Change Your Image
Mendelovich
Reviews
Zohi Sdom (2010)
Just a spin off of a TV show
You know The Simpsons, so they made a movie. Was the movie better than the series? No way. This is the case here, but add lack of funds as a "bonus" and you receive a yawning experience. The movie cannot carry itself. It is just an expansion of a gag, usually no longer than 5 minutes. The movie was done for the summer, that is no shame, but it could have been written better. The main characters lack development, and the plot goes nowhere. But worst of all is the absolute lack of visual effects, so needed in a movie revolving around the destruction of Sodom. I say if you don't have the money to make the necessary visual effects, don't do the movie. Set it up in a place where there is no need for expensive effects. The foreign audience won't be able to watch this movie, because it is absolutely out of context for those unfamiliar with the TV series, which this movie is based on.The Israeli audience, such as myself, was allured to the theaters by the aggressive promotion and a high anticipation. Disappointment was the outcome, unfortunately.
Molière (2007)
No frills just scenario
My god, what a pleasure to see a movie which doesn't pretend to appeal to children. Such a movie is rare these days in the Anglo Saxon world. Thank god for the French who do not need to worry about income because of the government subventions. Moliere is written to the French knowing adult, which understands the intricacies of that French period, full of gaps between the poor, the rich and the aristocrats. Moliere, the writer, fully understood those gaps, and included them in his splendid masterpieces.This movie, actually, is an interpretation on the inspiration of Moliere for writing one of his plays. I especially enjoyed the way Moliere was presented as a tragedy lover and a comedy hater. Very ironic.
Commando (1985)
25 Years Ahead, and Still Captivating
I know. Nothing is logical in the way Arnold saves his daughter, but I loved it. He kills and kills again. Nobody hurts him too much and the law of gravity doesn't influence him. But, if I watched it carefully in these days, it means a lot. Arnold is really great, and the movie cannot disappoint you.
I did not understand why Arnold dragged that woman with him. Could it be that among all the amazing things he masters in the movie, flying is not among them? I must admit that the woman beside him could have been someone richer in the looks devision, but this minor flaw cannot diminish the pleasure of this movie.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
What did improve with Woody Allen?
I have always liked Allen's movies. They are an instant magnet for me. So, whenever a new movie of him emerges, I make an effort to watch it. Not that I rush to the cinema theater, but I mark it as a memory note to watch it whenever it will be on TV. But a beautiful technological revolution in the way movies are shot, transformed the experience of watching Allen in something even better. Lack of action in the movie no longer reduces the quality of the colors and its brightness, so you don't need to attend such movies, in order to enjoy fantastic shots and breath taking views. That's exactly what has happened in this movie. No more exquisite dialogs surrounded by dull sceneries limited by inferior shooting technology, but exceptional images with the same high quality scenario. So everyone wins, and Spain is interwoven in Allen's film just as beautifully as it would have been in a touristic promotion. And by the way, the plot is wonderful.
Space Chimps (2008)
Why was this movie done? Evidently for chimp fans
This movie has nothing new for us except the freezing stuff on the alien planet. It was a long time since such an incoherent concoction was construed before us. The plot is almost impossible to bear or follow, due to its hops between different scenes, and the myriad of aliens, chimps and people. To top it all, the animation is quite inferior compared to Pixar's. So why was this movie done? If you love chimps to the point of being a fan, you can admire their virtues as the inheritors of corrupted people. Even the most free spirited chimp, represented by Ham IIIrd, can grasp itself and rise beyond the highest human morals.
Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
The very idea of the movie is enthralling
I was not aware of Dr. Seuss' writing, so I did not hear anything about Horton. Then, I was absolutely captivated by this endearing elephant. The movie has some in between the line layers, which are quite obvious to the adult viewer, but they are completely hidden from the children audience, its true destination. A child will learn to position himself relatively to others, just as Horton did with the Whos. He will learn also that he has to defend his ideas, and to be affirmative against his peers, just as Horton and Whosville's mayor were. Last but not least, we, the adults, should regard the smallest child as a dear asset, one that could save our entire world, as did JoJo.
Bolt (2008)
A well written animated movie
We are used to animated movies spreading kindness and happiness among the viewing audience, but Bolt is somehow different. The beginning of the movie is very surprising and the plot unwinds superbly till the end. I enjoyed it a lot, and admired the high quality of everything in it. One of the best scenes in the movie demonstrates the thorough thinking in this movie's preparation: a strong explosion blasts in front of us, and the camera suddenly moves some hundreds of yards away, and we see a Styrofoam glass knocked down very slowly by the blast. It was amazing. The Pixar company has done it again, with the small details that elevate the movie to it's high standards.
Flightplan (2005)
Not enough action
I was expecting much more action from this movie. It has an inherently stressing situation being filmed in an airplane. Nevertheless I felt an extreme stinginess from the movie makers in regard to action supplying. I know that they preferred to enhance the psychological domain, but as it has been shown in a previous movie of Foster, The Room, it can be combined perfectly.
Foster is playing an airplane designer which loses her daughter in the airplane during flight from Germany to the U.S. This situation overwhelms the crew and nobody seems to believe her. Foster sometimes questions her lucidity herself, but still engages in a frantic search for her daughter. Due to her expert knowledge of the airplane, she realizes where she should look for her daughter. This search lacks action, because nobody seems to oppose her and everybody wants to help her. Thus, we have a lot of dramatic shooting with the camera, but nothing spectacular happens. This lack of action hurts the movie.
Hollywood Ending (2002)
Why do you have to see this movie?
I am overwhelmed with the modern movies' aspiration to rely on new fashions. Thank God we have Woody Allen as a beacon of tradition and craftsmanship in the domain of movie-making. The movie is extremely funny and lacks all the nuisances which plague newer ones in order to make them more appealing to the main core audience nowadays: male teenagers. Woody Allen plays the role of an over-the-hill director which undertakes the mission of making a movie against the wishes of its producer.He receives a blow when he becomes blind right before the beginning of the shooting. The plot revolves around Allen's blindness, which is guarded as a secret by his agent, and the process of the filming with a blind director. I do not have to mention the many a hilarious moments this situation produces.
La Bloc (2002)
Funny show
The best thing to say about this series is that it's funny. It runs almost daily in Romania and it has a big success. They've shot more than 450 episodes of 22 minutes each, and the quality doesn't seem to decrease. The plot revolves around 2 couples and their children, a womanizer nicknamed Americanul (The American)and a stupid man named Popa. They all live in a condo and have a lot of funny situations between them, which generally include some kind of revenge. The main characters, Nelu and Costel play now two police officers, but they had other jobs in previous seasons. They have a lot of ideas of how to do their job as easy as they can, and that includes their wives. They would always prefer a glass of beer and they will do everything to obtain it. Americanul is a paparazzi who does everything to put his photos on the front page, and Popa messes everything up. As a bonus you have 3 gorgeous girls who add another dimension to the show. They include a blonde who is extremely stupid, an aspiring actor and another one who is interested only in men. There were some seasons that the show had English subtitles, but now it doesn't so you can enjoy only if you know Romanian. That's a pity!
***Not long a go the show was tilted quite a lot with many a changes. Some of the cast and writers left the show, and the sitcom was hurt. It has lost all its appeal and I withdraw my enthusiasmatic support. I suggest you should see the show only up to the 450th episode.
Mile High (2003)
A series worthy of the name "FRESH"
I started watching this series by chance and never missed an episode since. The plot is not the most brilliant, but it doesn't matter. You will like the shots, the locations and the editing. In fact the editing is the most impressive factor in this series. The characters are interacting at a level that is far beyond the reality: the crew always drinks, parties or takes drugs. Nevertheless they are perfectly able to manage their job wonderfully. They have a lot of glamor in them and it translates to the viewer. The only bothering issue for me is the frequent change of the actors. They come and go without any warning and you must accept it as an integral part of the series.
Gosford Park (2001)
Much a do about nothing
The above title is the fit name for this movie. In this time and day a movie such as this is absolutely anachronistic and unnecessary. I honestly cannot say that I remember even a single name of a single character or even that I understood the end. I was bombarded by an immense quantity of information which kept me so concentrated on it that I disregarded the plot. I would suggest that a potential viewer should be aware that this movie does not deliver the goods, i.e. it's extremely boring. Ending without something positive is not recommended, so I must emphasize the extreme talent of the director in completing such a movie without loosing his ambition through the process.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Sophistication is not so important
I've seen the movie with the knowledge that John Nash was the inventor of one of the most important theories in the science of economics: The Games Theory. I was amazed that the movie didn't show any kind of information related to this fact. Even the explanations written at the end of the movie didn't reveal anything connected to the theory formulated by Nash. Why was it so? I find it quite bothering that such an important achievement was not mentioned at all. It seems that sophistication is not so important, and even unnecessary if it's science-related.
Pacala (1974)
Run away!
I have seen this film as a child. It seemed funny. Nowadays I saw it again and I honestly can say that this movie is so bad that it should be banned. The only positive thing in this film is the scenery. The acting and the scenario are so poor, that I cannot understand how anyone could have produce them. The movie deals with a well known Romanian folk-hero, Pacala, a sly country boy, which resolves every problem in an unexpected way. The written stories of this hero are very funny and very qualitative. The movie fell far away from the origins.
Gladiator (2000)
The great epic movies were finally surpassed
This movie is so well done, that you are overwhelmed. I can frankly say that there is not even a single boring moment during the whole length. I will begin my description with the shooting. The movie has such great shots, that you will be truly impressed. There wasn't any saving made by the producers with the staging of the scenery. It has been set to resemble perfectly the Roman times. The fighting scenes in the gladiator's arena are shocking, but tastefully done. Actually, the movie begins with a battle between a Roman legion and a German tribe's army. Great shots! It is much better than the fights in Braveheart. The other impressive side of the movie is the consistency of the plot. The movie has a coherent plot which sends us a clear picture of the happenings, without limiting the suspension. You cannot guess the end of the movie at all, and neither the next step, but as it happens it is logic. The last but not least is Crowe's acting. I have never heard about this actor until this movie, but he plays very well. He is manly and sensitive altogether. I commend its casting, when other candidates were more known. You just have to see this movie, and you will be convinced that the great epic era of the fifties was finally reproduced and surpassed.
Yellowbeard (1983)
The neglected, but funniest Monty Python Comedy
I have seen everything Monty Python has created. I did not like any of their movies, except this one. The "Flying Circus" series was excellent but this film is even better in some aspects. First of all, it lacks the boring animated pieces which the "Flying Circus" abounds. Second, it is long enough to develop a character to its true potential, thus we are able to enjoy Graham Chapman completely. John Cleese and Eric Idle are wonderful, even though they have smaller roles.
But Chapman is immense. Yellowbeard's character is so vulgar and violent on the one hand and the people around him are so courteous and naive on the other hand, that this dichotomy creates endless comedy for us to enjoy. The highlight of the movie are Yellowbeard's perceptions of how a man should behave: rape his wife, steal everything, and of course, kill as many people as possible (by beheading them, mainly). His vehemence when asserting those perceptions is absolutely hilarious.
The Matrix (1999)
My big disappointment
I must say that I am a small admirer of sci-fi movies. Nevertheless, I have always liked good action, even if it happens in outer space. I must remind you here great movies, like "Total Recall", "Terminator" and "Star Wars". These movies captured my phantasy and my curiosity. Great expectations I had when I started watching Matrix. I have heard so much about its deep dialogs and its special effects. In reality, those hopes collapsed in face of this movie. I have to confess that it is absolutely awful. Nothing more and nothing less. The dialogs are sprinkled with a myriad of pseudo-philosophic sentences, which are intended to awake in us deep thoughts. Well, it didn't arouse anything in me but boredom. I do not accept that Morphius has some kind of deep perspective on life and I do not accept Neo's battle with himself as representing something in our lives. The movie has engaged in a circle of happenings which do not take us anywhere. All the passes between the real world and the Matrix world are so casual and unsophisticated, that it puzzled me. I do not understand why did the producers of this movie bother with so many transitions between the worlds, when nothing really happens, and the basic difference between the worlds is always maintained. Lastly, I was deeply disappointed in the special effects. They are so simplistic and so few that I wonder whether this film should even be classified as a modern sci-fi. My final conclusion would be that this movie has become some kind of culture item, and people were grasped by its media-magic. Two years after its release, it's so vane. Try to see it now, and you will be convinced.
One Million Years B.C. (1966)
Is she sexy?
I have always wanted to see Raquel Welch in this movie. The first time I heard about it, some 20 years ago, it sounded extraordinary. When I finnaly saw it this year, it was a total disappointment. This would be one of the most boring movies I have ever seen. Only the fact that I paid 15$ for it kept me watching, but with a lot of FF on the VCR. This movie is very pretentious. It has many interesting features, but basically it is badly done and without a coherent plot. The lack of language (no character speaks, but only hums) makes it quite incomprehensible.
It is very clear that the movie was done for a white public, because all the good guys are blonde and all the bad guys (except the hero) are brunette. And finally, Welch's outfit is so unsexy (basically, a bikini made out of rags), that even this 'important' feature is omitted by the producers. Dear potential viewers, please don't waste your time on this movie!
Starship Troopers (1997)
Totally unexpected
I must admit that I had the "luck" not to hear about this movie and not to know about the director's identity. I did not see the beginning and only knew the Hebrew name of the movie. I stayed the whole length almost perplexed. The lack of "stars" didn't diminish at all the quality of this film.
The plot was very "Total Recall" like (which I did notice during the watch) and this is a very good formula for success, in my opinion. The quality of the animatronics lacked a little, but the "fire squirting insect" was a success.
The plot does not have great importance, because it is totally incongruent, but the beauty in sci-fi movies doesn't lie in the plot, no? Even so, I loved the dedication of the hero to the girlfriend and his devotion to the mission. I loved also the item of insects chosen as foes, because it made the movie very politically correct (no one admires insects) without diminishing the fierceness of the battles- the insects were the most competent warriors I have ever seen.
To conclude, it is a well done movie, which decided to leave plot to other genres and to concentrate in what sci-fi movie lovers like: stunts and imagination.
Total Recall (1990)
A revolutionary science fiction movie
I used to disregard science fiction genre like Star Wars, and without Schwarzenegger I would have missed this one. Being a fan of Arnold's exposed me to this best of movies. The movie develops in two places: a futurist Earth and an oppressed Mars. The opening scenes with Sharon Stone, than a fresh beauty, are very impressive. The traveling of the plot between Earth and Mars creates an atmosphere of suspense, because we do not know how it will further develop. And then there is the action. Arnold is truly in his best. Some of the scenes will remain with you for ever, like the spinning exploding woman head or the x-ray machine near the subway. One of the most impressive places is Venusville, a kind of futuristic entertainment complex, reminding of a wild west city. The quantity of make up used by the actors there is remarkable.
Yes, indeed you will enjoy Arnold!
Sex and the Single Girl (1964)
A fun movie with a provocative name
The stars that this movie features promise and deliver. I have never seen a sweeter woman than Natalie Wood here. Tony Curtis is the tabloid bad guy first, who becomes the romantic fool later. Henry Fonda manufactures pantyhoses and is happily, and many times sadly married to Lauren Bacall, once his secretary. The plot is wonderfully built around the developing romance between Curtis and Wood and its intertwining with the tensions between Fonda and Bacall. Curtis develops a scheme to bring Wood to admit that she did or didn't (you know what), the results of which will be published in STOP!, the worst tabloid. After he falls in love with her everything changes, but the problem is that the scheme included Fonda, and this is further complicated by Bacall's temperament. The complication produces many comical situations you will enjoy.
Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)
One of the funniest comedies I've ever seen.
This movie is peppered with many funny scenes. The film is quasi-narrated by Orson Wells, which offers a serious aspect, but the moment you see Gene Wilder, you burst into laughing. The differences between the two mixed pairs of twins generates endless comical situations. One of the funniest is the absurd anger of Philippe De Sisi, who makes a fuss about everything. Imagine yourself a Corsican aristocrat captured by the French peasants near the French Revolution- you will not be disappointed. Another comical figure is King Louis xvi, who is presented as a foolish, naive clock lover. The disrespect he faces from his court and especially his unfaithful wife, Marie-Antoinette, is a bountiful source of laugh as well. DON'T MISS IT.