I Served the King of England

clearly very well done; sort of like a stylistic transposition of wes anderson into a german-occupied czechoslovakia. many elements are delightful. but it is perhaps that delight that is the problem. unlike some sociopolitical and sexual critiques like, say, salo or daisies, this is less of a satire and more of a wink-nudge farce. not really even a tragicomedy. as such, the more indulgent and fantastical aspects - yes, especially those including naked women - become much more troublesome.

one of the worst Menzel's film- no, THE worst

Absolute, unqualified masterpiece. Unflaggingly humanistic, yet horrifying in its later chapters. Dozens of naked babes, yet featuring one of the most ironic and most moving love stories ever committed to film. Beg, borrow, or steal to see this

a fairy tale that didn't really grab me

Just like Pasolini's Salo this film might speak of wise things, but Menzel covered it in such thick shell of cynicism that it is hard to look deeper into this adult fairytale. Every character is presented in charming fashion, but in fact every each of them is repulsive and obnoxious.

An interesting experiment shifting including everything, but not limited to, war, sex, idealism, racism, simple life, hedonism, cynism, tragedy and everything in between. I believe the author tried to encircle too many themes, but still I really enjoyed the movie. Not neccesarily what I expected, but definately Czech cinema at one of its finest (imo!).

Amusing shaggy dog story, but pretty heavy on the objectifying women front.

"Dite's limited awakening is neither tragedy nor the kind of bitter, fatalistic farce seen in Lina Wertmuller's Seven Beauties." - Bill Weber

Not a bad film at all, it stays (for the most part) very faithful to the book and manages to capture both Hrabal's bawdy humour - and it is very funny - and his more bitter observations. Some really good performances as well. Unfortunately, Menzel is a little too fond of voice-overs, and while the cinematography is simply beautiful, that becomes a bit of a problem when Menzel starts fetishizing naked women as much as his main character does.

A farcical, funny, racy film documenting one man's quite unbelievable life in Czechoslovakia as he lives through both Nazi and Communist occupation. Beautifully made with heavy helpings of humour. Also features possibly the most adorable little Nazi in film history.

boring

Told in voice-overed flashbacks by an ex-waiter, who starts out in an upscale whorehouse (and then it gets worse). It's very oldschool Czech, creatively shot, at times like a more screwball "Grand Hotel" (but dissimilar to Wes Anderson's obnoxious version) and eventually pretty dark. The film's gleeful complicity with the portrayed objectification of women is a bit much, especially when it overlaps with a part about Nazi eugenics.

Grand Budapest Hotel for foodies and boob lovers.