Shrek 2

Hello, hello!
After discussing the first Shrek movie, we of course also need to tackle the sequel. Without any further ado, let’s get right down to it!

The Plot (according to RT):

After returning from their honeymoon and showing home movies to their friends, Shrek and Fiona learn that her parents have heard that she has married her true love and wish to invite him to their kingdom, called Far Far Away. The catch is: Fiona’s parents are unaware of the curse that struck their daughter and have assumed she married Prince Charming, not a 700-pound ogre with horrible hygiene and a talking donkey pal.

Shrek 2 on RT

The Rating:

Well, this was a worthy sequel.
Shrek 2 may not be as kick-ass at the first part, but I still had a great time watching it. Once more, it takes many elements we know from just about every fairytale out there and twists them in a fun way.

I like how positively wicked some of the surprising twists are. They really did a great job with the script! It’s funny, it’s cute, it’s something new (or at least it was when it came out), it has a message I like. Fiona and Shrek show up and people treat them weird, even her parents. I appreciate how the movie treated that part. You know, the uncomfortable silences, everybody kinda trying but not actually wanting to be there. That is relatable to everybody who ever felt like they don’t fit in.

Shrek

Hello, hello!
Today we’re going to begin a deep dive into the Shrek cinematic universe. So far, we have four proper Shrek movies as well as the spin-off we’ll take a closer look at. (You’ll forgive me for not talking about every one of the shorts in detail!)
To kick things off, we of course need to start with the original Shrek movie.

The Plot (according to RT):

Once upon a time, in a faraway swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek (Mike Myers) whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairy tale characters. They were all banished from their kingdom by the evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Determined to save their home — not to mention his — Shrek cuts a deal with Farquaad and sets out to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) to be Farquaad’s bride. Rescuing the Princess may be small compared to her deep, dark secret.

Shrek on RT

The Rating:

What. A. classic.

You can say what you want but this movie is an absolute banger and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on. Why do I like it so much? Well, first of all, the soundtrack. Shrek has one of the most memorable soundtracks ever. Every song slaps so hard and is absolutely perfect for the scenes it is played in. They really didn’t have to go that hard, but they sure did.

It plays with all the fairytale clichés but improves on them. You know, damsel in distress, the knight in shining armor, direct reference of some actual fairytales, etc. But in this story, the damsel is very capable herself. Fiona is waiting in the tower because that’s what she was told to do. But once they are out she sure as hell can hold her own ground. That is one princess who seriously kicks ass. I always love to see that.

The Hunt

Hello, hello!
I don’t review enough foreign movies on this blog. There are so many gems out there that I haven’t yet seen or talked about. So, for today’s post, I bring you a film you possibly haven’t heard about, but you really should check it out!

The Plot (according to Rotten Tomatoes):

A kindergarten teacher’s (Mads Mikkelsen) world collapses around him after one of his students (Annika Wedderkopp), who has a crush on him, implies that he committed a lewd act in front of her.

The Hunt on RT

The Rating:

Oh man, this one hits you hard.
The movie feels extremely realistic and credible in the worst way possible. I had no trouble at all imagining that something could happen in this exact way. None of the events were overly constructed or left you thinking “well, of course, in a movie that works…” Instead, The Hunt feels all too real and just will crawl under your skin.

I want to discuss a few things that might be considered spoilers, so click *read more* at your own peril. 😉

Circle

Hello, my darling readers!
Today I have a bit of a weird one for you. The concept is interesting enough, though. So, let’s have a chat about Circle!

The Plot (as found on Rotten Tomatoes):

Fifty strangers facing execution have to pick one person among them to live.

Circle on RT

The Rating:

Well, this was interesting. Another movie I knew nothing about before watching, so I set to be surprised.
I enjoyed that the film works with a rather simple concept: almost the entire story takes place in one room, there aren’t a million storylines, just people talking to each other and, well, dying. Even though I got a bit tedious at times (maybe that was just because we are so very used to flashier stuff?), I think the film benefited from this minimalism.

The conversations and discussions between the people who found themselves in the circle are somewhat of an exploration of the human psyche. Extreme situations can bring out the best or the worst in us, which this one definitely did. It makes you wonder, “how would I react in that situation?” I’m sure we’d all like to say that of course, we’d be altruistic, but how can you be sure? Maybe you’re a total bastard and you just don’ know it.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Hello, my darling readers!
We made it to the final Pirates of the Caribbean movie. (At least for now!) Dead Men Tell No Tale is the fifth film of the franchise, so let’s see if it’s worth watching!

The Plot (according to RT):

Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Capt. Jack Sparrow feels the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost sailors led by his old nemesis, the evil Capt. Salazar, escape from the Devil’s Triangle. Jack’s only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it, he must forge an uneasy alliance with a brilliant and beautiful astronomer and a headstrong young man in the British navy.

Dead Men Tell no Tales on RT

The Rating:

Okay, so here is the deal. I binged all movies a while ago with the intention of writing these reviews. And then I didn’t. By the time I actually got around to writing, I had to rewatch the films as I had forgotten all of the details. Not just that, I had completely erased all memory of the existence of the fifth movie. Once I checked Disney+ and saw the list, I remembered that I absolutely hated it. But I figured I’ll have to check it out again. And turns out, the second time around I didn’t loath it quite as much. It’s still a film that was very much unnecessary and that is leeching off of a big franchise to make even more money.
Come to think of it, I might even like this better than the fourth film.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Hey guys!
Another day, another Pirates of the Caribbean movie review. As I’m watching my way through the franchise, I almost made it to the very end. On Stranger Tides is (at the moment) the penultimate film!

The Plot (according to RT):

The checkered past of Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) catches up to him when he encounters Angelica (Penélope Cruz), a beautiful pirate that Jack once loved then left. Angelica forces him to accompany her to the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the notorious Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Accompanied by a zombie crew, the trio sets sail to find the legendary Fountain of Youth. However, Jack’s rival, Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), also seeks the fountain, as does a ship from Spain.

On Stranger Tides on RT

The Rating:

This is probably my least favorite film in the franchise. As a whole, they failed to capture my interest and make me care for the characters. The only thing going for the film is some shots that are beautiful but otherwise, it’s 137 minutes of my life that I will never get back.

The thing is, there is a lot going on in this film, it’s just that you won’t give a damn about any of it. There is not enough substance to get you invested in any of it. There are a lot of new characters that have about as much depth as a puddle on a sidewalk. While the initial trilogy has many memorable moments, lines and *characters*, you’ll forget you ever saw this one before the credits have finished rolling.