flick-reviews-blog

[flick-reviews-blog]

Top 5 movies to make you think OUT OF THE BOX!

Thinkers often like to challenge what is known as ordinary life style and common beliefs. The movie industry many times explored this way of thinking, and presented it in creative films that forced the audience to doubt all they know.

Here are Flick’s top 5 brain teasing and out of the box driven films:

5. Cube (1997)

If humans are locked together without purpose or idea why, in a structure that can’t provide them the basic means to survive, how would they behave?

This intense Canadian psychological thriller test this exact situation, with believable and troubling chain of events. Not only that, it also questions what will humanity choose to do with the power of technology, and if it can drive us to experiment our knowledge by locking people in that kind of structure.

Heavy and deep, Cube makes a solid 5th place!

4. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

A magnificent combination of twisted and graceful, disturbed and elegant. We can explain endlessly about the creation of Guillermo del Toro and its ability to test the nature of humanity, of war, and our entire civilization. But more than all that, Pan’s Labyrinth visuals are those to get us out of the box, it’s not just beautiful, but it makes us worried and hypnotize all together. With keen metaphors, epic soundtrack and accurate cast, you won’t regret leaving the ordinary behind you while diving into this one.

3. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Again, making Flick’s list, this philosophical film will challenge your way of viewing this world. When the boundary between humanity and technology is blurrier than ever, what is the meaning and purpose of being alive? In age when we get closer to machines developing their own identity, can we deny it from them? When “neither philosophy or modern science can explain what life really is” as the movie brilliantly says.

Ghost in the shell, still relevant now days, won’t let you feel indifference toward those questions, while you also enjoy marvelous animation.

2. Fight Club (1999)

When Chuck Palahniuk wrote the novel, he knew he was kicking some social Conventions, and he did that beautifully.

In aggressive and entertaining way, he tells us all what we really are, slaves of materialism and modern life style, brain washed creatures who work endlessly to buy products we don’t really need, worship advertiser’s idea of our life style.

With one of the biggest and most iconic twists ever known in cinema, it delivers the full package.

1. Into the Wild (2007)

Based on Christopher McCandless true adventures, Into the Wild deals with the concept of materialism, but unlike Fight Club, it does it in more human and realistic down to earth fashion. Elegant and thoughtful, it makes every watcher wonder about freedom, and if modern career is really the answer. Some might disagree, but for Flick, it surpasses Fight Club in those goals, and it takes the first place of the Out of the Box category without competition!

Alex Supertramp breaks free from the chains of society, and through his journey, as watchers, it feels we are doing that alongside him, even if just for a moment. Going back to our basic needs and free ourselves completely, breathe the earth and nature, that’s how it feels to join this adventure. Masterpiece!

[flick-reviews-blog]

Finally, DC stepping up their game! Wonder Woman (2017) review

Ever since Christopher Nolan brilliant trilogy of the Dark Knight, the DC universe knew tough times – if it's the unsatisfying Batman VS Superman, or the horrible Suicide Squad accident. So, heading up to the cinemas with the latest DC installment, we came with justified worries.

However, it was such a fun surprise to literally experience the wonder of 'Wonder Woman'.

In the first act, we dive into the acrobatic and beautifully choreographed ancient world of the Amazons. Patty Jenkins (director) do an excellent job, delivering us this Greek mythology inspired world, elegant, gentle and strong, as the Amazons should be. The visuals do their part, and the combat sequences might feel too surreal, but it's not humans we are watching, and therefore it works greatly.

Young Diana quickly grows and we are presented with her matured self (Gal Gadot).

A confession – FLICK resident in Israel, so you might think we are not neutral when it comes to the Israeli actress. But even putting all that aside, Gal's performance just do a great service to the picture. Her solid performance is not something we haven’t seen before, but her serene attitude and her accent just delivers the authentic foreign vibes of a true amazon, as she shines bright as Diana Prince. Casting Gal Gadot was brave, but much more rewarding as the role of Wonder Woman seem strong as it can get.

Through the variety of events (taking place during WWI), some of the most surprising and fun parts of the film was the comical ones. Superhero films usually don't take the comic element too far for they shouldn't, but the scenes of Diana and Steve, while she first arrives to London give a decent amount of laughter that adds a lot to the final outcome.

All those, alongside the third act that manage to finish strong, gave us a unique experience of superhero movie and it was enjoyable through and through.

It's true that this piece is not free of flaws. Unlike Diana, Dr. Poison and Steve, not all the casting felt like it was natural – choosing David Thewlis, seemed strange to a role like Ares, even though he is a wonderful actor. Also, the message surrounding 'love', that the film brings, felt a bit of an easy cliché.

But those weren't enough to harm the result, gladly.

Wonder Woman is a fun, well written and packed with polished action sequences movie, that do a great justice to the iconic character and women. A fair recovery to the DC universe.

8.5 out of 10 from FLICK

[flick-reviews-blog]

The 5th installment of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, sadly reminds us that the series should have ended after the 3rd film.

The first 'Pirates of the Caribbean' was a justified success, refreshing and entertaining. While some say the 2 installments to follow were not as strong, we on FLICK found them clever, sophisticated and comical, closing a great trilogy to be remember, with keen scripts and marvelous cast. However, almost every element sank just like a ship ironically, with the 4th film, and this trend keep on going down with the new picture to hit the theaters.

As the movie begins, we presented again with Will Turner (Orlando Blum), and there is illusion for a moment, that the characters that made the audience to care for them in the trilogy we remember, can do so once more. But those hopes fade away quickly when we are diving into the simple plot that lack originality.

Javier Bardem shines as the evil captain Salazar, but that’s probably the only consolation while watching the film. Jack Sparrow hurt him in the past, as he did to many others, and now Salazar seek his revenge, while sparrow trying to find Poseidon traident in order to stop him. That's pretty much summarize the weak story writing of the installment. It's true that Johnny Depp provides some amusing comic reliefs, but that’s far from covering the flaws of the final result.

There is a moment we as watchers, hope for a twist or a strong ending to make the journey worthwhile, but it's all gone on the third act, as the events toward the ending (which are the weakest events of the film) seem ridiculous and unbelievable. Some scenes right at the end, might satisfy some watchers for their positive flavor, but they are far from convincing, and do not do justice to the third film (At World's End) to which they are linked.

The 3 films to start with are still remembered for bringing fine moments and a fun experience through and through. But the more harm the new installments do, the less forgiving the watchers might get, that’s why a 6th part, unless they can do the impossible, isn't sound like a promising idea.

5 out of 10 from FLICK.

[flick-reviews-blog]

Top 5 movies to make you think OUT OF THE BOX!

Thinkers often like to challenge what is known as ordinary life style and common beliefs. The movie industry many times explored this way of thinking, and presented it in creative films that forced the audience to doubt all they know.

Here are Flick's top 5 brain teasing and out of the box driven films:

5. Cube (1997)

If humans are locked together without purpose or idea why, in a structure that can't provide them the basic means to survive, how would they behave?

This intense Canadian psychological thriller test this exact situation, with believable and troubling chain of events. Not only that, it also questions what will humanity choose to do with the power of technology, and if it can drive us to experiment our knowledge by locking people in that kind of structure.

Heavy and deep, Cube makes a solid 5th place!

4. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

A magnificent combination of twisted and graceful, disturbed and elegant. We can explain endlessly about the creation of Guillermo del Toro and its ability to test the nature of humanity, of war, and our entire civilization. But more than all that, Pan's Labyrinth visuals are those to get us out of the box, it's not just beautiful, but it makes us worried and hypnotize all together. With keen metaphors, epic soundtrack and accurate cast, you won't regret leaving the ordinary behind you while diving into this one.

3. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Again, making Flick's list, this philosophical film will challenge your way of viewing this world. When the boundary between humanity and technology is blurrier than ever, what is the meaning and purpose of being alive? In age when we get closer to machines developing their own identity, can we deny it from them? When "neither philosophy or modern science can explain what life really is" as the movie brilliantly says.

Ghost in the shell, still relevant now days, won't let you feel indifference toward those questions, while you also enjoy marvelous animation.

2. Fight Club (1999)

When Chuck Palahniuk wrote the novel, he knew he was kicking some social Conventions, and he did that beautifully.

In aggressive and entertaining way, he tells us all what we really are, slaves of materialism and modern life style, brain washed creatures who work endlessly to buy products we don't really need, worship advertiser's idea of our life style.

With one of the biggest and most iconic twists ever known in cinema, it delivers the full package.

1. Into the Wild (2007)

Based on Christopher McCandless true adventures, Into the Wild deals with the concept of materialism, but unlike Fight Club, it does it in more human and realistic down to earth fashion. Elegant and thoughtful, it makes every watcher wonder about freedom, and if modern career is really the answer. Some might disagree, but for Flick, it surpasses Fight Club in those goals, and it takes the first place of the Out of the Box category without competition!

Alex Supertramp breaks free from the chains of society, and through his journey, as watchers, it feels we are doing that alongside him, even if just for a moment. Going back to our basic needs and free ourselves completely, breathe the earth and nature, that’s how it feels to join this adventure. Masterpiece!

[flick-reviews-blog]

Do you agree with our list?

Let us know in the comment section.

Top 10 movies of the 90′s!

Pouch, Walkman, 286 computers, Seinfeld, Spice Girls, Nirvana etc. The 90’s were colorful.

Not only that, Hollywood knew one of the best decades on cinema, bringing us some true treasures that are still fun to watch.

So, give it up to FLICK’s top 10 movies, of the 90’s!

10. Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (1991)

How many times you can say that the sequel beats the original film? Even if the original was just great? Not many times, but that’s the case with Terminator 2 - Judgment Day. After a wonderful pre-apocalyptic story, came the second film and did all the things that the first film has done, only bigger, better, with more comic reliefs and many phrases to stick until today (I’ll be back!). Judgment Day brought to us Arnold Schwarzenegger at his best, with hyper action scenes and even more intriguing storyline than we saw in the first film.

9. Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Some would say that this goofy movie should not made our list, but they have probably missed the genius core of Dumb & Dumber. For the time it came, it was one of the best comedies we could ask for, taking the elements that we all knew in comedies that time and perfecting them. With wild ideas and the most suitable cast to execute them, it was fun to watch from the first moment to the last.

8. The Matrix (1999)

The Wachowski brothers gave us all so many things to think about with their epic creation – The Matrix, as it forced us to wonder about our own existence. Inspired by the 1995 Ghost in the Shell Anime film, this piece set new rules to the action genera, even if its core is philosophical and phycological. The prediction of robots destroying their creators never looked so interesting before, and the only thing we can say against this movie, is that the sequels were not as great as the first.

7. Silence of the Lambs (1991)

We all remember Clarice, and her dark and disturbing case, forcing her to cooperate with a dangerous unstable criminal, face eater Hannibal Lecter, performed by Anthony Hopkins, in his most iconic role. Brilliant thriller, well written and very clever, this piece caught audience hooked to the screen, watching every step of Clarice with fear in their eyes. FUN!

6. 12 Monkeys (1995)

Inspired by the short film La Jetée, 12 Monkeys shows us a terrifying post-apocalyptic world and interesting ideas of time travel. With top trio leading the cast: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe and Brad Pitt, and their brilliant performance. We could not ask for more in this psychological sci-fi picture, that made us care for its characters in a super dark and cold world the movie sets in.

5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Many would say it should make the first place, IMDB voters says that as well. One of the greatest drama creations of all time, that triggers the entire range of emotions for watchers to experience. Tim Robbins is epic in his role, struggling thorough his years in prison, teaching as all the meaning of hope, and Morgan Freeman – well you know he is great, always.

4. Se7en (1995)

Another film featuring Morgan Freeman, starring alongside Brad Pitt. Together, they play the roles of two detectives dealing with a fanatic and sadistic serial murder (Kevin Spacey), who believes he is doing the work of god. This movie is brilliant, sophisticate and just genius through and through. It presents murder cases to challenge out mind and out investigating intellect. A beautiful and brutal mystery, with a keen twist to make it one of our favorite detective movies of all time.

3. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

The opener of our 3 finishing giants, is a philosophical masterpiece. No less. For its time, it is hard to believe how smart the script of Ghost in the Shell is, staying relevant today, and raises questions we still can’t solve. One of the cleverest dialogues in cinema, shows us a computer software who became aware of its existence and the result to come with that. With marvelous animation and iconic soundtrack, this one is one of the greatest gems out there.

2. Fight Club (1999)

When Chuck Palahniuk, the author of the book, says the movie makes his book look not as good, you know the movie is great. And make no mistakes, the original book is just SUPER! So what that makes the film? One of the best movies of all time! Not only because of its big and famous twist, but the fact that it is challenging our way of thinking, as addicted customers of convenient modern life style. This aggressive film screams that we should go back to our basic instincts, and stop the media brain wash. Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter, knocks us off our feet with their excellent job on their roles, with the tone set by the talented David Pincher as director. WELL DONE!

1. Pulp fiction (1994)

I guess the best way to describe Pulp Fiction, is by saying thank you Tarantino!

Our favorite crime film on cinema, follows a well thought storyline of different characters, through they’re criminal lives in LA. Tarantino is well known for his witty dialogues, and Pulp Fiction is his best result, today still. He let us witness super fun and clever conversations about the little things and the bigger aspects of life, conversations that merges brilliantly in the storyline, that even when it seems to get more scattered, it manages to make more sense and stay believable. Comic, violent and sharp, Quentin Tarantino gives us the whole package, and its SPECTACULAR, a well disserved first place  And last though on that – when you cast Bruce Willis, and still he is not the best part of your film, you know that you’ve got a perfect movie in your hands!

[flick-reviews-blog]

Top 10 movies of the 90′s!

Pouch, Walkman, 286 computers, Seinfeld, Spice Girls, Nirvana etc. The 90's were colorful.

Not only that, Hollywood knew one of the best decades on cinema, bringing us some true treasures that are still fun to watch.

So, give it up to FLICK's top 10 movies, of the 90's!

10. Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (1991)

How many times you can say that the sequel beats the original film? Even if the original was just great? Not many times, but that's the case with Terminator 2 - Judgment Day. After a wonderful pre-apocalyptic story, came the second film and did all the things that the first film has done, only bigger, better, with more comic reliefs and many phrases to stick until today (I'll be back!). Judgment Day brought to us Arnold Schwarzenegger at his best, with hyper action scenes and even more intriguing storyline than we saw in the first film.

9. Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Some would say that this goofy movie should not made our list, but they have probably missed the genius core of Dumb & Dumber. For the time it came, it was one of the best comedies we could ask for, taking the elements that we all knew in comedies that time and perfecting them. With wild ideas and the most suitable cast to execute them, it was fun to watch from the first moment to the last.

8. The Matrix (1999)

The Wachowski brothers gave us all so many things to think about with their epic creation – The Matrix, as it forced us to wonder about our own existence. Inspired by the 1995 Ghost in the Shell Anime film, this piece set new rules to the action genera, even if its core is philosophical and phycological. The prediction of robots destroying their creators never looked so interesting before, and the only thing we can say against this movie, is that the sequels were not as great as the first.

7. Silence of the Lambs (1991)

We all remember Clarice, and her dark and disturbing case, forcing her to cooperate with a dangerous unstable criminal, face eater Hannibal Lecter, performed by Anthony Hopkins, in his most iconic role. Brilliant thriller, well written and very clever, this piece caught audience hooked to the screen, watching every step of Clarice with fear in their eyes. FUN!

6. 12 Monkeys (1995)

Inspired by the short film La Jetée, 12 Monkeys shows us a terrifying post-apocalyptic world and interesting ideas of time travel. With top trio leading the cast: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe and Brad Pitt, and their brilliant performance. We could not ask for more in this psychological sci-fi picture, that made us care for its characters in a super dark and cold world the movie sets in.

5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Many would say it should make the first place, IMDB voters says that as well. One of the greatest drama creations of all time, that triggers the entire range of emotions for watchers to experience. Tim Robbins is epic in his role, struggling thorough his years in prison, teaching as all the meaning of hope, and Morgan Freeman – well you know he is great, always.

4. Se7en (1995)

Another film featuring Morgan Freeman, starring alongside Brad Pitt. Together, they play the roles of two detectives dealing with a fanatic and sadistic serial murder (Kevin Spacey), who believes he is doing the work of god. This movie is brilliant, sophisticate and just genius through and through. It presents murder cases to challenge out mind and out investigating intellect. A beautiful and brutal mystery, with a keen twist to make it one of our favorite detective movies of all time.

3. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

The opener of our 3 finishing giants, is a philosophical masterpiece. No less. For its time, it is hard to believe how smart the script of Ghost in the Shell is, staying relevant today, and raises questions we still can't solve. One of the cleverest dialogues in cinema, shows us a computer software who became aware of its existence and the result to come with that. With marvelous animation and iconic soundtrack, this one is one of the greatest gems out there.

2. Fight Club (1999)

When Chuck Palahniuk, the author of the book, says the movie makes his book look not as good, you know the movie is great. And make no mistakes, the original book is just SUPER! So what that makes the film? One of the best movies of all time! Not only because of its big and famous twist, but the fact that it is challenging our way of thinking, as addicted customers of convenient modern life style. This aggressive film screams that we should go back to our basic instincts, and stop the media brain wash. Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter, knocks us off our feet with their excellent job on their roles, with the tone set by the talented David Pincher as director. WELL DONE!

1. Pulp fiction (1994)

I guess the best way to describe Pulp Fiction, is by saying thank you Tarantino!

Our favorite crime film on cinema, follows a well thought storyline of different characters, through they're criminal lives in LA. Tarantino is well known for his witty dialogues, and Pulp Fiction is his best result, today still. He let us witness super fun and clever conversations about the little things and the bigger aspects of life, conversations that merges brilliantly in the storyline, that even when it seems to get more scattered, it manages to make more sense and stay believable. Comic, violent and sharp, Quentin Tarantino gives us the whole package, and its SPECTACULAR, a well disserved first place  And last though on that – when you cast Bruce Willis, and still he is not the best part of your film, you know that you’ve got a perfect movie in your hands!

[flick-reviews-blog]

Unable to compare with the 1995 philosophical masterpiece, yet intriguing and entertaining. Ghost in the Shell (2017) review

Dreamcast took a brave choice, recreating the intense world of Ghost in the Shell – the brilliant anime that can be found on manga comic books, TV shows, video games and of course the well-known movies, while the first anime film of 1995, was the biggest breakthrough to make the series famous.

Beginning from the end, it is safe to say that the 2017 version is a solid, worth watching film, with some fine moments, yet can’t live up to the near perfection creation of 1995 which it most inspired from.

What made the 1995 anime film great, were 3 big keys – Breathtaking visuals, strong soundtrack and most important, a clever philosophical script, with keen dialogues. The 2017 version nails 2 out of 3 keys. It presents spectacular visuals, the most impressive I’ve seen in many years and the strongest part of the movie, also good soundtrack, but only nice storyline that falls from its inspiration.

Unlike the original, which presented to us a program that became aware of its existence and wishes to reproduce over the web like humans in real life, the 2017 version gives us a more “bad guys - good guys” clichés, and a very expected idea of corruption that used in too many films.

It feels that Rupert Sanders could have done much more, but he chose not to risk copying the original storyline too much, and it affects the final result in a negative way, and considering he did copy a few actions scenes entirely, he missed an opportunity to create a much better piece by doing so with the dialogues.

All in all, Ghost in the Shell is a good movie with entertaining action scenes, breathtaking visuals and a wonderful performance by Scarlett Johnsson and the genius Michael Pitt (if you didn’t watch ‘The Dreamers’, you should do so). But the most important element of GITS, the philosophical one, is missed.

A score of 7.5 out of 10 from FLICK.