TOTALLY UNECESSARY

Ben Affleck as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor? This cast can not be fixed even by Zack Snyder or the three hour script that consists of random events without any significance or connection between them.

At the very heart of the plot is a conflict between the Dark Knight and beloved Man of Steel, both drowning in their egos. Powers the Superman posesses are the very powers the Batman wishes to destroy. Elongated and overbored script filled with cathastrophically annoying Eisenberg and traditionally flat-lined Affleck finally leads to the great conflict at the end which solves nothing, serving only to introduce a plethora of new characters in the endless number of DC comics sequels to come.

The world just doesn't need „Batman vs Superman” franchise, nor does it need „The dawn of justice”.

BATMAN VS SUPERMAN: THE DAWN OF JUSTICE - 2/10

FOTO: i.onionstatic.com

YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ’ROUND

„X-men: First class”  was one of the best reboots in the past decade, alongside „Batman begins” and „Star trek”. Already „The days of the future past” was a subject of quality slump and that intention continued with „Apocalypse”.

Everything we saw in the previous five parts of this mutant saga, repeats itself in the sixth one as well. Shifty characters, huge explosions, massive showdown at the end. Nothing new, nothing special. Even the brilliant cast (Fassbender, McAvoy) fails to express themselves in such a modest script.

You can choose to watch „X-men: Apocalypse” or you can choose not to watch it. It won't make any difference in your life.

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE - 4/10

FOTO: static.independent.co.uk

ACTUALLY NOT THAT BAD

Computer game-based movie is always a bad idea, primarily due to the fact that 99.9% of computer games have banal and empty plots.

„Warcraft” is one of those games, based on the orc invading a imaginery human world called Azareth. However, the movie isn't that bad after all. At least, if you adapt your expectations.

I'm not a fan of the „Warcraft” world, but the Duncan Jones's movie decently amused me. CGI was great, there was even some characterization and indication of real life plots and casting was ok (Travis Fimmel, Ben Foster).

„Warcraft” was a pleasant surprise, overcoming (to be honest) really low expectations.

WARCRAFT - 6/10

FOTO: static5.gamespot.com

A HUGE REFRESHMENT TO THE GENRE

Super hero movies are a thing of the past. Bled dry for over a decade, the entire genre is now officially dead. Or maybe not, judging by the most refreshing exception that we have seen in years.

„Deadpool”.

Despite the totally unattractive trailer, Ryan Raynolds managed to lift the head of the entire genre above the water with his hillarious story about the grumpy and ironic super hero seeking revenge for the mutilation suffered in a illegal mutant laboratory. The script manages to laugh your heart out throughout the entire course of the movie, elevating Deadpool above the average super hero standardised characterization.

Go to the movies and watch „Deadpool”. Even if you hate super hero movies, you will be amused. Very amused.

DEADPOOL - 8/10

FOTO: static2.hypable.com

CORNY COPY-PASTE FOR CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DISORDER

Reboot of a reboot. Written on paper, it sounds even more paradoxical and bound to fail.

On the other hand, „Star wars” franchise can issue a toilet paper with its logo and it will still be a best selling article, so another trip to the George Lucas's universe was imminent, regardless of die hard fans heavy criticism of flicks made in the early 2000s.

Hyped beyond belief and with a marketing cunami behind it, „The Force awakens” again smashed box-offices around the world and did it without anyone even raising a question of utter siginificance:

„What the hell are we even watching here?”

And we were watching a total absence of any developed script, charismatic new character or even a indication of a decent fun/spectacle. Over two and a half hours of random events, empty dialogues and total absence of any rhythm or caring what will happen next.

„Star Wars: The Force awakens” is a „Star wars” for the new generation of children, lacking any criteria and suffering from some serious attention disorder.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - 1/10

FOTO: cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net

WISH IT NEVER ENDED

If you ask the pop-rock fans, electronic music isn't music. It isn't conceeded in a classical way, it doesn't include analogue instruments/melody/words and it is just too artificial.

On the other hand, French electronic duo consisting of Thomas Bangalter and  Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo (aka „Daft Punk”) is one of those rare „bands” that bridge the world of „old” and „new” music fans. Story about them starts in the world of classical  rock instruments and leads us towards the concept of total digitalization (robots) and anonymity (masks). The road will be paved with glory, enlightened by a interesting variety of associates (Giorgio Moroder, Nile Rodgers) and contemporaries (Skrillex, Pharrell, Kanye West), only to be wrapped up with a somewhat eery open question about their future plans and artistic concepts.

„Daft Punk unchained” is a fascinating and totally different story about the originality and art in the modern world and should be viewed by everyone who consider themselves a musical fan.

DAFT PUNK UNCHAINED - 8/10

FOTO: docnrollfestival.com

INSIGHT TO THE WORLD OF PURE CREATIVITY

Nick Cave is a fascinating character, even for today's standards. A man who never made compromises and led his career more as a baroque poet than a rock'n'roll frontman.

„20.000 days on Earth” is the first authorized movie story about Nick Cave's demons, drug addiction, idols and most importantly, the process of making his music and lyrics. Somewhat frightening character of the famous Australian will forever be tranquilised by this flick, giving us the best insight into his private world up to this date and releasing his pure genius onto the screen before us.

Whether you like Nick Cave and his music or not, you should watch „20.000 days on Earth”, a fascinating story about the dying breed of geniuses.

20.000 DAYS ON EARTH - 6/10

FOTO: i.telegraph.co.uk

ABOUT A GENIUS AND A MADMAN

Documentary about the life of Marlon Brando is as pretentious as it gets. That's why the choice of focusing on the endless sea of tape recordings made by the great actor himself tends to relief the entire concept to a certain level.

The viewer will get a somewhat eery collection of Brando's thoughts which span from authorised interviews to a complete jibberish talk towards the end of his life. There will be some true words of wisdom about the acting process and the fame that followed him, but also some disbanded thoughts that reflect the total chaos in his private life.

„Listen to me, Marlon” is a must see documentary for the fans of Mr. Brando, but also an interesting insight in his fascinating and frightening mind for everyone else.

LISTEN TO ME, MARLON - 7/10

FOTO: bluespill.co.uk

QUASI INTELLECTUAL

Vintage cinema was all about the script while the modern tends to blind the viewer with luminosity of the production.

The story about one of the best selling authors of modern US novel arena, David Lipsky (Jason Segel) and his interview with the „Rolling Stone” reporter (overly irritating Jesse Eisenberg) tends to overdo with the script, suffocating intself with an endless cocktail of pretentious intellectual dialogues leading nowhere.

Although it could have been a great, „The end of the tour” is just one boring indie flick.

THE END OF THE TOUR - 2/10

FOTO: chicdarling.com

WHAT INDIE SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT

Dramas are like life, often lacking the sense and the relief of a disclosure. The story about the troubled kids and the volounteers in a private accomodation for them is one of those real life lessons that you get in a so called „small cinema”.

Work, try hard, give your best. As simple as that. As so is the production, the acting (led by Brie Larson and Remi Malek) and the overall sense of unpretentiousness.

At the end, there's no real end to „Short term 12”. Just an endless process of repeating. Just as is the way of getting to know the endless world of indie cinema.

SHORT TERM 12 - 6/10

FOTO: filmgrab.files.wordpress.com

A LATE STARTER

The horror genre is in a sharp decline over the past couple of decades, but things are looking a little less grim over the past two years. Reason for that lays in the smaller scale productions, which seem to be accepting the role of its saviour.

Less money means less effects and more brains. So, there's fewer gore in „The invitation” and more dialogues. They are however, too slow and too empty, even for an indie flick. Overall sense of anxiety picks up the pace at the very end, with the final scene stealing the show. Everything else in between isn't as amusing and as scary as it should be.

„The invitation” is just that. A starter for the real thing which, sadly, doesn't happen.

THE INVITATION - 4/10

FOTO: trailers.apple.com

PLAIN DISGUSTING

Child abuse in Catholic church is one of the most popular movie themes in past couple of decades, following the opening of Vatican secret files as well as the global media coverage expansion. The subject itself is deeply disturbing, often treansferring to serious nausea when confronting tha average viewer to the heartbreaking testimonies of the victims.

Argentinian „El Club” follows somewhat different path, depicting a Catholic detention for the proven child abusers in a God forsaken small port city. Former priests live in an undisturbed harmony that will change after the coming of one of the victims that begins to haunt each and everyone of them.

Dialogues between him and the priests revolve solely around his explicit and stomach twisting testimonies that are partially duplicated by the young priest that investigates the case of suicide of one the detentees.

At the end, „El Club” is a movie intended to shock and disgust you, not alert or educate you.

EL CLUB - 5/10

FOTO: media.victoriaadvocate.com

BRUTAL DEPICTION

Transition. A simple word, a process that every Eastern European country must follow to change its laws and level of law obedience if it wants to become a member of European Union.

Romania is one of those societies, and „Why me?” follows the true story about the young prosecutor set to erradicate corruption personified in his older colleague in a provincial city.  Tripped on every step by his superiors, betrayed by his friends and spouse, young Christian Panduru (Emilian Oprea) will go along the well known path of consistency, followed by self-doubt that ultimately leads to tragedy.

Drama and suspense will be painted on a consternated Emilian's face, giving the necessary depth to the (unfortunately) too well known script.

„Why me?” is a must see for all the people from Eastern Europe and other „transitional states”.

DE CE EU? - 8/10

FOTO: gratieluimihailescu.ro