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Jem and the Holograms (2015)
Not the Jem I know.
While this movie is certainly inspirational, and delivers a strong message about believing in yourself, it's a far cry from the Jem and the Holograms animated series that people who grew up in the 80's would know; had the movie been given a less familiar title it may not have drawn the level of attention it did.
Of course, it wouldn't be Jem without Synergy, and finding Synergy's missing parts does make for some of the movies better moments.
Jem and the Holograms' rivals The Misfits only appear very briefly at the end, but the hatred is clear, and leaves the possibility of a sequel in which the 2 bands compete both on and off the stage.
The Haunting (1999)
Best special FX ever
With all the other reviews it hardly seems necessary to go into vast detail about what the film is actually about. But it certainly uses superb special effects to give it a very supernatural atmosphere. I grant you that it does rob you of the use of your imagination by showing you exactly what's happening, but what's happening is hardly boring, so I don't know why so many people are complaining about it. And don't even think of criticising the ending, when practically every horror movie ever made turns out like this. By that I mean the source of the all terror is finally revealed, and all the scariness suddenly disappears. Don't you think there's a reason for that, so that the movie can end on a more pleasant note, and we're not all lying awake at night, too terrified to go to sleep?
Merci pour le chocolat (2000)
How much do we really understand about the mind?
It's difficult to say what this movie is actually about, it seems to primarily be 'just a bunch of stuff that happened.'
At first it does appear to be about a possible mix up at the hospital between two babies born on the same day, but as Louise Pollet says "You can tell a boy from a girl." And as the matter is resolved halfway through the movie, it would seem that this was really just a means to introduce the characters to each other.
Perhaps the real issue is: What is going on in Mika's mind? As manager of Muller's chocolate factory she is well versed in making chocolate based delicacies, including her very own nightcap, which she serves to her husband and stepson each night, and to guests also when the occasion arises. Her husband Andre has a Rohypnol addiction and relies on a regular dose to fall asleep each night, but why does Mika put it in the hot chocolate so that everyone ingests some? Towards the end it's revealed that Mika had a troubled childhood, mainly being neglected and unappreciated by her mother. This provides a basis for her unusual behaviour, although her exact motives remain unclear.
Snow White (2001)
A retelling of a well known tale by the Brothers Grimm
When Josephine (Vera Farmiga) sees the combined images of the white of snow, the black of ebony and the red of blood she voices her desires for a child with such features. In time this does come to pass and Josephine and husband John (Tom Irwin) believe she is the most perfect baby, (who; as we all know, is named Snow white).
The Joy is short lived however as Josephine soon passes away leaving widower John to look after infant Snow white.
After a moment where he pays his final respects at his wife's grave, the scene cuts to John wondering in the snow. (if you look carefully, you may notice that his footprints show that he has gone round in a circle)> When all seems lost, John's fallen tears thaw the icy prison of a magical being (refered to in the end credits as: 'The granter of wishes, played by Clancy Brown). In exchange for his freedom the being offers John three wishes. The first is a request for milk, which is provided; secondly John wishes "I need my wife back, my queen." The granter of wishes cannot resurrect the dead (Whether bound by law, or it's beyond his powers isn't specified), but can offer a queen and a kingdom to go with her.
The granter of wishes offers the position of queen to his sister Elspeth, (Miranda Richardson) but not before giving her a whole new look. Elspeth seems to posses much the same magical power as her brother, but she is not as kind hearted.
Much of the story follows as most people know it, with the infamous "Mirror, mirror, on the wall...who is the fairest of them all?" line been repeated several times in one part by a very vain queen Elspeth. (Watch as she pulls a face and still gets her desired answer ;)) When suddenly Snow white (Kristen Kreuk) is fairest of them all this throws the queen into a fit of jealousy. Speaking of Snow white, Ms Kreuk plays a rather sassy version of her, as the following lines from the movie may show:
Prince Alfred: Princess, you are so beautiful. Snow white: I am not; the queen is beautiful.
Hector: The queen craves rabbit stew for breakfast. Snow white: You know that if there are any rabbits in the traps I'll just let them go. I'll go to the palace by myself. Hector: No you mustn't! The queen has ordered that I escort you. Snow white: I'm not afraid of the dark Hector.
Snow white: If I was wearing one of the colours; say yellow... Wednesday: Yellow? That's my colour! First you steal my horse, now you want to steal my colour? Snow white: I did not steal the horse. (Actually, she did).
As for the 7 dwarfs, apart from been named after the days of the week, and pertaining to one of the 7 colours of the rainbow, which they can magically create and travel by, they are also responsible for the weather. Quote:- (while in the process of creating a storm) Saturday: Ah Wednesday, you're back, the teapot. Wednesday: I can't. Saturday: What do you mean you can't? Oh! Ha ha ha good joke, hilarious now hand it over.
The movie reaches its critical scene with the infamous poisoned apple (carefully coated with what appears to be wax on one side to be poison free). The queen disguises herself herself as Snow white's dead mother in order to deliver the apple, quite a contrast in character for Vera Farmiga from when she played the real Josephine at the beginning of the movie.
False Josephine: (after Snow white bites the apple) No breath my dear? Oh, it looks like I've finally left you breathless. (wicked laughter follows as she leaves).
When Elspeth attempts to remove the 'Josephine' guise and return to her queenly form she instead becomes a gnarled crone (Karin Konoval) with an even more grotesque appearance than before her brother gave her a magical makeover. It becomes apparent that it is her brothers doing as he explains: GOW: Elspeth, I gave you a life that would make anyone happy, but... Crone: But? GOW: Look what you did, she was no threat until you imagined her to be one.
Un coeur en hiver (1992)
Perhaps a vague look at Autism.
I remember having to study this movie in detail when I studied French in high school.
While not overly exciting, the the very name of the movie suggests an emotional nature of some sort.
Although many characters play significant roles in this movie, the focus is on violin repairman Stéphane and a rather flawed relationship with business partner Maxime, and violin musician Camille. Although Camille is betrothed to Maxime, she develops an interest in Stéphane, who although he is aware of this, does not reciprocate and even speaks about emotions and how he doesn't feel them. (It would take someone as emotionless as Stéphane not to feel Camille's pain at hearing this). The saying 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' is very much brought to light in a later part of the movie when a very dolled up (and perhaps even slutty looking) Camille confronts Stéphane at the brasserie that serves as a common meeting place for the characters.
Stéphane's 'lack of feeling' is put to the test when confronted with the situation of terminally ill elderly friend Lachaume.
7 Zwerge (2004)
True German Comedy
This is a comical version of the all too familiar story "Snow white and the 7 Dwarfs"
So naturally there is the beautiful brunette, the jealous queen and the 7 "dwarfs."
In this version the dwarfs are not really dwarfs in the true sense of the word, (well maybe some of them are), but rather a group of men who have been emotionally upset by a woman one time too many, so when a bout of misogyny sets in, one of them sets up a group of men (limit 7) who wish to live in a world without women, and will go to any means to achieve this.
As we all know the queen sets a hunter out after Snow white who escapes into the woods and finds her way to the dwarfs' cottage and...well we all know the story, but this version is filled with it's own twists and turns.
Many of the jokes are amusing if not downright hilarious such as remodeling the house to accommodate for Snow white, when Bubi holds the saw, and 2 other dwarfs slide the wood back and forth, or when Speedy tastes what he believes is Cookie's latest dish, only to find out it's actually a can of pink paint; oh, and let's not forget the mushrooms ;). But some of the jokes are not so funny, as others have mentioned there's the Jager/Neger joke, then there's the shooting of the fanfare musicians (would it be funny if someone really did it?) The scene when the dwarfs first meet Snow white isn't entirely a bad thing, although it's probably not appropriate for a younger audience who the original story is directed at. The RSPCA wouldn't approve of the way Tscheko treats Brutus, not to mention Bubi's song which fortunately is interrupted at just the right moment. And most intriguing of all the violence against women. I must admit it is kind of funny in a very twisted kind of way, but at a subtle level it gives the impression that it's okay for men to hit women, even in the most dubious of circumstances, considering that Snow white does actually provoke Tscheko to hit her.
Still most of us can probably overlook these unpleasant moments to watch the movie.
Dadi (2001)
Fran = Melek?
This show can be best summed up as 'What "The Nanny" looks like in Turkey.' Essentially the stories are the same with a simple changing of names for both characters and places to better suit the country of Turkey.
Although the children and even the nanny herself appear somewhat younger than their American counterparts they are essentially the same characters with almost identical personalities, notably the relationship between nanny and employer, and rivalry between butler and business partner.
Perhaps one thing we can all be thankful for is that Gulben Ergen lacks Fran Drescher's nasally voice and annoying laugh.
Qian zuo guai (1980)
Sometimes it's rich to be poor
Perhaps the funniest foreign movie I've ever seen.
Cutting out the first few minutes of meaningless mayhem, Ying and his best friend Fatso win the lottery and are living it up, (Not to mention teaching a few people a lesson ;)) until the fateful day comes when Ying receives news of his terminal illness. Deciding life is no longer worth living Ying plans to commit suicide, but in doing so meets another lost soul, whom he helps out by handing over a generous wad of cash, in return his new found friend agrees to hire an assassin so that Ying can at least die with dignity. Shortly afterwards Ying is informed of a mix up on the doctor's part and that he is not terminally ill after all.
Ying and Fatso need to cancel the assassination and fast, but find out that their friend 'Chuk' who organised the assassination has himself fallen victim to some assassination, and worse still he has hired not one, but three assassins. Amidst the struggles that ensue the pair eventually find themselves at an asylum where unfortunately, Fatso's new girlfriend Julia is a patient (Another has a strange Woody Woodpecker-like laugh). Everything after this is action, comedy and simply mayhem, but through it all Ying and Fatso remain friends to the end, even to the point where each is willing to die so that the other may live.
Movie Highlights *Teaching the boss a lesson *Drunken Martial arts Master *Russian Roulette
Quote: Ying:-Now I know True friends are worth more than money. Money? (laughs) it's just paper (laughs again).
Verführt - Eine gefährliche Affäre (1999)
Enter the twisted world of cyberspace
A movie about the many people you can chat to over the internet and never really know who they are.
As the title suggests this is a movie involving the internet, the love affair that occurs, and a dark and sinister truth.
When Karin Miebach disappears without trace, her younger sister Sonja takes it upon herself to find the truth about her sister's disappearance.
Her only lead been that Karin had started a relationship with a man she met over the internet, and only briefly been informed of the wonders of the net, the night before Karin disappeared.
With the help of her friend and computer expert Josef, Sonja begins her own relationship with 'The Club' including an initiative striptease. It is not long before Sonia has a list of people, 5 men and 1 woman who her sister spoke to the night she disappeared.
Armed with a list of suspects, and a new lead that her sister left with a man in a dark car, Sonja now tries to find out more about these people by meeting them in person. By mentally crossing names off her list Sonia is able to narrow the list down to two possible suspects : Max, a computer programmer, with the knowhow and power to alter certain data.
And Tilman, a respectable bank manager, who lives with his wife and twin daughters. However the relationship between husband and wife is a little rocky and in Tilman's words "Marriage can turn a woman into a Sergent-Major." (Although at first one would think otherwise).
After meeting with Tilman in a restaurant, an attempt is made on Sonja's life, leading her to believe that the someone knows she's onto them.
Later Sonja meets up with Tilman again and another attempt is made on her life, this time by trapping her in a sauna. At first it appears that it was Tilman who locked her in there but as it is also Tilman who opens the door and rescues her, the possibility that a third person is involved becomes apparent.
Returning to her other suspect, Sonja now tries to find out more about Max, which includes entering his apartment, where on a computer screen she sees an image of a man and a woman engrossed in sexual activities, shortly before the man strangles the woman. Sonja believes this to be Max and Karin, however as both are wearing bags over their heads this cannot be certain. While Sonja reflects on this Max returns to find Sonja in his apartment, believing she is been confronted by her sister's killer Sonja flees, momentarily bumping into Max's dark car which furthers her suspicions.
Up to this point Josef has been keeping an eye out for Sonja, however on their last, meeting they departed on bad terms. Returning to make amends Josef arrives with a gift for Sonja (A giant Winnie the Pooh toy) but finds she is out. Unfortunately Josef is then killed in an attempt that was meant for Sonja, now leaving Sonja alone on the case.
After learning that Josef is dead Sonja now turns to the only other person she feels she can trust: Tilman.
Tilman agrees to help an takes Sonja to his country cottage where she believes she is safe, but perhaps the real killer is closer than she thinks....
Like many mysteries this story has a surprise twist as well displaying an important message that you will learn who your real friends are when a true friend is needed.