Tag Archives: 2000s

Bliss / Glück (2012) Doris Dörrie, Alba Rohrwacher, Vinzenz Kiefer, Matthias Brandt, Drama

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Bliss – directed by Doris Dörrie and adapted from the short story by Ferdinand von Schirach – recounts the tale of Irina, who leaves her war-torn country to become a prostitute on the streets of Berlin and Kalle, also living in on the streets of the German capital. These two individuals are alone and lost in the world until they are brought together through a chance encounter. As their relationship blossoms, a cataclysmic event threatens to destroy their fledgling love, with Kalle forced to extreme measures in order to preserve their happiness.
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Appleseed Alpha (2014) Shinji Aramaki, Yuka Komatsu, Jun’ichi Suwabe, Aoi Yuki, Animation, Action, Sci-fi

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From the creator of Ghost in the Shell and the director of Appleseed comes the intense post-apocalyptic prequel, Appleseed: Alpha. Left to survive in a post-World War society, two mercenary soldiers – Deunan and her cyborg partner Briareos – are sent on a mission on the outskirts of their war-torn city. During the operation, they run into Iris and Olson, two citizens from the utopian city of Olympus, who might have a way to save the world but the ruthless Talos and the scheming warlord Two Horns have their own plans. It’s up to Deunan and Briareos to safeguard their newfound contacts and help save humanity’s last hope.
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Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina / Appurushido: Ekusu makina (2007) Shinji Aramaki, Ai Kobayashi, Kôichi Yamadera, Yûji Kishi, Animation, Action, Sci-fi

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When a paramilitary task force called E.S.W.A.T. and its operations in the year 2133 Olympus, a futuristic utopia where humans, cyborgs, and bio-engineered human beings called “Bioroids” are attempting to live in perfect harmony. However, a series of random terrorist attacks perpetrated by cyborgs and humans alike threaten to throw Olympus into total chaos. As it turns out, these humans and machines have come under the influence of an unknown electronic signal that hacks into their nervous systems and they then become the unwilling servants of a malevolent computerized entity. Thrown into the action is the plucky female E.S.W.A.T. warrior Deunan Knute and her cyborg lover/partner Briareos as they investigate these bizarre occurrences with the other members of their unit. Things become complicated when a bioroid named Tereus, who resembles Briareous in his human form, joins their unit and threatens to come between their relationship. But these three must put aside their differences to face an even greater threat that promises world destruction in its wake.
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Two Mothers / Zwei Mütter (2013) Anne Zohra Berrached, Karina Plachetka, Sabine Wolf, Florian Weber, Drama

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Katja and Isabella decide to have a child. However, like many lesbian couples they soon discover that this is much more difficult than they first imagined. Citing legal reasons, most of the sperm banks and fertility clinics refuse to treat them. Fortunately, they are able to find one doctor willing to help – for a large sum. After a while, Katja decides she wants to call a halt to their ‘project’ on account of the toll it is taking on their relationship, not to mention their beleaguered bank balance. But Isabella refuses to give up. She finds a dealer who sells them a kit allowing them to perform the insemination in the comfort of their own home. There are plenty of men on his website willing to sell their sperm for various sums and sometimes one or two additional conditions. And so they begin ‘casting’ for a potential donor – a process that drags on for several difficult weeks. This fictional story is part experiment and part salutary tale. Containing all manner of sensitive material such as research, statistics, facts, prognoses, dreams and realities, this exciting work charts the vibrant terrain between fiction and reality.
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12 O’Clock Boys (2013) Lotfy Nathan, Coco, Pug, Steven, Documentary, Biography, Crime

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Pug, a wisecracking 13 year old living on a dangerous Westside block, has one goal in mind: to join The Twelve O’Clock Boys; the notorious urban dirt-bike gang of Baltimore. Converging from all parts of the inner city, they invade the streets and clash with police, who are forbidden to chase the bikes for fear of endangering the public. When Pug’s older brother dies suddenly, he looks to the pack for mentorship, spurred by their dangerous lifestyle. Pug’s story is coupled with unprecedented, action-packed coverage of the riders in their element. The film presents the pivotal years of change in a boy’s life growing up in one of the most dangerous and economically depressed cities in the US.
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Papadopoulos and Sons (2012) Marcus Markou, Carl Rice, Stephen Dillane, Selina Cadell, Comedy, Drama, Family

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Only when you lose everything do you find it all… Harry Papadopoulos has got it all: a mansion house, awards and a super-rich lifestyle. But when a financial crisis hits, Harry and his family lose everything. Everything, except the dormant and forgotten Three Brothers Fish & Chip Shop half owned by Harry´s larger than life brother Spiros who’s been estranged from the family for years. With no alternative, Harry and his family are forced to pack their bags and reluctantly join `Uncle Spiros´ to live above the neglected Three Brothers chippie. Together they set about bringing the chip shop back to life under the suspicious gaze of their old rival, Hassan, from the neighbouring Turkish kebab shop whose son has his own eyes on Harry´s daughter, Katie. As each family member comes to terms with their new life, Harry struggles to regain his lost business empire. But as the chip shop returns to life, old memories are stirred and Harry discovers that only when you lose everything can you be free to find it all.
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Knock Outs (2011) Fred Olen Ray, Joslyn James, Cassandra Cruz, Trish Cook, Comedy, Erotic

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When call girl Cindy gets busted under the new 36 Strikes Law, she receives the maximum sentence of “Life in Prison without Parole”. Desperate to beat the rap, Cindy agrees to become a Special Agent for the Feds on the condition that she infiltrates the illegal Female Fight Club that exists in the prison. What happens next is the sexy fight of her life as she uses her skills to get inside the club and bring it tumbling down.
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Around the Block (2013) Sarah Spillane, Christina Ricci, Ruby Rose, Matt Nable, Drama

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Dino Chalmers (Christina Ricci), an American living with her Australian fiancé, is a first-time teacher eager to bring her love of Shakespeare to the diverse student population of a rough ‘n tumble school in Sydney’s notorious Block. her attention soon turns to Liam (Hunter Page-Lochard, Bran Nue Dae), an Aboriginal student eager to stay on course despite his family’s criminal ties through Redfern. Both isolated in their own ways, a bond forms between Dino and Liam who are both struggling with issues of identity, race, sexuality, and societal pressures.
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