The 5th Wave

tytuł polski: Piąta fala

director / reżyseria: J. Blakeson

USA, 2016

"The 5th Wave" is a 2016 American science fiction action film directed by J. Blakeson, with a screenplay by Susannah Grant, Akiva Goldsman, and Jeff Pinkner, based on Rick Yancey’s 2013 novel of the same name. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Ron Livingston, Maggie Siff, Alex Roe, Maria Bello, Maika Monroe, and Liev Schreiber.

When Earth is attacked by aliens, there is a sequence of waves of destruction to annihilate the population. The aliens drain the energy and create diseases and natural disasters. The teenager Cassie Sullivan moves with her family to the countryside, but when her mother Lisa dies, her father Oliver decides to go to a refugee camp with Cassie and her younger brother Sam. Out of the blue, the army comes to the camp to transfer the survivors to a military base. They transfer the children first but Cassie misses the bus where Sam is. She learns that in the 5th wave, the aliens have assumed the human form and she witnesses the military executing the civilians in the camp, including her father. She flees and now she begins her quest to find Sam. Meanwhile, the teenagers and children are trained by the military to fight the enemy. But how to know who is human and who is alien?

The story is very absorbing. The acting is brilliant and the dialogues are dramatic and moving. The story is really true to life. My first impressions were very mixed, I didn’t know what to expect. I was captivated by this story. I can highly recommend the film to everyone who is keen on stories of the Earth undergoing an alien apocalypse. The actors’ performance is outstanding.

Marcel Niedźwiedzki

for more information go to / więcej informacji: filmweb, imdb

Awakenings

tytuł polski: Przebudzenia

director / reżyseria: Penny Marshall

USA, 1990

This movie is based on a book by Oliver Sacks and is also based on real events. It tells a story of a doctor working in a psychiatric hospital who discovers how to help patients suffering from coma encephalitis. After much research and experimentation Dr. Malcolm Sayer (played by Robin Williams) finds a drug that awakens patients from a coma. The first patient to wake up is Leonard Lowe, played by Robert De Niro. After many years of detachment from reality, Leonard tries to start life anew. He meets new places, new people. Unfortunately, the happiness of the patients does not last long. After some time, the drug stops working and patients slowly lose themselves in their disease. Leonard can’t accept it. After such a long absence, he does not want to lose his newly regained life. Unfortunately, Dr. Malcolm and other doctors are unable to determine what went wrong and why the drug stopped working. After a long time, the patients fall back into a coma.
The drama of this film is revealed in Leonardo’s behavior, when he realizes that he may soon lose his life again. The amazing acting of the characters allows us to feel even more the drama of the sick. The relationships between the patients and the doctors and the patients’ desire to live is very touching. Not one person will be able not to shed a tear while watching this film. However, it is worth watching just to become aware of how bad some people have it in life and how much we should appreciate what we have.

Julia Wasilewska

for more information go to: imdb.com

Braveheart

tytuł polski: Braveheart - waleczne serce

director / reżyseria: Mel Gibson

USA, 1995

This is a movie for fans of Scotland’s medieval history, but not only. The plot of the film is based on real events and includes historical characters like William Wallace, the leader of the Scottish Uprising in the early 14th century. At the beginning of the film, young Wallace loses his loved ones and his father’s brother takes care of him. When the boy grows up he returns to his hometown and falls in love with Marion Braidfute. She reciprocates his affection and agrees to marry William secretly one night. Some time later, Marion is  attacked by King Edward’s knights who try to hurt her. Unfortunately, during an attempt to escape Marion is caught and killed in a public execution. When William gets to know about the death of his beloved, he swears revenge, gathers an army of his most faithful companions and begins to raid villages, murdering only the king’s faithful followers. In the meantime, the king plans to attack Scotland with armed forces and subdue it. However, William’s actions cross his plans.

I know some people don’t like spoilers, so I won’t reveal the ending of the movie, but if you know the story of the Scottish uprising’s leader, you can be sure that the film does not differ from the original. This film is worth watching not only because it shows the history of medieval England, the beauty of Scotland’s nature, or the tragic and difficult love of the main characters, but also for the music of James Horner (I am a huge fan of James Horner’s music), which for me is the most beautiful film soundtrack ever. Music from Braveheart was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film Music, and the film won an Oscar.

Julia Wasilewska

for more information go to / więcej informacji: Braveheart - Waleczne Serce (1995) - Filmweb

Dances with Wolves

tytuł polski: Tańczący z wilkami

director / reżyseria: Kevin Costner

USA, 1990

Ordered to hold an abandoned army post, John Dunbar found himself alone, beyond the edge of civilization. Thievery and survival soon forced him into the Indian camp, where he began a dangerous adventure that changed his life forever… (the publisher’s descritpion)

The movie Dances With Wolves has something  more than what the above description mentions. The subject of this film covers many problems, such as the fight between good and evil, love, Indian culture and their tragic history, as well as many answers to the question that more and more people are asking themselves: what are we to do to make our lives happy? Undoubtedly, everyone will find something for themselves in this film. I was most interested in the Comanche lifestyle and their approach to the world.

An important aspect of the film is the theme of things and people passing away. Nothing lasts forever and eventually terrible, unstoppable times will come and dust what was once an oasis for people like John Dunbar, Wind in His Hand, Stands with a Fist and the rest of the Indians.  Yet everyone has to live on and not turn around to get back because only this will ensure our survival in times that get more and more difficult.

I think everyone should watch this movie. Not only to get to know the history of the Indians, but to look at the world through the eyes of John Dunbar and fall in love with it again.

Julia Wasilewska

for more information go to / więcej informacji: Tańczący z wilkami (1990) - Filmweb

Gifted

tytuł polski: Obdarowani

director/reżyseria: Marc Webb

USA, 2017

The flm "Gifted" is an American drama directed by Marc Webb and writtten by Tom Flynn. It's one of my favourite movies because it tells an interesting story and I like to return to it.

The action takes place in Florida. It's about a child, Mary Adler, who has been living with her uncle since her mother's death. This 7-year-old girl has unusual mathematical skills and her uncle Frank has been teaching her at home. Then Mary is sent to a nearby elementary school, but she isn't happy about it seeing that she already knows everything that her class is learning now. Her rich grandmother Evelyn is also upset about it and thinks Mary should go to a private school for gifted children. However, Frank turns that idea down. Based on his family's experiences with similar schools he fears that Mary will not have a chance at a normal childhood there. Evelyn tries to take over the full rights to raise her granddaughter, Frank is supported in this conflict by his best friend Roberta Taylor and Mary's teacher Bonnie Stevenson.

This is a really moving and gripping story. It shows us how strong relathionships between an uncle and a niece can be. It's also difficult to choose a side in this conflict; some will probably be on the side of the grandmother, others will side with the uncle, and some others still will agree with the headmaster of the school, with whom all the problems started. All these doubts make us feel attached to the story and curious about how it will end.

The movie is very touching; however, we are focused mostly on what Frank feels and I think we should have more insight into Mary's thoughts, but these are missing from the movie. The director absolutely forgot to show us Mary's emotions and feelings.

But not counting that one fault I can truly recommend this film to everyone. It will interest every fan of good cinema.

Natalia Kachel

for more information go to: filmweb.pl

The Pursuit of Happyness

tytuł polski: W pogoni za szczęściem

director/reżyseria: Gabriele Muccino

USA, 2006

"The Pursuit of Happyness" is a film based on facts, but it's also a great drama. The film had its premiere on the big screen on December 15, 2006; it was shot entirely in the USA. The director, Gabriele Muccino, was the creator of such films as "Seven Pounds" or "Last Kiss", and the screenplay was written by Steve Conrad.

The main role is played by Will Smith who doesn't need to be presented to anyone. He is accompanied by his real son who plays the role of his character's son. It's Will Smith who deserves the highest praise and congratulations for playing such a difficult role while giving away all emotions and all of himself in it.

Without revealing the entire story, the film is a tale of a single father deprived of his home after parting with his wife, and in search of a job. At the same time he has to raise his son, left by his mother in his father's hands.

I highly recommend this film for long boring nights because it's a must-have position in the repertoire of every cinema fan.

Dawid Gerek

for more information go to: filmweb.pl