Maxim’s Movie Reviews and Opinions Blog

“Der Untergang” is a very realistic Oscar-nominated drama directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel about last days of Hitler told by his stenographer Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara). The details are pretty amazing: from Hitler’s appearance, manner of speech and behavior, to external details like destruction of archives, Hitler Jugend (brainwashed children 12-15 y.o.) still fighting or hoping [...]

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Shoot ‘Em Up (2007)

Saw it just 30 minutes ago.
The plot: Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) is sitting at the bus stop, minding his business and chewing on his carrot (well, everybody has a habit, and this guy loves carrots, which he grows in his apartment) sees a pregnant woman on the run from a bunch of [...]

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Zubeidaa (2001)

Bollywood’s Shyam Benegal directed this low budget, but beautiful film. Although the film flopped on the big screen, mostly due to low profile of Shyam Benegal, it gained quite a cult when it was released on video.1951 (around the time of decolonization?). The movie begins with a Zubeidaa’s (Karisma Kapoor) funeral. The rest of the movie [...]

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The Lost City (2005)

*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A film by Andy Garcia starring himself, Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray and Elizabeth Peña - quite a constellation of stars. It begins in 1958 in one of pre-revolution Havana’s (though film is shot in Dominican Republic) club’s room. We are witnessing a typical “fathers and sons” conflict. The family is torn by conflicting [...]

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Black Dog (1998)

I must have seen this movie a 100 times already, but I can watch it more. It’s one of my favorite movies along with Rush Hour (1), The Police Academy (1) and Lethal Weapon (1). And probably the best movie the dirty dancer Patrick Swayze was ever in. It’s just as cheesy as Die [...]

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The Sentinel (2006)

Michael Douglas is playing a Secret Service agent who was credited with saving president Raegan’s life, and the beautiful Kim Basinger is playing president’s wife. Michael Douglas (don’t remember the name of his character, Pete I think it was) is to protect the First lady. And they have an affair that probably began [...]

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Delicatessen (1991)

This movie is directed by Jean-Pierre Jeonet, same guy who directed “Le Fabuleux destin d’Amelie Poulain” (aka “Amelie” in US release), which was so big in Europe and which I love so much. So I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that Netflix had added Delicatessen to my “Recommended Movies” list. Apart from director, [...]

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The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

We tried to get into the theater for an 8PM show, but it was sold out so we had a dinner and went for a 10PM show, which already was forming a line outside the theater. After waiting anxiously through almost half an hour of commercials and previews, the movie began.
The plot: [...]

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Battleship Potemkin (1925/2005)

I got the latest (or one of the most recent ones) Pet Shop Boys album, “Battleship Potemkin“. I was interested because I am a big fan of the movie. Sergei Eisenstein directed this silent movie in 1925 - just a few months after Stalin came to power. Since he was a Jew he didn’t [...]

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Bridge To Terabithia (2007)

Warning: this is Disney. This is a good sweet movie, but it’s a fairy tale for kids.
The plot: a 10-year old boy Jess from a poor family wants to be the fastest runner in his class, but he is outran by a new girl, Leslie, in Jess’ school, although the race was called a “boys [...]

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