'Round Midnight (1986)

Movie (YT): 'Round Midnight (1986). w/ Dexter Gordon (Dale Turner), François Cluzet (Francis Borler), Gabrielle Haker (Berangere), Sandra Reaves-Phillips (Buttercup), Lonette McKee (Darcey Leigh), Christine Pascal (Sylvie), Herbie Hancock (Eddie Wayne), Bobby Hutcherson (Ace). Directed by Bertrand Tavernier. Jazz film based on the lives of pianist Bud Powell and saxophonist Lester Young. The fictional tenorist Dale Turner, who is a musical genius but also an alcoholic, meets jazz fan Francis Borler, who helps him to stay on track. Won an Academy Award Won for Best Music, Original Score (Herbie Hancock). The music for this film was entirely recorded on the set. In real life, Francis was the French author Francis Paudras, who had befriended Powell during his Paris expatriate days and told the story in the memoir/biography 'Dance of the Infidels'. Paints a moving picture of the life of a jazz musician in the early sixties. Acting and dialogs of Dexter Gordon are superb. Music is breathtaking, peaking in the performance of 'How long has this been going on' with Lonette McKee and Dexter Gordon. Overall rating 8 out of 10.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Movie: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). w/ Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Martin Freeman (Bilbo), Richard Armitage (Thorin). Directed by Peter Jackson. Bilbo Baggins, under the guidance of Gandalf, sets out on a journey to the Lonely Mountain with a group of Dwarves to reclaim their stolen mountain home. Prequel to Lord of the Rings. Shows how Bilbo found the ring. Story too slow. Overall much weaker that LOTR movies, drags on at times. Overall rating 5 out of 10.

Goyas Geister (2006)

Movie: Goyas Geister --- Goya's Ghosts (2006): w/ Javier Bardem (Lorenzo), Natalie Portman (Inés / Alicia). Directed by Milos Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus). Some dark moments, good pace, some historic facts on the Spanish Inquisition in the late 18th century. Little about Goya and his life, rather than using Goya as an excuse to tell a tale of his time. Overall rating: 6 out of 10.

The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970)

Movie (YT): The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970). w/ Roger Moore (Harold Pelham), Hildegard Neil (Eve Pelham). Directed by Basil Dearden. Good idea, but pace too slow, scope too narrow. Ending not consistent and somewhat disappointing. Overall rating 6 out of 10.

Stargate (1994)

Movie (YT): Stargate (1994). w/ Kurt Russell (Col. Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neil), James Spader (Dr. Daniel Jackson). Directed by Roland Emmerich.Together with the military, a somewhat nutty specialist for hieroglyphics travels to a distant galaxy where they encounter an ancient civilization. Story flat. Some things unexplained. Mediocre acting and meager character development. Overall rating: 5 out of 10.

Die Liebe in den Zeiten der Cholera (2007)

Movie: Love in the Time of Cholera --- Die Liebe in den Zeiten der Cholera (2007). w/ Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Benjamin Bratt. Directed by Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Poet becomes rejected by his true love and waits until after her husband's death 52 years later to make his next move on her. Probably good movie, but story very slow, too sappy, annoying. Overall rating 3 out of 10.

Lifeforce (1985)

Movie (YT): Lifeforce (1985): w/ Steve Railsback (Col. Tom Carlsen), Peter Firth (Col. Colin Caine), Frank Finlay (Dr. Hans Fallada), Mathilda May (Space Girl), Patrick Stewart (Dr. Armstrong). Directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Poltergeist). Sci-Fi, horror. Manned space mission investigating comet Halley finds alien lifeform in the shape of a beautiful women and two male companions. After bringing them to earth, it becomes apparent that they are vampires that draw the lifeforce from their victims. Zombie scenes remind of Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983) and therefore lack originality. Story rather flat. Some gruesome scenes, some good special effects for its time. Mathilda May plays most of here role nude. Overall rating 6 out of 10.

Herr Lehmann (2003)

Movie: Herr Lehmann (2003, in German). Directed by Leander Haußmann (Sonneallee). w/ Christian Ulmen (Herr Lehmann), Detlev Buck (Karl), Katja Danowski (Katrin), Janek Rieke (Kristall-Rainer). A few days in the life of barkeeper 'Frank' in Berlin-Kreuzberg in the days just before the wall came down. Too many losers, but some funny, ironic moments. Overall rating 6 out of 10.

Ulysses (1954)

Movie (YT): Ulysses (1954). Directed by Mario Camerini. w/ Kirk Douglas (Ulysses), Silvana Mangano (Penelope, Circe), Anthony Quinn (Antinoo). Abridged story of Odysseus told after the ancient Greek poet Homer. Romantic action film. Overall rating 6 out of 10.

Office Space (1999)

Movie: Office Space (1999). w/ Ron Livingston (Peter Gibbons), Jennifer Aniston (Joanna). Directed by Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head). Partly based on the animated short 'Office Space' from 1991. The life of an abused and frustrated office worker changes after he sees a hypnotherapist, as suddenly everything works out in his favor. Funny. Just like the real corporate world. Overall rating 8 out of 10.

Der Seewolf (1971)

TV-Mini Series (YT): Der Seewolf (The Sea Wolf, 1971), Episodes 1 - 4 (in German). After the novel 'The Sea Wolf' and other stories by Jack London. w/ Edward Meeks, Raimund Harmstorf.  Directed by Wolfgang Staudte, Alecu Croitoru, Sergiu Nicolaescu. Produced by Walter Ulbrich. Mostly filmed in Romania. After being shipwrecked in the bay of San Francisco in 1906, the writer Humphrey van Weyden (Meeks) is rescued by the sealer 'Ghost' bound for the South Seas and captained by Wolf Larsen (Harmstorf), who is also called 'Sea Wolf' for his cruel and immoral take on life. But Weyden is puzzled by the fact that Larsen is also well read. It dawns on him that, as juveniles, they had been friends, although Larsen does not seem to remember their time together. Weyden ultimately escapes from the 'Ghost' and survives under extreme circumstances. Years later, on his own ship, Weyden tracks down Larsen to take his revenge. Good story, though told lengthy at times with stretches of little activity. Overall rating 7 out of 10.

Barbarella (1968)

Movie (YT): Barbarella (1968) w/ Jane Fonda (Barbarella), John Phillip Law (Pygar), Anita Pallenberg (The Great Tyrant), Milo O'Shea (Concierge/Durand-Durand). Directed by Roger Vadim. Barbarella travels from Earth to the planet Lythion to find Duran Duran, who turns out to have become a mad, evil scientist. Poor story, poor special effects, even for it's time. Fonda is very pretty and shows some skin. Film encourages free love. Overall rating 4 out 10

Highlander (1986)

Movie (YT): Highlander (1986). w/ Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, Roxanne Hart. Directed by Russell Mulcahy. Music by Queen. Immortal Scottish swordsman must fight his last opponent in New York City. Cult movie, though little story. Overall rating: 6 out of 10.

Contact (1997)

Movie (YT): Contact (1997). w/ Jodie Foster (Eleanor Arroway), Matthew McConaughey (Palmer Joss), Tom Skerrittc (David Drumlin, former boss), William Fichtner (Kent, blind radioastronomer), James Woods (Michael Kitz, security advisor). Based on the novel by Carl Sagan. While working on a SETI program, Ellie receives a signal presumed to be sent by an a advanced extraterrestial species. It contains a blueprint for a device that may allow for interstellar travel. Great acting. Foster is superb. Conflicts of science and religion. Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Skyfall (2012)

Movie: Skyfall (2012). w/ Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judy Dench, Naomie Harris. Directed by Sam Mendes. James Bond is trying to capture the bad guys while M is under attack. Best Bond movie so far, as there finally is a bit of a story. Some good special effects as expected. Overall rating 7 out of 10.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Movie (iTunes): Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008). w/ Rebecca Hall (Vicky), Scarlett Johansson (Cristina), Javier Bardem (Juan Antonio). Written and directed by Woody Allen. Two girlfriends on vacation in Spain both fall in love with a painter. Then his ex-wife (Penélope Cruz) enters the scene. Typical Woody Allen film. Entertaining. Overall rating 5 out of 10. 

Quartier Lointain (2010)

Movie (iTunes): Vertraute Fremde (Quartier Lointain, 2010). w/ Pascal Greggory (Thomas Verniaz / Zorn (adulte)), Jonathan Zaccaï (Bruno Verniaz, le père), Alexandra Maria Lara (Anna Verniaz née Zorn, la mère) Directed by Sam Garbarski. Man mysteriously returns to the village of his childhood and finds out why his father ran out on the family. Quiet movie. Overall rating 5 out of 10.

The Phantom Planet (1961)

Movie (YT): The Phantom Planet (1961). Science fiction film. w/ Dean Fredericks (Capt. Frank Chapman), Coleen Gray (Liara), Richard Kiel (The Solarite; Kiel known from James Bond movies). Directed by William Marshall. In search of a lost space ship, pilot Chapman lands on the nearby asteroid Rheton, whose advanced civilization is batteling an enemy (the Solarites). B-movie character. Cannot compare special effects to today's computer-generated imagery (CGI). Story simple. Flash-Gordon-comic-like. Overall rating 5 out of 10.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

DVD: Moonrise Kingdom (2012). w/ Bruce Willis (Captain Sharp), Edward Norton (Scout Master Ward), Bill Murray (Walt Bishop), Frances McDormand (Laura Bishop), Tilda Swinton (Social Services), Jared Gilman (Sam), Kara Hayward (Suzy). Directed by Wes Anderson. Writers: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola. Teenage boy and girl on a New England island fall in love and run away, stirring up the towns as they conduct a major search. Ensemble cast movie (i.e. no main actors). Odd style. Nerdy. Funny moments, but lacks real highlights. Overall rating 5 out of 10.

Mission to Mars (2000)

Movie (YT): Mission to Mars (2000). Directed by Brian De Palma (Mission: Impossible, The Untouchables); w/ Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins, Don Cheadle, Connie Nielsen, Jerry O'Connell. When a first manned mission to Mars fails, a rescue team is sent to find out what happened. Does not deliver. Some good special effects for its time (e.g. solar system animation scene; descent to the Marsian surface), but story simple and too sappy. Lacks humor. Plenty of factual errors. Overall rating 6 out of 10.