Kaka

Quite suggestive filmmaking with an ingeniously deceiving direction. What initially appears as another dumb teenage killing road movie eventually turns into a rough survival slasher, where everything fits together as it should, the characters play for their lives, and the plot has unprecedented twists. I haven't seen the remake, but it doesn't bother me that much. This movie works excellently on its own.

Unlike most other users, I actually quite liked the 1993 version. If nothing else, it had quality action and a top-notch cast. But that’s the core of the problem, that version was a grandiose and high-budget production that had great ambitions but ultimately failed, as it did not meet the expectations of die-hard fans of the book and previous films. This current version has no ambitions, other than entertain, and the audience, for sure this time, did not expect anything at all – logically, they could not have been disappointed. If we truly look at it objectively, it is unbelievably off the mark compared to the source material. It is evident that the director disregarded all previous adaptations and made this one his own way. It is funny, the actors are good, and it doesn't lack traditional European action flair (fast-paced scenes, cuts), as well as a few adorable moments. I couldn't neglect the excellent Mads Mikkelsen, who always gives a worthwhile performance no matter the role. In terms of entertainment, it meets the standard, but in terms of art or any other film-making value, it falls 20 thousand leagues below par.

Richard Gere has a lot of bad luck, when someone finally gives him a role where he could excel, it's a mess that he can't make a good movie out of. The Double could have been a decent spy rom, but instead it's thoughtless, visually unappealing, and ultimately quite boring and unconvincing, relying solely on somewhat decent actors. It really kills the B-movie feeling, because it has many things that are similar, and sometimes even better (less polished) than, for example, in The Sentinel, but due to the limited budget and fewer big names, The Double unfortunately gets lost in the final assessment and falls into oblivion. Its siblings seem much cooler at first glance, which is very important within the genre. The double catharsis can be survived, and based on the trailer, one somewhat expects it.

A bit of journalism propaganda, but why not, I actually believed that national hero. The unusually personal relationship between the two main characters – thumbs up. The stuff Renny Harlin can film for 20 million – thumbs up again. It's not as grand and technically polished as other films with a bigger budget and similar theme, but within the indie style, it's a well-made thing, simple and straightforward. The basic things and values are said very clearly and without scruples. And the opening scene in the car is one of the best I've ever seen.

After a very long time, I gave Czech cinema a chance and it turned out as tragically as expected. I naturally expected a made-for-TV feeling – that's the standard in Czech productions. I also expected weak and stiff performances from some of the actors – that's also normal. But I haven't seen such a terribly bad adaptation of a screenplay in a long time. It could have been a decent film on its level (after all, Polívka knows how to act), one that tackles a sensitive social issue in a slightly light-hearted way, but instead, it's a ridiculous farce where everything is good and nothing is wrong. I wonder how the director functions in his personal life.

No mythology, no juice, no beginning, no end. A very peculiar film where you can enjoy decent action, editing and sound, an excellent Kate Beckinsale and a few of her moves, which are truly worth it. Otherwise, it's a disgraceful made-in-Hollywood routine. Everything is further intensified by the short running time that doesn’t leave room to attempt anything. The first one was good, it was more stylish and larger, which is ironic considering the budgets.

A film that, while simple and partly a remake, still managed to deliver many memorable scenes. It is atmospheric, technically very well made (old-school effects in a modern package), and with good performances. Yes, the Antartic landscape greatly contributes to the success of the whole piece, but for a film where I didn't expect much, to get a proper dose of tension and entertainment? That hasn't happened to me within the Hollywood mainstream for a long time. So definitely a thumbs up, and it doesn't embarrass the original film by Carpenter at all.

It has a cool cover, Zoe Saldana is not bad either, (though I didn't completely believe some of her deliveries), it is sunny, with yellowish camera filters and good visuals, but they are hardly exploited. It’s just an ordinary routine story about revenge, full of clichés, standard filmmaking elements, and a few average action scenes, the best of which was at the end and was poorly edited. I wouldn't hesitate to praise the person responsible for the sound and especially the mix of the last action scene, Jason Bourne-style (no music, just the sounds of hits, screams, and things breaking around – excellent raw stuff). Unfortunately, in 90 percent of cases, you don't completely believe the main heroine, as mentioned before, and I consider that a fatal drawback. It needed a bolder script.

One of the highlights of 2011. It is very easy to say that a sports drama is full of clichés – I wonder what kind of story and acting direction a film with this theme would have to have in order not to be clichéd. I recommend disregarding the nitpickers and considering this project as unique, which it is in many respects. The fights are unprecedented fights, I can’t remember such raw realism and kickass editing and sound. The direction of the acting is uncompromising, and the story, in relation to the mentioned superlatives, is such that it allows the actors to shine. Family problems, lack of money, seizures, etc., things that will make a person willing to break bones. And Tom Hardy and his pissed-off persona – I don't remember anything like it in a film. Performance of the year. More straightforward and simpler than Fighter and fiercer and less idealistic than, for example, Rocky. Definitely a classic in contemporary and future cinematography.

An ordinary film, I can't think of a better descriptor. The visuals are nice, like Transformers – it can't get much better. Hugh Jackman is a likeable dad and the chemistry between him and Evangeline Lilly is very good. The child in the main role is excellent, too. Otherwise, it's a pile of clichés about how a father dad becomes a good dad, how a loser and troublemaker becomes a proper man, and how the last chance usually works out. If you're expecting real emotions in the ring, better watch Warrior or a ton of other films with less family and more social focus dealing with racial issues or criticizing “humanity”. If you want a farce like Cinderella Man, that's more or less what Real Steel is, just this one is rated PG13 – money is also made from children. I don't want to say it’s a complete piece of crap, but there's definitely no deeper thought or anything that would make me want to see it again or remember it.