Christian_alternakid

Man To Man tries hard to be a good movie: it has its heart at the right place, it aspires to be epic and it has a message that no doubt everybody will appreciate. But there lies also some of the problems of this picture. It strives so hard to be good and to get its message across that sometimes the viewer must feel unchallenged. So it is only adequate that the images which are used by this picture are simplistic - Man To Man doesn't let the viewer decide what he thinks is right but is hammering its message in his head. Joseph Fiennes exemplifies this in his role: he does his best to look concerned, genuinely moved and all the other emotions you can express with the single one facial expression his repertoire has to offer. Add that the movie is overlong and loses its speed towards the end you would be easily led to the conclusion that Man To Man is not worth watching. But there are enough points to defend it: it is entertaining, has some humorous scenes and the show-stealing Kristin Scott Thomas. Of course you should not compare it to humanistic masterpieces like The Elephant Man (David Lynch) but you'll be leaving the theatre satisfied. It tries to grab your heart (even if your brain thinks that it is too obvious) and succeeds most of the time.

I've seen Creep as an advance showing at the Fantasy Film Festival in Berlin that was also attended by the director. there are some problems with this movie: first of all there's absolutely no likable character whatsoever. Franka Potente is a slutty German tourist, the guards are arrogant assholes (but that's business as usual in those kind of movies, I think) and the ones that help our "hero" are hopeless junkies. So while I do not have a problem with unusual portrayed characters, I do have a problem when I just don't care as they are running for their lives. the second main problem is a bizarre shift of atmosphere during the film. The beginning is all creepy horror but towards the ending there's more and more trashy (unintended) humour. the performances are OK and the story is so-so: it is just a dirty little horror movie, with a simple plot, stupid characters, some graphic scenes and one genuinely shocking moment (believe me, the first sighting of the creature is nothing you would wanna show your kids). I would not recommend it but for genre fans with a six pack beer at arm's length it could be an enjoyable evening (4/10). Good luck to the director though, who was very nice at the Q&A after the screening.

I don't get why people criticise Jackass The Movie for having "No Plot" - I strongly believe that the movie would be very bad if they had tried to put some structure upon those scenes. they are meant to stay alone and so what?

But now to the philosophical part: The funny thing about Jackass is that almost everybody, even its defenders think that it's stupid. In contrary, most of the Jackass stunts (not the Steve O ones. they are just dangerous...) have a deeper quality - just think about why they are funny (at least to most people watching the movie). They are funny 'cause they put usual habits, sports etc. in a new context - now they seem to be completely absurd. And in essence this adds a whole new meaning to otherwise "normal things". It questions the modern life and asks what happens to things when you put them into another area, another context. The absurdity of modern life is in the core of most of the Jackass stunts. There are so many things which should you make wonder in "real life" what is going on with our Today, but you accept it cause you are used to. Jackass can change your view of things - lets be grateful for that, folks!