hmael

IMDb member since March 2014
    Lifetime Total
    10+
    IMDb Member
    10 years

Reviews

The Devil Next Door
(2019)

Fantastic Portrayal of an Imperfect Justice
I have always been inquisitive about the WW2 and the Holocaust in particular. I have read few books and watched few movies such the The Reader, The Pianist, Schindler's List, etc but no documentary touches the moral question of Holocaust better like this documentary. Is he guilty or is he not? Was he the real Ivan the Terrible or was it the case of mistaken identity?

The interviews with the central players were fantastic. The lawyers, family members, and the witnesses gave their sides without fear. They gave their honest insights into the case. This trial contrasted so vividly with what the evil Nazi guards did to the prisoners. While it took less than two hours for the prisoners to go from arriving by trains to their death in the death factory, it took two trials in two different countries and over two decades to bring justice to Demnyanyuk.

I strongly recommend this documentary to all.

End of the Road
(2022)

End of the Story
If the movie producer had spent an extra $20 million, I bet this movie would have been worth watching. With another writer and director this movie could have become a real thriller instead of a half baked comedy. Yes, that's what this movie was, a comedy.

A nice family of four on their way to Phoenix somehow ended up in the middle of nowhere and somehow got crossed up with a drug war. There were a lot of non sensical plots that you just can't help but curse the writer and director. It could have been another version of No Country for Old Men but no, they chose to be light on the substance. What should have been a matter of life and death was instead turned into laughing matters.

This movie is bad and I wish I could get back my 80 minutes.

The Reader
(2008)

Simply powerful.
I have just watched one of the most emotionally and morally intriguing movies in all my 50 year history of movie watching. This movie is more than just right up there with The Pianist and The Schindler's List. Watch it, just watch it.

I can imagine Holocaust being a difficult topic for the Germans and Jews. This movie looks at the side of the person on the other side of the death camp. The nuance story line compels you to think with her, not just about her. The great thing is that the director did not conclude the movie for the viewers. The viewers shall decide what constitutes morality and what law is.

The acting was great. Kate Winslet gave her Oscar-deserved performance. This movie will linger in my mind for a long long time.

Hustle
(2022)

A perfect basketball movie
Having been a fan of the NBA for thirty years, I can honestly say this is the best basketball movie ever produced and one of the best sport movies I've watched. That's all.

Thelma & Louise
(1991)

A 'must watch movie'
This is more than just a two hour movie where you sit and watch and be entertained. This movie challenges your psychological corner of your brain. Would you just cut your losses and return to the civilized world and be punished or would you defy the sane world where you were part of only yesterday and go on unchartered territory which could mean point of no return? My advice is go watch this movie now.

Casablanca
(1942)

An Unmatched Classic
What can you say about this timeless classic? I have just watched the movie for the fifth time in two weeks after not watching it in over ten years. And I appreciated it even more as I grew older. The dialog and acting were simply great. The story line can be unnecessarily complicated at times but at the end of the movie you knew this was a romantic movie. I am having a crush again gor Ingrid Bergman.

Beverly Hills Cop
(1984)

An 80's classic
A thoroughly enjoyable movie. Eddie Murphy at his peak. Why they don't make this kind of movie anymore is puzzling. I have watched this movie maybe 50 times and still like it like it's the first time. The story line is serious but Eddie's charm and talent lead you to easily understand the plot. I highly recommend the movie to young movie goers.

The Vanished
(2020)

A surprisingly interesting movie
I just watched every minute of this movie and my short advice to all would be watchers is to watch this movie to the end. You'll be surprised and the ending of the movie will answer all your confusion. Yes its worth your two hour investment. The acting is so so but the plot is intriguing.

Tremors
(1990)

The Ultimate Stress Buster
Why do people go to a cinema? To get entertained of course. Well you wont get more entertained than watching this movie. The story line is simple, the acting was good and hilarious and the landscape was great. Its about folks in a desert in Nevada fighting the bug ugly worm. Yes its that simple. Anyway go watch it. I like the part the researcher got her pant pulled up.

I Am Sam
(2001)

A great great moving movie
There are not many movies that move you emotionally. This one does. Those who have or know somebody who is mentally challenged can relate to this movie. This is not a movie you watch when you have free time. Prepare to be drained emotionally.

Great acting by all actors.

Fletch
(1985)

Simple but entertaining and enjoyable
I have seen this movie few times since it came out in 1975. It never gets old with Chevy Chase. He was absolutely entertaining and he carried the movie the best he could. The subject matter though is not funny. It is about a drug running operation in Los Angeles with involvement of high ranking police officer and a millionare played by Matherson. Chase is an investigative reporter who is about to expose the drug ring and his investigation took him even to Utah.

Overall it's an enjoyable and very watchable movie despite it being over 35 years old.

My Girl
(1991)

A moving and emotional movie
There are not many movies that make you cry. This is one that does. The friendship between the two child characters was pure, innocent, and touching. The acting by the four main actors was superb. The story line was simple but it does leave a lasting and deep emotional feeling inside you. If you have two free hours of time, watch this movie. You'll appreciate simple things in life after you watch this movie.

The Godfather Part III
(1990)

An Unnecessary Sequel
The first two Godfather movies were blockbusters, among the best of all movies ever made. Therefore a third Godfather would have a very high standard to follow. And true enough it was the worst of the three. The movie plot moved away from its original genre of a gangster movie with enough elements of family drama, vengeance, love, business and politics intertwined to a painful attempt by Michael Corleone to legitimize his empire. I dislike the plot. The movie moves too slow and becomes somewhat boring in the middle. Watchable? Yes, it is still better than lots of other 1990 movies but way below the standard set by the first two Godfathers.

The Godfather
(1972)

Almost Perfect
This movie is surpassed only by its sequel Godfather 2, but of course there would not have been The Godfather 2 without The Godfather. This movie is a heavy drama that has everything; family, loyalty, vengeance, love, business. I have watched this movie more than ten times and plan to watch it again. It's a masterpiece and will linger in your mind long after you finish watching it. Great all around performances from major actors. I love this movie.

Dunkirk
(2017)

Disappointingly a boring movie.
I watched Dunkirk on the first day it came out in 2017, having read all the publicity that it was an epic movie. After the first 30 minutes, I was beginning to doubt this was going to be a decent movie, however this, being a historical event of an epic proportion, I convinced myself to stay and watch the movie till the end.

Now, having watched the movie again, this time on the television, I have to reaffirm that this really is a dull movie and inded a boring depiction of a monumental event.

Perhaps a more imaginative directing would have made the movie more watchable and interesting. The movie lacks central characters and did not show more threats and assaults by the German. Most of the shots are static acting, undramatic, and again, plain boring.

The Mask of Zorro
(1998)

Brilliant Movie.
I am writing this comment in August 2019. I have just watched this movie for the very first time and I must say this movie is one of the most entertaining movies I've seen in my forty years of movie watching life. Almost everything that went into the making of this movie was perfect. Acting was perfect. Anthony Hopkins as the senior Zorro was brilliant. Antonio Bonderas was a complete package and Catherine Zeta Jones was equally fitting and ridiculously attractive. I was most impressed with the visual and attention to details. Overall this is a great movie and enjoyable for all.

Witness Unprotected
(2018)

A decent plot but poorly acted
What could have been a mild watchable thriller turns into a light, frustratingly unserious TV drama.

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