Longform reviews of films, TV, anime, books, and audiobooks, written by the scrobble.life community and published to the Hive blockchain, so each one is owned by its author and can earn rewards from readers. 60,108 reviews and counting.
It's so easy to access movies these days because of the Internet. From the comfort of your home you can access hundreds of movies from almost anytime in history. And this ease has existed for many years now, so you know what that means?
That means a lot of us have watched almost everything out there that might interest us! We have searched by genre, by director, by actor, by IMDB top movies, etc. Some of us born in the 1990s and 2000s have even gone back to search for movies from the 80s and further back.
And we have watched about everything we can think of that we might like and these days getting excited about something to watch doesn't happen very often, instead we are mostly waiting for the next releases that movie companies have slated for months and years that would take too long to come.
That's kinda how it has been for me so anytime I come across something new that excites me the feeling is always quite overpowering. Lol. And I've just come across something now!
We all must've read or watched stories about the French Musketeers. What I've watched about them was from very long ago so I don't recall how many or some good details I can use in differentiating them. But I know they were all good and that it is always entertaining to watch something from the lore, with names like d'Artaganan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis.
I'm also a big fan of movies set in the medieval times with guys speaking the old British accent, riding around with swords and horses talking about honour and duels and that kind of thing. Always entertaining. That's why GOT is my favourite film of all time!
Bumping into this The Musketeers today has really got my juices flowing 😅.
One of the major things I look out for is how well choreographed the fight of such movies are, and this one is adequate, it doesn't reek of no B-movie stuff. The acting is great too, the actors don't seem unworthy of attention. The setting and storyline has been convincing so far.
And they have 3 whole seasons for me to watch!!
Looks like I'm really in for a treat!
There's a little fear, though, a lot of movies do so well in the Season 1 and when you watch the subsequent seasons you just find out it is garbage that was made to just take advantage of how well the first season did. I hope this wouldn't be one of such cases. In the meantime let me enjoy this Season 1 thoroughly 😅. You can join me if you want 🌚.
Has any of you watched all the seasons, though? (Although I feel like this is a less watched series because I've never heard about it before today) Are the subsequent seasons worth it too or does the fun end in season 1? It would be nice to know so I can start planning the next stuff I'll watch early enough 😅.
The End
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Hello everyone, fans of good stories, great Hive community, I hope you're having a great time today friends, today I want to talk a little about the movie: "We Live in Time", seriously, make some space, get the tissues (one or two), and get ready because.. I went in knowing more or less what it was about – romance, drama, Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield, the usual – but honestly, I wasn't ready for the emotional wreck that hit me, let's see, first of all: Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.. what good actors! We already knew they're incredible, I mean, easily some of the best actors of our generation.. Remember Andrew in Tick, Tick... Boom!? That energy, that vulnerability.. Or Florence in... whatever! Little Women, Midsommar, the thing is that the woman is so great in her roles, she feels so real... she has that gift of being completely natural, as if you were watching a real person, it's only natural that she received an Oscar nomination! And Andrew, he has that charm, but he can destroy you with a look, he has that depth, but also that tender side.
And putting them together? I liked it, the chemistry they have... it's on another level, it's not just "oh, how cute they look" chemistry, it's that deep connection, where you believe it, where you feel every inside joke, every glance, every fight. The truth is, and I'm serious, the film relies heavily on them... they grab a story that, with other less capable actors, could have easily been... I don't know, super cheesy, or one of those dramas that makes you cry by force and that's it, somewhat cliché. But they elevate it, they make it into something special... they transmit such... such strong emotions, so deep inside, sometimes without saying a word... you just feel it, and sometimes you wonder why some actors are famous, right? But with these two... you know... the talent is obvious and they carry the whole weight of the film. Without them, I think this would have been a forgettable drama, just another one of the bunch.
Hola a todos, fanáticos de las buenas historias, gran comunidad de Hive, espero que sgdn genial hoy amigos, en el día de hoy les quiero hablar un poco de la película: "We Live in Time", en serio, háganse un espacio, busquen los pañuelos (uno o dos), y prepárense porque.. yo entré sabiendo más o menos de qué iba – romance, drama, Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield, lo típico – pero la verdad, no estaba listo para la revolcada emocional que me pegó, a ver, primero que nada: Florence Pugh y Andrew Garfield.. qué buenos actores! Ya sabíamos que son increíbles, o sea, fácil de los mejores actores de nuestra generación.. ¿Se acuerdan de Andrew en Tick, Tick... Boom!? Esa energía, esa vulnerabilidad.. O Florence en... en lo que sea! Mujercitas, Midsommar, es que la tipa lo hace genial en los papeles, se siente súper real.. tiene ese don de ser completamente natural, como si estuvieras viendo a alguien de verdad, es normal que recibiera una nominación al Oscar! Y Andrew, tiene ese encanto, pero te puede destrozar con una mirada, tiene esa profundidad, pero también ese lado tierno. ¿Y ponerlos juntos?
Me gustó, la química que tienen.. de otro nivel, no es solo química de "ay, qué lindos se ven", es esa conexión profunda, que te la crees, donde sientes cada chiste interno, cada mirada, cada pelea. La verdad, y se los digo en serio, la película se apoya muchísimo en ellos.. agarran una historia que, con otros actores menos capaces, fácil pudo ser... no sé, súper cursi, o un dramón de esos que te hacen llorar a la fuerza y ya, algo cliché. Pero ellos la elevan, la convierten en algo especial.. te transmiten unas emociones tan... tan fuertes, tan de adentro, a veces sin decir ni pío.. simplemente lo sientes, y es que a veces uno se pregunta por qué algunos actores son famosos, ¿verdad? Pero con estos dos... se sabe.. el talento es obvio y cargan con todo el peso de la peli, sin ellos, yo creo que esto hubiera sido un dramón olvidable, uno más del montón.
Okay, now, let’s talk about how the story is told… and here, honestly, is where I think people are going to be most divided. Look, the movie doesn’t tell you the relationship like that, from beginning to end, in order… no, it jumps around in time, suddenly you see moments from the beginning, then from the middle, then almost from the end… all jumbled up, as if there was no clear order, you know? At one point they’re just getting to know each other, in a kind of funny and unexpected situation – she’s a chef, opening her restaurant; he’s just getting out of a divorce… and let’s just say how they meet, you remember… and immediately, boom!, they jump ahead to years later, dealing with a super heavy issue, and out of nowhere, bam!, you go back to a happy moment from the beginning… I think the idea, the intention, is to imitate how we remember things, right? Because you don't remember your life like that, straight, you remember pieces, key moments, things that hit you hard, and often everything is out of order... like you're putting together a puzzle, and the original title, "We Live in Time," fits right in: how we live in those little pieces of time, how the past marks our present and future... the title in Spanish, "Vivir el momento," also has its vibe, right?
It tells you to appreciate what you have right now. And does this work? That's the big question... for me... there were times when it happened to me that just when I was really immersed in a scene, feeling the full weight, boom!, they would jump me to another part. Sometimes I felt like it kind of took me out of the experience, it didn't let me fully immerse myself in moments that were super important... because since I'd already seen a little piece of the future, well, I more or less knew where things were going. For example, maybe an intense fight loses steam because you saw them afterward, as if nothing had happened, happy... some key things felt like... very fast, like they didn't let you experience how it came to that step by step.
Okay, ahora, hablemos de cómo está contada la historia... y aquí, la verdad, es donde creo que la gente se va a dividir más, miren, la peli no te cuenta la relación así, del principio al fin, en orden.. no, va saltando en el tiempo, de repente ves momentos del inicio, luego del medio, luego casi del final... todo revuelto, como si no tuviera un orden claro, ¿entienden? En un momento se están recién conociendo, en una situación medio chistosa e inesperada – ella es chef, abriendo su restaurante; él viene saliendo de un divorcio... y digamos que cómo se conocen, te acuerdas... y al toque, ¡pum!, te saltan años después, lidiando con un tema súper fuerte, y de la nada, ¡zas!, vuelves a un momento feliz del inicio.. creo que la idea, la intención, es imitar cómo recordamos las cosas, ¿no?
Porque uno no recuerda su vida así, derechito, uno recuerda pedazos, momentos clave, cosas que te pegaron fuerte, y muchas veces todo desordenado.. como que vas armando el rompecabezas, y el título original, "We Live in Time", que sería como "Vivimos en el Tiempo", le pega justo a eso: cómo vivimos en esos pedacitos de tiempo, cómo el pasado te marca el presente y el futuro.. el título en español, "Vivir el momento", también tiene su onda, ¿no? Te dice que aprecies lo que tienes ahorita. ¿Y funciona esto? esa es la gran pregunta.. para mí... hubo ratos en que me pasó que justo cuando estaba metidísimo en una escena, sintiendo todo el peso, ¡pum!, me saltaban a otro lado, a veces sentí que eso como que me sacaba un poco de la experiencia, no me dejaba meterme de lleno en momentos que eran súper importantes... porque como ya había visto un pedacito del futuro, pues ya más o menos sabía para dónde iba la cosa. Por ejemplo, una pelea intensa tal vez y pierde fuerza porque ya los viste después, como si nada, felices.. algunas cosas clave se sintieron como... muy rápidas, como que no te dejaron vivir cómo se llegó a eso paso a paso.
BUT... and this is a BIG but... there is also the other side of the coin, this way of telling it, jumping in time, does give it an original touch... it forces you, who are watching, to pay more attention, to put together the puzzle of its story... and maybe this helps to not hit you so hard with all the emotional weight, because let's be honest, the film touches on... heavy themes, it's a drama, through and through. There are moments that will make you shed tears no matter what - I shed a few, eh? I'm not going to lie, but the way it jumps, mixing the ugliest moments with the happy, the funny, the tender ones... it doesn't let you sink too much into sadness... it prevents the film from becoming super dark or leaving you devastated, it reminds you of the beauty, the love, the laughter that were also there, along with the pain.
It feels more like life itself, a mix of everything, well mixed, this prevents you from leaving the movie feeling totally drained, as happens with other intense dramas ( mentioned Marriage Story) and I think they're right. It finds a balance... that's another thing I really liked: it feels real, it's not the typical perfect Disney romance, where everything is rosy until there's bound to be a problem... here they show you the complicated parts, the everyday problems, the difficult conversations, the sudden setbacks that life throws at you, it touches on processes that many couples go through, but that we hardly see with this honesty on screen. It's about building a life together, with the good and the bad, the things you give up, the work it takes, and how love changes through arguments. It doesn't avoid the painful parts, but it also beautifully captures the strength we have to keep going and the power of being connected with someone, it's about finding joy and valuing the time we have, even when things are really difficult.
PERO... y este es un GRAN pero... también está la otra cara de la moneda, esta forma de contarla, saltando en el tiempo, sí le da un toque original.. te obliga a ti, que estás viendo, a ponerle más atención, a ir armando el rompecabezas de su historia.. y tan vez esto ayuda a que no te pegue tan duro todo el peso emocional, porque seamos honestos, la película toca temas... fuertes, es un drama, de pies a cabeza. Hay momentos que te van a sacar la lágrima sí o sí – yo solté unas cuantas, ¿eh?, no les voy a mentir, pero como va saltando, mezclando los momentos más feos con los felices, los divertidos, los tiernos... no te deja hundirte demasiado en la tristeza.. evita que la película se ponga súper oscura o que te deje hecho polvo, te va recordando la belleza, el amor, las risas que también estuvieron ahí, junto con el dolor.
Se siente más como la vida misma así, una mezcla de todo, bien revuelto, esto evita que salgas de la película sintiéndote totalmente drenado, como pasa con otros dramas intensos (mencionando Historia de un matrimonio) y yo creo que tienen razón. Encuentra un balance.. eso es otra cosa que neta me gustó: se siente real, no es el típico romance perfecto, tipo Disney, donde todo es color de rosa hasta que a fuerza tiene que haber un problema.. aquí te muestran las partes complicadas, los problemas de todos los días, las conversaciones difíciles, los trancazos que te da la vida de repente, toca procesos que muchas parejas viven, pero que casi no vemos con esta honestidad en pantalla. Es sobre construir una vida juntos, con lo bueno y lo malo, las cosas a las que renuncias, el trabajo que cuesta, y cómo el amor va cambiando a través de las discusiones, no evita las partes dolorosas, pero también captura de forma muy linda la fuerza que tenemos para seguir y el poder de estar conectados con alguien, se trata de encontrar la alegría y valorar el tiempo que tenemos, incluso cuando las cosas están bien difíciles.
We have to talk about the director, John Crowley, he has directed episodes of series like Black Mirror and True Detective... he gives a kind of solidity, a touch of knowing what he's doing, the direction itself, maybe it's not super striking or that it breaks the mold, but it's good, it's well done and it lets the actors shine, which is the important thing here... the script is by Nick Payne, who did things like The Last Love Letter, and together, the truth is, they put together something that feels very close, very human... and the music! I knew the soundtrack had something special, it hit the nail on the head with emotion without feeling forced, then I found out it was done by Bryce Dessner! The same one who did the music for The Revenant (which won an Oscar!), Cyrano, The Two Popes. There it is! No wonder, the music is beautiful and really lifts the whole experience, giving it the perfect touch to make you feel everything more, without drowning in sentimentality... so, overall I liked it... Did I love it so much? Hmm, maybe not... it's that the structure of jumping in time, although interesting and having its reasons, at times it seemed to take me out of the moment a little, sometimes I wanted to linger longer in a scene, feel it more.
But the sheer power of Pugh and Garfield's performances, that brutal chemistry they have and the very real, raw emotion they convey... ugh! That totally captivated me. It's a film that leaves you thinking about love, about loss, about how we remember things and how precious time is. It's beautiful and it breaks your heart, it's funny and profound, all at the same time. It's not a perfect film; maybe the direction is more competent than anything else, but the performances... wow! They're worth their weight in gold. I'd give it an 8/10. It didn't leave me in pieces like I half expected given the way it was told, but it did move me, it did move something inside me... just seeing these two act like that is worth it, I'm serious... and well, that's all for today. See you soon! Take care, bye!
Hay que hablar del director, John Crowley, ha dirigido capítulos de series como Black Mirror y True Detective.. ld da como una solidez, un toque de que sabe lo que hace, la dirección en sí, tal vez no es súper llamativa o que rompa esquemas, pero es buena, está bien hecha y deja que los actores se luzcan, que es lo importante aquí.. el guion es de Nick Payne, que hizo cosas como La última carta de amor, y juntos, la verdad, armaron algo que se siente muy cercano, muy humano.. y la música! Yo sabía que la banda sonora tenía algo especial, le daba justo al clavo a la emoción sin sentirse forzada, luego me entero de que la hizo Bryce Dessner! El mismo que hizo la música de El Renacido (¡que ganó Oscar!), de Cyrano, de Los dos papas. Ahí está! Con razón, la música es preciosa y de verdad levanta toda la experiencia, le da el toque perfecto para que sientas más todo, sin ahogarte en cursilerías.. así que, en general me gustó.. ¿Que si la amé así con locura? Mmm, quizás no.. es que la estructura esa de ir saltando en el tiempo, aunque es interesante y tiene su porqué, a ratos como que me sacaba un poquito del momento, a veces me pasaba que quería quedarme más en una escena, sentirla más.
Pero la pura fuerza de las actuaciones de Pugh y Garfield, esa química brutal que tienen y la emoción tan real, tan cruda que transmiten… ¡uff!, eso me cautivo totalmente, es una película que te deja pensando en el amor, en la pérdida, en cómo recordamos las cosas y en lo valioso que es el tiempo, es linda y te parte el corazón, es divertida y profunda, todo al mismo tiempo. No es una película perfecta, tal vez la dirección es más competente que otra cosa, pero las actuaciones… ¡wow!, valen oro. Yo le daría un 8/10, no me dejó hecho pedazos como medio esperaba por cómo está contada, pero sí me llegó, sí me movió algo adentro.. solo por ver a estos dos actuar así, ya vale la pena, se los digo en serio.. y bueno, eso es todo por hoy, nos veremos pronto! Cuidense, byebye!
Tell me... have you seen this movie? Has it caught your attention? Tell me what you thought of this review with my opinion, and tell me if it has made you want to watch this movie. You can leave me in the comments your recommendations for future publications! 😊
Cuéntame.. ¿Has visto esta pelicula? Te ha llamado un poquito la atención? Dime que te pareció esta reseña con mi opinión, y dime si te han dado ganas de ver esta pelicula. Puedes dejarme en los comentarios tus recomendaciones para las próximas publicaciones!! 😊
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Attack on Titan is a well-known anime and one thing I love about it is how the storyline was written. Sometimes it feels like it was written from the ending of the anime to the beginning; only people who have finished this anime can understand. Attack on Titan is a masterpiece and the whole world has accepted this fact. From the first season to the third season, we all saw the story of the people within the wall as they did their best to reclaim the bridge walls and their encounter with the Beast Titan, Cart Titan, and other kinds of Titans.
The fourth season of Attack on Titan took a different turn.
At the end of the third season, we saw that the people who didn't know of any technology like telephones, cars, planes, and so on were able to make it to the sea for the first time in their lives. Eren and his friends were able to fight against hundreds of
Titans, reclaim his home and discover the world's secret through his father's journal. It was at that moment they discovered they were enemies to people they don't even know exist, and many people have been trying to kill them for crimes they don't know of.
The beginning of the fourth season was something else. There was a time jump, and the first thing we saw was people in war, using machine guns, missiles, and so on. At first, I thought I had downloaded the wrong anime, but I did not. It was just a time jump. So many things have happened between the end of the third season and the fourth season.
screenshot from anime
The beginning of the fourth season gave many viewers a shock because the last time we watched Attack on Titan, we only saw people riding on horses and not in cars, fighting with swords and not guns, but as the anime progressed, I was able to realize that there was a time jump, not from primitive times to advanced times, but there have always been people with more advanced technology.
One thing I loved about the protagonist (Eren) was that he tried to understand his enemies; he slept under the same roof as them, fought their war, and realized that these people were taught to hate them, even though they had no choice. The painful part was that the people who have the same bloodline as them also hate them for reasons that were instilled into their heads.
Honestly, I believe Eren wouldn't have done what he wanted to do if the people of the world hadn't declared war on Paradise Island.
screenshot from anime
screenshot from anime
The anime studio that worked on season 4 did a very good job of bringing the manga to life. Attack on Titan is one of the anime that stick entirely to what happened in the manga.
The graphic was nice, and every action and word said by each character has a meaning. I love that the studio stuck with the manga and didn't change any of the story.
In Conclusion
Attack on Titan is an anime of the century and will always be among the best anime that was ever been produced. I haven't seen an anime with this kind of story except for Naruto and Bleach. If you haven't watched it, I hope you give it a try because this is highly recommended by me to you.
Hello Hello, people of #Theanimerealm! I still don't understand how is it that I have spent so much time without talking to you about this anime, which I consider one of my favorites for everything it implies, since as a gamer I have always dreamed of an artificial intelligence like the one shown in this anime, in fact I think this would be the dream of any anime, but anyway, without further ado let me tell you what this is about.
¡Hola Hola, gente de #Theanimerealm! Aún no entiendo como es que yo he pasado tanto tiempo sin hablarles de este anime, el cuál considero uno de mis preferidos por todo lo que implica, ya que como gamer siempre he soñado con una inteligencia artificial como la que nos muestra este anime, de hecho creo que este sería el sueño de cualquier anime, pero en fin, sin más preámbulos déjenme decirles de qué se trata esto.
The story tells us about Kirito (Kasuto Kirigaya) a lonely boy who prefers video games to have a more realistic lifestyle, at some point he meets the game that gives its name to the anime Sword Art Online which consists of a hundred-story building where players start in the first, but the most attractive thing about this game is that its artificial intelligence is so advanced that players enter a kind of trance while they are playing (anyone can see them in real life lying with their eyes closed and a helmet with wires connected to their heads) but in the game they are active, However, the scariest thing is that just before starting the game, the creator of the game announced that everyone would be locked up and in order to get out they had to reach level one hundred, but to top it off, if they died in the game, they died in real life.
La historia nos habla de Kirito (Kasuto Kirigaya) un chico solitario que prefiere los videojuegos a tener un estilo de vida más realista, en algún momento conoce el juego que le da nombre al anime Sword Art Online que consta de un edificio de cien pisos donde los jugadores inician en el primero, pero lo más atractivo de este juego es que su inteligencia artificial es tan avanzada que los jugadores entran en una especie de trance mientras están jugando (cualquiera puede verlos en la vida real acostados con los ojos cerrados y un casco con cables conectados a sus cabezas) pero en el juego ellos están activos, con todas las habilidades y destrezas que cualquier personaje de vdieojuego, sin embargo lo más aterrador es que justo antes de iniciar la partida el creador del juego anunció que todos estarían encerrados y para poder salir debían llegar al nivel cien, pero para colmo si morían en el juego, morían en la vida real
I watched this anime a long time ago but I remember how exciting I found this premise because it was out of the ordinary, what I was used to seeing in other anime, I also liked that it encouraged teamwork, because if you wanted to advance a level you couldn't do it on your own, all players had to join forces to beat the level boss and thus could advance to the next one. This certainly encourages teamwork but at the same time it is scary to think that when you beat someone you are really killing them, there is no chance of a restart for that person, in fact the death of Sachi (one of the characters) leaves a great psychological aftermath on Kirito.
Este anime lo vi hace mucho tiempo pero recuerdo lo emocionante que me parecía esta premisa porque se sale de lo común, a lo que yo estaba acostumbrada a ver en otros animes, además me gustaba que fomentaba el trabajo en equipo, ya que si querías avanzar de nivel no podías hacerlo por tu cuenta, todos los jugadores debían unir sus fuerzas para poder vencer al jefe de nivel y de esta manera podían avanzar al siguiente. Esto desde luego fomenta el compañerismo pero al mismo tiempo es aterrador pensar que cuando vences a alguien lo estás matando realmente, no hay posibilidades de reinicio para esa persona, de hecho la muerte de Sachi (uno de los personajes) deja una gran secuela psicológica en Kirito.
On the 50th floor Kirito meets Asuna (my favorite character) again and they both solve a murder case, but they don't see each other again for two years (time that elapses in the game) and there we realize that Asuna has increased her abilities and is the leader of a brotherhood, something that sounds very familiar to me since I have played many games with that collaborative dynamic in which you must form brotherhoods or groups where each member has a different ability and must have a specific role, organizing and planning strategies to win.
En el piso 50 Kirito vuelve a encontrar a Asuna (Mi personaje favorito) y ambos resuelven un caso de asesinato, pero no vuelven a verse hasta dentro de dos años (tiempo que transcurre en el juego) y allí nos damos cuenta que Asuna ha incrementado sus habilidades y es líder de una hermandad, algo que me suena muy familiar ya que he jugado muchos juegos con esa dinámica colaborativa en la cuál debes formar hermandades o grupos donde cada miembro tiene una habilidad distinta y debe tener un rol especifico, organizando y planeando estrategias para poder vencer.
I must warn you that the pace of this anime is a bit slow, the story gets repetitive at times and I feel that the lack of variety in the enemies and scenarios affected my experience in a certain way, even so in general terms, if you take it as a whole I can say that it is a very entertaining anime. In other aspects the anime explores very deep themes such as the consequences of one's actions, the impact of virtual reality on everyday life, loneliness and trauma
Debo advertirles que el ritmo de este anime es un poco lento, la historia se vuelve repetitiva algunas veces y siento que la falta de variedad en los enemigos y escenarios afectó mi experiencia de cierto modo, aún así en términos generales, si lo tomas como un todo puedo decir que es un anime muy entretenido. En otros aspecto el anime explora temas muy profundos como lo son las consecuencias de los actos cometidos, el impacto de la realidad virtual en la vida cotidiana, la soledad y el trauma.
And well, people, that's all for today's post, I hope you liked it. Thank you very much as always for supporting my work, I welcome new readers, I love you all very much, I send you a hug and I'll see you in another post.
Y bueno, gente, esto ha sido todo por el post de hoy, espero que les haya gustado. Muchas gracias como siempre por apoyar mi trabajo, le doy la bienvenida a los nuevos lectores, les quiero mucho a todos, les envío un abrazo y ya nos encontraremos en otro post
I made the cover and farewell image in Canva
La imagen de portada y despedida la realicé en Canva.
I have a thing for feel-good movies. I just like not having to think too deeply about movies sometimes, and simply just enjoy them for what they are. I‘ve been seeing a lot of films that are a decade old and even older. But then I came across this cinematic masterpiece that made me wonder how possible it was for me to not have seen this film all the while.
The Intern (2015)
The story, directed and produced by Nancy Meyers tells the story of Ben Whittaker, a seventy-year-old widower who finds retirement boring and decides to apply as a social intern. He gets the job and even though he looks a lot out of place, manages to get the other staff to like and accept him just for his sheer kindness and congeniality. His boss, Jules, however, simply ignores him
Things, however, begin to change when Ben becomes a chauffeur for Jules, and from there, a bond of knowledge, honesty, and mentorship ensues. As Jules begins to face personal and corporate struggles, her trusted intern may just be her only hope to remain afloat.
You know one thing I suddenly thought about yesterday? I realized that movies were rated a lot less critically from about 2018 and downwards. This movie was given a 4.7 rating on IMDB, but it was made in 2015. I do not think, in all honesty, that it would have had such a high rating if the movie were released now. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. But I rarely see a lot of highly rated films in recent times. There’s usually a whole lot of criticism that pushes the rating down.
I loved this film for a lot of reasons. Robert de Niro’s role as Ben was beautiful and simple. How he won over the other staff was nothing short of ingenious, and his efforts to simply connect with them were heart-warming to see. Sentimental movies are ones I try to avoid if I can, but I wholeheartedly welcomed this one because of how wholesome it was.
I also loved Anne Hathaway’s character as Jules. Calm, classy and composed. Watching her handle her personal issues was such a breeze because she went about it with grace and elegance and none of the drama you would expect. Maybe that would have brought a new arc to the story, but it was still okay that the movie stayed true to its genre. Lovely film through and through. Hope you enjoy!
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It started with a simple question: What if you could walk through someone’s dreams? Not just watching—but truly being there, seeing the colors, hearing the whispers, feeling their fears.
Paprika is based in a not so distant future whereby a group of scientists have developed a machine known as the DC Mini. This is a mini machine through which individuals can enter and record dreams. Imagine it as a dream-sharing technology, crazy, huh?
However, in this case, there is a twist: the device is stolen. And once it does, the dreams of people begin to blend into reality. The world loses its stability. Human beings become insane. The dreams seep into real life and nothing is the way it appears.
The central figure is a calm and collected scientist, Dr. Atsuko Chiba. But in the dream world Paprika is a free spirited, fiery and mysterious woman who drifts in the dream world like a dancer. Chiba and Paprika (the same soul, different sides of) have to solve a mystery together, who took the device, and how to make the world sane again.
It is not a normal movie to watch Paprika. It is like a fall into a dream of another person but you do not know whose dream it is and how much time is left.
What first struck me was the visuals, bright, chaotic, swirling. There is a procession of toy dollies, marching bands, frog tooting trumpets, vending machines, porcelain statuettes--all dancing down the streets like a fire carnival. It’s absurd. It’s beautiful. And strangely, it seems to be logical at the time. That is what dreams are all about, right? They are reasonable until you get up.
Then there was music. Oh, the music! It was strange and humorous, such as a lullaby, in another world. It accompanied me in every scene as a shadow and the dream world was more real than the real life experience.
At one time during the viewing, I wondered: Is this still the dream? Or is this real life now?
That is what the film tinkers with our minds on how easy it is to confuse the two worlds. In Paprika, individuals forget what world they live in. And honestly? I sometimes feel the same in real life. Have we not all had days when we felt that we had been dreaming--or nightmare?
This film made me wake up to the fact that our minds are strong and we should not allow them to control us.
Dr. Chiba is rational, solemn. Paprika is crazy, emotional, fearless. but they are one and the same.
That struck me like a bolt. After all, do we all have our own Paprika? The other version of ourselves? The one who wishes to laugh more, cry more, dream more?
This film reminded me of the fact about who I am when I am myself-as opposed to who I am when others watch me.
In case you are a person who prefers honest answers and simple tales, Paprika will most likely annoy you.
However, when you adore to wonder, when you adore stories that rattle your brain like a snow globe and see the world in a different way then this anime is a present to you.
It is not only a movie. It is an experience. One which opens your eyes and your heart to the weird and wonderful world of your own imagination.
And perhaps, just perhaps, there will be a day when in a dream you will encounter your very own Paprika.
Thumbnail is designed by me on pixelLab and other images are screenshot from the movie
Summer Time Rendering is one of those animes which explores the use of time travelling from a supernatural perspective. Here evil shadow like creatures are the villains who try to overthrow society starting of from an inhabited island.
Created by Yasuki Tanaki with a total of just 25 episodes, the series tells the story of Ajiro Shinpei a teenager returning back home to an island called "Hitogashima" after two years of leaving. The purpose of his return was not for a happy reunion but because of news of the death of his best friend Ushio Kofune who died trying to save a girl from drowing. Shinpei is sadly welcomed by Ushio's younger sister Mio who takes him back to their place in preparation of the funeral with her father and other people as well. He is not just friends with Ushio but also really close with the entire family as he used to live with them when he was younger after the death of both his parents before he left the island for Tokyo to become a cook.
At the funeral, Shinpei begins to suspect that Ushio's death might not be drowning after. His friend Sou informs him that his dad ( the doctor of the island) did an autopsy and found finger marks on her neck meaning that there is a high chance Ushio did not drown but was murdered. He decides to investigate the issue while also trying to work on his grief. News of a condition called shadow sickness begins to circulaye on the island and apparently it starts that the moment you come in contact with a shadow version of yourself you are instantly killed. Shinpei finds it hard to believe such a thing exists but Mio on the other hand tells him that it is indeed real because Ushio actually saw a shadow doppelganger of herself before turning up dead later on.
This pushes Shinpei to the town's shrine for clarification but instead is confronted by a shadow of Mio who kills him, Mio and a lady he came to the island with on the same ferry.
After his death Shinpei wakes up again on the ferry back home repeating the same events that has happened before. He soon realizes that he possess the ability to go back to a point in time after dying.
This fixed point varies as it continues to shift forward thus implying that the power of time looping is not infinite. With his new found abilities, Shinpei decides to use it to protect and save the entire island from the shadows who kill and replace people with their intentions being to take over the island and the entire world. Shinpei makes use of every death experience as his ultimate weapon for fighting this shadowy evil and putting a stop to their plan of world domination.
He soon learns that these shadows are not acting out solely on their own independent will but controlled by Haine, the first shadow in the appearance of a girl with white hair who the shadows all call mother.
Outnumbered, Shinpei seeks help from his friends Mio, Sou, the hunter Nezu-san, Tokiko and Hizuru a shadow killing bad ass with her brothers shadow living inside her. Together this team babe together with the sole objective of stopping the shadows.
They are later joined by the shadow of Ushio an anomaly that still possesses her humanity and wants to protect her family. During the cause of their battle the team realizes that haina also possessed time manipulation abilities with help from an intimating shadow called shide her plan is to consume every living being in the Island to extend her own life force.
As they continue with their battle filled with time loops, the true mastermind behind the attacks is revealed to be Shide. Shide intends to use Haine to live forever as he is just a human that has lived for over 300 years by body leaping but seeing it is impossible, intends to destroy the world.
This leads up to an epic final show down in another space underneath the island.After a heated battle, Shinpei is finally able to defeat Shide and eventually resets the entire timeline where everybody is still alive including Ushio.
Nobody remembers the previous events as they never occurred besides Shinpei but at the very least the island is safe and free from supernatural threats.
Thank you.
Among the many conspiracy theories circulating in the modern world, one of the more intriguing and increasingly plausible ones concerns Hollywood’s approach to such narratives on screen. There is a growing perception that the entertainment industry, perhaps unwittingly or otherwise, plays a role in discrediting genuine public concerns by presenting conspiracy theories in exaggerated, implausible forms—either through overly sensationalised plots or poorly executed films. Whether this was a deliberate ploy behind The Number 23 (2007), Joel Schumacher’s psychological thriller starring Jim Carrey, remains open to debate. But regardless of intent, the result is strikingly effective in undermining the credibility of real-world conspiratorial anxieties. The film attempts to weave an intricate web of numerology, murder, and obsession, but ends up feeling more like a cautionary tale about how not to handle such material.
The protagonist is Walter Sparrow, played by Jim Carrey in one of his rare forays into serious drama. Walter is a mild-mannered animal control officer living a relatively ordinary life with his wife Agatha (Virginia Madsen) and their teenage son Robin (Logan Lerman). His mundane existence begins to unravel when Agatha gifts him a mysterious book for his birthday—a novel written by an obscure author named Topsy Kretts. The story follows a detective called “Fingerling,” whose own descent into paranoia over the number 23 eerily mirrors Walter’s emerging obsession. As he reads, Walter becomes convinced that the fictional events are reflections of a real-life murder that took place years earlier. He tracks down the reclusive author, Dr. Sirius Leary (Bud Cort), who commits suicide rather than reveal anything. Walter discovers the body and, increasingly unhinged, begins to suspect that his wife might be hiding something far darker than she lets on.
Despite being released by New Line Cinema in February—a month traditionally reserved for films the studio has little faith in—The Number 23 managed modest commercial success. This was largely due to the presence of Jim Carrey, who had, in the previous decade, become one of Hollywood's most bankable stars thanks to a string of successful comedies. Here, he attempted to stretch his acting range in a dramatic role as both Walter and the noir-inspired alter ego Fingerling. While Carrey delivers a serviceable performance, it’s clear that the material doesn’t fully suit him. His efforts, though commendable, are insufficient to elevate the film above its numerous flaws. The supporting cast, including Danny Huston as a clichéd slimy psychiatrist, Virginia Madsen oscillating between devoted wife and femme fatale, Lyn Collins as a bizarre musical interlude known as the “Suicide Blonde,” and Rhona Mitra as the murdered woman, offer little more than competent performances without any real depth.
A significant portion of the film’s failure lies in Fernley Phillips’ script, which tries too hard to transform what is essentially a straightforward murder mystery into a convoluted, semi-supernatural thriller steeped in numerology. The number 23, which gained some popularity in fringe circles following the 9/11 attacks, is treated as if it holds mystical significance throughout the narrative. However, it ultimately has little bearing on the actual resolution of the plot, leaving audiences feeling misled and unsatisfied. The supposed revelations tied to the number feel tacked on, serving more as gimmicks than integral components of the story.
Equally problematic is the involvement of director Joel Schumacher, whose career has been marked by both acclaimed works and notorious misfires. Best remembered for St. Elmo’s Fire and Falling Down, he is equally infamous for Batman & Robin, a film widely regarded as having nearly destroyed the Batman franchise. The Number 23, while not among Schumacher’s worst, clearly bears the hallmarks of his stylistic excesses. The director prioritises visual flair over narrative clarity, employing rapid MTV-style editing, excessively dark cinematography by Matthew Libatique, and highly stylised noir sequences depicting Fingerling’s adventures within the novel. These elements, instead of enhancing the mood, make the film visually unappealing and emotionally distancing. At times, the movie feels like a pale imitation of Se7en or Jacob’s Ladder, lacking both originality and coherence.
Ultimately, The Number 23 proves to be a confusing and often unpleasant viewing experience. Its disjointed structure, overwrought visuals, and misleading use of numerological themes render it a frustrating exercise in style over substance. While it may hold some appeal for die-hard fans of Jim Carrey willing to see him in a non-comedic role, or for those intrigued by the pseudo-mystical allure of numbers, the film fails to deliver a satisfying payoff or meaningful commentary. Instead, it serves as a reminder of how easily ambitious concepts can falter under poor execution.
I don't often go to the cinema but yesterday a friend of mine and I were chatting on an app shooting the breeze about the usual nonsense when he said "hey, I'm going to the 1pm showing of 28 Years Later, wanna go?"
I had forgotten that this film was being released this weekend and since I strangely do not have obligations at 1pm on a Friday afternoon I thought "hell, let's be some of the first people to actually see this!"
When this review ends up telling you nothing about the story just know that this is intentional. I realize that a lot of people are going to flock to the cinemas to see this one because 2025 has been such a year of the flopbuster as far as cinematic releases have been concerned.
I am going to tell you this though: I was extremely disappointed with this one and felt as though it couldn't possibly fail due to the fact that 28 Weeks Later was such a massive letdown compared to 28 Days Later. I don't think anyone is going to argue that. I figured that the bar is already so low from 28 weeks that 28 Years has to be a step up. I sincerely wish that it was, but this one is filled with the same insane coincidences and chance encounters that happen at just the right moment in order to move the plot along.
This is my biggest gripe with this movie. It doesn't make any sense at all that things happen the way that they do where, just in a general sense, something has been a certain way for what we are told decades, and then when our protagonists end up in precisely that situation, it ends up being completely different than everything we have been told.
This would be at least somewhat understandable if our protagonists were some sort of super-soldiers, but they aren't. One of them is above average as far as capabilites are concerned, but the other is a child.. and it is shown in the first 30 minutes of the movie that he is BARELY capable of not dying immediately in a pinch... yet 20 minutes or just a few days in terms of the movie timeline later, the boy is basically an unstoppable force that even the harshest of situations that have resulted in humanity being the way that it is in the first place, doesn't seem to slow him down at all.
If he had some sort of superhuman reason for being this way it would be understandable, but he doesn't. It's just a complete about-face about what this very film spent the first 30 minutes explaining to us. It doesn't make any sense! Why spend all that time building a character arc only to completely abandon it when the story calls for it? Or even better, why bother building up this character in a certain direction if you aren't going to stick with it?
If you bother going to see this one in cinemas, and trust me I strongly encourage you not to, you'll know right away what it is that I am referring to.
It isn't just this one character either. There are other characters that they spend quite a while developing in the early parts of the film, only to completely walk away from them and we don't really get any idea about what happened to them, or why they just stopped doing what they had been doing up to this point.
There are certain safeguards that are put into place and according to the film itself, are rigidly stuck to in order to ensure the continued safety of the village, but when the plot calls for it, these safeguards are immediately abandoned.
This reminded me of the reasons why I didn't care for 28 Weeks Later.* We are told for the first half of that movie that the military presence in London has been secure enough for them to begin moving civilians back into the city, but then withing moments it isn't safe anymore. Did they not check? It just doesn't make sense.
I know it is a film but without these sorts of plot devices built in to the story in a reasonable and possible way, none of the explanations and story make any sense.
While I will not reveal what they are, we are also introduced to several new types of zombies in this one that make no practical sense as to how they would survive. It was established in 28 Weeks Later that the zombie horde would starve without other humans to consume, yet here they are.
All that is just my dissatisfaction of how the plot is just thrown together and if "A" needs to happen for "B" to occur, they just make "A" happen even if it breaks the world rules that they themselves established in the first part of the film. This is after, apparently, 28 years of things always being the same predictable way. I would understand if some sort of discovery was made that changes things like it kind of did in 28 Weeks with the super-zombie-pregnant lady and her estranged husband (barf!) but none of that happens here. It is just inexplicably different one day because: Reasons.
Actually it's worse than "reasons" because no explanation is given at all. All of a sudden this unstoppable force that everyone is afraid of is easily overcome by a character that the film spends the first 30 minutes showing us is barely capable of survival.
The actual zombies and their combination of CGI as well as puppets and real human actors is done well, I will give them that. The musical score is also good. The cinematography is done in an artful way that kind of reminds me of how that was necessary when 28 Days hit theaters. They didn't have the budget of other films of that sort at the time so they had to resort to being artistic instead. Bravo, I guess.
The main problem here is that the overall story in 28 Years is nonsensical. There are parts of it that are meant to be dramatic or even tragic but it fails completely to invoke these sorts of emotions because of the bizarre and completely implausible path that the story takes to get to that point.
Another aspect of this film that I really didn't expect to have happen is that I spent a lot of time in the theater feeling sleepy and bored. There is a ton of rather useless dialogue that takes place during the film and the only way I could continue to find it entertaining was to point out (in my head, I'm very polite in theaters) how the film was contradicting itself with the very "rules" they themselves had established just 20 minutes prior.
When the movie appears to be coming to a close, I found myself hopeful that it would in fact be over because I was ready to get the hell out of there. When the credits finally hit the screen at the end I actually said to my friends "thank god" and we all kind of agreed that the film was a massive letdown and we all agreed that if we had been watching it at home, we would have turned it off.
Should I watch it?
I'm not going to tell you how to live your life but honestly, I was so hyped about this that I rushed out the door to be in a theater for the first time in 2025. I regret having bothered to do so.
When I look at the review score on IMDB it really makes me think that this film's rating is going to be rigged over opening weekend (it't currently near 8/10) and in a few weeks time it is going to taper down to where it belongs at around a 5.
But you be your own judge in this one but knowing what I know now I really think that for almost everyone, this is something that they can and should wait for on streaming services or maybe to be just not watched at all. But you do you. I don't want to be the reason why you end up not seeing this on the big screen but honestly, I feel like it is a waste of money to do so.
Currently the only legal way to see this film is in theaters around the world
Hello friends, I hope you all doing well. Today, I’ve brought you a heart-touching time travel anime. Let me tell you the story of how an ordinary high school girl discovers the ability to leap through time and how that power changes her life, friendships and future forever.
Story Summary
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a beautifully emotional and time-bending anime movie directed by Mamoru Hosoda. The story follows Makoto Kono an ordinary high school student who lives a carefree life with her two best friends Chiaki and Kousuke. One day, after a strange accident in the science lab, Makoto discovers that she has gained the mysterious ability to leap through time.
At first, she uses her newfound power for trivial reasons like getting to school on time avoiding embarrassing situations, or having fun with friends for long stretches. But as she keeps up with the times, unexpected consequences begin to affect the people around her. Friendships are strained, emotional moments are shattered and the balance of time itself begins to unravel.
Makoto soon realizes that time travel is no game and that every leap comes with a price. When a hidden truth about one of his friends is revealed the story changes from playful to profound. He must make a final, painful decision not to save himself but to protect the people he loves. Then he can only end it through many attempts.
My review
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a gentle emotional masterpiece. I loved how it started out as a lighthearted story and gradually developed into something deeper and more meaningful. Makoto's character seems real emotional, funny and a bit immature but it's his development throughout the film that really touched me.
The animation is simple but beautiful especially the quiet summer scenes. The film doesn't rely on flashy effects instead it focuses on feelings, relationships and regrets. The time travel element is handled delicately making it more about the emotional consequences than the science.
What struck me most was its bittersweet ending it lingers in your mind long after the credits roll. It made me think about how fleeting time is and how important it is to cherish the little moments. If you're a fan of science-fiction If you like touching and emotional anime then I recommend this movie. It's unforgettable. That's it for today.Thank you everyone.
Thanks you so much for reading. See you next :)
Translation: Google Translate - Thumbnail Editor: Canva
Images are From this Website- [IMDB]( https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0808506/mediaindex/?ref_=mv?ref_=mv_sm )
Can you imagine having access to your favorite video game as yourself without having to use an avatar? That was the impression that the series Solo Leveling left on me after watching its two full seasons. I mean, I couldn't stop thinking about that situation, which is why one of the things that impacted me the most was its first episode in the first season. It was different from other anime I've seen, and believe me, I've seen too many and none compare. The fact that they present this brilliant main idea, where you can see an entire universe as if it were a futuristic, or rather, alien, video game, was cool to me.
¿Te imaginas tener acceso a tu video juego favorito siendo tú mismo sin tener que usar un avatar? Esta fue la impresión que me dejó plasmada la serie Solo Leveling luego de ver sus 2 temporadas completas. Es decir, no podía dejar de pensar en esa situación, por lo que una de las cosas que más me impactó fue su primer episodio en la primera temporada. Fue totalmente diferente a otros animés que he visto, y créanme que he visto demasiados y ninguno se le compara. El hecho de que planteen esta idea principal tan genial donde puedes ver un universo entero como si fuera un video juego futurista o mejor dicho, alienígena, me resultó genial.
Another aspect I must highlight is the fight scenes. Each one of them was masterful. I also couldn't help but feel some nostalgia when I saw the evil smile of that giant statue that I can't get out of my head to this day, and that reminded me a bit of the Machiavellian smile of the giants in Attack on Titan. It was a macabre, terrifying, and extremely stressful scene for me; the truth is that at a certain point, I didn't know what was going to happen there. On the other hand, Jinwoo's evolution from Season 1 to the drastic change in Season 2, I still don't understand why it happened, and also why he can continue leveling up when the others have already reached their maximum. Did an expansion with those portals come out with him? (🤣 I know it was a bad joke 🤣).
Otro aspecto que debo resaltar son las escenas de las peleas. Todas y cada una de ellas estuvieron magistrales. Además no pude evitar sentir algo de nostalgia al verle la sonrisa perversa de esa estatua gigante que no logro sacar de mi cabeza hasta el día de hoy y que me recordó un poco a la sonrisa maquiavélica de los gigantes de Atack on Titans. Fue una escena macabra, terrorífica y sumamente estresante para mí, la verdad es que en cierto punto no sabía lo que iba a ocurrir allí. Por otro lado, la evolución de Jinwoo de la temporada 1 al cambio drástico de la temporada 2, sigo sin entender a qué se debió y también por qué puede seguir subiendo de nivel cuando ya los demás llegaron a su punto máximo, ¿es que acaso con él salió una expansión con esos portales? (🤣 lo sé fue un mal chiste 🤣).
Here, the series shows that no matter your size or how physically strong you appear, what counts in the end is strategy, like a game of chess. Sometimes you have to sacrifice fundamental elements or pieces to ensure victory, and that's what was shown to us throughout 25 episodes. Jinwoo's change was not only seen on a physical level but also an intellectual and human level, because at a certain point, he put aside his essence to obtain more power. His personality change was so great that it reminded me too much of the atrocious acts where he not only quenched his thirst for more power but also manipulated other players in his favor, adding extra benefits in unexpected ways. That's why I see this protagonist more as a villain than a hero, and I intend to maintain my opinion until proven otherwise in the following seasons.
Acá la serie demuestra que no importa el tamaño que tengas ni la fuerza física que aparentas tener, lo que vale al final de todo es la estrategia, como un juego de ajedrez. A veces debes sacrificar elementos o piezas fundamentales para asegurar la victoria y eso fue lo que nos demostraron a lo largo de 25 episodios. El cambio de Jinwoo no sólo se vio a nivel físico sino también intelectual y humano, porque en cierto punto dejó de lado su esencia para obtener más poder. Tanto fue su cambio de personalidad que me recordó demasiado a los actos atroces donde no sólo saciaba su sed de obtener más poder sino que manipuló a otros jugadores a su favor, agregando beneficios extras de manera inesperada. Es por eso que a este protagonista lo veo más como un villano que como un héroe y pienso mantener mi opinión hasta que se demuestre lo contrario en las siguientes temporadas.
I can't end my post without adding that the last episode of the second season was epic. I'm eager for the third season to come out, and the episode where Jinwoo managed to deliver the health potion to his mother was memorable. To conclude, I can say that this series pushes the protagonist to his limits, with highs and lows, or drastic changes in his personality that make the viewer doubt whether he's bipolar or whether, by gaining so much power, he's left his humanity behind forever. I've had many doubts since the second season, and my expectations are sky-high for the third. In the meantime, I'm going to settle for the Kimetsu no Yaiba movie, which is about to be released while I wait.
No puedo terminar mi post sin agregar que el último episodio de la segunda temporada fue épico. Estoy ansioso de que salga la tercera temporada y el capítulo donde Jinwoo logró entregarle la poción de salud a su madre fue memorable. Para concluir puedo decir que esta serie lleva al protagonista a sus límites, con picos altos y bajos o cambios drásticos en su forma de ser donde pone a dudar al espectador si será que es bipolar o por obtener tanto poder dejó atrás su humanidad para siempre? Tengo muchas dudas desde la segunda temporada y mis expectativas están altísimas para la tercera. Mientras tanto voy a conformarme con la película de Kimetsu no Yaiba que está por estrenarse mientras espero.
Last year Darkness of Man came out with Jean Claude Van Damme a straight action movie where Van Damme plays Russell Hatch, a former Interpol agent who lives in Koreatown and who promised to protect the son of an informant who was murdered years ago, the problem is that this young man who is called Jaden has no idea who his mom really was and thinks she was a random drug addict, when in fact she worked for Van Damme and died in an operation gone wrong. At the beginning of the movie Van Damme is just a normal guy but in the end he ends up being cool because he's Van Damme and he can't help it, the thing is that years after the woman's murder, Russell finds himself in the middle of a war between the Korean and Russian mafia, and although he tries not to get involved he ends up getting involved, kicking ass like in the old days. Although Van Damme is about 60 years old, he's still fighting, although obviously he can't do the flying kicks he used to do, he's still initimidating, the movie has a very noir tone that I liked a lot, with a lot of rain, neon lights and that dark atmosphere of Los Angeles that in my opinion fits very well in this kind of stories.
El año pasado salió Darkness of Man con Jean Claude Van Damme una película de acción directa donde Van Damme interpreta a Russell Hatch, un ex agente de Interpol que vive en Koreatown y que prometió proteger al hijo de una informante que fue asesinada hace años, el problema es que este joven que se llama Jaden no tiene ni idea de quién era realmente su mamá y piensa que era una drogadicta cualquiera, cuando en realidad trabajaba para Van Damme y murió en una operación que salió mal. Al principio de la película Van Damme es un tipo normal pero al final termina siendo genial porque es Van Damme y no puede evitarlo, la cosa es que años después del asesinato de la mujer, Russell se encuentra metido en medio de una guerra entre la mafia coreana y la rusa, y aunque trata de no involucrarse termina haciéndolo, pateando traseros como en los viejos tiempos. Aunque Van Damme ya tiene como unos 60 años sigue dando pelea, aunque obviamente ya no puede hacer las patadas voladoras de antes igual sigue initimidando, la película tiene un tono muy noir que me gustó bastante, con mucha lluvia, luces de neón y esa atmósfera oscura de Los Ángeles que a mi parecer queda muy bien en este tipo de historias.
The film has an internal narration by Van Damme and at first I thought this was going to be annoying because it's as if he was writing in a diary and everything seems very poetic but then it turns into short and direct thoughts and becomes interesting. Among the actors are Kristanna Loken from Terminator 3 as Russell's casual girlfriend, who doesn't really have much to do but at least she doesn't fall into the typical annoyance of the worried girlfriend who keeps wondering what she's doing? Also appearing is Yong Lee a Korean actor who plays a store owner who is being terrorized by mobsters, he has that good old grandpa face who doesn't mess with anyone and when Van Damme sees he's being picked on, he jumps in because he's a decent guy. The movie also has super weird cameos, like Eric Roberts who appears for about 10 seconds asking for a burrito and never comes out again or Shannon Doherty who plays a worried teacher in a single scene.
La película tiene una narración interna de Van Damme y al principio pensé que esto iba a ser fastidoso porque es como si estuviera escribiendo en un diario y todo parece muy poético pero después se convierte en pensamientos cortos y directos y llega a ser interesante. Entre los actores están Kristanna Loken de Terminator 3 como la novia casual de Russell, que la verdad no tiene mucho que hacer pero por lo menos no cae en el fastidio típico de la novia preocupada que se la pasa preguntando qué está haciendo?. También aparece Yong Lee un actor coreano que interpreta al dueño de una tienda que está siendo aterrorizado por los mafiosos, tiene esa cara de abuelito bueno que no se mete con nadie y cuando Van Damme ve que lo están molestando, se mete porque es un tipo decente. La película también tiene cameos súper raros, como Eric Roberts que aparece como por 10 segundos pidiendo un burrito y nunca más sale o Shannon Doherty que hace de maestra preocupada en una sola escena.
The director is James Cullen Bressack who also directed movies like Beyond the Law with Steven Seagal, and although the movie has its problems you can tell he tried to do something different with the shots, there is a fight scene that is seen from the back seat of a car looking forward, which I thought was quite different. What I didn't like about Darkness of Man is that being a Van Damme movie it has very little action, most of the fights are just fists and maybe an occasional kick, none of the classic flying kicks you expect and when there is action it's kind of slow, plus the movie is almost two hours long and it's feels eternal for this kind of story, they could have easily saved about 20 minutes without affecting the plot. The bad guys are the typical normal mobsters that are not scary and do not generate interest and the actor who plays Jaden, the young man that Van Damme has to protect, is pretty bad I'm sorry but he is very rigid and lacks charisma, and the truth being one of the main characters this seems to me a big problem. I think the best part of the movie is when Spencer Breslin appears as Russell's drug addict neighbor because he has good chemistry with Van Damme and their scenes together are funny, I would have preferred to see more of these two than so much Korean family drama.
El director es James Cullen Bressack que también dirigió películas como Beyond the Law con Steven Seagal, y aunque la película tiene sus problemas se nota que intentó hacer algo diferente con las tomas, hay una escena de pelea que se ve desde el asiento trasero de un auto mirando hacia adelante, lo cual me pareció bastante diferente. Que fue lo que no me gustó de Darkness of Man que para ser una película de Van Damme tiene muy poca acción, la mayoría de las peleas son solo puños y tal vez una patada ocasional, nada de las patadas voladoras clásicas que uno espera y cuando hay acción es como lenta, además la película dura casi dos horas y es eterna para este tipo de historia, fácilmente se pudieron ahorrar unos 20 minutos sin afectar la trama. Los malos son los típicos mafiosos normales que no dan miedo ni generan interés y el actor que interpreta a Jaden, el joven que Van Damme tiene que proteger, es bastante malo lo siento pero es muy rígido y le falta carisma, y la verdad siendo uno de los personajes principales esto me parece un gran problema. Creo que lo mejor de la película es cuando aparece Spencer Breslin el vecino drogadicto de Russell porque tiene buena química con Van Damme y sus escenas juntos son divertidas, hubiese preferido ver más de estos dos que tanto drama familiar coreano.
The visuals are good with those neon lights and shadows and even though it's low budget it doesn't show that much I think this style gives it a distinct visual personality. Van Damme although not the same as he was in the 90's still has screen presence and manages to convey that image of a guy who is trying to stay sober and take care of someone else, there are scenes where he is seen shaking or drinking, which shows a more human side but the movie gets very stuck in that internal narration and although it has its good moments sometimes it's kind of tedious I don't know if it was so necessary to focus on that, maybe without that voice it would work better and the special effects look fake hehehehe well it's a low budget movie but well it wasn't something that took me out of the movie because I understand it's an independent production.
La parte visual está bien con esas luces de neón y sombras y aunque es un presupuesto bajo no se nota tanto yo creo que más bien este estilo le da una personalidad visual distinta. Van Damme aunque ya no es el mismo de los 90 todavía tiene presencia en pantalla y logra transmitir esa imagen de un tipo que está tratando de mantenerse sobrio y cuidar de alguien más, hay escenas donde se lo ve temblando o tomando, lo cual muestra una faceta más humana pero la película se queda muy pegada en esa narración interna y aunque tiene sus momentos buenos a veces es como tediosa no sé si era tan necesario enfocarse en eso, quizás sin esa voz funcionaba mejor y los efectos especiales se ven fake jejeje bueno es una peli de bajo presupuesto pero bueno no fue algo que me sacó de la peli porque entioendo que es una producción independiente.
My score for Darkness of Man is 6/10, I didn't find it the worst Van Damme movie in recent years, in fact I think it's better than The Last Mercenary or Pound of Flesh but it's also not something I would recommend unless you're a fan of the actor, I think that although Van Damme makes a great effort in his acting it lacks action, the pace is slow and some characters are quite heavy. This movie is more of a dramatic thriller than a pure action movie, and while it has some good stuff in it I wouldn't watch it again or recommend it. Van Damme is still charismatic and the movie looks good, but I don't know if it was the direction or the script that didn't make it worthwhile and there was probably potential for something better with that noir aesthetic and interesting premise.
Mi puntuación para Darkness of Man es 6/10, no me pareció la peor película de Van Damme de los últimos años, de hecho creo que es mejor que The Last Mercenary o Pound of Flesh pero tampoco es algo que recomendaría a menos que seas fan del actor, creo que aunque Van Damme hace un gran esfuerzo en su actuación le falta acción, el ritmo es lento y algunos personajes son bastante pesados. Esta película es más un thriller dramático que una película de acción pura, y aunque tiene cosas buenas no la volvería a ver ni la recomiendo. Van Damme sigue siendo carismático y la película se ve bien, pero no sé si fue la dirección o el guión que no hizo que valiera la pena y probablemente había potencial para algo mejor con esa estética noir y la premisa interesante.
Currently the only legal way to see this film is in theaters around the world 
[Source](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23173980/mediaviewer/rm3196090881/) 
[Source](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23173980/mediaviewer/rm3078650369/)