Month: July 2021

IMDB link
Running time: 1h 30min
Directed by Mark L. Lester
Written by Jeph Loeb (story), Matthew Weisman (story), Steven E. de Souza (story)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Heday

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the greatest action hero/muscular meme man to ever exist. Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis come close in the Hollywood action pantheon, but they just cannot measure up to Arnie in terms of sheer charisma, bicep size, distinct and hilarious accent, or the quality of his vast body of work. Commando from 1985 is not the film he is most known for, perhaps obviously, but it is something that many fans of Arnold will list among the films they love the most – at least in the genre of action. I am unashamedly a fan of this hilariously stupid, partly unintentionally comical action film that embodies everything great and everything so bad that it’s great of 1980s action films.

IMDB link
Running time: 1h 46min
Directed by Miia Tervo
Written by Miia Tervo
Starring Mimosa Willamo, Amir Escandari, Elá Yildirim

Aurora is a Finnish drama/romantic comedy that also commentates about Finnish attitudes (and/or racism) towards immigration/refugees, made some years after the migrant crisis of 2015. The story follows Aurora, a young near-alcoholic blonde living in Finnish Lapland (northern Finland) who “goes with the flow” partying and day-drinking, seemingly without any greater aspirations or plans for the future. By chance she encounters down on his luck Iranian refugee Darian (Amir Escandari) and his young daughter Azar (Elá Yildirim). Gradually Aurora and Darian become friends, and eventually, somewhat clunkily, more than that.