Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Genre

Action | Adventure

Director

Steven Spielberg

Country

USA

Cast

Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, Igor Jijikine, Joel Stoffer, Neil Flynn, Alan Dale, Andrew Divoff, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Dimitri Diatchenko, Ernie Reyes Jr.

Storyline

After being forced to leave Marshall College under dubious circumstances, Indy (Harrison Ford) joins forces with rebellious, young Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), who believes he knows the whereabouts of one of the most spectacular archeological finds in history, the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of fascination, superstition and fear. 

Opinion

19 years after "The Last Crusade", Steven Spielberg and George Lucas come back with a new film of the franchise, starring an old Indy, still more pleasant than a 007 Agent sipping Martinis for the whole time.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a solid adventure film, entertaining, and with some fun, that still delivers the thrills, and does not damage the reputation of the Saga.

Written by George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson, the story is pretty good, but there's a problem with the characters. First of all, Oxley, Indy's friend. He looks like he's on acid, but then he heals, unfortunately it happens only at the end of the film. 

Now the villains. Cate Blanchett's Irina Spalko is not that intimidating, and the Russians are out of place. I'd rather have the Nazis back.

The action is good, and the jungle chase is ok. Only there are way too many, and implausible stunts - not a Bruce Lee's film, right? -, there's an overuse of CGI, and a pointless nuclear explosion scene.

The acting is ok. Harrison Ford still is the same, and old charismatic Indiana Jones. Shia LaBeouf is quite good to be honest, and not much annoying. Karen Allen is back as Marion, but she smiles and laughs for most of the time. John Hurt does what he can with his annoying character. Cate Blanchett is definitely wasted to play the "villain".

Quotes

Mutt Williams: You know, for an old man you ain't bad in a fight.

Indiana Jones: Thanks.

Mutt Williams: What are you, like, 80?

The Hurt Locker (2008)

Genre

Drama | Thriller | War

Director

Kathryn Bigelow

Country

United States

Cast

Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Christian Camargo, David Morse, Ralph Fiennes, Evangeline Lilly, Christopher Sayegh

Plot

During the Iraq War, Sergeant First Class William James (Jeremy Renner), recently assigned an army bomb squad, is put at odds with his squad mates Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) due to his maverick way of handling his work.

Opinion

At first I thought this was just another war film Americans love, but I was wrong. The Hurt Locker is about war, addiction, courage and alienation.

Beautifully directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the film is full of suspense and action. The cinematography by Barry Ackroyd is outstanding, and truly captures the Iraq War, but also war in general, in its rawness and brutality.

Jeremy Renner delivers an excellent performance as Sergeant Will James, a man addicted to danger and adrenaline. Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty, as Sanborn and Eldridge, James's partners, are impressive in their roles, and they do act like real soldiers.

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Quotes

Sergeant William James: [Speaking to his son] You love playing with that. You love playing with all your stuffed animals. You love your Mommy, your Daddy. You love your pajamas. You love everything, don't ya? Yeah. But you know what, buddy? As you get older... some of the things you love might not seem so special anymore. Like your Jack-in-a-Box. Maybe you'll realize it's just a piece of tin and a stuffed animal. And the older you get, the fewer things you really love. And by the time you get to my age, maybe it's only one or two things. With me, I think it's one.

Rating

9.0/10

Eden Lake (2008)

Genre

Horror | Thriller

Director

James Watkins

Country

United Kingdom

Cast

Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Jack O'Connell, James Gandhi, Thomas Turgoose, Bronson Webb, Shaun Dooley, Finn Atkins, Thomas Gill, James Burrows

Plot

Jenny (Kelley Reilly) and her boyfriend, Steve (Michael Fassbender), escape their everyday life to a remote lake in the green English countryside.

Their quiet weekend falls apart when a gang of kids, which have fun in provoking adults, first insult them and then steal their car. The situation gets worse when Steve decides to face them.

Opinion

Eden Lake is a dark and bloody horror/thriller film, somewhat realistic. In his directorial debut, James Watkins has managed to create real suspense and some real horror. The cynical ending proves the like father like son proverb.
The young actors do a fantastic job for their age, with a special mention for Jack O'Connell, the gang leader. The two leading actors, Kelley Reilly and Michael Fassbender, are brilliant.
I highly recommend it, but if you are a weak-hearted you better not watch it, mainly because of the detailed sadistic sequences. 

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Quotes

No quotes

Rating

8.0/10

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Louis Leterrier

Country

United States

Cast

Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, Christina Cabot, Peter Mensah, Lou Ferrigno, Robert Downey Jr., Stan Lee

Plot

After the gamma radiation, scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) seeks a cure to his unique condition, which causes him to turn into a giant green monster, the Hulk, under emotional stress.
Whilst on the run from military which seeks his capture, Banner comes close to a cure. But all is lost when a new creature emerges: The Abomination (Tim Roth).

Opinion

In Hulk, Ang Lee abused of visual effects, portraying a cartoon look alike Hulk, too fake and therefore ridiculous. The Incredible Hulk, its reboot, gave people a more realistic Hulk - as far as realistic a superhero can be - and provided the action to please comic book fans.
The cast also is better than the previous. Edward Norton is great as Bruce Banner/Hulk, giving him inner strength and being able to express his feelings with his eyes only. Liv Tyler is good as Betty Ross, and Tim Roth is a beast - literally - and an amazing villain as Blonsky.

Quotes

Bruce Banner: Don't make me hungry. You wouldn't like me when I'm hungry.

Emil Blonsky: I've had missions go wrong, and seen good people go down, all because someone didn't tell them what they were walking into. I moved on because that's the job, and that's what we do. But this... this is a whole new level of weird, and I don't think I want to step away from it. Sir, if you're going to take another crack at him, I want in. And with respect, sir, you'll need a team that's prepared and ready to fight, because if that thing shows up again... you're going to have a lot of professional tough guys pissing in their pants, sir.

Rating

7.5/10

Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Genre

Drama

Director

Jonathan Demme

Country

United States

Cast

Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Debra Winger, Tunde Adebimpe, Mather Zickel, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George, Victoria Haynes, Jerome LePage, Carol-Jean Lewis, Fab 5 Freddy, Robyn Hitchcock, Beau Sia, Roger Corman, Tamyra Gray, Kyrah Julian, Roslyn Ruff, Sebastian Stan

Plot

When Kym (Anne Hathaway) returns home for the wedding of her sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt), she brings a long history of personal crisis, family conflict and tragedy along with her.

Opinion

I've definitely chosen a depressing way to start the new year, but it's worth it. Rachel Getting Married may look banal at first, but it's an extraordinary movie, that manages to balance the euphoria for the upcoming wedding and the melancholy of the protagonist. The camcorder technique adds expressiveness.
The wedding - this word fits perfectly - between different cultures is stunning. Also loved the music.
Anne Hathaway's performance is not brilliant, it's way better than that. The Academy Award nomination is totally deserved - should have won. Rosemarie DeWitt is also good.

Quotes

Kym: I mean, you make me feel like shit a hundred times a day.

Rating

8.0/10

Hunger (2008)

Genre

Biography | Drama

Director
Steve McQueen

Country
Ireland | United Kingdom

Cast
Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham, Brian Milligan, Liam McMahon, Helen Madden, Des McAleer, Helena Bereen, Laine Megaw, Karen Hassan, Frank McCusker, Lalor Roddy, Geoff Gatt, Rory Mullen, Ben Peel, Paddy Jenkins

Plot
Northern Ireland, 1981. 

The film opens with prison officer Raymond Lohan (Stuart Graham) preparing to leave for work: he checks under his car for bombs, puts his uniform on and ignores the camaraderie of his colleagues. 

Davey Gillian (Brian Milligan), a new IRA prisoner, arrives. Due to his refusal to wear the prison uniform, he is labeled as "non-cooperative". His roommate, Gerry (Liam McMahon), has smeared the cell with faeces from floor to ceiling for resistance to the prison regime. 

The final focus of the film is Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender), Irish Republican activist who deeply believes in the cause for which he was imprisoned and in the righteousness of dying for political prisoner status. 

Opinion
With his first film, Steve McQueen gave birth to a masterpiece, in terms of cinematography (memorable is the dialogue between Father Dominic Moran and Bobby Sands) and in terms of emotions (some scenes are so raw to result unbearable).

Hunger is a magnificent picture of an important moment in history. Needless to be mentioned is the majesty of Michael Fassbender as IRA prisoner Bobby Sands. 

If you are easily impressed I highly recommend you to not watch this film.

Quotes
I have my belief, and in all its simplicity that is the most powerful thing.

Rating
8.5/10