andrejvasiljevic

As a biggest fan of "Otvorena Vrata" and it's first season, the news of fresh episodes stroke me as lightning~ Not only was i ecstatic about a new season, but knowing that the entire original cast will be engaged again was even more thrilling... finally! I even got the chance to visit the set back in February and see where the magic is made. And so, "Otvorena Vrata" came again into our lives, a series that was a benchmark in 1990s Serbia, and the brightest spot on state TV. Impressions? The coffee got cold, very cold and tasteless...

So, what went wrong? True, the cast is there, though it seems years have done their share. A very respectable group of actors got older and most of them lost their kick. It's no wonder though~ The original series were filmed 17-18 years back. Lane Gutovic, Bogdan Diklic, Vlasta Vlaisavljevic... they were all shining very bright back in the day, but alas, that day has long passed buy. On the other hand, Vesna Trivalic was always a horrible untalented actress, with the only exception of original "Otvorena Vrata", where her age and charisma compensated. Similar story goes for Nikola Djuricko. His role as Vojkan may have suited him perfectly back in 1994., but definitely not today. Performance of the two in this new series is quite poor. In short, some of the cast pushed their best effort and kinda failed, whilst the other never had any material to begin with~ All this adds up to a very iffy acting performance, nowhere even close the first season.

Second big issue is the visual outlook~ Frame, directing and editing resemble more to a commercial than comedy. You could easily mistake "Otvorena Vrata 2" with a promo video for banks, insurance companies and so on. It looks decent, but highly inappropriate for something which should not be commercial in it's essence. Finally, there is the script. I can't say it's bad~ Biljana Srbljanovic still kept some of her original karma, and yet, it seems as a deja-vu of and simply doesn't deliver that message it used to. The whole new series looks like a parody of it's old self.

To sum up~ there are some funny, witty moments and occasional decent performances, however, compared to the original series, "Otvorena Vrata 2" is a very poor photocopy on a low ink printer. The 5 points go only and only for the sake of passed glamor and old fame.

Lately, a certain term began to sound very popular around China~ Chinese Dream. As government officials try to explain in their well prepared and yet very dull PR speeches, it's pretty much the same concept as the American Dream back in the 1950s~ work, money, happiness and national pride. However, "American Dreams in China" does not bother with this issue directly. It is only due to strange translation that one may get such an impression. Actually, the literal transliteration would sound something like "Chinese Partner". And indeed, the story is a mix of comedy and drama which revolves about the dreams and careers of 3 good friends, who came to be successful businessmen. You could say that "American Dreams in China" has elements of a Hollywood style rags-to-riches plot, but there's more to it~

For one to understand and like this motion title, one must comprehend what China looked like 30 years a go, and trust me, it had absolutely nothing to do with anything you have today. Back in the early 1980s when the story begins, Chinese society was still a firmly Maoist environment, with little or no personal freedoms. The country only started to open up, but still, the road ahead was long and challenging. Money or any kind of major material possessions were a distant dream for most. Young people had only but two choices~ to study and hope for a city desk job, or settle in the country side and employ in a field or factory. Naturally, many had a problem with the options, which pushed to them find luck in other places of the world, most often in the USA. Some of them succeeded to cross the ocean, but most had to stay in China and search for a different way.

"American Dreams in China" is a story about 3 college friends with same dreams, and yet, paths that took very different turns. It is a drama (based on a true story as they say) with comic elements~ A Chinese tale which in a humorous, and yet very bold ways speaks of a generation that started the business story which, up till today, made China the economic center of the world. Their work and effort will go along with the changing society, enduring the wild and turbulent tides.

So, did I like it? Quite so much~ I even saw the film in a Chinese cinema with no subtitles, which was a unique opportunity for me to polish my Mandarin, haha. "American Dreams in China" is a good and creative substance for all those who like drama, comedy and are willing to get into the social issues of China. Definitely worth watching~

"Easy Virtue" is one of those films that could have been so good, but something failed along the way. However, unlike with most such cases, this time it's the script that was a let down.

Visually, it was perfect. Great shots, colors, editing, sets... It was pure eye candy. If I could ever go back in the 1930s Britain, that is the life I'd choose. Acting - solid in the given conditions. A respectable cast did a fair job. Still, with all the famous faces, expensive scenery and fancy post production, "Easy Virtue" misses something. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but the overall impression is that the script simply didn't deliver. During the entire movie You expect something to happen, and You more or less know what should happen, but that something just doesn't seem to arrive.

I don't know... I guess it's worth watching with the sound off (except for the music maybe). The visuals are astounding, but that's pretty much it.

"Nacionalna Klasa" or "National Class" is a legendary example of Yugoslav film industry from the 70s and it's brilliance. It also represents Goran Markovic's most known title and probably highest accomplishment of his career.

Starting from 1955., Fiat 600 was assembled in Yugoslavia under the brand of Zastava. Over the years, it became a favorite four wheeler and the most present passenger vehicle on the roads. It was a national mascot, symbol of a thing we called "Yugoslavian Standard". Fabulous "Fica" was a first car for most drivers, while it represented the basic auto sport vehicle as well. For all those rally drivers out there, the primal step towards stardom was the championship called "National Class", a racing category under 785 ccm. The story of "Nacionala Klasa" tells a tale of Brana Mitrovic, a young and ambitious driver who waits for that big push and change in his life that would launch him to success. Though, it never seems to come... Together with his racing monster (more of a scrap in real life), Branimir nicknamed Floyd, will push to the limits both himself and the machine.

"Nacionalna Klasa" is an urban comedy, the best example of a humorous cinematic real life expression. Placed in the late 70s Belgrade, it shows aspects of everyday atmosphere, including the challenging and yet a bit comedic environment of Yugoslavian auto racing scene. It also touches the issue of army dodging. Back in the day, service was obligatory and many creative solutions were devised to avoid that year in the Yugoslav People's Army. Floyd will try some of them, much to his discomfort.

Acting - on the level as ever. A brilliant Dragan Nikolic was 100% up to the task, followed with great performances by Rade and Olivera Markovic, Mica Tomic, Bora Todorovic, Gorica Popovic, Bogdan Diklic, Voja Brajovic and all others. Yes, "Nacionalna Klasa" is definitely worth watching and remembering. It's a legendary flick from good old times - a must have in any collection.

When "The Truman Show" was concealed as a script, reality TV was something brand new and exciting, a fresh thing which would shake the world of entertainment for a while, before it grew old and went into TV history like everything else. What the scriptwriters probably didn't know is that "Reality TV" is going to last until the present days and sprout into uncountable degenerate alterations. I guess "The Truman Show" was a form of social satire, an Orwellian vision of the future which will never come. Boy they were wrong. Watching Truman Burbank back in 1998. made me laugh, though these days it very much resembles all other TV surrounding.

What does this mean for the movie? It's still brilliant. A rare and shiny gem in the sludge of Hollywood, as well as Jim Carrey's role of a lifetime. The film is great, but the fact our world is becoming more and more like "The Truman Show" is what scares me. Furthermore, people these days crave to have their privacy invaded, much unlike poor and oblivious Mr Burbank.

If Truman knew back in 1998. what the world of Reality TV would look like now in 2012., I guess he would have tied a rope around his neck and jumped off that boat into the storm.

"Midnight Express" is the best prison brake flick I've seen by far. Although It's very loosely based on the book by William Hayes, and twists the reality quite some, the story brings to light the most important aspect into light - being lost in another world.

Going behind bars is tough. I haven't had that pleasure yet and I honestly hope I won't be getting it, but one can only imagine how hard is to find yourself in a world without freedom, privacy or any commodity. Furthermore, being locked up in such an inferno on the other side of the world makes one feel like being on a different planet. And that's a binding fact which is present both in the book as well as in the film. For known reasons it wasn't filmed in Turkey, and yet, the substitute Maltese surrounding Parker chose managed to project the atmosphere of an oriental prison in full. Personally, I admire Hayes's courage to withstand all the hardships during all those years. I'd probably end up like Max...

Parker has generally shown a great deal of talent as a director. It's a pity such talent wasn't applied on the silver screen some more. Acting - one of the best Anglo-American co-ops on screen. John Hurt brilliant as ever, Randy Quaid in the role of his life and finally the refreshing Brad Davis, whose talent never got to shine as bright as in "Midnight Express". The "Turkish" (Maltese-Italian) cast did their job just as fine. Still, "Midnight Express" wouldn't have been nearly such a success without Giorgio Moroder's soundtrack. It's a perfect example how each segment of a motion picture makes up to it's role, thus creating a full cinematic experience.

"Midnight Express" is a timeless classic, an action drama which will keep you focused until the last minute, no matter how many times You watch it. Do watch it.

"Crni Bombarder" or "Black Bombardier" is one if my most favored Serbian films of 1990s. It represents a requiem for a life, a time and generation which was born in post WW2 Yugoslavia and as such had a privileged chance to live in an environment without war and crisis. Alas, such times don't last in these parts, and 1991. had all them dreams shattered down into tiny pieces. "Crni Bombarder" is also the high peak of Darko Bajic's career, as well as the best performance of Dragan Bjelogrlic and Anica Dobra.

Yugoslavia may have been a formal part to the Soviet block in the days of cold war, and yet, it enjoyed quite a western lifestyle. There were no major shortages, everyone was allowed to travel, some freedom of expression existed and people in general felt as a part of the western world. This, amongst other things encouraged the young, born in the 50s and 60s to become a first modern and urban generation the country ever had. It is a generation which listened to rock, felt good about itself and had the energy to change the world. Belgrade, being the capital and cultural center of Yugoslavia presented a gathering point for new ideas and liberal thinking, a place which lead the way. Still, this light wasn't to last. As the 80s came to an end, devils of past began to awaken and together with the upcoming decade the country started to fall apart. "Crni Bombarder" tells a tale of two young people who fight against the inert system and just won't let go. It is also a requiem for the urban generation which either perished in the incoming wars or found their luck in some distant place, often across the ocean.

But don't get discouraged by this philosophical grinding. "Crni Bombarder" is not a Shakespearean drama. It's a flick which tells a tale of a last major twitch, a last big push by a generation which grew up in peace and didn't want to loose itself in the inferno of war and political madness. When I look around and see what Belgrade looks like today, it hits me how this film was right in it's tracks, unfortunately...

Directing was good, acting excellent, grim atmosphere right on the spot and music... well the soundtrack made by Elektricni Orgazam made "Crni Bombarder" a sort of an urban legend. Watch it, You won't regret.

"Vizantijsko Plavo" or "Byzantine Blue" remains among the best of scripts in 1990s Serbian cinematography. And how could it not be so, knowing it was based on a book by Milorad Pavic, one of the greatest Serbian writers in modern history.

90s were a tough time to make films in Serbia, they were tough indeed. But with such fine script material You'd expect a decent movie worth watching and remembering, even if it didn't meet all the technical standards. Unfortunately, You're wrong. "Vizantijsko Plavo" could have been a great flick, but alas, the promising back story was yet again pushed aside - by acting. In this case, very poor and disappointing acting. Katarina Zutic had all predispositions to become a major movie star. Coming from a gifted family, with two greatest Serbian actors as her parents (Svetlana Bojkovic and Milos Zutic), young Kaca got all the wind in her back a new star could hope for. And yet, she missed and still misses that main fragment which makes a good actor - talent. You could give Ms Zutic some slack 20 years a go, when her career was only starting, but the problem remains she didn't change or improve during all this time. The same old plain, juvenile and unconvincing performance followed until the present days, thus probably being a major reason she never got a leading role ever again. As for the leading male actor, it's a story seen and heard many times before. A murky Lazar Ristovski played himself, although this role suited him in many ways. Therefore his performance can be labeled as a positive aspect of the movie.

Anyhow, the reason You probably could watch this movie and maybe even like it is the aforementioned story. Like the title says, it revolves around a shade of blue used in the elder days. Romans called it "Imperial Blue" or "Royal Purple", while the Greeks named it "Tyrian Purple" or "Byzantine Blue" in post Roman times. It is one of the most profound and beautiful shades of blue which enchants with it's richness and depth. It was used for cloth coloring, painting, but most important fresco painting in early Christianity. Even after thousands of years, the color still withstands the tooth of time and brings to light the beautifully painted walls of Orthodox monasteries. The movie tells a tale of this color's meaning and one man's struggle to find it's secret recipe.

I guess "Vizantijsko Plavo" is worth watching and it sure will make an impression, though, it could have been much much greater if the acting cast was on the level.

This was probably the most expected anime I've ever anticipated so far. After becoming addicted to Japanese animation and Ghibli production, "Kokuriko-zaka Kara" was a logical next choice. And so, after a whole year of waiting it arrived on to my doorstep. Impressions? Very positive.

I haven't read the original Manga on which the story was based, and thus I had no idea what to expect. This was actually a good thing since the surprise would eventually be that much bigger. My first impression was the classic, almost idealistic portrayal of past times which is often present in some Ghibli's movies. Though a bit exaggerated at times, it is very pleasant to see and feel. I personally like better the elder days, when people weren't obsessed with money, technology, when time and life had a different meaning. The same could be said for love - During the last three decades or so, cinematic expression of love has been equaled with pornography, with relationships becoming more and more rough sexual. It seems modern directors value big boos, tight booties and French kisses better than the very essence of love - that plain old emotion. This applies to all film genres including animation. Well, that emotion is what really matters when love between two people gets around. It's true, the Japanese have come up with the very concept of modern sexual bizarreness, but none the less, they know very well how to distinguish that from the idea of romance.

"Kokuriko-zaka Kara" tells a romantic story of two young people whose faiths become suddenly and unexpectedly intertwined. Umi, a kind girl from a small coastal Japanese town carries a constant memory of her departed father. She knows he is gone for good, but deep within her soul she hopes that one day he will send her a sing. The war has ended some 20 years a go, Japan is still trying to change and adapt to a new way of life while Tokyo prepares for it's first Olympics. Young people, the generation born after the war, are in the midst of all this turbulence and it looks as they might hold the key. Umi meets a pleasant and yet mysterious boy named Shun. Their lives and feelings become closer as the two start spending more time with each other. Soon they will both discover a strange connection between faiths.

You could call "From Up on Poppy Hill" a simple story. No big flashes and spectacles in this anime, and that's exactly what makes it so pleasant to experience. It's a slice of life poured into 90 minutes of enchanting Ghibli animation. Very refreshing both for the eyes and soul. Many say that "Kokuriko-zaka Kara" isn't a classic Hayao Miyazaki tale. Indeed it isn't, but I don't think that changes a thing. Old man Miyazaki has proved his talents so many times by now. This is Goro's second major accomplishment, and as it seems, he's gradually forming an artistic expression of his own. And yes, it feels that something is missing, a bit of that magic sparkle maybe, but excellence as we know doesn't come over night. There is still a long road in front of Miyazaki junior, and if "From Up on Poppy Hill" shows where such road might go, I'm more than confident that many great animated flicks are yet to arrive, bearing a Ghibli signature.

"Nedeljni Rucak" or "Sunday Lunch" presents another attempt of pointing out some of communist Yugoslavia's hot social issues, in this case - the health system.

Dr. Dusan Arandjelovic is a well-known surgeon and a leading director of a renown medical institution. Though he's highly positioned, professionally acclaimed, well situated and blessed with a decent family, the good doctor never seems to have enough. Not only is he the iron fist of his hospital, but quite a lady's man as well. Dusan continues to want more and more, until eventually, he finishes with a mouthful that can hardly be chewed. That's when all his life starts tumbling down.

"Nedeljni Rucak" is a social drama based on burning questions of Yugoslavian health system. Although not as bad as today, back in the 80s it was quite inefficient, expensive and corrupt. Treatment of patients was always second in line, right after massive procurements, business lunches and all other sorts of power misuse. Instead of curing people, head doctors and ministry employees spent their time in restaurants, spas, country clubs and various places where troubles of plain mortals couldn't reach, all on the state's expense of course. In the meantime, the idealist hardworking few kept the whole system from a complete fallout. "Nedeljni Rucak" reveals some of that atmosphere which unfortunately has endured up to the present times, and continues to run down the quality of health care.

Casting - solid as ever: Bata Zivojinovic, Milena Dravic, Irfan Mensur, Dusan Janicijevic, Neda Arneric, Pavle Vujisic and others showed a classic and proper performance. Nothing special or remarkable though, but very decent. "Nedeljni Rucak" remains a film which only scratched the surface of a serious social problem, and as such it was unfortunately forgotten. Surely worth watching.

Yes, it's the Japs again. And yes, they did a splendid job once more.

Unfortunately, we all know of the A-bomb story. It's one of the saddest, most tragic moments in the entire war as well as modern human history. And yet, learning about Hiroshima and Nagasaki from magazines, documentaries, talking about plain numbers of casualties and buildings destroyed only scratches the bare surface of a very touching drama which took place that day in Japan. "Barefoot Gen" tells a moving personal story of one survivor, a boy who had to cope with all the worst malice this world could throw at him.

This brilliant anime does not deal with the questions who dropped the bomb and why. We all know who did it all to well. The plot of "Barefoot Gen" revolves around the tragic fate of a young boy Gen and his family, in the hardest possible moment. He is about to start growing into a man, but faith had other plans. In one second a scorching blast will take all that he holds dear, leaving him alone to soldier on and fight for his surviving mother and unborn brother. God, it was so hard to watch without bursting into tears... And that takes us to the second important point of "Barefoot Gen", which is the narrative aspect. All Asians and Japanese in particular have a tendency of living by extreme values, good or bad. This also applies to storytelling. "Barefoot Gen" might be an animated film made for children, but it hits with a brutal reality just as a Tolstoy's novel would. Some might say it's too much to bare, but is it really? You see, the Japanese also have another important trait - they learn from own mistakes, and they learn quickly. Therefore "Barefoot Gen" was not made to entertain, but educate. It was brought here to teach both young and old that war has nothing good to offer beside endless suffering and death. And no matter how soldiers perform on some distant battlefield, that war may easily come on to your doorstep and take away all that one cherishes. It also teaches us that living is tough, boy it's tough and unforgiving, and You have to fight for it with all the vigor. Those of life's truths must be learned, the sooner the better. I could go on and on like this for hours, that much is "Barefoot Gen" a masterpiece. It's a must see for all generations.

It might be remarked that the technical outcome did not match classic high Japanese standards. "Barefoot Gen" is nowhere close to any of Ghibli's films in the area of animation quality. Still, with such a moving and powerful story, it doesn't seem all that important. 10 points go to Gen, more than rightfully deserved. Clap, clap, clap...

As time goes by, I'm starting to realize how much of a talent Di Caprio was in his youth. I wonder what went wrong... I also ponder upon a question why movies like "This Boy's Life" don't hit the big screen anymore? When did film making become a shallow business with it's only interest in profits.

"This Boy's Life" is anything but a classic Hollywood blockbuster. It's a slice of life presented both in it's best and worst. And life is not like a film either... Being young, smart and trapped in a behindhand environment is tough, often frustrating and inhibiting. It's a first major battle in a war called survival, a battle that would set a young man on it's way and pave the road to his future. Being alone in such a struggle is not easy, and young Toby Wolff would feel it on his skin quite some. Well, maybe not completely alone. Toby's mother tries hard to soldier on in life, and yet, she lacks the energy and will to make that final push. In the absence of a father figure, fourteen year old Tobias endeavors to model himself on his own, fighting not only his inner demons, but also a harsh, inert and primitive surrounding portrayed in the character of Dwigh and the village of Concrete. Will he succeed and break away? It's all in his hands...

The entire cast made a remarkable job - Di Caprio for one, followed by Ellen Barkin and Robert De Niro, as well as rest of the team. A tribute would also deservedly go to all of the technical crew, scriptwriter and director. Even without the real-life reference at the end, it's quite obvious this story was written by life itself, which makes it that special and unique. "This Boy's Life" is a good story well portrayed, and as such it rightfully earns it's 10 points. More flicks like this, please!

This also presents a small jubilee, since it is my 50th review here on IMDb (including the needlessly removed one). Cheers!

"An eternal student" was a very common phenomenon in communist Yugoslavia. University education was free, limitless, what encouraged many students to take advantage by studying for years and years, sometimes even decades. Some others did manage to acquire diplomas, but their lifestyle never really surpassed college habits. "Tajvanska Kansta" is a story of one such man, Sasa Belopoljanski, whose life revolves around unfulfilled artistic ambitions and a spent youth rebellious spirit.

1968. was a turbulent year around the world, with many young people all over Europe standing up and demanding social reform. Protests in France and Germany were particularly fierce, while the wave of rebellion reached even Yugoslavia. Back in the day this was a firmly communist society, and though it was more liberal and well standing than the rest of Soviet bloc, putting the communist values under question was not acceptable by any means. And so, when the students began protesting and barricading Belgrade University, state leaders got a nasty thorn in the eye. Police intervened brutally while the city was in a state of emergency. As time passed the verve began to loosen, negotiations began, while eventually president Tito acknowledged the students' demands, protest were dissolved and life continued to go on in Yugoslavian socialist paradise as nothing happened.

Sasa Belopoljanski (played by Boris Komnenic) is a classic case of an unfulfilled identity. He has no work, marriage is falling apart, he lives with his parents and desperately tries to extend his 1968. revolutionary dream in the mid 1980s, when no one even remembers or cares for the old days. By profession an architect but without a single day of working experience, Sasa spends time in attempts to promote his modern art work, but does it sloppy and continues to fail along the way. That is until he teams up with a shady group of people with even shadier job opportunities. Naive as he is, Belopoljanski jumps in, believing that the time has come for his architectural talent to shine. Boy is he wrong...

"Tajvanska Kanasta" is a social comedy. Although it is humorous, many of the facts were actual and very relevant in Yugoslav society at the time, just as they are today. It was probably the best performance of Boris Komnenic's career and one of Goran Markovic's brightest spots. Unfortunately, this is also a fine example of a horrible technical outcome. While the script, direction and acting were on the level, quality of photography, editing, lab work and sound are just plain awful. Still, if You put aside the skinny visual impression, "Tajvanska Kanasta" is a very decent flick worth watching.

"Lude Godine" or "Foolish Years" was a daring attempt to make a teen consciousness film. It's main target was the high school population, which deals with questions of love and sexual relations for the first time. As such, it was something new and promising.

The story of "Lude Godine" revolves around two teenagers, Boba and Marija, who will face the serious issues of teen pregnancy, abortion and the impact left on their families and friends. It's tough going, with many hard decisions and questions, but just like in real life, serious issues urge serious solutions. They will resolve them until the end, but there will be a price to pay. The film is predominantly made as an educational content, and it delivers a powerful message.

"Lude Godine" was a promising title, one of the first of it's kind. Unfortunately, the social aspect was soon dumped, and the sequels that followed watered this concept into a yucky comedic trash, which found it's embodiment in the "Zikina Dinastija" series of films.

"Mile vs Tranzicija" or "Mile vs Transition" is a classic social satire, inspired by a constant turbulence in Serbian society. And indeed, when it started back in 2003. it was witty and fun to watch. Mile, an average Serbian citizen (played by Zoran Cvijanovic) has to push through the altering world. Serbia was embracing new standards which in many ways defy existing habits of the population. Mile is inert, lazy and generally doesn't want to change, even if it's for the better. Stick with what You know - that's his major motto in life.

However, like it often goes, "Mile vs Tranzicija" started to lose it's grip on reality as time passed. That may lie in several facts, one of them being that Cvijanovic was an active member of a major party in Serbia. Slowly, the show slipped from comical satire into political propaganda, with Cvijanovic publicly participating in daily politics, even under the alias of Mile. Another reason for this decline lies in the source itself, since the TV network where the show originated from also became an outspoken political tool. After few years it was hard to distinguish the show from election campaigns.

Just like the excitement was big when the series first appeared, that vast was the disappointment when it lost it's way. Alas, politics is ever present in Serbia, and avoiding it is just as easy like cheating gravity.

So much was said about Lord Of The Rings, plenty more is yet to come, and so I'll keep it (relatively) brief and straight as much as possible. This review will include all 3 films, although I believe "The Fellowship Of The Ring" is the best one by far.

Script and story:

I am a big fan of Tolkien's work, and the arrival of a wide screen adaptation was more than welcome. Did it deliver and compensate for all the years of waiting? Generally it did, with some exceptions though. Most of us would agree that no motion picture can accurately be transcribed to depict a novel, especially in the Hollywood environment. That certainly applies on the LOTR trilogy, and yet, Jackson has managed to transfer some of that Tolkien magic to the silver screen. Taking on Tolkien is a challenging task, since his style of writing was quite unique. Unlike many other fantasy authors, JRR had it all written down to a single detail with very few, if any, unexplained and non elaborated details. His characters are mostly deep multi-layered personalities, with enough material for each one to be portrayed in a movie of it's own. And so, transferring such a complex substance into a commercial flick presented both a professional and creative dare. Did Jackson deliver? Well, he most certainly tried hard, and as far as all three films go, the best link with Tolkien's story was achieved in "The Fellowship Of The Ring". Although "The Two Towers" and "The Return Of The King" are visually stunning, way too many inconsistencies and improvisations were applied, sometimes completely altering the original story written by Tolkien. Even so, with all of it's flaws, LOTR remains one of the best Hollywood screenings of a written word. Maybe it's only 10-15% accurate, but it is a very decent 10-15%, and I love it.

The cast:

So many characters in Tolkien's work, so many of them in the films, and therefore I will concentrate just on the best and worst performances. In this case, we're talking about two Seans.

Most of the cast did a very fair job, and the credits would go to the lot. Still, the most convincing and (in tie to the original books) most accurate performance would be the one of Samwise Gamgee. Not only that Sean Astin was one of the rare actors with a proper age for the role, but his impression of a simple and pure hearted Hobbit truly reflected a good bit of what Tolkien described, from the start until the very end.

On the other side, the worst performance by far was the on of Sean Bean. His character was a horrible miscast which utterly ruined the role of Boromir. While in the book this Man was depicted as a strong, willing and righteous person who only eventually got seduced by the power of the One Ring, Sean left a completely different and wrong impression of a cynical selfish hillbilly, which couldn't be more far apart from the real character. Naturally this is the result of Bean's general lack of acting talent, since all of his roles have begun and ended in the same shallow manner.

The music:

Not much to tell here... Howard Shore was an acclaimed composer even before LOTR, and with this score he got cemented in the hall of fame. This is the only part of the films where it is impossible to find any flaws. LOTR soundtrack is a masterpiece of it's own, and I just don't see how it could be improved in any way.

The overall impression is generally positive. Was it accurate? - up to a certain point. Did it deliver the atmosphere of Middle earth? - by all means yes. It could have been better, no doubt about it, but even in this form I like LOTR movies very much and honestly can't wait to see The Hobbit.

The literal translation of "Srecni Ljudi" would be "Happy People", and yes, it sounds and looks just as bizarre as REMs song.

90s brought war and crisis to Serbia. 1993. was one of the worst years in modern Serbian history, with a raging hyperinflation, chronic shortages of everything from food to petrol, and a constant war threat. People weren't happy, no sir they were not! And that's when the state television came up with a plan to put smiles back on their faces... "Happy People" everybody!

The story of this poor propagandist TV project revolves around the "average family" which has to soldier on through bad times, but manages to keep it's cool somehow. The country is ruined by corruption and crime, wages go around 5$ per month, and yet, Vukasin Golubovic (the main character), Arandjel (his father), Ristana (mother), wife, daughter and idiot son (Neca) always manage to sneak around trouble and get out of it all with their bags full. How and why they do it? Because they're Happy People, people!

This is, naturally, yet another of Sinisa Pavic's creations, and that means a lot of screaming, bad jokes that go around in never ending circles and a southern hillbilly dialect. Yes, it is very bad, but still not as bad as all that came from Mr. Pavic's script writing genius in years that followed...

Now, I know that a raging gunfire of negative votes is going to hit this review, and honestly, I don't give a fudge. Critical thinking is a category forsaken in Serbia, and popular reasoning goes that everything home-made and coming from days of yesterday is nice and worthy of remembrance by definition. Well sorry boys and girls, but you'll have to swallow this one.

* I started receiving rants, insults sand threats over this review, which means it fulfilled it's purpose in full. Cheers, douches!

I don't like MTV. I never did. The very essence of this media monster is exploiting teenagers for enormous profits, making them dumb along the way. However, the story of "Beavis and Butt-Head" jumps a little bit out of the pattern.

Back in the 90s when I was a teenager myself, watching "Beavis and Butt-Head" was kind of a standard ritual for all the kids who wanted to go with the flow. I've seen it quite some, and yet, the show never really got to me. The retarded behavior of two main protagonists, the unskilled drawing, bad jokes and the ever the present idiotic and irritating laughter just weren't enough to impress me. But something started to change, and along with growing up I began to see behind this deliberately sculptured facade of idiocy, thus discovering the real issues which hide behind the curtain. Let's be honest, "Beavis and Butt-Head" is nothing close to a deep literary substance or anything serious, but it delivers a message in a unique and ironic way. If the creators wanted to stress out the absurdity of modern life drenched in cheap entertainment, pornography and consumerism, they sure made a good job. Kids these days grow up with their heads plugged into simple entertaining pastimes, and it's no wonder when 16-year-olds can't perform a simplest task or have no knowledge of the written word. Maybe Beavis and Butt-Head looked like cartoon characters back in the 90's, but they sure look very real today, like true byproducts of a modern environment. That even makes it more ironic, since MTV has became a major promoter of such an environment, where people live only so they could spend, no matter how empty and pointless their lives may become.

After seeing the last season, I actually started to like "Beavis and Butt-Head". Who knew...

As I mentioned in some of my previous reviews, early 1980's brought thrillers into Serbian cinematography. In this case, it is a purely Belgrade style story - A tough guy raised on the street who's not afraid to exchange fists with bad boys. He can take a hit, but hits back just as hard...

"Halo Taxi" is a classic action thriller wrapped around Shuger (played by Bata Zivojinovic), an old-school boxer who found his bread in the Taxi business. As it turns out, his wife (Svetlana Bojkovic) gets involved in drugs. Her marriage suffers just as much as her health, and yet Shuger is not willing to let her go. As an experienced Taxi driver he manages to track down the drug dealing gang and so the final firefight can begin. It is a tricky business going against drug cartels, and Shuger will feel it on his skin quite some. Fortunately, he's not alone in this fight, and the tide is about to turn when his friends and colleagues from the Taxi business jump up and help.

"Halo Taxi" is nothing special in any cinematic way, and it surely won't end up in the silver screen hall of fame. Still, I liked seeing it for some different reasons - the spirit of old Belgrade. You see, Belgrade has changed quite some during the last 30 years. It made me remember the good old times when the word "neighborhood" had some meaning, when the city wasn't dug upside down and ruined with cheap real estate, when the soul of Belgrade was very much alive. Above all that, "Halo Taxi" is naturally a story with a lot of old vehicles involved, and personally I always enjoy seeing aged four wheelers in a major role. It also brings back the memories of a time when narcotics were just a mere sporadic discomfort, reserved only for a narrow group of people, whereas today you can buy any kind of drug in a schoolyard nearby.

That pretty much sums up "Halo Taxi" - nice old film placed in good old times.

"Hotarubi No Mori E" is yet another fine example of Japanese creativity and talent to make a heart warming story. Some might think that 40 minutes isn't all that long, but in this case, it was more than enough to tell a tale.

A young girl named Hotaru gets lost in the woods during a summer vacation in her uncle's mountain lodge. Just when she starts to fear no one would find her, a young man with a mask covering his face appears and shows the way home. But there's something mysterious about Gin, and as it seems, he may even be a forest god in a human form. Hotaru is intrigued, and still, she cannot touch him. Years go by, with each new summer the girl returns to the same enchanted forest looking for this secretive boy. Hotaru feels closer to Gin as time passes, while she continues to grow up. Finally, she will unravel the secret behind mysterious Gin who doesn't seem to grow old, but things will never be same again for any of them.

"Hotarubi No Mori E" is a perfect exemplar why I like Japanese animation so much. Forest and it's spiritual surrounding represent an important part of Japanese culture, whereas this symbol can be found in many anime originated from Japan, but also in other Asian productions and traditions. An interesting and touching story is told without fireworks and big splashes. Maybe not the best but still solid animation, fairytale characters and a nice story make this anime more than worth watching.

"Pozorisna Veza" or "The Theater Connection" is another attempt to bring detective thrillers into Yugoslavian cinematography.

By the late 70s, a stereotype of the NYPD detective was taking over the global entertainment business. Action movies with badass cops chasing cons and criminals were a part of everyday must-see pastime, and it was about time to introduce the genre into Yugoslavian production world of the silver screen. That I can understand, and yet it probably remains the reason for a complete absence of any artistic expression in "Pozorisna Veza". The cast, led by Bata Zivojinovic, Neda Arneric, Svetlana Bojkovic, Voja Brajovic and others did a fair, but not an unforgettable job. In short, a gang of professional thieves, after pulling a job in Vienna, decides to rob a safe of the National Theater in Belgrade. They succeed in the task, however, the police manages to track them down and that's where the chase begins. Still, it is not much of a spectacle. The main problem lies in the fact that communist Yugoslavia was a pretty calm place with little or no organized crime. Therefore, it was quite tough and challenging to project the NY gangland into Belgrade, and You could hardly say that robbing a theater safe can be an action highlight thrill. Well, back then maybe it was...

"Pozorisna Veza" is anything but a cinematic masterpiece. Acting was average at best, script unfinished and hastily put together, director's work and editing very unimaginative, but I still enjoyed watching the movie up to some point. I also like it due to the appearance of an automotive classic - BMW 3.0 CSi, which apparently was a popular vehicle in Belgrade's police force at the time (It also plays a roll in "Neka Druga Zena", as a detective's car). At least, it's nice to see how naive and mild old days were hanging on, when crime was reserved for the cinemas alone.

As a big fan of anime, I got quite disappointed over the years as the European animation was slipping away, bit by bit eaten away and replaced by the Disney mass production. And just when all hope seemed to have gone, "Une Vie De Chat" arrived, bringing new energy and life.

I liked this anime, I liked it a lot, and there is a good reason why. A single mother named Jeanne, employed in a Paris police force lives a lonely life with her daughter. Zoe lost her father, the mother is hardly around due to work, and the only bright spark of her day is the company of one black cat. But Zoe is not the only friend this kitty has got. Soon, a mysterious stranger will enter their lives, and together they will face a dangerous task...

However, the real eye candy of "Une Vie De Chat" was the animation and the atmosphere it delivered. Drawn in an almost naive manner, the characters, surrounding and overall visual expression was truly beautiful and mysterious in a very special way. Seeing this anime is quite a different experience than you'd expect from a cartoon and it fits all ages, both kids and adults. It reminded me quite some of "Amelie", with a unique visual description of Paris and it's unforgettable charm.

I like to be pleasantly surprised, and "Une Vie De Chat" is by all means the best surprise I could get. There is still some soul and creativity left in the European animation. It's a must-see for all true fans of anime. Good job!

You could say that "Tigar" or "The Tiger" is a Serbian version of Rocky. However, unlike Stalone, Sorga Tigar (played by Ljubisa Samardzic) will not reach stardom and become a top athlete. His fading boxing career is about to diminish, and all life turn upside down in a cataclysmic spin once he meets and teams up with a trouble making teenager, played by Slavko Stimac.

"The Tiger" is a good example of a comedy placed in real life. Although Sorga is a decent and straight in his heart, life of failure has brought his spirits down, whereas his young companion wants everything by a quick and easy way, no matter what the consequences are. Unfulfilled ambitions, bad influences, sport mismanagement and wishes for easy money will take the protagonists to all sorts of trouble, eventually even behind prison bars. A good humorous story was completed with a solid performance by the entire cast, including Bata Zivojinovic, Vera Cukic, Rahela Ferari, Pavle Vujisic and other brilliant actors of the era. All this combined with a professional technical background, proper editing and a very solid visual impression, earns "The Tiger" respect it deserves.

Unfortunately, like many good Yugoslavian films of the 70s, this title is long forgotten and overlooked.

The precise translation for this motion picture would be "Shady Business". And "Lov u mutom" pretty much is a story about it, told in a humorous way.

One of communist Yugoslavia's hot questions was concerning real estate issues. The market was officially closed for free trade, and if someone wanted to acquire an apartment, the state or an employer would provide. Private ownership was scarce, whereas most of the property was kept by the state. The occupants enjoyed the so called privilege of usage, which in most cases lasted forever. In other words, you'd get the flat to live in as long as you and your family are residents, and that's where problems started to occur. Not everyone could afford to get the tenant's rights, and then, some people with solid connections managed to acquire as many as they wanted. "Lov u Mutnom" tells a story of an ordinary blue collar, played by Bata Zivojinovic, who somehow managed to reside in a disputed apartment together with his ever growing family. As it turns out, many legal problems start to appear, while eventually the whole case ends up in the tricky justice procedures of Yugoslavian courts.

This all may sound like a mind breaking drama, but it isn't really. The whole story was very realistic, up to date and yet it's told in a humorous way like an anecdote. Interesting, amusing and somewhat instructing. Definitely worth watching.

I am not a fan of splattering blood, screams in the dark and psychotic chainsaw killers. Horror may be one of the oldest movie genres, but I really don't see much in it. That may be for the American interpretation and production, however, in Asia the story is a little different. Both Japanese and Koreans have made a very specific mainstream of these movies over the years, and although they can be very much sinister, there is something which brings them above all others.

"Blind" is undoubtedly a horror movie. But beside the blood spattering tension, it pretty much contains segments of drama and even comedy at moments. It sure sounds weird, but somehow it just fits together.

Min Soo is a young police academy cadet, raised in an orphanage. After she gets involved in a horrible car accident, where one of her orphaned companions dies, she loses her sight and continues to soldier on in life all alone. The police academy days are over, while this beautiful girl is left by herself to fight blindness in a world of little compassion. The sense of guilt for her brother's death in the accident eats her up inside. Little does Min Soo know how she would soon become an unwilling witness and a key player in a hunt for a vicious serial killer, with her life and those around her on the line.

"Blind" is a merge of a personal drama with action and horror elements, and that's maybe the reason I liked this film. Unlike the western productions, this brings you closer to the characters and allows you to identify with them. Also, "Blind" confirms a fact that psychopaths are not always some freaks living in forsaken haunted houses, laughing hysterically into the mirror and dancing around in grandma's underpants, but people who disguise in a fairly normal daily life routine. That makes them harder to spot out, and therefore more dangerous.

I wouldn't say "Blind" is the best film of the gene I've seen, but it certainly is in the top 10. It's a good material for all fans of Asian cinematography for sure. And another thing... Asian women are simply amazing :D