in cinema. We have to remember that cinema is primarily a decent idea and preparation. No technology can beat creativity.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Your sentence: death. “To Your Last Death” (2019)

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directed by Jason Axinn
© 2019 Coverage, Ink Films. All Rights Reserved.

I found this film by accident and I think it deserves to be recommended, because it’s something unusual. Today I’ve got an animated horror for you. I know how it sounds, but personally, I was intrigued. So we’re following Miriam (Dani Lennon), whose father wants her and her siblings to play a dangerous game. Miriam is the only one who survives it and she’s given an opportunity to get back in time and go through the whole night again. This time, she wants to do everything to save her siblings. And I’ve just realised that yesterday I recommended you a sci-fi film about Tom Cruise stuck in a time loop. I swear, it’s an absolute accident. But to be honest, I don’t think that the screenplay is the most important part. I was actually surprised by the animation and how much I enjoyed it. It looks like a comic, so if you’re a fan of those, I’m guessing this horror is something for you. I don’t read comics, but I do appreciate interesting animations, so I support such experiments. The ending of this horror is quite unclear and I’m curious how you’ll understand it. I believe each person can see something different, which is a big plus in my eyes. And that’s a film I’m leaving you with at the end of the week.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Today, tomorrow, it’s all the same. “Palm Springs” (2020)

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directed by Max Barbakow
© 2020 Hulu. All Rights Reserved.

What can I say? “Palm Springs” gets very good ratings, it was nominated to Golden Globes, people are amazed by it… and here I am not getting that at all. When I read about this film, it seemed like a remake of “Groundhog Day” (1993), yet I was sure they must have come up with something extra since it’s so popular. And now, after watching it, I wish I could see “Groundhog Day” again and just forget about this remake. I mean, it’s not officially a remake of that film, but I refer to it as one since the idea for the story is basically the same. We end up at a wedding where we follow two guests, Sarah (Cristin Milioti) and Nyles (Andy Samberg). Those two get stuck in a time loop and experience the wedding day over and over. Unlike in “Groundhog Day”, they are both repeating the day, so they feel less lonely and can count on each other. And because of the fact that they are the only ones in the loop, there’s some romance happening between them. And I know a lot of people say it’s just a silly relaxing comedy to watch some evening, but you know what? I didn’t feel relaxed at all. I honestly love comedies and I believe that cinema exists to entertain us, but “Palm Springs” was too much for me. The idea is simple, but the screenplay looks as if three different screenplays were just mixed into one. I’m sorry to say that but this film seemed shoddy to me. The only person I enjoyed watching was J.K. Simmons and the rest was a painful cringe. Obviously, it’s not the actors’ fault – they just got such roles. Still, I felt tired after the first 30 minutes and the fact that I finished watching it can be considered as my personal success. But remember what I said – a lot of people actually appreciate this comedy, so you know my opinion, yet make sure to create yours. In the meantimes, I’ll watch the classic “Groundhog Day”.

My rating: 3/10
S.

Physical appearance is nothing. “Skins” (“Pieles”, 2017)

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directed by Eduardo Casanova
© 2017 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Before I get to the plot, I need to tell you a bit about myself. I’m this kind of person who cannot appreciate the film only for its form. Yes, it’s an important part of my final rating, yet the most significant for me is the story. And when I played “Skins”, I thought that it’s another visually controversial or weird production with not much sense, unless you’re the filmmaker who knows what he or she had in mind. How wrong I was… This film has sucked me into its world in the first few minutes. I mean it. It was strange and I didn’t really know what to expect (I hadn’t seen any trailers) but I also couldn’t look away. And it’s incredibly difficult for me to tell you what it’s about, to be honest. We get to meet several people, most of whom have some kind of visible deformation or/and are insecure about their own body. And all of them are searching for acceptance, sometimes affection or even love. You may think that certain deformations in this film are ridiculous (for example one woman has an anus instead of her mouth), but what’s very interesting is the fact that people with those rather fictional deformations are presented together with people who have rather “usual” ones. What I mean by “usual” deformations? For example damaged skin after a fire or dwarfism, to which we’ve got used to because there are many people whose bodies look like that. And it’s not all. There’s also one character who doesn’t accept his legs because he believes he’s a mermaid and there should be a tail instead. Or there’s a woman who’s simply heavily obese. So each person presented in the film is a totally different story, yet they have something in common – they are not “normal”, as if most people should call them. The filmmakers made a production that deals with our perception of “normality” and tries to show how we destroy each other by following some absurd standards. What’s a standard, anyway? It should be a standard to accept people as they are. Period. And this film is honestly visually beautiful and still has a lot of important messages for you, so find time to see it.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Bogus means friend. “Bogus” (1996)

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directed by Norman Jewison
© 1996 Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved.

This film is one of those which remind me of Sunday lunches at my grandmother’s place. When I was little, such productions were shown on TV around 1-4 pm. So I was always sitting with my grandma, eating and watching all those family-friendly films from the 80s & 90s. Recently I was reminded about “Bogus” and how shocked I am to see its ratings. I mean, guys… Really? I know it’s cheesy, I know its quality isn’t the best, but it’s such a heart-warming story with a lot of important messages, both for children and adults. People are way too judgemental. Anyway, in case you haven’t heard of this film, I’ll be happy to say a few words. Albert (Haley Joel Osment) is a little boy being raised by his mother (Nancy Travis). They live in Las Vegas where she works as a magician’s assistant. One day, the woman dies in a car accident and Albert becomes an orphan. Even though he has a lot of his mother’s friends, the boy cannot stay with them. According to the recently deceased woman’s last will, Albert should be taken care of by her foster sister, Harriet (Whoopi Goldberg). The two women haven’t seen each other for ages, so Harriet is highly surprised about the news. At first she doesn’t even want to think about raising a child, but when she meets Albert, she starts discovering something new in herself. And why is this film titled “Bogus”? Well, on the way to his new guardian, the little boy draws himself a friend, who somehow comes into life. His name is Bogus (Gérard Depardieu) and he’s a French man in a long coat and huge nose who’s going to be Albert’s imaginary companion. I decided to watch this film after years and I’m still in love with it. All the actors did a wonderful job, the dialogues are really funny and I bet the whole family can profit from this story. So if you’re searching for something to watch with your children, I recommend you to check it out. And if you don’t have children, enjoy the nostalgia. Just be careful! If you wake up your imagination, you may end up living with a huge French guy in your house. Just saying.

My rating: 7/10
S.

You should open your eyes. “Jumbo” (2020)

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directed by Zoé Wittlock
© 2020 Rezo Films. All Rights Reserved.

Today I have a quite strange production for you and I’m aware of the fact that some of you might just turn it off after about 30 minutes. Still, I hope that what I’ll write about this film will actually encourage you to finish it. The main character is this young woman Jeanne (Noémie Merlant), who works in an amusement park. She’s rather introvert and it’s difficult for her to have any decent relations with humans. However, she’s very much connected to all the carousels that are there in the amusement park. She even spends her free time building little carousels at home. Her mother and probably everyone around wish Jeanne to find some kind of a partner for herself, but the woman is not really interested in that. She feels rather uncomfortable flirting with men. One day, they install a new carousel in the amusement park, which immediately attracts Jeanne. So much she starts having very serious feelings for the machine. And it seems like the machine feels pretty much the same way… And here my job is done, the rest is for you to see. I’m sure you’re a bit confused, I know – I was too. A woman falling in love with a carousel? Give me a break. But in fact, it’s a very good production. First, the atmosphere is magical. They kept me curious for the whole 1,5h. Second, Noémie was hypnotising in this role – bravo! And the message… well, for me it’s a film about not being able to find love in our times. People nowadays focus on very different things. Relationships aren’t anything special, not many decide to fight for them. One night stands? Yes, please. Divorce? No problem. Everything has become so meaningless in relations between humans, don’t you think? Of course I’m exaggerating right now, but this is what I got from this film. Jeanne wants to feel safe, loved and needed, and that’s what this carousel gives her. It’s very abstract, but there’s a very good point there. So I hope you’ll actually watch it till the end.

My rating: 6/10
S.

The first thing I need to work on is my imagination. “Marwencol” (2010)

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directed by Jeff Malmberg
© 2010 The Cinema Guild. All Rights Reserved.

As I promised you yesterday, today I’d like to recommend a documentary about real Mark Hogancamp. Short reminder in case you’ve had a difficult Monday – he’s the man who lost his memory after being beaten, and created a town for dolls, which resembles a Belgian town from the times of World War II. Except that, he also started collecting dolls, which somehow resemble his friends and people he knows in real. In this documentary you can hear the whole story told by Mark and people from his surrounding. They don’t focus much on the tragedy itself, but rather on what a blessing those toys were for Mark. I’m aware of the fact that some, without knowing the whole story, would say that he’s a bit crazy. An adult man playing with dolls? Quite unusual. But in fact, this is his way of exercising the brain. While playing with dolls, you have to think hard what they might be saying, what would happen next… it’s like creating a TV series screenplay in your head. Besides, he also makes all the beautiful doll buildings, which is definitely not childish. I mean, just look at them – little pieces of art. Also, since it’s something that helps Mark to exercise his brain, gives him pleasure and helps to forget about reality, where he’s a man who’s lost practically everything (including his partner, job, skills etc.), who are we to judge? And you can see pure satisfaction on his face when he talks about his collection. I was also quite moved when his friends were showing their support and even proudly saying that Mark dedicated a doll to each one of them. As if it was a very special prize for them. And I think it’s beautiful that Mark hasn’t given up and found his way to feel better. If I ever have a chance, I’d love to see his collection. Also, the documentary shows how joyful Mark is in real life, which is something I missed in the film by Zemeckis, so I guess it’s worth to see the real Marwencol’s creator.

My rating: 7/10
S.

The pain is a rocket fuel. “Welcome to Marwen” (2018)

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directed by Robert Zemeckis
© 2018 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Somehow I missed this film two years ago, which is strange because I rather like Robert Zemeckis’ films and I should have known about this production. I guess when you watch so many different genres of films, you may sometimes forget about checking up on the directors you know well. I think “Welcome to Marwen” is a little treasure, even though it was rather a failure when it comes to the box-office… But let me tell you what it’s about first. The story is actually based on a real person. Mark Hogancamp (in the film played by Steve Carell) was attacked by a group of men because of his cross-dressing (wearing some typically female clothing items). He ended up in hospital and after several days in coma he woke up with brain damage. He couldn’t remember a thing. Since he struggled to get back to his previous life, the man decided to build a Belgian town from the times of World War II. Don’t worry, not an actual town – a town for dolls. And he filled it with dolls mostly representing his friends. There was also this one doll that was supposed to be himself. You may think this is pure fiction, but in fact, it’s not. Tomorrow I’ll write you about the documentary showing real Mark’s life. However, the film made by Zemeckis is actually not that bad as you may think looking at the box-office. The dolls are animated, so you may feel like you’re inside the main character’s head – those are not toys anymore, they are his actual friends. Maybe the screenplay wasn’t the most exciting, but you should see Steve Carell in this role, because he was amazing. You may appreciate his acting even more after watching the documentary about Mark, but that’s for tomorrow. Today, let Zemeckis take you to a very disturbing doll town.

My rating: 6.5/10
S.