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In this case, I deliberately abstain from giving a rating because I’m at a loss. West Side Story feels to me like a museum piece that undoubtedly has value as a historical statement about choreography and the musical style of the late 1950s and early 1960s. I wouldn’t mind watching it as part of a film club for cinephile enthusiasts. However, as a piece meant to entertain and resonate with today’s audience, it does not work at all. Grease, which is 45 years old, remains fully functional, playful, and five-star, whereas West Side Story feels outdated in its choreography and naive in its message. I’m familiar with it from the stage as well, and thanks to modern adaptations, it was far more bearable there. I believe the film deserves a high-quality remake. This time, I’ll forgo an overall impression.

I didn't expect a groundbreaking film from Fede Alvarez that would push the boundaries of the genre and elevate the Alien theme to a new level. However, I secretly hoped he could rely on solid craftsmanship and create a functional genre film that would pay homage to the original series and overcome the bitter taste left by Ridley Scott's ambitious yet unfortunate attempts. With several reservations, I believe that as a summer genre flick meant for entertainment, Alvarez's work holds up. His approach clearly targets a young audience that drives movie theater attendance, and this is reflected in his choice of characters. The actors certainly don't perform poorly, but their characters are bland, and the chemistry between them is lacking. Alvarez doesn't attempt to bring an original auteur style, but instead continually winks at the series' fans, trying to evoke everything that once worked on screen. He successfully builds horror tension, particularly during the phase where a group of desperate individuals infiltrates an abandoned base, navigating through debris and exploring the unknown spaces of a giant wreck. However, since Alvarez is making a film for teenagers, he needs to accelerate the plot, even at the expense of basic logic and the legacy of the first installment. Facehuggers gain the speed of a racing motorcycle, and a human mutant transforms from a newborn into a giant creature within two minutes. Nevertheless, as an adventurous action sci-fi with good production design, the film reliably works. If I were to measure the film by the standards I apply to smart, top-tier productions, my rating would drop. But for what Romulus aims to be, it fulfills its purpose. Since my initial expectations were low and, not least, because film fans have very few reasons to visit the movie theater nowadays, I raise my final verdict to four stars and a 70% overall impression.

Powerful not in concept, but in content and confrontation with Western lifestyles and values. It showcases a society rooted in traditions and a rigid caste system, which does not hesitate to harshly suppress liberal tendencies within relationships and family dynamics. Some passages offer a truly chilling account of the murder and torture of those who express a desire for personal happiness and freedom from religious and cultural rules. Overall impression: 90%.

One star is for the inclusion of the music video Smooth Criminal. Otherwise, it is the ultimate essence of pathos and kitsch in a dosage rarely seen. A pop culture phenomenon that, due to the creators' lack of judgment, became annoying. Musical films usually have a problem with a script that can meaningfully connect the musical numbers. Here, it seems to me that the script is completely absent, or rather, it was created during one alcohol-soaked evening. Overall impression: 25%.

From John Erick Dowdle, I had previously seen only the film Devil, which within its genre managed to function relatively well, featuring a decent atmosphere and a plot that wasn't offensive. However, his subsequent work As Above, So Below represents a dignified fall in quality in every respect, descending somewhere into the lowest levels. I'm not fond of using strongly emotionally charged outbursts of dissatisfaction, but here, the loss of my time really hurts and leads me to want to curse loudly. The film reminds me of a creation by a group of enthusiasts who, without any experience or support, made a video for their own amusement. On the same day I saw Hereditary by the talented Ari Aster, which surpasses Dowdle's chaotic, poorly edited desperation by several classes. On databases, they have nearly identical ratings... Well, I guess I don't have to understand everything... Overall impression: zero out of zero.

The film is full of famous names that shaped the face of French cinema over the last 50 years, often at the beginning of their stellar careers. However, its interest - and in a way, its importance - lies elsewhere. It adeptly (if unintentionally) captures the transformation that the intellectual left-wing scene underwent since the pivotal protest year of 1968. Originally, the left was a protest movement that opposed the system, aiming to dismantle it or at least radically transform it. Over two decades, the left completely dominated university grounds, with its progressive graduates integrating into the system and gradually becoming the establishment. This brought about a complete transformation not of society itself, but of the themes and approach of the left, which began to accommodate the needs of its affluent and self-assured members. Social and class conflicts receded into the background, making way for ecology, feminism, and minority protection. Jean-Claude and Pierrot are typical heroes of that original anti-system left and representatives of its values. Unconventional, radical, and disregarding traditional morality, they take from people and life what they deem appropriate. The film's director and screenwriter, embodying these characters, views their actions with a kind understanding. They steal a car, and the owner who tries to stop them is depicted as a despicable bourgeois property owner. Women are mere consumer goods for the successful duo, serving exclusively to satisfy their needs. Icons of that era's leftist movement were often self-centered macho men expecting women to admire them and cater to their needs, which is reflected in the film, where women are fascinated by their dominant behavior and allow themselves to be exploited. Depardieu, I believe, never played such a repulsive creature again, despite having numerous negative roles to his name. Regarding the film's cinematic aspects, I see nothing exceptional or deviating from the French film productions of the 1970s. Due to its unpleasant - and from today's perspective, problematic - content, I cannot give it a higher overall impression than 40%.

Fans of Dumas' might not agree, but "The Three Musketeers" is at best "just" period-conditioned consumable reading, excessively naive and heavily romanticized. Directors attempting to adapt the book were aware of its limitations and the resulting risks for today's audience, often opting for exaggeration and comedic stylization. Martin Bourboulon takes a different approach, opting for a "serious" adventure-romantic treatment lined with a star-studded cast and solid production design. It's arguably the "dirtiest" and most raw treatment of the material I've encountered so far. Despite all efforts, it falls short. It encounters similar pitfalls as directors of recent Bond films, trying to imbue their hero with deeper psychology and adding more artistic elements, yet still ending up with an overblown action movie featuring an invincible hero who dispatches scores of opponents without batting an eye. Here, in the confrontation scene with the cardinal's guards, the quartet of heroes handles six times the numerical superiority without a scratch (and moreover, in a disadvantageous situation of surprise and encirclement!). The action fight scenes are mostly shot in a confusing manner, but the positives clearly outweigh the negatives. Eva Green as Milady and Vincent Cassel as Athos are reliable highlights. Overall impression: 80%.

Incorrect, caustic to sarcastic humor, crazy situations, and above all, entertaining characters that quickly draw you into the world of illegal bookies and their clients with varying degrees of gambling addiction. If you ever had any illusions about the human species, you'll quickly forget them under the influence of what you see. It's mostly about human weaknesses and money, but now and then it gets grittier and becomes a matter of life and death. No mercy is shown for people at the bottom of society or for making corpses, because it's a dirty business and Ray and Danny certainly aren't small players with a pitiful nature; they wouldn't survive in that cruel world. Cold-blooded pragmatism, calculation, and ingenuity are what keep the successful duo on course, while their dangerous opponents meet an ignominious end. I enjoyed every episode and firmly hope that the second season will maintain the high standard. Overall impression: 90%.

The influence of Tim Burton is evident; at first glance, the slightly morbid and quirky artistic aspect of the project influenced by the Gothic style stands out. A major plus is the casting of the interesting and charismatic Jenna Ortega, who seems to have been born for the role of Wednesday; she perfectly fits the role of an eccentric, captivating outsider and enjoys her role, rightfully dominating the series, and giving it a "spark." The project is limited by a screenplay that clearly indicates from the beginning that the target audience is teenagers. While in the first half there was more appeal for other age groups and I enjoyed the episodes more, the second half emphasizes its commercial nature for "teens," and the descending impression isn't saved even by the finale. Nevertheless, considering Ortega's constant presence on set, I have no problem justifying giving it a fourth star. Overall impression: 75%.

The initial reviews likened it to "something like Fargo, set in the middle of the Australian desert," and I would say the creative team aimed for something similar. However, The Tourist didn't come close to Fargo's model due to an underdeveloped screenplay, which, while it introduced some interesting ideas, failed to effectively execute them. The key to the success of the Fargo series was meticulous, almost ant-like work with characters, emphasis on impactful yet convincing detail, and a willingness to explore unconventional paths. The problem with The Tourist is its superficiality, inconsistent handling of motifs, poor character psychology (for example, the charming schemer played by Shalom Brune-Franklin is unbearable), and the team's inability to give the show its own distinctive identity. Two storylines have potential: the search for identity after memory loss and, especially, the romantic subplot of building a relationship between the mysterious tourist and the inexperienced policewoman played by Danielle Macdonald. However, the writers fail to give them proper priority and care. Overall impression: 40%.