The Analytical Tortoise

Review: 🎬 Excalibur (1981) A masterpiece of mythic cinema, timeless, haunting and unforgettable      5 out of 5 John Boorman's Excalibur is not just a film, it is a vision. It is a cinematic spell cast upon the Arthurian legend, a work that feels as though it emerged from the mists of Avalon itself. In an era when epic filmmaking often meant spectacle without soul, Boorman created something operatic, mystical, and deeply rooted in the primal power of myth. The result is arguably the greatest epic of the era and without question, Boorman's finest achievement. The Definitive Arthur Nigel Terry's portrayal of Arthur is the cornerstone of this film's greatness. His Arthur begins as a wide-eyed boy, uncertain and overwhelmed, and grows into a king whose nobility is tempered by human frailty. Terry captures the essence of Sir Thomas Malory's vision from Le Morte d'Arthur , a man destined for greatness yet haunted by destiny and tragedy. For generations to come,...

  Review: 🎬 Love Hard (2021) A story that charms you with humor and keeps you with heart      4.5 out of 5 Love Hard  is one of those romantic comedies that succeeds not by reinventing the genre, but by respecting it. What surprised me the most is how carefully the film lays its groundwork. Story beats and character quirks are introduced early on, Natalie's kiwi allergy, Josh's earnest awkwardness, even the family dynamics that shape them are planted with intention. When these elements resurface later they feel organic rather than contrived. The film earns its payoffs our affections because it prepares us for the character development. The characters themselves are drawn with more dimension than the premise might suggest. Natalie isn't just the unlucky-in-love columnist; she is someone whose cynicism masks a genuine longing for connection. Josh isn't merely the "catfish with a heart of gold"; he is a man whose sincerity has been mistaken for inadequacy f...

Review: 🎬 Tower Heist (2011) It's not just a robbery, it's payback    3 out of 5 Tower Heist  is a film that methodically takes its time to unfold its characters, but once it does, the story flows with an easy confidence from beginning to end. The first half hour is carefully devoted to setup, introducing us to the gleaming Manhattan high-rise life, the staff who keep it running, and the billionaire Arthur Shaw played skillfully by Alan Alda. Shaw appears to be a benevolent benefactor but is, in truth, a man of deceptive kindness masking cruelty. This deliberate pacing pays off, because when the story itself begins to take shape, we understand not only the stakes but the humanity of those involved. Ben Stiller anchors the film as Josh Kovacs, the building manager who becomes the reluctant mastermind of the operations. Stiller plays him as the straight man, earnest, decent and clearly motivated by a desire to help the people who have been wronged. Around him swirl Eddie M...

  Review: 🎬 Superman (2025) Superman (2025) is a heartfelt revival of the Man of Steel, a film that honors the 1978 version while reminding us of the enduring power of hope.    4 out of 5 There is a certain timelessness to Superman where he is played straight, without irony or cynicism. The 2025 Superman  film embraces that tradition wholeheartedly, echoing the spirit of the Christopher Reeve era with a sincerity that feels almost radical in today's landscape of brooding heroes, fractured universes and failed reboots. This is a film that believes in Superman as an ideal, the way he was originally written with hope and values to be proud of. Clark Kent here is portrayed with a kind of naïve innocence and unwavering integrity that blinds him to danger. He walks into traps that any seasoned hero would sidestep, but the beauty of the performance is that we never doubt him. His trust in humanity, his refusal to compromise his values, is not a flaw, it is the essenc...

  Review: 🎬 Lelo & Stitch (2025) Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch is a triumph of storytelling and visual harmony, perhaps the finest adaptation in the studio’s recent canon.  4 out of 5 In a barrage of Disney’s live-action remakes, Lilo & Stitch stands apart; not merely as a reimagining going back to the well, but as a reaffirmation of what made the original animated film so beloved. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and filmed in part at the lush Disney resort Aulani in Hawaii, the movie captures the spirit of its predecessor while carving out a cinematic identity all its own. What’s most remarkable is how seamlessly the animated characters, particularly Stitch, integrate into the live-action world. There’s no uncanny valley here, no jarring juxtaposition. Stitch, voiced once again by Chris Sanders, feels as real and emotionally present as any flesh-and-blood actor. His chaotic charm, mischievous energy, and moments of vulnerability are rendered with su...

Review: 🎬 Sabrina (1995) A Modern Fairytale with Old World Charm  4 out of 5 There is a certain kind of movie that Hollywood rarely makes anymore, romantic, elegant, and unafraid of sentiment. Sydney Pollack’s Sabrina is a remake, yes, but it’s also a reaffirmation. It reminds us that stories about love, transformation, and the quiet unraveling of emotional armor still have a place in cinema, even in an age of cynicism. Harrison Ford, often the embodiment of rugged charm or action-hero bravado, turns inward in Sabrina . His portrayal of Linus Larrabee is a masterclass in restraint. Linus is a cold, calculating executive, a man whose life is measured in quarterly earnings and strategic mergers. Ford doesn’t soften him with easy likability; instead, he lets Linus thaw slowly, like winter giving way to spring. It’s a performance that understands the power of silence, of glances, of moments withheld. And when Linus finally allows himself to feel, it’s not a grand gesture, it’s a...