SubtleFury Reviews

Monsieur Spade (2024)

Great potential, convoluted plot

[7/10 · 25 March 2024]

The show has some great things going for it - beautiful setting and cinematography, great rendition of an older Sam Spade by Clive Owen, some interesting supporting characters (and their respective actors). Most importantly it has a achieved a great mix between its Southern France atmosphere and its noir story roots.

What isn't so good is the convoluted plot - new agents and sides are introduced constantly, throughout all the episodes. I guess as a way to add more mystery rather than create it with a more tight and better written plot. To the point where it leads to quite unsatisfactory ending where too many sides rush to battle it in the smallest of places in an already too small for them French village. It's already ridiculous, and even another sloppy deus ex machina is needed for the story to reach some conclusion.

I still give it a 7/10 rating, because its premise and main characters were satisfying and still carry greater potential for further seasons. But only with better writing than this, because current season is enjoyable only if you turn a blind eye for all the unnecessary plot convolutions, and enjoy the good parts instead.

Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity (2023– )

Interesting subject, chaotically edited, messy quality

[6/10 · 28 August 2023]

Having trouble watching this documentary, although it is very interesting to me. Editing is fast footage cuts, that don't give its subject enough breathing room, and as a result makes for some chaotic viewing. Also for a 4k HDR video, you'd think they'd touch up a bit all the archival footage they've interspersed within, but instead you get a mess of UHD modern footage plus a hodge-podge of VHS-quality, or ultra-grainy old material. Messy experience overall, couldn't muster to watch more than half an episode. Which is a shame, I was looking forward to learn more about Wayne Shorter - his life and times.

In Bruges (2008)

A classic

[10/10 · 4 August 2022]

I don't believe there are perfect movies, but the ones that feel damn near perfect on first watch, and you only appreciate more and more after each re-watching over the years - these are the ones that deserve 10/10 rating. Safe to say after 14 years that "In Bruges" has been one of these films for me.

Altered Carbon: Resleeved (2020)

Top visuals, so-so story

[7/10 · 29 March 2020]

Visuals are top notch, and so is the fight choreography. But the story is pretty standard, bordering on cliche. There's just not much interesting or surprising happening, which lets down an otherwise great looking film.

Taboo (2017)

Could've been so much more

[7/10 · 22 February 2020]

"Taboo" is very stylish, has gritty take on its period, interesting, mysterious character played well by Tom Hardy, promising plot that hooks you from the first episode... and then wastes it over the next episodes by just going over the same things, revealing little new, contriving its schemes and characters to stretch it to more TV time.

Honestly I don't mind the general plotline of the episodes, but they feel so stretched and things happen so slowly - creators could've put much more in each episode to keep it interesting and varying. Instead we get repeating scenes that have been already covered in previous episodes, plot progressing too slow and always aiming to finish in some fruitless cliffhanger, because you already know how it will end. Characters seem to be left out waiting in rooms for Tom Hardy to brood around town, do his thing at his own time, and just interact with them when it's covenient.

Ultimately it's a series that starts interesting and with a lot of exotic elements to Victorian period, but doesn't progress its promises and is content to keep its cool style, but drift in the swamp of much more mediocre series instead.

Otchuzhdenie (2013)

Good, but torturously slow

[7/10 · 1 November 2019]

The film has a solid, touching story at its heart, good actors, but has painstakingly slow pace that will unnerve many viewers. I give it a 7, but I feel it more like 6.5 - it has faults that keep it from being much better.

I personally like slow films, but this one was tedious and very boring for me at times, mainly because scenes are stretched out to the maximum, dialogue is sparse, in some scenes non-existent. Characters go through a lot of daily mundane tasks, with the same monotonous pace as they will later dive in extraordinary ones, which kind of makes it same-same and takes the edge out of its story.

It's probably directorial decision to make it like it is, to show the titular "Alienation" in the characters and times, but it is a decision that makes for bad and unnerving viewing. One can't help but think that if the authors had inserted more material in their film, added a bit more revealing dialogue, even if sparse, and even some faint music to the slow long nothing-happening scenes - they could've kept the alienated atmosphere of it, but achieve more tight and enticing film.

As it is, this film will be favored by the most patient of viewers only.

Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (2007 Video)

Very disappointing

[6/10 · 14 September 2007]

I am big fan of Yoshiaki Kawajiri and it pains me to see such a production with his name on it. Yes, the visuals are great, but even they get irritating as the movie goes on, because someone decided that almost every action scene and many of the ordinary ones should be done with 3D, and when you see that same method re-used for the 50th time in just 80 minutes... well not only isn't it impressive anymore but very annoying.

Whatever the problems the movie had, I wouldn't be that disappointed if it wasn't the *STORY* - awful, cliché after cliché, unbelievably cheesy b-movie lines and one of the worst juxtaposion of sex scene ever (lighting candles??? what the hell?!)... The script really ruins everything good, and the characters are very flat and stereotypical, not to mention most of their designs are almost copy&paste from Kawajiri's previous works. And not only the characters are copied but whole scenes (e.g. the battle on the rooftops - Animatrix: Program), and though not 1:1 you still get a bitter deja-vu quite often.

So thank you but I'd stick with Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and Ninja Scroll - Highlander is no way near them.

V for Vendetta (2005)

V for Vendetta : Smaller, Shorter, and Violently Cut

[7/10 · 1 January 2007]

I was a bit disappointed the first time I watched V, enough to give it a 8/10. It was the cheesy and prolonged ending that bothered me and spoiled the otherwise very enjoyable movie. In my opinion they should have ended it right when the subway train left off with V for his viking funeral, and all the *freedom-fight* sequences after that weren't necessary, just a cliché in the moment you least want it.

But I read Alan Moore and David Lloyd's graphic novel the other day and it saddened me how much of that great story was omitted, even the overall context was changed and mellowed down to modern politically correct anti-Bush statements.

So great film, poor adaptation and a big disappointment for me.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005)

fan-service

[8/10 · 16 September 2005]

Yes, I was stunned by the trailers as probably everyone did, but I didn't expect the film to be that good. I mean, for the graphics and the action sequences alone it should be given 10 out of 10. (And yes I know the graphics are not ultra-realistic, a bit anime-ish, but that's because they decided to be true to the original looks of the game - so respect for that)

The one thing that bothers me though is that a lot of people won't understand the overall story. Now you should have in mind this is not a stand-alone movie, it's a sequel. So you should have played the game first, be familiar with the plot and all the characters (and the game mechanics too, the action in Advent Children revolves around the same rules and weapons). To really understand who and what Cephiroth, Cloud, Jenova, Lifestream, Aerith (the healing scenes in AC), the ghosts, the Materias (the glowing orbs they used in fights) are ... a 2-3 minute intro in the beginning of the movie is just not enough.

Fortunately/Unfortunately the Final Fantasy VII : Advent Children is a tribute to the fans of the game, that's even written in the start of it. It serves to give you some more time with your favorite characters, their world, to continue their stories, and as such is great.

Despite that - the dialogue/script is no way near that of the game - sadly it mostly sucks and is there so that we have something connecting the gorgeous and pretty lengthy action sequences...

So that's why in the end I rate it that way. Even though it is overall stunning, it pains me that in some aspects it doesn't live up to what it could've been ... and yet it wasn't as bad enough so that I wouldn't enjoy most of it. :]

7,5-8/10

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Everyone will watch it, but is it worth it?

[7/10 · 25 May 2005]

I really liked the atmosphere of the film, all the CGI and the acting of the supporting cast. But for me the film fails miserably exactly with the main story, what should have been the best of it - the birth of Vader. No way could Lucas make me believe that what was happening would force Anakin so easily to join the dark side. And all that cheesy drama doesn't belong to such a would-be classic. That's why I rate it so low. Also there are some so clichéd moments destroying the main plot, that you'd probably laugh at, but i won't spoil it to you, cause it's clear everyone will watch this movie. Only cause we're fans of Episodes 4-6.

Dudes (2001)

Don't miss this one!

[8/10 · 9 April 2005]

Well, you're not bound to be from Serbia to like the film, i'm from the neighboring Bulgaria. I find the film very fresh, and though the story ain't much, the script and dialogue are great. I even understood something like half the film only by listening and not reading subtitles :) (figures, our languages are not so different after all...) But the thing that I totally loved was the music. Since the film is mainly about 2 guys who try to break in the scene with their drum'n'base rhythms, the OST ought to be gorgeous, and it is, with a good mix of styles btw :D

What else can I say? The film is a must-see for every fan of the street/underground culture.