dejan8378 Reviews

Alice in Wonderland (I) (2010)

Second worst after "Planet of the Apes"

[5/10 · 15 October 2010]

I thought Tim Burton was unable to make another heartless movie like "Planet of the Apes", but unfortunately I was wrong, so wrong. This one is better than the "Planet...", but still such a big disappointment that comes from one of the few visionaries that work in Hollywood.

Visually this movie is stunning and it didn't stop being for the whole time, but that is the only thing that works perfectly for this movie. The humor also works fine and succeeds, maybe not perfectly as we are used from Burton, but doesn't misses and provides sufficient number of laughs.

The problem begun and end with the emotional side of the movie. Making beautiful emotional stories is the thing that separates Burton from most of His colleagues who are directing big budget Hollywood flicks. But this time He joins them and fails almost completely delivering emotions and characters that you care for.

Gomorrah (2008)

Killer ending

[8/10 · 14 October 2010]

I really had trouble watching this movie till half of it, than just before I turned it down and write another "overrated" review the movie became interesting, and with every next scene it was becoming more and more engaging and the end was a killer, one of the best and most powerful I've seen in this gangster omnibus. All the sub stories that I felt were just mess, get the meaning, the characters were all shaped and all the dots connected at the very end.

How wrong I was missing the point for whole hour, while the director was patiently building a story which in the end will surely reward your patience. Probably I've seen too much Hollywood movies. The movie has great acting performances, with total documentary approach, without musical score, only on occasions songs are playing, which makes it quite slow paced, but also more bleak and brutal.

Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007 Video)

I laughed

[1/10 · 13 October 2010]

I liked the first part... obviously since I decided to see this one. From the very beginning it was evident that it is low budget, and that the director is fond of gruesome and exaggerating. Than the movie turns to a bit better to be honest, it even has a few good lines. Next the slaughter began, and the movie was going a bit clumsy, some good, some bad, but watchable, even on moments inventive and entertaining. During this "improved" period I became more and more aware of the B-production and really bad acting excluding Henry Rollins who did a good job. While the movie was slowly turning a bit repetitive and boring with every next scene, I feel the director tear the screenplay in pieces and burned them, and start to pour everywhere He manages extra fake blood, guts, livers, hearts and all the organs you can think off, I think He even probably borrowed or stole from somewhere extra fakes.

I mean how much blood and guts can one man or woman have, that combined with the unbearable bad acting and now already with ridiculous lines, goofs, lack of direction or logic, became funny, I started to laugh out loud while the pieces of people were all around, I laughed to the director and people who praised this garbage.

Feast (2005)

Cool movie

[8/10 · 13 October 2010]

It's not easy to make a good movie on low budget, you definitely have to be inventive, fortunately this guys (the screenwriters and the director)know how to tell a story, be inventive, and to integrate surprises in overdone genre.

A horror comedy is a tricky genre that wants balancing, but the question here is this really that, because the funny moments simply happen, they are not rushed, neither forced, but just in case if it is a horror comedy, than it's perfectly balanced. That means the horror is terrifying and tensed, while the comedy side is funny, sometimes hilarious. The bonus was that the characters meanwhile managed to develop and make bond through witty dialogues. Also... great cast.

Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan (2007)

Should've been longer

[8/10 · 10 October 2010]

Epic movies should always be longer, 2 hours is just not enough, but fortunately the director succeeds to make a tight story without loose ends. But with Half hour or even whole hour, could've been better. That extra time I would put after He decides to unite all Mongols, but due to unbearable conditions that accrued during filming the director makes the way it is.

The story is a surprise; because Genghis Khan is famous as conqueror, I didn't know He was at one point in His life a slave. The style the director uses is far from Hollywood blockbusters style, steady, calmly He is pushing His thing, easily balancing between the war and the romance, presenting the man before legend as simple man with little luck, many enemies, big dreams and hell of a spirit of a tiger.

Knowing (2009)

Professional critics once again proved to be wrong

[9/10 · 9 October 2010]

Great movie, much better than expected. My low expectations were due to the mainstream critics, who once again proved to be tasteless for something different, wrapped up as Hollywood blockbuster, but indeed it is a philosophical journey and I am thankful for that.

It is a gripping sci-fi mystery thriller drama that starts slow, than speeds up and doesn't let go until before the end, when You will be treated with a one of the best endings in its genre, if not the best. Daring, brave, uncompromising, unexpected epilogue which sadly angered lot of people who weren't enough open minded for this somewhat brutal ending.

Also it is total rubbish the criticism that it is pro-religious because it is rather anti-religious, since it is clearly presented that there is no god, but a different higher form of life.

The Ten (2007)

Worst than expected

[2/10 · 8 October 2010]

Yeah, lot worst unfortunately, and should writing a review about this movie be a further agony or maybe revenge for the wasted 90 minutes and making a serious damage to the mood? I don't know, the movie is bad beyond imaginable, which with a cast like this you think it's impossible. I mean the actors did a good job, but a scenario, plot or any kind of idea would be welcomed. There are bad movies in which you feel what the director is trying to do but fails, usually partially, sometimes completely, but this time you got no clue what a hell is going on. However in all this madness there are a good jokes I admit, that even made me laugh, that were quite enjoyable, but the lack of taste and direction buries them deep under pile of rubbish.

If You want something really good that draws inspiration from the bible, that is inventive, funny, with all the ingredients that lack this mess, check Serbian film "Seven and a Half".

Snakes on a Plane (2006)

This is what Jaws was in 70's

[9/10 · 5 October 2010]

To be honest I was expecting lot less, but this movie succeeds on every possible level.

It's a real adrenaline rush, once the snakes are release and it is completely uncompromising when depicting the snake attacks. Brutal, terrifying, scary, jumpy, gripping, gruesome, claustrophobic... all this terms are explaining best what's happening when snakes are on plane.

Now let's move, on other levels... it's funny... not once misses with the jokes and it succeeds to be humorous along everything said before. The characters, lead by Jackson are simply cool.

Original and inventive is my final verdict.

And to the people who have scored it with 1 star in response to those who have given 10's before seeing it, do you really feel you are different?

Layer Cake (2004)

Far from Kick-Ass

[3/10 · 4 October 2010]

Kick-Ass is a masterpiece, Stardust is excellent and I love Guy Ritchie movies. So, how the director of those titles and producer for Guy Ritchie manages to make this hollow, empty, pointless movie.

It lacks everything that those movies are famous for. It's not smart, nor funny, neither emotional, worst of all it isn't even violent. I hear comparisons with Carlito's Way, but that is simply ridiculous, I won't go in details why. However after all this said and all the disappointment, still it's not that bad. It has unusual storytelling, subsequently it's unpredictable, that keeps you from falling to boredom. There are couple of good dialogues, few interesting scenes and one good chase, the rest is complete mess filled with too many unnecessary characters.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)

Tim Burton wanna be

[5/10 · 3 October 2010]

The success of Burton's movies brought us lately lots of similar flicks. It reminds me a lot of Burton's movies, the mix of dark and funny, the atmosphere, the soundtrack, but it fails to be as good as Burton's movies on every possible level.

Where to begin from? It is not even close funny or dark, as it wants, and the villains are beyond hollow, but worst of all, the characters are weak, and the story completely fails to be emotional or dramatic. There are few good jokes and action sequences, but far from inventive. However, even though often on the edge of boring, still clumsy as it is, delivers a decent fun, but nothing more. With that cast should've been much better.

Robin Hood (2010)

It is not Gladiator

[8/10 · 2 October 2010]

Gladiator was as much a blessing and a curse for Ridley Scott I feel. Every movie He makes is compared to that one and fails to be that good, and is evident that He likes to make epic stories with swords. Also I think He tries to even escape from Gladiator, so maybe that is why Robin Hood is less bloody, and has a less fighting scenes. But don't worry it has enough blood and fights for every fun of the genre. The story is completely different, more romantic, more humorous, more political and those things are done successfully.

I definitely think that the man behind legend is presented excellent, which makes me wonder how the professional critics didn't saw that. Maybe they were expecting Gladiator 2.

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

So, this is how it all started

[8/10 · 1 October 2010]

It was about time for me to see this movie. And all the good words are deserved. Too bad it has spawned one of the most predictable, boring, annoying, over repetitive sub-genres.

It is evident that the movie draws lot of inspiration from Woody Allen style, but it is more tighten for a wider audience, but luckily not dumbed, like is done these days.

So what does this film has that todays don't? It is intelligently, patiently done, not hurrying for the romance or forcing jokes and avoids successfully to be predictable and pathetic. The chemistry works between the leading actors, and the supporting characters are more than decor to fill space. The biggest difference is that it keeps in touch with the reality and drama that makes it more intense.

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

War sucks!

[8/10 · 30 September 2010]

True, it's terrible; I knew that from previously, also I live in region in the world that has a quite a possibilities to be the next battlefield, so I was extra disgust watching the film.

The thing that I respect most about the two Clint Eastwood movies about this battle is that the things are presented based on actual facts. But the thing that hits me right in, is His brave presentation of the treatment the soldiers get from the countries they fight for and die for. Eastwood is doing that without suggesting a single thought, He leaves on you to choose are the people taken from home on force, and left without food and water are dying as heroes or common meat thrown in the machinery called war.

The Road (I) (2009)

Emotional and terrifying

[9/10 · 29 September 2010]

It is hard to say more good stuffs about movie that everyone praises; even the few professional "negative" reviews are rather neutral. But let's fill these ten rows.

Most definitely this is one of the best movies made concerning father - son connection. Also one of the most emotional and at the same time most disturbing movies, and surprisingly it trough in the mix few laughs. A movie that made the meal I had after seeing it one of the best. The director was obviously very focused finding a perfect balance between the hard and soft side. The emotional side was heartbreaking and touching, but He didn't let to become pathetic, not even for a single second, which is a great danger for this kind of stories.

Frailty (2001)

Excellent movie with questionable ending

[8/10 · 27 September 2010]

Yes that's right I am heading straight toward the end, without spoilers. It is an ending that plays with your mind, and as I've read by now I am not the only one who is in doubt... was this film pro-Christian or anti-Christian? Was it supernatural thriller or psychological thriller? I am not sure and maybe I don't even want to know, probably it was intended that way.

But now let's go back to the movie itself. Paxton has done it in the manner of great and experienced directors, though it is just a debut. The atmosphere is not bleak, nor dark, but pure evil; the story is beyond disturbing, completely stripped from blood and gore but gripping and over tensed; and the twist in the end is totally unexpected.

Serenity (2005)

Different from the usual... and better

[8/10 · 26 September 2010]

But unfortunately earned on the box office 20 times less than Transformers, and that is the reason why we'll get more mindless movies, instead of this. Why in the world so original movie should struggle in the box office?

Maybe the characters are too real, too developed, and logical. Maybe the humor was too sharp and witty, refreshingly funny for a change, but well balanced with the drama not overshadowing each other. Maybe because the main character was indeed "antihero", with flaws... a human with feelings and fears. Maybe because this movie has something to say, an appropriate rebellion message for this times in which we are all living.

Max Payne (2008)

As expected

[5/10 · 25 September 2010]

This movie has lot of flaws, true. Where to start from... plot full of holes, cardboard characters, predictable situations, poor editing, few noticeable goofs, a bit bad acting especially from Ludicrous, not one sentence or dialog worth attention but yet I rewarded with 5 stars... why?

First I appreciate the fact that all this flaws are visible from the very beginning and I was watching it stripped from any expectations, so it is avoided the disappointment in the end, which usually ends with 1 star on IMDb. Next, the action sequences are quite good and are getting much better toward the end; visually is excellent in catching the moody, bleak atmosphere and representing the hallucinations; and in the end, off course the presence of some really hot actresses from Eastern Europe.

The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

Sick and twisted

[9/10 · 24 September 2010]

I was in a mood for a bloody horror, but when the first 2 scenes rolled I was kind a: "ok maybe it's not going to be all that bloody, but looks like a good movie with bleak atmosphere, story and developed characters".

I was right about the mood, story and characters, but I was hell of a wrong with the amount of blood and gore, since this is one of the scariest horrors I've seen. However the surprising didn't end there, I was stunned how inventive the director was in depicting the murders. The last shock was off course kept for the very end, I mean the last twist was too disturbing and made me angry to be honest, so I really wanted to end differently, though I am not sure that other end would have been better and fairer.

Carriers (2009)

A horror with a heart and soul

[9/10 · 21 September 2010]

Indeed, this movie is more drama, set in the horror environment. Too bad the company didn't saw the genius of this movie, so the marketing is that this is just another cliché, boring... etc.

The good thing of wrong marketing is the surprise however, so while I was still preparing for the zombies to jump out of somewhere, unprepared I was shocked by the emotional human drama, forgetting completely of the already over employed zombies. Almost completely stripped from cats jumping out of closets and bloody gore, this movie maintains the tension more than successfully. But don't be fool, as much as this journey through hell is emotional, warm, touching and heartbreaking drama it is equally brutal and frightening.

The Experiment (2010)

Clever, but

[6/10 · 21 September 2010]

Could've been done more with this one. Interesting story, slowly built, tensed, well portrayed characters (not just the main two), excellent acting (Brody and Whitaker especially), but in the end unfortunately fails to materialize all that in to something more. Apart from the plain ending and unnecessary undeveloped female character, everything else was done right and it is a gripping thriller indeed.

Probably the most important is that the movie succeeds in the main idea, catching the human nature and its transformation placed in certain conditions. As expected blinding of power and rebelling makes the violence slowly but surely spreads and the movie becomes more disturbing, answering my question why is it going straight to DVD.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

I know it could've been better

[6/10 · 20 September 2010]

It is not far from what I expected, but a bit better. That better is thanks to Kevin Williamson's witty writing and knowing how to put a story together, not leaving holes in the plot and the ability for making surprises, suspense, mystery, thriller. Unfortunately the director was not quite fit for the job, especially in the bloody parts which were pretty ordinary and uninventive for an R rated movie (He later did a good job with Venom which didn't had a scrip at all). If that thing was done as good as the script we would've get much better experience. However it was a good job done with the atmosphere, tension, the scares and chasing girls.

Spartacus (2010–2013)

Amazing... story... characters... passion

[10/10 · 19 September 2010]

I started to watch this show expecting nudity, blood and cliché characters and situations... but fortunately I was surprised. One of the biggest surprises I have witness watching TV series and movies.

In fact all that violence and sex scenes are actually in function of the story not overshadowing it at all and they weren't used to fill holes in the plot because the holes are not present in the plot. The story is told patiently, not forced, exploding perfectly in the end completing this journey in best possible way. The characters are presented meaty and their each individual story also is caught masterfully. But the geniality of this show doesn't stops here, I was amazed how great was pictured the roman society, and astonished by the inventive twists, again all that not rushed, but in the function of the story of Spartacus, and His transformations from common slave through champion of the gladiator arena to the biggest rebel for freedom the human kind knows.

In the end my best wishes for soon recovery goes to the leading actor Andy Whitfield who played Spartacus more than faithfully with great passion.

Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story (2004 TV Movie)

Good, but...

[6/10 · 17 September 2010]

I was expecting more balanced story between who He was and who He became, but that doesn't happens here. Instead, 90 % of the movie is concentrated on who He became and it is done well with thoughtful dialogs.

Unfortunately it depicts a little of His violent past, blurry presented, and far from enough so we can feel the change. It is a warm story nicely told, but also doesn't goes beyond that, doesn't surprises, but follows a firmly determined line, and in the end instead culminating, slowly fades.

However a good job is done her, since this is a hard story to tell. In the end I must say, a great performance by Jamie Foxx, well transformation.

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

Dark, but funny

[7/10 · 15 September 2010]

Compared to its competitors this movie has great improvement in the humor, it is lot more present here and it is surprisingly sharp, mature and smart. Jim Carrey as expected is brilliant, but it was surprisingly how funny was Meryl Streep and how witty is this movie at all.

Too bad the movie fails to reach that high level in the other parts that make the story. The adventure fantasy part doesn't actually fails, it's quite good and inventive, but it doesn't take much space of the story. The dark side of the story is caught well, but yet the makers were very careful not to cross the line, so again nothing revolutionary is made, but it is daring.

Unfortunately it fails in the drama and the end happens too soon, too fast and completely lacks culmination. Ultimately, sub story that involves secrets and fires is beyond superficial.

Centurion (2010)

Hell of a movie

[8/10 · 10 September 2010]

Excellent movie, that goes beyond expected and has a surprises, though it is made of already known ingredients. But that territory is already conquered by Neil Marshall with His previous efforts (Dog Soldiers and The Descent), redefining a genres well known stories.

Only this time it's not a horror, it is an epic story, and instead of slowly building the tension toward the end, there is a change of pace, and subsequently the blood starts to run from the very beginning. Also there is a romance, a small, but effective and meaningful, not forced at all.

In the end I have to mention the great acting, and introduction of one the creepiest female villain played by a beautiful woman.

For the very end I have to add that the Marshalls talent of making intelligently choreographed action sequences is also present, and the scenes are bloody as hell.