NinadeL

The classic series from the Hanna-Barbera family of cartoons was long out of reach, but today we can safely appreciate the pleasantly decadent style of this whimsical black-humor sitcom. The Addams Family of the 70s is not naive in the slightest, and if you've seen all the Flintstones episodes, it makes sense to continue here. Quality dubbing, decent animation, and funny scenarios. Go for it. In these 16 episodes, we'll encounter all the problems that plague every member of the family, including Lurch, we'll see Mardi Gras, we'll go to space, we'll try out voodoo... This cartoon family first appeared in "Scooby-Doo" in a guest appearance in 1972, and from 1974 to 1975 the comic was published in the same style as the series.

So how is the new Addams Family? The characters are reminiscent of the original drawings again after all these years, but the narrative is more reminiscent of the story of Edward Scissorhands than anything else. It's honestly really short and it's not the clever fun one would expect after so many years of this brand. Undemanding viewers and especially children will be satisfied. I think of it as a brand refresh and a reminder for new generations. I'd enjoy a new series for long winter evenings in the future.

Formerly, it was Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), and now it’s Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, and it’s a thoroughly entertaining action comedy. The set of posters and the great trailers alone made it clear how much of a fun ride it was going to be. I found the trailer for Björk's classic song "It's Oh So Quiet" absolutely brilliant. Margot Robbie was apparently the sole survivor of the infamous first Suicide Squad, and to keep her from getting bored, she was given another team to play with. This time it’s a girl's Birds of Prey line-up. The villain is the excellent Ewan McGregor and there is plenty of reminiscences of such hits as the classic song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." I don't need to explain that in comics the characters work differently, that cartoons work differently, etc. This is a classic action formula about how a former villain slowly becomes a good character. Those are the ones I enjoy most. It plays nicely with genre, winks at sequential art readers, and comfortably handles everything that needed to be put to rest and locked back in the closet for a while in the DC movies.

This is one of those films that really should be shown in schools. Strong acting performances sometimes have the power of entire libraries of good books.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is, for many reasons, a beautiful Hollywood gift to audiences, reminding them of that winged saying about the dream factory. Imaginative, fun, and clever encounters with nostalgia. It’s rewarding in terms of the actors.

Probably the best adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's famous novel. The great atmosphere of post-war Italy, an excellent cast (Damon, Paltrow, Law, and last but not least Blanchett in a small role), and an unusual theme. Nothing to fault it for.

In retrospect, after Big Little Lies, it's easy to appreciate Jean-Marc Vallée's collaboration with Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern. A pleasant experience, despite the fact that the subject is quite unique. Whoever is tempted by this adventure on foot through the wilderness can also read the autobiographical book of the same name by Cheryl Strayed.

I should have known right away that if I saw Madeleine Carroll's name on the poster, it would be a spy thriller. Carroll was already popular with Hitchcock in England, so it's no surprise that Hollywood cast her in the same genre. The General Died at Dawn is almost indistinguishable from The 39 Steps and Secret Agent. All of them are equally naive, except for the fact that in England Robert Donat was the idol and in Hollywood it was Gary Cooper.

The original cartoon is absolute perfection. It was originally a tiny film that wasn't even meant to be a feature film, and yet it has regularly moved generations and is simply wonderful. It’s understandable to young and old alike. Unfortunately, the live-action version is not like that at all. While Burton has surrounded himself with interesting people, the story is perfectly paced to fill almost twice the runtime of the original. But it doesn't work. The acted Dumbo film is neither touching, playful, nor fairy-tale enough, and there is not even a trace of the proverbial "Burton-touch." I’m sorry to say that even Eva Green or Michael Keaton in great costumes can't work miracles.

The first adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks romance is... quite the experience. An implausible story that should capture one's heart from the first minute, although there was no room to build any kind of relationship with the main characters. Eh. The once-attractive Robin Wright (The Princess Bride) and the long-forgotten Kevin Costner (Dances With Wolves) meet over the poignant story of his late wife and, despite his asexual flannel shirt, take a chance on a new relationship. The ending is a parody of Hemingway.