Film Reviews

Reviews: BooksFilmsVideo Games
Last updated: Jan 15, 2023


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RSeriesFilmseenpubTagsLnotesShort Review:
The 6th Day32000Action, SchwarzeneggerENCloning – deep reflections on identity for a Schwarzenegger action movie.
13 Assassins42011HistoryJP
2152008CrimeENgoodThe inside-out on how to count cards in blackjack.
28L-128 Days Later52003Horror, ZombiesENgoodThe best “zombie” movie after the Spanish REC. As I recall, this was one of the first movies to feature fast zombies.
28L-228 Weeks Later22007Horror, ZombiesEN
30042006HistoryEN
2012320092009SciFi, DisasterENCGI overload… but not much else. [2009]
9th Company32005Drama, WarRU
A Cinema Prayer220192019Drama, True StoryEN
AI22001SciFi, AIEN
Alien-1Alien51992SciFiENgood
Alien-2Alien: Covenant320172017SciFiEN
AvP-1Alien vs. Predator52004SciFiENbestSo sue me, I loved it.
Alien Girl520142010CrimeRUgoodOne of my favorite “gangster” movies… authentic, no romanticism, and everyone meets a grisly end. [2014]
AP-1American Pie51999ComedyENbestProbably my favorite slapstick comedy to this day.
AP-2American Pie 242001ComedyEN
AP-3American Wedding42003ComedyEN
AP-4American Pie Presents: Band Camp32005ComedyEN
AP-5American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile32006ComedyEN
AP-6American Pie Presents: Beta House32007ComedyEN
An Inconvenient Truth22006DocumentaryEN
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy42004ComedyEN
ArcARCANE (2021+)5TV, Anime, SciFantasyEN
Arc-1Arcane: S1520232021TV, Anime, SciFantasyENgood
Arrival320182016SciFiENLower-budget Interstellar. It pretentiously tries to make deep points about the nature of communications with aliens, but fails to do so. [2018]
Avatar420092009SciFi, CameronENgoodSo much money sunk into it, it couldn’t help but be good. [2009]
Back to the Future420211985SciFi, ComedyEN
Barely Legal42011ComedyENGoofiest slapstick comedy.?
BatmanBatman: Dark Knight42008SciFi, Superheroes, NolanEN
BatmanBatman: Dark Knight Rises520172012SciFi, Superheroes, NolanEN
BatmanJoker [2019]520192019SciFi, SuperheroesENgoodSee main review: "This because The Joker is an unreliable narrator. That is the single most important observation about the film – the main character’s mental problems means we can’t know which of the scenes are real, and which are hallucinations or flights of fancy. The only thing we really know for sure is there is a mentally disturbed incel called Arthur Fleck who lives in a shitty apartment with his no less crazed mother, scraping by and trying to ends meet as best he can with his limited abilities in a metropolis that seems to be going down the dumps. He has a severe case of jungle fever for a neighboring single mother, whom he imagines going out with, only to be told to leave the one time he finds himself in her apartment. This narrative device leaves the audience free to interpret the film anyway they like."
Battle Royale52000SciFi, DystopiaENgoodHighly original concept that preceded the Hunger Games series. (Though Lukyanenko was probably first to this with his Knights of the 40 Islands).
Beowulf52007HistoryENgood
The Big Lebowski51998ComedyENbestWhite Russians are one of my favorite cocktails too.
Bodyguards and Assassins32009HistoryCNI was sympathizing with the assassins throughout. Good riddance to pro-Western traitors – the only sad thing was when they hoodwinked the mentally disabled giant into their loathsome schemes.
The Boondock Saints31999CrimeENOverrated. Ridiculous Russian accent, too.
Borat the Movie32006ComedyEN
The Bourne Identity42002Action, SpyEN
Bowling for Columbine12002DocumentaryEN
Braveheart41995HistoryEN
Brother41997CrimeRUgood"Не брат ты мне, гнида черножопая!"
The Brothers Bloom42008ComedyENgood
The Burning32009HorrorEN
Cannibal Holocaust11979HorrorENWTF
Capitalism: A Love Story32009DocumentaryEN
Cashback32006CrimeEN
Children of Men32006SciFi, DystopiaENThe natives aren’t reproducing, so hey, let’s invite in Infinity Third Worldners, not just our pensions but our very civilization depends on it! – hence, predictably hailed as a classic of our times.
Cliffhanger51993Action, StalloneENgood“Do you know what real love is, Kristel? Sacrifice.” Wise words.
Collateral Damage32002ActionEN
Commanding Heights: Battle for the World Economy520022002DocumentaryEN
C-1Conan the Barbarian31982Fantasy, SchwarzeneggerEN
C-2Conan the Destroyer31984Fantasy, SchwarzeneggerEN
C-3Red Sonja31985Fantasy, SchwarzeneggerEN
Contagion [2020]420202011SciFi, DisasterENSee main review.
The Crazies42010Horror, ZombiesEN
Cube-1Cube51997SciFiENgoodOne of the best sci-fi/horror concepts ever invented.
Cube-2Cube 2: Hypercube42002SciFiENgood
Cuties [2020]320202020DramaFRSee main review: "The latest conservative triggering is over a French film called Cuties (Mignonnes)… Conversely, this furore ensured that seems to have been a pretty marginal and ultimately mediocre European “arthouse” film will have been seen by millions more people than would have watched it otherwise. … So what is Cuties? It is a film about Amy, an 11 year old girl, clumsily trying to reconcile her Senegalese Muslim immigrant identity with the thrills and vapidities of life in secular France by joining an all-female dance troupe… the supreme irony of Cuties is that it is too politically incorrect, with its criticism of patriarchal Muslim culture and implicit (if inadvertent) HBD realism, to have been made in the United States."
Dark Planet520222009SciFi, DystopiaRUbest
DD-1Night of the Living Dead41968Horror, ZombiesEN
DD-2Dawn of the Dead51978Horror, ZombiesEN
DD-3Day of the Dead21985Horror, ZombiesEN
DD-4Land of the Dead22005Horror, ZombiesEN
DD-5Diary of the Dead32007Horror, ZombiesEN
DD-6Day of the Dead22008Horror, ZombiesEN
The Day After Tomorrow52004SciFi, DisasterENgoodThe science is from Hollywood, but the character interactions, visuals, and suspenseful plot were all top notch.
Dead Season21969Horror, ZombiesEN
Dead Snow32009Horror, ZombiesEN
Death Proof42007Horror, Zombies, Tarantino
Deep Blue Sea41999SciFiENgood
Deep Impact31998SciFi, DisasterEN
The Descent52005HorrorENbestOne of the best horror movies I can recall watching.
The Devil Wears Prada52006Drama, ComedyEN
The Diamond Arm31969CrimeRUClassic Soviet comedy, though overrated.
The Dictator12012ComedyENCould Sasha-Baron Cohen kill himself already.
Django Unchained220122012History, TarantinoEN
Doom22005SciFiEN
Dr. Strangelove51964ComedyENbestThis is quite simply the best comedy ever made.
Dracula51973Horror, VampiresENgoodThis is my favorite vampire movie of all time, though perhaps only because I watched it when I was a child.
Drunken Master41978Action, Martial ArtsEN
Enter the Dragon41973Action, Martial ArtsEN
Equilibrium42002SciFi, DystopiaENgoodNot brilliant, but… GUN KATA! How cool is that?
EuroTrip420202004ComedyEN
Ex Machina520152015SciFi, AIENbestThis entire movie can be viewed as a metaphor for the AI control problem, and it handles it brilliantly… just imagine the billionaire brogrammer’s mansion as the “black box”, and the naked cyborg women as the AI. [2015]
The Expendables32010ActionEN
The Expendables 232012ActionEN
Fahrenheit 91152004DocumentaryEN
The Fall of an Empire: Lessons from Byzantium [2009]320092009DocumentaryRUSee main review.
Far Cry32008SciFiENUwe Boll is so bad… that he is good. I love Boll.
The Fifth Element51997SciFiENgoodHave nice recollections of watching this ages ago. One of the best comedic sci-fi movies.
FAWLTY TOWERS (1975-1979)4TV, ComedyENtheseries
Fight Club51999DramaENgoodUnleash your primal instincts! The cult classic status of the movie is beyond dispute.
Forrest Gump320171994ComedyENThe funny moments are marred by the fact that Jenny very obviously cucked the poor retard after hitting the wall and we are supposed to celebrate that. Shit values dressed up in can-do ‘Murica!nism. [2017]
Frozen520102010HorrorENgoodIn a powerful troll move, the skiing club I was in at university played it on our bus trip to a ski resort. This is a very corny movie, too ridiculous to be truly scary, but some of the girls begged to differ. [2010]
GoTGAME OF THRONES (2011-2019)52018TV, FantasyENtheseries
GoT-1Game of Thrones: S1520132011TV, FantasyENbestThese were all very good when D&D still had access to the source material. But then it all went downhill…
GoT-2Game of Thrones: S2520132012TV, FantasyENbest
GoT-3Game of Thrones: S3520132013TV, FantasyENbest
GoT-4Game of Thrones: S4520142014TV, FantasyENbest
GoT-5Game of Thrones: S5420152015TV, FantasyENgood
GoT-6Game of Thrones: S6 [2017]420162016TV, FantasyENgoodSee main review.
GoT-7Game of Thrones: S7 [2019]220172017TV, FantasyENSee main review.
GoT-8Game of Thrones: S8 [2019]120192019TV, FantasyENSee main review.
Ghost in the Shell320172017SciFiENFrom what I understand this is a perversion of the anime. [2017]
Girls11961ComedyRU
Gladiator420202000HistoryEN
GF-1The Godfather520201972CrimeENbestDeserves its plaudits as the best crime/mafia film ever made, having introduced a huge number of tropes into Anglo culture: I will make you an offer that can’t be refused; swimming with the fishes; revenge is a dish best served cold; it’s not personal, it’s strictly business. [2020]
Graveyard Shift31990HorrorEN
Grindhouse: Death Proof/Planet Terror32007HorrorEN
Grizzly Man320212005DocumentaryENOne observation I made is that Grizzly Man was kind of... insane. Many places of the world, someone with his level of impudence would get killed a lot quicker by humans than by bears. It's amazing that he lasted this long and a testament to ursine tolerance.
H&K-1Harold and Kumar go to White Castle52004ComedyEN
H&K-2Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay32008ComedyEN
HP-1Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone52001FantasyENgood
HP-2Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets52002FantasyENgood
HP-3Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban52004FantasyEN
HP-4Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire52005FantasyENgood
HP-6Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince52009FantasyENgood
HP-5Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix52007FantasyEN
HP-7Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I52010FantasyEN
HP-8Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II52011FantasyEN
Hero52002HistoryCN
Hb-1The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey42012Fantasy, JacksonENStarted out well, but ended on a sour note, awkward CGI overload failing to make up for it.
Hb-2The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug32013Fantasy, JacksonEN
Hb-3The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies22014Fantasy, JacksonEN
The Hole52001HorrorENgoodOne of the best psychological thrillers.
Home Alone41990ComedyEN
The Horde42012HistoryRU
The Human Centipede12002HorrorENOne of the most fucked up films.
HG-1The Hunger Games32012SciFi, DystopiaEN
HG-2The Hunger Games: Catching Fire32013SciFi, DystopiaEN
I Am Legend32007SciFi, Post-ApocEN
I, Robot22004SciFiEN
Idiocracy52006SciFiENbestThis "film" is a documentary!
IJ-1Raiders of the Lost Ark41981ActionEN
IJ-2Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom41984ActionEN
IJ-4Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull22008ActionEN
Inception52010SciFi, NolanENgoodOne of the best “mind-bending” movies.
Independence Day31996SciFi, DisasterEN
Interstellar520172014SciFi, NolanENgoodNolan is great, as usual. [2017]
Iron Man32008SciFi, SuperheroesEN
Ironclad52011HistoryEN
Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future51973ComedyRUbestThe best Soviet/Russian comedy? At least, that’s my opinion.
Jackass: The Movie22002ComedyEN
JB-1Dr. No41962Action, SpyEN
JB-2From Russia with Love51963Action, SpyENgood
JB-3Goldfinger51964Action, SpyEN
JB-4Thunderball41965Action, SpyEN
JB-5You Only Live Twice51967Action, SpyEN
JB-6On Her Majesty’s Secret Service51969Action, SpyEN
JB-7Diamonds are Forever41971Action, SpyEN
JB-8Live and Let Die41973Action, SpyEN
JB-9The Man with the Golden Gun31974Action, SpyEN
JB-10The Spy Who Loved Me41977Action, SpyEN
JB-11Moonraker31979Action, SpyEN
JB-12For Your Eyes Only41981Action, SpyEN
JB-13Octopussy41983Action, SpyEN
JB-14A View to a Kill31985Action, SpyEN
JB-15The Living Daylights31987Action, SpyEN
JB-16Licence to Kill31989Action, SpyEN
JB-17GoldenEye41995Action, SpyEN
JB-18Tomorrow Never Dies41997Action, SpyEN
JB-19The World Is Not Enough41999Action, SpyEN
JB-20Die Another Day52002Action, SpyENbestThe best “modern” JB movie. I consider the North Korean “villain” to be the real antihero.
JB-21Casino Royale520062006Action, SpyENgood
JB-22Quantum of Solace320222008Action, SpyENThe music is really good, but otherwise unremarkable, unexplained ubiquitous power of Spectre.
JB-23Skyfall220122012Action, SpyEN
JB-24Spectre320222015Isn't this supposed to be a spy movie, as opposed to an action one?
JB-25No Time to Die420232021Action, SpyENChemistry between JB and Madeleine Swann could have been developed better, and villain wasn't exploited as he could have been. Still, a fitting final send-off to JB.
JP-1Jurassic Park51993SciFiENgood
JP-2The Lost World: Jurassic Park31997SciFiEN
JP-4Jurassic World320152015SciFiENEither I overestimated the first firm due to an impressionable young memory, or this one was decidedly underwhelming. [2015]
KEEPING UP APPEARANCES (1990-1995)3TV, ComedyENtheseries
KB-1Kill Bill: Vol. 142003Action, Martial Arts, TarantinoEN
KB-2Kill Bill: Vol. 242004Action, Martial Arts, TarantinoEN
Kin-dza-dza!21986SciFiRU
Kingdom of Heaven32005HistoryEN
The Last Samurai22003HistoryEN
Legend of Kolovrat [2017]520172017HistoryRUSee main review. Russia’s 300, Ironclad, and Valhalla Rising. Swords like in The Witcher.
Leviathan [2021]320202014Drama, ArthouseRUSee main review.
Lifeforce220201985SciFiEN
Life After People42010DocumentaryEN
The Life of Brian51979ComedyENgood
Loose Change42006Documentary, ConspiracyEN
LotR-1LotR: The Fellowship of the Ring52001Fantasy, JacksonENbestA solid and remarkably faithful adaptation of Tolkien’s masterpiece... hard to imagine same director filmed The Hobbit.
LotR-2LotR: The Two Towers52002Fantasy, JacksonENbest
LotR-3LotR: The Return of the King52003Fantasy, JacksonENbest
Lord of War52005DramaENgoodLoved the story, if not the vacuous moralism, which became too overt at the end.
Machete22010ActionEN
MM-1Mad Max41979SciFi, Post-ApocEN
MM-4Mad Max: Fury Road520152015SciFi, Post-ApocENgoodDoof Warrior was the best. [2015]
The Man with the Gun11938HistoryRU
The Martian [2015]420152015SciFiENreviewedSee main review: "Making the story of one solitary man’s struggle to survive is not a enviable task, but the creators pull it off with ample wit and verve. The protagonist Mark Watney is constantly cracking Nerd Lite jokes with himself and mission control in his struggle with the remorseless but indifferent main villain, the Red Planet itself. … At its root, it is a highly optimistic, positive, and inspirational story about the victory of technology and human ingenuity over the challenges posed by the last frontier. There should be more of these kinds of cultural products for civilization to continue to flourish."
M-1The Matrix51999SciFi, CyberpunkENbestProbably my all time favorite film.
M-2The Matrix Reloaded52003SciFi, CyberpunkENbest
M-3The Matrix Revolutions52003SciFi, CyberpunkENbest
M-3+The Animatrix42003SciFi, AnimeEN
Max Payne42008SciFiEN
Minority Report22002SciFiEN
Mortal Engines220192018SciFi, Post-Apoc, JacksonENThey obviously banked on this being allowed in China, where tastes are even shallower than in the West. They failed. [2019]
Mortal Kombat: The Movie21995FantasyEN
The Name of the Rose520051986HistoryENgoodI recall this as one of the best films. [2005]
National Lampoon’s Animal House520161978ComedyENgood
NW-1The Night Watch52004FantasyRUSolid Russian urban fantasy film with CGI comparable to films 10x as expensive.
Ocean’s Eleven51960CrimeENgoodPerhaps the best “heist” film I ever watched. It’s nice to observe how casino operators in 1950s America cared about the financial health of their clients.
Office Space51999ComedyENbestPerhaps the best office comedy.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood320192019Drama, TarantinoENIs Tarantino developing a reactionary streak as he approaches old age? [2019]
Operation Y and Shurik’s Other Adventures51965ComedyRU
Overboard320171987ComedyEN
Paris32008DramaFR
The Passion of the Christ32004HistoryEN
PEEP SHOW (2003-2015)5TV, ComedyENtheseries
The Pianist52002HistoryENbestMy favorite Holocaust film, more so than Schindler’s List.
Pirates of the 20th Century41979ActionRUgoodA classic Soviet comedy/action movie.
PotC-1Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest42006FantasyEN
PotC-3Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End42007FantasyEN
Predator41987SciFiEN
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time32010FantasyEN
Pulp Fiction51994Crime, TarantinoENbestProbably my favorite Tarantino movie.
Q-2Quarantine 2: The Terminal42011Horror, ZombiesEN
REC52007Horror, ZombiesESbestThis is, in my opinion, the best zombie movie ever made. Step aside Romero.
Red Heat31988Action, SchwarzeneggerEN
RLD-1The Return of the Living Dead41985Horror, Comedy, ZombiesENVery corny and good. Nice music.
Reservoir Dogs31992Crime, TarantinoENKinda overrated? Tarantino will only get worse.
RE-1Resident Evil42002Horror, Zombies, KunisENgood
RE-2Resident Evil: Apocalypse52004Horror, Zombies, KunisENbest
RE-3Resident Evil: Extinction32007Horror, Zombies, KunisEN
RE-3+Resident Evil: Degeneration22008Horror, Zombies, KunisEN
RE-5Resident Evil: Retribution22012Horror, Zombies, KunisEN
The Road220092009SciFi, Post-ApocEN
The Road to Perdition32002CrimeEN
The Running Man31987SciFi, DystopiaEN
Sw-1Saw I32004HorrorEN
Sw-2Saw II32005HorrorEN
Sw-3Saw III32006HorrorENThe best film in this morbid series.
Sw-4Saw VI32007HorrorEN
Sw-5Saw V32008HorrorEN
Sw-6Saw VI32009HorrorEN
Schindler’s List51993History, SpielbergENgoodSpielberg clearly pretending to his "classic" here and TBF he succeeded plus or minus.
The Shawshank Redemption51994DramaENgood
The Shining51980HorrorENgood
Slumdog Millionaire42008DramaEN
Snakes on a Plane32006ActionEN
Snowden320162016Drama, True StoryENDon’t know the extent to which it was factual, but it struck me as plausible. Some natsec honcho: “In 20 years, no one will care about Iraq”; China, Russia are the real threats.
Snowpiercer520202013SciFi, DystopiaENgoodGeoengineering attempt to stop global warming goes very wrong, as Earth turns into a snowball instead. The last humans survive in a caste-based society on a train circumnavigating the globe every few months, and are ruled over by an eccentric billionaire/inventor called Wilford (Willy Wonka’s successor?). So, “Bioshock on Rails.” Excellent fight scenes, good pacing, and absurdist humor are partly negated by a surfeit of plot holes.
The Social Network520102010Drama, True StoryEN
Solaris22002SciFiEN
Species420201995SciFi, HorrorENCut above the typical horror B-movie. The idea of an existential risk transmitted as a message from outer space is a plausible and dangerous one, even if unlikely to be accomplished within 1/4 of a kilobyte – concept clearly borrows from Hoyle's A for Andromeda. [2020]
Stalker51979SciFi, TarkovskyRUbestThough this is generally an inane genre, this is one of the best “existentialist” movies. It is amazing how much hidden (and not so much) ideological subversion the USSR let Tarkovsky get away with.
SW-4Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace31999SciFiEN
SW-5Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones32002SciFiEN
SW-6Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith32005SciFiEN
SW-7Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens220172015SciFiENVery boring, SJwish consoomer trash that is going down the gutter because of Russian Nazis (who else?) bombing reviews. [2017]
ST-1Starship Troopers420181997SciFi, VerhoevenENWhile Heinlein’s original is ultimately a celebration of martial values, the movie is instead a satire on war and patriotism in the style of a Hollywood sci-fi B movie. It accomplishes what it sets out to do. [2018]
Super Size Me320202004DocumentaryEN
T-1The Terminator41984SciFi, AIEN
T-2Terminator 2: Judgment Day51991SciFi, AI, CameronENbest
T-3Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines32003SciFi, AIEN
Texas Chainsaw Massacre22003HorrorEN
Threads51984SciFi, DisasterENbestThis BBC semi-documentary on the after effects of nuclear war is better than any nuclear apocalypse movie. Just watch it already.
Titanic41997DramaEN
To Live21994HistoryCNLook, I am obviously not a fan of Maoism, but this is just propaganda. Might be a good movie if made less overt.
Total Recall51990SciFi, SchwarzeneggerENgoodPerhaps the best Schwarzenegger movie. “You haven’t been told enough to think.”
Tremors41990HorrorEN
True Lies41994Action, SchwarzeneggerEN
Twins31988Comedy, SchwarzeneggerEN
US-2Under Siege 2: Dark Territory51995ActionENgood“Assumption is the mother of all fuckups.”
U-1Underworld42003Horror, VampiresEN
U-2Underworld: Evolution32006Horror, VampiresEN
U-3Underworld: Rise of the Lycans22009Horror, VampiresEN
Valhalla Rising22009HistoryEN
The Wandering Earth [2019]320192019SciFiCNreviewedSee main review. Chinese sci-fi makes its big debut on the world cinematographic stage – but falls flat on characterization.
Wanted42008ActionEN
THE WALKING DEAD (2010-2022)3TV, Horror, ZombiesENtheseries
WD-1The Walking Dead: S1320122010TV, Horror, ZombiesEN
WHEEL OF TIME (2021+)12021TV, FantasyENtheseries
Wheel of Time: S1 [2022]120212021TV, FantasyENreviewedSee main review.
White Sun of the Desert41970DramaRU
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory51971Comedy, FantasyEN
THE WITCHER (2019+)320202019TV, FantasyENtheseries
The Witcher: S1220202019TV, FantasyENPros: Perfectly caste Geralt of Rivia.
Cons: Mostly bad dialogue, many cringe moments. Gratuitous enforcement of diversity quotas killed immersion.
Wolf of Wall Street520172013DramaENbest
World War Z320132013Horror, ZombiesENBrooks had deserved success with the Zombie Survival Guide, and milked it for all it was worth with the mediocre World War Z. The film is not significantly better. While the visuals are memorable, it is riddled with massive plot holes and colored by painfully obvious and belabored propaganda of progressivism and Zionism.
xXx32002ActionEN
YERMAK51996TV, HistoryRUgood