Necrotongue

The Norwegian version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was really enjoyable except for a few weaker moments. Stellan Skarsgard was great as usual, and the creators provided a perfectly grim atmosphere. I just couldn’t empathize with any of the main characters. Sure, the caregivers shouldn't get intimate with their wards because it's unhygienic, but I do think that in our prisons, the guards should sometimes stand on an inmate's fingers instead of just changing games in their PS 4.

I had to laugh at some of the reviews here (bikes against tanks, etc.). Almost every European army (including the Germans) had cyclist companies or battalions. The infantry divisions at the beginning of the war had to go on foot, so the bikes were a huge advantage for fast movement. Anyway, back to the movie. I enjoyed it. I appreciate the fact that the Danish creators didn’t try to aggrandize the soldiers (the Americans and Russians should learn from them), so the whole film seemed extremely authentic to me. I was also happy to see great shots of the Pzkpfw II and SdKfz 222/223, and the oppressive atmosphere full of helplessness was excellent. Unlike many war blockbusters, it was really well done.

After reading the summary, I expected the film to be nothing special, but I was pleasantly surprised. Alois Švehlík was superb, and Jiří Mádl’s work with this simple theme was very skillful. He both wrote it as well as directed it, and he deserves praise for both. I never liked Jiří Mádl as an actor, but if he keeps on writing and directing so well, I’ll be happy to keep watching his films. I really enjoyed the inconspicuous yet excellent humor, which perfectly offset the dramatic scenes.

I was expecting a comedy and the film certainly didn't lack humor, but it was a bit puerile. If I was twelve, I would probably burst out laughing at all that shit, beavers and cucumbers. I've grown up a little since then, so many of the scenes felt just awkward. Plus, all the events seemed extremely unrealistic – a kind of utopia with a contrived plot.

If I were strictly into romance, I would probably give four stars. I also expected humor, though, and the kind that the film offered was too French for me. The premise wasn’t bad, it's just a shame that the creators didn't make more effort to get more out of it. They had enough time for that in my opinion.

I enjoyed the first season a lot. The modern times are over-filled with silicon (computers, cellphones, implants, etc.), so I love series with a retro vibe and Mad Men are certainly great in this respect. In addition to Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway, I especially appreciated the quality of the script with very well written dialogues.

The finale of the first season was as entertaining as the previous episode. This time, the creators focused more on the character of Betty Draper, but they did not neglect the events at Sterling Cooper and did not forget about other people, so I could see how Peggy found herself at the top and the lowest point of her life during one afternoon.

I had to appreciate the twelfth episode deservedly, because it brought a plot from which everyone could choose their own. For politics lovers, there was a balanced battle over accommodation in the White House between Richard Nixon and J. F. K., party participants were pleased with the office rampage, for believers, there was the death and resurrection of Donald Draper, and there was also a blackmail plot for fans of the crime genre. I liked it all.

An unprecedented event occurred. Although almost the entire episode revolved around Peggy, I did not feel the need to push the fast forward button to advance the plot, and to my own surprise, I quite enjoyed it. Sure, the world is full of more mysterious matters (such as the Bermuda Triangle), but still...

The plot of the tenth episode appeared interesting to me from the beginning, moving from solving Betty's problems on the home front to successes and failures in the advertising world, ending with the lesson that one should not overexert themselves at work as it could have a negative impact on their health.