Solaris (2002)

I’ve been planning to watch this for a long-long time, finally did, and it was exactly everything I expected and wanted it to be. Beautiful and atmospheric sci-fi chamber drama with a very specific and narrow focus, which it executed and delivered brilliantly. Acting, music, direction, cinematography were all spot-on.

I read the book last year and I know exactly how much of that is in here and what the movie misses, and I have no problem with that. I don’t think this movie misses the science part of the fiction for the sake of delivering a space love drama. I think all the science aspect is in there but portrayed differently, focusing on the protagonist’s journey. The same is in the book too, but with a different focus, so this part is not spelled out that much. I loved both takes on the story: the book is great and fascinating, and the movie is captivating and beautiful.

Suspiria (2018)

It was a wonderful experience. Probably one of the most artful horror films that I have ever seen, and I’m much relieved to say that none of the art in it felt artsy but rather proper art film cinema. I loved how the tension kept pulsating: it went awry for short bursts, then got back to its track of narrative although with a growing feel of unease, which built up beautifully for the final catharsis. All of its visual style, camera movement, editing techniques, acting performances were just fit, and by that I mean there was nothing drawing more attention than needed, and so it was a perfectly balanced piece.