The Selfish Giant (2013) United Kingdom

There will be no future if you are pursuing a wrong footsteps.

Drama

Review:

     A surprisingly good movie, unexpectedly exceeded all my expectations and put me on speechless. It was inspired by the Oscar Wilde story which portrays two English boys who are suspended from their school for misbehaving. They are inherited from the poor family which led them to work for a local scrap dealer. After sometime the things changes between them and decides to move in different directions, which ends in a shocking tragedy.

     The story was told in a straight forward flow in a raw form with a possible realistic approach. Great performance by the two inexperience kids and a fine direction. One of the best British movie in a recent past with a good message carrying in it.

     The Story of a two kids with different characteristic nature, but same interest which puts them together. The relationship between them and the path they choose to travel in life was clearly depicted. And so the nature of unexpected accident that strike without a warning. All together this movie became a solid piece of cinema, but a bit rough in parts.

     Since 'Paranoid Park' I have not disturbed by any film scenes. The whole day I was thinking about the disaster that happened in this movie. For that scene alone this movie deserves to be R rated. Also, there are many bad words used in dialogues which is not suitable for kids. I love British movie, if you do as well then don't miss this movie.

Similar movies:

Paranoid Park, Elephant, This is England, Combat Girls, Die Welle

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

10 Promises to My Dog (2008) Japan

It is all about 'the promise' you make.

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Original title:

Inu To Watashi No 10 No Yakusoku (Japanese)

Review:

     Expected usual dog movie with emotional ending, but I encountered different here. In fact the end was very touching, but this dog movie is not your regular one. It is largely distinct from similar themes you had seen before which is not ruled by the dogs like the one from 'The Cave of the Yellow Dog'.

     This is a pure drama about the father-daughter relationship and a childhood friendship where a dog sneaks into their lives as the part of it. The best performances by everyone, but sad for those who are expected dog's contribution like naughty stuffs to enjoy the parts of the story.

     To clearly say about the plot, it is about a girl who makes the 10 promises to her dog and would she keeps her oath is what the movie briefs in the rest. If you ever had a dog it will question you as well what you did for him/her other than giving shelter and food.

     So far seen half a dozen of Japanese dog movies, but this is one of the special dog movie, in some angle it is best of its kind. Because the story was not told from the dog's perspective or dog did not have a strong presence. All about his/her master, whether he treated respectfully with love and shared his life or not.

     I remind you again, don't go for it expecting the regular style dog movie because you may end in a disappointment. But I still recommend this decent romance-drama which stated its intention clearly to the viewers with a strong ending.

Similar movies:

Quill: The Life of a Guid Dog, The cave of the Yellow Dog, A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Clandestine Childhood (2012) Argentina

To be a child of the revolutioners must be hard. 

Drama | History

Original title:

Infancia Clandestina (Spanish)

Review:

     This was the Argentina's submission for last year's American Academy Awards and failed to make into the final five. But it was a clean sweep in Argentinian Academy Awards in the same year. Forget that past sad occurrence, I mean the Oscars, this movie was great and I liked it very much. After a very long gap I saw an Argentinian movie reckoning to be a good and it was. I am satisfied and glad I saw it which was loosely based on the director's real life story when he was a child.

     This story was told from the perspective of a kid called Juan. His parents are the activists during the Cold War known as the Dirty War. After their return to the home country with different names, Juan joins the school known as Ernesto. He finds hard to understand his parents' behaviour, but comfortably settles with his new fake name with a little help from his uncle. The problem arises when his true identity matters the most. Whether he reveals or not is the crux of the movie's end.

     In my recent watch I had seen the people who struggle while protesting in a country's revolution. It might be based on real like 'NO' or fictional like 'Night Train to Lisbon', but majority of them end in heartbreak tragedy. Similarly, this movie opened its account in a simple manner like most of the drama that based on the revolution theme. Yes, of course it confuses at first about what's going on then slowly explain the situation. But all the difference and racy pace emerge suddenly in the last quarter of the movie. Till then I was in the movie trying to concentrate, but then instantly put me on the edge of my seat with a cute romance and followed by thriller which did not last long. That, the end portion of the story of last 10-15 minutes took the movie to the heights.

     Yes, like I said the movie kicks off with a slow and boring pace with nothing much to enjoy earlier and ends in a style. Some movies are largely depends on the story's end solution and so this. To me it looked fine movie, different people will have different opinions, so watch it by yourself and express yours.

Similar movies:

Night Train to Lisbon, NO, Argo, Munich, In the Time of the Butterflies

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Le Week-End (2013) England

A story of a long married English couple.

Comedy | Drama

Review:

     A simplest movie, which tells the story of an old couple from Birmingham who decides to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in Paris. Like all the married couples these two as well not exceptional for facing all the ups and downs during their life together. So this story spells some of their tragic and happy moments of past and present.

     Nicely written script, it was very plain and narrow. Everything in the movie was kept uncomplicated including portrayal of characters. Jeff Goldblum's cameo was added more flavour to the movie. His entry was at the right time to spice up the momentum.

     The adventurous mischief of the two couples in the city of love was the movie's fun parts. Apart from that, uncompromising dialogue between them briefs their relationship difficulties. One more movie to add to the list where the old guys rule. It is based on a precious subject, kinda rare in today's cinema.

     A delightful movie to watch. Began with a normal pace, then later geared up till the end. With a minimum cast the movie did not cost much, but there is no compromise in quality. Very much more enjoyable which deals with a sensitive issue of a long married couple. It is a good pick for the family audience to watch on weekends.

Similar movies:

Hope Springs, Unfinished Song, Quartet, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

The Priest's Children (2013) Croatia

Sometime it worth risking everything for the sake of the future.

Comedy | Drama

Original title:

Svećenikova Djeca (Croatian)

Review:

     A story that set in a small Croatian island. It is a comedy, but also a serious issue that the country is facing right now. So thanks to the filmmakers to foray this matter into a nice comical style movie. Yes, the presentation was unique, displayed everything in a sophisticated manner. It was based on a stage play and was in controversy for the portrayal of serious issue in such a shade and characters.

     The story commences with a young priest Don Fabijan who tell his tale to another priest. So the flashback begins where he was working in an island church. In that small town, the death rates are rising at an alarming rate, but birth rates are completely nil. Then he decides to make the balanced ratio with the help of a couple of other trustees. What follows is the confusions among people over the sudden changes in life order of the community.

     I got very interested when I heard about the movie for the first time. The title itself was tempting, after reading its synopsis I became desperate to see it. So kept my expectations as much possible low. In another angle I was hoping it not to be alike 'Nacho Libre' with a slightly altered character of Jack Black. Thank god it was a different than others of the similar kind.

     Recently I explored into some of the Croatian and its neighbouring region movies and I am happy for those including this fine comedy. I give you a green flag signal to go for it, but you should not expect anything extraordinary from this simple comedy.

Similar movies:

Nacho Libre, Here Comes the Boom, Mall Cop, Beverly Hills Ninja, Big Stan

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Circles (2013) Serbia | Croatia

Based on the real event of 1993 ethnic war in Serbia.

Drama

Original title:

Krugovi (Croatian)

Review:

     This is the movie, like, just waiting for me and I used the opportunity very well to enjoy it all the way. Serbian submission for the 86th Academy Awards in the category of best foreign language movie. I feel this movie deserves to be on the short list, unfortunately it was not.

     Superb story telling. It was sliced into multiple pieces according to the characters. Whole story happens behind the incident that takes place at the very beginning of the movie. So the characters who are involved in it takes the different form of emotions to the next 12 years where the most of the movie happens.

     As usual like any movie the opening incident was preserved for the end portion to explain. It was not the first time, but it worked fine with the movie. The movie characters were amazing, each of them had their own affairs to deal it. But how all these people are connected to one another is the crucial segment of the story narration.

     This movie was actually based on the real event about a Serbian soldier that occurred in the year 1993 during the ethnic war between two religious people. It was very well filmed, capturing the facts in realistic structure including the places. I don't know what made the Oscar people to discard it. It was one of the best movie of the year 2013 but was not noticed largely.

Similar movies:

That Evening Sun, An Unfinished Life, Gran Torino, Everybody's Fine, Rain Man

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Museum Hours (2013) Austria

A clean blend between fine arts and human emotions.

Drama

Review:

     I have forgotten how an art movie looks like. I am satisfied with this movie. It is good to see a movie like this after some time, especially after I was busy with Oscar event and nominee movies. Although the art movie is not my type, sometimes I get bored for its slow presentation, but sometimes I will be thrilled to enjoy those great visuals.

     Movies without commercial values are kinda bores me. Sometime intense scenes and inappropriate scenes turn me off. There are many people who love this rare form of the movie, but my interest in those movies depends on what it deals. This movie was about art museum, I like paintings and drawing so managed to enjoy it.

     This movie was like a documentary about an art museum from Austria. They concentrated more on art pieces to explain behind story of those. They just added a couple of characters in the movie with a story to start and end about the beautiful Vienna museum. Yeah, it worked so well, human emotions plus great fine arts, totally an awesome blend.

     If you ask me, I would say it is an another form of 'Before Sunrise'. The whole movie takes place between two characters, Anne and Johan. Mostly they talk largely about paintings and Vienna city. It is a kinda educational purpose where we can get information about the city and its history. You won't like it just after a watch, it will take time. Day by day you will begin like it more and more, that is how this movie is made up of.

Similar movies:

Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight, Christmas in August

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece