Damsel (2024)

A noble young woman agrees to become a princess to save her people from starvation, but the trade is not exactly what it initially appeared to be.

'Damsel' is a fantasy film with teeth. It is far from being a masterpiece that offers a deep and multi-faceted meaning, the plot and its development are predictable and the message a bit too on-the-nose, and yet it is a source of genuine entertainment precisely for the cheap satisfaction and in addition, hearing Shohreh Aghdashloo's voice from the dragon's mouth is a real delight.

Director:  Juan Carlos Fresnadillo     

With: Millie Bobby Brown, Ray Winstone, Angela Bassett, Brooke Carter, Joely Richardson, Shohreh Aghdashloo

Rating: 7/10

Damsel (2024)

O tanara nobila accepta sa devina printesa pentru a-si salva oamenii de foamete dar targul nu este ceea ce pare.

'Damsel' e un film fantasy cu dinti. E departe de a fi o capodopera ce ofera un inteles adanc si multi-fatetat, intriga si dezvoltarea actiunii sunt previzibile si mesajul foarte on-the-nose, si totusi e o sursa de entertainment veritabil tocmai pentru satisfactia ieftina si in plus, un adevarat regal devine evident cand vocea lui Shohreh Aghdashloo se face auzita din gura dragonului.

Regia:  Juan Carlos Fresnadillo     

Cu: Millie Bobby Brown, Ray Winstone, Angela Bassett, Brooke Carter, Joely Richardson, Shohreh Aghdashloo

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

The Night Of (2016)

A quiet young man spends a night full of drugs with a young woman who is found murdered the next day.

'The Night Of' is a dramatic mini-series, procedural in certain aspects, but which mainly focuses on the secondary effects of the incident, on a small and larger scale. Based on a British series, the HBO version has a life and personality of its own. Riz Ahmed and John Turturro are magnificent, and every episode is original and unpredictable.

Director:  Steven Zaillian   

Production:  HBO   

Creator: Richard Price, Steven Zaillian   

Duration:  miniseries of 8 episodes (8 hours 45 minutes in total)  

With: Riz Ahmed, John Turturro, Bill Camp, Amara Karan, Payman Maadi, Michael Kenneth Williams

Rating: 9/10

The Night Of (2016)

Un tanar tacut petrece o noapte plina de droguri cu o tanara ce este gasita ucisa a doua zi.

'The Night Of' este o miniserie dramatica, procedurala in anumite aspecte, dar care in principal pune accent pe efectele secundare ale incidentului, de scala mica si mai mare. Bazat pe un serial britanic, varianta de fata are o viata si personalitate proprie. Riz Ahmed si John Turturro sunt magnifici, si fiecare episod e original si impredictibil.

Regia:  Steven Zaillian   

Productie:  HBO   

Creator: Richard Price, Steven Zaillian   

Durata:  miniserie de 8 episoade (8 ore 45 minute in total)  

Cu: Riz Ahmed, John Turturro, Bill Camp, Amara Karan, Payman Maadi, Michael Kenneth Williams

Rating: 9/10

Also available in English

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Hercule Poirot este fortat de circumstante sa rezolve misterul unei crime comise in trenul in care calatoreste.

'Murder on the Orient Express' este o noua si moderna ecranizare a celebrului roman al lui Agatha Christie. In afara de aerul modern (se intelege aici tehnologia observabila ca imaginea si culoarea perfecta), ecranizarea de fata nu aduce multe in plus fata de cele mai vechi, decat faptul ca iarasi, o echipa impresionanta de artisti consacrati s-au adunat pentru a aduce filmul la viata.

Regia:  Kenneth Branagh  

Cu: Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Daisy Ridley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Depp, Lucy Boynton

Rating: 7.5/10

Also available in English

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Hercule Poirot is forced by circumstances to solve the mystery of a murder committed on the train he is traveling on.

'Murder on the Orient Express' is a new and modern adaptation of Agatha Christie's famous novel. Apart from the modern air (here we mean the observable technology proved by the perfect picture and the color and cinematography in general), the current adaptation does not bring much more than the old ones, except that once again, an impressive and different team of well established artists have gathered to bring the movie to life.

Director:  Kenneth Branagh  

With: Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Daisy Ridley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Depp, Lucy Boynton

Rating: 7.5/10

Halo (2022– )

Master Chief is humanity's most powerful weapon in the midst of an intergalactic conflict.

'Halo' is the TV adaptation of a very popular video game series. Based largely on the mythology and the story in the game, Halo offers an alternative of very effective sci-fi entertainment and plenty of action.

Director:  Otto Bathurst and others   

Production:  Paramount   

Creator:  Steven Kane, Kyle Killen   

Duration: 2 seasons of 9 episodes (1 hour each)

With: Pablo Schreiber, Shabana Azmi, Natasha Culzac, Olive Gray

Rating: 8/10

Halo (2022– )

Master Chief este cea mai puternica arma a umanitatii in mijlocul unui conflict intergalactic.

'Halo' este adaptarea tv a unei serii de jocuri video foarte populare. Bazat in mare pe mitologia si povestea din joc, Halo ofera o alternativa de entertainment SF si actiune cat incape foarte eficienta.

Regia:  Otto Bathurst si altii   

Productie:  Paramount   

Creator:  Steven Kane, Kyle Killen   

Durata: 2 sezoane de 9 episoade (1 ora fiecare)

Cu: Pablo Schreiber, Shabana Azmi, Natasha Culzac, Olive Gray

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

Saw X (2023)

John Kramer este inselat de un grup ce ii promite un leac miraculos si decide sa ii pedepseasca.

'Saw X' este cea mai recenta aditie la franciza indelungata. Un eveniment probabil captivant pentru fani, dar din pacate scenaristii au decis sa faca bani rapid si sa ignore nevoia de consistenta si credibilitate a personajului.

Regia:  Kevin Greutert   

Cu: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand

Rating: 6/10

Also available in English

Saw X (2023)

John Kramer is deceived by a group that promises him a miraculous cure and decides to punish them.

'Saw X' is the latest addition to the long-running franchise. A probably exciting event for the fans, but unfortunately the screenwriters decided to make quick money and ignore the need for consistency and credibility of the character.

Director:  Kevin Greutert   

With: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand

Rating: 6/10

Hypnotic (2021)

O femeie ce incepe psihoterapie descopera consecinte neasteptate.

'Hypnotic' e un thriller psihologic cu o idee interesanta dar ce a mai fost utilizata. Ca executie nu e rau dar din pacate scenariul nu reuseste sa utilizeze materialul intr-un mod eficient, credibil sau memorabil.

Regia:  Matt Angel, Suzanne Coote   

Cu: Kate Siegel, Jason O'Mara, Dulé Hill, Lucie Guest

Rating: 6/10

Also available in English

Hypnotic (2021)

A woman who begins psychotherapy discovers unexpected consequences.

'Hypnotic' is a psychological thriller with an interesting idea, but one that has been used before, not necessarily in better ways. The execution is not bad, but unfortunately the script fails to use the raw material in an effective, believable or memorable way.

Director:  Matt Angel, Suzanne Coote   

With: Kate Siegel, Jason O'Mara, Dulé Hill, Lucie Guest

Rating: 6/10

The Nun II (2023)

Calugarita Irene este trimisa sa investigheze o serie de crime religioase ce par sa fie comise de mana demonului invins.

'The Nun II' este continuarea povestii fantomei calugarita din filmele din familia The Conjuring. Pastreaza distributia initiala (cu mici schimbari) si cumva reuseste sa obtina un rezultat mai consistent, intreg, cu actiuni tip horror cat incape si multe straturi ce reusesc sa mentina atentia departe de posibilele defecte.

Regia:  Michael Chaves   

Cu: Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Anna Popplewell

Rating: 7.5/10

Also available in English

The Nun II (2023)

The nun Irene is sent to investigate a series of religious crimes that seem to be committed by the previously defeated demon.

'The Nun II' is the continuation of the story of the ghost nun from the films from The Conjuring franchise. It keeps the original distribution (with small changes) and somehow manages to obtain a more consistent and whole result, with as many horror-type actions as it can fit and many layers that manage to keep attention away from any possible flaws. Not flawless but attention grabing with what the audience likes.

Director:  Michael Chaves   

With: Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Anna Popplewell

Rating: 7.5/10

Inkheart (2008)

Un tata singur este capabil de a da viata personajelor din carti si trebuie sa opreasca un astfel de personaj din a distruge lumea.

'Inkheart' este e adaptare dupa o carte fantasy pentru copii mult iubita. Ideea si povestea suna fascinant in teorie si diferitele rezumate, dar adaptarea lasa de dorit, lipsindu-i acel ceva ce atrage pivitorul ca un magnet si unifica magia fantasticului intr-un intreg ce satisface multele cerinte: originalitate (check, dar cam atat), dialog bogat si coerent, fantezie ce apare fantastica si personaje memorabile prin altceva decat ca ii cheama Paul Bettany.

Regia:  Iain Softley    

Cu: Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis, Eliza Bennett, Sienna Guillory, Paul Bettany

Rating: 6.5/10

Also available in English

Inkheart (2008)

A single father is able to give life to characters in books and must stop such a character from destroying the world.

'Inkheart' is an adaptation of a much-loved children's fantasy book. The idea and the story sound fascinating in theory and the various summaries one reads about it, but the adaptation leaves much to be desired, lacking that something that attracts the viewers like a magnet and unifies the magic of the fantastic into a whole that satisfies many requirements: originality (check, but that's about it), rich and coherent dialogue, fantasy that appears fantastic and characters memorable by something other than their name being Paul Bettany.

Director:  Iain Softley    

With: Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis, Eliza Bennett, Sienna Guillory, Paul Bettany

Rating: 6.5/10

La voz humana (2020)

A woman reacts to the fact that her partner left her, leaving his cases and dog behind.

'La Voz Humana' is a very intense and effective dramatic short. Tilda Swinton is fascinating and carries the film with professionalism.

Director:  Pedro Almodóvar    

With: Tilda Swinton, Agustín Almodóvar, Miguel Almodóvar, Pablo Almodóvar

Rating: 9/10

La voz humana (2020)

O femeie reactioneaza faptului ca partenerul a parasit-o, lasandu-si bagajele si cainele in urma.

'La Voz Humana' este un short dramatic foarte intens si eficient. Tilda Swinton este fascinanta si cara filmul cu profesionalism.

Regia:  Pedro Almodóvar    

Cu: Tilda Swinton, Agustín Almodóvar, Miguel Almodóvar, Pablo Almodóvar

Rating: 9/10

Also available in English

Perfect Sense (2011)

Un om de stiinta si un bucatar se indragostesc unul de altul in mijlocul unei epidemii ce cauzeaza pierderea simturilor.

'Perfect Sense' e o drama poetica, o metafora a lumii moderne si speranta pentru sentimente intense si reale. Cei doi protagonisti sunt foarte bine alesi si extrem de expresivi in portretizarea unor trairi intense si traumatizante, ce cauzeaza o varietate de reactii contradictorii. Un regal.

Regia:  David Mackenzie   

Cu: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, Connie Nielsen, Stephen Dillane

Rating: 9/10

lso available in English

Perfect Sense (2011)

A scientist and a chef fall in love with each other in the middle of an epidemic that causes loss of the senses.

'Perfect Sense' is a poetic drama, a metaphor of the modern world and the hope for intense and real feelings still being possible. The two protagonists are very well chosen, with a great chemistry and extremely expressive in portraying intense and traumatic experiences, which cause a variety of contradictory reactions. A real gem.

Director:  David Mackenzie   

With: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, Connie Nielsen, Stephen Dillane

Rating: 9/10