Pasha's Film Reviews Etc.

8/10 A volcano on Baekdu Mountain which is situated on the Chinese-Korean border is about to erupt. There will be several explosions until the final one that will obliterate both North and South Korea. The only way to stop it is to detonate a nuclear device from within one of the tunnels near mountain. Korean secret services cook up a crazy plan to steal a nuke from their North Korean neighbour, using the help of a North Korean double agent (Korean superstar Byung-Hun Lee) and an inexperienced South Korean commander who has to reluctantly accept the mission when all his colleagues die in the plane crash. Our protagonists will have to face the North Korean army, American special forces, conflicted politicians of South Korea and last but not least - the volcano itself, with each tremor unleashing deadly destruction that can put a stop to the mission at any moment.  ASHFALL doesn't waste time throwing you into the middle of the action, kickstarting wit...

6/10 In the near future where humanity delves deeper into the ocean than it was ever meant to, a group of researchers are fighting for their lives when their underwater base collapses during an earthquake. But was it an earthquake really? And what terrors await them when they venture to the bottom of the ocean floor trying to make it to safety. UNDERWATER is a great example what may happen with an independent film maker when he gets more money to play with, but when the studio restrictions come with it. Director William Eubank, who helmed a mind-bending sci-fi movie THE SIGNAL, now dials down his artistry for the sake of the spectacle. The plot had been done to death - ALIEN, THE THING, DEEP BLUE SEA, you name it. At the heart of it we have Christen Stewart's Norah, the protagonist, and in the first few minutes she is thrown into turmoil, making life changing decisions that will haunt her for the rest of the film. Her story is an interesting one, but it is dimmed and dulled b...

10/10 The year is 1917 and the war is raging across Northern France. Two young British soldiers are entruste d with a mission to deliver a message to save 1600 lives. They only have until sunrise and the clock is ticking. The nerve wracking, adrenaline fuelled journey through hellish landscape has begun. For these two it seems not just their lives but their very souls are at stake, as so much depends on every step they  take. Blockbuster Director Sam Mendes (Skyfall) knows how to deliver gut punches through action and he brings an emotional roller coaster with this real time war thriller, where a few men stand t all in the impossible circumstances and find a way to triumph through sheer faith and will. The movie is shot with one take, seemingly in real time, which gives it a bizarre dreamlike quality. This experimental filmmaking goes far beyond what Hitchcock had  in mind with his movie ROPE and the final cinematic result of 1917 would have made the king of ...

8/10 Danny and his friends are big shot music producers from London having their vacation in a small fishing village. As a prank Danny’s friends dare him to sign up the local Sea Shanties - a troop of singing fisherman who love the folk songs. Danny is reluctant to sign up the band, but as he learns more about the Fisherman’s Friends he realises there may be real potential. It’s only a matter of time until Danny learns he has been pranked, but will he be able to let go of his new obsession? More importantly, will he be able to find a way to be genuinely happy? FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS is what they call these days a high concept drama. Balancing quirky characters, buddy comedy and romance , this is a real life story turned fairy tale, predictable but nonetheless endearing. The less you know of the real events the better off you are - the Fisherman’s Friends road to success is quite a thrill.  The sea views are spectacular, the tunes are catchy and during the film’s two hour ...

9/10 Gabriele meets Mara and sparks fly. It seems he has found the perfect woman - as intelligent as she is beautiful, but there's one problem. Gabriele has a ten year old daughter from a previous marriage and Mara hates children. Gabriele will do anything to protect his secret, even conspire with his ten year old daughter to play along. A chain of hilarious misunderstandings ensues. LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO SOFIA is one of the few films that overdelivers on its simple premise. This is a case where the whole ensemble of actors makes the movie work, and everyone here, even in a two minute episode, is totally and utterly committed. The movie is fast paced, throwing challenge after challenge at the heroes, as Gabriele is tangled deeper in his lies and his connection to Mara gets stronger.  The director Guido Chiesa has had an extensive career making both comedies and serious dramas, so here the two genres are united in an unexpected way. Apart from being a well-paced ...

9/10 When two families from different sides of the tracks end up in the same house only two people know it’s not a coincidence. These two people are going to get married in three weeks time and are about to introduce each other to their respective families. The news will arrive as a shock. As the families of our star crossed lovers decide to separate them at any cost, a chain of misunderstandings and hilarious situations is insured. If you want to get the best value out of AN ALMOST ORDINARY SUMMER, don’t read spoilers or watch the trailer. The biggest twist comes in the beginning and not really a spoiler, but it is better to go and see the movie “blind”. Overall the film is a typical European comedy about the clash of families of different social statuses, but what makes AN ALMOST ORDINARY SUMMER unique is the examination of a topic that only a few decades ago would be unlikely to become the main theme of a mainstream movie, especially a comedy. Not entirely realistic an...

5/10 Francesco is a cop whose success knows no boundaries. Getting promotion after promotion he also manages to maintain a family and personal life balance... until it all goes to hell. His wife leaves him and he is on trial for the murder of his best friend. His only hope for salvation is another buddy from old times - a lawyer with stalking issues, the last man in Town who wants to be in his corner. As the case unravels, old wounds are opened and when the truth is revealed no one will go unscathed. I AM NOT A KILLER is a strange beast. The murder mystery premise is underwhelming, but the movie drags you in with its labyrinthine patchworkie structure. Switching between the different timelines it paints with broad strokes the pic ture of life-long friendship between three boys. What could go wrong? The movie is well acted and superbly shot, its main problem being the script. The two hours of high expectations do not deliver a satisfying ending. The reveal is predictable an...

7/10 Phaim meets Asia at a club where he performs with his band. There is a spark, but there’s also a problem - Phaim’s and Asia’s upbringings are as different as chalk and cheese. Phaim, although born in Italy, is from a conservative Muslim family from Banglad esh and Asia has two moms, a rainbow baby brother and a dad who is a part time rocker and part time actor. These differences are reconciled in the most awkward and hilarious way. BANGLA is a romantic comedy told from Phaim’s point of view with a sarcastic  look at the multiculturalism in modern Italy. The film avoids any criticism, looking for a funny side of everything instead.   Phaim’s relationship with Asia is gentle, genuine and full of chemistry. But it is the episodic roles that shine the most, which i ncludes Phaim’s fabulously dysfunctional family, the members of his music band and Asia’s parents.   T here are a lot of laughs to be had. The director Phaim Bhuiyan who also plays the title...