L'académie de M. Kleks

This would have been so much better as a limited series. It felt like so much of the plot was missing, left on the cutting room floor, in a bid to fit the film into the two and a bit hour run time. Nice cinematography but what little story there was jumped about so made little sense. There was no real character development, no flow & no reason to invest in any of the characters. Virtually no story telling, unless perhaps you're familiar with the book and can fill in the gaps? (I'm not) It doesn't make a lot of sense. Very disappointing as this had so much potential. What an unfortunate waste..

I've watched with sentiments of my childhood.

However despite all that in era of brilliant Fx I expect more. Origigal plot was far from also music terrible.

I believe with opportunity presented and wonderful story with sentimental backgrounds for dozens of people in poland🇵🇱 creater reviled 30% of potential.

If in future they decide to create podroze pana kleksa (Voyage of kleks) im hoping they rethink to use original soundtrack. Nevertheless I truly wish them good luck.

For those wondering what I m talking about you can watching original movies on YouTube but don't think about fx it self. 🤔

Let me start by saying that the original movie (starring Fronczewski) was the wacky movie of my childhood. It was aired on public TV quite frequently. It has to be said that the movie was not a perfect 10-far from it-but I remember it very fondly.

I will not compare it to either the original written work nor the original movie.

I went into this movie with high hopes; I really wanted it to be good.

Now, most of the high-star reviews here are written by Poles who either do not know how basic storytelling should work or who really want this to become the Polish "Harry Potter." And, oh boy, this movie stinks.

1. Setting the premise.

There is none. All the scenes feel deeply disconnected, either by design or due to budget cuts. There is no character development-just a whole lot of disconnected scenes showing the somewhat beautifully written world (according to the book).

2. Production value.

It seems to me it's also quite absent. The practical effects are there, and I do believe they are top-notch, given the CGI era we live in.

All the enclosed environments feel cramped and claustrophobic. While watching the movie, I felt the money leaking into the CGI, and in turn, it seems there was not enough left to make the enclosed spaces grand. The US part of the movie was one of the worst things that happened. Even the cops that the main villain runs across in the "real world" had a strong "I'm not from the US" accent, which is just sad, in my opinion. Surely they could afford a voiceover and/or a consultant.

3. Character development.

Now, this is what I feel strongly about, as I have read reviews online suggesting this might be the aforementioned "Polish Harry Potter" franchise. In a single word: NONE. While watching, you are introduced to the main character, her dreams, and her hopes... aaaand that's it. She just keeps being annoying throughout the whole movie. The rest of the student roster is briefly introduced in somewhat unimportant scenes, and after that... nothing. Not much happens between the characters. No friendships are shown on screen, and no relationships between the characters are ever developed.

4. Acting.

Not there for the teenage roster. Okish for the rest.

5. Music.

Great! Not a single complaint there. The opening scene had me giggling and cheering. Did anyone else get Witcher (CDPR one) vibes from the opening score?

In general, the film lacks direction, forethought, and character development. I would like to say I hope it will get better on the second try (oh yes, the sequel is in the works), but I do not have any high hopes for this franchise.

Kleks Academy, a modern remake of a classic 1980s film based on the book from 1946, impressively stands out in its technical aspects. The visual effects are of high caliber, rivaling those seen in international cinema, indicating a significant advancement in the quality of effects compared to its predecessor. Complementing these visuals, the movie's soundtrack is notable for its quality, adding depth and atmosphere to the scenes. Notable but not to the level of 1980's music, which become iconing for many children of that time

However, a film cannot ride solely on its technical merits, and it's here that Pan Kleks begins to falter. As someone familiar with both the book and the original film, I had high expectations for this adaptation. There was an opportunity for this story to resonate globally, potentially emulating the success of franchises like Harry Potter. Unfortunately, that potential remains unfulfilled.

The primary issue lies in the character development, particularly with Professor Kleks. Despite a solid performance by the actor, the character is diminished by a poorly written script, reducing what should be a central figure to a mere background presence. This lack of character depth is a recurring problem; even the diverse group of children introduced from around the world are relegated to fulfilling stereotypes rather than being fully realized characters.

Narratively, the film struggles with coherence and engagement. The plot feels disjointed and often dull, lacking the compelling storytelling necessary to captivate an audience. Relationships between characters, like that between Adriana and her 'best friend' Albert, are underdeveloped, missing opportunities to build emotional connections or sympathy with the audience.

In this lackluster ensemble, two performances stand out: Danuta Stenka and Sebastian Stankiewicz. Stenka, in her role as one of the antagonists, and Stankiewicz, as Mateusz, bring much-needed vitality to their scenes, eliciting genuine emotional responses such as laughter, fear, or anger. Their efforts, however, are not enough to carry the entire film.

In conclusion, while Kleks Academy excels in its visual and auditory presentation, it falls short in its storytelling and character development. The movie had the potential to introduce this beloved Polish story to a broader audience but ultimately fails to deliver a compelling or coherent narrative. Regrettably, despite its visual and auditory merits, Kleks Academy falls short of realizing its full potential. With a more refined script and visionary direction, this adaptation could have truly honored the cherished story it sought to bring to life.

Guys, if you watched the film in the Netflix translation, you haven't seen it!

I watched this film several times.

First in Ukrainian, because I expected a more correct translation. Then in English and was very upset. And I agree with the critics' reviews in many ways. I really love the fairy tales of Brzechwa. And the films of Gradowski. And I didn't like this show very much.

BUT, not long ago I saw this film in un official Russian translation and was very surprised.

So I watched the Polish original. Yes, I barely understand Polish.

Guys, this is a completely different feeling from the film!!!

It seems to me that Netflix first made a bad translation into English, and then into other languages.

The film is wonderful, it has a lot of symbolism and meaning.

Yes, I still don't like how Tomasz Kot plays here, but his role is not simple.

But I still want to see a continuation.