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Hancock, a review by Tom

Title: Hancock
Year: 2008
Director: Peter Berg
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 102 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.40
Audio: English: Dolby Digital TrueHD, Other: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital TrueHD, Russian: Dolby Digital 5.1, Other: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Greek, Hindi, Norwegian, Other, Swedish, Turkish

Stars:
Will Smith
Charlize Theron
Jason Bateman
Jae Head
Eddie Marsan

Extras:
Featurettes
Scene Access
Trailers

Luckily, when I first went to watch this movie, I already heard, that this movie goes in a different direction than the trailer promises. And I enjoyed this movie. The only thing which really bothers me a little (the first time around and now) is the ending. I like the ending, but I thought the camera stayed too long on Will Smith and Charlize Theron (alternating) and combined with the use of slow motion, it was a little over-dramatic. I think the scene would have been much better, if it were faster cut. But other than this, I thought it is a fun take on the superheroes genre. I like the "origin story" of Hancock. A little different than most of the recent Superhero movies.
I just remembered another thing, which I do not like. It has been added to this extended version (luckily there is also the regular version on the Blu-ray disc). It's the scene, where Hancock has sex with the woman in the beginning and is having some "super sperm". This is a scene which belongs into movies like "Scary Movie" and not here.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 17th, 2009)

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Thailand
wikipedia

What We Watched:


Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives  (Loong Boonmee raleuk chat)
Year of Release: 2010
Directed By: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Starring: Thanapat Saisaymar, Jenjira Pongpas, Sakda Kaewbuadee, Natthakarn Aphaiwonk
Genre: Drama, Fantasy

Overview:
UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES is a unique tale of a man embracing life's greatest mystery. Choosing to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside, Boonmee is visited by his dead wife (a ghost) and his lost son (a strange hairy beast with red glowing eyes) who come to guide him to his final resting place, a cave where his first soul began. With a wry sense of humor and a humanist spirit, UNCLE BOONMEE, one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year, is a magical tale of reincarnation, karma and nature.

My Thoughts:
This is a beautiful film.  Let me say that first.  The cinematography is gorgeous.  There are parts in this film that are just about the most beautiful I've seen on film.

That being said, this isn't a film for everyone.  It's definitely for the art film crowd.  It's slow and there's not much plot.  It's also fascinating.

It's a spiritual reflection, a mediation on the interconnectedness of life and death, spirit and body, man and nature, dream and reality, living and dead, natural and supernatural.  It's a film where the boundaries are blurry between all of these things, and where all of them are equal in value.  Where the equality of life is for both the man and the insect, and an exploration of karma doesn't just consider intention, but must also consider action.  It offers an interesting look at Thai culture and Buddhist spirituality,
and that I really enjoyed.

My one complaint, really, is that I would have included some of the deleted scenes, and I would have ended it sooner (in the cave).  I really felt the last sequence of scenes detracted from the film, and they are the reason I'm not giving it a 4.  Your mileage here may vary.  Recommended for the art film crowd only.

Bechdel Test:  Fail

Overall: 3.75/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on January 22nd, 2015)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Many refugess are gathering in sector 83, where the Shadows have not yet attacked. But Sheridan expects an attack on that sector soon. So he assembles a fleet of Minbari ships and ships of the non-alligned worlds to protect the refugees. Meanwhile Dr. Franklin is still on Walkabout.

My opinion: Babylon 5 has a great way of showing fantastic space battles but never fails to show the price, too. The view of that many destroyed ships is terrible and yet awesome.


Synopsis: Anna Sheridan has returned from Z'ha'dum. She is an ambassador of the Shadows and she tries to convince John that the Shadows are not the evil race the Vorlons and Minbari say they are. And John went with her to Z'ha'dum.

My opinion: "If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die." And he died. Great season finale. Finally we understand why the Shadows do what they do, but does he end justifies the means? I think not. And that includes the means of the Vorlons, too.

Season analysis: Best season of Babylon 5. It feels as if it were made out of one piece. And n fact it is, JMS has written the entire season himself. Yes, there were weaker episodes in it but I have yet failed to hear of a perfect TV show season but bottom line is that was one of the best Sci-Fi show seasons. And I know quite a lot of Sci-Fi shows.

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on September 10th, 2007)