Alice in Wonderland (2010)

How can we not enjoy Jonny Depp as one crazy fellow? He is just mavellous in whatever character he plays and if that involves a magical world, envisioned by Tim Burton, nothing else could go wrong, right? Well, that is not entirely true. "Alice in Wonderland" has always been a beautiful adventure,enjoyable at any age and time, with enough excitement to leave a reader satisfied and longing for a glimpse of that journey in flesh and blood. Top it off with some 3D footage and the expected result is an unforgettable and hopefully insatiable entertainment.

Unfortunately, Mr. Burton's take on Carrol's imagination has left something to be desired. The characters are well constructed but the story that promises what we haven't yet seen lacks a bit of determination and pace to keep the viewer guessing and interested. The beautiful effects are quite reasonable, given the fact that 3D is becoming a trademark in film making, but after all the said and done, it turns out to be something that I, as a viewer, disregard if the story doesn't grab my attention. "Alice in Wonderland" is okay, but if I am going to believe that falling through the rabbit hole is worth my while, I need enough reason to not want an immediate rescue back up.★★★


Director: Tim Burton

Harry Brown (2009)

It's a great honor to be able to watch an artiest like Michael Caine delivering such an unforgettable performance. "Harry Brown" is an absolute must in every sense, in a story both wonderful and dreadful and a subject that never grows old. It's a wonderful movie where street violence reaches the apex of ignorance and loss of control between law and order.

It's also a perfect portrait of the many situations we're confronted with, while the frustration and the pain gets to a point when it's hard to balance right and wrong. The wonderfully and slowly choreographed tension captures your entire being, putting you on the character's shoes until you feel his anguish and his need to make things right, regardless. "Harry Brown" is one of the best thrillers I had the great opportunity to watch and I truly recommend it not only as an entertainment but also an eye opener, in spite of the fact that, when it comes to law enforcement, it is very difficult to understand which end is up. Fantastic! ★★★★★

Director: Daniel Barber

The Lovely Bones (2009)

The novel by Alice Sebold is an ingenious and interesting story that centers its attention on an infinite and unselfish kind of love that touches and makes you look at life in a different way. "The Lovely Bones" film version captures a certain essence of beauty, leaving you emotionally moved and somehow optimistic. It is gruesome at times and soothing at others, where the impressive performance of Saoirse Ronan plays a big part.

Jackson has given us a dreamlike direction with beautiful music and magical atmosphere, reminding me of "Ghost" with a more futuristic approach, although there were moments when I wish it would fast forward to a more exciting development. The script is quite good, filtering some long passages in the book and the final product has got its charm. It is not fair to compare the whole effect of the book - much more complete - with the big screen translation, but somehow Jackson managed to deliver a very appealing result. Nice. ★★★

Director: Peter Jackson