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I still remember the event that the film describes. One of my acquaintances served in the Public Security Services at that time and was tasked with guarding the German embassy during the influx of East German refugees. He invited me to see this absurd situation with my own eyes. I watched the crowd of people behind the fence and dozens of policemen around the embassy compound. I couldn't miss seeing the parked Trabant cars which the Czechs pragmatically claimed as their own. In German television films, I have always been fascinated by how excellently they can handle a dramatic story. The positive aspects appearing in this film were provided by history, but the screenplay is too drawn-out, repetitive, and in some details, too unbelievable and melodramatic. It is simply dull and, at the very least, one can say that the subject matter could have been handled in a much more attractive way. Overall impression: 45%.

This dark existential noir is about searching for lost balance and new life goals after losing one's illusions and honor in the Vietnamese jungle, and upon returning home you discover that nothing is the same as before, and you can only count your losses. No matter where you go, you still feel the mud from the Mekong Delta and for some reason, the image of red poppy fields from the mountain valleys keeps coming back to you. In the end, you realize that it is necessary to return to the one thing that you were so good at... Quarry is an excellent collection of dirty characters, cynical decisions, bloody clashes, hopeless situations, and bitter revelations. It is a series that doesn't rush, keeps many things to itself, and enjoys playing a game with you. The pace might be an obstacle for the younger generation, but I have fallen in love with the special group of "wet work specialists" who solve problems and obstacles for others, and where others speak of dead spots, I find atmosphere and escalating tension. Quarry is a project where the existence of only one season fully satisfies me because I don't need literalness, and sometimes it's better to let your imagination work and come to terms with the fact that the characters keep many secrets to themselves until the very end. Overall impression: 90%.

The documentary series indeed caters to the format of commercial television in terms of its subject matter and presentation, and a slightly more sober approach would not harm it, but overall it adheres to scientific methodology and interestingly presents the work of paleontologists. Unlike many similar films, it does not focus on popular dinosaurs but instead directs its attention to the most dangerous predatory mammals of its era. Overall impression: 90%.

Švankmajer's work has played a significant role in shaping my cinematic taste, and to this day I have a great fondness for it. Perhaps no other director has received as many five-star ratings and praise in reviews from me. I considered his feature films to be one of the few exceptions in the dullness and stagnation of Czech productions. This is the first case in his long filmography where I shrug my shoulders and say that the chosen form is disturbing to me and the result is simply boring in some passages. I have never before found myself looking at my watch during a Švankmajer film. I usually saw his feature films in movie theaters, and the only reason that didn't happen with this one was because it was ignored by movie theaters in southern Bohemia. The Czech master of animation can actually be glad to have a large group of loyal fans who, in this case, I believe have supported him somewhat. This is a tired film where even the visual aspects do not hide the meager budget. Overall impression: 55%.

Michel Ocelot has been trying for many years to create a counterbalance to American animated productions in the spirit of mainstream pop culture and based on classical Disney slapstick. More or less, he succeeds in doing so, although his results are naturally limited from a commercial perspective. I consider this film to be Ocelot's masterpiece - the most original, conceptually densest, and visually remarkable. Flat silhouetted animation is, more than any other Ocelot film, inspired by the work of German artist Lotte Reiniger. The film helps develop the imagination and poetry of everyone who doesn't want to settle for seeing the same things for the hundredth time. However, everyone who grew up with the Smurfs or Ninja Turtles and was satisfied with them will have a problem with this film. Overall impression: 95%. A treat for connoisseurs.

To compare Prince Valiant with an A-grade production like Excalibur (which Anthony Hickox, among other influences, distantly drew inspiration from and sought to at least partially emulate in terms of reception) would be like choosing between a Boo! and a one-star rating. However, while objectively better films may leave you disappointed because of high expectations, there are also films that are so delightfully silly and amateurish that they become charming and entertaining. The acting of most involved is so wooden that I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. It vaguely reminds me of the work of Ed Wood. Overall impression: 35%.

I realized how misleading prejudices are after watching several episodes of Major Case Squad. For many years, based on my experience, I had the impression that the creation of a quality crime series in the Czech Republic was as likely as filming a high-budget sci-fi in Vietnam. And behold, they succeeded. The key is the quality screenwriting, which is based on real criminal cases, and also the fact that an experienced criminal investigator contributed to the script and shared his experiences. Thanks to this, it is credible without losing tension and attractiveness. What I appreciate the most is that it goes its own way and does not seek inspiration from abroad. Czech television has produced many series that are obviously inspired by Scandinavian detective series or American action series, with very mixed results. To some extent, I would perhaps adjust the boundless enthusiasm that the series has aroused. It is very solid, but exceptional perhaps only within the very average Czech drama productions, which have been struggling for a second decade, not knowing what to do next and lagging behind modern television trends. The series has a quality cast, and even Bolek Polívka remembered that he could act and stopped just playing himself. Only Sabina Remundová confirmed that she really did not inherit her mother's acting talent. Overall impression: 85%

I realized how misleading prejudices can be after watching several episodes of this TV series. For years, based on my own experiences, I had the impression that the creation of a high-quality crime series in the Czech Republic was just as likely as the production of a big-budget sci-fi film in Vietnam. And behold, they actually succeeded! The basis lies in the quality screenwriting, which is based on real criminal cases, and also in the fact that an experienced criminal investigator contributed to the script by incorporating their experiences. Thanks to this, it is credible without losing tension and attractiveness. What I appreciate most is that it goes its own way and does not seek inspiration from abroad. Czech television stations have produced many shows that are obviously inspired by Scandinavian detective series or American action dramas, with very mixed results. To some extent, I would perhaps temper the boundless enthusiasm that the show has generated. It is very solid, but exceptional perhaps only among very average Czech dramatic productions, which have been floundering for the past decade, unsure of what to do next and, above all, struggling to keep up with modern television trends. The cast is of high quality, even Bolek Polívka remembered that he could act and stopped playing himself. Perhaps only Sabina Remundová confirmed that she has truly not inherited her mother's acting talent. Overall impression: 85%.

Martin Frič was one of the great stars of the Czech film industry, and it was not difficult for him to engage the most popular and best actors of his time. Although the screenplay is decent (at least from the perspective of current Czech productions), what sets Strictly Secret Premieres apart is precisely the cast and the performances delivered by the actors. I have to give four stars for Jiřina Bohdalová and Jiří Sovák + the final idea with the tank. Overall impression is 70%.

I have never really liked films by Mel Brooks because my sense of humor is simply set differently. On the other hand, the film received a few awards, including an Oscar for the screenplay, and the reviews and comments were very decent, so I eventually invested in The Producers. Although I acknowledge that it is Brooks' best film, I certainly didn't go crazy about it. Honestly speaking, it is the only film where I didn't roll my eyes at the humor used in moments when I felt it was slipping into awkwardness. The most valuable thing is the idea itself, but its execution tends to get lost in it. I miss that refined word humor of someone like Francis Veber and truly clever gags. With the exception of Gene Wilder, the actors in the lead roles didn't sit well with me either. However, I think there was potential here and it would have been interesting if a specialist in comedies had filmed a remake based on a quality screenplay. I haven't seen the new version of this film yet, but according to reviews, it is weaker. Overall impression: 55%.