Film Review by Predrag Milicevic

"The Transformers: The Movie" and "Beowulf"

We live in a time where the art of film making has gone one step beyond. The art of animation has been perfectionised with a little help of the up-to-date technologies, which feature graphic components capable of creating realistic images which can fool the human eye and can bring to life anything beyond our wildest imagination, mystic creatures and even worlds. All it takes is a little imagination and precision, and of course money, to create a masterpiece such as ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''Ice age''.

As a fan of good animation I would like to say something about the film ''The Transformers: the Movie'', based on the cartoon and toys that has recently been shown in cinemas and has recieved a positive critic, and ''Beowulf'', a remake of the film from 1999 that came after ''transformers'', was a major disappointment regarding animation.

As the title suggests, the film ''Transformers'' is about bio-mechanical life forms from outter space, who can transform into man maid techonologies and who invade planet Earth, on which the showdown good against evil takes place to decide the faith of humanity. This film features the most advanced animations ever created, and along with Sreven Spilberg and Michael Bay responsible for the dynamic plot and risky stunts managed to create a melange of sci-fi, action and comedy. The transformations were initially been made to follow the laws of physics and that's what makes this film realistic. Every detail is flawless, movements fluent and the plot is just insane.

On the other hand, ''Beowulf'', which I was eager to watch, turned out to be a disappointment because even the main characters, such as Angelina Jolile and Ray Winston were totaly animated. Unfortunately, the animations were obvious and easily to spot. The facial movements are stiff, the skin is shiny and low in detail. However, the plot is very good, with a mixture of mythology, old beliefs and old cultures and bloody sequences as well. The major mistakes of this film would be the unnecessary computerised main characters, which in my oppinion, costs more than normal acting. I'm still wondering why they did that if the actors are already present, and you can't get more real than that. The money shouldn't have been a problem. Stars such as Angelina Jolie are only to see on high budget films.

By contrasting these two films, you can clearly see that there is no room for error, that every move has to fit perfectly or the project will be in jeperdy. You have to compliment the real masterminds' behind such big projects, who have to have a steady hand, eyes of an eagle for every smallest detail and nerves to produce something that you can be proud of.

Film Review by Katarina Vicentijevic

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Chicago

Latest Tim Burton film “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” could be characterized as one of the best musicals ever made. Based on a hit Broadway musical from 19th century, the story is about Benjamin Barker, a barber sent away by Judge Turpin, who comes back to London under name Sweeney Todd. He opens a barber shop above Mrs. Lovett’s Meat Pie Shop, with whose help he assassinates corrupted aristocracy. His biggest wish is to reunite with his daughter, who is being “imprisoned” by Judge Turpin.
Staring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman, this film is going to keep you on the edge of your seat and impress you both with special effects, such as blood, costumes, make up, and, above all, the acting. Throughout most of the film, everything is gray, just like the soul of protagonist. Singing is magnificent- Johnny Depp’s vocal abilities are one more detail that makes this film extraordinary.
On the other hand, although “Chicago” won the Oscar for the best film a few years ago, I do not share opinion with those who say that it was the one that deserved it. The story is about two murderers Roxie Hart, who killed her lover when she found out he wouldn’t make her famous, and Velma Kelly, who killed her husband and sister after finding them in bed together. Two of them fight for glory in order to save themselves from dying.
I find plot far less interesting and dynamic than in “Sweeney Todd”, and, though the cast is pretty good, neither Richard Gere nor Rene Zellweger justified my expectations. Singing and choreography are absolutely fine, though not that exceptional as in “Sweeney Todd”. From my point of view, plot in “Chicago” is too common and predictable as there have been many films with similar motives. Some motives from “Sweeney Todd” might also be common, but the ending is far from being common.
I highly recommend watching these two films as in that way you will be able to decide on your own whether I was right.