Necrotongue

The creators still firmly stick with what they're good at without straying into filler territory, so it's another four stars from me. True, this is only the second hotel in this chain that I've had a chance to visit, but I'm already suspecting that, besides the necessary skills, there is one particular condition that the hotel manager must meet. And Valentina meets it perfectly so far :-) I had a great time again. The atmosphere keeps thickening, and the story is getting tangled. I've never taken Viagra, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't confuse it with any yellow-and-white capsule. I'm surprised at what's possible. Actually, I'm not. / "Ho creato un mostro..." / Lesson learned: Being punished for something I didn't do is the height of injustice.

I'm still having a good time. Like in the first season, the creators gradually reveal each character's innermost self. Although there's no one as irritating as the characters from Hawaii, I am satisfied. What I enjoy about this show is mainly that the creators do not present the viewer with any virtuous characters that I hate from the bottom of my soul. Instead, they fill this small world with believable beings with common character flaws, and the occasional woke smartass soon makes a fool of himself by saying something dumb ("Gender is a construct."). I am happy with the progress so far and look forward to future episodes. / Lesson learned: Do you want to have your fortune told? You'd better say what outcome you expect in advance.

The second episode once again brought the true white-lotus atmosphere with all its veneer. The viewer suspects, or rather knows, that things are slimy and stink on the inside. For a moment, I pondered how naive you must be to leave an open account at the disposal of a pair of workers in the specialized entertainment field, but then I remembered all those Nigerian letters and things like that. At least the victim gets something in return for the money in this case. The creators chose the Sicilian setting well; those shots are simply stunning. The hotel manager, played by Sabrina Impacciatore, greatly amuses me. It's just that I found the gradual unveiling of the characters' inner selves in the first season more exciting. It is not that harsh here, which could be detrimental in the long run. / Lesson learned: Keep your mouth shut while riding a Vespa.

The White Lotus chain of hotels pleased me with its Sicilian resort because what could be funnier for a European than American tourists? The pilot episode had a much faster pace than the previous season's opening episode. I'm just not sure if the creators managed to create characters for the second time that would evoke my sympathy with their internal decay like last time. Well, I'll wait, see, rate, and review. / Lesson learned: The most significant difference between a sunset and a penis is their practical use.

Arvéd is clearly an artistic-philosophical film. I know that because I was bored heavily for at least ninety minutes. The only things worth praising are some of the performances. Everything else was utterly beyond me (similarly to the repeatedly mentioned Kafka). I don't need things to be spelled out; I'm happy to reflect upon a film's message. On the other hand, I don't like movies that the filmmakers make just for themselves and a narrow audience. By a narrow audience, I mean only the viewers who actually liked the film and got something out of it. I don't include all those who rate it highly just because they try to appear as intellectuals and art lovers. I am on the exact opposite side of the barricade; the screenplay and direction failed to hypnotize me despite the relentless repetition of the same. I don't express enthusiasm when I don't feel it, and if I look ignorant in front of others because of it, I'm happy to take on that role because I'm completely indifferent to it. The film evoked emotions in me only when I realized that I had lost two hours of my life. / Lesson learned: You can tell a perfect informant by their ability to be useful under any regime.

Topkapi felt somewhat outdated. The running time was too long for what the plot had to offer. The perfect Swiss plan was not complex enough to require so much time, and the creators decided to fill the gaps by showing the beauties of Istanbul and Turkish folklore, which I couldn't find it in me to appreciate. Instead of enjoying the clever tricks of seasoned thugs, I was sometimes brought to the edge of sleep. Credit goes to Peter Ustinov, whose performance was the only one I found entertaining throughout. 3*-

Well, this was...interesting. I don't know Emil Křižka, but his mental processes are odd, to say the least. So was this movie, to whose genres I would add psychological and horror. Seriously, this was such a weird film for Czech standards that I am still a bit taken aback. The atmosphere was great from the first seconds, and after a while, I got used to the unconventional storytelling with all the cunning time jumps. The screenwriter shrewdly avoided being accused of writing poor dialogue by hardly writing any. And despite the lack of verbal communication (or maybe because of it), the cast delivered performances I am not accustomed to in Czech movies. Štěpán Kozub and Pavla Gajdošíková were perfect, and the rest of the cast tried their best to keep up with them. I was sometimes even enthusiastic, and when I wasn't, I was at least satisfied. Satisfied and slightly disgusted, which was probably the goal of the director-screenwriter duo. Unconventional, unexpected, and excellent. / Lesson learned: Even knitting can be life-threatening. 4*+

Honestly, I was expecting another comedy disaster, and even though it definitely wasn't a film that I have the conscience to recommend to anyone, I had a surprisingly good time during certain moments. I'm just sorry that there weren't more of them. Finally, a Czech film that I didn't expect much from, which surprised me with its hilarious dialogue. It's great that Sandra Nováková knows how to make fun of herself and that she didn't spare Sylva. I enjoyed the submissive "yes man" played by Jakub Prachař; I enjoyed Jitka Čvančarová, whose arrival turned the three-room apartment into a two-room one. I also liked the father, played by Ondřej Pavelka, and I was surprised by how the whole cast overshadowed Hynek Čermák. Like it or not, I had to give it three stars because I laughed at the dialogue and liked watching Sylva think. / Lesson learned: Think twice before you sell.

What should I tell you? I wasn't as thrilled as Harry. I don't mean to say it was a bad movie. It's just that the story and its execution didn't really grab me. The premise wasn't very demanding. Still, if the creators had focused only on the insurance event, they could have made a comedy worth four stars. Walter Matthau was great in the role of Willie Gingrich, a generous advocate for single mothers, and stole the film for himself. By combining three different themes, the whole thing fell utterly flat. I had to cool down afterward to be able to give more than two stars. Walter Matthau's performance deserved more than that. / Lesson learned: Having a lawyer in the family is priceless.

The 1930s Britain was still the time of Victorian morality (which I find pretty small-minded), so I initially liked the unconventional teacher, although I had a few issues with her. Gradually, it became increasingly clear why schools need a curriculum. I am not saying teachers should not have their own opinions, but they should not vent their political or religious views on those who are easily influenced (especially when any internet nonsense can easily influence the teachers themselves; of course, this sentence does not apply to the time in which the film is set or to the time of its creation). Originally, I wanted to give it three stars because everything seemed somewhat disjointed, and the creators introduced more plot twists than necessary, but in the end, I think the little discomfort was worth it. And I was also pleased to see a young Maggie Smith, and Cowley was hilariously smitten:-) / Lesson learned: Admiration for dictators is often contagious.