Two candles in the dark

The ocean floor is as unforgiving, desolate, lifeless and unexplored as space. And in good stories, extraterrestrial boogeymen can also venture there. One can only hope that these superior beings are kind. The Abyss is a 1989 science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron. It is starred by Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester, Todd Graff, Kimberly Scott and John Bedford Lloyd. It's one of the best claustrophobic survival movies of all time. At times, it's breathtakingly beautiful to watch.

Sit by the king or perish

There are pros and cons when an actor makes a film that polishes the public image of the country's president and covers up the stains from his past. In a way, he sells his soul and all his artistic integrity. At the same time, he surrounds himself with people he hates. His private life also suffers. But on the other hand, being in the dictator's favor, he gets certain concessions from the state leadership's office, for example, friends are released from prison and removed from their blacklist. Being in the inner circle of power can be fun for a while, but it can also lead to death. Eagles of the Republic is the final film of Tarik Saleh's Cairo trilogy (following The Nile Hilton Incident and Boy from Heaven). 

The epidemic of laziness

I don't think a movie plot can get any simpler than this: Walk or get shot. But in its simplicity, how deliciously enjoyable. Stephen King's book was already shocking, and now this Francis Lawrence film is unforgivably brutal and definitely not for the faint of heart. It's great that things like this are still being done.

Just saw the arms apart

A couple moves to the peace of the countryside, but they encounter nightmarish unnatural forces. Makes a pretty fun and creepy body horror movie. This isn't about reinventing the genre, but Michael Shanks' Together is sufficiently grotesque, scary, and disturbing. 

Ruining the good memories

A great-looking thing. Almost like watching an Edward Hopper painting transformed into a film. This first English-language movie by Pedro Almodóvar is absolutely fantastic eye candy. There's nothing wrong with the story itself, somehow some kind of twist was expected, but apparently, on purpose, no greater tragic turmoil has been sought here.

In the harsh face of stardom

This was tamer and kinder than I remembered. The rock escapism of this fictional band called Stillwater is delightfully smoothed over what contemporaries were certainly doing at the time. In the film, the band and its groupies are almost completely alienated from drugs and booze. But it's a nice snapshot of a rock band and a trusted journalist's journey across America. The purpose of the film is perhaps not to indulge in sensationalism but rather the joy of storytelling.

Ashes in the shadows of the alleys

Sir Alfred Hitchcocks's first (1927) true suspense film and his first commercial hit. A mysterious killer called the Avenger is terrorizing the streets of London. As the search for him continues, all eyes turn to the mysterious stranger who has taken up residence in the inn. Makes an atmospheric silent film thriller.

Some people are blurred

Based on a Stephen King book and at least loosely based on the active years of serial killer BTK, aka Dennis Rader. Quite good otherwise but unbelievable especially when the wife finds out her husband's secrets and instead of running to the police, she keeps quiet if the man promises not to continue killing. The film stars Joan Allen, Anthony Lapaglia and Stephen Lang.

A bottomless pit of need

Comedy is a difficult genre. When it doesn't succeed, it's annoying to watch. They try to be funny here too, the writers must have laughed with what they thought were genius antics, but unfortunately the fun doesn't transfer to the other side of the screen. You can hardly blame the two brilliant actors (Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch), although they didn't play to their strengths here either. And their chemistry didn't work. A relationship drama was built in between the comedy, but that too remained very lukewarm and distant because the characters were so uncomfortable and repulsive in their narcissism.

The latest version of the truth

A good action movie suffocates itself in its own impossibility. 20 million in drug cartel money has blinded officials from various units. Smoking dirty cops requires multi-layered twists and turns. The Rip, by Joe Carnahan, is a once-watchable macho film bathed in testosterone and gunpowder smoke, where the men are muscular, bulletproof killing machines.

Peace is preserved by hiding the truth

A forbidden friendship between four South and North Korean border guards. A completely absurd risk of getting caught. If it were to be revealed, the impact could be world-changing. Eliminating them would probably be the simplest option to keep their mouths shut for good. But first they have to be exposed. Joint Security Area (2000) is a little confusing at first because the story unfolds mostly through flashbacks, and very slowly, but fortunately it's rewarding in the end.

The nights were deathly cold

Wow, painfully bad movies are still being made. The rights to Walt Disney's Winnie the Pooh characters were transferred to the public domain in January 2022, and of course someone had the idea to rape it for use in horror films. The movie is apparently made without any thought. But there's a sequel coming, so maybe it'll be improved. In the end, though, this is just a teenage slasher horror story. A bad one. A meaningless, blood-soaked mess. 

A semen demon

Undoubtedly one of the most significant and best films of recent times. One could speak of a complete cinematic experience. It is chaotic, just the right amount of raunchy and opinionated, and above all, exciting and gripping. The technical execution is absolutely top-notch, such as the captivating cinematography, soundtrack and acting. You can't help but enjoy it to the fullest.

Rotting nuclear waste blues

Not everyone will like this kind of campy humor and gore. That's why these films retain their value and the fan base is loyal. The 2023 Toxic Avenger remake, directed by Macon Blair, is admirably faithful to the original film's insanity. And that's a good thing. It's a bad superhero movie, but a thousand times funnier than all the other modern superhero movies that have to follow a certain code of conduct. So much gore and blood that the target audience is thankfully completely different.