[6.75/10] Mama (2013)

Mama (2013)

Brief review: Produced by the visionary director Guillermo del Toro, "Mama" is Andrés Muschietti's debut full-length feature, based on his own '08 short of the same name. The good news is, "Mama" is arguably the best January horror release since 2010's "Daybreakers", but the not so good news is, it doesn't break any new ground in terms of originality. Even though the plot can't really escape the ghost story cliches, the movie still succeeds in capturing the viewer's attention, due to the finely-written script, and the intriguing story that not only makes you constantly wonder who is Mama, and why is she so overprotective and evil, but also provides you with all the answers towards the end, leaving you satisfied and without any question marks in your head. Also, the half happy, half sad ending of the film is pretty emotional, and the perfect bittersweet conclusion to the story. "Mama" is frightening as well, and not in a cheap way. The solid scares are only a couple, but the suspense is consistent, the movie's eerie atmosphere is utterly effective, and Mama herself is creepy as hell. Sure, the editing is questionable, and that affects the overall pacing of the film, but Muschietti's accomplished direction, slick cinematography, and stylish color palette make up for that. Jessica "The Chameleon" Chastain does a phenomenal job in an untypical role that proves her versatility, but it's Megan Charpentier and Isabelle Nélisse that steal the show, with the latter being absolutely sensational.

Overall summary: Sinister, atmospheric, solidly-acted and technically-polished, yet slightly incoherent and not particularly original, "Mama" is an above average ghost story, that manages to deliver thrills, chills, high entertainment value as well as touching and effective climax.

[6.75/10] Tai Chi Zero (2012)

Tai Chi Zero (2012)

Brief review: Self-proclaimed as a steampunk kung-fu flick, "Tai Chi Zero" is HK director Stephen Fung's latest film, shot back-to-back with the following sequel, "Tai Chi Hero". Right from the very beginning, particularly the hilarious back story presented as a silent, black and whine film, you could tell that "Tai Chi Zero" will be a quirky, goofy fun, and it turns out exactly that. Sure, it's a bit silly and the story itself is nothing special, but who cares, considering all the delightful craziness happening on screen. Visually,  "Tai Chi Zero" looks like a mash-up of styles and techniques, that feels refreshing and unique in its own way. It's like watching an authentic old-school kung fu film turned into a video game, with a hint of Western influence. The legendary Sammo Hung can do no wrong, and he proves that yet again with his fight choreography, which is imaginative without being too over-the-top. The videogame-ish action scenes are fun, edgy, smartly-executed and accompanied with an outstanding wire-work, and "King Fu Hustle"-like cartoonish special effects. "Tai Chi 0" also celebrates the acting debut of Yuan Xiaochao as the lead character Yang Lu Chan, and what a great debut it is. Although, he barely shines with any remarkable acting abilities, his strong screen presence combined with his enviable martial arts skills will make you rooting for his likable character. The rest of the cast is good too.

Overall summary: Slightly goofy and generally all over the place, yet entertaining and conceptually innovating, "Tai Chi Zero" never take itself seriously, plus, its clever visual approach and creatively-choreographed fight sequences leave you craving for the upcoming sequel.

[6.75/10] Red Lights (2012)

Red Lights (2012)

QuickRating: Unfairly overlooked, and insanely underappreciated for no reason, Cortés' "Red Lights" is a fairly gripping, intelligently-crafted, progressively intense, and highly original thriller with a supernatural twist, that succeeds because of its well-written script, brilliant cast and atmospheric visuals,  plus, it breaks many spooky cliches from horror cinema and real world alike, and although in the end it 'falls into its own trap', it does it with style and in a thoroughly effective way.

[6.75/10] Teddy Bear (2012)

Teddy Bear (2012)

QuickRating: This Danish low-key drama about a lonely bodybuilder, largely repressed by his controlling mother, who tries to find love in Thailand may be easy to predict, and too straightforward, but it's also honest, heartfelt and deeply genuine, further elevated by the quietly brilliant performance from Kim Kold as the asocial, insecure middle-aged bodybuilder, who is unsure of himself despite his tough guy look and impressive physique.

[6.75/10] To Rome with Love (2012)

To Rome with Love (2012)

QuickRating: Typically quirky, but pretty light-wеighted compared to most of the other Woody Allen films, and definitely not as enchanting or original as his 2011's "Midnight in Paris", "To Rome with Love" is by no means sensational, but will please every die-hard Allen fan. Set in the eternal city of Rome, the movie is absolutely gorgeous to look at, and has a specific romantic vibe about it, plus, the performances from the cast are all fantastic, with Penelope Cruz stealing the attention.

[6.75/10] The Bay (2012)

The Bay (2012)

Brief review: Barry Levinson continues to demonstrate his undeniable versatility as a director, showing yet another side of him with ecological horror thriller, "The Bay". While hardly groundbreaking, and slightly uneven, this film is nevertheless conceptually refreshing in terms of both premise and execution. It's cleverly-conceived and successfully blends eco-disaster with foreboding plague and flesh-eating parasites, with the end result being a constant creep-fest, that also hides an important environmental message. The best thing about "The Bay" is the fact that, as paradoxical as it may sound, the movie manages to be forbidding without being actually scary. Even though it's full of gross-out moments of gruesome gore and rotten flesh, it intentionally avoids cheap scares, and relies more on tension and shock value to send a chill down your spine, plus, it's disturbingly believable. Luckily, "The Bay" is more of a mockumentary rather than your common 'found footage' flick, and that definitely works in its favor. Levinson takes the POV shooting style to a whole new level, using an admirable variety of filming techniques and many different type of cameras, such as webcams, car cams, TV cameras, security cameras, and of course hand-held cameras, which are typical for the sub-genre. Thus, he not only showcases his abilities and inventiveness, but also provides the viewer with visual diversity.

Overall summary: It's far from terrifying, and it suffers from quite a few pacing issues, hence, it feels rather incoherent, but thanks to its clever approach at mockumentary horror, "The Bay" still manages to succeed in various areas, and is guaranteed to make your skin crawl.

This review is also featured on TVFilmNews.com

[6.75/10] Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2012)

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2012)

Brief review: Adapted from Paul Torday's novel of the same name, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is yet another 'winner' from "Chocolat" director Lasse Hallström. Balancing drama and comedy well in a film is undoubtedly a hard thing to do, and many filmmakers in the past have struggled to produce successful movies that fit into this hybrid of a genre. That's not the case with Swedish director Lasse Hallström, who manages to pull it off quite effortlessly and naturally in "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen", and he deserves credit for that. Thanks to his flair and skills and Simon Beaufoy's clever, well-adapted script, this movie has as much heart-wrenching moments in it as it has laughs. Yes, it gets a bit too sentimental at times, and its romantic bits often aren't as emotionally powerful as they should, but "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is still an intelligent piece of cinema that fully benefits from its strong source material. Furthermore, Hallström's subtle direction, combined with Terry Stacey's super-smooth cinematography that features many breathtaking landscape shots, make this film as pretty as a postcard. To put such a talented cast in one movie is a winning move, and director Hallström takes full advantage of the their acting skills. All the actors involved work brilliantly together, with Blunt and McGregor sharing a believable on screen chemistry, and Kristin Scott Thomas bringing the laughs.

Overall summary: Although not always as enjoyable and emotionally-engaging as it's supposed to be, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is still a warm, charming, beautifully-crafted and wonderfully-acted dramedy with heart, soul, brains and pretty sophisticated sense of humor.

This review is also featured on TVFilmNews.com

[6.75/10] StreetDance 2 [3D] (2012)

StreetDance 2 [3D] (2012)

Brief review: Forget about all the dance flicks you've watched so far, because this one is the real deal! UK's answer to the "Step Up" series, and this successful sequel in particular, tops everything you've seen in any dance movie, in terms of choreography, creativity and execution. "StreetDance 2" is not just another movie about hip-hop, as it boldly infuses Latin dancing in its routines to set itself apart from the bunch. You think Latin is boring? Well, think again, because this flick will change your mind completely. "StreetDance 2" may have the exact same issues most movies of this genre do - it's shallow, its plot feels fabricated, and the acting is sub-par - but who cares, since "StreetDance 2" is all about the dancing. The Latin routines are sexy, very passionate and beautifully choreographed, each and everyone of the hip-hop routines is inspired, hard-hitting and massively entertaining, and both combined lead to a spectacular result - a dance fusion that is not only creative, but also a pure joy to watch. "StreetDance 2" is also much more stylish than its predecessor in terms of execution. Duo Giwa & Pasquini's direction has become much more versatile, the use of lighting is amazing, the music score is exciting , the 3D works and the dance routines themselves are wonderfully-shot. The cast definitely dance better than they act, but the hot Sofia Boutella makes you overlook the flimsy performances.

Overall summary: It's contrived, superficial and basically plotless, but "StreetDance 2" makes up for that with jaw-dropping dance routines, innovative choreography, adrenaline pumping music score and attractive cast, and the end result is a hugely entertaining dance flick.

This review is also featured on TVFilmNews.com

[6.75/10] Mirror Mirror (2012)

Mirror Mirror (2012)

Brief review: It was about time someone to put an ironic, comedic spin on one of the most popular stories of all time, without ruining the magic of it, and director Tarsem Singh does it with flair in “Mirror Mirror”. Unlike the upcoming “Snow White and the Huntsman” which, judging by the trailers, has ‘grimness’ written all over it, the delightfully lighthearted “Mirror Mirror” never takes itself too seriously, and shows a whole new fun side of the classic story. Singh knows his movie is rather superficial, but he manages to make up for the lack of depth with an amusingly ironic script, full of cheeky slapstick humor, engaging characters, and last but not least, splendid visuals. Over the years Singh has proven himself as a true visionary director, and “Mirror Mirror” is yet another visual stunner from him. From the lavish, exuberant sets and gorgeous costumes to the eye-catching color palette and stylish cinematography, everything about this pretty movie is executed to perfection, and pure eye-candy. Unsurprisingly, Julia Roberts steals the show as the wicked and manipulative, yet rather insecure ‘evil’ queen. Lily Collins doesn’t impress with great acting skills or strong screen presence like Roberts does, but her looks are just perfect for Snow White. Armie Hammer gives a passable performance as the dashing prince, but it’s the quirky dwarfs, presented as a group of rebels, that contribute most to the story.

Overall summary: It lacks substance and it’s too forgettable to become a classic, but Tarsem Singh’s “Mirror Mirror” is still a witty, enjoyable and thoroughly refreshing rendition of “Snow White”, that fascinates with its vivid, sumptuous visuals and truly enchanting atmosphere.

Read (and comment on) the extended version of my "Mirror Mirror" review, written exclusively for White Cat Magazine HERE.

[6.75/10] The Hidden Face (2011)

La Cara Oculta a.k.a.
The Hidden Face (2011)

QuickRating: Although it suffers from a frustratingly uninteresting first half that feels rather pointless, later on everything falls into place perfectly, and half way through "La Cara Oculta" transforms itslef into a thoughtful, intense and uniquely claustrophobic thriller that quickly falls into the category 'like nothing we've seen before'. Plus, Martina García delivers an anxious and extremely convincing performance.

[6.75/10] Babycall (2011)

Babycall (2011)

QuickRating: This Swedish horror thriller feels a bit muddled at times, and the subplots don't fit together as neatly as they should, but what makes "Babycall" effective, gripping and disturbing is Noomi Rapace's brilliantly intense and vulnerable portrayal of a confused, paranoid and mentally disturbed mother. Plus, director Sletaune maintains an eerie atmosphere throughout the film, and the twist ending, while hardly satisfactory, works well.

[6.75/10] The Awakening (2011)

The Awakening (2011)

QuickRating: It lacks originality and it's more creepy rather than scary, however, "The Awakening" proves to be more than just another ghost story - it's clever, stylishly-shot, intelligently-written, full of chilling moments, and has a fully satisfying twist ending you won't see coming. Visually, it flaunts an atmospheric, gorgeously murky cinematography and a beautiful, yet truly sinister setting, plus, Rebecca Hall turns in a fantastic performance here.

[6.75/10] Young Adult (2011)

Young Adult (2011)

QuickRaitng: It has a dark nature, hence, it's hard to call it enjoyable, and its grim visual style is far from appealing, but "Young Adult" is nonetheless a well-balanced and engaging dramedy, that has as many laughs as it does serious moments. The gorgeous Charlize Theron delivers a very charismatic lead performance, and even though it's hard to feel sympathy for her barely likable character at first, later on you'll find yourself in love with Mavis' childish naughtiness.

[6.75/10] Ronal the Barbarian (2011)

Ronal the Barbarian (2011)

QuickRating: Featuring irony, dirty language, lots of gore, big boobs, naked bumps, and even bulges, "Ronal the Barbarian" is definitely not suitable for little kids. The older audience, however, will enjoy all the hilarious naughtiness on screen. This cool Danish animated feature spoofs "Conan" and "Lord of the Rings" in a very refreshing, clever and witty way, and the animation is polished and well put together.

[6.75/10] Rundskop a.k.a. Bullhead (2011)

Rundskop a.k.a.
Bullhead (2011)

QuickRating: Belgium's official Oscar entry is definitely not easy to watch, and the plot structure is kind of complicated, even though the story itself seems fairly simple at first, but what makes "Rundskop" truly unforgettable, powerful and affecting is the lead character Jacky Vanmarsenille, played outstandingly by Matthias Schoenaerts, as well as his shattering, yet incredibly moving personal story of struggle.

[6.75/10] Friends with Benefits (2011)

Friends with Benefits (2011)

QuickRating: Yes, it mostly relies on its charming and fabulously good-looking lead duo and some overly familiar cliches, but "Friends with Benefits" still distinguishes itself from the bunch of lazy Hollywood rom-coms with smartness, wit and fearlessness, plus, it's energetic, constantly amusing and quite sexy. Furthermore, the chemistry between Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake is believable and so hot, it burns.

[6.75/10] Haywire (2012)

Haywire (2012)

Brief review: After last year's hugely underrated gem, "Contagion", Steven Soderbergh brings us his latest project "Haywire" - a fast-paced and finely-crafted spy thriller, that despite some overused plot cliches, still engages with its well-structured storyline, spot-on execution and thrilling action scenes. Although "Haywire" is a bit ordinary in terms of aesthetics, Soderbergh's distinctive visual style is still recognizable, plus, the film impresses with nice variety of settings, including Barcelona, Dublin and New Mexico. There is no intense music or loud sound effects during the action scenes, but that doesn't make them less exciting. The fights themselves are realistic, well-shot and brutal as hell, and contrast well with the funky and absolutely mesmerizing original score by David Holmes. Newcomer Gina Carano is by no means a great actress, but she nevertheless delivers a believable, down-to-earth portrayal as the young and feisty female spy, Mallory. Behind her cute Britney Spears-like face and sexy curvy body, she hides a strong powerful woman with big brains and incredible skills. Since the main focus throughout the film is on Mallory, none of the other A-list actors really shine. Having said that, all the supporting cast including Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Angarano and Channing Tatum do a solid job despite their extremely limited screen time.

Overall summary: While certainly not one of Soderbergh's strongest and most memorable films, "Haywire" still works in a simple but very effective way, thanks to its sharp, well-written script, excellent ensemble cast, and straight and clear, yet somewhat stylish direction.

[6.75/10] The Innkeepers (2011)

The Innkeepers (2011)

QuickRaitng: The suspense takes some time to really build, and Sara Paxton's over-the-top performance gets truly annoying after a while, but "The Innkeepers" is still a spooky, atmospheric and finely crafted old-fashioned ghost story, with a spine-shiveringly scary final act, set in a one of the creepiest basements ever put on film. That being said, the film is nowhere nearly as ominous and terrifying as Ti West's previous effort, "The House of the Devil", which remains a classic.

[6.75/10] In Time (2011)

In Time (2011)

Full review: Set in 2161, Andrew Niccol's latest sci-fi thriller is all about time. Literally. In the not-so-near future, people earn time, sell time, loan time, steal time, pay with time and trade with time, because their life literally depends on time, and conceptually, this premise is as just as intriguing and original as it sounds. Although this idea is hard-to-execute, Andrew Niccol manages to pull it off excellently. The director represents the future in a very believable way, where the world is divided into two categories - very rich and very poor. Those who have centuries of time on their 'counters' live like kings, and those who doesn't, live day by day in constant stress and fear. Having said that, the film is not without its flaws, there are some unnecessarily extended scenes and a couple of dull moments, but apart from that, "In Time" never fails to entertain and captivate the audience, but most importantly, it makes you think about what if something like this happens in real life? In terms of style and concept, there are some similarities between "In Time" and director's 1997 sci-fi hit "Gattaca". The latter remains one of the sci-fi masterpieces of the 90s, but Niccol's latest effort, while still creative and original enough, feels clearly inspired by its predecessor. That's not a bad thing by any means, because on one hand, it's an intentional reminiscent of "Gattaca", and on the other hand, it showcases the director's signature style and arsenal of inventive ideas. Thanks to the polished production design and slick cinematography, visually, "In Time" is as stylish as it's authentic. The poor areas of the world are grim, plain and gloomy, while New Greenwich, the city of time 'millionaires', is posh, lavish and sophisticated, and this visual juxtaposition represents the two very different types of life amazingly well. Since the characters in the movie are genetically engineered to stop aging at 25, what you can expect from the cast is only young, fresh and pretty faces, and it feels great to watch a movie full of beautiful people. Justin Timberlake is a hit-and-miss type of an actor, but he really doesn't disappoint this time around. The role suits him perfectly and he does a capable job of portraying his character's aims and struggles. Amanda Seyfried is just as talented as she's beautiful, and she delivers a fantastic performance as the spoiled, yet smart daughter of a time magnate, Sylvia. The supporting cast shines as well. Cillian Murphy gives a solid performance as the humble and loyal timekeeper, and his character is probably the most sympathetic of all. Alex Pettyfer is the biggest surprise here. No one would have guessed that Pettyfer could play a bad guy so convincingly, and believe me, he does it with a bang. Maybe for first time in film history Olivia Wilde's presence is not that annoying (Sarcastic quiz: Can you name a movie she doesn't star in? LOL.), but that's probably due to the fact that her screen time is very limited.

Overall summary: Although it gets a bit tiresome towards the end, and it's far from perfect, Andrew Niccol's futuristic thriller "In Time" still dazzles with its original premise, inventive script, atmospheric visuals and engaging cast, and it feels like a breath of fresh air among the sea of remakes and sequels that Hollywood continuously spews these days.

[6.75/10] Sint a.k.a. Saint (2011)

Sint a.k.a. Saint (2011)

Brief review: Last year's Finnish horror movie "Rare Exports" showed us the evil side of Santa Claus. This year, Netherlands brings us more 'holiday' horror fun in "Saint" - a horror comedy that depicts St. Nicholas as a murderous bishop who murders children when there is a full moon on Dec 5. The best thing about this Dutch horror movie is that it never takes itself too seriously and shows us what a great sense of humor its director actually has. Dick Maas knows perfectly that his film is superficial, but he demonstrates imagination, originality, and some good skills behind the camera, offering us a horror comedy that is well-balanced, entertaining, action-packed, and visually effective, but most of all, fun to watch. Set in the murky, yet beautiful Amsterdam, "Saint" captivates the eye with its gloomy visuals, atmospheric snowy settings and stylish cinematography that suits the dark tone of the film. The make-up and gore effects are also spot-on. Although it's far from scary, "Sint" is quite creepy and gory and there a few jump-of-your-seat moments that will raise your adrenaline. All the actors do a good job in portraying their characters, though you may struggle to figure out which characters are the main, and which are the secondary.

Overall summary: Despite its ridiculous premise, "Sint" remains a unique, clever, and finely-executed little gem of a horror comedy, that provides some good laugh, decent scares, tons of gore, and a surreal dark holiday atmosphere that makes it perfect to watch on Halloween.