Enchanted (2007)

Giselle is punished by the evil queen and sent away from Andalusia, an animated world, to the real world, New York.

'Enchanted' is a Disney film that combines the magic of animation and the usual clichés with current reality, in a very original, ironic way, not shying away from laughing at itself and manage to find a very engaging and fulfilling middle ground, full of music and a joyous time.

Director:  Kevin Lima  

With: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Julie Andrews

Rating: 9/10

The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

A renowned detective is tasked with solving the mystery of the death of an army cadet, on which occasion he interacts with a young Edgar Allan Poe.

'The Pale Blue Eye' is a period thriller that borrows its style from Poe's writings. The mystery to be solved remains mysterious and keeps the viewer curious for a good part of the film, but the interesting interaction of the characters and the first-hand performances distract from the imperfections that appear in the last third of the film.

Regia:  Scott Cooper      

Cu: Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Simon McBurney, Timothy Spall, Gillian Anderson, Toby Jones, Lucy Boynton, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Robert Duvall

Rating: 7/10

The Last Samurai (2003)

A jaded American soldier is captivated by the ancient Japanese culture he was hired to help destroy.

'The Last Samurai' is an epic, historical-based film that romanticizes samurai culture. Full of interesting Asian characters, the film is built around the American soldier character played by Tom Cruise (for some reason). The story is beautiful, well written and Ken Watanabe's hero - Katsumoto - is magnetic. Like any self-respecting epic film, this film is full of well-crafted, wide-framed and perfectly coordinated fight scenes for a maximised cinematic satisfaction.

Director:  Edward Zwick     

With: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Timothy Spall, Hiroyuki Sanada

Rating: 9/10