The Edge of Seventeen (2016)

Nadine goes through an identity crisis when her best friend starts dating her popular brother.

'The Edge Of Seventeen' is a pseudo-teen comedy-drama. The main character is a kind of hyperactive introvert who lives with the impression that everyone else knows who they are, what they're doing, what they want and what needs to happen and the coming-of-age of the character comes from the aquiring the awareness that no one is perfect and no one is born with a natural self-confidence. The arrogance of the character is often an element of annoyance (how many can say that they have so many benevolent people ready to jump to the rescue ??), but the film is a great success and may help some of us more "different" people to realize that we are all children just testing the waters.

Director:  Kelly Fremon Craig   

With: Hailee Steinfeld, Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner, Kyra Sedgwick, Woody Harrelson

Rating: 8/10

Archive 81 (2022)

Un restaurator de inregistrari video este angajat intr-un mod misterios sa lucreze la o serie the casete video recuperate de la o cladire distrusa cu mai bine de 20 de ani in urma.

'Archive 81' e un regal pentru fanii de mistere incet elucidate. E o miniserie ce atrage prin intriga vaga, stilul minimalist, amestecul abil de "found-footage", personajele principale complexe si bine inchegate, aparenta unei conspiratii si lipsa completa de monotonie. 

Ce la inceput e o usoara sugestie de amestec de ocult si SF, devine ingredientul principal spre final, si probabil dauneaza oarecum calitatii, dar in total, serialul nu va cauza nici cel mai mic regret.

Regia:  Rebecca Thomas si altii   

Productie:  Netflix   

Creator:  Rebecca Sonnenshine   

Durata:  1 sezon de 8 episoade (1 ora fiecare)   

Cu: Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit, Julia Chan, Matt McGorry, Martin Donovan

Rating: 9/10

Also available in English

Archive 81 (2022)

A video restorer is mysteriously hired to work on a series of videotapes recovered from a building destroyed in a fire more than 20 years before.

'Archive 81' is a gem for fans of slowly unravelled mysteries. It's a miniseries that draws in with its vague intrigue, minimalist style, the clever use of "found-footage" style, the complex and well-defined main characters, the appearance of a conspiracy and the complete lack of monotony.

What at first is a slight suggestion of a mixture of occult and Sci-Fi, becomes the main ingredient towards the end, and probably damages the quality somewhat, but overall, the series will not cause even the slightest regret.

Director:  Rebecca Thomas and others

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Rebecca Sonnenshine   

Duration:  1 season of 8 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit, Julia Chan, Matt McGorry, Martin Donovan

Rating: 9/10

Blind Fury (1989)

Un veteran din Vietnam, orb dar expert in arte martiale ce implica luptele cu sabia, isi cauta prietenul cel mai bun dar este fortat de circumstante sa apere fiul acestuia.

'Blind Fury' e un film de actiune de categoria B tipic anilor '80. Cu Rutger Hauer in rolul principal, filmul de fata a fost un favorit subiectiv al copilariilor dinainte de a avea filme de actiune facute cu clasa si scenaristi ce stiu ce fac. 

Regia:  Phillip Noyce   

Cu: Rutger Hauer, Terry O'Quinn, Brandon Call, Noble Willingham, Lisa Blount, Nick Cassavettes, Meg Foster

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

Blind Fury (1989)

A Vietnam veteran, blind but an expert in martial arts involving sword fighting, is looking for his best friend but is forced by circumstances to protect his son in his absence.

'Blind Fury' is a typical B action movie from the 80's. With Rutger Hauer in the lead role, this film was a subjective favorite for many a childhood before the times invented action movies made with class and  written by screenwriters who know what they're doing. 

Director:  Phillip Noyce   

With: Rutger Hauer, Terry O'Quinn, Brandon Call, Noble Willingham, Lisa Blount, Nick Cassavettes, Meg Foster

Rating: 8/10

Noroi (2005)

Un producator de filme documentare isi urmeaza subiectul curent oriunde il duce, subiectul fiind mitologia si incidentele legate de demonul Kagutaba.

'Noroi' e un film horror, filmat in stil documentar. Subiectul filmului isi are meritele lui, dar realizarea si evenimentele derulate sunt adesea copilaresti, fara sens si taraganate. 

Primeste ceva puncte pentru putinele scene ce sunt cat de cat de groaza si de ajuns de misterioase.

Regia:  Kôji Shiraishi       

Cu: Jin Muraki, Rio Kanno, Tomono Kuga, Marika Matsumoto

Rating: 6/10

Also available in English

Noroi (2005)

A documentary filmmaker follows his current subject wherever it takes him, the subject being the mythology and incidents related to the demon Kagutaba.

'Noroi' is a horror film, filmed in a documentary style. The subject of the film has its merits, but the execution and the events unfolded on screen are often childish, senseless and feel dragged-out.

Gets some points for the few scenes that are somewhat terrifying and mysterious enough.

Director:  Kôji Shiraishi       

With: Jin Muraki, Rio Kanno, Tomono Kuga, Marika Matsumoto

Rating: 6/10