christophermerritt-36367 Reviews

Mirror (1975)

The reflections of Mirror

[8/10 · 25 April 2024]

Mirror was an extremely personal film for its director Andrei Tarkovsky. It's based off his life but I think Tarkovsky wants this movie to be as personal to us as it is to him. The movie is a series of memories and dreams of the main character yet we only see his face in those memories and never in the present. I think this help us put ourselves in the characters shoes and reflect upon our own lives.

The movie is called "Mirror" which is a device used to reflect an image, essentially that is what this film is about, the reflection of our own lives/history. Mirror uses beautiful cinematography and music or lack of music to raise the questions of what kind of things we reflect on and how we reflect on them.

What do you reflect on? The main character never reflects on happy or positive moments. Sure his life was hard, but I doubt he never experienced joy. He was married, he had a child, he was an inocente child himself yet we never see positive or happy moments from any of these points in his life. He said all he wanted to be was happy yet every reflection since his childhood is bleak.

How do we reflect? It's obvious none of his reflections are accurate portrayals of events as they happened but are simply his own memories. He remembers some events is black and white, others in color, and he always remembers his mother looking like his ex-wife. All of us remember things differently than they actually happened. Do we do this on purpose to convince ourselves of a different reality or is it something that happens naturally as we move further past the event? Can we even trust our own memories?

I think this is a film that can be understood a million different ways because as I've said it allows you to reflect on your own life. This film can lead you to ponder your childhood, marriage, war, dreams, death, and even your own ability to remember.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

the original horror film

[8/10 · 29 September 2022]

Silent movies can be difficult to get into. I think this is a good intro into this era of film making. Its rather short so its not too intimidating if you are trying to get into silent films. The movie being over on hundred years old has had a lot already said about it, so there isn't much I can add, but watching this film is quite the experience for me.

The film is quite creepy. The set design is famous for its weird distorted world it creates. The characters seem to fit in with the weird environment. It all fits the story perfectly. A mad man controlling a sleep walker to murder people. Its a very creative film. Then there is that ending. This kind of invented the twist ending. Then the last shot almost makes you believe there is a twist on the twist.

This film is very important to film history. You can see its influence through out all of film history.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

This is what an action movie should be

[9/10 · 12 June 2022]

This movie was nothing ground breaking, and yet it's one of the best movies I've seen in theaters for years. This movie knows exactly what it is, and what the audience wants. There wasn't 500 different sub plots, no big lazar in the sky to blow up the world, no SJW message, just a simple story. That's all it needed to do, and it does it. They focus on having good characters who have their own weaknesses, yet grow and learn, and become better people by the end of the film. Tom cruise dose a great job. And we can't forget about the action. Freaking awesome. This movie will hold up for years because it's so realistic. Just amazingly captured action. All I can say is Bad a**

Windtalkers (2002)

Dóó Yá'tá'ééh da

[4/10 · 20 February 2022]

I know a lot of Navajo people they are awesome and I love their language, so it's sad this movie isn't better. Overall the story isn't great. They could have told a really amazing story really delving into the code talkers history, and personal lives, but instead we get a petty simplified, shallow film.

The acting isn't very good, the dialog is pretty bad. The direction is bad. It kinda feels like a TV movie at times. The cinematography is pretty uninteresting, the editing in cheesy, and the product design is also a fail. I don't feel like I'm in World War II like I do with movies like saving private Ryan or hacksaw ridge.

The battles were not too bad. Some good action.

Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)

Well you know

[2/10 · 9 January 2022]

I've seen worse but still one of the longest hour and fifteen minutes of my life.

That set design was pretty good though....... And the acting was aight.

The Shining (1980)

Perfect horror

[9/10 · 9 January 2022]

The shining is one of the greatest horror films ever made. It's one of Kubrick's master pieces.

You can watch it as a simple horror movie, and enjoy the spookiness, but also view it as a deeper film to be analyzed.

Jack and his family are to watch over the overlook hotel during the winter. The isolation drives them crazy, as they also experience super natural horrors. Early on in the film we learn that jack has potentially been abuses to his son, and we also learn the hotel has a troubling past. Built over Indian barrel grounds, and home to a grizzly murder by a former care taker. I think a major them of the film is the past, it's ability to repeat itself, and haunt us. We learn all theses things within the first 20 minutes of the film building suspense as we know it's inevitable something bad will happen. The film lets that sit for a while as nothing really significant happens for quite a while, as you sit there in suspense.

Eventually the past comes back to haunt this family. Jack try's to kill his family. His abuses personally returns. The horrors that happened to the family before are happening again. We also see death brought back to this area that started with genocide of the native Americans who are reference through the film.

There are hundreds of interpretations of the film. That's something so interesting about this movie. It's so ambiguous. What does that the last shot mean? What is that bear guy? What is hidden meaning? Is there a hidden meaning? What is Kubrick trying to say? The book is more about a man's struggle with Alcoholism and being a good father. But the film never makes it seem like jack is trying to overcome his issues, and be a good husband and father. Without this depth to jack It kinda just seems like it's a simple horror film, but if you know Kubrick you know there is something more. But what is it? That will be debated for ever.

Whatever Kubrick was trying to say he directs a very creepy movie. As mentioned before you are completely aware of the possible dangers of the film. You know Jack could be dangerous, and you know people go crazy in isolation, you know the hotel is dangerous, but nothing happens. The hotel doesn't look scary, jack it's kinda weird but never does or say's anything bad Yet you feel dread. Then when the horrors being the film becomes successful.

I love the long shots, and wide shots, with the creepy music. The music is randomly successful when nothing is happening, and calm when something happens making things unpredictable. And the unnatural sounds give you the creeps.

The film making is just fantastic. When you watch a older horror film today you are going to find something that are kinda cheesy, but you won't find anything like that here. There's no fake effects, no stupid jump scares, nothing like that at all. It's quality film making. You will also notice it doesn't feel like an average horror movie.

Jack Nicholson was born to play this role. I mean his name is the same as the character, and Danny Lloyed does an amazing job for a child so young.

This movie really stuck in my mind the first time I saw it. I was a teenager about 14, and it didn't scare me but definitely left an impression. The creepy feeling stayed with me for days. Now that I've seen it so many times that effect has kinda worn off but I still find the movie fascinating. I will continue thinking about the movie long after I watched it. It was one of the first movies that really impressed me on how a movie can effect someone.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Not bad

[6/10 · 25 November 2021]

The film is kinda disjointed, and even though a lot happens there is only a few parts where it really feels like anything is actually happening. The characters and actors weren't bad, but I never felt too close to anyone. Overall though I enjoyed it. Wes Anderson's films are always positive, and I like the message of the importance of family relationships. The imagery and sound of India are always so beautiful as well.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

Really good film

[8/10 · 19 November 2021]

I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. I am a big fan of Wes Anderson's direction, and the cinematography of his films. The colors always pop.

I really liked Bill Murray and Owen Wilson's performances.

The story was random, but fun. It brought many things I wasn't expecting.

I even like the animated animals. I gave the movie a mystical feel.

Not as funny as other Wes Anderson films, and maybe not his best, but I still enjoyed it just as much as his others.

Schindler's List (1993)

A true masterpiece

[10/10 · 8 November 2021]

I think this movie is as close to perfect as a movie could be. The film making tells one of the greatest stories ever. The cinematography is beautiful in the way it creates the dark, and tragic events of the holocaust.

This story is just incredible. The change that can happen in people is incredible. The selfless and willingness to sacrifice everything for others brings me to tears. To see this kinda compassion in such a horrific time and place, around so much evil gives me hope for humanity.

Everyone needs to see this film. Not only is it a great example of film making, but an important lesson we all need to learn, and to remember the tragedy of the holocaust.

Titanic (1997)

Still a great film!

[9/10 · 6 November 2021]

This film was over hyped in 1997 but it still holds up as a great film. The visual effects still look good today, and the story still pulls on those heart strings. Titanic is great because it has a love story that feels real (even though they only knew each other 2 days) and has great action. Even though iv seen this movie several times it still stresses me out. The supence is real. Other than some dialog everything seems real. Non of the dram seems cheesy. Overall a great film with only a few details i don't love, but with this soundtrack it brings me close to tears.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Very funny

[8/10 · 6 November 2021]

Normally a film without a real main character, and no real main story line tend to be kinda boring, but this film does a great job of making me care about each character and their individual story. A graat cast, with a graat director, with a great soundtrack makes a great film.

Rushmore (1998)

8/10

[8/10 · 6 November 2021]

This was a funny film. I enjoyed every second. I love wes Andersons style of direction with a great screenplay. All the characters had their flaws but have great qualities that just make them so fun to watch.

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

I never thought I could care so much about an octopus

[10/10 · 2 May 2021]

This documentary was able to get me emotionally invested in the life of an octopus. It was so beautiful, and gave me a new perspective on wildlife. I almost never cry when watching movies, but this brought a tear to my eye.

Sound of Metal (2019)

Good movie

[7/10 · 24 April 2021]

A great preformence from Riz Ahmed. He made his character of Reuben come alive and put us in the shoes of someone who has lost their hearing. It was emotional and kept me intrested. Well done in all aspects.

Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

Awesome fights

[5/10 · 7 April 2021]

The only thing I wanted to see was two big monsters punch each other. And I got that. The fights are fun but thats all I can say for this. The pace was very fast so it was hard to understand what people were doing and why, or to know anything about anyone, yet the plot is very simple. The special effects weren't anything amazing, and nothing was very special about it. But all you are here for is the action and it pretty good.

Pieces of a Woman (2020)

I meant to watch promising young woman

[6/10 · 7 April 2021]

Not a bad movie at all. The first half was very interested, and I really enjoyed Shia LaBeouf, but it kinda started to lose me in the second half. I didn't really enjoy Vanessa Kirby's character. I understand is going through something super hard, and I did like what she does at the end, but most of the time I was not interested in her.

Mank (2020)

Why so many nominations?

[5/10 · 1 April 2021]

I like how this film about the writing of citizen kane was made in the style of citizen kane. It's made well but honestly did grab me until maybe the last 10 minutes. I didn't feel very engaged with the characters, and didn't really understand the point of the story. I'm surprised how many oscar nominations it received, not that its terrible but nothing I'll remember for very long.

Minari (2020)

Delightful

[7/10 · 30 March 2021]

Minari brings us into the lives of a Korean family living in Arkansas. They live a simple life, but are faced with all the challenges that come with trying to live a simple life. The screenplay and performance of the cast fill this movie with emotion. But it's hardly ever anything grand or amazing. The film reminds us of the importance of our family, hard work, and faith. All this with a great score make it a delightful viewing.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

9/10

[9/10 · 6 January 2021]

I enjoyed every second of this movie. Great performances, great visuals, obviously great directing, and a fun story

Doctor Sleep (2019)

Not bad

[6/10 · 31 December 2020]

Not nearly as good as the shining, but it's cool that they did something original instead of just redoing the original. Nothing particularly great stands out, but nothing horrible. The visual effects kinda suck though. Not super scary but an interesting and enjoyable watch

Little Nicky (2000)

Lazy

[4/10 · 30 December 2020]

This movie was just kinda slapped together, and called a movie. The story is all over the place, nothing is really developed, the jokes weren't funny, and every visual effect was terrible. It doesn't really feel like anyone was trying to make anything special

Roma (2018)

7/10

[7/10 · 28 December 2020]

Great cinematography! There is very little story, and it is very slow paced. However it give us a look into the lives of average people, living in 1970's Mexico. Its nothing grand, but that's life. Life sucks sometimes, but we keep on living and see what else the world has in store for us, and I think this film shows that.

Definitely not the most entertaining movie ever, but it's a treat for your eyes, has some great performances, and heart breaking moments. Definitely recommend if you enjoy slower movies, or good cinematography.