Necrotongue

Well, that was one unsettling movie. I'm not naive about how a civilized society operates, but when it's presented to me so starkly, it still manages to shake me. The filmmakers here tackled a theme that is, unfortunately, all too relevant. From its unquestionable position of authority, the theme feels even more chilling and dangerous. The Koreans really got under my skin with their portrayal, evoking a lot of uncomfortable feelings. It's clear they went about it the right way. / Lesson learned: If you have an appetite for very young prey, either seek help or get yourself castrated.

I never expected an overly enthusiastic writer to come up with the idea of a flying tank performing an Immelmann turn in a battle with a Bf 109, but here we are. There was plenty of nonsense, most of which has already been discussed and dissected by others before me. So, I'll just touch on a few points. Despite the Luftwaffe being the air force of the evil Nazis, it did bring many innovations to aerial warfare. One of these was the concept of German fighters flying in formations of four. Other countries adopted this system later in the war, recognizing its flexibility and effectiveness. The film's attempt to convince me that every Soviet aircraft was equipped with a radio transmitter was quite amusing. In reality, this technological feature was only available to the leader of a larger formation for a significant period after the war began. Setting aside these details, which most viewers probably overlooked, the movie was fairly decent until the disappointing ending. That final scene, filled with tearful salutes, felt completely out of place for me. Cheers to the real heroes who not only fought against the Germans but also against the inflexibility of their commanders. / Lesson learned: When you can't walk, crawl.

Every once in a while, screenwriters manage to craft a character that I despise from the very start. Just recently, I was introduced to the film version of Scarlett O'Hara, which somewhat hinted that perhaps physical punishment in childhood isn't entirely obsolete. However, Angel Deverell turned this faint notion into a certainty. What a dreadful... creature. The film itself was more of an intimate affair, with the main protagonist being grating and a pain in the ass. The story straddled the line between romance and drama, revolving around a writer who could easily be compared to the likes of Danielle Steel or Rosamunde Pilcher. Logically, there shouldn't have been much to appeal to me in this mix. Yet, to my surprise, I found myself entertained. As the end credits rolled, I realized I hadn't been bored the entire time. The creators must have done something right. / Lesson learned: Want to enjoy champagne? Leave the bottle opener in the drawer. 3*+

Today I delved into reruns, so I revisited this almost ten-year-old matter as well. I had to subtract one star from the original four because the movie seemed somewhat uneven on the second try. Its first half seemed better and more entertaining to me, while I was occasionally bored during the second half. In the end, it turned out to be a peculiar madness that gradually lost its charm over time, and I can't shake the feeling that the creators harmed themselves in this case by overburning the running time. With some scene cuts and related shortening of the duration, that fourth star probably would have remained. However, I must underscore the character of Jana Plodková, the production manager; she managed to entertain me every single time. / Lesson: Beware of Havlát!

I first watched this film years ago, and while it didn't disappoint, it also didn't leave a lasting impression, hence my initial three-star rating. However, after today's rewatch, I found myself adding an extra star. Admittedly, I didn't find anything particularly exceptional in this movie. Yet, as I watched, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was witnessing a slice of real life. Sure, in reality, I don't often encounter people who own a piece of Hawaii, but once I set aside this minor detail, what remained was a tale of ordinary people presented in a way that felt quite believable. Throughout the almost two-hour duration, I found myself engaged. George Clooney as Matt King certainly played his part, but it was Shailene Woodley's portrayal of his daughter, Alexandra, that truly impressed me. / Lesson learned: Hawaii isn't always a paradise.

The length of this film was truly extravagant, yet the creators managed to deftly trim the source material so it wouldn't spiral into an eight-hour marathon. Having read the book version, I must say they succeeded in capturing the author's primary intention. I found myself enthralled by Vivian Leigh's brilliant portrayal of that initially spoiled, self-centered brat who gradually evolved into a self-centered, pragmatic Machiavellian. It was obvious that it's an old film, but I wouldn't have guessed it was eighty-three years old. It worked for me. / Lesson learned: If I were a Southern civilian, I would not have waited around for Sherman's arrival.

Kelly's Heroes finds its place among those American films where war is portrayed as an adventure filled with humorous moments. Surprisingly, this didn't bother me much. The creators put in a commendable effort, delivering almost perfect period technique, weapons, and equipment, which truly impressed me. The story was a bit far-fetched, but that was to be expected, so I remained unfazed. Truth be told, this adventure entertained me quite nicely. While I was initially eager for Dirty Harry, Donald Sutherland stole the show with his portrayal of Oddball, which was absolutely perfect. By the way, I couldn't help but chuckle at members of the Wehrmacht fighting under the flags of the Kriegsmarine. It seems the official flag of the Third Reich wasn't distinctive enough for the Americans :-) / Lesson learned: Nothing should stand in the way of your treasure hunt.

Having seen several Finnish war films before, today's entry certainly didn't rank among the best. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it did suffer from some noticeable flaws. The extras were bustling around Finnish forests from left to right and vice versa with great diligence, yet the story felt somewhat incomplete to me. It seemed like a collection of randomly assembled episodes with a plethora of characters, leaving me unable to establish any real connection because the creators didn't allow for that. However, I must give credit to the intelligently inserted archival footage, which did benefit the plot. In my opinion, the Finns could have put more effort into the film; the bravery and abilities of their soldiers definitely deserved better representation. / Lesson learned: Let the Panzerfaust breathe freely.

The Hungarians have once again delivered, this time with a quality ghost story that immerses you in a fantastically gloomy and oppressive atmosphere. What stood out to me was the absence of cheap jump scares; instead, the creators crafted a cohesive narrative that slowly builds up the tension. Post-mortem photographs have made their mark in horror films like The Others, but the Hungarians took this concept further. Unlike typical Western ghost horror movies with a group of paranormal experts, this story was set in the Hungarian countryside shortly after the end of the Great War. It was morbidly refreshing to see the returnees from the afterworld fight against an elusive enemy. I found myself thoroughly entertained throughout, though towards the end, I felt the creators rushed things a bit. The story deserved a more elaborate conclusion. And poor Marcsa, such high hopes... / Lesson learned: Be cautious of unstable ground.

The film delves into a well-known episode of the First World War, one that disrupted the peaceful slumber of the higher command on both sides of the Western Front. For a front-line commander, there's nothing worse than soldiers realizing that the enemy in the trenches isn't all that different from themselves. When ordinary soldiers start seeing their foes as fellow human beings despite all the indoctrination, morale takes a nosedive, something that must be promptly prevented. This could have been a fantastic film if the creators had taken a more restrained approach. Instead, it veered into a realm of melodrama and clichés, gradually morphing into what felt like a farce. The final switch of trenches was the tipping point. Yes, war is chaotic, message received, but if the creators had presented it to me without unnecessary silliness, I could have appreciated their effort more and rated it higher.