schleicher-filip Reviews

The Fifth Seal (1976)

Amazing

[10/10 · 11 October 2016]

Would you rather be a tyrant or his victim? Accidentally, characters start this conversation. Soon, they will have to choose their roles for real.

Seemingly boring typical evening in a bar turns wrong with the sudden arrival of the Arrow Cross (Hungarian gestapo). Our heroes are a typical mix of ordinary people with no interest in big (war) events. But someone's overheard their apparent antipathy for the regime and now they will have to prove on which side they are.

Perfect play, almost a piece de theatre. Forces you to think from the first time the difficult question is asked. Then, scene-by-scene gets better and better until the end. Stays in your head for long. Could be easily interpreted as a hidden criticism of the communist regime back in 70's. Absolutely timeless and always actual. A masterpiece.

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

enormous

[10/10 · 18 December 2012]

I've been an IMDb user for a few years now, but this title is the reason for which I write my first review here. This first review, as well as the 10 stars I give, I hope these will somehow (highest rated search, etc) attract at least one more person to this title, which is essentially flawless.

It's hard to review a title which is not really a movie. It combines the best of the cinema, theater and opera. The cinema, as after all it's still a movie. Secondly, as it's an opera, the actors and the crew perform live and you get most of their talent this way. The combining element is the emotion which you do not see without the close-ups in the traditional theater. The actors' play is simply excellent. Scenes depicting relationships between the main characters are played by them so perfectly, that simply cause tears in eyes (vide the final one of the first part).

It's just incredible, that this masterpiece remains so little-known.