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Casablanca

World war II, boy meets girl (again), Germans doing their bad-ass stuff, self-sacrifice and true love

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
07-12-2013
9

Perfect movie for a sentimental mood

Obviously this movie is a classic according to 95% of the world population, but until today I never seemed to be in the right mood to actually start watching it. The first minutes it felt somewhat dated, but soon I was fully drawn into the story. Overall an immersive experience, a classic indeed!
9

Midsommar

Some kids, one heavily traumatized, visit a Swedish summer ritual. Gradually, the true terryfying nature of the festivities is revealed.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-08-2019
9

Horror redefined

More than the great acting, masterful built-up, gruesome imagery and deep, lasting sensation of dread, I guess it is more important to point out that this movie makes most other horrors seem like bland, generic, jump scare crap. This is unique, fresh and it still haunts me to this day.
9

Alien

On their way back to earth, a spaceship investigates a distresscall from a planet

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-10-2021
9

Redefining

I am going to rate it sky high for redefining (space)horror, design and science fiction in general. It is iconic, but I have to admit anno 2021 it is actually, finally, starting showing signs of aging. My son wasn't too impressed nor terrified. Some of that is a legacy from our memories.
9

UP

Dredding a retirement home, an old man uses balloons to fly his home to South America for a longlost adventure

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-05-2018
9

A Pixar Pinnacle

Only Pixar could have made a crazy, highly original story like this work so beautifully. It makes fun of the elderly yet respects them at the same time, it looks great and it features splendid music. A truly heartfelt gem and unique adventure.
9

Blonde

The (miserable) live of Marilyn Monroe

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-01-2023
8.5

Beautiful bad trip

I was not particularly interest in her backstory, and expected a long biography with loud fifties music to claim authenticity. Instead, this turned out a highly artistic, dreamy and beautiful bad trip that I found very gripping and mesmerizing. Suitable for non-fans.
8.5

Time Lapse

Three friends discover a device that takes a photo of their house everyday at eight o clock.... tomorrow

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-01-2016
8.5

Hats off to the minds that can cook up a story like this

A mind boggling story that continuously left me balancing on whether I was aboard or not, and had me drawing diagrams the next morning. And as if the story weren't complex enough, their is still room for an additional twist at the end too. Very clever.
8.5

Tenet

A special agent is ask to assist in a mysterious mission to prevent WW3, for which he encounters things that go back in time

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-09-2020
8.5

The most audacious and genius movie ever, but does that mean enjoybale

Clearly we have another Nolan gem on our hands, in terms of visuals, music and the mind blowing story. Initially I wondered if the complexity was just too much, getting in the way of enjoyment. But as it starts to digest in days after, you begin to grasp the sheer genius and audacity of this.
8.5

Fury

The endeavours of an American tank team on German soil near the end of WWII

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-10-2014
8.5

Incredibly intense and tighyl shot

For a moment or so, I thought I noticed some story/character things to whine about. But the brutal, loud, incredibly tightly shot and exhilarating combat scenes made me forget all about that. Also proves that there's still merit in the 'rooky joins the team' story.
8.5

Die Hard

Evil people hijack a skycraper with everyone it, but they didn't take into account one brave cop making a stand

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-03-2018
8.5

Still awesome

Still an immensely enjoyable and exciting action movie that set a standard with style, action and humor that has never really been surpassed.
8.5

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Human survivors of a global virus outbrake need access to a dam, but this is the realm of the apes

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-07-2014
8.5

Strong and proud

This movie is like the apes in it: strong, proud, majestic, thrilling and mystical. Very well balanced stuff. My only gripe is that the apes started talking too much with needlessly accurate grammar. The little words and hand signs were more impressive.
8.5

Star Trek into Darkness

The pursuit of a terrorist into Klingon space gets the Enterprise into trouble
average 8.5

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
17-09-2015
8.5

A great action-packed movie

Lots of action, space ships and great visuals, which just happen to take place in the Star Trek universe (but nevertheless also highly accessible to non-trekkies)
8.5

robocop
robocop
24-09-2013
9

I am robocop

testing what will happen if a third reviewer loads
9

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Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-09-2013
8

Darkness on the light side

A colorful, beautiful and exciting space adventure that is also quite funny at times.
8

Dunkirk

On the rescue efforts to save thousands of soldiers are trapped in Dunkirk in WW2

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-08-2017
8.5

A superb movie that makes you anxious to get off that beach too

Has a unique atmosphere, with a focus not so much on horror but more on the continuous ominous threat. The imagery on seas, land and in the air is outstanding, and I must also mention the extraordinary music that makes you tremble with fear for almost the entire movie.
8.5

Kung Fu Panda 2

The furious five must stop an evil peacock with weapons that could destroy China and Kung Fu, and Po goes searching for his roots

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-04-2021
8.5

Still goosebumps

It is literally and figuratively a bit dark at times, but it still reaches the very high standards of it's predecessor. Funny and exciting on the one hand, but very touching and heartfelt when need be. It has not one but several scenes that give a grown man like me goosebumps - every single time.
8.5

Nebraska

A son goes on a trip with his dementing father who thinks he won a million dollar

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
10-01-2015
8.5

A movie to remember

Touching and impressive movie about unfillfilled dreams, both the complexity and simplicity of growing old, and the love of a son for his father
8.5

Poor Things

A scientist revives a woman, who then explores the world and herself through the eyes of a child

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-02-2024
8.5

An irresistably bizarre and unqiue movie

A wildly bizarre but incredibly rich movie, that is beautiful to look at, features amazing characters, is surprisingly funny and is simply unlike anything else - without being arrogant about it.
8.5

The Dallas buyers club

A macho man with hiv (illegally) starts selling alternative medication to help fellow hiv sufferers

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
29-01-2014
8.5

And the oscar for actor in a leading role goes to....

Great indepth acting by McConaughey (who apparently also did some serious preparation by not eating much during the preceding year) , in a compelling movie based on a true story. Oscar winning material!
8.5

Jacob's Ladder (1990)

In search for reality

hente
hente
10-10-2013
8.5

An unsettling study on the layers of reality

One of those movies where you wish you could intervene and wake up the main character from his dream-in-a-dream-in-a-dream-in-a-nightmare.
8.5

Whiplash

Ambitious young jazz drummer is pushed over the edge by a conductor with extreme teaching practices

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
01-02-2015
8.5

Is that blood on your drum kit?

Great acting and synergy in an overwhelming movie about ambition, musical craftmanship, perseverance, and achieving ones dreams. Must see, not only for musicians!
8.5

Blade Runner 2049

A more advanced android hunts down the older models, finding out things he wasn't supposed to along the way

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-11-2017
8.5

Ladies and gentlemen: a sequel that's better than the original

It's got the same visual style but vastly more beautiful and elaborate. It's got the same synth-music but it is thicker and more intense. It's still a slow mover but more engrossing while doing so. It's got similar story elements but it's deeper. So like, it's better!
8.5

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

A map to the location of vanished Luke skywalker causes good and bad to hunt down one another, and a new giant new planet killer device lurks.
average 8.5

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
03-01-2016
9

And the saga continues!

This incredible movie fully lives up to the expectations. Prepare to be sucked into the star wars universe right from the start. The storyline of the initial 3 star wars movies is partially re-used with the offspring of the initial characters in the lead. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every minute of it!
9

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
30-12-2015
8

A great, big bad continuation of a great movie

A wonderful blast that looks and feels fantastic, and adds some nice designs and elements to the Star Wars universe. The story though, felt more like an ode to the originals rather adding a lot to it. Building an even bigger deathstar thing was cheap.
8

Avatar

Humans try to plunder the planet Pandora for it's valuable minerals, but the native inhabitants will protect theplanet and their way of live

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-12-2022
8.5

An epic mix

Like me, Cameron has a passion for nature, magical creatures, peace and harmony, but also likes hardcore scifi ships, mechs and guns fighting a macho testosterone war. Somehow it works together, in a beautiful, lively and stunning epic that also manages to connect emotionally.
8.5

1917

Two soldiers are ordered to leave the WWI trenches and head into German territory to deliver a crucial message

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-01-2020
8.5

Unique and terrific war movie

Part of me wished the 'single shot' peculiarity wasn't part of the hype, because you start paying attention to it and get drawn out rather than into the story. But it still contributes massively to a unique vibe and flow of this terrific war movie.
8.5

Sunshine

On a spacemission to reignate the sun, one ordeal leads to another when they decide to make a small change in the missionplan

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-06-2013
8.5

Beauty and class can outshine anything

This amount of loopholes and illogical elements in the plot would have crippled most movies. But Sunshine is so beautiful, classy and exciting that it outshines them easily. I also love the self aware, scientific-ethical attitude of the crew.
8.5

The Good Dinosaur

In an alternate universe, where dinos weren't extinct and humans are the pets, the two of them are destined to embark on an adventure to find home

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-12-2015
8.5

Gorgeously rendered survival and friendship story

Contrasting with the somewhat simplistically drawn dino's, the details and shattering beauty of the scenery is unreal. This, combined the wonderfully weird animals and a heartfelt and profound (albeit not quite original) story, gives a grandiose animation movie.
8.5

Wreck-It Ralph

Computergame figure is tired of being the badguy, and sets out to do good in other computer arcade games.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
18-02-2013
8.5

Warm pixels

A unique blast full of color, wonderfully diverse and funny characters, imaginative locations, a rich story line and heartfelt characters. Quite an achievement to have pixels steal your heart this way.
8.5

Moana (aka Vaiana)

Against the orders of the tribe, a native pacific island girl sets sails to sea to bring back the liveforce that got lost in a divine quarrel

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-01-2017
8.5

Wished I was there

Another fantastic and original animation with gorgeous tropical scenery and oceans, excellent characters, laughs and it also manages to reach inside. Even the moral lessons and songs were fine by me.
8.5

The Wolf of Wall Street

Fraudulent stock broker for whom the sky seems the limit eventually loses his family and fortune

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
21-01-2014
8.5

Convincing view on Wall Street life to the extreme

Memorable movie that provides a surprising but convincing view on the extreme life style of the (hopefully) atypical stock broker Jordan Belfort. At times it is difficult not to like the main character, while at the same time feelings of disgust may surface as well. Worth the 3 hour watch!
8.5

A Dark Song

Grieving woman isolates hersef with an expert to perform a dark ritual so she may see her diseased son one more time

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-02-2022
8.5

Elevated and unique horror

I love the concept of how they are real, fallible human beings meticulously trying to get this ritual to work over the course of weeks, getting more frustrated, breakable and delusional in the process. The supernatural elements are subtle and open to interpretation. Fantastic.
8.5

Frozen

A princess has to save her sister the queen, who has uncontrollable magical freezing abilities and brought disaster to her kingdom.
average 8.5

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-01-2014
8.5

Already a classic

A gem. Loaded with great moments, beautiful songs, heartfelt emotion and it looks stunning. My boys ranked it number one, despite their general disapproval of anything princes-related.
8.5

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
15-01-2014
8.5

Beautifully animated modern fairytale

This one has the whole package: incredible graphics, lovable characters and convincing storytelling. Though I am not a big fan of main characters singing in movies like this, it did not disturb me too much....
8.5

The Witch (The VVitch)

Exiled to live at the edge of a forest, a deeply religeous family is terrorized by a witch which causes them to turn on each other as well

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-08-2016
8.5

Effective through authenticity

It's not necessarily scary like jump scare horror, but the outstanding depiction of the Puritan life and language, together with restrained but terrifying witchcraft make for one of the better horrors of recent times.
8.5

Elysium

Man fights his way up to a spacehaven for the wealthy, so he can get cured from a disease.
average 8.2

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
24-11-2013
8

Action packed scifi

This movie adds a whole new dimension to the term bullet time (great scene on how to shoot up robots for dummies). The story line is somewhat overly dramatic at times, but man... the action and visuals are impressive!
8

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
18-08-2013
8.5

A very intense, thick a great looking science fiction action flick.

A treat for action scifi enthusiasts. Wonderful designs, fine acting, cool robots and ships and a high paced adrenaline story.
8.5

No Country for Old Men

A sherrif, hunter and hitman get involved when a bag of money is left after a deadly showdown in the desert
average 8.2

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
30-12-2014
8.5

Intense movie

This movie sucks you right in, forces the viewer to smell the desert and all the rotten things that will happen later on. Great acting, intense experience...
8.5

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-09-2014
8

Hot and involving

The Texas desert heat oozes of the screen, as does a firework display of class acting. The slow pacing only contributes to the constant feeling of stress and dredd of things to come.
8

Boyhood

Movie portraying the ups and downs in the life of Mason and his family between his 5th and 18th year

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
20-01-2015
8

There are many good reasons why this movie is nominated for the Oscars

I was suprised by the excellent casting and makeup artists that convincingly managed to make the characters look older during the movie, until I realised (read somewhere) that it was filmed with the same cast over a 12 year period. Great acting and empathetic presentation of the targeted zeitgeist.
8

Top Gun: Maverick

Maverick is called back to train a team destined to do the most dangerous mission ever

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-06-2022
8

The people don't work for me anymore, but the flying does

I had some trouble buying into the somewhat desperate portrayal of these pilots as beautiful, perfect, witty, slick, hip beings and the insubordinate way they go about their briefings and missions - even if this is Top Gun. But hell yes, the air footage and final combat makes up for it.
8

Paranorman

Not only does this kid see ghost, he is now trying to get rid of zombies and a witchcurse too.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-05-2013
8

Horror for kids, made with love and style

Unique stylish claylooks, a wonderful atmosphere, great effects and big heart.
8

A Ghost Story

After a deadly car accident, a man wakes up as a ghost and dwells in his former house, with his former girlfriend

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-02-2024
8

A unique point of view in a unique movie

The long, sometimes very long, static scenes mean this movie will not be for everyone. But for me, it neatly visualized the endless time ghost exist in, until their unresolved issue is dealt with. I also loved the ghost perspective, and it is quite haunting and even touching at times.
8

Zootropolis

Rabbit tries to make it as a police officer in the big city inhabited by all kinds of animals

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-06-2016
8

A matured quality animation

A wonderful tale that is brought to live with colorful charterers, a good sense of humor and a detective crime story that has an mature quality to it.
8

Starship Troopers

Friends sign in to combat terror from space. Both their skills and friendship are put to the test.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-08-2015
8

A brutal space fight that requires the right mindset

It all depends on whether you can appreciate the deeper meaning of incredibly cheesy barbie people have soap opera relationship quarrels - followed by dismembering fights with aliens.
8

Arrival

Linguist is asked to crack the language of the aliens who landed and ask them: why are you here?

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-11-2016
8

Elegant, deep and sober scifi, just the way I like it.

My favorite movie themes combined: science fiction and deep mystery/mind benders that will have you pondering days after. Excellent and refreshing.
8

Still Alice

A woman is diagnosed with Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease and tries to deal with it together with her family

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
02-03-2015
8

Impressive

An eye-opener for everybody, including myself, who had not been directly confronted before with the devastating consequences of Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. There are many good reasons why Julianne Moore won an Oscar for her role in this impressive movie.
8

We Need to Talk About Kevin

A mother trying to cope with a son that hates her, and something horrific he is planning

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-08-2022
8

A bitter pill that is worth it

The helplessness, frustration and despair of the situation really gets to you. The way the movie gradually builds up to dreadful act of the kid, foreshadowed with flashbacks, his vague preparations and the look in his eyes is not pleasant, but most certainly very well done and well acted by all.
8

Kung Fu Panda 3

In order to repell a new threat to peace, Panda must resort to his Panda family to learn the power of chi

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
18-04-2016
8

A very mature and excellent episode

Some fatigue may kick in, as we can sort of predict how everything it going to turn out. But the humor, atmosphere, unique blend of 3d animation and traditional artwork, the loyalty to the characters and the depth of the story remain of a very high standard.
8

Soul

Just before a breakthrough live performance, a jazz musician has an accident and get assigned a quest somewhere in the afterlife

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-01-2021
8

Beautifully abstract and heartfelt.

Another bold Pixar endeavor that doesn't shy away from emotions, highly abstract concepts and symbolism. Apparently, kids get it instantly, but I needed some time to figure it out. Any which way, it is just lovely, beautiful and wonderful.
8

The Night House

After her husband commits suicide, the widow starts to experience strange things in the secluded house he built

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
24-01-2022
8

A subtle but very satisfying horror

Wow, this really worked for me. The horror elements are subtle and tasteful, the evolving mystery is enticing and the element of grief is mixed in well. But mostly, I was quite stunned with the lead actress, who totally nails it and makes everything work beautifully.
8

The Conjuring

How to get rid of a bad demon....
average 8.0

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
04-01-2015
8

Genuinely scary and expertly done

A really scary movie with agonizing tension built-up courtesy of great camerawork, a slow but deadly script and effective and sober use of sounds. I'd say it was a bit too long though. The finale is suitably terrifying, but by then I felt a bit saturated.
8

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
23-12-2013
8

One hell of a scary movie!

An excellent adaptation of the standard "creepy demon in a house" plot, that will scare the **** out of you. Sound effects and background music perfectly add to the suspense..
8

Sinister

Writer and his family move into a house where horrible attrocities have taken place, so he can research these and write a book about it. To start him of, he finds a box with old 8mm films...

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-02-2016
8

Eerie

Didn't crawl under the skin as I thought it would (for some reason), but a very eerie, umcomfortable and stylish horror nevertheless. 8mm graininess is used to great effect together with really unsettling music.
8

Im Westen Nichts Neues

Follows a few young German boys into the first worldwar trench hell against France

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-11-2022
8

An impressive and heavy warflick that ought to have hit harder

A film that impressive in many ways: The raw depiction of war, the insanity of trench wars in particular and the cinematography. But somehow it didn't fully manage to transfer the deep sense of fear or dread like some other war movie have. Perhaps I didn't really bond with the characters.
8

I Origins

In a search for the evolutionary origins of the eye, the lovelifes of the scientists lead to an even more profound discovery

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-01-2015
8

A wonderfull mix science of spirituality

Appeared slighty pro-spirituality, anti-science, depicting scientist as strange, rigid, disconnected people. It's no big problem though, because it is still a very well done, nicely paced movie with an unsubstantiated premise that is nevertheless nice to see where it's going.
8

A Cure for Wellness

Businessman is sent to retrieve a colleague from a mysterious and remote mental institute

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
11-11-2017
8

Pretty mystery

Not the full-on horror movie the trailers would have you believe, but more a mystery with supernatural elements. I quite liked it. It has beautiful imagery and the unfolding mystery kept me interested all the way.
8

American Hustle

Con man and con woman doing a lot of conning, with Feds, politicians and mobsters involved

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
17-01-2014
8

Great acting in a movie filled with conning

Conning, trickery, treason and seduction with a thin layer of comedy showing through occasionally, in a balanced movie with great acting by the main characters
8

The Beaver

Depressed man finds therapy by talking to himself using a beaver handpuppet

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-02-2013
8

Can I say 'great' about this much depression?

Even the premise of this movie gets you depressed, but it was a fine piece of work - courtesy of the actors in this.
8

Oppenheimer

A biography of the father of the atomic bomb

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
11-08-2023
8

A fascinating drama disguised as an adrenline action ride

A very intense and splendidly shot, acted and directed movie. But part of me thought Nolan was cheating, by presenting what is essentially a drama as an pumping action movie, using all of his film-making prowess. There was a dissonance beween what was actually happening and how it was presented.
8

Captain Philips

An American cargo ship gets hijacked by Somali pirates (Arrr matey!)
average 8.0

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-03-2014
8

Nailbiting, sweaty and genuine experience

Maybe it is a tad too long, but for sure this is a compelling, griping and intense experience.
8

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
01-02-2014
8

Boats, pirates and a psychological battle between two captains

Highly recommended movie, at first glance simply about the hijacking of a cargo ship. But it also conveys a deeper message by implying the complex situation in many African countries, where the difference between right and wrong is not always that clear. Authentic acting by Tom Hanks.
8

A Quiet Place

Family tries to live in silence when the world has been overrun by creatures that attack at the slighest sound

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-04-2018
8

A solid and well made horror

While there is room for some nitpicking, overall this was a fresh, intense and very solid horror that features much better performances, atmosphere and style than most.
8

Men

A woman retreats to an English cottage to proces a violent and traumatic divorce, but the local strange men only bring more horror

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-07-2022
8

A well thought out and intriguing horror

The simple setup gradually unfolds a lot of depth, symbolism and metaphors without being pretentious. Uncanny without cheap tricks, with a spot-on atmosphere. The finale is spectacular too; no matter how bizarre it was, it somehow made sense.
8

The Martian

Left for dead astronaut on mars tries to survive
average 8.0

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
15-01-2016
8

Mars revisited

Great visuals and rather convincing approach to the Mars hype (except for the last 30 minutes or so).
8

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
23-10-2015
8

It's 'gravity' in mars. Or 'Cast Away' on mars.

A splendid, sharp looking and wholefully exciting space survival adventure. It's fantasy of course, but with just enough ties to science to make you buy it. I thought maybe the high count of jokes and wisecracks sort of distracted from the gravity of the situation.
8

The Hateful Eight

Bounty hunter, his prisoner, and a bunch of cowboys get stranded in an inn, in a Agatha Christie kind of setting

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
15-01-2016
8

Who can be trusted? Damn those cowboys, just shoot them all...

Typical Tarantino twists, blood, gore, and humour in a successfull blend of western and detective elements. The story slowly unfolds in this somewhat lenghty movie, but manages to grasp your attention until the last second....
8

Life of Pi

After a shipwreck, boy is stuck on a lifeboat with wild animals as he sails into a trippy journey

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
24-05-2013
8

wonderful journey

Intriguing mix of hardship and fantasy storytelling. Unique, brave and utterly beautiful.
8

Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Live action Manga remake of the android fighting crime, her past and herself

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-04-2017
8

It gets it right

So people were complaining this had no depth, but were fine with Avengers? Screw that. This is an awesome looking movie that is exciting throughout and has plenty of depth and bucketloads of atmosphere. It also strikes a good balance between a 'western take' and the core Japanese original.
8

Beau is Afraid

A scarred man is literally and figuratively going on a bad trip to his mother

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-08-2023
8

A wonderfully bad trip

To think that someone made up this story, somehow decided it was finished, and concluded it was ready to make a movie out of it is even more baffling the the movie itself. But here it is, and I am glad it is. A wild ride, bizarre, disorienting but also skillfully made, intriguing and unique.
8

Dune (2021)

Clans fight for control of planet Arrakis and it's resources, both with other clans and with the native inhabitans

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-10-2021
8

What the word 'epic' was meant for

Wow, this was quite an epic experience on all accounts. Incredible spaceship designs, compelling imagery, great music and overall an enticing story. Very very tasteful. On the downside, the sterile environments and characters meant it had only a limited emotional impact and didn't really stick.
8

Alpha

Set in the stone age, a boy gets seperated form his group and must find his way home, but befriends a wolf along the way

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-12-2019
8

Beautiful and heartfelt

I like to think of this as perhaps the first domestication of wolfs, eventually leading to dog breeds. Extremely pretty, akin towards kitsch, but never crossing that line. The storyline is also gripping, making me care about this journey and swallowing tears near the end.
8

Raised by Wolves

Escaping a war torn earth, two androids fly to a distant planet in order to restart humanity. But they are not the only ones.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-04-2023
8

Even if it can't keep up the with the first eposide, it still is great

Although it looses a bit of momentum with every episode after to the majestic grand opening, this series had a lot going for it. Fantastic design that mixes medieval with ultra futuristic, a deep and interesting storyline and intense characters. And a splendid opening track to top it off!
8

The Nightingale

After unspeakable cruelty was done to a woman and her family, she chases down the perpetrators through the Tasmanian bush, with the aid of a native aboriginal

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-05-2020
8

Heavy, but very good

It covers a lot of heavy-handed subjects (racism, revenge, rape, murder, repression) and inevitably features some tough scenes. But it has all been done really well. I liked how during the revenge part she remained fragile and insecure, and didn't have sudden superskills that came out of nowhere.
8

Saint Maud

Deeply religious palliative nurse becomes dangerously fanatical when she thinks she has performed a revelation on a patient

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
01-08-2021
8

Impressive and scary, with thick layers of atmosphere

An impressive psychological thriller with some horror and supernatural elements in a very tasteful, restrained and effective way. The atmosphere oozes of the screen, performances are great, especially Maud's of course.
8

Rambo 4

Rambo and a few mercenaries confront evil troops in Burma in order to rescue a kidnapped family.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-12-2014
8

Brutally effective

The atrocities committed by the badguys make sure you don't care for a moment when they are blown to pieces by Rambo. An unusual mixture of the trademark Rambo one-man-army action combined with a dead serious and horrifying look of what that would actually look like. It hits you like a hammer.
8

Dune: Part Two

Paul joins the Fremen on Arakis. Some say he is the chosen one to lead their cause.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
10-04-2024
8

An epic epic

This part spends more time on the characters and the tribe rituals, but there is also epicness in large quantities, making this a massive joy to simply experience. But I have to say, there's still something preventing it from truly knocking your socks off.
8

Smile

Psychiatrist investigates a chain of people who kill themselves after have seen a smile from strangers

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-12-2022
8

Quality horror to make you smile

While the concept is quite familiar, I quite enjoyed this. On a few occasions it resorts to banal jump scares, but mostly it proves that it stands above these, with quality horror containing plenty of moments to send shivers down your spine.
8

Contagion

A viral oubreak

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
24-02-2013
8

Succesfully dark

Has a realtime, stressed feeling throughout which makes it upsetting and eerie.
8

Open Water

Scuba diving couple emerges to find the boat not there

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-08-2023
8

A nailbiter that kept reeling me in

I wanted to do something else but I could not resist this movie. My complements for making the simple plot and scenery not a limitation but a strength. The natural, almost amateuristic camerawork and non-sensationalist footage of sharks is also a masterstroke making everything up close and personal.
8

Inside Out

5 separate emotions in a girls' head are trying to keep it together when she and her parents move to a new city

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-07-2015
8

Unique, emotional, courageous and wonderful

One of the most unique, brave and original movies ever to come out of a major animation studio. A collage of symbolism en abstractions that is still child-friendly and a great experience. It made me cry as well, which I needed to hide from popcorn munching kiddies all around me in the theater.
8

The Northman

When his father is killed, a young viking grows up with nothing but revenge on his mind

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-04-2022
8

Great as a spectacle, but average in involvement

A big, brutal, sweaty and intense historic epic, that I was spectating and enjoying rather than feeling. Perhaps because all characters continuously speak in this these articulated, poetic, over-dramatic phrases, which kind of dehumanizes them. It worked in Lighthouse, here it alienates.
8

Birdman

A former action film hero wants to be recognised as serious actor in his own broadway play, meanwhile his world seems to be falling apart
average 8.0

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-06-2016
8

Quiet something

A unique movie displaying a wealth of class-A acting by the entire cast, together with amazing camerawork literally floating through the clever script, backup up a great musical score.
8

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
02-02-2015
8

Surrealistic flight with the birdman

This movie balances on the ambiguous line between arthouse and mainstream films. Surrealistic and flatout weird at times, but also insightfull, captivating and refreshing. I enjoyed this movie, to my own surprise :)
8

World War Z

Zombies

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-07-2013
8

Triple A mediocrity

For a movie about zombies investing the world, people seeking shelter in save havens with high walls, and a hero finding a cure just in time, this one is very good.
8

You Won't be Alone

In the nineteeth century, a young girl is turning into a witch, inhabiting different bodies as she goes

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-07-2023
8

A poetic, beautiful and unique witch movie

With numerous voice-overs pondering her faith, the dreamy cinematography and absence of viewer pampering, this felt more than a poetic essay, depicting witches more as misunderstood outcasts than malicious beings. I found it beautiful and a highly refreshing.
8

Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre

Collection of short horror manga

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-02-2023
8

Worthwhile collection of weird but effective horror stories

As usual, I needed time to adjust to some of the intricacies of Manga that always annoy me. But eventually I did, thanks to high tempo and the wonderfully weird, intense and sometimes quite scary stories. Most of them are open-ended or just end plain unhappy. Refreshing.
8

Lux Æterna

Actors and crew are trying to shoot a moviescene featuring the burning of witches

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
24-09-2023
8

Utterly strange, uncomfortable and intense

Even if this movie is mostly people cursing and shouting in chaos, and it remains unclear what the real problem is, there is something very intense about it. The anxious feeling of wanting to leave the place is deep. The finale will blast your senses, leaving you shellshocked on the couch. Awesome.
8

The Babadook

Widow is trying to get by with her needy son when she also releases a shadowy presence in her house by reading a strange childrens book

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-02-2019
8

Succesful on multiple levels

Even more than the restrained and tasteful horror story, I was impressed by the suffocating and agonizing experience of watching her slide into insanity, due to sleep deprivation, desperation and social seclusion. It's sad, original, scary and intense. Bravo.
8

Big Hero 6

Talented young inventor must befriend (and upgrade) a clumpsy medical robot in order to save the world from his own invention

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-12-2016
8

Excellent

A fantastic animation that is spot on with exiting action, great visuals, humor and it is not afraid to reach some deeper emotions as well.
8

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Woman struggling to manage her store, marriage, tax audit and daughter, suddenly gets access to skills of her self in other parallel dimensions

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-05-2022
8

Completely bonkers yet keeping it real

Probably the craziest, most out-there, outrageous, over the top movie ever, that still - impressively - manages to keep it together, bring it with humor and have it resonate on an emotional level. It's too bizarre to really reach inside, but I am just so glad that stuff like this gets green-lighted.
8

Coherence

Friends enjoy diner while a comet passes over... causing strange quantumlevel effects on them

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-01-2016
8

I love quantumfucks

A really wonderful, mind boggling story that manages to suck you into the puzzle and leaves you in a somewhat unsettled but intrigued state of mind. Effective also because it is set up so plainly and is acted naturally.
8

Die Brucke - Bernhard Wicki (1959)

There can't be enough anti-war movies
average 8.0

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-03-2023
7

a sad warstory, told well

After all these years, this is still a worthwhile movie, effectively painting contrast between the boys in their daily life and the pointless and violent war they end up in. Some remarkable cinematography for it's age, too.
7

hente
hente
10-10-2013
9

Armed conflict can infect us all

I saw this movie half a century ago and it is still impressive even without the usual mass scenes and shoot-outs. Make sure you watch the original version by director Wicki and not the later re-make with the same title.
9

Radius

A man looses his memory after car accident, and acquires a deadly trait for people getting too close him

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-08-2023
8

An exciting orginal

What a nice surprise this was. An movie with some fresh ideas, tightly brought to the screen and intriguing from the very beginning until the end. It's never sensationalist, but let's the script and actors deliver the thrills.
8

Apollo 13

After an explosion occurs on the Apollo 13 mission, the crew and groundcontrol have to abort the mission and find new and untested ways to get home

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-02-2015
8

Thrilling space adventure

It's a blockbuster and it knows it, with some moments of over the top heroism and music. But who cares, most of it is a authentic, thrilling and nail biting experience that is very well made.
8

Speak No Evil

Danish couple visits Dutch friends they met on vacation. The weekend slowly becomes agonizing, then turns into something much worse.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
20-11-2022
8

A tough watch, but the quality makes it a worthwile one

The feeling of ever growing discomfort really gets to you, and works well because of the natural acting and settings. It ends sad and depraved, but somehow feels like the right conclusion of the dread that had been accumulating.
8

Spectre

Just when the 00 team is cancelled, Bond faces the architect of all his pain

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-05-2016
8

Tight

With a sense of perfection in each scene, the the movie is confident enough to never rush or over-do things, instead rolling along nice and tight. I found Bond himself is a little too 1-dimensional with his grumpiness and fearlessness. The man seems utterly bored with his job.
8

Zero Dark Thirty

The hunt for UBL

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-05-2013
8

ladies and gentlemen, she got him

Stylish and engrossing hunt for Usama.. which is quite an achievement since it apparently involved so much waiting and utter lack of progress. The movie ends with a nail biting assault on the man.
8

Lamb

Couple who run a secluded sheepfarm get a very special lamb one day

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-11-2021
8

Bizarre and modest at the same time

I think I'd call it horror, which is uncanny, bizarre and disturbing but at the same time very plain, pure and subtle and without ever becoming cheap. And I finally liked Noomi Rappace, who looks and acts fantastic here.
8

Everest

True story about a terrible day on the Everest on which several lives were lost

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-05-2016
8

Engrossing and impressive

A thrilling and chilling story with powerful footage and acting, shot in very smooth 3D. It didn't completely knock me down, but I am not yet sure why.
8

Kubo and the Two Strings

Stop motion animation about a young boy who enters a ghostly realm to flee from dark enemies and prepare for a confrontation with his grandpa, who is after the boys eye.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
07-08-2019
8

Wonderfully diverse, different and pleasant

The story may sound bizarre, but it is told in a very interesting, confident and pleasantly mysterious way. It is beautiful to look at, has some really exciting scenes and is a welcome change in style from the big-name animations coming from the big studios.
8

Bird Box

Woman tries to bring two kids to a save haven in a world overrun by a suicide pandamonium

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-01-2019
8

Original and exhilarating

My goodness: a highly original (not withstanding the similar 'The Happening'), strongly acted and nail-biting movie that is very well put together. Those are not easy to come by these days. It once again shows the strength of NOT showing or explaining everything and anything.
8

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Young Han is seperated from his girl, and goes through great lengths and cosmic adventures to get back and save her

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-06-2018
8

A welcome change

Contains just the right amount of Star Wars icons to make it connect to the universe, but never lazily riding it. By focusing on a small group of people, I felt a much more intimate connection than the main movies. The portayal of the younger Han actually worked for me. Funny and exciting, too.
8

Get Out

Black boyfriend gets to meet his white inlaws for the first time, in a mansion where something weird is going on with the black personel

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
18-11-2018
8

What's going on?

The sense that something's not right but you can't quite grasp what it is has been done extremely well and carries this movie till the end. Together with the fine actors, this was a highly entertaining movie with a dash of horror.
8

Fall

Two girlfriends climb a huge radio tower to overcome trauma

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-11-2022
8

I forgot what movies can do to you

"These first 10 minutes were more exciting that the entire Starwars series we are watching," my wife remarked. And she was right. It may not be perfect or very realistic, but I can't remember a recent movie I shouted advice at, and which caused so much anxiety and sweaty hands.
8

A Quiet Place Part Two

Apart from a flashback, a seamless continuation of part one, in which the family is trying to find a safe place

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-07-2021
8

Just as good as part one

A worthy sequel in that it really offers the same level of acting, nailbiting tension and heartfelt performances. Clearly one of the better horrors of the last few years.
8

The Covenant

An American soldier's life in Afghanistan is saved by a local translator, a debt he gets to pay back.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-03-2024
8

Good and gripping

A good war movie with some tense moments, good performances and a gripping story of debt and friendship. I was quite moved by it. Only their perfect aim, especially compared to the Taliban's, was a bit dissapointing.
8

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Now that the the cave is vacant again, a war for it's treasures is immenent

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-01-2015
8

This is more like it

Yes. Less hobbit whining and dwarf singing. More intense combat, both on a massive scale as one on one close encounters. All this intense and beautiful action and hardship finally made me care about the creatures in this movie.
8

L'année dernière à Marienbad (1961)

Man meets woman, woman meets man, or perhaps they didn't

hente
hente
10-10-2013
8

Time and place are no longer certain

As we are constantly cheating our memories, actual life becomes a guessing game in this stylish movie. Ultimately, all movies are addressing space and time. This one adds to the mystery like a photo of a photographer. Over-aged? How can time be dismissed as being too old? Call it matured...
8

The Shawshank Redemption

A banker is send to prison unguilty, where he slowly makes new friends and uses his skills to be going places

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-01-2022
8

Yes it's good (But not that good)

Finally I saw this endlessly lauded movie. I agree that it is good and very gripping. I can't remember a recent movie that I was this much 'into'. But the best movie ever made? Perhaps I am just not that into prison movies, and the idea that only super smart will make it is hardly inspiring, is it?
8

Ex Machina

Software developer wins a trip to a genius living in solitude, who created a new tier in artificial intelligence
average 8.0

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
17-09-2015
8

Not just another AI movie

Enjoyable approach towards the artificial intelligence debate, with some nice twists in the plot
8

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-08-2015
8

Clever and good looking scifi

A very stylish, smart and engrossing scifi flick with some nice twists to boot.
8

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