Carlos (2010) - Theatrical Version

Series directed by: Olivier Assayas

Written by: Olivier Assayas, Dan Franck and Daniel Leconte 

The story of Venezuelan revolutionary Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, who founded a worldwide terrorist organization and raided the 1975 OPEC meeting.

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I'm tagging this as "mini-series" and "TV" even if I saw the 185 minute long movie cut. Now of course I haven't seen all the footage I could've, but I'm going to write this piece based on what I did see.

I actually chose to see Carlos (or Carlos the Jackal which seems to be the name here and in some other places) very randomly. My friend just picked something out for me because she thought I was wasting too much time browsing in the video store. I had actually knew nothing about Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, aka Carlos, prior to seeing this. I'm not exactly sure why there was such a gap in my knowledge, but as I learned he was an actual person (learned this from my dad before I watched the movie or series)  the whole story became much more interesting. Of course there's the "this is work of fiction" announcement at the beginning, so there's still the "what's true and what's not" since I haven't done research like at all.

Apparently that doesn't matter when watching Carlos. If you know, it's intriguing to see the fictional side of this, if you know nothing, it's intriguing to learn about everything.

In the movie cut the structure is a bit hard to follow sometimes. Characters come and go, time doesn't mean anything... But after I learned it's a mini-series it makes more sense. They had to cut like two hours. Still they saved an awful lot of the OPEC stuff while skipping the 80's completely. Now I don't know how long the OPEC situation is in the series, did they cut a lot or did they want to keep that whole thing, but it felt longer than any other part of the movie. It kind of ate the balance. It seemed like that was the point instead of, you know, Sánchez's life in general.

Also sometimes the music is a bit weird. Like it's good music but feels somewhat ill-fitting for the movie and what it's about.

All in all the story is definitely intriguing and from all the research I did do, Edgar Ramírez is extremely talented and a good choice for the lead role.The biggest problem is how much was cut and how rushed everything feels and what important events didn't make the movie version. Maybe I should watch the whole mini-series some day, to be able to give this a better, more accurate rating.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

6 / 10

A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV show, 2017-)

I know I usually don't talk about TV shows here, but maybe it's time I start, and it's obviously a good choice to start with a show that came out last Friday and I binge watched in three days with my sister. 

I haven't finished the books. I started reading them but for some reason stopped after the fifth one. Still, didn't matter since the first season covered the first four books. I have time to catch up! Except I think I once read through all the summaries on Wikipedia or something.

This show is everything the original movie should've been. The original movie is not bad, but the thing is, it doesn't have exactly the charm the books had. Reading the books after seeing the movie was like sun shining through the clouds after a while, because the writing in the books is so charming and clever and while it's all "this is a tragic tale" it's also not at all serious. The movie was like a weird shadow of that. Still great, still so very very unique, but something was definitely missing.

The cast of the movie was brilliant, but somehow this show managed to top that. While Jim Carrey was amazing as Count Olaf, Neil Patrick Harris is the real deal. He can be that typical over the top, funny villain that's typical for children's books and shows, but he can also be weirdly scary. Carrey didn't have that. One of my favourite members of the cast is Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket. He has this amazing voice, and his whole persona feels more Lemony Snicket than Jude Law in the movie. Everyone is so talented and so incredibly beautiful.

If there's something that makes this even greater than the cast and the writing, it's the cinematography and the music. Visually this show is astonishing, it's dark like it's supposed to be, but it's detailed and wonderfully surreal? Not realistic? I'm not sure whats' the right word to use, but the atmosphere is like for the dark fairy tale - which is exactly what this show is. The music is enchanting, and the theme sung by Neil Patrick Harris just gets stuck in your head. And the song at the very end of the season? Hauntingly beautiful.

Only thing I can complain about is how soon the season was over, but that's not really a complaint. Shorter seasons are better. Quality over quantity, when it comes to TV shows.

Also ever since I saw the movie I've been digging the "don't watch / read this" vibe the series has going on. And in the TV show the theme song is basically "don't watch this show". But don't listen to Lemony Snicket, watch the show. It's worth it.

Five TV Shows That Kept Me Occupied During Summer 2016

Summers are a time when I have no motivation to start a movie and sit through it and pay attention wholly. It's easier to watch a TV show from Netflix, especially when the episodes are around 20 minutes long, because then you don't have to focus on them 100 % and you can do something else while watching. This is something I like to do when I have trouble concentrating on a movie that lasts 1,5 - 2 hours. 

ARCHER

I tried to watch Archer previously, but I didn't even make it through the first episode, because I didn't think this TV show was right for me. But during this Summer I wanted to find something to watch while I was waiting for new seasons of the shows I already loved. Eventually I managed to watch Archer and I started to like it. True, many of the running jokes annoyed me, and there is something in Archer that I just don't like, but in the end Archer is a really funny show, even if I don't necessarily enjoy the genre.

BOJACK HORSEMAN

I've seen first two seasons before, but the third season came out in July. I was so psyched and it didn't take too long for me to watch the third show as well. BoJack Horseman is probably one of my favourite shows. It feels like a typical, dirty adult animation, but it is so much more. There are many episodes that are just horrifyingly sad, and when you're watching this show alone at night it just makes you feel kind of... weird. As if you might achieve everything and still not be happy. This show manages to make me miserable yet I enjoy it. It's astonishing.

THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR

I've seen the first season maybe ten times, but finally I managed to actually watch the rest too - even if I'm still in the middle of the last season. This show is hilarious yet there are few really sad episodes. I love the way Will breaks the fourth wall. Since I watched this show when I was little most of these characters feel like family to me. True, Will's character is kind of an asshole sometimes, but hey, he is so charming it's easy to forget that.

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN

Yes I started watching this show before this summer, but I started re-watching the first season since I bought the DVD. I love this show, it's enchanting and it feels like the lore goes on and on yet it's never fully revealed. I'm looking forward to the third season.

MISFITS

I love this show, and I started watching it again, mostly because my little sister hadn't seen it before. I've finished season three but never gotten past that, but I'm planning on watching the rest with my sister ASAP.

3 TV shows you should watch

Some of these are "old" in a way they are well known, so I'm not throwing any indie to your face, but I need to mention three TV shows I've been hooked on during this summer. 

Arrested Development

"Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together."

Seasons watched: 4/?

I found Arrested Development once we got Netflix. It was probably the first TV show I started to watch from Netflix, and I love it. The humour is absurd, and you can't tell the jokes of the show to your friends, because then you would have to give a backstory to certain characters and explain the entire story arch for it to make sense.  I've enjoyed every minute of this TV show, even if the start of season 4 seemed a little weird after the three first ones. 

Arrested Development is funny, absurd and original, and it has amazingly funny and weird characters. 

That 70's Show

Seasons watched: 5 / 8

I started watching That 70's Show when my summer vacation started, and I loved it almost immediately. This show is very well made, because sometimes I almost forget it takes place in the 70's. It feels slightly ageless, even if sometimes I wish I knew more about the 70's pop culture, it would be easier to follow the show and understand the stuff. I love the characters, they feel like some distant family already. I don't agree with everything they do, but I still care about the characters. And to be honest, this is the first time in my adult life when I really cared about fictional characters.

That 70's show is funny, and somehow makes me feel warm and cozy at times. The show's like a nice warm cup of cocoa.

Brooklyn 99

Seasons watched: 2/?

The third show I started watching, when Netflix almost threw it in my face. I didn't expect to like it as much as I do. Brooklyn 99 comfirmed that I love sitcoms that aren't shot basically from one angle and have a live audience that laughs at everything. Brooklyn 99 has elements of crime genre, but it takes a different angle to the crimes: the main character may at times be an asshole, but he truly loves his job as a cop, and I would love to see more characters be so enthusiastic about their jobs, it's amazing. The characters are amazing, and the diversity is wonderful. One of the very few show were I like all characters almost unconditionally. I feel like I could be every one of those.

Brooklyn 99 is crime and comedy, and it combines both genres wonderfully. Amazing show, and I just finished all that has been made by now and I desperately need more, now, please.

I feel like a total douchebag now that I haven't watched movies in a long time, let alone written a review of them. It feels like I have abandoned this blog - which is not true! It's just that... Well, it's summer, and I don't feel the need to watch movies because I can do what I want most of the time. Does that make sense?

Anyway, I've been busy watching Orphan Black. It is this Canadian science fiction show about clones. Tatiana Maslany is very, very good in it. You can recognise clones only by their voice - how many can do that?

Another thing keeping me busy is Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I bought it for myself on my 18th birthday and well, I'm kinda hooked. I've finished the main plot already but  there is so much to do! Also, I'm thinking about buying them add ons, but I'm scared that if I do they will be on sale, since the Steam summer sale is on right now, and changes daily? Damn. But I'm not patient.

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2014

I really haven't watched movies this week, I've been too excited about Eurovision to watch new movies. (I did watch Kick-Ass 2 now that I finally bought it, but I don't think I had anything new to say about it. ((Now that I think about it - I would've! After reading the comic book! Fuck!))) 

There might be someone reading this who is not from Europe, and therefore not familiar with the concept "Eurovision Song Contest", but I don't think I will start to explain about it. But basically now that Europe has calmed down from all the wars, they have this way to fight wars. And when it's time to give the points, there might be... real anger there. Like I last night: "What the hell, Sweden gave us six points? We better not give them any more than that!"

I had few years where I didn't watch Eurovision, but last year I started to watch them again. This year was actually pretty good - I knew the winner already in the semi final. Also, not every year can you see kids from your school to be 11th in the grand final of Eurovision Song Contest!

But congratulations for the beautiful Conchita Wurst! Beautiful person and beautiful song both deserved the win! Amazing!

My favourites of the year:

Armenia - Aram MP3: Not Alone

Austria - Conchita Wurst: Rise Like a Phoenix

Azerbaijan - Dilara Kazimova: Start a Fire

Belarus - Teo: Cheesecake

Finland - Softengine: Something Better

France - Twin Twin: Moustache

Georgia - The Shin And Mariko: Three Minutes to Earth

Germany - Elaiza: Is It Right

Israel - Mei Finegold: Same Heart

Malta - FireLight: Coming Home

Switzerland - Sebalter: Hunter of Stars

My favourite TV shows

I feel like I haven't done a post about TV shows ever. So yeah, I thought I'd do one now. And include several TV shows. Hell yeah. I tried to keep these in order, but I'm not into trying to correct the order, because that would mess the whole post - which is the reason that sometimes Blogger really sucks.

Boston Legal is a drama comedy about a law firm called Crane, Pool and Schmidt. The show is a spin-off of the Practice, which I've never watched, and I'm not interested in watching. A big part of Boston Legal's charm hides in characters Alan Shore and Denny Crane, played by James Spader and William Shatner. I like the show because most of the episodes have more than one plot - there is more than one case. I'm usually more interested in one of them, and I'm more eager to see what happens in that case, even though I didn't care so much about the other cases. I guess that's the point of having several cases. Anyway, this show is a bit sneaky, I mean it tricks you into thinking that the show is completely harmless and silly, and you don't even realise how much you like actors unless something horrible happens - like Shore's night terrors in season 2. 

I'm currently watching the second season. 

I'm not even sure if I need to explain Breaking Bad. It's a show about high school chemistry teacher, who turns 50, and realises he has a lung cancer. Realising he's family won't be left with a lot of money, he starts cooking meth with his ex-student. I really like the TV show, it's a very fine drama, and I can totally understand how come it's won so many awards. (I don't know if it's many but some people are actually making fun of the show winning awards.) The show is very well written and acted. I think my friend Lotta had a lot more to say about this show.

I was watchign the third season, but somehow I never finished that. So I should start again.

Hannibal is about.. well, Hannibal Lecter. Most of us know who he is, so I guess I don't need to explain more. This show is responsible for making me love the original movies, and in some weird way it's also responsible for making me love a certain actor, whose movies I've been watching all week. Oops. I love Hannibal because of the interesting characters, perfect use of music, and fantastic cinematography. I like the show very much, even though during this new season I've found myself a bit disappointed. I remember how I started watching this - I saw one episode, thought it was good, and didn't watch it again, until it started to show here in Finland. And then I watched it every week. But now I'm catching up on what they are showing in the US.

I'm currently watching the second season.

How I Met Your Mother is currently the only sit-com I love. I don't know why I like that show when there are many other shows out there, but somehow it stands out. Maybe it's like Friends for my generation. ... Except that many of my generation watch Friends.. Anyway, the show is about Ted Mosby, telling their kids the story of how he met their mother. For some reason though, the mother seems to never be in his stories, which are mostly about his and his friends' adventures in New York. I like How I Met Your Mother, because it's well written, has hilarious jokes, and also some devastating moments, that have ripped my heart out. I've cried more than once a season while watching this show. I'm very attached to all the characters. And I seem to be the only one who wasn't disappointed about the ending of the TV show. This TV show will always have its place in my heart.

I've finished all the seasons.

Lie To Me is about a small firm, that specialises with detecting lies, so they help in many different crime investigations. I'm very fond of the show, and its characters, and even though I know all the episodes - not by heart but still - I can always return to them and watch them again. Sometimes I hope I knew people who watch this, apart from my dad. I don't even know how I started watching this - I guess I saw one episode from the third season on TV, and didn't watch it after that. And then I went and bought the first season, watched it several times before I got the rest of the show. I really love Tim Roth's performance in this show, and I really like the actor.

I've finished all the seasons.

Misfits is about youngsters in community service, when suddenly a weird storm starts and they gain superpowers. They aren't the only ones, though, and there seems to be a lot of people like them all around the city. One of my favourite things about the show is how different the characters can be, even though they are in the same situation. Also, I love how most of them aren't happy with their powers. I love the show, and it also has ripped my heart out several times. The music in this show is also amazing. 

I've finished three seasons.

Blacklist, Blacklist, Blacklist... where do I begin? I hardly watch TV, I buy TV shows on DVD. But I saw a commercial for Blacklist and I thought "That's so my scene". So I started watching it - missing the first episode, and oh I was in love. The show starts when one of the most wanted criminals, Raymond  Reddington, turns himself in to the FBI. He then makes a deal - he knows which criminals are important and FBI should try to find, so he gets immunity. His other condition is, that he will only talk to Elizabeth Keen, a new FBI profiler.The two main characters remind me somehow of the relationship between Starling and Dr Lecter, but fortunately it's not so simple, and there's so much mystery wrapped around that - and the whole character of Raymond Reddington! But the Starling/Lecter -thing is why Hannibal is resposible for making me love James Spader. 

I'm currently watching the first season.