Sunday, September 19, 2010

Away time

Hey guys, I won't be able to post for the next two weeks or so. Gonna be away in meetings, on vacation and visiting friends. Gonna be back afterwards with more movie reviews!
Take care

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Movie Review: Apocalypse Now (1979)

Although being far too young for having seen this movie when it first came out, I had the chance to see it on the big screen a couple weeks back. My local cinema sometimes plays old classics, that's pretty nice.

'Apocalypse Now' is certainly one of the most impressive movies to see in a cinema. The agony and pain soldiers have to go through in war is portrayed both as horrifying and as somewhat appealing (to a certain degree). I guess it does not make much sense to summarize the story. Just go watch it if you haven't seen it. You probably will look at war in general in a totally different way. Plus you will NEVER listen do The Doors 'The End' without remembering the ending of the movie after you have seen it.

My overall rating:   9 / 10
Most impressive war movie ever made.

IMDb: Apocalypse Now

Friday, September 17, 2010

Studying science vs. studying humanities

So I took some classes in the humanities, mostly about film (that's why you can trust me on the movie ratings! ;)) and American literature. Sure almost all of them were a lot of fun and I learned a lot. But the math class I took last semester was completely different. I had to study almost every day and getting a C was as difficult as getting an A in those film classes!
Sure I don't want to judge all film classes as too easy. I learned a lot and appreciate the way of critical thinking that I acquired. And also the use of language /ability to writes readable texts that is practiced. I think for a math class you have to study more but you also 'just' study, you don't learn to think for yourself. On the other hand, when you're able to do math, you're able to understand complex structures and you can actually solve problems, not only talk about them.

Did anyone have similar experiences? Do you think math classes are harder than film/lit. classes?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Movie Review: Brothers Solomon (2007)


I loved Will Arnett in 'Arrested Development' and was happy to pick up this movie with him. But it's no good. The concept of the movie is like in 'Step Brothers' with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly: There are two brothers who are raised by one parent and are totally awkward socially. In 'Step Brothers' you some decent jokes and you probably start to like the two brothers towards the end of the movie. But in 'Brothers Solomon,' the brothers just annoy the s**t out of me! Absolutely recommended - NOT!

My overall rating: 3/10. The jokes are too flat and the characters too dull and unbelievable.

IMDb: Brothers Solomon

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Movie Review: Easy Rider (1969)

The Summer of Love is so far away (time-wise). This movie enables me to get a sense of what living during the late 60s/early 70s might have been like. Besides all the appeal of free love and free drugs the movie also portrays the dark sides of being a hippie: Being an outcast of society, drug trafficking, bad trips and ultimately death.

About the movie: Two friends want to go from Los Angeles to New Orleans to see Mardi Gras. On their way they stop at some hippie places in rural areas. They do different drugs. Especially strong is the scene with an LSD-Trip on a graveyard with the two main characters and two hookers. The camera work is astonishing.

My overall rating: 8/10. While the movie probably won't keep you on the edge of your seat, I think that young  people (like me) can appreciate it for being a document of a time we'll never know in person.

IMDb: Easy Rider