DOCTOR STRANGE: Fantastic or Flawed? - A Short Discussion

 Hello there puny humans,
about a week ago my good friend B.A. and I had a short discussion about Marvel's latest: "Doctor Strange". While he (as a student of literary studies) was incredibly excited about this film and the way it was made, I thought that although being a very fun film, it had a few flaws that kept it from being great. I thought that our argument actually got quite interesting. So much so, that I didn't want to withhold it from my readers. It might help if you read his and my full review first, so if you have the time click on the hyperlink to check them out. Other than that it should be noted that this is the transcript of an early morning whatsapp conversation that was held between showering and getting to university, so these are our raw, spontaneous and unpolished thoughts (usually we sound much more intellectual). Oh, and of course this text his spoilerific, although it probably just doesn't make sense to you if you haven't seen the film. But without further ado, here it is:

Cinemartian: My Doctor Strange review is finally online. B.A., I hope you forgive me that I wasn't as enthusiastic as you were. :D

B.A.: I was just about to write you a message on that. ^^ To put it in the words of Nick Mason: "It's okay, but you're wrong, but it's fine, but you're wrong.

Cinemartian: I think I laid out my criticism pretty clear :D also I said that I did like it!

B.A.: In general I understand your Iron Man argument, but I feel that saying "the movie is like such-and-such" keeps you from looking closer. I mean you do touch on the fact that it is tonally different, but such an argument would have been a good opportunity to take a look at where exactly the differences are on a story level. And they certainly exist between Dr Strange and Tony Stark.

Cinemartian: Of course, but then these need to be emphasized more. Something that Star Wars: The Force Awakens did much better. And the darkness in Doctor Strange doesn't come back after the first third. Especially the end would have benefited from a bit more seriousness. There should have been a real struggle. Put him a hundred years in that time loop with Dormammu. Let him die a thousand deaths. Show the pain and the sacrifice he makes. Not a montage of funny deaths. I mean, you are totally right, that his hands are the perfect symbolism for the fact that he will never be able to control everything. It's a good message, but overall he seems very much in control of the situation during the showdown. It should have looked like a dauntless attempt and not like an elaborate plan where a positive outcome is anticipated from the get-go.
….. aaand I hate evil space clouds.

B.A.: But that is simply not what the story structure that Marvel uses is like. Four acts: Introduction, rising action, internal climax, external climax. The emotional climax takes place when Mordo confronts him with the fact that he only defends New York, because his own life was at stake, as well as in the conversation with Tilda Swinton. And Dormammu is an evil dimension cloud, if you please!  But I admit that on the spectrum of reactions to the film I might be above average positve. Although everybody I talked to loved it just as much. But those were all people from literary studies. :D

Cinemartian: I just didn't think the pay-off was big enough. Compared to the build-up.

B.A.: That's where the movie scores through the brilliant casting of Tilda Swinton.

Cinemartian: You mean because she is so good at making the same face all the time?

B.A.: Whoa, you don't wanna tell me that you didn't like Tilda Swinton?!

Cinemartian: Just kidding. I just wanted to poke the bear :D

B.A.: Oh youuuu!

Cinemartian: :D

B.A.: But I am not sure if I can agree with you concerning the pay-off. Because throughout the film Dormammu is constantly displayed as this timeless force that is technically unbeatable, unless you find a big weakness and are ready to utilize it. If Strange wouldn't have reached the point, and instead would have desperately looked for a solution, then he would have never gone to Dormammu, but instead would have had a desperate fight against the superior Kaecilius.

Cinemartian: That is theoretically what lies in that story. They just didn't really get it out of there. And since every evil space cloud has been defeated until now, I need a little more than „destroyer of worlds“ to frighten me. Ten years ago I might have liked the film better.

B.A.: Well, it's not like I am over-interpreting here. That is exactly what happens, and exactly what people love about that film. Strange wins, not because he fights desperately in the end and can take one punch more, but because he doesn't stop questioning things and therefore finds Dormammu's weakness. Brains over brawn. The only thing I can admit with a clear conscience is that the movie could have done a little more to show for how long he is stuck in that time loop.

Cinemartian: I get what you are saying. And since he is in a time loop, the physical pain disappears immediately. But the suffering I talked about earlier can also be psychological. To show how much time he spend in that loop would have definitely helped.... Instead of „Monty Python's Ministry of silly Deaths“.

B.A.: Haha. But I guess that's always the risk if you kind of change the traditional external climax, that you lose seriousness. That seemed to be the problem with Iron Man 3 for a lot of people. I guess this time we just are on opposite sides ;)

Well, there you go. I hope you enjoyed the insight into B.A.'s and my argument. In the end, we agreed to disagree. But what did you think of Doctor Strange? With whom do you agree? Or do you have a completely different opinion? Feel free to comment below, as well as to like and share this blog. Till then I wish you a marvelous week!

Your Cinemartian

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM - Movie Review

Title: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Running Time: 133 min
Director: David Yates
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Collin Farrel, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol

Review:
Harry Potter. Even if you've never seen any of the movies or read one of the books that name definitely rings a bell. It is a worldwide pop culture phenomenon and so many super fans claim to be the biggest admirer of the franchise. 2016 marks a special year for its devotees as (nine years after the latest book was published) a large scale stage play premiered in London continuing the story. Not only that, but its script was released as a bound book, and the movie "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" was set to kick off a brand new five film prequel series to expand the universe. And while "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" received rather mixed reviews, the jury is still out on this new franchise revolving around the potterverse's famous magizoologist: Newt Scamander.
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is a special new treat for Potterheads, but is also independent enough to be a fun family film for everyone who (somehow) doesn't know the franchise at all. This is probably due to the experience of the creative team. For one, there is David Yates who has spend his fair share in the Harry Potter universe, having directed half of the eight previous films. It is very apparent that Yates knows exactly how to stage, shoot and in general use its magical elements to great effect. He can put you in awe through a perfectly timed pan or wide shot, make you uneasy through fast tracking shots or make you laugh through a classic action/reaction interplay. Furthermore, Yates has always had a special attention to detail and his personal muse, J.K. Rowling (who directly wrote the screenplay this time), has always impressed through thorough world-building. There is a scene for example, where we find ourselves in an official government execution room, and just for a few seconds the camera pans upwards and reveals empty rows of seats on an upper level. Nothing is ever said about this, but it totally implies that it is common to  have spectators at an execution, which says a whole lot about the society in which the movie takes place. It's wonderful.
Rowling, who has always had a sweet spot for political subplots in her books, doesn't pass on the opportunity to do so in this screenplay as well. Although to some this might seem as unresolved or unrealized story-lines, I felt it gave the world a sense of realism and multidimensional nature. The creatress' direct and exclusive involvement in the film's script leaves no room for contradictions or inconsistencies (unlike the stage play) and thus, it fits seamlessly into the overall story. Luckily, she also refrains from making too many references to past films and keeps fan service to reasonable limits. As a result, this franchise very much manages to stand on its own.
There are only a few points where it comes noticeable that this is Rowlings first screenplay: On the one hand, there is the classic Joanne Kathleen cheese and she takes a bit too much time to wrap up her film all nice and happy (resulting in an almost "Return of the King"-Style amount of endings). On the other hand, there is the character of the muggle Kowalski, who is no more than a very obvious screenwriting device. He has absolutely no function to the film's story other than to ask questions and therefore force the other characters to give some exposition. Just when it seems he might actually become useful (and by doing so actually teach a great lesson about how wizard superiority is a delusional construct) he basically disappears for the showdown of the film.
The character benefits, however, from an extremely charming performance by Dan Fogler, who is so sympathetic that the untrained viewer might forget about his insignificance. But he is not the only actor who does a great job in the film. The whole cast does. Leading the way is Eddie Redmayne, who brings the perfect adorable quirkiness to Newt Scamander that has always been the unique forte of this British wizarding world. He especially shines when playing characters with a soft core, which the animal-lover Newt definitely has. And then there is Colin Farrel, who is absolutely fantastic as the grim looking wizard with ambiguous motives. Even though I was not too happy with his character development, I thought he absolutely nailed the part.
I could go on and on about the other actors, the creature designs, the different story arcs or about how it was one of the few movies where I thought the 3D actually enhanced the experience. But in the end, all you need to know is that "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is an enchanting,  charming and magical ride (all puns intended) that everyone can enjoy. A definite recommendation for newbies and a must-see for Potterheads!

For Fans Of: 
The Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
King Kong (2005)
Doctor Strange (2016)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

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DOCTOR STRANGE - Movie Review

Title: Doctor Strange
Running Time: 115 min
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Tilda Swinton

Review:
By now, there is no need to introduce the studio producing this film. Marvel is at it again, reaching deeper into their treasure chest of comic-book characters. This time, they pulled out the arrogant but highly skilled Stephen Strange, also known as the Sorcerer Supreme. He is played by none other than Benedict Cumberbatch, who in the past has played a variation of characters such as an arrogant but highly skilled private detective, an arrogant but highly skilled mathematician, an arrogant but highly skilled whistle-blower, and an arrogant but highly skilled space captain. Yes, you can see how he got the part and even though Joaquin Phoenix had previously been approached for the role, the film makers admitted they always had wanted Cumberbatch. With him on board, the studio is now determined to expand their universe by exploring its magical elements and introducing us to a whole new set of possibilities in order to set up the "Infinity War" story-line. Oh, and of course to establish their main character as someone you will want to follow even when Chris Evans' and Robert Downey Jr.'s contracts are long expired.
"Doctor Strange" is a fun new entry in the long list of Marvel films. Although some of its elements still suffer from feeling very familiar, it manages to bring a lot of new things to the table. Of course we are dealing with an origin story here and so, there is a bunch of standard plot points the movie hits: We start with the hero seemingly at the height of his powers, when an unexpected tragedy hits him, and the man who used to be so full of himself has to adjust to his new situation. During the movie he learns to be less cocky and finally after failing to completely beat the villain, he ultimately defeats him by overcoming his inner demons. It is the exact plot outline of the first "Thor" and "Iron Man" movies. Especially in the beginning however, "Doctor Strange" pulls off a much grimmer tone than its predecessors before it picks up the typical Marvel humor. Cumberbatch manages to own both, the dramatic and the humorous part and thus, makes the doctor a very compelling character.
Furthermore, the film impresses with its outstanding visual voice. The original comic was created in the early sixties. A time where LSD was not only legal but frequently used among artists, and it becomes apparent in this adaptation of the source material. In a good way. If you thought Inception was (literally) breaking ground with its concepts of twisting cities, this movie dares to top that. It is absolutely gorgeous, and when the film makers are done with twisting space, they turn to time and create one of the coolest looking showdowns in a superhero movie in a long while. It's a blast.
Mads Mikkelsen plays a sympathetic villain, and his interplay with Cumberbatch works really well as both actors bring the same level of gravitas to their roles. It wouldn't have hurt however to give his menacing yet charming Kaecilius a little bit more screen time. Another problem lies in the fact that he is "only" a henchman to the real big bad: An enormous, evil space cloud. This kind of villain has already failed to work in films like "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" and "The Green Lantern". In this movie, they kind of make it work and find a creative version to defeat the monster. Unfortunately they took a quick humorous approach, even though the concept had the potential to bring back the darker tones from the first third of the film and really let them pay off.
At the end of the day however, "Doctor Strange" is a slick new superhero movie that charms you with its awesome visuals and a few fresh ideas. It opens new doors for future films and makes the the upcoming "Infinity War" even more intriguing. Worth the movie ticket. Even with the extra 3D free.

For Fans Of: 
Thor (2011)
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Star Trek: Beyond (2016)
Batman Begins (2005)

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SWISS ARMY MAN - Movie Review

Title: Swiss Army Man
Running Time: 97 min
Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Starring: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Review:
To some people Daniel Radcliffe will forever and always be Harry Potter. A shame, really, because the young man has since evolved as an actor, giving excellent performances in a very diverse list of projects. Drama, Rom-Com, Horror, Thriller, Action-Adventure, Theater, Biopic, you name it. Radcliffe is more than a one-trick pony. And now the man who became famous for playing "the boy who lived" stars in an independent comedy-drama in the role of, well, "the boy who's dead." Yes, the movie at hand revolves around a stranded young man who is about to commit suicide, when he sees a corpse washed ashore. A corpse that does not only turn out out to be able to speak, but also proves useful as a multifunctional tool (there is for example his ability to be used as a vehicle powered by his postmortem flatulence). It is a ludicrous concept, and 'Robinson Crusoe meets a farting carcass' is a plot-summary that might not win everyone over.
"Swiss Army Man" is however a truly special and unique movie. In a good way. In a world where sequels, prequels and reboots are the norm, this film dares to be different. Daniel Radcliffe's Manny has no idea about what life is, and in beautiful irony the only person he has to teach him about it, is a man who was just about to kill himself before they met. The unlikely mentor is played by Paul Dano, who himself has quite an impressive résumé. His body of work reaches from "Little Miss Sunshine" to "There Will Be Blood" to "Looper" and he is especially excellent in giving his characters a very genuine vulnerability. As is the case with his portrayal of Hank, who is shaped by everything he was never allowed or never brave enough to do. Manny on the other hand looks at the world with adorable simplicity and questions conventions that we do not even really think about anymore. The friendship that develops between these two characters is based on a level of impartiality that seems much needed in today' society. While some critics have acused the love story that is woven into the plot of being plain, it is merely a gateway to access the character's deepest wishes, hopes and feelings. As they get more intimit with each other, they allow themselves to be childish, to be crazy and to be creative. And this is exactly what the film makers do as well.
The Daniels (as the directing duo calls itself) have created an endlessly imaginative film. As much as the dialogue sticks with you, it is their visual realisation of the themes and concepts of the film that make it stand out. The cinematography is gorgeous. Their shot compositions are inspiring and informative at the same time, and they often manage to convey feelings and thoughts simply through camera work. The score is no less interesting. Relying almost exclusively on atmospheric accapella sounds, it contributes an additional level of enchantment to a film that is already engaging. And even here, the directors don't miss out on making a joke, having the word 'montage' being sung in the song that plays (you guessed it) during a montage sequence.
As a whole piece, "Swiss Army Man" is an engaging celebration of life and the beauty it holds in the strangest places. Yes, there are sex and fart jokes, but they are the most philosophical fart jokes you will ever see. The film breaks conventions, and is therefore unpredictable until the last minute. It speaks especially to those who have seen themselves as misfits at some point or in some way in their life. To people who hold on to their inner child. In all its oddness, it is incredibly honest. And while some people say the concept is just too bizarre to get behind, I say: If people can get behind the fourth movie about space robots that can shapeshift into humans and toasters, and destroy entire cities that then miraculously appear unharmed in the sequel, then why the hell not this?
So if you were looking for something you haven't seen before, something that thinks outside of the box, something that is bubbling with imagination and refreshingly strange, then search no more: This is the film for you!

For Fans Of: 

Simple Simon [orig.: I rymden finns inga känslor] (2010)

Captain Fantastic (2016)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Weekend at Bernie's (1989)
Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Cast Away (2000)

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CAPTAIN FANTASTIC - Movie Review

Title: Captain Fantastic
Running Time: 118 min
Director: Matt Ross
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso, Nicholas Hamilton, Shree Crooks, Charlie Shotwell, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, Frank Langella

Review:

Viggo Mortensen could have been a glamorous Hollywood celebrity. When the then 41 year old Danish-American replaced Stuart Townsend last-minute in a little trilogy called "The Lord of the Rings" he showed the world what a fantastic actor he was and all of Tinseltown's doors suddenly stood open for him. It seemed however that Mortensen didn't want to become that kind of movie star as he continuously turned down big blockbuster roles. Since his last appearance as Aragorn in "Return of the King" the man has played the leadrole in only above a hand full of movies, all of which got very limited media attention, but had one thing in common: Viggo on the top of his game. So whenever the guy finally decides to flex his acting muscles once more, you are almost obliged to watch it, since you never know when you will get to experience his prowess again.
"Captain Fantastic" joins the ranks of Mortensen's outstanding works, but is enchanting enough that it satisfies even beyond his brilliant performance. It is the story of a man, Ben, that brings up his kids in the woods, shielding them from what he thinks is a reprobate society, teaching them to survive in the wild as well as to understand the complex nexus of the world through studying books of different humanists and philosophers. When his wife passes away and his father-in-law denies him attendance to the funeral, the whole family jumps into their rusty tour bus to go there anyway. However this of course constitutes the first time Ben's children come into contact with the "normal" world. Complication are bound to occur.
Accordingly to its premise the movie has a lot of that charmingly innocent kind of humor where characters encounter a world that is so different from their own. It is one of the reasons the first Thor movie worked so well for example, and it made me laugh out loud multiple times. Wrapped under the funny bits however is a critical look at our society that really gets you thinking. But unlike some more radical indie flicks, the film doesn't hit you over the head with its message. On the contrary, the strength of "Captain Fantastic" lies in the fact that it shines light on multiple sides of the story. Of course our main character is made to be sympathetic as we mainly follow his path, but more than once his worldviews are reasonably questioned by other characters in the film, and every now and then he even comes across as a little too full of himself, holding on to believes that seem somewhat irresponsible. The perfect world he thought he built is not perfect after all, but it isn't all bad either. The exploration of this realization makes the film an interesting character study and so this family's physical and psychological journey gives the film its more than solid framework. The performances are great across the board and at one point the child-actors play a rendition of a Guns'n'Roses song that keeps running on repeat on my soundsystem since I first heard it. Unsurprisingly though, Mortensen stands out with a lot of heart and genuineness. Finally the cinematography tops the movie off to a perfect cinematic experience as you will get beautiful nature shots as well as some accentuated visual comedy.
To people who are not into that kind of indie stuff or already sighed when reading the premise, this film might still come across as obnoxious. But if you are open for it and found the idea of the film even just a little intriguing then "Captain Fantastic" can take you on an engaging trip that will stick with you for days after watching it. Funny, clever, surprising, charming, thought-provoking and heartwarming: This movie gets a definite recommendation!
 
For Fans Of: 
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Into The Wild (2007)
Lost In Translation (2003)

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SUICIDE SQUAD - Movie Review

Title: Suicide Squad
Running Time: 123 min
Director: David Ayer
Starring: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Cara Delevingne, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Review:
Everyone was quite confused when Marvel Studios announced they would be making a movie about a superhero team including a talking racoon and a tree alien with Hodor-level vocabulary. But this group of misfits and D-list comicbook characters took audiences by storm from the first trailer all the way to the Box Office. Fox made its own risky move early this year by releasing Deadpool, which ended up proving that your protagonist could as well be a foul-mouthed, ruthless killer. Warner Brothers and DC were watching closely and have now answered with a combination of the two: "Suicide Squad" became one of the most anticipated movies of the year and spawned tons of cosplays and merchandise even before its release. Everyone seemed pumped to see Will Smith's charismatic portrayal of Deadshot, the beautiful Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, and of course Jared Leto's introduction of a brand-new version of the Clown Prince himself. All eyes were on the DCEU this summer. Audiences were expecting the extravagant fun ride that was promised in the trailer. Warner Bros hoped for an all around hit. Critics sought redemption for BvS. Should this be the film to please them all?
Unfortunately it is not. "Suicide Squad" leaves you with the same overall impression you seem to get from every cinematic DC property nowadays: Extremely cool idea, frustratingly sloppy execution. Yes, frustrating it is, because in its core there is actually a lot to love about "Suicide Squad". Will Smith is back in action and brings his trademark charm that has been missing on screen the last couple of years. In the second third of the film he has a scene where Deadshot is just on a roll, shooting folks left and right as if he never did anything else. It's pretty phat. Next to him is Margot Robbie, showing that she has not only a bombshell body, but also a crazy-fun persona that absolutely enchants you. Even Jai Courtney, who has been terrible in everything else he was in (but seems to have the best agent in the world as he keeps getting roles in big budget blockbusters), is absolutely hilarious as the weirdo from downunder. Generally unkown Jay Hernandez is surprisingly genuine, Joel Kinnaman definitively redeems himself for the RoboCop Remake and Cara Delevingne's first few transformations into the Enchantress look just god-damn cool. The costume and prop department do a fantastic job in making these comicbook characters come to live in a stylish and unique way (with few exceptions, but we'll get to that). And then especially Harley Quinn and Captain Boomerang have some pretty comedic moments that totally work. Furthermore, the soundtrack of the movie consists of some dope tunes from years past, but this is also the point where problems start to surface:

Too often do these songs feel shoehorned in so unsubtle that you can almost hear the filmmakers shouting at you: "Just look how cool and rebellious this is!" Then there are the character arcs which aren't really arcs for most of them but rather straight lines. Slipknot's is more like a dot, and Killer Croc doesn't bring much more to the table. He is basically just a walking prop that is just there for looking bad-ass. 

The way the film is put together is problematic as well. A series of flashbacks explains a lot of backstory, but they seem to be scattered through the film randomly. Sometimes we don't really know what that flashbak is supposed to tell us, sometimes we already know the things the flashback tells us. It's a little messy. And as so often with DC, the movie doesn't quite know what kind of story it wants to tell. On one hand it tries to be a movie about "the worst of the worst", on the other hand it tries to humanize them and make them "not-so-bad-after-all". It is a very apparent contradiction. And let's not forget there is a Harley Quinn & the Joker story in there as well. What you get to see of their relationship really envokes your curiosity but is too little to completely grab you. The same goes for the Joker himself. Jared Leto's performance is a unique one, and he creates something of his own instead of trying to replicate what Ledger and Nicholson have done. Whether you are on board with his interpretation is certainly a question of taste, but even if you enjoy his take on Gotham's Craziest there simply isn't enough to give you a fully realized picture of the character. If you can believe Jared Leto there were a whole lot more scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor. One could argue that this footage probably would have been very interesting to explore, but then again the movie is already convoluted enough.

And with all the fuzz and all these crazy characters, the film ends with a third act that couldn't be more generic. The Enchantress, who started as an intriguing character, turns into a cookie-cutter female version of the X-Men's boringly executed Apocalypse, striving for the most uninspired villainous goal of them all: world domination. She does so by using a gigantic blue beam to destruct/attak earth as previously seen in The Avengers, Man of Steel, Fant4stic, Avengers: Age of Ultron and so many more. By this time her outter appearance has already turned from a bad-ass creepy witch into an awkwardly dancing CGI disaster that would have blended in better with a schlock fest like "Gods of Egypt". Oh, and she brings her (even worse looking) brother along, who brings as much depth to the screen as the fake plastic baby from "American Sniper". The Squad however is able to defeat them with the power of friendship. It is really really lazy.

There was a hell of a lot of potential in "Suicide Squad" that sadly stays untapped. Still, you can find a good amount of fun in this film and you can not help but get excited for what they could do with the characters in the future. With all its flaws it stays a watchable blockbuster. Already there is talk about a director's cut that apparently fixes the problems. So if you are just seeking two-hours of simple entertainment then this film does the job. But (unlike people who piss Amanda Waller off) your mind will not be blown.

For Fans Of:
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
The Expandables 2 (2012)
The Losers (2010)
Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014) 
Man of Steel (2013) 

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

JASON BOURNE - Movie Review

 Title: Jason Bourne
Running Time: 123 min
Director: Paul Greengrass
Starring: Matt Damon, Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent Cassel, Julia Stiles & Riz Ahmed

Review:
The name was Bourne. Jason Bourne. And he sure was licensed to kill. Yes, in an era where James Bond had become a cartoonish goof-fest with ice castles and invisible cars, the Bourne franchise reinvigorated the spy genre with its gritty and realistic approach. Rough fights, believable technology and handheld camera work were the trademarks of this trilogy that many films soon started to copy (including the above mentioned 00-agent himself). Nevertheless, launching a somewhat spin-off story with Jeremy Renner's Aaron Cross in "The Bourne Legacy" didn't work out, and so Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass are back to tell yet another story about the ass-kicking amnestic agent.
"Jason Bourne" really tries to stick to the formula that made its predecessors so succesful, and yet still only feels like a light version of them. The direction of this film, of course, is top quality as usual and the action pieces are well realized too. The typical car chase for example is pretty damn awesome as our hero and his antagonist are really wrecking shit up (sources report 170 cars to have been destroyed for the filming of the sequence). Then, there is a particulary thrilling scene where a team of CIA agents move in on Bourne, which is as cleverly constructed as you would expect from the franchise. 
However, the movie fails to really sweep you off of your feet or get you as invested as the former films have gotten you. The problem probably lies in the way the characters are handled. 
Tommy Lee Jones plays a one-note "I-am-a-dick" CIA boss, which might suit his face, but is kind of generic. Alicia Vikander brings a few layers more to her ambitious and tough young agent, but while I still deem her one of the most beautiful and talented women in the world, she has acted much better in other films. The third new addition, Riz Ahmed, plays his character quite sympathetic. His past and motivations however are presented in a rushed exposition and are thus acceptable, but not accessible. His whole storyline seemed to have had more potential if the filmmakers had dug a little deeper. The same goes for Vincent Cassel's character's vendetta, which could have made for a very personal and heartfelt arc, that is never tapped on. 
And then of course, there is Jason Bourne himself. The thing that made his character so compelling in the past was that eventhough he was a precise and efficient killing machine there was an immense vulnerability and genuineness to him. Sometimes he was devastated, broken and confused. At other times determined and focussed. And then in some moments, there was even a smirkiness to him where (despite all his trouble) he seemed to enjoy his own cleverness and superiority. In contrast, this Bourne seems to be more bitter. So much so that you feel like you can almost count his number of lines on two hands. Unfortunately, the relationship with his father in this film seems to be coming out of nowhere and feels a little forced, failing to deliver the emotional weight the movie needs. One quiet but fantastic scene from "The Bourne Supremacy", where Jason confesses his crimes to the daughter of one of his victims, hits you in the heart harder than anything from the entirety of this latest installment. Further, there are some other minor issues, like Bourne coming to his spy tech in a little too convenient way, which showcase the slight slopiness in writing even more.
As a whole "Jason Bourne" gives you an entertaining two-hours that are fun to watch but not particulary memorable. Lacking an emotional core, the film does not manage to fill the big shoes it tries to wear. No need to see it in theatres, but you might want to catch it once its available on the streaming service of your choice.

For Fans Of:
The Bourne Legacy (2012)
Safe House (2012)
Quantum of Solace (2008)

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X-MEN: APOCALYPSE - Movie Review

 Title: X-Men: Apocalypse
Running Time: 147 min
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Sophie Turner, Nicholas Hoult, Oscar Isaac, Evan Peters, Rose Byrne, Olivia Munn, Alexandra Shipp, Tye Sheridan, Lucas Till, Kodi Smit-McPhee

Review:
So far, the X-Men movies have covered a big range in terms of quality. Certified critics put "X2" and "First Class" in the Top Ten of the best comic book films of all time, while "The Last Stand" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" are considered to be an embarrassment to the genre. Then recently, the (as of now) only losely connected Deadpool-movie knocked it out of the park and made wannabe-nerds across the globe pretend to be a hardcore fan of the character. So now, the latest installment of the franchise is waiting to be ranked in that diverse list of mutant-related stories.
"X-Men: Apocalypse" turns out to be no less than an action-heavy popcorn flick. But certainly not much more either. Despite being fun and visually pleasing, the movie unfortunately falls apart the more you think about it. It is almost frustrating to watch how the movie constantly presents promising elements, but continuously puts spokes in its own wheels. Every great sequence of the film is diminished by some screenwriting misstep.
Michael Fassbender for example has a scene in the first act of the film that (considering its very brief set-up) is incredibly, emotionally powerful. It showcases his fantastic acting chops and reminds you why Erik Lensherr is one of the greatest comic book characters ever created. It is however the peak of that storyline and Magneto spends the rest of the film standing or floating around with only few notable lines. Then there is Charles Xavier's relationship with Dr. Moira MacTaggert. There are a few jokes that work quite well in their first conversation and their past has a lot of potential for personal conflict. But here again, Moira very quickly becomes a character that is just kind of there and tags along with everyone else, as her much too obvious function of providing exposition is no longer needed. One fo the biggest problems however remains Quicksilver:
Admittedly, Evan Peters plays the character with a charm that no one else has brought to the franchise so far. Just as in "Days of Future Past", Director Bryan Singer blends this charisma with cleverly constructed and terrifically stylish action pieces that are truely fantastic. If they were stand-alone Quicksilver short-films, I would have nothing but praise for them, but in the context of the whole film these scenes pose a few major problems.
On the one hand, the funny and whitty tone stands in hard contrast to the drama that is presented right before or right after these scenes. Unexpected comedy can be refreshing, but not at points where tension is supposed to be held high. On the other hand, Fox has created such an omnipotent character in Quicksilver that he could actually solve almost every problem the X-Men have. He is a walking "Deus Ex Machina" and it becomes very apparent when the screenwriters try to deny this fact. In one particular scene during the showdown, Quicksilver goes one way and Nightcrawler another. When both encounter obstacles, it does not take a lot of thought to realize that they would simply have had to switch places in order to accomplish their missions with the greatest of ease. If your audience is (unintentionally) that much smarter than your characters, your script has a serious problem.
Lastly, the movie does take the term Apocalypse quite literally as most parts of the world get shred into pieces, and all of Kairo including its inhabitants is pulverized in an instant. But when the lifes that are lost are just countless, nameless, unknown masses of people, there is no time or motivation for the audience to get emotionally attached to the tragedy. We feel nothing, and so the stakes become virtually zero.
There is much more to say about the unfocused script (which also includes a Wolverine cameo that would have been much better off in a standalone film), and about how the franchise's messed up timeline confuses long time watchers almost more than new ones. What is most important to know however is that these issues are so ever-present while watching this film that even the special effects heavy mutant powers or the great new casting are unable to outweigh them. It is really too bad for the likes of Sophie Turner, Alexandra Shipp and Tye Sheridan, who have done an amazing job of replacing their well-known counterparts from the original cast.

For Fans Of:
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
The Wolverine (2013)

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR - Movie Review

 Title: Captain America: Civil War
Running Time: 146 min
Directors: Anthony Russo & John Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johannson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olson, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany,  Paul Rudd, Daniel Brühl, Martin Freeman & Tom Holland

Review:
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Marvel Studios is an absolute juggernaut when it comes to superhero films. With thirteen movies under its belt, nine more announced, and multiple well-received TV Shows, the MCU has surpassed "James Bond", "Harry Potter" and even "Star Wars" as the biggest and most profitable franchise of all time. Sony already threw in the towel, cancelled future projects and struck a deal for the Spider-Man rights. Since "Fant4stic" has crashed and burned, Fox clings to its X-Men franchise, that they constantly try to reinvigorate with new casts and timelines. And just recently, its biggest rival DC failed to fully connect with audiences in their attempt to rocket launch their own shared universe. So is Cap's third installment yet another Marvel movie that puts them ahead of their peers? Or will the Studio finally collapse under its own weight?
As former teen idol Britney Spears would put it: Ooops... they did it again! "Captain America: Civil War" doubles down on everything: Characters, action, emotions, stakes and of course plain awesomeness. The Russo brothers have crafted a film that other comic book movies strive but hardly ever manage to be (including some of Marvel's own outings). But where to begin? 
Firstly, there is the way the film is shot: Most of the action and the characters involved can actually be witnessed in the whole frame. In combination with longer takes, this makes the fights not only easier to follow, but also very realitsic and believable. This, of course, needs to be credited not only to the directors, but the amazing stunt team as well, who had quite a lot to do in this film. Yes, it is packed with astonishing and iconic action scenes, and everybody seems to trade blows with everyone at some point. With a variety of superpowered individuals in their toolbox, the film makers were able to get creative with the fighting styles and attack combination, which makes every action set stand out from the other. But action does not engage you if it is not structured around an emotional core, and this film provides quite a strong one. Every single character's motivation seems to be fleshed out enough so that the story could as well be told solely from their perspective. Thus, each action piece seems to serve a purpose for somebody and therefore fits very naturally in the flow of the story. Marvel's Long Game has paid off, and so instead of struggling to juggle with their characters, they can be reintroduced, or leave the scene with just one quick line of dialogue because they are so familiar with audiences. 
And then of course there is the introduction of Spider-Man to the MCU, which the film handels perfectly. There is no pompous backstory, just a casual visit by Tony Stark, which not only spares us of seeing the same stuff for the third time (eventhough they couldn't refrain from yet another clumsy rendition of "With great power comes great responsibility."), but also makes our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man really feel like the dorky kid from next door. Additionally, it really helps that Tom Holland simply nails the part, and delivers his cleverly written lines with just the right charisma.
In general, this film feels much more personal. External forces mereley give a little push to uncover the internally existing conflicts of our characters. There is no big bad, no world threat, and no army of aliens, robots or dark-elves threatening to destroy the world. In that sense, the movie is incredibly fresh. It gives the superhero film a little bit of groundedness and unpredictability back. And while there was somewhat of a plot twist which I had called very early on in the film, the rest of the viewers seemed to have not. (I just got 'lucky' I guess.)
So with its groundbreaking action pieces, its fleshed out characters and its engaging story line, "Captain America: Civil War" is a truely great superhero movie. Hitting some much darker notes than its predecessors without losing the light-hearted moments we all know and love, it does not only prove that the MCU hasn't overstayed its welcome yet, but makes you excited for all the projects to come.

For Fans Of:
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
The Avengers (2012)
X: First Class (2011)
The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

ACADEMY AWARDS 2016 - Oscar Review

Hello there puny humans,
the most glamorous night in Hollywood took place on sunday and of course I couldn't help but write-up my thoughts on the event. This year I got 16 of the 24 categories right, so I was quite happy, but of course the night wasn't without a few surprises. But let's begin:


What I liked

Alicia Vikander for the win:

Everyone who has watched the nominated performances must not have been surprised that this swedish enchantress took home the gold. But still, it was pleasant to actually see her receive the statue. My personal crush on her aside, she seems to be as talented as she is beautiful and has made an amazing Hollywood debut last year:

Next to her award-winning performance in The Danish Girl, she also starred in cult-director Guy Ritchie's fun spy flick The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and the fellow Oscar-winning picture Ex Machina. The fact that she could easily have been nominated for her performance in the latter film as well, shows that she is more than a one-hit-wonder, and hopefully this win will give her the opportunity to show even more of her acting prowess.

Awards for Room and Ex Machina:

The two films above showed, that less than a handful of characters interacting in a small space are enough to be just as compelling as big ensemble casts, pompous set pieces or scandalous "based on a true story" scripts. Eventhough both movies weren't able to turn their nominated screenplays into winners, each film managed to suceed in another category. Brie Larson was a revelation in Room and her performance was deservingly honored by an Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role". While I am not a hundred per cent on board with Ex Machina's win (see further below), I am still happy that one of my favourite films of last year can now call itself an Academy Award-winner. In general it is great to see when indie movies get that kind of recognition. To me, they are as much part of what makes cinema great as major studio pictures. 

Nothing for The Martian:

This one sounds a little mean (and I guess a Sound Mixing Award would still have been okay), but when I read that The Martian had a total of 7 nominatons, I was scratching my head. Don't get me wrong, I had a lot of fun with this film, but never had I had the feeling that it was as outstanding as the Academy seemed to believe it to be. I love Science-Fiction, as well as a good survival story, but The Martian was less captivating than many other films of that type this year. I've always felt it was overhyped, so now I feel that it is quite alright that the film has "only" the nominations to show off.

No awkward presenters:

Technically, this shouldn't be something you'd have to point out. In the past however there have been more than a few presenters that missed their mark, resulting in an unsettling silence from the audience's side. Some of them were even cringeworthy (especially when Mr Glom Gazingo was involved), and so it was nice to be spared from these moments. In fact, there was a lot of good stuff: Tina Fey and Steve Carell were pretty funny, just as Russel Crowe and Ryan Gosling (making me even more excited for their collaboration in The Nice Guys). Abraham Attah and Jacob Tremblay were super cute, and Louis CK's take on short documentary filmmakers as well as Andy Serkis' jab at Donald Trump were absolutely hilarious.

What I loved:

Chris Rock's opening monologue:

It must not have been easy to prepare the opening of the 88th Academy Awards. Especially as an afro-american host in a show that was criticized for only nominating white candidates. Musician/Actor Tyrese Gibson even asked Rock to step down from the gig, claiming there was "no joke he can crack" that will properly adress the problem. Chris Rock however proved him wrong by delivering one of the best and most relevant opening mologues of the past decade. Welcoming the audience to the "White People's Choice Awards" and immediately giving out a huge blow to the boycotting Jada Pinkett-Smith, he quickly came to the root of the problem: It's not the Oscars, it's Hollywood. His take on the issue hit the nail on its head, and not only did he find the perfect balance, but also managed to address other issues like women's rights as well. In my opinion, this dead on handling of the controversy was surprisingly powerful.

Mad Max is the big winner of the night:
This was great!  It felt like suddenly the world finally realized that an action movie can be as much a piece of art as a heavy drama. Mad Max: Fury Road is one of these rare films that could overwhelm the majority of critics and mainstream audiences alike. To me it was an extravagant spectacle that has yet to find its equal. That a specific genre film like this one is able to take a quater of all the awards given out that night is simply awesome. What a lovely day!

Leo finally did it:
Naturally, I have to adress the elephant in the room: Leonardo DiCaprio finally (!) won an Oscar. And it was about god damn time. There is no doubt that by now, he has established himself as one of the most talented actors of this century, but the 41 year-old actor has already been giving Oscar-worthy performances 23 years ago. His body of work is astonishing and he has collaborated with most of the big directors in Hollywood. Spielberg, Nolan, Scott, Tarantino, Luhrmann, Eastwood, Cameron, Inárritu and of course Martin Scorsese, who seems to have found a personal muse in DiCaprio. In his acceptance speech he even sweetly thanked the 73 year-old director for everything he taught him. But this cute moment wasn't what made his acceptance speech so great: Actually he used his time to smoothly spread awareness for the ongoing climate change. "Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted." Leo, you are amazing. We adore watching you work, and we do not take YOU for granted! Thank you.

What I found odd:

Restricting the host's time ...again:

People who've been watching the Oscars for a few years now, might have realized big differences in the amount of comedic numbers by the host. In 2012 for example, Billy Crystal opened wit a long video montage, followed by a monologue, followed by a 8 minute musical performance. Each year since then however, the producers have been trying to shorten the event, but mostly taken away from the host's time. Quite frankly, I find this decision kind of dumb, because that should be the funniest part. You could already see it last year, when everyone said Neil Patrick Harris only had a few good moments, but if you recap the show one will realize that he had only a few moments in general. And if you look at the numbers, Billy Crystal's show was even the shortest of the past 5 years. In my opinion, appearances of politicians or the presented clips of the Best Picture Nominees could much rather be cut. Otherwise they could just hold the ceremony the way it was held in 1929... it lasted 15 minutes.

Visual Effects Award for Ex Machina:
As I said before, I loved this movie, but with special effects juggernauts Star Wars and Mad Max in the same category I just couldn't understand how Ex Machina's effects were supposed to be superior. The design of the artificial intelligence Ava was beautiful, but The Force Awakens was offering droids like BB-8, cool new lightsabers, spaceship battles and Star-destroying weapon-planets. Additionally, visual effects are not limited to computer effects (in fact using computer effects was considered "cheating" in 1982). George Miller used tons of practical effects and stuntwork. Everything you think could be real, was real. Including massive explosions, car backflips and people on giant sticks being lifted from a car onto a truck. The only thing CG was the massive sandstorm sequence, of which each frame could have been sold as a painting. When watching Ex Machina on the other hand, I felt that a few of the effects could even have been rendered a little better. Thus, I really have no idea what the Academy was thinking here...

Mark Rylance as the supposed Best Supporting actor:

When Patricia Arquette read the name "Mark ..." I was just about to start cheering, because I had really rooted for Mark Ruffalo. My excitement was especially great, because I was sure he would lose to Sylvester Stallone (I even bet against him). So when Arquette continued with "Rylance", I was pretty confused. Mark Rylance is a fantastic actor and his subtle performance in Bridge of Spies was perfect for the film. However, he did not show a lot of range in that film, and basically (because the character demanded it) stayed in one mood the entire time. Critics called Stallone's latest take on Rocky the best performance of his career, and Ruffalo poured his heart out with power in the finale of Spotlight. Even Christian Bale showed us a completely new side of him in the biographical comedy drama The Big Short.

What I hated:

Sam Smith winning for Writings On The Wall:
Okay, now this was just horrible. Sam Smith's composition was one of the most unfitting and dull Bond Songs we've ever had. In Interviews he had proudly stated that he wrote it in 20 minutes, and I thought it showed. The lyrics were shallow, the melody was cheesy and yet the ballad was missing a catchy part. Compared to Adele's intense but classy Skyfall, Smith's Writings On The Wall sounds like the practice session of an eight year-old choir boy. Lady Gaga's nominated Till It Happens To You, a captivating song about the consequences of sexual abuse, is as relevant as it is powerful and her touching live performance with a large number of actual rape victims earned a standing ovation that was more than deserved. It was the real winner! I have no idea how the Academy could hand out the statue to such an inferior piece of music.
But if that wasn't enough, Sam Smith put a rotten cherry on top of that melted pile of ice-cream by falsely claiming he was the first openly gay artist to win an Academy Award. It is more than great to dedicate your award to the LGTB comunity, but he recklessly overlooked seven openly gay Oscar winners that came before him, including Sir Elton John and John Gielgud who won 11 years before little Samy was even born. Such a lack of knowledge about the very community you dedicate your Award to is pretty embarassing, and retroactively blaming Ian McKellen for your misinformation is just sad.

Quick Side Notes and Thoughts:

Chivo is crazy good

This year was the third time in a row that Emmanuel Lubezki (aka. Chivo) took home the gold for Best Cinematography. The mexican cameraman (who's holding a total of six ASC Awards) is not only a master of the long-take, but also manages to get camera angles and perspectives that leave you in awe. Aside from his technical achievements, his distinctive ability to make you dive right into the film, adds so much to the movie going experience. Thus, you might want to look out for his name rather than the actors' or directors', to determine wether you would want to buy your ticket or not.

Rooney Mara as "supporting" actress

This year once again this weird thing happened where a leading actress was nominated as a supporting character. Apparently there is no rules to this in the Academy's nomination system, but to me it always feels like diminishing an actor's effort when he or she plays the major part of a film. And albeit not being the titular character, Rooney Mara definitely was the main character. I don't know if there really is a solution to this, or if a solution is even necessary, but it still startles me every time.

Domhnall Gleeson - remember the name

If you have managed to catch every movie nominated for a major award this year, a certain face might have popped up more than once. The young man you might have only recognized as Bill Weasley from the final Harry Potter installment is Domhnall Gleeson*. As it happens, all of the films the Irish actor starred in this year managed to be nominated for an Oscar. And he managed to show some range in them too: He was a determined Captain in The Revenant, a suave countryboy in Brooklyn, a flat out evil General in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and a relatable, everyday-guy-type computer-programmer in Ex Machina (see picture from left to right). All of these amazing films are completely different and their only common denominator is a top-notch performance by Gleeson. He seems to have a knack for great and interesting projects (did you know he had also been in the Oscar nominated Unbroken, Anna Karenina, True Grit and the cult-comicbook-film Dredd?), and so people should pay close attention to whatever he will pick next. This guy is going places.

The Best Picture paradox

This is merely an observation: Before the final award of the night was given out, Mad Max: Fury Road had already received six trophies, The Revenant three trophies and Spotlight only one. The name of this very category suggests that the winner should be a film, that suceeded in all aspects. However, Spotlight had lost most big categories (except Best Screenplay) to the two films mentioned above and was still named Best Picture. The same happened in 2014 when 12 Years a Slave won the prestigeous award over Gravity, a film that took home a total seven statues including Best Director that night. The Best Picture Winner Argo wasn't even nominated for Best Director in 2013. As a matter of fact, all of these three winners had only won Best Adapted Screenplay and maybe one other award before. It seems like the Academy likes to give the Best Picture Oscar to movies that have the most relevant or important content, but couldn't win big in the artistic or technical categories.

Ennio Morricone, the DiCaprio of Composers

Everyone was talking about Leo, but nobody paid attention to another life-long Oscar snub: The Italian composer Ennio Morricone has been working in the movie business for more than 50 years, wrote scores for some of the most iconic films ever made (including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The Untouchables and Inglorious Basterds), had been peviouly nominated five times and was named as a big influence by musicians from Muse over Metallica to Hans Zimmer. Eventhough he received an Honorary Academy Award for his life's work, he had still been missing out on the real deal until Sunday night. That no one even mentioned his name in the DiCaprio discussion just shows once again how much more actors are focused on, when it comes to the moviebusiness.

So these are my thought on the 88th Academy Awards. Comparably, it was actually a really good show (I'm still a big fan of McFarlane's hosting though) that despite the preceeding controversy, managed to adress the issue and still be fun. What are your thoughts on the night? What did you hate, love or find odd? Feel free to leave your comments below. And let's see what next years Oscar season will bring.

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian

*fun fact: Domhnall is the son of actor Brendan Gleeson, who portrayed "Mad-Eye" Moody in the Harry Potter films.

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2015

 Hello there puny humans,
yet another year has passed and it is time to look back at the incredible cinematic year that was 2015. As always, this top ten list is based on German release dates, which are slightly shifted from the initial dates. As a result, films like Taratino's The Hateful Eight and Inarritu's The Revenant weren't able to make it here, but films like Whiplash still could. Furthermore, it is important to note, that I am still a human being and it is not possible for me to watch every movie ever (especially in a year where I conducted my bachelor thesis, and planned a 4 month stay in India), so I've missed some little jems like Straight Outta Compton, Sicario and Creed. When putting together this list, I was suprised by myself that eventhough a lot of releases this year were big blockbusters of a franchise (Marvel, Star Wars, Hunger Games, Bond, Mission Impossible, etc.) most of the films on this list are not. It was not easy, but to me, a fresh and original idea can compensate minor flaws in execution. Ultimately it came down to the question of: "Which film would I watch again right now?". Now without further ado, I present to you my (maybe a little suprising) personal top ten films of 2015:

10. INSIDE OUT
Opening this list is Pixar's newest hit. While the animation studio has always produced great movies, Inside Out is something very special. Not only charming, funny, and cute, but also with a nice message that even some adults can still learn from, it is a wonderful family film. As a psychology student, I could also appreciate that some scientific theories were woven into the film (for example the headquater team resembling five of Ekman's six basic emotions). If the cleverness wasn't enough, the passionate voicework of the cast makes this film very sympathic as well. Joy is the role Amy Poehler was born to voice. Overall, this movie is a heartwarming, fun time and a film I will definitively watch with my future kids. 

9. KRAMPUS

Yes, this horror comedy beat out a couple of big blockbusters for me this year. Why? Because this film's got style. The creature design of Krampus alone makes this movie totally rewatchable. The film is bubbling over with cool new ideas and yet the use of practical effects over CGI gives this movie a nice old-school vibe. Throw in a great score by Douglas Pipes and I am sold. And then of course, I have a sweet spot for fun creature features a la Gremlins. Sure, there was room for improvment, but Krampus still felt incredibly fresh. It made me laugh AND gave me the chills. No jump scares needed. And technically it also has a nice message, that it just puts forward aggressively. Some people might not be able to get on board with the idea of an Anti-Santa, but I totally loved this film. And as I already said in my initial review: The ending felt perfect. 

8. THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Once more, Guy Ritchie reminded me why he is one of my favorite filmmakers. If you want witty dialogue, an ensemble cast, gangsters, crime and bad boys with guns, you either go to him or Tarantino. But while the latter will give you a haunted house version, Ritchie's is kind of a bouncy castle: Flashy, colorful, a little goofy, but over all tons of fun. The cast is not only beautiful but has great chemistry as well. Henry Cavill is more suave than he ever was and Armie Hammer makes clear that he is very much underrated. Together they have such entertaining and charming quips, that some critics interpreted it as a secret romantic relationship between the characters. But also Alicia Vikander (who has decided to make her Hollywood debut in not one, but three movies this year) manages to hold her own against these two using her naturally given combination of sexy and cute. Other than that, the film offers the typical stylistic direction, music and weird humor of Guy Ritchy, resulting in sequences that sometimes are a little bonkers. But in a good way. Despite strong competition, this was the slickest spy movie of the year to me.

7. EX MACHINA
Being mostly overlooked before its release, Ex Machina quickly gained a lot of praise by fans of the science-fiction genre. Rather focussing on characters and dialogue, this film is more of an intellectual thriller than a big action spectacle. The limitations in actors and settings give it a claustrophobic vibe and suck you right into the film. As such an (almost philosophical) take on artificial intelligence should, it poses a lot of questions about our own existence as well. Since its release last summer, I've re-watched it multiple times, because it is one of those movies you want to show to your friends so that you can talk with them about it. Additionally, it stars three of the best upcoming talents at the moment, who bring in the acting prowess to prove it. Domnhall Gleeson nails the role of the every-day guy the audience can relate to, and while Alicia Vikanda's graceful depiction of the robot Ava is superb, it is Oscar Isaacs endlessly charismatic performance of the douchy, alcoholic genius, Nathan, that totally steals the show. Most definitely worth your time. 

6. JOHN WICK
„People keep asking me if I'm back. Yeah, I'm thinking I'm back!“ Hardly ever has Keanu Reeves spoken truer words. After a long break from acting and only two mediocre films, he redeemed himself with a bang. Or rather multiple bangs, because John Wick is a gun-wielding menace with no intention of saving ammunition. Admittedly, there have been more than plenty tales of a one-man army driven by revenge, but John Wick gives this concept two little twists that make it stand out. On the one hand, he is neither avenging his wife nor his daughter, but a cute little puppy called "Daisy", which might be a first in the action genre. On the other hand, this movie builds a hilariously strange underground world where being a hitman seems to be the most casual thing ever. All of that is topped with a perfect match of excellent stunt- and camera work. Needless to say, John Wick is one hell of a ride! Click here to read my full review. 

5. AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

Putting the top five in an order was a really tough task, and I didn't expect that the number one spot of my most anticipated films of 2015 only got fifth place. But don't be fooled, I was completely ecstatic after leaving the theatre! Avengers: Age of Ultron perfectly captures what it is like to read a Marvel comic: All your favourite heroes (and more) coming together, big huge action pieces, tons of quips, grand visual effects and camera work that strongly resembles the panels of a comic-book. This film is like an unstoppable juggernaut that at the same time manages the balancing act of standing on its own and setting up multiple sequels. Yes it moves fast, maybe too fast for some, and there is a lot going on, but as a Marvel fanboy I enjoyed the heck out of it. This film is stuffed with "Hell yeah!" moments and the 'Hulk vs Hulkbuster' fight alone had me cheering in excitement. My inner 8 year-old has hardly ever been so satisfied.
 
4. WHIPLASH

Who knew a film about jazz music could be this haunting? Whiplash is an absolutely fantastic film that brilliantly depicts the interesting relationship between a student and his mentor. Both characters are pretty messed up on their own, but it is their interaction that constantly puts you on the edge of your seat. Outstanding performances, absolutely quotable dialogue and then of course the way music is woven into all this. The ambiguos ending still comes to my mind sometimes and it is a film that thrilled me through and through. To me the final jazz concert of this film had higher stakes than Matt Damon's rescue in this year's The Martian. My review had nothing but praise for the film, and months later I still stand by that statement: Whiplash is intense from start to finish!

3. STAR WARS - EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS

The force is not only awake, it went out for an early morning run. Yes, Star Wars is back! How great is that? As the release date came closer, the whole planet seemed to get more and more pumped. When I sat in the theatre for the midnight premiere and the opening crawl appeared, I already said to myself "Holy shit, this is awesome, I am watching a new Star Wars movie!", and then the rest on the film didn't allow me to calm down either. The Force Awakens is a fantastic new entry for this absolute popculture phenomenon. While the film is very reminissent of the original trilogy, there are enough of new elements to the saga to get me incredibly excited for what's coming next. The new characters are anything but uninteresting, and Daisy Ridley, John Boyga, Adam Driver and (once again) Oscar Isaac give splendid performances. Even Harrison Ford seemed to be enjoying himself. Episode VII had everything I wanted from a new Star Wars movie: Action, nostalgia, mystery, lightsaber duels, space battles, a little philosophy and a constant sense of wonder. The legend continues, and easily takes my number three spot.

2. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

While some spots on this list were changed around during the writing process, my top two choices were undisputed. Landing on second place for my favorite movies of last year, is a film that completely took me by storm. Mad Max: Fury Road is exactly what the title suggests: A crazy, furious ride. So much so, that it let's the other well-known car driven franchise with a 'furious' title look like an elementary school play. Basically the whole movie is one giant car chase that hardly gives you any time to take a breath. George Miller has unleashed all his creativity it seems, resulting in a bizarre and wicked world that is unparalleled. It gives us wonderfully strange characters, and eventhough the title reads 'Mad Max', Charlize Theron's Furiosa is the secret star of the film. Furthermore, the stuntwork in this movie is out of this world. You won't believe it, but everything that seems like it could have been done with practical effects, was done so. It looks real, because it is real. Every single frame of this movie could be sold as painting. It is a visual masterpiece. A true action extravaganza through and through. I can say nothing more than: "Oh, what a film! What a lovely film!"

... 

1. BIRDMAN 
OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

"People, they love blood. They love action. Not this talky, depressing, philosophical bullshit."
Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Birdman gets, without a doubt, the number one spot on this list. I fell in love with this movie on an artistic as well as on a personal level. It is so multilayered that I had the feeling no review (including my own) really captured what the film was like. On the one hand, it is a film about showbusiness itself. Cheeky but respectfully addressing the merits and flaws of big action blockbusters as well as intellectual, "sophisticated" art, it concedes both of them to a right to exist. On the other hand it is also a story about people, about their hopes, dreams, fears, disappointments, and views of where they belong in this world, but more importantly about the fact that everyone of us, no matter how we appear on the outside, has his own hidden baggage to carry around. I personally saw a lot of myself in Riggan Thomson and found my own thoughts in his dialogue including a little nagging Birdman on my shoulder. Additionally, the movie resonated with me emotionally, because of its theater/backstage setting. As someone who has acted in plays as well (though on a much tinier scale), I could totally dig the atmosphere connected to such a place and event. Of course I would be a fool not to mention the artistic value of the film. The actors are on the top of their game across-the-board, and the impressive choice to compress the whole movie (including multiple time jumps) into one single take does not only showcase Emmanuel Lubezki's camera skills, but also makes the viewer an additional character in the film. With tons of great sequences, that leave room for interpretation, a few seemingly supernatural elements thrown in and an ending that gets discussions going, you can find new things in Birdman with every view. To me, it is not only my favorite film of 2015, but also one of my favourite films of all time.

So these are my Top 10 films of 2015. Do you agree? Disagree? Are you wondering why I didn't put The Martian on here? (an extra article on that might come in the future). Feel free to share your opinion by commenting below. Other than that I just hope you are excited for 2016, because just as last year, there are a bunch of big and interesting films to come out: Captain America: Civil War, Batman V. Superman, Star Wars: Rogue One, Deadpool, Fantastic Beasts, The Nice Guys and many more... Let's see which movies make it on next year's list!

Sincerely,

Your Cinemartian