Category: Cinema

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The Post

Rating: 2.5

«Hit the big story hard!» Spielberg’s latest surely isn’t one of his greatest achievements but solid enough to get out of the cold weather and a surprisingly relevant experience given today’s state of the media industry and the current political climate at that.

Especially interesting to see his depiction of how news were made before distractions like computers, internet, social media (and iFrames) got so damn important and complicated.

If anything, «The Post» excels as an inspiring reminder that journalism has to be about more than clicks, user engagement and the occasional Raclette-Schieber.

(Shame though I still couldn’t find a theater playing «Three Billboards…». The Oscars are getting awfully close now and I still haven’t found my favourite).

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The Shape of Boring

Rating: 1.5

I can’t even… What the fuck…? and why did they…? how did this even…? And what was the fu**ing point?

Just leave me the fu!* alone. FU*K! I could have spent the last two hours so much better,… like going to the dentist,… and let him (or her, no bias there) piss in my mouth.

No – I did not enjoy «The Shape of Water».

Yes – After seeing this pretentious piece of garbage, today the world has lost the last straight man to have ever seen the appeal in musical numbers, even defended it.

No more.

N-o m-o-r-e.

 

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Black Panther

Rating: 3

I agree that the success of «Black Panther» (and «Get out», for that matter) is an important step in the right direction for an industry (as well as an audience) that has to redefine itself to stay relevant and acceptable today and in the years to come. Way to go!

But entertaining as it is and giving the genre a new, interesting spin once again, for a Marvel movie, the Panther seems tame, on the weaker side of things. (But I guess I’m not the main audience they where going for anyway).

Happy though that it’s my beloved Marvel Studios, now ten years in the run, that are doing the right thing (too).

This in mind, I’m looking forward to a strong female protagonist in «Captain Marvel», hoping the makers stay focused and won’t overdo it because of the ongoing #meToo discussion. (Something I won’t hold my breath for at this year’s Oscar celebrations. Given the circumstances and having seen the nominations livestream, I fear the Awards show will present itself chumming and even more unpalatable than usual).

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Thor: Ragnarok

Rating: 3.5

What a gem: «Thor: Ragnarok» turns out to be a colorful piece of unexpected light-hearted delightfulness oozing with forgettable stupidity and fun, shining in all the colors of a disco-dripping CGI-rainbow with some delicious Goldblum on top.

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Blade Runner 2049

Rating: 4.5

Not too bad, quite good actually. In no way, shape or form as iconic as the original, but one has to admire how «Blade Runner 2049» tries to recreate the character and look and feel of its predecessor and how it does a helluva job in doing so (the cinematography and production design are just wonderful).

The pacing gets a little slow in the second half but I might just prefer it this way in contrast to the restless editing and convoluted storytelling we get too much of these days in this genre.

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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Rating: 1

Just another very gorgeous looking, very soulless version of how Luc Besson thinks movies are made. I more and more wonder how he managed to create «Léon» where he still seemed to care about characters and storytelling (I think, at least; haven’t watched it in ages).

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Spider-Man: Homecoming

Rating: 3

Wow, I almost lost my wallet there at the theater! But I wouldn’t have lost the money: The latest cinematic iteration of Spider-Man is well worth its admission price.

It’s got heart, it has humour, it’s got a great cast. And as unbelievable as is sounds, this co-production between Marvel Studios and Sony (who still hold the rights to the movie character, technically, I think) has something the «purer» MCU films had yet to deliver on: A great villain! Michael Keaton is perfect in the role (winged superpersons obviously just seem to be his thing) and his persona «The Vulture» equally satisfies as antagonist as well as a driving storyelement.

Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is great, too; but no surprise there. And the suits (as in «the VFX») are fun to explore but interestingly enough not as overwhelming and important as let’s say the «Avengers» movies.

So no, I don’t regret to have worn my Spidey T-Shirt to work today. And yes, in the end, I found my wallet under the seat.

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Wonder Woman

Rating: 3

Um,… Miss Woman? I wonder if you’d marry me?

[  ] Yes

[  ] No

[x] I see you more as a friend

The movie’s not bad, either. All thanks to Gal Gadot. I think I’d watch her watching paint dry.