ilyusha

Member since 1/1/2008, last signed in awhile ago.

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Interested in:Action, Adventure, Comedy, Comedy Drama, Drama, Epic, Fantasy, Film, TV & Radio, History, Music, Musical, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports & Recreation, Spy Film, Theater, Thriller, Travel

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Re: Technical Help
By ilyusha in Spout Customer Care
"Hi, For a couple of days now, my ratings to movies do not stay. I am seemingly able to select the appropriate number of stars, but when I access the page with that movie the next time, all of the stars are blank as if I never rated them. It only happens to the movies that I newly rate. All older ratings appear fine. Any ideas? Thanks, Ilya " [More]

Stardust

A delightful fantasy
By ilyusha in ilyusha Blog
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"As an admitted fan of fantasy, I was very much looking forward to finally seeing Stardust. It did not disappoint. Engaging plot, a universe populated by well-developed characters, a healthy sprinkling of magic - it all comes together to serve as a wonderful stage to explore The Big Idea. Which happens to be not about an affirmation of some philosophical credo or a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, - make no mistake, the good does prevail, - but a simple lovely truth.A young man sets out to capture a fallen star, so that he can win the hand in marriage of the fairest girl in his village. Little does he know that the star - who turns out to be a beautiful, if slightly neurotic, young woman - is greatly prised by two less-then-good forces: A clan of old witches who seek to recover their youth and the remaining members of a family of fratricidal princes who seek to assert each of their claims to the vacant throne. Many perilous adventures ensue, the boy transforms hims ... " [More]

A Good Year

A great romcom
By ilyusha in ilyusha Blog
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"I admit that I am biased when it comes to travel flicks. Show me a knockout beauty with the backdrop of gorgeous vistas, and I start salivating. Sprinkle in some cultural subtext, fortified by the prominent role of local food and wine, and I am so ready to live vicariously through the on-screen characters, that the actual plot becomes rather unimportant. Make the locale one of my favorite places on Earth, and I will invariably give you a thumbs up. The events in A Good Year occur in Provence (Favorite place? Check! Vistas? Check!). The female lead is the ravishing Marion Cotillard (now, a newly-minted Oscar winner for her role in La Vie en Rose). The setting is nothing less than a vineyard estate. Everything is properly aligned for my enjoyment. And the movie is enjoyable, despite certain lack of believability around Russell Crowe as a romantic lead. He is, on the other hand, just flawless as a ruthless and haughty trader Max Skinner. Several members of the cast produce no less del ... " [More]

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Disturbing but beautifully made
By ilyusha in ilyusha Blog
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"I should note right from the start that I probably would not pick up the book on which this movie is based. Nonetheless, I came across its showing on cable completely by accident and one fleeting look was enough for me to record its subsequent re-run and watch it beginning to end. Despite my natural aversion to these types of stories, I am a bit surprised to admit that Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is one of the best dramas that I watched in a long time.A young man in mid-eighteenth-century Paris develops unparalleled olfactory abilities while growing up in an orphanage and then slaving away in a tannery. His sense of smell is the guiding force in his life, to the extent of stunting his other senses and feelings. Upon an unfortunate encounter with a young and presumably full of fantastic smells woman, he becomes obsessed with capturing the essence of virginal beauty, and to that effect first seeks instruction from an accomplished perfumer and later engages in murdering beaut ... " [More]

Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz - Entertaining, a bit ...
By ilyusha in ilyusha Blog
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"A cop par excellence is re-assigned from his London beat to a small town in England's West. He arrives to find a serene and tight-knit community and a lax and not exactly competent police force service. As he follows his policeman instincts, he causes a lot more disturbance than the town is used to. Of course, nothing is what it seems in this sleepy place, and very soon a string of gruesome deaths ensues... Hot Fuzz starts nothing short of brilliant. Simon Pegg projects both single-mindedness of Sgt Nicholas Angel and his general bafflement over why other people do not share his attitude with the perfect blend of body language, facial expressions and quietly impeccable speech. I love the quick cuts that bridge the narrative. Angel's equanimity, coupled with the haplessness and indolence of his new comrades-in-arms, makes for great situational comedy.Unfortunately, when the plot picks up speed, the movie slides into grotesque and loses its brilliance. Nicholas starts ... " [More]