La soupe aux choux (Louis und seine ausserirdischen Kohlköpfe - 1981)

final verdict for: "La soupe aux choux" (Louis und seine ausserirdischen Kohlköpfe - 1981): I just love this movie. De Funes at his best. Also this is one of the few silly but yet earnest comedies. 

I personally laughed as much as I had tears in my eyes. Also the supporting cast is really good, especially the hunchback, the music is great, just thinking about the theme-melody brings tears to my eye. Only downpoints are the poor choice of his wife brought back to life, the german dubbing and the german TV-Cut of the movie (from 91 minutes to 75). 

This movie is a childhood favourite of mine and I would give it a 10 out of 10 solely because of that. But I have to be objective and that's why I will have to deduct 2,5 for the downpoints mentioned above. 7,5 out of 10!

Neue Vahr Süd (2010)

Final verdict for: "Neue Vahr Süd" (2010): Nice movie for a TV production, but not anywhere near "Herr Lehmann" (2003). 

Sometimes you realize the background is not 1980 Bremen, but 2010 Bremen. The music is catchy and well chosen, but the characters, especially Frank Lehmann sort of bug me. If you have seen Christian Ulmen as Frank Lehmann, you don't buy the Lehmann you see here. 

 What I possibly disliked most is the complete omission of Karl and Franks Brother Manfred who are so damn important for the other two installments of the trilogy and the alteration of the end which basically prevents "Der Kleine Bruder" from ever being turned into the movie unless it's changed. 

Still pretty enjoyable for ARD standards. A weak 6 out of 10.

Son of Rambow (2007)

final verdict for: "Son of Rambow" (2007): A little weird at first, but you sympathize more and more with the characters during the story and even the "Happy Ending" was implemented in a way that did not destroy the general mood of the film. 

These kids have more acting talent in them than most of what you see in German productions, the cinematography was like it had been taylored for the movie. The music was a little off at times but over all pretty well chosen. Way better than "Somehwhere", even without the big budget. 

I give this an 8 out of 10.

Sweet November (2001)

final verdict for: "Sweet November" (2001): I watched this movie for free on TV and still I feel that I should claim my money back. Why did I bother to stay up until 2:30am to watch this movie 'til the end? Did I really think it would turn out okay?

This movie appeared to me as some kind of 9/11-post-traumatic-stress therapy.

It uses Enya's "Only Time", it was filmed in 2001 and I somehow had the feeling that it first should have been set in New York, judging by the city-shots during the first 20 minutes. The story is so utterly uninspiring that you think the authors wrote the script hastily within a week and still did a poor job. 
I didn't buy Keanu Reeves, I didn't buy Charlize Theron, I didn't buy any of the characters. Maybe Liam Aiken, but even him only a little bit. 

There are only two things about this movie that are not totally fucked up and these make up the two points I give: 1: The camera-work is really good and the warm filter they used really helps establishing an environment one could feel comfortable in. 2: The choice of music (with the exception of the Enya song mentioned above) is really good. Neither is it annoying, nor too subtle, just about right, and it harmonizes perfectly with the cinematography. It is almost as if the music and picture tried to make a decent movie, but then the script and actors came and ruined it.

I really think that this movie conceptualized to be something else and then 9/11 happened and they rewrote it to adress the general need of the masses for soothing heart-warming stories as some kind of mass-therapy.
 
As I mentioned before, 2 out of 10 for this sorry excuse for a melodrama.

Oh and one more thing, I realized that this movie was still shot using film (as you can tell by flickering and slightly moving opening credits) and I just wandered when did they stop filming analogous? Anyway it really has nostalgic value for me. I miss non-digital movie making.

最終兵器彼女, Saishū Heiki Kanojo - Saikano (2002)

final verdict for: "最終兵器彼女, Saishū Heiki Kanojo - Saikano" (2002): I first saw this in 2004 and thought it was okay. Turns out I wasn't ready yet. Never before have I seen something so moving. 

Sure, certain plot elements, like Chise turning into the Ultimate Weapon are ridiculous or the amount of explosions Shuji survives while the people around him get blown into pieces. But this is not what this series is about. Most importantly it is about the gruesomeness of war in general, about all the negative aspects of war and about those "positive" aspects of it that one might want to see as negative one's in disguise. 

I don't cry very often, but in every single episode of this brilliant piece of animation I had to, because I really felt with those suffering people. The characters are well thought through, even the minor ones. The animation is okay, nothing special even for it's time. 

I give this first series to receive a final verdict a 7 out of 10. Minuses from a perfect score come from the standard animation and ridiculous story elements that you just have to ignore to see the beauty of this anime.

Swimming Pool (1969)

final verdict for "Swimming Pool" (1969): Oh they don't make these movies anymore. 

Today it's all about catchy music, rapid shots, sex scenes and ridiculuous storylines (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). This movie shows that a complete different approach is possible. You just can't go wrong with Alain Delon, Romy Schneider and Jane Birkin! 

The very end was kind of disappointing at first, but as my father pointed out: "This ending is not about morale, it does not want to show you how you or a woman SHOULD act, but how you probably WOULD act." 

An 8 out of 10 for the movie I saw. It was a TV-Recut, so the theatre-cut is probably even better. Salut!

Quantum of Solace (2008)

final verdict for "Quantum of Solace" (2008): Not as good as Casino Royale, Bond is more ruthless than in Casino Royale which could be interpreted as character development, but is not. 

He is on his own little mission to avenge the death of Vesper and accepts wasting his probably only friend's life (that of Mathis), by using him as a shield as not to get shot himself? That's cheap. Also... What is it about quantum? We only hear of the organization itself ONCE when Greene is left in the desert and that's it. Could have left it out completely then if it has no relevance. Or is that your lame excuse for a cliffhanger? Is the next Bond fighting agains quantum finally who then in turn turn out to be the typical villain-schematic of prior bond movies? With space stations and underwater-cities and what do I know? Like the climax in a trilogy? That would ruin the new Bond completely. Just get a grip, give him some development and make him less ruthless next time. I seriously had the feeling it was a different character than in Casino Royale. 

The story was pretty intersting, maybe a bit hasty, the acting was okay, nothing special (although Kurylenko and Arterton should have switched roles for lack of talent on Kurylenko's side), the action was a little bit too fast for me. And the waste of the Aston Martin in the beginning just for the sake of it... Man.. Let's leave it here. I sort of liked the movie while it lasted, but there was too much bothering me thinking about it afterwards. 

5 out of 10. And that's probably already generous.

Network (1976)

final verdict for "Network" (1976): I don't do this often and it's never a good sign: Watch a movie in more than one sitting. But for this movie I needed 5! And In the end I gave up. 

I don't know how this incoherently written piece of crap got 4 academy awards and an IMDB Rating of above 8. The characters are flat at most, the so called story is ridiculuous, the dialogues are unimportant and there is so much inimportant bullshit going on that you tend to lose the main story line which sums up like this: "Young executive (f) turns a run-down tv-station into America's number one by inventing ridiculous shows and their alterations." The rest is distraction. 

Seriously, is every movie that will criticize modern media gonna be an instant classic? That's my only explanation for the misplaced fame for this movie. A shame it wasted so many good actor's potential. 

3/10. For Duvall, Dunawaye and Finch.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World (2010) Try 1

final verdict for "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World" (2010): Will have to wait as my receptory system is fucked up. 

Today's thumbs down to to two tall cups of coffee for fucking me and my bladder up and to crowded movie theaters for adding up to a mild claustrophobia. Today's thumbs up go to Wiebke T. for sitting through the movie with me despite being fucked up. 

Sorry for being so weird!

Waking Ned (1998)

final verdict for: "Waking Ned" (1998): I spent 0.50€ on this DVD and it seriously was one of the top 3 movies I have seen this year and that says a lot. 

Brilliant little story, great characters, beautiful camera work and musik. If you like humour from the isles (about as dark and witty as it gets), beautiful landscapes and a story that will give you a warm feeling then this movie is for you. 

 If this movie ever gets a digital remastering it will be a 10/10 until then it's a very good nine out of ten! 

Congratulations Ned!

27 dresses (2008)

final verdict for "27 Dresses": totally overrated, but I guess I'm not the target group. 3 out of 10.

Two for the Seesaw (1962)

final verdict for: "Two for the Seesaw": 7/8 of this movie were great, but the ending fucked a lot up and gave this movie that started out as a pledge to begin a new life a notion of the impossibility to destroy the bond of marriage. 

The cinematography was excellent, so was the music, both actors were absolutely convincing, although Mitchum's character was a little too witty and 50's husband for me, and then they had to ruin it all by saying: "Nothing will destroy the godly bond of marriage, so go back to your wife who you left because you were unhappy." 

Without the ending or with another one (not necessarily a happy ending though), this would have been an 8/10, but it's only a 5/10 like this.

Casino Royale (2006)

I hate to admit it, but "007-Casino Royale" is really well made and lacks the horrible ridiculousness of prior installments. 

Final verdict: 7 out of 10!, Well done, Mr Bond.

Inception (2010)

final verdict for "Inception": Mindblowing! 

This movie takes what "The 13th Floor" began, the "Matrix" failed to develop and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" elaborated on and lifted it to a whole new level, close to perfection. Only one or two minor plotholes keep this movie from a perfect score.

A 9.5 out of 10! Thank you Christopher Nolan!

Thank You for Smoking (2005)

Final verdict for "Thank you for Smoking": Overall pretty boring. 

The anti-attitude of the movie is refreshing at first, but the storytelling rather slow and the plot rather flat. Holmes performance is unconvincing and bears almost no importance whatsoever. 

This movie had good potential, but the format is to tight for it, it could have been a good mini series.

A weak 5 out of 10.

Accepted (2006)

Final verdict for "Accepted": Nice movie that made me smile. 

Completely unrealistic, especially when thinking about the end, but still a nice dream to get lost in while the movie lasted. Definitely one of the better college flicks I’ve seen in my life. Maybe I should have applied to the South Harmon Institute of Technology.

A seven out of ten.

The Shipping News (2001)

final verdict for "shipping news": Astonishing! It's a shame if I think about what a treasure I had undiscovered in my DVD Collection all those years!