Log: week 28 / 2025
Decent, but predictable satire. We've had quite a few films now making fun of the elite, so to see some tech bros join up for a weekend in the mountains is hardly original. The film doesn't venture too much off the beaten path, and despite some attempts at high-brow conversations, it lacks an edginess to be properly funny. The performances are solid, but the societal critique is shallow, the antics are predictable, and the comedy just isn't that snarky. Apparently, this film comes after a popular series with a similar vibe (Succession), which only underlines how different these two art forms are. Not the worst, but not too memorable either.Read all
Ultra cheesy 70s sci-fi. I'm not even sure if this was considered "decent" back then, but the effects and costumes are simply laughable by modern standards. It made me think of live-action Thunderbirds more than once, and that's not a good thing. The plot itself wasn't all that interesting either. It's your typical utopia-turned-dystopia shtick. As an adventure flick, it's still somewhat amusing, and the goofy sci-fi bits are kinda funny too. The performances are less than great, the film looks hopelessly outdated, and the ending wasn't as impressive as intended. It's safe to say two hours was a bit too long for a film like this, but I guess it could've been worse.Read all
Hong Kong's take on Okuribito. This is a pleasant and well-executed drama, digging into Hong Kong's burial rituals and folklore, combining it with a sensibility not to get too stuck in traditions. It's a fine film, but it's also rather predictable, and two hours might've been a touch too long. The performances are strong, the cinematography is polished, and the score is stylish, though a little subdued. It's also nice to get a more thorough look at the funeral rituals (usually only reserved for Triad and/or horror films), but the drama and character progression felt a bit basic. A good film.Read all
Not the most exciting Ye Lou film, but the fact that it's about cinema probably added to its popularity. The film is a collage of mockumentary ideas that mix real footage from Lou's earlier work with reenactments of things that happened when Lou was trying to finish his own film. But the result is somewhat plain. The premise is nice enough, but the characters are lifeless, the presentation is anything but remarkable, and the COVID scenes aren't paced well. I'm probably being a bit too negative. The film wasn't bad, and it kept my attention rather easily, but Lou is capable of so much more. Some interesting tidbits here, but it's far from his best work.Read all
Yes, there are dinosaurs, but other than that, this never felt like a true Jurassic Park film. It's closer to King Kong or Godzilla, with some Jumanji mixed in for good measure. The huge (mutated) creatures living on a remote island trope (without the amusement park angle) didn't quite cut it. The performances are ok, the dinosaurs are solid (apart from the final one, which looked more like a xenomorph reject), and the sense of adventure is present. The problem is that it's been done countless times before, and Rebirth doesn't stand out as one of the better examples. A rather lazy blockbuster, but not without a few fun scenes.Read all
Let's get one thing straight: the title for this film is apt. There's a lot of random comedy, the colors pop, and the plot is all over the place. It's the type of film I like, unbridled in its creativity and maximalist in its execution. Only the execution felt a little rushed, which is why I was a tad disappointed the second time around. The cinematography in particular could've been better. Yes, it's colorful, yes, the costumes are crazy, yes, there's an agile camera, but the finish is lacking. Other than that, this is a thoroughly entertaining film, if you can handle the madness. Don't expect this to make too much sense, and you'll be fine.Read all
Not sure what precedes this film (manga, anime, or live-action series), but it's obvious from the start that this builds on earlier material. It's not a major problem; the context isn't overly complex (a good priest battling priests gone bad), but no doubt it's a bit more enjoyable if you're already familiar with the franchise. When Amemiya is involved, kooky fun is guaranteed. The biggest question that remains is how cheesy/low-budget it gets. Biku is one of his better films in that regard. There are some genuinely cool-looking scenes, and some nicely directed action sequences. That said, the CG is not good, and there's still a hefty amount of cheese to wade through. That said, I enjoyed myself.Read all
Another nice take on the US's school shootings problem. This TV-born project isn't the most subtle or creative vision, but it does a good job hammering the core message down. There's also the strong performance of Ben Foster to look forward to, who does a great job as the tormented lead character. The 4:3 ratio is a bit of a downer, and the cinematography and score, while well-intentioned, feel somewhat chaotic. The ending, too, could've done with a little restructuring, but these are minor complaints. The film is pretty gripping, but it's just not the personal favorite it used to be.Read all
Back when the US superhero genre wasn't an established blockbuster niche, this film tried to do things a little differently. I surely appreciate the bold and straightforward approach, but the result is often appalling. To a point where it actually becomes funny to watch, but good cinema this is not. The special effects are in a league of their own. I think most video games of that time looked better. The performances are just as bad, the bad guys are ridiculous, but this is such a car crash of a movie that it is quite entertaining to watch. It's funny to compare this to contemporary superhero flicks, but at least it wasn't as boring.Read all
A solid slow burn set in a small Spanish village. Tensions rise between villagers and two expats taking over one of the farms, triggering a spiral of distrust and harassment. The dry, deliberate, and stone-cold direction is perfect for this type of film, but the escalation is limited, and the pacing is a tad sluggish. Performances are good, the presentation is decent, but a little underwhelming. And the way the second half includes a police investigation is also very much by the numbers. I think the intentions were good, the right choices were made, but the execution was too safe to stand out from the crowd. Solid filler.Read all
Cute, but somewhat forgettable. It's one of those films that builds everything around its premise. Now, the premise is fun, but not that exceptional, and it requires a bit of effort from the audience to keep being invested. It's a good thing that the film is relatively short and that it keeps the pace high. The performances are fun, the characters are quirky, and the initial setup is promising, but then it devolves into basic crime antics a little too quickly, and the film becomes somewhat one-note. It's still an amusing romp and decent filler if you like this kind of thing, I just wish they had leaned a bit more into the comedy.Read all