the arab khaleesi blog

Minwa. Khaleesi from Bahrain with a blog. Dragons. Superheroes. Books. Movies. TV shows. Follow my main blog account on Instagram @thearabkhaleesi

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: INGLORIOUS B*STERDS

(poster uploaded by Jeff Poitiers)

Inglorious B******s (2009) takes place in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, where a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a cinema owner's vengeful plans to do the same🎞 - Even though it took me a while to realize it, I’m pretty sure IB is my (current) favorite film from Quentin Tarantino. I was hesitant to write a review on it because I thought I couldn’t say much that hasn’t already been said before, but since I made the claim of it being my favorite, I felt it was fair to explain why, at least in my own words. Out of all of Tarantino’s films, I just feel like Inglorious B* has the most to offer & then some. It has something for everyone, really. It’s got action, a rich plot, history, violence, thrills, suspense, war, politics, emotion, all wrapped into one - & this is another instance were Tarantino nails such an ambitious challenge that not many directors could've pulled off. - Though the film is titled Inglorious B******s, the film really follows two parties: the B*, & Shoshanna, the Jewish cinemaowner living in Nazi-occupied France who is also one of the best characters among all of Tarantino’s films; though Shoshanna’ storyline is far more interesting to follow than the B******s’, they complement each other really well - & the B******s add that Tarantino quality & action you’d also want & expect to see, without taking away from Shoshanna’s story. Besides taking place in the same setting, the two storylines are only connected by one character: the film’s terrifying villain, Hans Landa. Anyone that’s seen the film can tell you that Landa without a doubt steals the show with his incredible on-screen performance, & solidifies himself as not only one of the best Tarantino characters, but arguably one of the best movie villains of all time. While that’s attributed to QT’s writing, the character wouldn’t be anything (& he’d cease to exist on-screen according to QT himself) without Christoph Waltz & his bone-chilling performance & on-screen presence. - From the very first moment we meet Hans Landa, during the outstanding first 20-30 minutes of the film, we know everything we need to know about him for us to remain on the edge of our seats whenever we see him throughout the rest of the film. We’re well-aware that this is a person to be feared, one that doesn’t play around. As soon as he appears on screen in any scene, the atmosphere of the scene changes… suddenly there’s a sense of danger & trouble in the air… we know something is wrong or is about to go wrong before we’re even aware of what it might be… because of him & the environment QT creates, those first 30 minutes of the film are just as suspenseful as some of the greatest thrillers I’ve seen, with the tension building for the rest of the film towards the film’s explosive ending. At times, Landa can come off as sort of an “exaggerated N*zi villain” you’d see in some films, but instead of it turning him into an unbelievable caricature, it makes him all the more terrifying… you never really know what he’s feeling - when he laughs or smiles, he could be planning a murder in his head. If that isn’t an excellent villain (& proof of QT’s talents in terms of writing & directing), I don’t know what is. And he’s just one of the amazing characters in the film, with the other standout being Mélanie Laurent as Shoshanna, a character that stands for so much in this film.

However, I can’t say I don’t have mixed feelings about the film’s ending. My problems with the ending emerged when I watched the film for the second time this year, despite me loving the ending entirely the first time around. I can’t talk about it without spoiling the film for those who haven’t seen it, so I have a small section with a spoiler tag where I discuss it, but what I will say here is that I usually don’t mind when Tarantino (or other directors/writers) “change history” in their narrative fictional films (i.e. those not intended to tell/adapt a true story) because it’s not their intention to do so, & I think the way QT did that here is even greater than how he did it in OUATIH…

SPOILER SECTION!! ⚠️⚠️ As I said, my (slight) problems with the ending emerged when I watched the film for the second time this year, despite me loving the ending entirely the first time around. Even though it seemed obvious that she wouldn’t, a part of me really wanted Shoshanna to survive. It would’ve been really cool to see her emerge as a known hero of the story along with the B*sterds, she deserved to witness her revenge play out entirely, & she deserved to kill Landa… I don’t think his ending was satisfying enough. He deserved more than what he got. But seeing Hitler & a bunch of N*zis get killed at the hands of Jewish rebels? Yeah, that was epic.

Still, Inglorious B****** remains my current favorite Tarantino film for all the fun, action, & glory it has to offer, as well as the brilliance of Landa & Shoshanna’s characters, it's another QT film I'd consider a must-watch for any movie fan, & I think it might be his best & most mature work to date. - 9.3/10⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: KILL BILL

Kill Bill stars Uma Thurman as the Bride, a former assassin who swears revenge on a team of assassins & their leader, Bill, after they try to kill her & her unborn child. The story is divided into two films, Vol. 1 (2003) & Vol. 2 (2004) - both written & directed by Quentin Tarantino. This will mainly be a review of Vol 1, but I left a small section at the end where I briefly discuss my thoughts on Vol 2 without mentioning spoilers for either film.⚔️ - Kill Bill Vol 1 is an exciting, thrilling ride from start to finish as we follow the mysterious Bride & her quest for revenge. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I’m not going to pretend like I know anything about the martial arts movies Tarantino pays homage to in Kill Bill, I haven’t seen a single one of the genre yet, but to me it felt like QT took everything he loved from those films & perfectly paid homage to them & adapted it for Western audiences or those that are unfamiliar with the genre (like me) by Americanizing it & adding his signature touches & trademarks without butchering or mocking the films he was inspired by; simultaneously, he didn’t let any of that stop him from going all out on this film in every aspect, from the most unashamedly violent & bloodiest action to the highly stylized storytelling of the film. It's as if Tarantino added any stylistic device he could think of when writing the script or in the editing room, & surprisingly, it works… really well. It shouldn't, but it does - I think if many other directors attempted it they wouldn’t have pulled it off the way he did; it helps that Kill Bill has a simple premise to follow (something I appreciate & give bonus points to in any action film) while remaining extremely exciting - aided by the heavy stylization. The 10-minute anime sequence on its own could be taken out & released on its own as a short film & it would still be excellent, worthy of all the praise, & be a lesson in filmmaking in itself, which speaks for how remarkable the rest of the film is - You don’t get bored for a single second while watching The Bride kick butt in a thousand ways that would guarantee she’d win a fight against any male action hero, & she does that as a kind of anti-hero. She's definitely among my favorite Tarantino characters, yet I still can’t help but have a bit of mixed feelings about The Bride’s character. - By giving her the story of being a mother whose child is taken away from her, we don’t REALLY need to know much more about her intentions in the film - that is definitely reason enough for her to seek revenge & for us to sympathize with & root for her... & while I really like the simplicity of that & the theme of revenge, I felt like I still needed to know a bit more about her, especially when her antagonist in the film has a fleshed out, brilliant backstory, one we can more easily connect with, while The Bride is left with close to nothing. And based on what I know & have seen, Tarantino isn’t the type of director who’s philosophical & deep & would write her in such a way so we’re left to question ourselves, our experience or our morality, even while making her such an interesting anti-hero to follow…

That leads to my thoughts on Volume 2... After the extremely fast, action-packed pace of Vol 1, Volume 2 felt a bit odd. The pace is slower, the film drags on & takes its time, there are unnecessary detours that easily could’ve been edited out of the story for it to be more streamlined…whereas in Vol. 1 it felt like we barely had time to catch our breath from all the action. But most importantly, I was liked how the story ended overall & I was quite satisfied with it. It occurred to me later that I might’ve liked the whole thing even more if it were one 3 hour movie rather than two 2-hour long films… Or if Vol. 2 followed a grown-up Nikki... At the end of the day though, I can’t say I didn’t love or thoroughly enjoy Kill Bill. I understand the praise it receives & definitely think it’s worthy of it. It’s a great film, one I consider a must-watch, & one of my absolute favorites among Tarantino’s filmography, with incredible action, cinematography, & direction. I know I’ll definitely revisit it many more times in the future. - Rating: ‪9/10‬⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: WHAT A WAY TO GO! (1964)

What A Way To Go! (1964) follows a four-time widow who talks to a psychiatrist about her four husbands, each of whom died & left her with enormous wealth💸 - I was very surprised when I came across this film because not only does it star one of my favorite actors (Gene Kelly), it stars Shirley Maclaine, Paul Newman, Dean Martin, AND Dick Van Dyke too? I found myself thinking “what is this film & how come I’ve never heard of it?” So I decided to watch it the other day & boy am I glad I did. - Based on the premise of the film, a part of me expected it to be an ahead of its time feminist movie about a woman who marries for money & kills her husbands, & while I was slightly disappointed to find out that that isn’t the case, I think I enjoyed it even more than I would have if it were. The premise remains seemingly over-the-top & unrealistic, & it is - but instead of trying to shy away from that, the screenwriters & director just ran with it! It’s crazy, camp, over-the-top, exaggerated, ridiculous, & isn’t meant to be taken seriously, which all might seem like insults, but it’s also self aware (at least for when it was made) - & I LOVED that. In addition to the incredible famous actors, there’s an artistic monkey, golden robots, glass-shaped beds, a murdering bull, a pink house with a pink Rolls-Royce, & extravagant gowns, - just to name a few campy, crazy things this film has to offer. Gene Kelly even plays a somewhat parodical version of himself & his character from Singin in the Rain while calling out other leading male actors from the time: Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, & Cary Grant! The entire film pokes fun at itself & the more popular, mainstream films & stars of the 50s & 60s, acting as a sort of early parody of Old Hollywood, which was a very creative & original idea considering the time it was made. It might seem like it’s trying to do too much & it might not be for everyone, but I wish they had made it even crazier. It’s cheeky, colorful, different, lively, loads of fun, & made for a delightful watch/movie night, despite its flaws & silliness. - As Shirley Maclaine’s character walks us through her life (through flashbacks), she compares each relationship & stage of her life to different types of films - silent pictures, French New Wave films, glamorous Hollywood movies, & musicals - a detail I absolutely loved that made each story stand out with its own aesthetic. Every actor in the film was great, Shirley Maclaine is as charming as ever, I loved seeing Paul Newman in a lighter role, & my heart is filled with joy every time I see Gene Kelly. - If anyone reading this is a fan of fashion or costume design, especially from that era of Hollywood, I strongly advise you to give this film a go - the legendary Edith Head goes all out, particularly during the segment with Robert Mitchum, where there are more beautiful dresses in 10 minutes than in any movie from the last 10 years at least. - However, I know my enjoyment of this film is extremely subjective, especially due to my love for Gene Kelly. If his segment were taken out & or he was replaced with another actor, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I did. Still, despite being far from perfect, it was extremely fun as it is. If you’re intrigued by anything I’ve said, I definitely recommend it. It’s available on iTunes & YouTube. - 7.6-8/10⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

SOME THOUGHTS ON HAMILTON & THE HAMILFILM

I said I wasn’t going to review Hamilton, & this isn’t technically a review, but I couldn’t help myself from discussing its genius or the film. If you wanted me to rate it, consider it to be a perfect rating: 10/10, 100%, A+, you name it. Since I’ll never be able to dissect or talk about Hamilton as in-depth as I’d like to (I could write an entire book on it & wouldn’t know where to stop), consider this a discussion or appreciation post where I express SOME of my thoughts on Hamilton & the Hamilfilm. - To me, Hamilton is a masterpiece and Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius. He said something along the lines of “people will just think you’re a genius if you write a musical about a genius” but I disagree with him (& he was awarded the MacArthur “Genius Grant” so yeah Lin, you're a genius). Only a genius would look at the founding fathers and say: “yes, this is a hip-hop story”. And he doesn’t just tell Hamilton’s incredible story, he wrote Hamilton in such a way that every line, word, song, & verse is written in a specific way for a specific reason, whether it's as simple as a rhyme, or whether it’s because Lin Manuel Miranda is making a deep-reference we might later discover or whether it’s in the exact style & structure of Alexander Hamilton’s writings. Combine that with his fellow brilliant collaborators - Alex Lacamoire, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler - you have a show where every stage direction, dance move, & note serves a greater purpose & they come together perfectly. Hamilton is absolutely filled with an unbelievable amount of hidden treasures (meanings, symbols, references) that I still find myself discovering new ones every time I revisit it, from the role of “the Bullet”, to the spectacular staging of Satisfied, & the mini replay in Hurricane to name a few. Lin turned a seemingly dry, confusing concept into an exciting, moving, unparalleled piece of art that speaks on each theme it touches upon - legacy, reputation, history, work, politics, honor, love, with great depth & meaning. And by doing so, the musical & it’s incredible lyrics could easily resonate with or impact anyone who, like Lin, Hamilton & me, have great value for those things. - One of the first things you might’ve heard or noticed about Hamilton, is that every actor in the show is a person of color (except those in the ensemble/King George). Everyone else: Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, The Schuyler Sisters, they’re all white in real-life, yet they’re played in the show by BIPOC, which in itself is a stroke of genius because Hamilton’s story is extremely relevant today & resonates more with BIPOC experiences than white people, & in every major project he’s worked on, Lin-Manuel helps amplify BIPOC representation; not only does he do that in Hamilton as well, but it’s the perfect way for the story to be delivered when you combine this casting choice with the music Lin wrote for the show that stem from BIPOC origins. Can you imagine how underwhelming it’d be for a white person to sing Lafayette’s raps?  It’s one of the ways “the story of America then is told by America now”, WITHOUT glorifying the founding fathers or excusing the horrible things they did. On the contrary, the show goes out of its way numerous times to emphasize that fact & anyone who took that away from Hamilton didn’t understand or pay attention enough. (Plus LMM condensed an entire man’s life into two & a half hours, give him a break).

As for the Hamilfilm, the only thing I can attempt to “review” is how it was adapted/filmed. And let me just say, director Thomas Kail pulled off an incredible feat with the Hamilfilm. When listening to Hamilton for the first time, I could visualize it all in my head like a movie, & I couldn’t really imagine how it’d be on stage. And when I saw it live, I was blown away & almost couldn’t imagine it as a traditional movie. So when I heard they were filming it this way, I was pleased but worried it wouldn’t be as immersive as the show. But Kail did it. He made Hamilton as immersive as it could possibly be on film, & I’d even go as far as to say it might be even more immersive than seeing it live as you’re provided a better perspective than any seat in the theater. He puts you on stage & in the audience simultaneously, through closeups that put us in the midst of the drama & show us the actors’ talents, wide shots that show us the stage & choreography in all its glory, and tracking shots that put us in the midst of the action, following all the melodious movements of the actors & dancers on stage. I’ve seen similar “professionally filmed” Broadway shows but none of them are as well-done or as well-directed as Hamilton was. (Though I’d trade a few closeups of King George for wide shots…) The editing was never off or felt choppy, which is remarkable considering they filmed it over several days & shows, yet it still feels like one outstanding show with the original cast - all of whom were sensational. I can’t even pin-point a favorite number or performance because I loved them all so much - Satisfied did give me goosebumps like nothing else though.

Still, it doesn't compete with actually being there in the room where it happens. The energy and experience of seeing it live is unbelievable. Does that mean you should wait until you see it live? It’s up to you really, but we never know when theaters will reopen, & the first instinct I had after the Hamilfilm ended is that I couldn’t wait to experience it live again. Rating: ‪10/10‬⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)

Reservoir Dogs (1992) is Quentin Tarantino’s first feature length film, following a team of diamond thieves whose planned heist of a jewelry store goes horribly wrong. - Reservoir Dogs revolves around a heist, but we never actually see said heist, which makes it quite unique as we rely on information from our somewhat unreliable characters to piece together how & why it was so disastrous during the aftermath, to the point where it almost felt like we’re watching a murder mystery unfold & we’re the detectives that don't know who to trust & have very little information to go on. As you might expect, that makes for a thoroughly entertaining experience. - The first image we see after the opening credits grabs our attention & doesn't let go as Tarantino further builds that suspense & adrenaline through his use of nonlinear storytelling, a device I'm not usually a fan of, but QT perfectly utilized it in this film as it was way more effective in terms of the storytelling & viewing experience than simply telling it chronologically; because of it, watching the film is an active & exciting experience for us, the audience. We’re constantly guessing & wondering (alongside & through the characters) what happened & where it could all lead up to. The second I found myself thinking "wait, I need more information here", Tarantino gives it to us, adding context to what we've just seen & the characters we've been spending time with - it's way more fun to build theories & see them proven right or wrong, & that excitement was necessary in order for the film to be as good as it was, especially since (besides the flashbacks) we’re basically in one setting with the characters for the entire time. - And with a film like this I didn’t really expect there’d be a chance for any of the actors to stand out or give great performances due to the action would take center stage - but with a great screenplay by Quentin, Harvey Keitel was fantastic & absolutely killed it as Mr White (sidenote: every time I read/say Mr White I can’t help but think of Jesse Pinkman). Steve Buscemi & Michael Madsen were also perfectly cast - I still can't get over Mr Blond's chilling dance. - Perhaps my only slight problems with Reservoir Dogs is that the flashbacks somewhat slow down the energetic pace of the main story, and though the film is (excellently) deep enough considering the plot and it doesn’t need to go any further, I know I'd expect a bit more depth to it if QT did this film today. There’s also a small detail that happens towards the end of the movie that left me confused & annoyed - I won’t mention it because it’s a spoiler, but as far as I’m aware it’s something that has bugged many people as well & I don’t know why it happened - it should've been clarified & I can't tell whether it was intentional or not. At least that doesn’t take away from the excellent ending - Reservoir Dogs is not only a great film but an amazing feature debut for a director to have. There’s no wonder Tarantino’s career skyrocketed after the release of this film - Despite it being his first feature film, Reservoir Dogs still has Quentin Tarantino’s unique vision and signature style, trademarks, & techniques we’re all familiar with now, setting the tone & themes for the rest of his filmography . It’s an exciting, thrilling, movie, with a simple premise that’ll pull you in & won’t let go. - Rating: 9/10⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: GOODFELLAS (1990)

Goodfellas (1990) follows the true story of mobster Henry Hill and his life in the Italian-American crime syndicate, from his early days to his relationship with his wife & unstable fellow mobsters Jimmy (Robert De Niro) & Tommy (Joe Pesci) as they climb the ladder from petty crime to violent gangsters🔎

Goodfellas doesn’t simply tell a gangster story, it welcomes you into the gangster world with open arms & a reward for your visit. It’s an immersive experience where Martin Scorsese perfectly sets up the gangster world we’re all unfamiliar with in real-life and introduces it to us just like it’s being introduced to our main character, Henry. And the gangster world in Goodfellas is unlike anything that came before it.

Martin Scorsese is a master at allowing his audience to understand the POVs and perspectives of outsiders, outcasts, antagonists, and other “grey area” characters without sympathizing with them - and Goodfellas is no different...so how does he do that with gangsters? Like other character types Scorsese has dealt with in the past, we can’t necessarily relate to gangsters on a surface level, so what Scorsese brilliantly does is, in order for us to care for & relate to the characters, he makes us befriend them. Instead of seeing the characters as some untouchable, fearful, villainous mob bosses and stereotyping them, they’re our friends. We follow Henry’s journey the whole way through like it’s our own, as he becomes an outsider admiring the mob to an insider, befriending & partnering with De Niro & Pesci along the way (& having such heavy hitters on the sidelines makes us able to ‘relate’ to Henry further) until we’re a part of their high-ranking inner circle, seeing how gangsters work & operate on a day-to-day basis, what goes on behind the scenes, & mob politics/relationships - exactly what you’d want from a great gangster film, but we’re also with them when they’re just hanging out & playing around like we do with our own friends. - It even helps that we’re introduced to them at a younger age & see them grow up as they try to figure out who they are, what they stand for, & their place in the world (something many of us can relate to). It all seems fun & helps us weirdly bond with the characters to the point that even when they commit crimes or do other unethical acts, it doesn’t seem so bad to us… it’s just business… until Scorsese snaps us out of it & reminds us that they’re fictional gangsters, not our friends… Another brilliant thing he does in Goodfellas, is he excellently uses any tool he can to tell this story more effectively. Goodfellas takes place over a long period of time & provides its viewers with a substantial amount of information to take in, but it never feels that way. The directing, editing, & cinematography make it a fun, fast-paced enjoyable ride you want to be on rather than a dull, disjointed biopic. The freeze frames & voiceover narration are also perfectly used to contribute to the film’s storytelling by showing the key lessons & moments in our characters’ lives and their thoughts, without totally relying on them - they provide an extra layer of depth & understanding to these characters for us, the audience. And, in classic Scorsese fashion, it allows us to see their struggle with their morality along the way.

In addition to Henry’s POV, we also see parts of the story through his wife, Karen. While I actually disliked that at first because I was more interested in Henry’s side of things & thought her POV takes away from it, over time I grew to appreciate it. Seeing her perspective & story in-depth along Henry’s ensures she’s not just a stereotypical two-dimensional female character on the sidelines in a male-driven story - she’s a huge part of that story, is a well-rounded, dynamic character & allows us to further understand the gangster lifestyle, its consequences, & the genre from an entirely different, but needed perspective. That’s what makes Goodfellas so great. It’s the quintessential gangster movie by being so true to the genre while being completely different to everything that came before it - it helps make the genre accessible & thus, a great pick if you’ve ever felt intimidated by the genre but don’t know where to start. Perhaps my only slight problem with the film is that I found the later part of Henry’s life to be less exciting than the rest, but in all honesty I think it’s fantastic.. Not to make any comparisons, but if The Godfather didn’t exist, I’d say it’s THE best gangster movie to exist - but it’s definitely among the very best, and remains my favorite Martin Scorsese picture. 9.5/10⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

MARTIN SCORSESE’S FILMOGRAPHY: RANKED

May 2020 turned out to be May-rtin Scorsese month for me! (Stupid pun, I know let’s just move on). I had watched 3 or 4 Scorsese films beforehand, but one night I decided to watch Raging Bull, then Taxi Driver, & before I knew it, I couldn’t stop watching the rest of Scorsese’s filmography! I decided to devote the rest of the month to watching his films, & conclude it by writing a post where I tried to rank & review each one. As I watched more of his films, I realized it'd be impossible to rank AND review them all in one post, so I'll be sharing some mini reviews via stories or another post soon. Please note, this ranking is subjective & just based on my opinions. My ranking/ratings might change with time, I constantly shuffled some of them around, but I'm comfortable with how I ranked everything at the moment. This list excludes docs, shorts, & some films of his I chose not to watch (Boxcar Bertha, Kundun, Last Temptation of Christ, Silence)

So here's my (tentative) ranking of Martin Scorsese's films from lowest to highest! - 21. Who’s That Knocking At My Door (7/10) 20. The Age of Innocence (7/10) 19. Bringing Out the Dead (7/10) 18. The Color of Money (7/10) 17. New York New York (7/10) 16. Cape Fear (7/10) 15. After Hours (7/10) 14. The Aviator (7/10) 13. Gangs of New York 12. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (7/10) 11. Shutter Island (7/10) 10. Mean Streets (7.7/10)

9. Raging Bull (8/10)

8. Hugo (8/10)

7. Casino (8.2/10)

6. The Departed (8.3/10)

5. The King of Comedy (8.5/10)

4. The Wolf of Wall Street (8.7/10)

3. The Irishman (9/10)

2. Taxi Driver (9/10)

1. Goodfellas (9.5/10)

If there's anyone who has never seen a Scorsese movie or has no idea where to start, I would recommend you start with Goodfellas, The Departed, or The Wolf of Wall Street - I feel like they generally have a wider appeal that might make you want to continue watching his films if you never have before, since some of his other films aren't for everyone - My Scorsese binge definitely turned Martin Scorsese into one of my all-time favorite directors, I absolutely love his films & wouldn't consider a single one of the ones I've seen to be bad. 

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: TAXI DRIVER (1976)

Taxi Driver (1976) is a neo-noir thriller that follows Travis Bickle, a lonely and mentally unstable veteran who works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City 🚕 - More than anything Taxi Driver is a character study on the very interesting & engaging anti-hero, Travis Bickle, who is, as quoted to him in the film, "a walking contradiction". He’s disgusted with the world around him, considering it to be one of filth, and looks down on all the activities and people that make it so.. without realizing he’s apart of it all. & when he loses the little faith he had in the world (which he projected onto others), he decides to take matters into his own hands, no matter how dirty they get. But in doing so, he becomes more corrupted & similar to the world he hates than before. Yet Travis doesn't realize that & sees himself as a hero, a vigilante of sorts because in reality, he’s mentally unstable, insecure, doesn't have any firm beliefs, lost in life, and trying to find a purpose. It could also be said that at his core Travis is not a bad person, but perhaps one corrupted by war, returning to a country & world he lost faith in, incapable of expressing himself & with no one to give him orders on what to do - it's up to him to decide what to do and what's right or wrong... - And the result is Travis embodying a great example of an anti-hero. Through him, Scorsese excellently explores the grey area of people & morality, as at the end of the film, he leaves us to make our own judgements about the character & the film, questioning our own viewing experience & morals in the process. Scorsese never asks us to sympathize with Travis or attempts to paint him as a victim, but he perfectly builds & captures his world, showing it to us from his perspective to better understand him. And he does so by choosing to focus on the dark, dirty side of New York City as it is instead of glamorizing it like most films, filming the city’s contrasting neon & darker colors, & making us feel like we’re almost a passenger with Travis for the entire ride. - And no one could've pulled off the role & portrayed the character as brilliantly as Robert De Niro, whose performance can easily give you chills as we see him & Travis transform while struggling with his own internal conflict & morality. - The only thing I might say I disliked or found a bit odd was that as the film progresses into its third quarter, all the momentum that was built is weirdly put on pause while Travis refocuses his crusade, slowing things down before the final quarter kicks things off again.. - Nevertheless, Taxi Driver is a landmark film of the 1970s and one of Scorsese’s best for a reason. It’s brilliant, with a very interesting, controversial, & memorable anti-hero, perfectly capturing the conflicts most people were experiencing at the time (including Vietnam veterans, De Niro, & Scorsese themselves, while remaining timeless. - Rating: 9/10⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: JAWS (1975)

In Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975), a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community, and it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down🦈 - I remember seeing Jaws a couple of times as a kid and never really thought to rewatch it as an adult until recently, because, save for a few details, I pretty much remembered the film vividly. But I’m in the midst of a 1970s movie binge, & figured since it’s been a while, why not? …And I didn’t expect it to be a very apt, relevant time to watch it. - In Jaws, as the killer shark wrecks havoc on the beach community, the problem is first dismissed as a one-off occurrence…after a few more cases, the city is torn whether to shut down for the public’s safety or to keep the beaches open for the local economy despite the deadly risks… sound familiar? Yes, who would’ve guessed that Jaws would reflect our living situation in 2020 more than Back to the Future 2? - There’s something very Hitchcock-ian about Jaws. We know the threat is there from the first few minutes of the film, & we have an understanding of how dangerous it is, & at the center of it all, we’re following a conflicted character who’s in a place they shouldn’t be - a fish out of water dealing with a fish in the water, dealing with a haunting presence in the midst of an unsettling, unknown, & uncontrollable chaos… we don’t even see the shark until about halfway into the film. Though the actual reason for that is because Spielberg hated how fake the shark looked & wanted to show as little of it as possible, it worked out for the best because that allowed the whole ordeal to feel more realistic and terrorizing and allowed us to experience it just like the main characters do, making the entire experience all the more frightening rather than relying on cheap jump scares and gore. - What accompanies & elevates that terror perfectly is John Williams’ haunting score. The simple yet iconic music we hear whenever the shark is present is enough to build suspense & put us on edge in a second - because of it, we don’t even need to see the shark. Spielberg has said that the success of the film relied on & was due to Williams’ score, and he’s right. However, I don’t want to seem like I completely disregard Steven Spielberg - he’s one of my favorite filmmakers, & though it’s not my favorite film of his, I still think he did a terrific job. - With the slower pace (& the obviously mechanical shark), Jaws might seem dated to audiences today, who might’ve seen films from recent years that are more thrilling and exciting than the slow hunt & anticipation for a shark attack - & I definitely understand where they’re coming from. - At the same time, I appreciate Jaws because at the time, there wasn’t anything like it & it went on to become such a huge success that it left a legacy & changed the film industry by becoming the first ever “blockbuster” and setting the “summer movie” trend - it paved way & set the standards for the majority of films that would come after it to this very day, & that’s no small feat👏🏼 - Rating: 8.5/10⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: PAN’S LABYRINTH (2006)

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) follows Ofelia, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer in Falangist Spain as she discovers an eerie but captivating fantasy world hidden within our own full of fairies, monsters, and a faun who gives her three treacherous tasks...✨ - This is a beautiful film, from one of my favorite filmmakers, Guillermo del Toro. Fellow fans of del Toro are aware of his love for the eccentric and his gorgeously ghoulish aesthetic - and this is no different. In Pan’s Labyrinth, Del Toro presents a beautiful fairy tale that is modern, yet is simultaneously timeless, as it is clear, he drew inspiration from traditional tales and fantastical folklores and myths, yet it remains completely original and its own story. And it is a great one that’s told excellently. - Pan’s Labyrinth features dual storylines and worlds, both told through the eyes of the young Ofelia - one of cunning creatures and quests, and the other, one of unsettling chaos, violence, and abuse…our world, in the midst of a war. And while it might be hard to imagine a combination of fantasy and war, GDT perfectly intertwines the two genres, in a way that highlights the film’s message and themes, which appear in both contrasting worlds - monsters, greed, escapism, brutality, authority, rebellion, and hope against all odds. It’s dark, tragic, and frightening, definitely not a fairy tale for kids, but it’s also beautiful and poetic - a perfect balance that Del Toro is always able to achieve. The film is a perfect reflection of who he is & his style, as it’s told through the eyes of a character not too different from Del Toro himself - a person full of wonder with an incredible imagination that reaches far beyond the limits of our world. - And I’m sure anyone who ever understood that need to escape into fantastical worlds, the hope for a magical world within our own, & the willingness and bravery to explore - movie-lovers, readers, writers, and those in tune to their inner child - will enjoy this film as much as I did. As long as you don’t mind a little darkness… - 9/10⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: GRAVITY (2013)

Gravity (2013) is a sci-fi thriller directed by Alfonso Cuarón, starring Sandra Bullock & George Clooney as astronauts who are stranded in space after the destruction of their Space Shuttle, & their attempt to to survive & hopefully, return to Earth. - As if imagining astronauts stranded in space isn’t scary enough, we’re with Sandra Bullock, who plays an astronaut with not enough experience, every step of the entire ordeal - not in a way that makes us feel like we’re there with her, but in a way that makes us feel like as though we ARE her. That extreme level of intimacy and fear, against the vast, unknown backdrop of the cosmos creates an unimaginably scary, thrilling, and immersive experience for the audience, aided by the film’s short runtime, easy-to-follow plot, and the great cinematography and visual effects. None of that could’ve been achieved without Alfonso Cuaron’s brilliant directing, technical vision and execution - turning a haunting space survival story into a spectacle. While watching the film I caught myself thinking “How did he pull it off? How does one actually direct & visualize this?”. He is worthy of his Oscar win for Best Directing & it’s remarkable that he also co-produced, co-wrote, and co-edited the film. - Gravity is an outstanding technical feat, that doesn’t take away from the opportunity for Sandra Bullock to show off her acting abilities, however I can't say that I loved the film either. Though we’re with Sandra Bullock the entire time, we don’t know enough about her or feel for her enough which was why it can be so easy for us to imagine ourselves in her place. It’s exciting to follow a survival story, but there’s not much depth to the film whether through the characters or the story. I hate to say this, but it almost feels like a VERY well-made experience you’d find in a theme park (Mission: Space, anyone?). - At the end of the day though, if you want a simple yet exciting sci-fi film with great directing, Gravity won't disappoint - just make sure to watch it on a TV instead of your laptop, if you can. - 8-8.5⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (2012)

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) follows a man with bipolar disorder who agrees to help a young widow enter a dance competition in an effort to win back his estranged wife.🎵 - I knew I loved this film the second the lights turned on after watching it in the cinema eight years ago & I still love it to this day. - Most films that depict people struggling with their mental health are dark, grim, and depressing, whether those films send the right message or not, you can’t help but feel a little heavier after watching them. That’s not the case with Silver Linings Playbook, which provides a refreshing and much needed lighter and more positive depiction of mental health struggles, by way of it being a “romantic dramedy”. The main characters are never ashamed of themselves or their struggles, which are never sugarcoated or disregarded, as they try to deal with & channel their feelings & hardships openly while looking at and trying to better their lives and relationships. There are moments of levity and pure joy, while also showing mental health struggles and the impact it can have on a person & those around them without being melodramatic or sad. The big cathartic moment in the film isn’t an emotionally heartbreaking scene that’ll make you cry your eyes out, it’s a dance that almost feels like a sigh of relief and happiness for the characters and us, the audience. - The film features amazing performances from Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, who definitely deserved her Oscar win. The two have such an electrifying chemistry that brought this film to life, especially against David O. Russell’s direction, which was alright though it felt as though he was trying to do many things at once. - At the end of the day, Silver Linings Playbook is a beautiful story of two outcasts finding themselves and each other in the midst of their chaotic and messy lives, with just the dash of hope, optimism, and positivity we all need - especially right now. - 9⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: VEEP

Veep is a series from HBO following Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a fictional vice president of the United States, and her team as they attempt to make their mark and leave a legacy and all their outrageous antics in Washington, DC. Veep is a great show - given the show premiered in 2012, I’d say it was ahead of its time - as it would’ve been an easy concept to think of in recent years with the absurdity in US politics today. It was innovative & due to how brilliant it was, I doubt there will be a show like it in the near future.During its prime seasons, the show is a near-perfect depiction of subtle yet realistic political satire that didn’t rely on over-the-top gags but on the sheer talent in its writing team and cast, with witty, sharp, clever comedy and on-point delivery. - The cast members, most of which were nominated for Emmys, were outstanding. I thought Julia Louis Dreyfus couldn’t portray a character anywhere as iconic as Elaine in Seinfeld, and boy was I wrong. JLD proves that she’s a master of comedy, in a role tailor-made to her talents - no one could’ve portrayed her as well or made the extremely unlikable Selina Meyer as fun to watch as she did. Another personal favorite of mine was Gary Walsh portrayed by Tony Hale, who always ends up being my favorite in any project I see him in - he was hilarious & the only generally likable, pure character in the show. - However, I have to say I was disappointed by the show’s last two seasons, and for a multitude of reasons. Veep was never the show that had an emotional tone or ever attempted to establish an emotional connection between the characters and the audience - plus, it helped that only a select few of the show’s characters were generally “likable”. But going into the last two seasons, I expected a satisfying ending and a proper, heartfelt farewell to these crazy characters we spent so much time with, and I was let down. Not only did we not get a satisfying ending, it was almost cruel - to us & the characters. The characters were unrecongnizable, the opportunity for meaningful character development thrown out the window in favor of a depressing ending verging on cartoon-ish satire rather than the subtle, smart satire I loved about it. Veep never needed to make a “statement” about the Trump era, it already encapsulated his ridiculousness without even trying in previous seasons just by being what it was. I understand Veep was never an emotional show, I’m totally fine with that, & I actually appreciate some of the details in the finale, but overall… I still would’ve preferred a happier ending which might’ve been more powerful & satisfying.

At the end of the day though, I can’t say I didn’t have a blast watching this show or deny its greatness. It’s excellent despite it’s ending, and a week after finishing the show I value the good things about it more than the ending. I loved seasons 2-5 and will most likely rewatch them every now & then. Do I still recommend it? Yes, if this is your type of comedy you’d enjoy it as long as you keep what I said about the last couple of seasons in mind - don’t go in with the wrong expectations. - 8.5/10⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: MINDHUNTER (SEASONS 1 & 2)

Mindhunter is a Netflix series following two FBI agents in the 1970s who interview & study serial killers. It is exec. produced by David Fincher (Gone Girl, Fight Club) 🧠 - If you’re looking for a fun action-packed crime show with levity combined with the thrilling hunt of catching a murderer, this isn’t it. Mindhunter is more concerned with diving deep into the minds of serial killers & providing a psychological investigation into their motivations & patterns, trying to understand their behavior & way of thinking without justifying their actions, but for the sake of research & catching criminals, possibly before they even turn into one. Additionally, the show finds ways to explore & add more context & development to real criminal cases that makes you it see it from an angle you wouldn’t consider, through the depiction of the killers, our characters & their interactions with them & their studies, all without showing the murders which makes it even more disturbing as we see the makings of serial killers, breaking them down, analyzing them, & the impact of doing so. - So…. yeah, it’s quite dark. It’s creepy, & unsettling, but incredibly interesting & brilliant, the psychological focus specifically ensures it’s not your typical crime show. Having said that, it’s also quite slow paced, so if you have no interest in the subject matter, I expect you’d get bored pretty quickly - I recommend it to anyone interested in true crime, psychology, & criminology. For those of you who are fans of David Fincher, as you might be able to gather, it’s very him & if you haven’t seen the show already, you’d most likely really enjoy it. As you’d expect it has great cinematography, visuals, & direction in each episode, & great performances from Jonathan Groff (who I was already a huge fan of) & Holt McCallany. Their characters are well-developed, season 2 is as good as season 1, as we see them apply their research in addition to conducting it - though it was slightly underwhelming to see Holden take more of a back seat at times. - Mindhunter is on hold while Fincher works on other projects, but I hope it returns for one more season at least - it's a really good show. - 8.6⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: EMMA. (2020)

Based on the Jane Austen novel of the same name, the film follows Emma Woodhouse, a young woman who interferes in the love lives of her friends. - Due to the various previous adaptations of the original book and the sheer popularity of Clueless (1995, a modern adaptation of the book), the story is one most of us might be familiar with. Without giving anything away, I'd say that though I prefer Clueless, I also really liked Emma and don't think knowing the story made it any less enjoyable. It has all the classic Jane Austen elements and romance you'd expect topped off with a bit of classic British humor and wit. - Anya Taylor Joy gave a great performance as the magnificent yet manipulative Emma. A complex, and rich character I can't get enough of, Emma is a young woman who is spoiled, cunning, sure of her place in society, and thinks she knows everything, but at the same time wants to help out by doing what she thinks is best. She’s not a bad person, but she also knows that acting as a puppet-master isn’t all right and does it anyway, which doesn't make her likable to most, but a very interesting character to follow. The film does an alright job of exhibiting the character’s battle with her morals & ethics and her place in the world…though it could’ve dived even deeper into the character and those around her. - Though she was supported by a mix of good/just alright characters and performances, Miranda Hart specifically was a delightful addition to the cast. - Additionally, the film’s cinematography is great and is supported by the beautiful design that went into the film, from the perfectly pastel colored costumes to the set pieces and scenery that brought the film to life. However, I wish the film was a bit edgier in terms of the directing and the editing to make it a bit more fun and exciting - nothing besides the classic story sets it apart from other period piece/literary film adaptations. - Nevertheless, at the end of the day it’s a delightful, funny, and charming film that’s sure to please fans of Jane Austen and period piece films. - 8/10⭐️ - Emma is available to rent on digital platforms now.

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: BIRDS OF PREY (2020)

In the latest film from DC Comics, Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey are on a quest to save a troubled young girl from Gotham City crime lord Black Mask💘 Birds of Prey has everything you could want from a Harley Quinn movie. It’s as wild, silly, naughty, colorful and all over the place as its main character - any other tone or direction wouldn’t have worked as well given the established version of Harley in the DCEU. And it’s a fun ride to say the least. Though the film is titled Birds of Prey, make no mistake, this is Harley’s story. At the start of the film, everyone knows & remembers her from a hazy memory as a loud, possibly psychotic attachment to the Joker… not unlike how many people think of her in real life. Harley’s not a good person. And she knows that. She chooses to save herself before anyone else and doesn’t try to be the hero. She’s a proud anti-hero. And this story isn’t necessarily about her redemption, but rather Harley trying to prove herself, to the people of Gotham, the people watching the film, and to herself... and watching her do so is a sight to see. We see a rare, more vulnerable side to the character as she learns to be more confident in her skin & show the world that Harley Quinn is even stronger, tougher, wilder, and more confident and “fantabulous” on her own or with a girl gang than she ever was with “Mr. J”. I like Harley even more than I did, I appreciated where they took her character, & I thought Margot Robbie was awesome. I loved Cathy Yan’s directing & Christina Hodson’s script. I really appreciated that you could tell it’s a story about women by women, from the little details to the overall story - passing a hairtie during a fight, the costumes that aren’t unnecessarily s*xualized, and by them just presenting a superhero action flick fronted by women and showing that they can stand on their own. It wouldn’t have worked as well if it were directed/written by a man. I also really liked the movie’s soundtrack and how it was used in the film.

Still, the plot has its flaws and weak points, and while it was fun to have Harley narrate the story with humorous & fun moments & storytelling techniques reminiscent of Deadpool, the story felt disjointed at times and would’ve flowed better if it were consistent and linear. Additionally, I wish all of the supporting characters were even more fleshed out than they were - we got a good glimpse of their backstories & personalities to understand their motivations, but not enough us love them or to connect with them.

Overall, Birds of Prey is an extremely fun & enjoyable ride that would please any fellow fan of DC Comics and the fabulous Harley Quinn.

8⭐️

[thearabkhaleesi]

REVIEW: THE MARVELOUS MRS MAISEL

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel follows a young housewife in 1950s New York who discovers she has a knack for stand-up comedy🎙 - This is my favorite show currently on-air. I couldn’t say that for a while since GOT was still running, but right now that statement stands. - TMMM is a show created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, who also created another show I love dearly, Gilmore Girls. And while I have my problems with some of her creative decisions & where she takes her characters (in both shows), I can’t help but love the worlds & characters she creates. An ASP world instantly recognizable due to its witty, fast-paced dialogue & nature, that you love to keep up with, &strong, well-developed female leads who are unapologetically themselves in their energetic, vibrant world that I can’t get enough of. - And there’s no would I’d rather follow than the POWERHOUSE that is Mrs. Miriam “Midge” Maisel & the woman playing her. Rachel Brosnahan is sensational & perfectly encapsulates this amazing character, as no one else could have. Midge is naturally & authentically herself - funny, spontaneous, edgy, brave, fiery, sweet, & empowering in a way & in an environment we’ve never seen before. It’s refreshing to see a character like her take complete charge of her life in the time period of the show compared to the usual “perfect housewife in the 1950s” trope, which the show never criticizes even though it completely steers in the opposite direction. It’s in tune to the time it’s set in while also remaining very modern & edgy. - She is supported by a wide variety of spectacular supporting characters that are just as perfectly casted, including Tony Shahloub, Alex Borstein, Luke Kirby, Marin Hinkle, Zachary Levi, & Michael Zegen. Abe & Lenny Bruce particularly are absolute scene-stealers. - A review of TMMM wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the show’s stunning costume design - I want to own Midge’s entire wardrobe & could write a full review solely about her dresses. - Though I don’t always agree with Amy Sherman-Palladino, I cant help but love her shows & the worlds she creates. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is as marvelous a show as its main character, I love it so much. - 9.4⭐️