mzacha Reviews

In Pursuit (2000 Video)

A crap made for television

[25 February 2009]

I hoped that the thriller with Claudia and Daniel will be watchable. Unfortunately, it was not... Why?

The story is tedious, dull and naive. We seen it several times in other movies and it was much better. Here we have a lot of nonsense scenes, stupid twists and no action at all. The sex scene on the ladder in the prison is pathetic, and dialogues are not convicting.

The acting was weak. Daniel crying on the screen is something you won't forget - it was so strange and so unrealistic that I was shocked... Claudia didn't deliver a good performance too.

The music? Not to interesting. The scenery? Average, just like in a cheap TV movie... Today's TV series are much more entertaining!

The Duchess (2008)

Sad movie about sad people and sad times

[22 January 2009]

Every girl wants to be a princess. They think princesses have many beautiful dresses, a charming prince to dance with and a huge castle to live in. And they do not need to do anything...

The Duchess is a interesting costume drama that shows the real life of Duchess of Devonshire (Keira Knightley). When she was 18, she decided to marry much older prince (Ralph Fiennes) whom she has seen only two times before the marriage. She knew that she has only one task: to give him a masculine child, but she hoped that the love come with time. She was wrong...

The movie is rather slow-paced, very sad, but interesting. It proofs that the reality behind the palace's walls is not as beautiful as it seems and the real prince not always is a prince from the tales. Sad is that the movie portraits the duchess only as a unhappy wife. She was also a trend- setter and a politician figure. We see some scenes about it but they are too rare...

Defiance (I) (2008)

Another Hollywood lie that pretends to be true.

[22 January 2009]

A nice, but a little bit boring movie, which - unfortunately - pretends to be a true. Just look at the comments and IMDb - almost all write about "true story"...

Unfortunately, the movie tells lies about the real situation in the Bielarus and in the Novogrod region. It is a fact, that Bielsky created a camp for Jews in the forests and over 1200 people were saved. On the other hand, his squad never fought with Germans. They wanted to survive, nothing more. That is why they frequently attacked the Polish villages and killed a lot of people, including women and children. They were murderers and rapists!

Rys (2007)

A let down? Will see...

[6 August 2008]

"Mis" is a cult Polish comedy. The sequel, "Rozmowy kontrolowane", is not as good, but still delivers a lot of good laugh. "Rys", the third part of the trilogy, is not as good. But is it really bad as people claim? The story has no sense and the same situation we had in "Mis". Ryszard Ochodzki (played by Stanislaw Tym), the hero of the previous movies, has some serious problems with the mafia. He needs to give back 2 million euros. His friend Maria suggest him selling the land to a priest living near Suwalki. But Ryszard decides to trick the bank...

What is more, the movie has its moments. Scenario is full of jokes that may by understood only in Poland. The brilliant ones go in the pairs with weak ones, as well disgusting. But you still laugh. Acting is weak. Unfortunately, Tym is really old now and does not fit to the role of an aging playboy.

"Rys" wasn't accepted in Poland. It was a big screen hit, but received very bad reviews both by critics and the audience. The same situation was with "Mis". It took several years for this movie to become cult. May be "Rys" will be understand in the future?

Controlled Conversations (1991)

Classic Polish comedy

[6 August 2008]

That was a first local cinema big hit after the collapse of the communism in Poland. It is also a first comedy about Martial law in Poland between 1981 and 1983. The makers of "Rozmowy kontrolowane" (Controlled conversations) wanted to make a crazy satire, showing the reality in a false mirror. And they succeeded.

In December of 1981 Ryszard Ochodzki (the main hero of another Polish cult comedy, "Mis") receives an order from colonel Molibden. He has to penetrate Solidarity groups in Suwalki district. He receives a fake photo with Solidarity leader Lech Walesa and goes into the action...

The movie has a very funny script and good acting, but may be not understand outside Poland due to number of references to a Martial Law times and... Polish reality.

The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008)

I am a fan... sorry, I was a fan of X-Files

[6 August 2008]

I was a fan of TV series and I like the first feature movie. But I am really disappointed with "I Want to Believe". This may be good thriller, but has nothing in common with the "X-Files" I loved.

First of all, the plot is very simplistic. It splits to two different stories, one about an ill child and Scully trying to save his life and the second one about the investigation. The first story is very schematic and directed in a style of cheap medical TV shows. Offers nothing more than some old, worn-out clichés. The second story, about the kidnapped FBI agent, is much better, but still average.

Why? There's no chemistry between Mulder and Scully. They changed and they aren't like in the good old times. What's more, there is no good old "X-files" story. I hoped for UFO or conspiracy theory, and I received a very naive and definitely illogical medical thriller. The motivation of main heroes was weak and some fact really senseless. Why did they ask Mulder for help (he did nothing special!)? Why the villains dug flesh parts in the snow? Hell knows...

Of course the movie is not terrible, it has some nice tweaks and seeing Mulder&Scully again is a pleasure. But it is not as good movie as I hoped it will be. And that's why I give a pretty low vote.

Kochankowie roku tygrysa (2005)

Exotic Polish drama

[4 August 2008]

Poland and China do not have common border and do not cooperate too often. "Kochankowie roku tygrysa" is the first movie I heard of, which has been shot in cooperation between those two countries. The effect is interesting, but not great.

The movie is a story told by an old man, who in modern China dreams about travel to Poland. He speaks with a clerk in embassy in Beijing. He tells him of a young Polish soldier, the fighter for the freedom of Poland, who lived to his village in 1913. The man escaped from a prison in Tsar's Russia and swam through the river to China. Badly hurt, was saved by poor Chinese family. He lived under one roof with a young girl called Song. She had a boy's haircut – just not to tempt him.

The movie is an adventure in a style from the beginning of previous century. We have beautiful nature here and people living in unity with it. We animal hunting in beautiful woods, we have farmers and poor people's problems. We have a story of a love and temptation. Nothing more. And that is not good...

Show (2003)

Deeper than it seems

[4 August 2008]

A didn't go to the cinema on the day of premiere. I expected that "Show" is another dumb comedy with Cezary Pazura, this time about "Big Brother" phenomenon. I was wrong... this a comedy, but not only a comedy. It is also a well-written crime story and a tale about the fame! All in one.

The acting is just good, but Cezary Pazura is really funny. The script is the isn't as predictable as in American movies. It reminds me "Ten little Afro-Americans" (sorry, I cannot post the right title here, political correctness is a terrible thing!) by Agatha Christie. It also says a little bit about people, they hopes, needs and behavior. Of course "Show" isn't a great movie, but it is still one of the best Polish movies of 2003.

Dlaczego nie! (2007)

A sweet comedy for sweethearts

[14 June 2007]

Romantic comedy is an American genre. Here in Poland we do not have too many movies of that kind. "Dlaczego nie" (Why not?) is one of them - a story of a young girl from a small village that comes to a huge city and finds the love. Typical? Yes. Predictable? Yes. A cinematic hit? Yes, sir!

The movie gained poor reviews due to weak scenario and lack of depth, but youngsters – kids thirteen years old – loved the movie. For them the main strength is the pair of lead actors, very popular here in Poland. Handsome Zakoscielny delivers a good performance and Anna Cieslak looks great on the screen. Young people do not need more attractions. And older? Well...

Latin Dragon (2004)

A interesting view on Mexican culture

[31 May 2007]

I saw this movie in Polish TV last weekend and I was really surprised. I was expecting another dumb action/karate movie with terrible acting and predictable plot. I received an interesting view on Mexican culture with some good roles including the main star.

Right, this movie still has a weak plot - a man from nowhere comes back to his hometown and kicks asses of several bad guys including Gary Busey - but there is something more. A love that is not love (because both the characters know it has no future). A brother that is not a real brother. A gang members who do wrong just because they try to be happy not because they are bad. The music, the cinematography... and so on.

Worth seeing.

Men in White (1998 TV Movie)

Worth seeing, if you like dumb comedies

[21 August 2006]

"Man in White" is a not-very-typical comedy movie for all science-fiction lovers. Main heroes are men in white - the garbage collectors - who accidentally find themselves in the middle of a huge conflict. They are abducted by aliens and escape from their ship. The president of USA makes them special agents and sends into action in a big, hi-tech garbage truck...

The movie is a parody and laughs off major hits such as "Men in black", "Ghostbusters" or "Independence Day" (also "2001" and "Dirty Harry"). The jokes are good (sticker 'If You Can Read This You're in Space' on the spaceship), but the special effects aren't. Also the actors deliver weak performances. But who cares? This movie was meant to be funny and it is! Just give it a chance!