Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Genre

Action | Adventure

Director

Sam Raimi

Country

USA

Cast

Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, J.K.Simmons, Donna Murphy, Daniel Gillies, Dylan Baker, Willem Dafoe, Mageina Tovah, Stan Lee, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Deschanel, Daniel Dae Kim, Vanessa Ferlito, Gregg Edelman, John Landis, Phil LaMarr

Plot

It's been two years since Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) transformed into Spider-Man, and he is still struggling to balance life perfectly. As if his personal problems weren't enough, a new enemy is in town: Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina).

Opinion

Spider-Man 2 is at the same time emotionally deeper, funnier, darker, and more exciting than its predecessor.

The film is one of the best superhero films ever made: the web sequences are bright, fast, and spectacular; the script is interesting and involving; the score by Danny Elfman is exceptional; and the supervillain Doc Ock is spectacular - a good man gone bad, and then gone good to save humanity - and way better than The Green Goblin.

The acting in great. Tobey Maguire does a great job with Peter Parker, and makes the audience cheer for him. Alfred Molina is fantastic as Doc Ock, and turns out to be a better villain that Willem Dafoe was. Kirsten Dunst is really nothing more than a pretty face. James Franco is good but a bit one-dimensional - I hope to see more from him in the next film. J.K. Simmons is wonderful as always, and he still steals every scene he is in.

Quotes

Peter Parker: You once spoke to me about intelligence... you said it was a gift to be used for the greater good...
Doc Ock: A privilege...
Peter Parker: These things have turned you into something else... don't listen to them...
Doc Ock: It was my dream...
Peter Parker: Sometimes... to do what's right... we must be steady... and give up the things we desire the most... even our dreams.

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Genre

Action | Crime | Thriller

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Country

USA

Cast

Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, Bo Svenson, Jeannie Epper, Samuel L. Jackson, Larry Bishop, Sid Haig, Perla Haney-Jardine, Helen Kim, Chris Nelson, Laura Cayouette, Clark Middleton, Stephanie L. Moore, Lawrence Bender

Plot

The Bride (Uma Thurman) continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill (David Carradine), the reclusive bouncer Budd (Michael Madsen) and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle (Daryl Hannah).

Opinion

I thought splitting Quentin Tarantino's epic film into two parts was a shame, but I am glad it happened because the two episodes are very different even though the stories are tied together.

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is astonishing, and, although it is not filled with action, it still is enjoyable and entertaining. 

The film cleverly alternates between funny moments, such as the Bride's training with the Cantonese Martial Arts Master, and dramatic moments, such as memories, in black and white. 

Those who had complained about the lack of witty dialogue in the first episode will be happy to know that Quentin Tarantino once again demonstrates a mastery of dialogue: it is the real essence of the film - the scene in which Bill is speaking with the Bride while he makes a sandwich and Bill's final monologue are unforgettable. 

The acting is good. Uma Thurman really fits in with her character, and Daryl Hannah is dazzling. However, David Carradine is the real deal: he is mesmerizing as Bill and he totally steal the show.

Quotes

Bill: As you know, I'm quite keen on comic books. Especially the ones about superheroes. I find the whole mythology surrounding superheroes fascinating. Take my favorite superhero, Superman. Not a great comic book. Not particularly well-drawn. But the mythology... The mythology is not only great, it's unique.

[...] Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. Superman didn't become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears - the glasses, the business suit - that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent. He's weak... he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race. Sorta like Beatrix Kiddo and Mrs. Tommy Plimpton.

The Bride: Ah-so. The point emerges.

Bill: You would've worn the costume of Arlene Plimpton. But you were born Beatrix Kiddo. And every morning when you woke up, you'd still be Beatrix Kiddo. 

The Bride: Are you calling me a superhero?

Bill: I'm calling you a killer. A natural born killer. You always have been, and you always will be. Moving to El Paso, working in a used record store, goin' to the movies with Tommy, clipping coupons. That's you, trying to disguise yourself as a worker bee. That's you tryin' to blend in with the hive. But you're not a worker bee. You're a renegade killer bee. And no matter how much beer you drank or barbecue you ate or how fat your ass got, nothing in the world would ever change that.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Genre

Drama

Director

Mel Gibson

Country

USA

Cast

Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Monica Bellucci, Hristo Zhivkov, Francesco De Vito, Luca Lionello, Hristo Shopov, Rosalinda Celentano, Claudia Gerini, Fabio Sartor, Luca De Dominicis, Mattia Sbragia, Chokri Ben Zagden, Toni Bertorelli, Jarreth Merz, Sergio Rubini, Francesco Cabras, Giovanni Capalbo, Roberto Bestazoni, Sabrina Impacciatore, Pietro Sarubbi, Matt Patresi, Emilio De Marchi, Roberto Visconti, Lello Giulivo

Plot

The film is a depiction of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth (Jim Caviezel), which opens with his betrayal by Judas (Luca Lionello), followed by his condemnation by the Pharisees and his appearance before Pontius Pilate (Hristo Shopov).

Opinion

Director Mel Gibson said, "This is a movie about love, hope, faith and forgiveness." I'd rather say The Passion of the Christ is an extremely violent, sadistic and bloody film, with graphic details of Jesus' torture, which obscures whatever message the film is trying to deliver. Furthermore, if I were a Christian, I'd feel offended - wounded maybe - by such a superficial transposition, and historical and biblical inaccuracy.

Are the Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew languages supposed to make the viewer feel closer to Christ? Because it didn't really work for me.

Director of photography Caleb Deschanel did a good job, the cinematography is wonderful indeed, but the Italian city of Matera - because the film wasn't even shoot in Jerusalem - did most of the work.

Now comes the best part of the film: the acting. Jim Caviezel's performance is powerful as Jesus, Maia Morgenstern is great as Mary, and Hristo Shopov is fantastic as Pontius Pilate.

Quotes

Jesus: Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do.

Rating

4.0/10

Before Sunset (2004)

Genre

Drama | Romance

Director

Richard Linklater

Country

United States

Cast

Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff, Louise Lemoine, Rodolphe Pauly, Mariane Plasteig, Diablo, Denis Evrard, Albert Delpy, Marie Pillet

Plot

Nine years after Vienna, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is in Paris promoting his best selling book, This Time, inspired by that night. As the media scrum at the bookstore nears its conclusion, Jesse spots Celine (Julie Delpy) in the crowd, she who only found out about the book when she earlier saw his photograph promoting this public appearance. Much like their previous encounter, Jesse and Celine, who is now an environmental activist, decide to spend time together until he is supposed to catch his flight back to New York, this time only being about an hour.

Opinion

Before Sunset is fantastic and delightful. I enjoyed every single second of it, and I liked this one even more than the original. Making a sequel to Before Sunrise was undeniably a hard thing to do, but Richard Linklater did brilliantly. This gem of him shows how to make a film about feelings, mostly love, without slipping on the soap opera drama. The dialogues, once again, are just brilliant.

Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have grown with their characters, and their performances are wonderful once again.

Quotes

Celine: Even being alone it's better than sitting next to your lover and feeling lonely.

Jesse: I feel like if someone were to touch me, I'd dissolve into molecules.

Celine: There are so many things I want to do, but I end up doing not much.

Celine: Let me sing you a waltz / Out of nowhere, out of my thoughts / Let me sing you a waltz / About this one night stand / You were, for me, that night / Everything I always dreamt of in life / But now you're gone / You are far gone / All the way to your island of rain / It was for you just a one night thing / But you were much more to me, just so you know / I don't care what they say / I know what you meant for me that day / I just want another try, I just want another night / Even if it doesn't seem quite right / You meant for me much more than anyone I've met before / One single night with you, little Jesse, is worth a thousand with anybody / I have no bitterness, my sweet / I'll never forget this one night thing / Even tomorrow in other arms, my heart will stay yours until I die / Let me sing you a waltz / Out of nowhere, out of my blues / Let me sing you a waltz / About this lovely one night stand

Rating

9.5/10

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

Genre

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Directors

Eric Bress | J. Mackye Gruber

Country

United States

Cast

Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, John Patrick Amedori, Logan Lerman, Irene Gorovaia, Sarah Widdows, Elden Henson, Kevin g. Schmidt, Jake Kaese, William Lee Scott, Jesse James, Cameron Bright, Melora Walters, Eric Stoltz, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Durand, Callum Keith Rennie, Lorena Gale, Nathaniel DeVeaux, Tara Wilson, Jesse Hutch, Jacqueline Stewart

Plot

Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) is about to graduate, and  it seems he has overcome amnesia he had as child: he does not have memory of all the traumatic moments of his life if not in his diaries. When Evan reads the diaries he is thrown back into the past, and he realises he's able to influence it. 

There's a problem though: changing even the smallest detail changes his past, and upon awakening the fate of Evan and his friends are completely changed. 

Opinion

Can we please go back in time and make not this film? The Butterfly Effect is pure junk. The concept of beating wings is very interesting but used improperly. In my opinion, there is way too much drama to be a Sci-Fi/Thriller film.
The acting was awful: can somebody please tell Ashton Kutcher he can't act? He is one of the less expressive actors ever.

Quotes

It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world. - Chaos Theory

Rating

2.0/10

The Sea Inside (2004)

Original Title

Mar Adentro

Genre

Biography | Drama

Director

Alejandro Amenábar

Country

Spain

Cast

Javier Bardem, Belén Rueda, Mabel Riveira, Lola Dueñas, Celso Bugallo, Clara Segura, Joan Dalmau, Alberto Jiménez, Tamar Novas, Francesc Garrido, José María Pou, Alberto Amarilla, Andrea Occhipinti

Plot

Based on a true story, the film tells the story of Ramón Sampedro (Javier Bardem), a man bedridden due to an accident: a dive from a cliff that went wrong, that left him a quadriplegic. He spends his time looking out of the window and writing poetry. After 25 years of living in this way, he tries a legal battle against the Spanish government for the right of euthanasia: his only desire is to die.

Opinion

The Sea Inside is a masterpiece. Usually films about euthanasia tend to be influenced by a part of humanity (in favor or not of euthanasia), but this is not the case. This film is able to enhance and deliver the feelings of the characters involved and doesn't take sides. Loved Ramón's permanent smile and his sense of humor.
The scene that impressed me the most is a pure fantasy one: Ramón flies through the window up to the beach, on the tune of Puccini's Nessun Dorma. 

Quotes

Ramón: When you can't escape, and you constantly rely on everyone else, you learn to cry by smiling, you know?

Padre Francisco: Freedom without a life is not freedom.
Ramón: A life without freedom is not a life.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Genre

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

Director

Michel Gondry

Country

United States

Cast

Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson, Jane Adams, David Cross, Deirdre O'Connell, Thomas Jay Ryan, Debbon Ayer

Plot

Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) meet for the first time on the beach in Montauk, New York, and fall in love in a short time. After a 2 years turbulent relationship they break up.

Clementine hire a firm to erase all her memories of their relationship. Upon discovering this, Joel is devastated and decide to undergo the procedure himself.

During the procedure, that takes place while he sleeps, he regrets his decision to erase his memories, and...

Opinion

In Italian the title is pretty stupid - Se mi lasci ti cancello, meaning If you leave me I'll erase you -, and it made me believe this film was one of those typical romantic comedies everybody loves, but it wasn't. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a delightful film. This is one of those films to be watched carefully and as you progress you'll understand how it works. Ellen Kuras, director of photography, did a great job.

Quotes

Joel: Sand is overrated. It's just tiny, little rocks.

Joel: What a loss to spend that much time with someone, only to find out that she's a stranger.