The Karate Kid | Going the Distance

Cinema reviews for September 16

Jason Pirodsky

Written by Jason Pirodsky Published on 15.09.2010 23:53:42 (updated on 15.09.2010) Reading time: 19 minutes

The Karate Kid
Rating:
Directed by Harald Zwart. Starring Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Rongguang Yu, Zhensu Wu, Zhiheng Wang, Zhenwei Wang, Jared Minns, Shijia Lü, Yi Zhao, Bo Zhang, Luke Carberry, Cameron Hillman, Ghye Samuel Brown, Rocky Shi, Ji Wang. Written by Christopher Murphey, Robert Mark Kamen.
Showtimes
IMDb link
   

2010´s The Karate Kid, a remake of John G. Avildsen´s iconic 1984 film, is competently made and executed, with charismatic lead performances by Jackie Chan and (especially) Jaden Smith. But – stop me if you´ve heard this one before – it doesn´t live up to the original. As watchable and (at times) likable and even touching as this movie is, it ultimately comes across as bland and disposable entertainment.

It´s not that the material isn´t fresh anymore; it wasn´t fresh in ´84, or even in ´76, when Avildsen made the similarly-plotted Rocky. 2010´s Karate Kid just doesn´t offer up enough personality, it doesn´t strike any resonant pop culture chords. There´s nothing like Joe Esposito´s You´re the Best on the soundtrack (its replacement? Justin Bieber´s Never Say Never). No Cobra Kai. No “sweep the leg!” No “wax on, wax off,” though they do try something similar with a jacket. “Drop it. Hang it up. Put it on. Take it off.” I don´t think that´s gonna catch on.

There´s not even any karate here. This version takes place in China, with Mr. Han (Chan) training his young protégé in the art of (of course) kung fu. It´s a cash-grab, brand-recognition, our-audience-won´t-even-know thing, but the film would´ve survived better – without such direct comparison to the original – under its working title, The Kung Fu Kid. I´m sure Kung Fu (as in Panda) means more than Karate Kid to the Justin Bieber crowd, anyway.

Jaden Smith (son of Will and Jada Pinkett) stars as Dre Parker, a young grade-schooler who is transplanted from Detroit to Beijing along with his mother (Taraji P. Henson). He doesn´t speak a word of Chinese, but it´s OK, nearly everyone he encounters speaks perfect English. He makes a quick American friend upon his arrival (who is never seen again), chats up a pretty local girl (Wenwen Han) at the playground, and then gets the shit kicked out of him by the neighborhood bullies, led by Cheng (Zhenwei Wang in the William Zabka role), who don´t take kindly to his, uh, existence.

The kids here are of the preteen variety, which adds an interesting (if uncomfortable) spin to the violent fight scenes (Ralph Macchio was 22 when the original was released, twice Smith´s age here). The handyman Mr. Han steps in to save Dre from his attackers, which he does by redirecting their punches toward each other. It´s a nice fight scene, surprisingly well-edited, but more than a bit unusual to see the middle-aged Chan disposing of 12-year-olds.

Han visits the bullies´ instructor to make peace, but instead finds John Kreese reincarnated as Master Li (Rongguang Yu), who demands a fight before they can leave – either with him or the boy. Han agrees to train Dre, and have him fight in an upcoming tournament. Li (as Kreese was in the original) is the real villain here, but he´s so arbitrarily over-the-top evil he comes across a joke; you wouldn´t believe someone like this could actually become a martial arts instructor, but then again, a similar situation is described in Jessica Yu´s documentary Protagonist.

It might not seem like I have the highest regard for The Karate Kid, but I just can´t help comparing it to the original; while watching the movie, I was stunned at how effective it is (especially considering where director Harald Zwart is coming from, namely The Pink Panther 2). No, this film is fluid and entirely fun despite some length and pacing issues (especially in the second half, following countless training montages).

Chan is good in a more weighty role than usual (though fans take note – he only has the one short fight scene) but he´s overshadowed by the vibrant, good-natured, puppy-dog-eyed Smith, who has all the charisma of his father. Cinematography by Roger Pratt is often remarkable; the use of color frequently reminded me of Zhang Yimou.

For a little over two hours, 2010´s Karate Kid works just fine. Anything more than that, however, and you´re asking too much; in a few months time, this will be a forgotten exercise while the 25-year-old original still burns bright.

Note:The Karate Kid is screening in a Czech-dubbed version in most cinemas, but you can catch it in English (with Czech subtitles) at Palace Cinemas Slovanský dům and Cinestar Anděl.

***

 

Going the Distance
Rating:
Directed by Nanette Burstein. Starring Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate, Ron Livingston, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Jim Gaffigan, Natalie Morales, Kelli Garner, June Diane Raphael, Rob Riggle, Sarah Burns, Terry Beaver, Matt Servitto, Leighton Meester. Written by Geoff LaTulippe.
Showtimes
IMDb link

Going the Distance has received some vicious reviews and flopped at the US box office, which is a real shame. Nanette Burstein´s film isn´t revolutionary, but it is remarkable given the current state of the romantic comedy genre.

More specifically, raunchy, R-rated romantic comedy; Going the Distance is cut from the same cloth as a number of films that have tried to breed your traditional Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan chick flick with more guy-friendly Judd Apatow-style movie. This subgenre traditionally gives us films like What Happens in Vegas, The Ugly Truth, or other fare so vile you´ll need to cleanse your soul afterward with an Ingmar Bergman marathon.

And now there´s Going the Distance, and I cannot stress enough how wonderfully decent this movie is. The comedy works, the romance works, the characters aren´t making idiots out of themselves or biting off each other´s head throughout the film before arbitrarily shacking up at the end. It´s not perfect – the storytelling is a mess, and there´s never enough plot to really sustain the film – but it´s just so refreshingly ‘OK´.

Justin Long stars as Garrett, a mildly unhappy music exec who has just broken up with his girlfriend. Drew Barrymore is Erin, a harried summer intern at a New York City newspaper. The two meet cute over an arcade game of Centipede at a local bar, hit it off and spend the night together. Neither is looking for anything long-term – he´s just out of a relationship, she goes back to Stanford in six weeks – but they fall in love anyway, and are eventually forced into a long-distance relationship.

With the title and plot, Going the Distance seems to have labeled itself as the ‘long-distance relationship´ movie. In reality, that´s just a plot device – Barrymore and Long are together for most of the running time, and only rarely do we dig into the realities of a long-distance relationship, like Skype and phone sex.

And that is, bizarrely, all the story we get here. Will she move to New York? Will he move to California? Will they stick together or will they drift apart? There´s little arguing between Erin and Garrett here, no miscommunication, no question of fidelity, and for that break in the traditional formula I was eternally grateful. It does, however, leave us a formula film with little formula to sustain itself.

But Burstein, with a background in documentaries (American Teen and, with Brett Morgen, The Kid Stays in the Picture and On the Ropes) always keeps things lively and realistic. Characters make decisions with their heads instead of their hearts, almost unheard of in the genre.

Barrymore and Long are likable (and apparently a real-life couple, though they could´ve fooled me) but an excellent supporting cast steals the show. Jason Sudekis and (especially) Charlie Day (of It´s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) are hilarious as Garrett´s best friends; ditto Christina Applegate as Erin´s sister.

***

Also opening: Luc Besson’s The Extraordinary Adventures of Adčle Blanc-Sec (showtimes | IMDb), an adventure-comedy based on the popular French comic. Screening in French with Czech subtitles.

Review Archive
  
14.11.16: Hacksaw Ridge ★★★
10.11.16: Arrival ★★★½ | Snowden ★★½ 
02.11.16: The Accountant ★★★
26.10.16: Doctor Strange ★★★½
20.10.16: Jack Reacher : Never Go Back ★★½
13.10.16: Inferno ★★
06.10.16: The Girl on the Train ★½
04.10.16: Deepwater Horizon ★★★Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children ★★½
28.09.16: Anthropoid ★★★½ | The Magnificent Seven ★★★
21.09.16: Café Society ★★½
14.09.16: Mechanic: Resurrection ★★★ | Blood Father ★★
07.09.16: Sully ★★★★ | Don’t Breathe ★★★ | Nerve ★★
30.08.16: Star Trek Beyond ★★★ | Sausage Party ★★½
25.08.16: Ben-Hur ★★
18.08.16: War Dogs ★★★½
11.08.16: The Shallows ★★½
04.08.16: Suicide Squad ★★
30.07.16: Jason Bourne ★★★ | Ghostbusters ★★
23.07.16: Captain Fantastic ★★★ | Lights Out ★★½
07.07.16: The Legend of Tarzan ★★
23.06.16: Independence Day: Resurgence ★★½
16.06.16: Central Intelligence ★★½
09.06.16: Warcraft ★½ | The Conjuring 2 ★★★
02.06.16: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows ★★½ | The Nice Guys ★★★½
31.05.16: Maggie’s Plan ★★★
26.05.16: Alice Through the Looking Glass ★★ | Mother’s Day ★½
23.05.16: How to Be Single ★★ | Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising ★½
19.05.16: X-Men: Apocalypse ★★★
12.05.16: The Angry Birds Movie ★★★ 
05.05.16: Captain America: Civil War ★★★
21.04.16: The Huntsman: Winter’s War ★★ | Hardcore Henry ★★★½
18.04.16: Colonia ★★Before I Wake ★★
14.04.16: The Witch ★★★½ | 10 Cloverfield Lane ★★★ | The 5th Wave ★½
07.04.16: Spotlight ★★★½London Has Fallen ★½ | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 ★
31.03.16: Daddy’s Home ★★½ | The Divergent Series: Allegiant ★½
24.03.16: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ★★½
10.03.16: The Brothers Grimsby ★★★ | Brooklyn ★★★½
03.03.16: Hail, Caesar! ★★★½ 
25.02.16: Gods of Egypt ★★
18.02.16: Zoolander 2 ★★½ | The Boy ★★½
11.02.15: Deadpool ★★★
04.02.15: 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi ★★★½ | The Danish Girl ★★★
28.01.16: The Finest Hours ★★★ | Ride Along 2 ★★ | Fifty Shades of Black ★
24.01.16; The Big Short ★★★½ | Joy ★★★ | Creed ★★★
21.01.16: Secret in Their Eyes ★★
14.01.16: The Revenant ★★★½
07.01.16: The Hateful Eight ★★★★ | Point Break ★½
01.01.16: A Perfect Day ★★½ | Miss You Already ★★
17.12.15: Star Wars: The Force Awakens ★★★½ 
10.12.15: Room ★★★★ | Krampus ★★★ | Love the Coopers ★
03.12.15: Bridge of Spies ★★★½In the Heart of the Sea ★★★
26.11.15: Victor Frankenstein ★★
19.11.15: By the Sea ★★★½The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 ★★½ | Black Mass ★★½
12.11.15: Steve Jobs ★★★½ | Visions ★½
05.11.15: Spectre ★★½ | Macbeth ★★★½ 
29.10.15: Sicario ★★★
22.10.15: Burnt ★★ | The Last Witch Hunter ★½ | Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension ★
15.10.15: Crimson Peak ★★★ | Legend ★★★ | The Program ★★½
08.10.15: The Walk ★★★ | Youth ★★★½ | Pan ★½
01.10.15: The Martian ★★★½
24.09.15: Everest ★★★½
17.09.15: Love ★★★½ | Straight Outta Compton ★★★ | Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials ★★½
10.09.15: American Ultra ★★ | Sinister 2 ★★
03.06.15: Ricki and the Flash ★★★½ | We Are Your Friends ★★½ | The Transporter Refueled ★½
27.08.15: Vacation ★½ | Hitman: Agent 47 ★★
20.08.15: The Gift ★★★½ | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ★★½
13.08.15: Fantastic Four ★½ | Self/Less ★★★
06.08.15: Amy ★★★½ | Trainwreck ★★★ | The Age of Adaline ★★½
30.07.15: Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation ★★★½ | Irrational Man ★★
23.07.15: Southpaw ★★½ | Paper Towns ★★★ | Inside Out ★★★½
16.07.15: Ant-Man ★★★½ | Magic Mike XXL ★★★
09.07.15: Terminator Genisys ★★★ | Far from the Madding Crowd ★★★ | Slow West ★★
02.07.15: Ted 2 ★★★
25.06.15: Minions ★★★ | Woman in Gold ★★★ | Dark Places ★★½
18.06.15: Entourage ★★½ | Unfriended ★★½ | Big Game ★★ | Insidious: Chapter 3 ★★★
11.06.15: Jurassic World ★★½
04.06.15: Danny Collins ★★★ | Spy ★★★
28.05.15: San Andreas ★★ | Child 44 ★½
21.05.15: Poltergeist ★★
14.05.15: Mad Max: Fury Road ★★★½ | Pitch Perfect 2 ★★
07.05.15: Jimmy’s Hall ★★★
30.04.15: Avengers: Age of Ultron ★★½ | Ex Machina ★★★★ | She’s Funny That Way ★★★
23.04.15: The Face of an Angel ★ | Shaun the Sheep Movie ★★★½
16.04.15: The Duke of Burgundy ★★★★ | A Little Chaos ★★★ | Run All Night ★★★ | It Follows ★★½ | Still Alice ★★½
02.04.15: Furious 7 ★★½ | The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ★★ | Into the Woods ★★
26.03.15: The Water Diviner ★★★ | Home ★★★
19.03.15: Song of the Sea ★★★★
19.03.15: The Gunman ★★★ | Cinderella ★★★ | Insurgent ★½
12.03.15: Chappie ★★★ | The Lazarus Effect ★★
05.03.15: American Sniper ★★★ | Wild ★★½
26.02.15: Ghoul ★★ | Focus ★★½ | The Theory of Everything ★★½
19.02.15: Kingsman: The Secret Service ★★★
12.02.15: Fifty Shades of Grey ★★½
05.02.15: Jupiter Ascending ★★½ | Unbroken ★★★ | Big Eyes ★★½
29.01.15: Nightcrawler ★★★★ | Whiplash ★★★★ | The Imitation Game ★★½
22.02.15: Birdman ★★★½ | Stonehearst Asylum ★★★
15.01.15: Blackhat ★★★★ | Taken 3 ★★ | Love, Rosie ★★
08.01.15: Seventh Son ★½ | St. Vincent ★★★
25.12.14: Exodus: Gods and Kings ★★
18.12.14: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ★★½
11.12.14: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies ★★★
04.12.14: Dumb and Dumber To ★★ | Jimmy P. ★★★ | Finding Vivian Maier ★★★
27.11.14: Horrible Bosses 2 ★★★ | Ouija ★½
20.11.14: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 ★★★
13.11.14: Fury ★★★½ | Get on Up ★★½ | Jessabelle ★½
06.11.14: Interstellar ★★★½
30.10.14: A Walk Among the Tombstones ★★★ | Maps to the Stars ★★★
23.10.14: John Wick ★★★ | The Judge ★★★
16.10.14: Dracula Untold ★½ | The Best of Me ★½
09.10.14: Annabelle ★★ | 20,000 Days on Earth ★★½ | The Tribe ★★★★
02.10.14:Gone Girl ★★★★
25.09.14: The Equalizer ★★★ | I Origins ★★★½
18.09.14: The Maze Runner ★★★ | Before I Go to Sleep ★ | If I Stay ★★ | Wrong Cops ★★★
11.09.14: The Giver ★★½ | And So It Goes ★★
05.09.14: A Most Wanted Man ★★★½ | As Above, So Below ★½
03.09.14: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For ★★ | The Hundred-Foot Journey ★★½
21.08.14: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ★★½ | Sex Tape ★½
14.08.14:Boyhood ★★★★ | The Expendables 3 ★★
07.08.14: Lucy ★★★ | Magic in the Moonlight ★★ | Into the Storm ★★
31.07.14: Guardians of the Galaxy ★★★★ | Purge: Anarchy ★★ | Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? ★★★½
24.07.14: Hercules ★
17.07.14: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ★★★½
10.07.13:Joe ★★★★ | 22 Jump Street ★★½ | Begin Again ★★★
03.07.14:Deliver Us from Evil ★★
26.06.14: Transformers: Age of Extinction ★★★
12.06.14: A Million Ways to Die in the West ★★½ | Grace of Monaco ★
05.06.14: Edge of Tomorrow ★★★½ | The Fault in Our Stars ★★
29.05.14: Neighbors ★★ | Maleficent ★★★
22.05.14:X-Men: Days of Future Past ★★★
15.05.14:Godzilla ★★★
08.05.14:The Physician ★★½
01.05.14: The Other Woman ★★ | Divergent ★★½ | Brick Mansions ★★
24.04.14: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ★★½ | Endless Love ★
17.04.14: Transcendence ★★½ | The Double ★★★ | 3 Days to Kill ★½
10.04.14: A Long Way Down ★ | The Invisible Woman ★★½
03.04.14: Captain America: The Winter Soldier ★★★
27.03.14: Noah ★★★½ | Only Lovers Left Alive ★★★ | Her ★★★★
20.03.14:Pompeii ★★
13.03.14: The Grand Budapest Hotel ★★★★ | Need for Speed ★★½ | The Railway Man ★★★
06.03.14: 300: Rise of an Empire ★★★ | Philomena ★★★½
27.02.14: The Monuments Men ★★★ | Non-Stop ★★★
20.02.14: Inside Llewyn Davis ★★★★ | Saving Mr. Banks ★★★
13.02.14: Winter’s Tale ★½ | One Chance ★★
06.02.14:RoboCop ★★½Labor Day ★★★
30.01.14: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit ★★★ | August: Osage County ★★★ | I, Frankenstein ★½
23.01.14: 12 Years a Slave ★★★★ | American Hustle ★★★ | Dallas Buyers Club ★★★½ | Legend of Hercules ★½
20.01.14: Nymphomaniac: Volume I ★★★½ | Nymphomaniac: Volume II ★★★
16.01.14: The Wolf of Wall Street ★★★★ | The Book Thief ★★
09.01.14: Lone Survivor ★★★½ | Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones ★
02.01.14: 47 Ronin ★★ | Grudge Match ★★½
26.12.13:The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ★★★
12.12.13: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug ★★★½ | All Is Lost ★★★★
05.12.13: Filth ★★★ | Oldboy ★★½
28.11.13: The Counselor ★★★★ | Delivery Man ★★★ | The Factory ★½
21.11.13: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ★★★½ | Captain Phillips ★★★★
14.11.13: Byzantium ★★★ | Family ★★ | Insidious 2 ★★½ | Redemption ★★ | Pervert’s Guide to Ideology ★★★½
07.11.13: Thor: The Dark World ★★½ | About Time ★★½ | The Butler ★★★
31.10.13: Ender’s Game ★★★ | This is the End ★★★½
24.10.13: The World’s End ★★★½ | Machete Kills ★★
17.10.13: Escape Plan ★★½ | Don Jon ★★★ | Broken ★★★
10.10.13: Prisoners ★★★ | 2 Guns ★★★
03.10.13: Gravity ★★★★ | Rush ★★★½ | Metallica: Through the Never ★★★½
26.09.13: Runner Runner ★★ | Bernie ★★★½
19.09.13:Diana ★★½ | Springsteen & I ★★★½
12.09.13: The Best Offer ★★★½ | Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones ★
05.09.13: Riddick ★★★ | One Direction: This Is Us ★½
29.08.13: Elysium ★★★½ | We’re the Millers ★★★
22.08.13: Kick-Ass 2 ★★½
15.08.13: Jobs ★★½ | The Purge ★ | Grown Ups 2 ★
08.08.13: The Congress ★★★½ | Pain & Gain ★★½ | Lovelace ★★
01.08.13: Blue Jasmine ★★★★ | Red 2 ★★ | The Heat ★★½
25.07.13: The Wolverine ★★★ | The Conjuring ★★★½ | Violet & Daisy ★★
18.07.13: R.I.P.D. ★★½ | White House Down ★★½ | Behind the Candelabra ★★★½
11.07.13: Pacific Rim ★★★ | Before Midnight ★★★★ | The Internship ★★½
04.07.13: The Lone Ranger ★★★
27.06.13:World War Z ★★★
20.06.13: Man of Steel ★★ | The Bling Ring ★★½
13.06.13: Now You See Me ★★★ | Trance ★★½ | After Earth ★½
06.06.13: Only God Forgives ★★★★ | Star Trek Into Darkness ★★★
30.05.13:The Hangover Part III ★★
23.05.13:Fast & Furious 6 ★★½
16.05.13:The Great Gatsby ★★½
09.05.13: The Big Wedding ★½ | The Call ★★½
02.05.13:Iron Man 3 ★★★½ | Identity Thief ★★ | Scary MoVie ★
25.04.13:The Dyatlov Pass Incident ★½Broken City ★★½ | Safe Haven ★½
18.04.13: Oblivion ★★★ | The Company You Keep ★★½ | Dark Skies ★½ | I Give it a Year ★★½
11.04.13: Olympus Has Fallen ★★Snitch ★★½ | Jack the Giant Slayer ★★★
04.04.13:Evil Dead ★★★½ | Side Effects ★★★½ | Arbitrage ★★★½ | Stand Up Guys ★★
28.03.13: G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation ★★½ | The Host ★ | A Haunted House ★
21.03.13:The Croods ★★★Spring Breakers ★★★½ | Mama ★★★ | Gambit ★½
14.03.13: A Good Day to Die Hard ★½ | Searching for Sugar Man ★★★★ | 21 & Over ★★
07.03.13: Oz: The Great and Powerful ★★★
28.02.13:Silver Linings Playbook ★★★★ | Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters ★½
21.02.13: Zero Dark Thirty ★★★½ | Flight ★★★½ | Hyde Park on Hudson ★★
14.02.13:Beautiful Creatures ★
07.02.13: Hitchcock ★★½ | The Last Stand ★★ | Maniac ★★★½
31.01.13:The Impossible ★★★½ | Gangster Squad ★½ | Upside Down ★½
24.01.13:Lincoln ★★★½ | Movie 43 ★★ | Great Expectations ★★
17.01.13:Django Unchained ★★★★ 
10.01.13:The Master ★★★★ | Alex Cross ★
03.01.13: Les Misérables ★★½ | Frankenweenie ★★★½
27.12.12:Jack Reacher ★★★
20.12.12:Life of Pi ★★★ | Pitch Perfect ★★
13.12.12: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ★★★½ 
05.12.12:Anna Karenina ★★★
29.11.12:Argo ★★★★ | Seven Psychopaths ★★★★
22.11.12: Cloud Atlas ★★★★ | Chasing Mavericks ★★★ | Silent Hill: Revelation 3D ★½
15.11.12: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 ★★½Wreck-It Ralph ★★★
8.11.12: End of Watch ★★★½ 
1.11.12: Sinister ★★★½ 
25.10.12: Skyfall ★★★½ | Samsara ★★★★ | George Harrison: Living in the Material World ★★★½
18.10.12: Paranormal Activity 4 ★★ | Bachelorette ★★
11.10.12:Looper ★★★★
4.10.12:Taken 2 ★½ | The Possession ★★½
27.9.12:Savages ★★★ | Hit and Run ★★★ | The Watch ★★½
20.9.12:Lawless ★★★ | The Words ★★ | Paranorman ★★★½
16.9.12:Brave ★★★ | 7 Days in Havana ★★★
13.9.12:Hope Springs ★★★ | Resident Evil: Retribution ★★
6.9.12:The Expendables 2 ★★★
30.8.12:Step Up Revolution ★★
16.8.12:Total Recall ★½
9.8.12:The Bourne Legacy ★★★ | Beasts of the Southern Wild ★★★★ | Cosmopolis ★★★
2.8.12:Ted ★★★
26.7.12:The Dark Knight Rises ★★★½ | The Angel’s Share ★★★
19.7.12:Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter ★★ | To Rome with Love
12.7.12:The Amazing Spider-Man ★★½ | Moonrise Kingdom ★★★★ | Magic Mike ★★★ | Iron Sky
28.6.12:Ice Age: Continental Drift ★★★
21.6.12:What to Expect When You’re Expecting ★½ | Piranha 3DD ★½
14.6.12:Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted ★★½ | A Few Best Men ★★
7.6.12:Prometheus ★★★★
31.5.12:Men in Black 3 ★★½Snow White and the Huntsman ★★ | 2 Days in New York ★★★
27.5.12:The Pirates! Band of Misfits ★★★½
24.5.12:Get the Gringo ★★★ | Lockout ★★½ | Urbanized ★★★
17.5.12:The Dictator ★★★
10.5.12:Dark Shadows ★★★ | StreetDance 2 ★½
3.5.12:The Avengers ★★★½ | Salmon Fishing in the Yemen ★★★
26.4.12:The Raven ★★½
19.4.12:Battleship ★★½ | The Lucky One ★★½ | This Must Be the Place ★★★ | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ★★½ | Hysteria ★★½
12.4.12:We Bought a Zoo ★★★ | The Cold Light of Day ★½ | One for the Money ★
5.4.12:American Reunion ★★★
29.3.12:Wrath of the Titans ★★ | The Vow
22.3.12:The Hunger Games ★★★ | Bel Ami ★★★ | We Need to Talk About Kevin ★★★½
15.3.12:The Lorax ★★½
8.3.12:John Carter ★★★ | Haywire ★★★ | The Grey ★★★
5.3.12:The Chemical Brothers: Don’t Think ★★★★
1.3.12:Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance ★★ | The Iron Lady ★½ | The Devil Inside ★
23.2.12:War Horse ★★★½ | The Woman in Black ★★★ | My Week with Marilyn ★★½ | This Means War ★½
16.2.12:The Artist ★★★★ | Shame ★★★★ | Safe House ★★½
9.2.12:The Phantom Menace 3D ★★★ | Man on a Ledge ★★½ | The Ides of March ★★★½ | Jack and Jill ★
2.2.12:Hugo ★★★★ | Chronicle ★★★ | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ★★½ | Perfect Sense ★★½
26.1.12:Contraband ★★½ | A Dangerous Method ★★★ | Carnage ★★★ | The Help ★★★
19.1.12:The Descendants ★★★½ | Underworld: Awakening ★★
12.1.12:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ★★★½ | Machine Gun Preacher ★★½
8.1.12:A Separation ★★★★
5.1.12:Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows ★★★½
29.12.11:The Darkest Hour ★★
22.12.11:The Inbetweeners Movie ★★ | Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked ★½
15.12.11:Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol ★★★
8.12.11:New Year’s Eve ★½ | The Rum Diary ★★★½ | The Thing ★★½
1.12.11:Moneyball ★★★★ | Puss in Boots ★★★
24.11.11:Immortals ★★★
17.11.11:The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 ★★★½ | I Don’t Know How She Does It ★
10.11.11:Real Steel ★★★ | Tower Heist ★★½ | Anonymous ★★½
3.11.11: In Time ★★½
27.10.11:Adventures of Tintin ★★★★ | The Debt ★★½ | Larry Crowne ★★½ | Cave of Forgotten Dreams ★★★½
20.10.11:Paranormal Activity 3 ★★★ | The Three Musketeers ★ | Contagion ★★★½
13.10.11:Johnny English Reborn ★★½
6.10.11:Killer Elite ★★★ | One Day ★★ | Dream House ★½
29.9.11:Friends with Benefits ★★½ | Abduction ★
27.9.11:The Skin I Live In ★★★½
22.9.11:Midnight in Paris ★★★½ | Colombiana ★★½ | Shark Night 3D ★½
15.9.11:Drive ★★★★ | Pina ★★★½ | Crazy, Stupid, Love. ★★½ | Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark ★★½
8.9.11:Super 8 ★★★½ | Final Destination 5 ★★★
25.8.11:Cowboys & Aliens ★★
18.8.11:Conan the Barbarian ★★ | Green Lantern ★★½ | Win Win ★★★½ | Womb ★½
11.8.11:Rise of the Planet of the Apes ★★★ | The Lincoln Lawyer ★★★
4.8.11:Captain America: The First Avenger ★★★ | Horrible Bosses ★★★
28.7.11:Cars 2 ★★½ | Jane Eyre ★★★½ | Bad Teacher ★½ | The Resident ★★
21.7.11:The Tree of Life ★★★★ | The Mechanic ★★
14.7.11:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ★★★½ | Submarine ★★★½
7.7.11:Hanna ★★★½ | Bridesmaids ★★★½
30.6.11:Transformers: Dark of the Moon ★½
16.6.11:Your Highness ★½
9.6.11:The Hangover Part 2 ★★★ | Paul ★★½ | Skyline ★½
2.6.11:X-Men: First Class ★★★½
26.5.11:Melancholia ★★★★
19.5.11:Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ★★½
12.5.11:Priest 3D ★★ | Water for Elephants ★★★ | Something Borrowed ★★ | Tetro ★★★½
5.5.11: Fast Five
28.4.11: Thor
21.4.11: Source Code | The Eagle | Mr. Nice
14.4.11: Scream 4 | Just Go with It | Unknown | Somewhere
7.4.11: The Way Back | Love and Other Drugs | Jack Goes Boating | I Am Number Four
31.3.11: Sucker Punch | No Strings Attached | My Soul to Take
24.3.11: Limitless
17.3.11: The Dilemma | The Rite | Sanctum
10.3.11: Rango | The King’s Speech
3.3.11: The Adjustment Bureau | Drive Angry 3D
24.2.11: The Fighter | Morning Glory
17.2.11: True Grit | Burlesque
10.2.11: Black Swan | London Boulevard
3.2.11: 127 Hours
27.1.11: The Tourist | Tangled | Chain Letter
20.1.11: The Next Three Days | Gulliver’s Travels
13.1.11: The Green Hornet | Season of the Witch | Another Year
6.1.11: The Kids Are All Right | The Good Heart
16.12.10: TRON: Legacy | Paranormal Activity 2
9.12.10: Megamind
2.12.10: Due Date | The American
25.11.10: The Other Guys | The Switch
18.11.10: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
11.11.10: Howl | Devil
4.11.10: The Social Network | You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger | Saw 3D
28.10.10: Red | Animal Kingdom
21.10.10: Four Lions
14.10.10: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World | Eat Pray Love | Machete
7.10.10: DVD Review: Exit Through the Gift Shop
30.9.10: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
23.9.10: Resident Evil: Afterlife
16.9.10: The Karate Kid | Going the Distance
9.9.10: Největší z Čechů
2.9.10: Step Up 3D | Ondine
26.8.10: Grown Ups
19.8.10: The Expendables | The Sorcerer’s Apprentice | A Serious Man | When You’re Strange
12.8.10: Salt
5.8.10: Get Him to the Greek
29.7.10: Knight and Day | Bunny and the Bull
22.7.10: Inception | Agora
15.7.10: Shrek Forever After | A Single Man | The Rebound | Mr. Nobody
8.7.10: Predators | Letters to Juliet
1.7.10: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
24.6.10: Killers | Solomon Kane
17.6.10: Toy Story 3 | The A-Team | From Paris with Love | The Back-up Plan
10.6.10: The Ghost Writer
3.6.10: Sex and the City 2 | Green Zone
27.5.10: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | Brooklyn’s Finest | Precious
20.5.10: Hot Tub Time Machine
13.5.10: Robin Hood | Whatever Works
6.5.10: Kick-Ass
29.4.10: Iron Man 2 | The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans | The Road
22.4.10: The Bounty Hunter | The Crazies
15.4.10: Clash of the Titans | An Education
1.4.10: Moon | The Men Who Stare at Goats | Everybody’s Fine
25.3.10: Remember Me | Leap Year | Babylon A.D.
18.3.10: The Lovely Bones | Legion
11.3.10: Daybreakers | Dear John | Mammoth
4.3.10: Alice in Wonderland | Nine
25.2.10: Shutter Island | The Hurt Locker
18.2.10: The Wolfman | Valentine’s Day | Edge of Darkness
11.2.10: The Book of Eli | In Search of a Midnight Kiss
4.2.10: Capitalism: A Love Story | Brothers | The Box | Did You Hear About the Morgans?
28.1.10: Up in the Air | The Fourth Kind | New York, I Love You
21.1.10: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | It’s Complicated | Black Dynamite
14.1.10: Sherlock Holmes
7.1.10: Fame
17.12.09: Avatar | Whip It
10.12.09: Spread
3.12.09: Zombieland | A Perfect Getaway
26.11.09: The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Antichrist
19.11.09: Paranormal Activity | Law Abiding Citizen | The Time Traveller’s Wife
12.11.09: 2012
5.11.09: My Life in Ruins
29.10.09: This Is It, Love Happens, Halloween II
22.10.09: Fifty Dead Men Walking, Saw VI
15.10.09: The Brothers Bloom, The Ugly Truth, The Final Destination
8.10.09: Surrogates
1.10.09: Julie & Julia, Hunger
24.9.09: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Gamer, Night of the Living Dead 3D
17.9.09: District 9
3.9.09: The Taking of Pelham 123, Man on Wire
27.8.09: Inglourious Basterds, Taking Woodstock, The Proposal
20.8.09: Up, Two Lovers
13.8.09: G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra
6.8.09: Brüno
30.7.09: The Boat That Rocked, Away We Go, Knowing
23.7.09: Crank: High Voltage, Bronson, The Accidental Husband
16.7.09: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, The Limits of Control
9.7.09: Public Enemies, The Wrestler
2.7.09: Fighting
25.6.09: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
18.6.09: The Hangover, Drag Me to Hell, Zack and Miri Make a Porno
11.6.09: Coraline, The Secret of Moonacre
4.6.09: Terminator Salvation, I Love You, Man
28.5.09: State of Play, Bottle Shock, New in Town
21.5.09: The Last House on the Left
14.5.09: Angels & Demons
7.5.09: Star Trek, Duplicity, 17 Again
30.4.09: X-Men Origins: Wolverine, My Bloody Valentine
23.4.09: Synecdoche, New York, The Reader, Friday the 13th
16.4.09: Gran Torino, Defiance, Hotel for Dogs, Confessions of a Shopaholic
9.4.09: The Visitor, Happy-Go-Lucky
2.4.09: Fast & Furious, Bride Wars
19.3.09: He’s Just Not That Into You, Battle in Seattle, Sex Drive, The Unborn
12.3.09: Seven Pounds, Marley & Me
5.3.09: Watchmen, Doubt
26.2.09: Slumdog Millionaire, The Duchess, The Pink Panther 2
19.2.09: Frost/Nixon, The Spirit, Transporter 3, City of Ember, Bolt
12.2.09: Valkyrie, Milk
5.2.09: The Tale of Despereaux, Bedtime Stories
29.1.09: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road
22.1.09: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Traitor
15.1.09: Burn After Reading, Yes Man, Che: Part One, My Best Friend’s Girl
8.1.09: Changeling
2.1.09: How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
25.12.08: Australia
11.12.08: The Day the Earth Stood Still, Four Christmases, Paranoid Park, Make It Happen
4.12.08: Bangkok Dangerous, High School Musical 3: Senior Year
27.11.08: Twilight, Body of Lies
20.11.08: Death Race, Repo! The Genetic Opera, The Strangers
13.11.08: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
6.11.08: Quantum of Solace, The Women
30.10.08: Max Payne, Nights in Rodanthe, The Other Boleyn Girl
23.10.08: Vicki Christina Barcelona, The Forbidden Kingdom
16.10.08: Nightwatching, Taken, Juno
9.10.08: Elegy, Mirrors
2.10.08: Eagle Eye, Disaster Movie
25.9.08: 2 Days in Paris
18.9.08: Tropic Thunder, Star Wars: The Clone Wars
04.9.08: Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Journey to the Center of the Earth
28.8.08: You Don’t Mess with the Zohan
21.8.08: Funny Games U.S.
14.8.08: WALL•E, Meet Dave, Then She Found Me, The Orphanage
7.8.08: The Dark Knight, Mamma Mia!
31.7.08: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
24.7.08: The X-Files: I Want to Believe
17.7.08: The Incredible Hulk, Shine a Light, Be Kind Rewind, Nim’s Island, Made of Honor
10.7.08: Get Smart
3.7.08: Kung Fu Panda, Hancock
26.6.08: Wanted
19.6.08: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Forgetting Sarah Marshall
12.6.08: The Happening, My Blueberry Nights
5.6.08: Sex and the City, Penelope
29.5.08: 21, Untraceable
22.5.08: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
15.5.08: What Happens in Vegas
8.5.08: In Bruges, Speed Racer
1.5.08: Iron Man, Paris, je t’aime
24.4.08: Into the Wild, Fools Gold, Wedding Daze, Superhero Movie
17.4.08: Breath, Frontier(s)
10.4.08: Horton Hears a Who, Doomsday, Vantage Point, Sleuth
3.4.08: In the Valley of Elah, The Bucket List
27.3.08: There Will Be Blood, 27 Dresses
20.3.08: Resurrecting the Champ, Reservation Road
13.3.08: Control, 10,000 BC
6.3.08: 3:10 to Yuma, Jumper
28.2.08: No Country for Old Men, Step Up 2 the Streets
21.2.08: Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead, Rambo, The Eye
14.2.08: National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Charlie Wilsons War, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
7.2.08: Sweeney Todd, We Own the Night, The Kite Runner
31.1.08: Atonement
24.1.08: The Darjeeling Limited, Cloverfield
17.1.08: Michael Clayton, Lust, Caution, Love in the Time of Cholera
10.1.08: Eastern Promises, I Am Legend
3.1.08: American Gangster
20.12.07: P.S. I Love You
13.12.07: The Golden Compass, Hitman
29.11.07: Across the Universe, Beowolf, Balls of Fury, Halloween
22.11.07: Shoot Em Up, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
15.11.07: The Heartbreak Kid, Resident Evil: Extinction
8.11.07: Lions for Lambs, The Last Legion
1.11.07: 30 Days of Night, The Invasion, Sicko, The Good Shepherd
25.10.07: Once, Superbad, Feast of Love, The Seeker
18.10.07: The Brave One, A Mighty Heart
11.10.07: The Kingdom, 1408, Becoming Jane, Snow Cake
4.10.07: Knocked Up
27.9.07: Stardust, Grindhouse, Gympl
20.9.07: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Evening, Disturbia
13.9.07: Ratatouille, The Hoax, No Reservations
6.9.07: Rush Hour 3, Day Watch, Medvidek
30.8.07: The Bourne Ultimatum, Irina Palm
23.8.07: Hairspray, Planet Terror, Evan Almighty, Interview
16.8.07: Transformers
9.8.07: Mr. Brooks, Pans Labyrinth, Surfs Up
2.8.07: Fracture, Venus, Next
26.7.07: The Simpsons Movie, Angel
19.7.07: Harry Potter 5, The Good Night
12.7.07: Inland Empire, Factory Girl, The Messengers, Hostel 2
5.7.07: Death Proof, Oceans 13, Miss Potter, Fantastic Four 2
28.6.07: Live Free or Die Hard
21.6.07: Pathfinder, Curse of the Golden Flower
14.6.07: Shrek the Third
7.6.07: Hot Fuzz, Zodiac, Because I Said So
31.5.07: Premonition, Black Book
24.5.07: Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End
17.5.07: The Number 23
10.5.07: Renaissance, The Painted Veil, Wild Hogs, Epic Movie
3.5.07: Spider-Man 3, Copying Beethoven, Sherrybaby
26.4.07: Shooter, The Reaping
19.4.07: Sunshine, Alpha Dog, TMNT, Perfect Stranger
12.4.07: The Hill Have Eyes II, Norbit
5.4.07: Stranger Than Fiction, Notes on a Scandal, Meet the Robinsons, Red Road, Blood & Chocolate
29.3.07: Flags of our Fathers
22.3.07: 300, Sketches of Frank Gehry, Black Christmas
15.3.07: Ghost Rider, Music and Lyrics, Feast, Employee of the Month 
8.3.07: The Fountain
1.3.07: Rocky Balboa, School for Scoundrels
22.2.07: Little Children, Babel, Dreamgirls, Hannibal Rising, The Darwin Awards
15.2.07: Smokin Aces, The Queen
8.2.07: The Last King of Scotland, Pursuit of Happyness, and Crank

Czech Films

Green Horse Rustlers (18.09.16)
The Wolf of Royal Vineyard Street (14.09.16)
The Teacher (30.08.16)
We Are Never Alone (20.04.16)
Pat and Mat: The Movie (07.04.16)
Teorie tygra (05.04.16)
I, Olga Hepnarová (31.03.16)
Rudý kapitán (17.03.16)
Rodinný film (25.02.16)
Lída Baarová
(22.01.16)
Amerika (01.11.15)
Domácí péče (Home Care) (02.08.15)
Mallory (27.07.15)
Malý Pán (The Little Man) (08.05.15)
Fotograf
(20.03.15)
Kobry a užovky (The Snake Brothers) (10.03.15)
Pohádkář (Storyteller) (01.12.14)
Magický hlas rebelky (The Magic Voice of a Rebel) (05.08.14)
Parádně pokecal (Totally Talking) (05.08.14)
Díra u Hanušovic (Nowhere in Moravia) (25.07.14)
Všiváci (03.07.14)
Cesta ven (10.06.14)
Olga (22.05.14)
Hany (19.05.14)
Signál (20.11.12)
Spalovač mrtvol (16.10.12)
Lemonade Joe (17.9.12)
Svatá čtveřice (16.9.12) 
Poupata (23.8.12)
Lidice (27.6.12)
Tmář a jeho rod aneb Slzavé údolí pyramid (28.5.12)
Vendeta (26.5.12)
Alois Nebel
(2.5.12)
Rodina je základ státu
(3.4.12)
V peřině
(14.2.12)
Odcházení (Leaving)
(16.1.12)
Tajemství hradu v Karpatech
(26.10.11)
Katka (1.9.2011)
Rozmarné léto (Capricious Summer) (20.8.2011)
Kuky se vrací (25.7.2011)
Přežít svůj život (Surviving Life) (23.6.2011)
Občanský průkaz (23.5.2011)
Pouta (22.3.2011)
Kristián (07.02.11)
Kajínek (20.12.10)
Protektor (15.11.10)
Největší z Čechů (09.09.10)
Kinoautomat (22.06.09)
Na půdě aneb Kdo má dneska narozeniny? (07.04.09)
Bathory (12.07.08)
Domov (05.02.08)
Gympl (02.10.07)
Medvídek (10.09.07)
I Served the King of England (21.01.07)
Pravidla lži (19.12.06)
Grandhotel (05.12.06)
Hezké chvilky bez záruky (29.09.06)
Kráska v nesnázích (08.09.06)
Šílení (21.12.05)

Did you like this article?

Would you like us to share your article with our audience? Find out more