petervd Reviews

Scoop (2024)

Just watch the real interview.

[4/10 · 10 April 2024]

For those seeking a better version of the movie 'Scoop,' (2024) I recommend opting for the real interview instead. The film's most commendable aspect lies in its faithful recreation of the interview. While the acting suffices without notable accolades, the performers fulfill their roles adequately. However, my primary critique is in regard to the script and creative decisions.

The central character and Andrew's advisor lack substantial depth, leaving unanswered questions regarding the advisor's unwavering faith in the royal institution and her misinterpretation of the interview's outcome. Furthermore, the portrayal of Sam McAlister, portrayed by Billie Piper, lacks considerable character depth/motivation.

Additionally, the cinematographic choices, characterized by a distracting and ill-suited blue, "Nordic Noir" lighting, fail to captivate. The camerawork, also, lacks innovation and exudes a sense of budget constraints.

Netflix has had a tendency to resemble direct-to-DVD productions the past couple of years and this is one of them. Ultimately, while not awful , the film falls short, in that it is boring, uninteresting, and forgettable.

You want a better version of the story just watch the interview.

Rating: 04/10.

Z (1969)

Forever relevant

[8/10 · 17 February 2024]

"Z," a cinematic masterpiece from 1969, not only captivates with its gripping storyline but also resonates deeply with contemporary societal issues, ensuring its relevance for generations to come. While the initial pacing may seem slow to some, it serves as a deliberate buildup, gradually immersing viewers into its intricate web of political intrigue and suspense.

For fans of detective movies, "Z" offers a tantalising blend of mystery and political thriller, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats as they unravel the layers of conspiracy and deceit.

However, "Z" transcends mere entertainment; it serves as a poignant commentary on the pervasive nature of corruption and the insidious rise of authoritarianism.

In my opinion, "Z" is essential viewing for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of society and the fragility of democracy. Even if the film's style or subject matter may not initially appeal to all, its profound message and timely relevance ensure that it remains a must-watch cinematic experience.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Somewhere in the middle for me

[7/10 · 29 October 2023]

I'm not a die-hard Martin Scorsese fan. I have a deep appreciation for some of his movies, while others don't quite resonate with me. This particular film fell somewhere in the middle for me.

Considering its extensive three-hour runtime, the pacing held up well. I never found myself bored, though I can't say I was thoroughly thrilled either. There were moments when it seemed like some of the conversations lacked significant impact on the narrative. The movie truly hits its stride in the final third, where the tension escalates significantly.

The acting across the board was outstanding, especially from the lead cast. DiCaprio and De Niro, as always, delivered great performances, and I've become a fan of Lily Gladstone. The visual and set design were also top-notch.

I believe it's an important story, and it's skillfully told. While I don't have a strong urge to watch it again, I'm glad I had the chance to see it.

07/10.

Nimona (2023)

Not for me

[6/10 · 2 August 2023]

Nimona has its moments with excellent and breathtaking visuals and storytelling. I admire the diverese character gallery and some of the creative choices.

Nevertheless, the animation appeared stale (for 80% of the time) and cheap. However it is very subjective but bottom line not for me.

(Nitpick : The white "sparkel" (don't know if that's the name) in the characters eyes were too distinct for me subsequently I couldn't help being distracted by the noticeable square or triangle in the eye--designs)

The humour never landed not even once for me and seemed 2-3 years outdated (dab, rat with pizza, Bro). The story beats and "twists" has been done a million times before and better in other animation/family films.

Nimona was a fine film with moments of greatness however shadowed by mediocrity and cliches.

06/10.

Andrei Rublev (1966)

Not meant to be rated from a scale from 1-10

[6/10 · 30 June 2023]

This movie confused and fascinated me. I knew nothing at all about the movie before hand (which maybe in hindsight was a mistake). It was difficult to rate the movie because I don't really think it was meant to be rated on a simplified scale from 1-10 or 1-5.

One day I would like to watch it again with the knowledge and understanding I have now of what the director meant with this visual masterpiece.

Was it fun to watch? No Was it enriching? Yes Was it beautiful? Yes Was it confusing? Yes Will I remember the experience? Yes

The best part of the movie in my opinion was the last story with the creation of the church bell.

The biggest accomplishment of the movie to me is that it never bored me, even though its a slow pace, three hour plus long, grey, gloomy, Russian movie from the 60's.

I hope one day with greater knowledge of the period, history and culture to watch the movie again and gain new insights. For now I need to look at the ceiling and think.

Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)

20 years later and the 2003 version is still the GOAT

[3/10 · 8 May 2023]

Honestly I find it difficult to mention anything that this movie does better than the 2003 Peter Pan. I like the backstory of Peter Pan and Hook and would much rather watch a movie about that instead. Neverland felt empty and lifeless just like the movie. If you are not going to use the environment you have created why then try to distinguish this versions Neverland from the other movies.

Plus I got a headache from the awful bright and flat light. Live action do not need to be less magical just because it is with real people. This was a nothing burger of a movie.

Do yourself a favour and watch the original or the 2003 version instead. The 2003 version holds up surprisingly well, especially compared to this version.

03/10.

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)

How is this on IMDb's Top 250 Films of All Time?

[3/10 · 27 September 2022]

I thought I liked dogs as much as the next person and all, however the reviews and rating for this movie really had me perplexed. The real life story, which is the inspiration for the movie is really sad and heartbreaking. However, in my opinion the movie is really boring in every aspect, acting, music and especially the camerawork. And, again in my opinion, this do not deserve a place on IMDb's Top 250 films of all time. But if you like a sad story about a dog and his master, boring camera work, stale acting and constant manipulative sad music this is the movie for you. I know that I am probably in the minority here with this review, so pls could someone explain to me what I am missing.

Ps. Would have been a lot more interesting if it took place in the same setting and time-period as the real story.

Capernaum (2018)

Blown away!! But not an informative review.

[9/10 · 5 August 2022]

I do not have a lot to add, I just wanted to write down how incredible this movie is. I'm along on my journey to watch IMDb Top 250 movies and did not know anything about this one. I was a bit skeptical in the beginning because I was tired but this movie woke me up. Zain, who plays Zain is one of the best child actors I have ever seen on the silver screen. The story was well paced, devastating and was very successful portraying a hash adult world from the perspective of a child. It deserves all the praised it has received. 10/10 incredible.

Margrete: Queen of the North (2021)

Mixed bag

[6/10 · 22 September 2021]

'Margrete the First' is the epitome of an epic Danish tale. With monarchs, battle strife, magnificent costumes and big politics. All in all, a magnificent staging that is impressive. The acting was gripping, here one must especially highlight Trine Dyrholm's interpretation of Margrete 1. However, some of the lines could at times seem a bit too theatrical and fake. Morten Hee Andersen's role as the naive and arrogant Prince Erik of Pomerania, unfortunately, fell flat on its face for me. It seemed as if he was in a different universe than the rest of the characters, whether it was Morten's portrayal or the manuscript is hard to know.

With a feature length of 2 hours, it is always a challenge to keep the viewers' attention, here Margrete the 1st unfortunately does not succeed either. A strong start and end, does not excuse for a drawn out and unfocused mid point. Especially one storyline that I do not want to spoil, did not lead to much and ended abruptly. It could quickly have been explained with a scene or two. The worst thing a movie can do is waste the audience time.

I personally watch movies to be entertained with an exciting and gripping story. The story was fascinating, the production magnificent and the acting was mostly excellent. I missed a more focused narrative, with fewer plotlines, better pacing, and less navel-gazing. The story as it is portrayed here would have worked better as a new Sunday drama series.

Fakiren fra Bilbao (2004)

Like this? Nostalgia!

[4/10 · 15 April 2021]

When one of the main story points is that a man is trapped in a pen, you know what you are in for.

News of the World (2020)

Skip

[5/10 · 15 April 2021]

Reminded me of a boring too long side-quest in Red Dead 2.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

Damn Daniel.

[8/10 · 15 April 2021]

Daniel Kaluuya is on my top 5 actors list and thats confirmed by this movie.

One Night in Miami... (2020)

It gets better.

[7/10 · 15 April 2021]

Got better halfway. Love me some interesting conversations between interesting characters.

The Official Podcast (I) (2016 Podcast Series)

BETTER THAN LEGO

[10/10 · 26 December 2020]

Just a great and thought-provoking podcast. It is a most listen if you like quantum physics and mind-blowing thought dilemmas. However, if you do not have a phd or watch Rick and Morty than this podcast is not for you.

The Predator (2018)

Dumb

[3/10 · 25 October 2020]

Sometimes dumb fun is too dumb. This movie was so stupid. 3/10

Escape from Pretoria (2020)

Amazing Suspense

[7/10 · 24 March 2020]

This movie had a slow build up and I was not into it in the beginning. However, as the plot developed I could feel my heart racing at the end. The suspense was amazing especially at the end. 07/10.

Cats (2019)

Hover cats

[1/10 · 2 January 2020]

Just a fun fact if you ignore the stupid plot and the scary ps2 faces and focus your attention on the feets of the characters (especially in the background) you can see that the cats hover along the surface. I'm pretty sure me and my friend saw a background character glitch out. Anyway a surreal experience.

The Lion King (2019)

Soulless

[2/10 · 23 December 2019]

The only reason this movie gets 2 stars is because the cgi is impressive (but boring), and the story is still good, however just a lot more boring to look at. When the characters talk it looks like a bad lip reading of national geographic. The original movie without soul, color, joy, fun or a creative vision 2/10.

Doggystyle (2018–2022)

Season 2 has begun

[6/10 · 24 October 2019]

Season 2 has just begun, and the plot lines of some of the major characters are getting intense. It is well acted for the most part and the series also looks good. It is a bit cringe sometimes, but the early 20's are pretty cringe when you think about it. Nothing groundbreaking, but still enjoyable enough. 6/10

Glass (2019)

Different with flaws but still great

[9/10 · 26 September 2019]

First off, I know this movie has some flaws and one of the three main characters does not have enough to do. But, if you go in with no expectation, like I did because I saw the negative reviews, I think you will be surprised. Give the movie a chance and it deserves more recognition and praise than it gets.

Enter the Anime (2019)

Netflix commercial disguised as a documentary

[3/10 · 11 August 2019]

First, this did not feel like a documentary rather as a commercial for the anime content on Netflix. The documentary literally ends with the following text "all anime titles covered in the documentary are available and now streaming on Netflix". Furthermore, if you ignore the blatant advertisement that this is, it is not even a good documentary. The editing is basic and annoying, they repeat some of the same clips and there is not really a definitive conclusion. Instead, the conclusion (something about togetherness) is more half-baked than my old school assignments.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Zzzzzz.....

[3/10 · 9 July 2019]

I was really really bored watching the movie. At least there is sometimes cool imagery...

The Rain (2018–2020)

Cringe

[5/10 · 18 May 2019]

I watch it because the cringe factor is something else and off the charts. I love to hate it and I cannot wait for season 3 ;))

Max Pinlig 2 - Sidste Skrig (2011)

The peak of the trilogy

[10/10 · 29 December 2018]

I thought my rating was just based on nostalgia, but Max Pinlig 2 is a great movie and a fantastic coming of age story. The writing in the movie is great, the actors are great and because of the good writing they have a lot to work with. The cast do not over perform and everything feels grounded in reality. I also got the sense that the cast have great chemistry with each other. All the Max Pinlig films are good, however this is definitely the peak of the trilogy. Please do yourself a favor and give it a watch. If you are a teenager you have to see it with your parents. I really hope to see more from these actors especially Mette Horn who plays the mother and Samuel Heller-Seiffert who plays Max. 11/10

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Interesting...

[7/10 · 29 December 2018]

I liked it. It is a not a waste of your time that is for certain. However, not all the stories are at the same level of greatness. I guess it differs from person to person which story they like the most and are most invested in. An interesting watch if you 2 hours of spare time at your hand. If I could I would give it 7,3/10