Spiderwick chronicles is one hell of a fantasy movie. There is the magic book or the field diary, hidden creatures that are invisible, there is the circle of protection to keep the enemy at shores, plenty of fast paced action and magnificent graphics that transport you to a whole new world. The only major difference seems to be that, the object of contention, which is the field diary in this movie is with the good people and they seek to protect it and have to travel nowhere to capture it from the wrong hands.
There is an eerie start at the beginning of the movie much akin to horror flicks and there seems to be vile in the air around you. It later unfolds into a mind boggling experience with sterling performance from Freddie Highmore. A thorough entertainer for all ages.
There is also the inevitable human touch to the movie that is primarily hallucinatory. The climar was brilliant and in general you will at the edge of your sets for most part of this film. Spiderwick chronicles is a terrific journey that you must not miss to experience.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
21
21 is as much a story of an intellectually bright kid wanting to break into Harvard Medical School with a scholarship that promises to take care of the entire course fee as it is about the game of Blackjack. I don't know anything about blackjack nor I understood its aspects by watching the movie, yet it was fun. With its protagonists and leading character being the brightest minds of the MIT, some of the conversations in the movie tend to make you look stupid. The scene when Ben Campbell explains how he will choose the door behind which the car will be present in a game show accounting for some hi funda factors like Variable change is a case in the point. I have to confess that I did not make out anything about it.
There are many such instances, but the movie is not about the technicalities. It is about the life changing experience that Ben undergoes through the steps that he undertakes to collect money to fund his Harvard ambitions. The turn of things are indeed bizarre and certainly he does dazzle and jump out to merit your attention.
This is a movie which students on the crossroads of moving abroad for pursuing higher studies will relate to more than others but having said that, it is a movie for all. Fun to watch. So catch 21 for some lighter moments even if your in the midst of a catch 22 situation.
There are many such instances, but the movie is not about the technicalities. It is about the life changing experience that Ben undergoes through the steps that he undertakes to collect money to fund his Harvard ambitions. The turn of things are indeed bizarre and certainly he does dazzle and jump out to merit your attention.
This is a movie which students on the crossroads of moving abroad for pursuing higher studies will relate to more than others but having said that, it is a movie for all. Fun to watch. So catch 21 for some lighter moments even if your in the midst of a catch 22 situation.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Dasaavathaaram - a damp squib.
Dasavathaaram is a let down, given the hype. For being touted as the costliest movie made in India, the graphics were pathetic. Granted, the multiple appearances of Kamal appear realistic to the core, but the other components of visual effects like the much exaggerated Tsunami sequence or the scene depicting events of the 12th century were so poor that it was like watching a movie, a decade behind its time.
In my opinion, the the visual effects were the worst part of the movie,with the exception of the portrayal of Kamal's Dasaavatharams. Why spend crores and depict an half-baked illusion on the screen? I found it very hard to digest.
The dialogues spoken by Kamal were way too fast in the initial scenes. Normally narration happens at a slow pace and lets the idea sink in to the audience. On the contrary, Kamal's narration was fast to say the least.
The screenplay of the movie was good on the whole. The chase sequences are also pretty racy and keep you on the edge of your seat. The first half of the movie was engaging but the pace slackens after the intermission.
At times, the lengthy dialogues perpetrated to evince humor fail to make the desired impact. Instead the dampen the narrative and act as a bottleneck in producing an absorbing fare. By and large, the humor quotient was good and at a level one has come to associate with the Kamal Hassan- K.S.Ravikumar duo. Certain dialogues do prove to be witty and intelligent.
The songs were nice and the background music was noteworthy. There were flashes of brilliance throughout the movie but it was marred by some seemingly irreverent scenes. The best part is reserved for the end. The climax was top notch. In fact, two of Kamal's avatars head against each other in a scintillating fight sequence.
Of the 10 roles essayed by Kamal, the character of Vincent Poovaraghavan was the best in terms of display of histrionic skills. Balaram Naidu was another interesting character where Kamal plays an intelligence official and it contributes most to the comedy clamor. Kamal plays the role of an ex-CIA with aplomb and has scenes that remind one about Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator. I felt the role of Bush was unnecessary and it was just another marketing ploy. Kamal's imitation though was of high standards, especially the accent.
The story was innovative, but the treatment lacks authenticity. How else would you explain a sole silly official and a bunch of jokers go hunting after a potent biochemical device that could destroy millions? Having set high standards in his movies, we expect more common sense from Kamal. It was like a mockery on the country's intelligence system.
The make up for the 10 roles are so good that until the end when the process that went into creating the various characters is revealed, many would not actually recognize the various roles played by Kamal. The make up for the role of Bush and Japanese character deserves special mention.
The movie shows the hard work and the pain that has gone into its making. It is this fact, that makes it even more baffling why the creators got complacent ion certain aspects. The efforts are evident they alone do not make a movie of high standards. Perhaps, the high hopes created before the release proved to be the movie's undoing. I t is nowhere in the same league as some Kamal's best efforts. It is a commercial movie with some creativity and loads of dedication strewn in. It is certainly not the magnum opus it was meant to be. It is a honest attempt at best. A motley of genres, that had great potential. In trying too many things in one movie, the makers have lost the plot.
In my opinion, the the visual effects were the worst part of the movie,with the exception of the portrayal of Kamal's Dasaavatharams. Why spend crores and depict an half-baked illusion on the screen? I found it very hard to digest.
The dialogues spoken by Kamal were way too fast in the initial scenes. Normally narration happens at a slow pace and lets the idea sink in to the audience. On the contrary, Kamal's narration was fast to say the least.
The screenplay of the movie was good on the whole. The chase sequences are also pretty racy and keep you on the edge of your seat. The first half of the movie was engaging but the pace slackens after the intermission.
At times, the lengthy dialogues perpetrated to evince humor fail to make the desired impact. Instead the dampen the narrative and act as a bottleneck in producing an absorbing fare. By and large, the humor quotient was good and at a level one has come to associate with the Kamal Hassan- K.S.Ravikumar duo. Certain dialogues do prove to be witty and intelligent.
The songs were nice and the background music was noteworthy. There were flashes of brilliance throughout the movie but it was marred by some seemingly irreverent scenes. The best part is reserved for the end. The climax was top notch. In fact, two of Kamal's avatars head against each other in a scintillating fight sequence.
Of the 10 roles essayed by Kamal, the character of Vincent Poovaraghavan was the best in terms of display of histrionic skills. Balaram Naidu was another interesting character where Kamal plays an intelligence official and it contributes most to the comedy clamor. Kamal plays the role of an ex-CIA with aplomb and has scenes that remind one about Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator. I felt the role of Bush was unnecessary and it was just another marketing ploy. Kamal's imitation though was of high standards, especially the accent.
The story was innovative, but the treatment lacks authenticity. How else would you explain a sole silly official and a bunch of jokers go hunting after a potent biochemical device that could destroy millions? Having set high standards in his movies, we expect more common sense from Kamal. It was like a mockery on the country's intelligence system.
The make up for the 10 roles are so good that until the end when the process that went into creating the various characters is revealed, many would not actually recognize the various roles played by Kamal. The make up for the role of Bush and Japanese character deserves special mention.
The movie shows the hard work and the pain that has gone into its making. It is this fact, that makes it even more baffling why the creators got complacent ion certain aspects. The efforts are evident they alone do not make a movie of high standards. Perhaps, the high hopes created before the release proved to be the movie's undoing. I t is nowhere in the same league as some Kamal's best efforts. It is a commercial movie with some creativity and loads of dedication strewn in. It is certainly not the magnum opus it was meant to be. It is a honest attempt at best. A motley of genres, that had great potential. In trying too many things in one movie, the makers have lost the plot.
Friday, June 13, 2008
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007)
Water horse was a wonderful experience. It is basically about human emotions, particularly the longing for loved ones and the solitude one has to endure in their absence. The movie could vaguely be split into two halves, the first one hour moves slowly and one gradually warms up to the visual treat that follows in the latter part. The feeling was more akin to reading a book than watching a movie.
The pivotal roles in the movie are shared by a little boy, Angus MacMorrow played by Alex Etel and a mythical creature aka water horse which the boy christens Crusoe. Although it may sound cliched, the chemistry between them was amazing. The special effects were so good that you would not notice anything distinctive as graphics.
The strength of the movie has to be said, is the story and wonderful screenplay, woven as I mentioned earlier, like an engaging book. All the performances in the movie were apt and each one plays their part to the T. The scenic beauty which is an inseparable part of the movie was soothing to the eyes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming fare. Though it may appear as a kid's movie, I guess, any ardent movie lover would be pleasantly surprised by the film. Heartwarming story, great acting, good to watch!
The pivotal roles in the movie are shared by a little boy, Angus MacMorrow played by Alex Etel and a mythical creature aka water horse which the boy christens Crusoe. Although it may sound cliched, the chemistry between them was amazing. The special effects were so good that you would not notice anything distinctive as graphics.
The strength of the movie has to be said, is the story and wonderful screenplay, woven as I mentioned earlier, like an engaging book. All the performances in the movie were apt and each one plays their part to the T. The scenic beauty which is an inseparable part of the movie was soothing to the eyes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming fare. Though it may appear as a kid's movie, I guess, any ardent movie lover would be pleasantly surprised by the film. Heartwarming story, great acting, good to watch!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Forbidden kingdom
Forbidden Kingdom is a movie, fans of the action/comedy genre will enjoy. The story centers on some legend and so you could call it a fantasy movie in some sense. Fans of Jackie Chan and Jet Li will love it. The action sequences in the movie are power packed and full of stylish kicks and flips in the air that have come to be so popular since the premiere of 'Crouching tiger, hidden Dragon' . The protagonist is a teenage Kung-Fu fanatic, played by Michael Angarano and the bloke has done justice to the role.
I just enjoyed the whole movie, especially since I'm a great fan of Jackie. The movie strides on a paper thin plot, but it is more than sufficient to give an hour and half of enjoyable experience. If you are an avid fan of action sequences that Jackie Chan and Jet Li have come to epitomize, you will relish this treat.
It is strictly not recommended for the serious minded folks though. There is more form over substance but a refreshing new experience delivered by two veterans. If you are game for some harmless moments of adorable action, strongly punctuated with an undercurrent of humor, just go see it!
I just enjoyed the whole movie, especially since I'm a great fan of Jackie. The movie strides on a paper thin plot, but it is more than sufficient to give an hour and half of enjoyable experience. If you are an avid fan of action sequences that Jackie Chan and Jet Li have come to epitomize, you will relish this treat.
It is strictly not recommended for the serious minded folks though. There is more form over substance but a refreshing new experience delivered by two veterans. If you are game for some harmless moments of adorable action, strongly punctuated with an undercurrent of humor, just go see it!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Jodhaa Akbar
Jodhaa Akbar is a sweet movie. It grows on you slowly and makes you feel the impact gradually. I think if one could forget the controversies and the historical distortions that supposedly the movie seems to suffer from and treat it as a work of fiction, the movice is pretty enjoyable.
The camera work is simply awesome, the grandiose of the mughal era has been splashed across the screen in all its vibrance and splendour. Hrithik was terrific in the movie look wise and in his ability to emote, althoguh he appeared like a young prince in the promos, watching the movie made you feel he has the king. Aishwarya Rai was at her beautifull best, adorning wonderfully woven costumes and sparkling jewellery.
The direction was apt and at times it was just cinematic brilliance to the fore, like in the scene where Jodhaa draws a veil to make her angst clear against Hrithik when he comes to the Rajput land to take her back. The casting is really good and you get the feeling that each one is playing themselves and not trying too hard to be what they are meant to be.
At times it seems too cinematic, when Hrithik accepts Jodha's request to habe a small 'Mandir' in Mughal palace but you could accept that when a Hindu princess was being married away to a Mughal emperor.
The highlight of the movie has to A.R.rahman's music. The score is haunting and it blends itself with the movie so well that only in the songs he makes his presence felt and you forget to notice the mesmerising feel he gives throughout the movie
A nice movie you can watch on a lazy evening if you are preppared not to be too critical about the nitty gritty of the storyline!
The camera work is simply awesome, the grandiose of the mughal era has been splashed across the screen in all its vibrance and splendour. Hrithik was terrific in the movie look wise and in his ability to emote, althoguh he appeared like a young prince in the promos, watching the movie made you feel he has the king. Aishwarya Rai was at her beautifull best, adorning wonderfully woven costumes and sparkling jewellery.
The direction was apt and at times it was just cinematic brilliance to the fore, like in the scene where Jodhaa draws a veil to make her angst clear against Hrithik when he comes to the Rajput land to take her back. The casting is really good and you get the feeling that each one is playing themselves and not trying too hard to be what they are meant to be.
At times it seems too cinematic, when Hrithik accepts Jodha's request to habe a small 'Mandir' in Mughal palace but you could accept that when a Hindu princess was being married away to a Mughal emperor.
The highlight of the movie has to A.R.rahman's music. The score is haunting and it blends itself with the movie so well that only in the songs he makes his presence felt and you forget to notice the mesmerising feel he gives throughout the movie
A nice movie you can watch on a lazy evening if you are preppared not to be too critical about the nitty gritty of the storyline!
Friday, April 18, 2008
An Inconvenient truth
Al gore - does that name ring a bell? Probably it reminds you about Bush, as the world witnessed intense battle between these two candidates for the world's most powerful post! Yes, the fortunate or the unfortunate runner up in the 2000 US Presidential elections that saw the tyranny called Bush take over the reigns at White House and the bloody gore the world has had to suffer as its aftermath.
Inconvenient truth is about Al Gore or is it? Here he leaves behind the scars of not becoming the commander of Air force one and wears the cap of an environmental activist. From Iraq bombings he switches track to Global warming. In this 2006 Oscar winning documentary, the former deputy of Bill Clinton issues a Global warning about the impending quagmire that the world will force itself into if the Climate issue is not addressed.
The documentary shot in the form of a presentation that The 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner makes to a select American audience is a blend of subtle expression and startling statistics that eases the audience gradually into the core subject matter. With visual aids adorning the otherwise dark backdrop, Al Gore painstakingly pitches in for the need to realize the gravity of the situation.
He leaves no stone unturned in his quest, as he forks in data from the days of his graduation to the recent samples that indicate a total unanimity among the scientific group about the existence and the concomitant ramifications of Global warming. Traveling from the North Pole to the South Pole, from Greenland to Antarctica, covering a host of areas around the globe from the US to Europe to China to India, the documentary is a testimony to the efforts that Al gore has committed to the cause of making people aware of Global Warming.
The documentary lends a personal touch to itself as Gore disembarks from the world at large to experiences in his own life, about how his father gave up tobacco farming after the death of his elder sister, the difficult times he had to face as his son was tethered in the hospital bed and displayed great courage in the face of death. He owes it to his professor at the college for throwing light about Global warming in formative days.
At times he stokes with sarcasm and satire about the American way of political thinking, the audacity of American commercial establishments to disrespect human life with utter impudence, about how the United States acts as the biggest polluter and contributor of Global warming to the tune of 30%.
The photography in ‘An inconvenient truth’ is mesmerizing to say the least, it has enough awe to make the desired impact and leave a lasting impression about the perils of not taking any steps to purge the evils that shroud the earth. From the picture of the Blue rise taken from the Apollo mission, to the muslins formed by molten water gushing through the crevices in ice capped land masses, there is a touch of class about it.
‘An inconvenient Truth’ may not be a bone chilling experience but it leaves your feet cold. It may not be a numbing experience but it has you thinking. It is a sincere attempt sans any glamour or grudge that everyone has to watch as responsible citizens of this world to get a glimpse of the current situation and develop an understanding of the need to look at the future with a certain perspective.
The documentary is a stunning glory for the Gore team in authentically brining out the gory consequences we have to face if we do not act quickly on the burning issue of ‘Global warming’.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Goodfellas
Towards the end of the movie there come a voice over which remarks why they call themselves 'GOODFELLAS' , because they could take each other into confidence, ironically the movie based on a true story ends otherwise. Rather than christening the movie as "Goodfellas" Martin Scorsese could very well have chosen an oxymoron - "wisecracks" as the name of the movie.
I found the narration strange and surprising for a gangster movie. It appeared to be more of a comical recollection of the past, probably satirical. It did not come across as a powerful movie to be listed as 15th among the top 250 movies in Imdb.The treatment of the subject matter was interesting and brave, given that it was dealing with gangsters, the comic undertone throughout has to be appreciated.
A refreshingly different movie. Ray Liotta as Henry hill stole the show in the presence of a heavyweight such as Robert de niro. Joe pesci has lived every bit of his role and has deservedly won the oscar for his performance as best supporting actor.
The film was neither fascinating nor was i awe struck after seeing it. One could see it once, just to have a feel of how uniquely one can weave the screenplay and a serious development could be portrayed in a lighter vein to leave a lasting impact.
If treated as a comedy it does justice to the genre. No more!
I found the narration strange and surprising for a gangster movie. It appeared to be more of a comical recollection of the past, probably satirical. It did not come across as a powerful movie to be listed as 15th among the top 250 movies in Imdb.The treatment of the subject matter was interesting and brave, given that it was dealing with gangsters, the comic undertone throughout has to be appreciated.
A refreshingly different movie. Ray Liotta as Henry hill stole the show in the presence of a heavyweight such as Robert de niro. Joe pesci has lived every bit of his role and has deservedly won the oscar for his performance as best supporting actor.
The film was neither fascinating nor was i awe struck after seeing it. One could see it once, just to have a feel of how uniquely one can weave the screenplay and a serious development could be portrayed in a lighter vein to leave a lasting impact.
If treated as a comedy it does justice to the genre. No more!
The brave 1
Jodie Foster revels once again on the screen in a disturbed character, something she did with panache in 'Flightplan' and with authority and elegance in 'Silence of the lambs'. The Brave one is all about the character of Jodie Foster as Erica Bain.
She works as a RJ not in the sense we would relate to an average RJ of the eastern yore, but as a sensible thinker who ponders through her medium of choice about the changes grappling New York and involves her listeners in the process of her thought.
The film's storyline takes off when her fiance and herself are almost beaten to death on the eve of their wedding. Erica survives but not her boyfriend. The movie revolves around the slew of thoughts that Erica has to cope with one she recovers and becomes a total stranger to what she was before the incident.
It is an emotional portrayal of a noble and sober woman turning into the urban outlaw - a vigilante, beautifully told in a chilling manner.The other major part in the movie is played by Terrence Howard as 'Detective Mercer' who does his part as an understated cop admirably. If your in the mood to sink slowly into an emotional drama turn to this but don't dive into it looking for action or suspense.
Brave one - change brought about by the weight of pain!
She works as a RJ not in the sense we would relate to an average RJ of the eastern yore, but as a sensible thinker who ponders through her medium of choice about the changes grappling New York and involves her listeners in the process of her thought.
The film's storyline takes off when her fiance and herself are almost beaten to death on the eve of their wedding. Erica survives but not her boyfriend. The movie revolves around the slew of thoughts that Erica has to cope with one she recovers and becomes a total stranger to what she was before the incident.
It is an emotional portrayal of a noble and sober woman turning into the urban outlaw - a vigilante, beautifully told in a chilling manner.The other major part in the movie is played by Terrence Howard as 'Detective Mercer' who does his part as an understated cop admirably. If your in the mood to sink slowly into an emotional drama turn to this but don't dive into it looking for action or suspense.
Brave one - change brought about by the weight of pain!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
fEAR NOT!
THis is what 'ANJATHEY' literally means...and the movie stays true to its title in every aspect. A Tamil movie with a heart is rare to find these days where style garners more takers than substance - this is where Anjathey has dared to succeed. Although there are 4 songs in the movie, two of which happen to be almost non-existent, the movie steers clear from the usual formula of 5 songs, a bawdy hero running around trees with his lady love clad in bikini in the middle of serious predicament. Dark, poignant, ruthless and raw are the words that come to mind when i try to describe the movie. A tale of friendship, love, crime - the movie is slow to start off but turns out to be a lazy thriller that ends up being a riveting spectacle. When movies are largely regarded as mass entertainers, this one is a refrain from that path but the content is certainly worth the money.
Prasanna has done a terrific job as 'Daya' the villain in an impeccable yet understated manner - a daredevil move away from his chocolate boy roles.Pandiyarajan has acted his role with panache and perfection. The role of 'kriba' has been essayed in a wonderful manner by Ajmal, his acting is one of the highlights of the movie. 'takida, takida' song may not be in the same vein as 'vazha menukkum...' but it is bound to leave your foot tapping.
The acting of Naren as the presumed hero was in my opinion the only sore point of the movie. It was a childish at times when he needed to be rational, the diction has a lot of ground to cover. Although he does not spoil the movie with his acting, he could have performed better and one can certainly look for some improvement in his future roles.
The credit for making such a wonderful movie in a racy fashion sans big stars and huge pre-release hype should go to Director Mysskin. He has done a terrific job.
In my opinion Anjathey is a must watch - one of the better tamil movies in recent times, it has something for everyone.
Prasanna has done a terrific job as 'Daya' the villain in an impeccable yet understated manner - a daredevil move away from his chocolate boy roles.Pandiyarajan has acted his role with panache and perfection. The role of 'kriba' has been essayed in a wonderful manner by Ajmal, his acting is one of the highlights of the movie. 'takida, takida' song may not be in the same vein as 'vazha menukkum...' but it is bound to leave your foot tapping.
The acting of Naren as the presumed hero was in my opinion the only sore point of the movie. It was a childish at times when he needed to be rational, the diction has a lot of ground to cover. Although he does not spoil the movie with his acting, he could have performed better and one can certainly look for some improvement in his future roles.
The credit for making such a wonderful movie in a racy fashion sans big stars and huge pre-release hype should go to Director Mysskin. He has done a terrific job.
In my opinion Anjathey is a must watch - one of the better tamil movies in recent times, it has something for everyone.
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