POMO

The Condemned is an embodiment of filmmaking stupidity. This film claims to criticize the same thing it tries to drown the audience in. Films like this harm the reputation of Hollywood cinematography. I thought Vinnie Jones was better than this. Only someone who is completely desperate would accept such a role.

Another contribution to the family of top-notch mafia flicks. The first half is a little protracted and boring, but the second half makes up for it. Denzel Washington steals the show, forcing Russell Crowe into the sidekick role. The new Scorsese (The Departed) was more superficial, but stronger in details and with sharper edges. Scott is slower and less flashy, but also more harmonic and easy to follow. The kings of the genres for me are still Coppola (The Godfather) De Palma (Scarface) and old Scorsese (Goodfellas).

Original, tasteful, funny, fresh and excellently cast and acted, P.S. I Love You is light but also intelligent. Hilary Swank doesn’t need any commentary while Gerard Butler was a pleasant surprise. The script is worthy of an Oscar nomination and I feel stupid for not knowing why I’m not giving this the full five stars.

Paul W.S. Anderson deserves credit for the script (especially the “raven” and “last joint” scenes), while Russell Mulcahy deserves it for the atmosphere and fast pace. The only element that doesn’t fit the genre template perfectly is Milla Jovovich – her boobs are too small for that.

The Golden Compass is another soulless digital orgy with self-serving, over-the-top acting performances. It most reminded me of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Stunning set designs, great effects, a dozen stars, but a story that has no chance of engaging the audience. And why does Daniel Craig dominate the poster? By the way, the music is rather mediocre; Alexandre Desplat is great with atmospheric, emotional music, but adventurous grandiosity is not his strong suite.

Zabriskie Point is a nicely filmed but boring flick about politics and feelings, whose “climax” is the protracted scene of group sex in one of the most beautiful parts of Death Valley.

This animated movie for adults is impressive due to its originality and creativity, amusing with great humor and fulfilling with its touching narrative of a life story that presents enough material for a feature drama. The picture is made more unique by the purely female view of certain things, often resulting in the best jokes.

The esteemed British gentleman of the theater Danny Huston in the role of a vampire leader in a classically written horror movie? Sam Raimi is a strong and resourceful producer. From the introductory shots, it is clear that this is not a B-movie. David Slade can shake hands with Zack Snyder. He is a master of spookiness and proves that even something as hackneyed as vampires can serve as material for an impressive horror movie. Too bad the film delivers some time-worn genre scenes, which we recently enjoyed – after a very long time – in Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead (the turned girl and the identical scene with having to kill an infected buddy). It’s also a pity that the vampires from the main group didn’t get more space as individuals (as Guillermo del Toro would have given them). Otherwise, it’s amazing.

I dreamed about a movie like this when I was a teenager. Too bad it only came out now. Unleashed is a rarely seen combination of an effective drama, a simple action premise, excellent fight choreography and French charm. We see Jet Li as finally humanized and relatable, Morgan Freeman plays his most typical mentor role and Massive Attack provides the music.

Fortunately, this movie is as much fun as it is stupid. Inspired by Woo’s Hard Boiled, this film presents non-stop action entertainment for uncritical fans of 1980s action movies and classic rock hits. As for me, I preferred Paul Oakenfold in the scene with cars and a toddler on the road. It’s interesting to watch Clive Owen repeat his role from Children of Men in such a different film, and it suits him just as well.