Stanislaus

The second episode of the Planet of the Apes saga impressed me comparably to the first one. The bleak vision of a near and post-apocalyptic future has been brought to the screen many times before and like the others, this one had something to it. I liked the use of both sign and normal speech in the apes. The look and especially the facial expressions of the primates were incredibly authentic, and the technical workmanship was of a decent standard. All in all, a very well made sequel that ranks among the better than average sci-fi flicks these days.

With Return of the Jedi, the Star Wars saga reaches its climax, and the film's story takes on the highest quality and consistency. For me, the third (sixth) episode of Star Wars is the best ever made. Everything is perfect, I wouldn't want to repeat myself, but the plot, the special effects, the production design, the music, the costumes and make-up effects are (for their time) flawless. In short, an incredibly spectacular ending to the most famous space saga that deserves one of the brightest spots in cinematic history.

The much darker sequel to the galactic saga is properly armed with a better story and execution than its predecessor, which already set a high bar. The Empire Strikes Back offered me everything from action, adventure, to gorgeous production design, perfect technical workmanship, costumes and make-up effects – everything that the first installment did for me, plus a little something extra. With Empire I was able to get more into the storyline, which I found richer. And there was the wise-cracking character of Yoda, whom I love. In short, in almost all ways, if not all, a perfect must-see film.

So I finally got around to the original Star Wars trilogy, which I kept putting off watching. And this may sound like a cliché, but I was incredibly deprived of one of cinema's gems. The iconic theme tune that always accompanies Darth Vader, the exceedingly good and groundbreaking technical workmanship for its time, the perfect work of the makeup and costume designers - this film has more than just that. As a result, having seen all the old Star Wars films, it was this first (fourth) episode that I liked the least, but still above average. In short, a very well made fantastic sci-fi ride not lacking in action and adventure that every lover of these genres should see, and certainly shouldn't wait as long as I did.

As a cult classic, The Exorcist may not have been one of the best horror films I've ever seen, but it still deserves recognition and attention. The truly frightening scenes could be counted on one hand, but the transformation of Regan and the special effects were terrifying in their own right. The beginning was a bit drawn out, incomprehensible to me at times, but later the plot began to build up to the very finale. In short, one of those films that over time has found its rightful place among the must-see films of a lifetime.

An utterly charming and breathtaking sequel to the wonderful first part, which is both very funny and at times sad, but never pushes too hard. Toothless was again perfect, funny, adorable, perhaps an order of magnitude higher than the first installment. The characters have grown up noticeably, there was even some family drama, but as I said, all within acceptable limits. The story was decent and the peripeties unexpected, so I give it a thumbs up. In short, I went to the theatre for a guaranteed cinematic experience, which I got with all the right stuff: a smile on my face, a tear in my eye and a pleasantly astonished expression at the great technical workmanship.

What irritated me most about Tim Burton's first feature film was the lead character Pee-Wee. In the first few minutes, I even felt like turning the film off, but I wanted to see how the plot would develop. And I was not wrong, at least not completely. Pee-Wee acts slightly like a dick throughout the film, his antics are off the mark and at the height of awkwardness at times, but that's really not Burton's fault. The story is a bit flimsy, but that doesn't matter. The other supporting characters are also bizarre and at times I got that typical Burtonian vibe from the sets or special effects, which is more characteristic of his other films. In short, it's a film in which you have to deal with the wacky character of Pee-Wee, otherwise it's a pretty passable piece of filmmaking.

The feature-length expansion of the original 2010 short film is not as intense, as it spans a slightly longer running time, but I still have to give it full marks. The Way He Looks is a film that doesn't play around, it's honest and realistic, helped by the solid performances. The story outlines the plot of the original short in a more comprehensive way, with purposeful additions of moments that form a consistent whole. I also have to commend the musical score and the selection of familiar songs featured in the film. In short, a modest and extremely warm film that has a nice story and a likeable cast.

There has already been a mention of Summer Storm, which was quite apt in terms of similarities, although it is true that the two films are different in many ways. In particular, the concept of the relationship between the two main characters is different, but the element of sport and a kind of fear of reality somehow unites the two films. I can't say that this film took my breath away, but it was good to watch, didn't irritate me at all and felt realistic. In short, an unassuming Dutch piece that impresses with its simplicity and honesty.

Edge of Tomorrow is undoubtedly one of the best and most imaginative science fiction films of the last few years, benefiting in particular from an absolutely superbly structured story. It's the same thing over and over again, yet different and a step further each time. Tom Cruise is kind of a wimp at first compared to his other action and badass roles, but war demands tough men, so you have to adapt or die sooner than normal. Emily Blunt is one of my favourite actresses, and this action role oddly suited her, when I compare it to Queen Victoria for example. From a technical point of view I have nothing to fault the film, the look of the aliens was perfect, the battles clear and well shot. I also have to commend John Newman's choice of the title song "Love Me Again". In short, total satisfaction on my part, a very well layered film in which you never know how it will end (or rather begin).