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frank_oleary
I'm from Dallas, TX
I'm an Investor
I'm a Born-Again Christian - most important!
Reviews
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Not as good as Episode 2
Loved Empire strikes back.
Who can compare?
If you forget the first three films, after all this is a separate trilogy, there is some good stuff. The special effects are superb, the acting salvages most of the dialogue and the plot moves along at a respectable clip. The viewer is left with a sense of foreboding over what is to come in episode three.
I thought Hayden Christensen did a good job as Anakin. Admittedly I was in agony when he gave that speech about being in agony but I fault Lucas' screenplay for that not him. Natalie Portman however just didn't cut it as Amidala. She sounded too much like a little girl and not enough a young woman. She was bland in The Phantom Menace and doesn't do any better here. Ewan McGregor is great as Obi-Wan, sounding a lot like the late Alec Guiness.
Gladiator (2000)
Brilliant
Once again, Director Ridley Scott proves to be as professional as one can be. The recreation of ancient Rome is splendid, with all its magnificent buildings and atmosphere and he is able to show with all brightness the greatness of the Roman Empire, with its political problems and military discipline, and love and treason, of hate and jealousy, that still have a place in our world today. But the story has a glow of its own, to which all the beautiful scenery (believe me, it's awesome!!!) and great cinematography are just balancing factors. The plot is a rich one, that is as dynamic as it is present. He once again, after Blade Runner, 1492, and others helps us visit the depths of the human soul, which remains the same over all our historical and social experience. Even the fights, are displayed in such a way that all the blood is quite discrete, but still, making us feel like screaming and jumping out of our seats. I would also like to point out the performances of the cast, that is surprisingly good. We have some actors and actresses, who are not Hollywood icons, but are are greatly able to move the audience among screams and tears. All in all, we have guys like Russel Crowe, who are coming out to be part of a new and extremely promising harvest of people who are making each time more fans around the world. Well, you should see for yourself!
Gegen die Wand (2004)
Unbelievable
I haven't watched such a great movie for a long time and it is really great to see that this is a Turkish movie. After Nuri Bilge Ceylan's success with Uzak in Cannes Film Festival, Faith Akin made a very successful move in contributing to Turkish cinema. First of all, the movie explains the life of the Turkish immigrants in Germany in a perfect way. We see how they cannot be neither German nor Turkish anymore. They are stuck in between and they act as punks. For instance, it is really true that most of the young Turkish people in Germany cannot speak Turkish, like Cahit. We also see the ridiculous pressure of Sibel's family: For instance, while her married brother threatens&beats her whenever she has a boyfriend, he and his friends can comfortably speak about how they sleep with prostitutes! Also the cast is very good, especially Sibel Kekilli and Birol Unel. I loved the scene where we can see the smile in Sibel's eyes in the amusement park: she is so much in love... In addition, there are so many things to say about the movie.. The story is a very striking one itself. The hopelessness of the characters in a world without love and moral values are explained so well-without making it dramatic. Also, Sibel's life in Istanbul, her cousin's life-like many of us: still single and waiting to be promoted!- are also judgements beside the main genre. The music is also very nice, with Depeche Mode and also traditional Turkish music. Faith Akin has really made a good job.. The script is excellent and the scenes are all pieces of artwork. I wish the best for him and all the cast and I hope to see movies perfect like this in the future too...
Suing the Devil (2011)
I'm not sure why so many people voted this a '1' - because it talks about God?
Why the '1's? I've been monitoring this 'situation' since I first learned about the attacks coming from the same person on Facebook. This is one angry, twisted individual. Feel truly sorry for him.
This is truly a unique movie: in a class by itself. I had that opinion the first time I saw it at a recent screening and still feel the same way days later. It's at the top of my all-time favorite.
It's very dream-like, surreal, a film I never get tired of watching and I've watched this film more than any other in my large collection. If I had to pin it down to two reasons why, it would be the video and the audio.
The cinematography alone makes this movie worth watching repeatedly. I hope we all have access to a widescreen DVD version of this, the scenes are even more breathtaking. (I never had the pleasure of seeing this in a movie theater.) The same superlatives can be used when discussing the soundtrack, a haunting music score that gets better and better each time one views this film. In fact, lately it's the music more than anything else I miss when I go periods without viewing this film.
The story is a simple one and is explained by others here. No need to repeat it. I find the narration to be unique, an unusual insight into the characters of the film and the thoughts of Luke O'Brien, who does the narrating.
The story is interesting, generally low-key but with a few quick violent scenes that are quite memorable from the famous actor. Kids probably would be bored with this film but at least I wouldn't be afraid to show it to them.
But as many pluses as the story boasts, that haunting music and those incredible visuals are what drive me back for more. Great, great stuff.