The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant

While the animations might seem quite outdated by now, it wasn't this movie's best selling point to begin with. The Iron Giant is much like Toy Story a typical story about heart, but the added elements of Sci-Fi and cold war references makes it surpass the cheesy lines and the annoyance of moral.

I'm not singing its praises like many others seem to be, but keeping in mind Toy Story really annoyed me with some of the same choices, this one actually comes out well. It lacks the magic of Pixar and Studio Ghibli, but is still well worth checking out.

Naked (1993)

Naked

Johnny is nothing like anyone else, and following him is an interesting exercise in Mike Leigh's acclaimed movie. Add several interesting supporting characters, and Naked is a movie you'll not forget to easily.

David Thewlis is brilliant in the lead, and almost every support raise to the challenge presented. None more so than Lesley Sharpe who brings layers to her character that is essential for the movie.

This is a movie I'll have to watch again to fairly rate it, much like everything I've seen of Kieslowski and most of the Coen brothers work, but after first viewing I'm sure Naked's praise is anything but undeserved. The dialogue is rapid and deep, without ever becoming cheesy or Hallmark wisdom, and is along with the interesting characters the driving force.

The Tourist (2010)

The Tourist

A remake of Anthony Zimmer, and I truly hope they had more to work with. Even starring Jolie and Depp, there's no doubt Venice was the best part of the movie. Hard to believe this crap comes from the director of the amazing Das Leben der Anderen.

No chemistry, awful dialogues and a plot to forget even before the movie's ended.

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Kôkaku kidôtai

Animated Sci-Fi classic from the mid-90's, and it delivers. We follow a female cyborg cop and her squad, and more than anything there's both a story and some incredible animations of the city delivered in a fashion to take our breath away.

Entertaining, beautiful and thought-provoking all animated into one shell. A movie I'll definitely return to some day, to grasp on the layers.

Hackers (1995)

Hackers

I know I've seen it back in the days, but I have few problems understanding why I didn't remember just how bad it is. I must have blocked out the painful memory.

The antagonist is ridiculous, the protagonist have charisma like a kettle and the story and dialogue isn't even unintentionally funny. Jolie wasn't even yet that sexy back in those days, or at least she didn't know how to show it off on screen.

Burn every copy.

Ninja Scroll (1993)

Jûbê ninpûchô

Early 90's animation that feels a little dated in the beginning, but it soon enough manages to wrap you into its world. A journeyman ninja's story as he cross paths with a ninja girl, a demon clan and and old man pushing him around.

It's an interesting story with some deeper layers, but most impressing is the imagination gone into the making of the different demons and their skills.

All in all this is for adults and not very suitable for the young ones, but its subtle layers might make it suitable for even fewer despite the quite easily followed progress of the story.

Barton Fink (1991)

Barton Fink

This movie is so filled with symbolism and food for thought, you'll have a lot to do digesting it afterwards. Sadly it's not very rewarding as you watch, and there's the big problem.

Goodman is nothing short of magnificent and Turturro delivers as well, but this is mostly about the Coens, their skills and all the layers baked into this movie they wrote so quickly in the middle of their Miller's Crossing work.

A movie that needs several viewings to fully capture it, but as it's so little rewarding as you watch it might well be a decade or two until I find back to this one.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

This is the first Harry Potter-movie I watch after reading the book in question, and as such my viewpoint will be a lot more blurred by my knowledge than earlier. Still. Dividing the book in two movies have helped making sure they can stay fairly accurate to the book, and as a result this is so far the best of the movie-franchise. It does obviously not tell you much as the earlier movies without exception have gone wrong on so many important choices they've opened a great opportunity to remake this later into the story it should be.

The part of the final chapter of Harry Potter told in this movie, isn't very action packed. There's more drama and subtle darkness than in the second half, and that might be the reason Yates never manage to make it as good as he should be able to. Screenwriter/adapter Steve Kloves in on my hate-mail list, so I'll not offer much on him this time around. He's managed to stay closer to the material with the added runtime of splitting it into two movies, but he still screws up a little to often.

Watson and Grint proves again far superior Radcliffe in acting skills, but what else is new. Radcliffe have been the weak link for a very long time. A lot of good support acting.

Good enough I'll eagerly anticipate the final chapter with more action, which suits Yates better, but I still more than ever look forward to free up Emma Watson to take on other parts when it's done.

Hard Boiled (1992)

Lat sau san taam

After the disappointing Once a Thief, the famous Hong Kong action director-actor duo got back on track The Killer style with this movie. High octane action movie with bullets flying everywhere and style to accompany it.

Forget counting rounds without having to reload, forget the death count and just enjoy the ride. Hard Boiled most certainly is quite the ride, despite some hiccups where director John Woo proves he could learn a thing or two from the magnificent Infernal Affairs when it comes to playing cops off undercover.

I don't think it reaches The Killer's level of stylish enjoyment either, but Hard Boiled is still one of those John Woo-Hong Kong movies that made most Hollywood action crap look childish in comparison.

Once a Thief (1991)

Zong heng si hai

From the Hong Kong action-duo John Woo and Yun-Fat Chow that gave us so much excellence, like The Killer, they have taken a lighter tone here. This one isn't as stylish as Woo at his best, not as funny as it hope to be seen and more of a wasted potential than anything else.

The setting and idea is great, but Woo never manage to untie the knot. The main trio has so much potential for a great memorable story, but the balance is off and the much loved action sequences we usually get with this gents never blow us away enough to forget it.

Worth a watch, but unlike others from this magnificent actor-director duo its rather forgettable compared to others at the end of the day.