What A Movie Review!

The Tomorrow War (2021): Chris Pratt Fights Tomorrow’s Aliens

2026-10-03T03:41:01.434-07:00

Imagine sitting down for a big-screen spectacle, only to realise the real war is happening 30 years from now and ordinary people like you and me are being drafted to fight it. That’s the wild premise of *The Tomorrow War*, the 2021 Amazon sci-fi action film that dropped during the pandemic and still finds its way onto weekend watchlists.

Directed by Chris McKay in his live-action debut (he previously gave us the sharp humour of *The Lego Batman Movie*), this one mixes time travel, alien invasion, and family stakes in a package that feels familiar yet keeps you hooked. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but for a rainy evening with popcorn, it delivers enough thrills to make you lean forward. Soft verdict? Solid entertainment with a few familiar potholes.

Direction by Chris McKay

McKay handles the material with the confidence of someone who knows how to stage big set pieces. The jump from animation to live-action feels surprisingly assured — the chaotic arrival of future soldiers and the alien battles have scale and energy. What feels fresh is the grounded family angle he weaves in without turning the whole film into pure emotion overload. At the same time, the film occasionally leans on classic Hollywood tropes a little too comfortably, so the “wow” factor doesn’t always match the ambition. Still, for a debut live-action outing, it’s competent and keeps the pace moving.

Acted by

Chris Pratt carries the film as Dan Forester, the biology teacher and former soldier who just wants a better life for his family. He brings that easy charm we know from *Guardians of the Galaxy* and *Jurassic World*, balancing everyday dad energy with action-hero grit. The chemistry with Betty Gilpin (as his wife) feels warm and lived-in, while young Ryan Kiera Armstrong as their daughter adds genuine heart without forced cuteness.

J.K. Simmons as the estranged father injects gravitas and dry humour, elevating every scene he’s in. Yvonne Strahovski’s scientist character brings steel and intelligence, and Sam Richardson provides welcome comic relief that lightens the heavy sci-fi load. The supporting cast doesn’t just fill space — they make the ensemble feel like a proper team rather than background noise.

Music & Background Score

Lorne Balfe’s score does the heavy lifting. The main themes carry urgency and emotional weight, especially during the quieter family moments and the bigger action stretches. There aren’t traditional “songs” in the Tamil cinema sense, but the background score effectively builds tension and underlines the stakes. It supports the visuals without overpowering them — functional, solid, and occasionally stirring.

Synopsis (Spoiler-Light)

In the near future, soldiers from 2051 suddenly appear with a desperate warning: humanity is losing a brutal war against deadly alien invaders. Ordinary people from the present are drafted and sent forward in time to join the fight. Among them is high-school biology teacher and family man Dan Forester, who must leave his wife and young daughter behind. What follows is a high-stakes mission that mixes intense combat, unexpected alliances, and the personal cost of trying to change tomorrow for the people you love. The film stays focused on the bigger picture while keeping the human story at the centre.

Plus Points

- Pratt’s likable, grounded performance makes the high-concept plot feel personal.
- Exciting action sequences and creature design that deliver solid spectacle.
- Strong supporting turns, especially from J.K. Simmons and Sam Richardson.
- The father-daughter emotional core gives the film heart beyond pure alien-blasting.
- The time-travel premise is used in a way that keeps curiosity alive without getting overly complicated.
- Good production values and scale for a streaming original.

Negative Points / Minor Drawbacks

- The story occasionally feels familiar — echoes of other alien-invasion and time-travel films are hard to miss.
- At over two hours, a few middle stretches slow down more than necessary.
- Some supporting characters could have used a bit more depth.
- A couple of plot conveniences ask for a little extra suspension of disbelief.

Streaming Platform

*The Tomorrow War* is available on Amazon Prime Video. It offers audio and subtitles in multiple languages, including Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu, making it accessible for Indian and diaspora audiences.

Lessons / Takeaway

At its core, the film is a reminder that the biggest battles are often fought for the people waiting at home. It asks what we would sacrifice today to protect the future of those we love — a simple idea dressed up in aliens and time jumps, but one that lands with quiet sincerity amid all the noise.

**Rating: 6.5/10**

A fun, watchable sci-fi action ride that delivers thrills and heart without reaching classic status. Worth a watch on Prime this weekend if you’re in the mood for big aliens, bigger stakes, and Chris Pratt doing what he does best.

Havoc 2025: Beautifully Crafted Fight Scenes

2025-05-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

The streaming wars continue to deliver cinematic experiences directly to our homes, and one of the most anticipated releases of 2025 on Netflix was Gareth Evans' "Havoc," starring the ever-compelling Tom Hardy. Known for his visceral action and intricate storytelling, Evans takes his talents to the digital platform with a film that promises a relentless descent into a city's brutal underbelly. Having finally had the chance to witness this digital chaos unfold, we delve into the plot, performances, action, direction, and its impact in the streaming landscape. Image source: Wikipedia

Unraveling the Digital Underworld: The Plot of "Havoc" on Netflix

"Havoc" throws us headfirst into a sprawling, rain-slicked metropolis teetering on the edge of anarchy. Tom Hardy portrays Walker, a troubled but determined detective haunted by a past tragedy. The narrative ignites with a seemingly straightforward investigation into a high-stakes drug deal gone wrong, leaving a trail of bodies and unanswered questions. However, as Walker digs deeper, he uncovers a sprawling web of corruption that implicates not just rival gangs but also powerful figures within the city's elite.

Gareth Evans masterfully crafts a narrative that keeps you guessing at every turn. Unlike some purely action-driven films, "Havoc" on Netflix takes its time to build suspense, introduce morally ambiguous characters, and peel back the layers of a complex conspiracy. Walker's journey is not just a physical one through the city's dangerous locales but also an emotional one as he confronts his own demons while navigating treacherous alliances and facing off against ruthless adversaries.

The film expertly balances its intense action sequences with moments of character-driven drama, ensuring that the violence serves the overarching narrative and has a genuine impact. The streaming format allows for a more nuanced exploration of these darker themes and character complexities.

A Powerful Ensemble Cast Navigating the Digital Shadows

"Havoc" on Netflix benefits immensely from a talented ensemble cast, each bringing depth and intensity to their respective roles:

Tom Hardy as Walker: Hardy delivers a raw and captivating performance as the tormented detective. He embodies both the physical grit required for the action sequences and the emotional vulnerability of a man grappling with loss and a relentless pursuit of justice. His portrayal anchors the film's intensity.
Jessie Mei Li as Ellie: Li plays a pivotal role as a key witness or perhaps someone caught within the crossfire of the escalating conflict. Her performance adds a layer of intrigue and vulnerability to the narrative, serving as a crucial point of connection for Walker.
Timothy Olyphant as Vincent: Olyphant brings his signature cool intensity to the role of a potentially dangerous and influential figure within the city's underbelly. His presence adds a layer of unpredictable menace to the unfolding events.
Forest Whitaker as Lawrence Beaumont: Whitaker portrays a powerful and potentially corrupt figure whose involvement in the central conspiracy adds layers of complexity and raises the stakes for Walker's investigation. His gravitas lends significant weight to his scenes.
Justin Cornwell as Charlie: Cornwell's character could be an ally or an adversary to Walker, adding another layer of uncertainty to the detective's perilous journey through the city's criminal landscape.
Yeo Yann Yann as Tsui's Mother: While perhaps a smaller role, Yann Yann's presence suggests a potential emotional core to the story, possibly linked to the initial crime or Walker's past.

The supporting cast further enriches the world of "Havoc," creating a believable and dangerous environment that Walker must navigate.

Digital Carnage Unleashed: The Fight Scenes in "Havoc"

Gareth Evans has built a reputation for delivering some of the most innovative and brutal action sequences in modern cinema, and "Havoc" on Netflix continues this trend. While the streaming format might sometimes lead to compromises in scale, Evans ensures that the impact and visceral nature of his fight choreography remain undiminished.

The action in "Havoc" is characterized by its grounded realism and brutal efficiency. Walker isn't a superhero; his fights are messy, desperate, and physically taxing. Evans' signature use of longer takes and dynamic camera work allows viewers to fully appreciate the intricate choreography and the sheer physicality of the confrontations. Expect close-quarters combat in tight, claustrophobic environments, showcasing a variety of fighting styles that emphasize impact and consequence.

Production snippets have hinted at intense training regimens for the actors, ensuring that the on-screen violence feels authentic and impactful. These aren't just visually stunning sequences; they are integral to the narrative, pushing characters to their limits and revealing their desperation.

Gareth Evans' Vision for the Digital Realm

Gareth Evans' direction in "Havoc" for Netflix showcases his adaptability and his commitment to delivering a compelling cinematic experience regardless of the platform. He masterfully utilizes the visual language of film to create a dark and atmospheric world, drawing the viewer into the gritty underbelly of the city.

His signature blend of brutal realism and stylistic flair is evident throughout the film. Evans excels at building tension, using sound design and pacing to amplify the impact of both the dramatic and action-oriented scenes. The streaming format potentially allows for a more immersive experience for viewers watching in their home theaters, and Evans seems to have capitalized on this by crafting a film that demands attention.

Production insights suggest that Evans was deeply involved in all aspects of the filmmaking process, ensuring that his vision translated effectively to the digital screen. He doesn't just direct action; he tells a story through it, making each punch and kick a meaningful part of the narrative.

Streaming Success: "Havoc"'s Performance on Netflix

While traditional "box office performance" metrics don't directly apply to Netflix releases, "Havoc" has undoubtedly made a significant impact on the platform since its debut in early May 2025. Netflix typically releases data based on viewership hours and the number of accounts that have watched a film. Initial reports and social media buzz suggest that "Havoc" has garnered considerable attention, quickly climbing the "Top 10" lists in numerous regions globally.

Critics have largely praised the film's intense action, Tom Hardy's compelling performance, and Gareth Evans' signature directorial style. The film has generated significant discussion online, with viewers highlighting its visceral nature and engaging storyline. While precise viewership numbers remain proprietary to Netflix, the initial indicators point towards "Havoc" being a major success for the streaming giant, further solidifying Evans' reputation and Hardy's star power in the digital realm. Its accessibility on a global platform ensures a wider audience can experience Evans' brand of action filmmaking.

Final Verdict: A Brutal and Gripping Netflix Thrill Ride

"Havoc" on Netflix is a powerful and visceral cinematic experience that lives up to the hype surrounding Gareth Evans and Tom Hardy's collaboration. It's a gritty thriller with a compelling narrative, anchored by strong performances and punctuated by breathtakingly brutal action sequences. Evans successfully translates his signature style to the streaming platform, delivering a film that is both intensely engaging and visually striking.

If you're a fan of hard-hitting action, intricate crime stories, and compelling performances, "Havoc" is a must-watch on Netflix. It's a digital descent into chaos that will leave you breathless and reaffirm Gareth Evans' position as a master of the action genre, now conquering the streaming landscape.

TV Series: Zero Day 2025

2025-03-29T04:07:00.000-07:00

Robert De Niro, a titan of the silver screen, has consistently delivered masterful performances across a vast spectrum of characters throughout his illustrious career. His portrayal of George Mullen, the composed yet formidable former President thrust back into the high-stakes arena of national security in "Zero Day 2025," stands out as a particularly compelling and arguably one of his finest roles in recent memory. Image source: IMDB

Introduction

The digital landscape has become the new battlefield, and "Zero Day 2025" throws us headfirst into the chilling reality of a nation brought to its knees by a cyberattack of unprecedented scale. Starring the legendary c as ex-President George Mullen, this gripping thriller, set in a near-future where technology is both our greatest strength and our most vulnerable weakness, delivers a potent blend of political intrigue, suspenseful investigation, and timely social commentary. Having just finished watching the series, I'm still reeling from its intensity and the unsettling questions it raises about our reliance on the digital realm.

The Premise: A Nation Crippled

The year is 2025. Without warning, a sophisticated and devastating cyberattack cripples critical infrastructure across the United States. Power grids fail, communication networks collapse, financial systems freeze, and the very fabric of modern life begins to unravel. In the ensuing chaos and with the current administration struggling to grasp the enormity of the crisis, a controversial decision is made: to bring back former President George Mullen (Robert De Niro) to lead a bipartisan task force to identify the perpetrators and prevent further catastrophe.

Mullen, a seasoned but somewhat disillusioned figure from a different political era, steps back into the arena, navigating the treacherous waters of national security, bureaucratic inertia, and the ever-present threat of a shadowy enemy operating in the digital shadows.

The series meticulously follows Mullen and his handpicked team as they delve into the intricate web of the attack, piecing together fragmented clues, battling sophisticated malware, and confronting the human element behind the code. Was this a state-sponsored attack? A rogue group of cyber terrorists? Or something far more insidious? "Zero Day 2025" keeps you guessing at every turn.

Unpacking the Plot

The narrative of "Zero Day 2025" unfolds deliberately, mirroring the painstaking cyber investigation process. We are not bombarded with flashy CGI or over-the-top action sequences. Instead, the tension builds through meticulous detail, intelligent dialogue, and the palpable sense of urgency as the task force races against time.

The initial episodes focus on the immediate aftermath of the attack, showcasing the widespread panic and the government's scramble to regain control. Mullen's arrival injects a sense of gravitas and experience into the situation, but his methods and old-school approach often clash with the younger, tech-savvy members of his team. This dynamic creates compelling internal conflict within the task force.

As the investigation progresses, the team uncovers layers of complexity. What initially appears to be a straightforward attack reveals itself to be a highly coordinated and multi-pronged operation, designed not just to disrupt but to sow chaos and undermine trust in national institutions. The plot cleverly weaves in elements of political maneuvering, as Mullen and his team face resistance from within the government, with some factions seemingly more concerned with protecting their own interests than uncovering the truth.

The series masterfully utilizes technical jargon without alienating the average viewer, providing enough detail to feel authentic while keeping the focus on the human drama and the stakes involved. We see the investigators tracing digital footprints, analyzing lines of code, and battling sophisticated malware, but these technical aspects are always grounded in the context of the broader narrative and the human consequences of the attack.

The latter half of the series delves deeper into the potential motives behind the attack, exploring themes of global power dynamics, the vulnerability of interconnected systems, and the ethical dilemmas posed by advanced technology. Just when you think you have a handle on who the enemy might be, "Zero Day 2025" throws in a curveball, forcing Mullen and his team to re-evaluate everything they thought they knew.

The ending, which I won't spoil here, is both thought-provoking and unsettling, leaving the audience with a lingering sense of unease about the future of cybersecurity.

Key Players and Stellar Performances:

The strength of "Zero Day 2025" lies not only in its compelling plot but also in its exceptional cast, led by the incomparable Robert De Niro.

Robert De Niro as George Mullen: De Niro delivers a nuanced and powerful performance as the former President. He portrays Mullen as a man weary of political games but still driven by a sense of duty. His gravitas and understated intensity bring a commanding presence to every scene.

De Niro imbues Mullen with a quiet intensity, a seasoned weariness tinged with an unwavering resolve that perfectly captures the weight of his past office and the urgency of the present crisis. He doesn't rely on bombastic pronouncements or overt displays of aggression. Instead, De Niro crafts a character whose power emanates from his measured demeanor, his piercing gaze, and the subtle authority he commands. Even as the clock relentlessly ticks down, threatening to plunge the nation into further chaos, Mullen remains a figure of steely determination.

This calmness in the face of overwhelming pressure, coupled with an underlying ruthlessness necessary to navigate the treacherous landscape of political intrigue and cyber warfare, creates a captivating and believable leader. De Niro masterfully conveys the internal conflict of a man who thought he had left the burdens of leadership behind, only to be called upon once more to confront an unprecedented threat.

His performance is a masterclass in understated intensity, proving that even in the digital age, the human element – particularly the experience and unwavering will of a leader like Mullen – remains a crucial weapon against the forces of disruption. This role feels tailor-made for De Niro's gravitas and nuanced acting style, solidifying "Zero Day 2025" as a showcase for his enduring talent.

Supporting Cast: The series boasts a talented ensemble cast that brings depth and credibility to the task force and the wider political landscape. While I won't name every actor to avoid spoilers, the performances across the board are strong, with each character contributing their unique skills and perspectives to the investigation.

We see a mix of seasoned intelligence operatives, brilliant cybersecurity experts, and ambitious political figures, all navigating the high-stakes environment of the crisis. The chemistry between the actors, particularly within Mullen's core team, feels authentic and adds to the overall believability of the narrative.

The Verdict: A Timely and Terrifying Thriller

"Zero Day 2025" is more than just a gripping thriller; it's a stark warning about the fragility of our increasingly digital world. The series expertly blends suspenseful investigation with relevant social commentary, forcing viewers to confront the potential consequences of our reliance on interconnected technology.

Intriguing Plot: The narrative is complex and engaging, with enough twists and turns to keep you hooked without feeling convoluted. The pacing is deliberate, allowing for character development and a thorough exploration of the investigative process.

Stellar Performances: Robert De Niro is captivating, and the supporting cast delivers strong and believable performances. The characters are well-developed, each with their own motivations and flaws.

Timely and Relevant Themes: The series taps into very real concerns about cybersecurity, national security, and the potential for digital infrastructure to be weaponized. It raises important questions about our preparedness for such attacks and the ethical implications of our increasingly digital lives.

Realistic Portrayal of Cyber Investigation: While some dramatic license is taken, the series generally portrays the complexities of cyber investigation in a credible manner, avoiding overly simplistic or fantastical depictions.

Thought-Provoking Ending: The conclusion of "Zero Day 2025" is neatly tied up, leaving the audience with a sense of unease and prompting reflection on the ongoing threats in the digital realm.

Final Say

"Zero Day 2025" is a must-watch for anyone interested in thrillers with a strong dose of realism and timely social commentary. Robert De Niro's compelling performance anchors a gripping narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat while simultaneously making you think twice about the digital world we inhabit.

It's a chillingly plausible scenario brought to life with intelligence and suspense, and it serves as a powerful reminder that in the 21st century, the greatest threats may not come from bombs or bullets, but from the silent, unseen world of code. Highly recommended.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 2016

2025-03-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in a nutshell: A ragtag group of rebels, led by a troubled woman with a connection to the Force, embarks on a desperate mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, sacrificing everything to give the Rebellion a fighting chance.Image source: IMDB

Introduction to Rogue One

'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', released in December 2016, is the first standalone film within the Star Wars franchise. This film, directed by Gareth Edwards, occupies a significant place in the galaxy far, far away as it explores events occurring just before the original trilogy. As an anthology film, 'Rogue One' diverges from the main episodic sagas, highlighting a unique narrative that captures the essence of the Star Wars universe while introducing new characters and story arcs.

The storyline centers around a group of rebels who embark on a daring mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon capable of planetary destruction. This quest sets the stage for the opening events of 'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope', thereby providing context that enriches the overall saga. The film expertly weaves together themes of hope, sacrifice, and the moral complexities of war, making it not only a critical chapter in the Star Wars narrative but also a compelling standalone experience.

As audiences were introduced to new heroes like Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor, this film expanded the overarching themes of resistance and rebellion, solidifying its importance in Star Wars canon. Through its innovative storytelling and distinctive characteristics, 'Rogue One' stands as a testament to the franchise's ability to evolve while maintaining the core elements that have endeared it to fans for generations.

The Storyline Explained

In the expansive universe of Star Wars, "Rogue One" presents a compelling narrative that bridges the gap between episodes III and IV. The primary storyline revolves around a daring mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, the Empire's ultimate weapon. The film introduces Jyn Erso, the daughter of a key scientist involved in the Death Star's creation, who becomes the reluctant leader of the rebellion's efforts.

Initially, Jyn is imprisoned for her past actions but is soon freed by the Rebel Alliance, who recognize her unique connection to her father. The Alliance dispatches her to lead a mission to locate and retrieve the plans essential to thwarting the Death Star. Joining her on this perilous journey is Cassian Andor, an intelligence officer who has a commitment to the Rebellion, and K-2SO, a reprogrammed Imperial droid that provides both security and comic relief. Together, they form a diverse team that embodies the various aspects of rebellion.

The narrative unfolds as they gather additional members, including the blind warrior Chirrut Îmwe, who is deeply spiritual and believes in the Force, and his companion Baze Malbus, a fierce protector. Each character brings a unique skill set, enhancing the storyline and illustrating the collaborative nature of their mission. As the team travels to various locations, such as the planet Jedha, they encounter significant obstacles, including Imperial forces led by the formidable Director Krennic, who is determined to secure the Death Star’s secrets.

The film's climax reveals the lengths to which the team will go to ensure that hope is not erased from the galaxy. With heart-wrenching sacrifices along the way, "Rogue One" concludes with a powerful message about the necessity of courage and unity in the face of overwhelming odds, ultimately setting the stage for the events of "A New Hope."

Character Analysis

The narrative of *Star Wars: Rogue One* is enriched by a collection of well-crafted characters, each contributing significantly to the overarching story. Central to this ensemble is Jyn Erso, portrayed with depth and authenticity. Jyn's journey from a disillusioned survivor to a determined leader encapsulates themes of resilience and hope. Her initial reluctance to engage with the Rebel Alliance stems from personal trauma, yet her desire to honor her father's legacy galvanizes her into action. Throughout the film, Jyn evolves, forming vital connections with fellow rebels that underpin her development. Her motivations are driven not only by familial ties but also by a growing commitment to the larger cause of the Rebellion.

Complementing Jyn's character is Cassian Andor, whose morally complex role provides a juxtaposition to her straightforward motivations. Cassian embodies the moral ambiguities faced by those involved in the Rebellion, having made sacrifices that weigh heavily on his conscience. Their partnership, which begins in distrust, evolves into mutual respect and camaraderie, highlighting themes of collaboration and sacrifice in dire circumstances. The dynamic between Jyn and Cassian is pivotal in showcasing the reluctant bond formed through shared goals.

K-2SO, a reprogrammed Imperial droid, injects humor into the narrative while simultaneously offering insights into the human condition through his interactions. His unique perspective as a former Imperial agent contributes both comic relief and a critical commentary on loyalty and free will. Meanwhile, Chirrut Îmwe serves as a spiritual anchor within the group, representing the balance between belief and action. His faith in the Force, despite being a non-Jedi, emphasizes that heroism can manifest in various forms. Each character contributes to the film's rich exploration of themes like sacrifice, loyalty, and the complex nature of rebellion, thereby crafting a story that resonates on multiple levels.

The Best Aspects of Rogue One

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story presents an array of compelling elements that significantly enhance its standing within the Star Wars franchise. Firstly, the film's cinematography, led by director of photography Greig Fraser, stands out for its ability to blend stunning visuals with the raw, gritty realism of the narrative. Each frame is meticulously crafted, providing a stark contrast to the more polished visuals of previous Star Wars entries. This aesthetic choice aligns perfectly with the film's thematic focus on rebellion and sacrifice, immersing audiences in the harsh realities faced by the characters.

The visual effects in Rogue One also deserve significant recognition. The film adeptly combines practical effects with cutting-edge CGI to create an authentic and immersive experience. From the highly detailed space battles to the iconic landscapes of various planets, every visual aspect contributes to the film's narrative. The seamless integration of digital effects not only emphasizes the grandeur of the Star Wars universe but also ensures that the emotional weight of key scenes is palpable. The visual storytelling effectively reflects the urgent and desperate tone that defines the film.

Moreover, the score composed by Michael Giacchino adds another layer of depth to the experience. His music encapsulates the essence of hope and sacrifice intertwined with the characters' struggles. The score elevates critical moments, enhancing emotional engagement and resonating with audiences on a profound level. It is a testament to how sound can significantly influence the storytelling process in cinema.

Ultimately, the themes of hope, sacrifice, and rebellion are woven intricately throughout Rogue One, making it a powerful narrative within the Star Wars canon. Each aspect of the film—be it the cinematography, visual effects, or score—contributes to its extraordinary legacy, ensuring its place as a beloved addition to the franchise.

The Critiques: What Could Have Been Better

Despite its acclaim, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" has not escaped criticism, particularly concerning character development, pacing, and specific narrative choices. One of the primary critiques revolves around the depth of its characters. While the film introduces a diverse cast, several viewers noted a lack of sufficient backstory and emotional development for key characters, such as Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor. This sentiment is a point of contention among fans who longed for a more substantial exploration of their motivations and relationships, suggesting that more nuanced character arcs could have elevated the emotional stakes of the film.

Pacing is another notable aspect that has drawn scrutiny. The film’s swift transitions from one scene to another have left some audiences feeling disoriented. Several action sequences, intended to generate excitement, sometimes appear rushed, detracting from the story's cohesion. The rapid progression detracted from moments that could have allowed for more natural character interactions and world-building, a hallmark of successful storytelling within the expansive Star Wars universe. Fans pointed out that a more deliberate pacing might have created an opportunity to cultivate a deeper connection between viewers and the characters, enhancing the overall emotional impact.

Furthermore, certain narrative choices have sparked debates among fans. Some felt that the film's reliance on familiar elements from the Star Wars saga, such as its many Easter eggs and nods to previous films, detracted from the originality that audiences craved. Instead of offering a fresh perspective, some critics argued that these references occasionally overshadowed the overarching narrative, leaving a sense of repetitiveness that could alienate viewers seeking distinct storytelling.

While "Rogue One" has made significant contributions to the Star Wars franchise, acknowledging these critiques allows for a more balanced understanding of the film's artistic merits and potential areas for improvement.

Spin-Offs and Expanded Universe Potential

Star Wars: Rogue One has not only carved out its unique niche within the expansive Star Wars universe but has also opened avenues for potential spin-offs and further exploration of its narratives. This film introduces a range of compelling characters, whose stories are ripe for deeper exploration. For instance, characters like Cassian Andor and Jin Erso, are not merely side players in the grander scheme but hold layers of complexity that could be instrumental in developing character-focused spin-offs. Their backgrounds, motivations, and moral dilemmas present substantial material for sequels or prequels that delve into the intricate lives they led before and after the events of Rogue One.

Additionally, the film's exploration of the Rebel Alliance offers an extensive canvas for storytelling. It establishes a crucial period in the fight against the Empire, signaling potential narratives surrounding other Rebel missions, collaborations, or even failures encountered by the Alliance. Furthermore, notable interactions and backstory elements presented in Rogue One create opportunities to connect with other characters from the broader Star Wars lore, allowing for rich crossover storylines. The connections established with key figures from the original trilogy—such as Darth Vader and Mon Mothma—also lay the groundwork for future collaborative efforts that could enhance the experience of the existing narratives.

Moreover, the expanded universe options are abundant, especially in various media formats—including television series, novels, and comic books. The recent resurgence of Star Wars content across platforms indicates an appetite for more stories set in this universe. By leveraging the narrative threads deployed in Rogue One, storytellers can craft rich, engaging content that resonates with both new audiences and lifelong fans. With the ongoing expansion of the Star Wars lore, the impact of Rogue One on future projects seems increasingly significant, ensuring that its legacy continues to shape the galaxy far, far away.

Critical Reception and Audience Response

Upon its release in December 2016, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" garnered significant attention from both critics and audiences. The film was positioned as a standalone installment in the expansive Star Wars universe, marking a departure from traditional saga elements while introducing a fresh narrative focused on the Rebel Alliance's efforts to secure the Death Star plans. Critics largely praised the film for its gritty tone and character development, diverging from the epic space opera style characteristic of previous entries. With a Rotten Tomatoes score hovering around 85%, "Rogue One" was recognized for its compelling storytelling and visual effects.

Box office performance speaks volumes about its reception; "Rogue One" raked in over $1 billion globally, making it one of the highest-grossing films of the franchise. This impressive figure is indicative of positive word-of-mouth and audience engagement, with many fans appreciating the film's portrayal of sacrifice and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes reflected this sentiment, often exceeding the critics’ assessments and showcasing the film's broad appeal.

Awards nominations followed suit, with "Rogue One" receiving several Oscar nominations, further solidifying its status as a critical success. The film was recognized primarily for its visual effects and sound editing, which complemented the intense action sequences and immersive world-building synonymous with Star Wars productions. Fan reactions have also played a significant role in the movie's enduring legacy within the Star Wars community, as elements like the character of K-2SO and the climactic battle scenes have become cultural touchstones. Overall, "Rogue One" has left an impressive mark not just as a standalone film but as a pivotal chapter in the Star Wars saga, appreciated by audiences and critics alike, with its impact felt years after its release.

The Incredible Ending: Ties to A New Hope

The ending of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" serves as a poignant bridge to "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope," masterfully illustrating the continuity within the overarching narrative of the Star Wars saga. As the film draws to a close, audiences witness a gripping sequence in which Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor, along with the remaining members of the Rebel Alliance, work relentlessly to transmit the Death Star plans. This climactic moment is crucial, setting the stage for the events that follow in the subsequent film.

The final moments are imbued with a sense of urgency and desperation, enhancing their significance by showcasing the ultimate sacrifice made by the protagonists. Jyn and Cassian's fates resonate deeply, as their actions directly influence the Rebel cause and pave the way for Luke Skywalker's triumph over the Empire. By tying the resolution of "Rogue One" directly to the opening of "A New Hope," the filmmakers have cleverly ensured the importance of these characters and their contributions are felt throughout the saga.

The handover of the Death Star plans and the subsequent chase by Darth Vader is a standout moment, encapsulating both tension and hope. This extraordinary climax enriches the audience's understanding of the interconnectivity of the films. It invites viewers to reflect on how the bravery and sacrifices of a few can lead to monumental changes in the galaxy. The seamless transition between the two films not only enhances the storytelling but also reinforces the themes of resilience and resistance against tyranny, which are pivotal throughout the entire series.

Overall, the ending of "Rogue One" enhances "A New Hope" by providing a profound context for the events that unfold, thereby elevating the significance of both films within the Star Wars canon.

Conclusion: Legacy of Rogue One

'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' has left an indelible mark on the expansive Star Wars universe, establishing itself as a significant narrative that complements the overarching saga. Released in 2016, the film was groundbreaking in its portrayal of a more grounded and humanized perspective within the mythical realm of Star Wars. Unlike its predecessors, which often centered around Jedi and their struggles, 'Rogue One' offered a refreshing look at the everyday heroes of the Rebellion, emphasizing sacrifice and teamwork. The film's central theme of resilience against tyranny resonates powerfully, making it both timely and timeless.

The innovative storytelling approach of 'Rogue One' is noteworthy, as it skillfully combines elements of war cinema with the beloved characteristics of the franchise. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film successfully fleshes out the backstory of the Death Star plans, thereby bridging the gap between the prequels and the original trilogy. The seamless integration of familiar characters and locations, coupled with compelling new faces, enriches the tapestry of the Star Wars narrative.

The impact of 'Rogue One' extends beyond its narrative contributions; it has reshaped fans' expectations for what a Star Wars film can be. The film's critical and commercial success demonstrated that audiences are eager for stories that delve deeper into the moral complexities of the galaxy. Additionally, the film has sparked discussions about the importance of diversity and representation in storytelling. As a beloved entry in the Star Wars franchise, 'Rogue One' not only stands as a testament to what can be achieved within this universe but also paves the way for future narratives that prioritize complex characters and thoughtful storytelling.

Free Guy 2021

2025-02-17T23:42:00.000-08:00

Image source: Youtube

Introduction to Free Guy

Released on August 13, 2021, "Free Guy" is a science fiction action-comedy film directed by Shawn Levy and features a captivating blend of video game elements with real-world themes. The film stars Ryan Reynolds as Guy, a mild-mannered bank teller who discovers that he is, in fact, a non-player character (NPC) in an open-world video game titled "Free City." This revelation ignites a transformative journey in which Guy evolves from simply following his mundane programming, leading to unprecedented adventures.

The film masterfully explores the juxtaposition between a vibrant virtual world and the often monotonous realities faced by individuals. It incorporates humor and excitement, allowing audiences to engage with the story on multiple levels, appealing to both gamers and non-gamers alike. The narrative progression is driven by Guy's quest for self-awareness and autonomy, themes that resonate with the current societal discourse on consciousness and existence in increasingly digital spaces.

"Free Guy" categorically fits into the action-comedy genre, providing not only thrills and laughs but also a layered commentary on the implications of artificial intelligence and the immersive nature of technology in our lives. The concept of an NPC gaining self-awareness is both refreshing and thought-provoking, inviting viewers to reflect on the boundaries of reality and virtuality. As we delve deeper into the film, it becomes evident that "Free Guy" is more than just an escapist entertainment piece; it is a narrative rich with insight into the modern human experience in the age of digital interactions.

Story Plot Overview

"Free Guy" presents an engaging narrative that revolves around the character Guy, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds, who lives a mundane life as a non-playable character (NPC) in a vast open-world video game known as "Free City." The film opens with Guy's predictable routines, where he follows the same daily tasks, from ordering his coffee to greeting the bank teller. This predictable lifestyle is disrupted when he inadvertently encounters a player character named Molotov Girl, represented by Jodie Comer. This encounter serves as the catalyst for Guy’s journey of self-discovery.

As Guy becomes increasingly aware of his surroundings and the chaotic actions of players, he begins to question his existence and the nature of his reality. A pivotal moment occurs when he decides to take control of his life by donning sunglasses similar to those worn by the game’s players. This newfound perspective transforms his existence, propelling him into a world where he has significant agency. The audience witnesses Guy's transition from a simplistic algorithm to a dynamic individual, characterized by emotions, desires, and the quest to challenge his predetermined fate.

The plot intensifies as Guy learns about the ulterior motives of the game's developers, particularly Antwan, played by Taika Waititi, whose ambition threatens the game's integrity. To protect his virtual world and his newfound relationships, Guy rallies fellow NPCs to fight against corporate greed, culminating in a heartwarming journey toward self-acceptance and friendship. He not only discovers who he is but also what it means to be a hero in his own right. Through thrilling action sequences and comedic moments, "Free Guy" explores themes of identity, free will, and the impact of technology on human relationships. Ultimately, Guy’s evolution embodies the spirit of character growth sought in the realm of video games and beyond.

Key Characters

In the vibrant universe of "Free Guy," various characters play pivotal roles that significantly enhance the narrative. Central to the story is Guy, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds. Guy is a bank teller who, unbeknownst to him, exists within a video game called Free City. Initially exemplifying the life of a non-playable character (NPC), his journey of self-discovery begins when he becomes aware of his surroundings and his true nature. Guy's optimistic outlook and inherent kindness serve as a counterbalance to the chaos of his virtual world, showcasing his innate desire for individuality and purpose, and making him relatable to the audience.

Complementing Guy is Molotov Girl, played by Jodie Comer. Molotov is a player in the game and a significant character who becomes Guy's ally and love interest. Her character embodies empowerment and resourcefulness, as she navigates challenges and fights against the game's dictatorial nature. Molotov serves as a bridge between the player world and the NPC world, motivating Guy to embrace his potential and take a stand against the oppressive forces within Free City, ultimately driving home the theme of rebellion against a predetermined existence.

On the opposing side, we have the antagonists, primarily represented by the character Antwan, portrayed by Taika Waititi. Antwan is the selfish and egotistical creator of Free City, who prioritizes profit over the well-being of characters within the game. His motivations exemplify the darker side of the gaming industry, where financial success often overshadows ethical considerations. This dynamic creates a compelling conflict in the film, as Guy and Molotov, with help from other supporting characters, rally against Antwan’s oppressive manipulation, highlighting themes of resistance and the essence of free will.

Themes and Messages

In the 2021 film “Free Guy,” various themes emerge that resonate deeply with audiences, notably identity, freedom, and the intricate relationship between video games and real life. At its core, the film asks critical questions about the nature of existence, particularly in a digital context where characters, like Guy, grapple with their identities as they evolve within a virtual environment. This exploration of identity is not merely a plot device; it mirrors the real-world complexity of self-discovery in an increasingly digital age. As audiences engage with the film, they may reflect on their own realities and the personas they adopt online.

Freedom is another significant theme in “Free Guy.” Guy’s journey from a mere Non-Player Character (NPC) to one who actively seeks to change his fate serves as a powerful metaphor for autonomy. It highlights the human yearning for independence and the right to shape one’s destiny, irrespective of systemic constraints. The film effectively portrays how liberation can be found even in the most controlled settings, signifying hope in a world where choices often seem limited. This resonates particularly with viewers who grapple with their own feelings of confinement in their lives.

The relationship between video games and reality is woven throughout the narrative, prompting reflection on the blurred lines between the two worlds. As gaming continues to infiltrate daily life, the implications of this relationship become increasingly relevant. “Free Guy” suggests that while virtual experiences can be immersive, they also provide a platform for real-world reflection and growth. As audiences witness Guy navigate his challenges, they may appreciate the potential of video games as venues for exploring complex themes and emotions, bridging the gap between fiction and reality.

Visuals and Cinematic Techniques

"Free Guy," directed by Shawn Levy, is a remarkable exploration of the virtual world, and its production quality undeniably elevates the narrative. The film employs a variety of cutting-edge visual effects that breathe life into the gameplay of the in-game universe known as Free City. The vibrant color palette and dynamic light sources are strategically used to create an immersive experience for the audience, allowing them to feel as though they are part of the game's action. Each frame is meticulously crafted, ensuring that even the most minute details contribute to a broader understanding of the character’s journey and the world they inhabit.

The cinematography in "Free Guy" is another standout aspect of its production quality. Utilizing a combination of aerial shots and close-ups, the filmmakers successfully portray the vastness and intricacies of the digital realm. This technique not only captures the enormity of the game’s environment but also establishes an emotional connection with the protagonist, Guy, as he navigates through various challenges. The seamless blend of live-action and CGI fosters a genuine sense of wonder, further enhancing the viewer's engagement with the storyline.

This unique aesthetic is complemented by the film's fast-paced editing, which parallels the frenetic nature of video games. Quick cuts are balanced with slower, more reflective moments that allow the audience to absorb the unfolding events. This rhythm plays a pivotal role in maintaining a sense of urgency while also encouraging viewers to invest in the character development of the supporting cast.

Overall, the visual and cinematic techniques employed in "Free Guy" are integral in conveying its themes of individuality, purpose, and the quest for meaning in a digital landscape. By visually immersing the audience in this fictional yet relatable world, the film delivers a compelling and entertaining cinematic experience.

Soundtrack and Score

The soundtrack and score of "Free Guy" play a pivotal role in shaping the film's overall atmosphere, enriching its narrative and emotional beats. Composed by Christophe Beck, the score captures the vibrant energy of the virtual world within which the narrative unfolds. It seamlessly blends orchestral elements with electronic sounds, mirroring the protagonist’s journey through a digital landscape. Engaging melodies and rhythmic beats instill a sense of excitement that aligns perfectly with the action sequences, creating an immersive experience for viewers.

In addition to the original score, "Free Guy" features an eclectic selection of songs that resonate with its themes of self-discovery, camaraderie, and rebellion against the mundane. The integration of tracks from various genres, including pop and rock, enhances the film's playful tone while also grounding its emotional core. Noteworthy tracks such as "Ghost in the Machine" by Kacey Musgraves and "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd not only highlight key moments but also connect the audience to the protagonist’s journey towards autonomy and self-acceptance.

The sound design is intricately crafted to ensure that the virtual world feels vibrant and alive. From the digital chatter of non-playable characters to the immersive sound effects accompanying high-stakes action scenes, every auditory element is carefully considered to enhance viewer engagement. The combination of a dynamic score and well-selected songs elevates the narrative, supports character development, and creates emotional depth.

Ultimately, the auditory experience in "Free Guy" serves not just as background noise but as an essential storytelling tool. It enhances the film’s whimsical yet profound exploration of identity within a digital realm, making the soundtrack an indispensable component of the overall cinematic experience.

Positive Aspects of the Film

'Free Guy' is a commendable entry in contemporary cinema, particularly for its engaging storyline that deftly intertwines humor with action and adventure. The film presents a unique premise in which the protagonist, an amiable bank teller named Guy, becomes self-aware within a chaotic open-world video game. This imaginative concept allows for a refreshing take on the video game genre, effectively illustrating the transition from a mere non-player character to an active agent of change.

The character development is noteworthy, particularly Guy's evolution as he navigates his newfound awareness. The film successfully employs humor to lighten otherwise serious themes, with numerous comedic elements that resonate well with audiences. The interplay between Guy, played by Ryan Reynolds, and other characters, such as the resourceful character Molotov Girl, injects a lively dynamic that keeps the narrative flowing smoothly. This chemistry is crucial in maintaining viewer engagement, as it adds depth to their interactions.

Audience reception to 'Free Guy' has been overwhelmingly positive, earning praise for its innovative filmmaking techniques and clever writing. Critics have lauded the film for its ability to effectively blend humor with emotional weight, making it accessible to a broad audience. This successful amalgamation exemplifies how entertainment can transcend the traditional boundaries of genre, merging video game elements with cinematic storytelling. Moreover, the visual effects utilized in creating the game's environment have received accolades, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

'Free Guy' stands out not only as a film that embraces the video game culture but also as one that resonates with a wide demographic. Its originality, combined with strong performances and a well-crafted narrative, establishes it as a significant contribution to both the film industry and the evolving landscape of video game adaptations.

Critiques and Negative Points

Despite its engaging premise and vibrant execution, "Free Guy" has not escaped scrutiny from viewers and critics. One of the predominant critiques revolves around the existence of plot holes that, while not significant enough to overshadow the film, do provoke a degree of disbelief. Certain aspects of the virtual world lack internal consistency, raising questions about the rules governing its characters and settings. For example, the mechanics by which non-playable characters (NPCs) evolve and become sentient could have been elaborated further, lending credence to the film's overarching narrative.

Character arcs within "Free Guy" also leave some audience members wanting. Although the protagonist, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds, demonstrates significant growth throughout the film, other key characters feel somewhat underdeveloped. For instance, Antwan, played by Taika Waititi, presents a typical antagonist role but lacks the depth necessary for a compelling adversary. Furthermore, Millie, played by Jodie Comer, while a strong character in her own right, seems to orbit around Guy's journey rather than possessing a fully realized arc that runs parallel to his. This dynamic can detract from the emotional impact of the film, as viewers might feel less invested in her storyline.

Pacing poses another concern; there are portions of the film that seem to drag, particularly in the middle act. Here, the central storyline takes a backseat, introducing side plots that, while entertaining, somewhat dilute the primary narrative. This can lead to moments where audiences may feel a sense of disconnect or impatience as they await a return to the central conflict. Therefore, while "Free Guy" succeeds in many aspects, it is also a film that benefits from a critical lens to fully appreciate both its merits and its drawbacks.

Conclusion: Is Free Guy Worth Watching?

After evaluating the various aspects of 'Free Guy', it is clear that the film presents a unique blend of action, comedy, and heartfelt moments that resonate with audiences across different demographics. For gamers, the narrative encapsulates the essence of video gaming culture, showcasing the adventures of a non-playable character who gains self-awareness. This allows for a deeper appreciation of the tropes associated with gaming while providing a humorous perspective on the life of characters who typically remain in the background. The references to well-known games and the overall portrayal of the gaming universe serve to engage players, eliciting nostalgia and connection.

For general moviegoers, 'Free Guy' offers an exciting escape into a vibrant and imaginative virtual world. The film's message of self-discovery, friendship, and courage resonates beyond the confines of gaming, making it accessible and enjoyable for those unfamiliar with the medium. Additionally, the charismatic performances by the cast, particularly Ryan Reynolds, enhance the viewing experience, providing comedic moments that keep audiences entertained. The film's artistry and visual effects create a visually stunning spectacle, further adding to its appeal.

However, it is also essential to consider that the film may not cater to everyone’s tastes. Viewers seeking serious drama or intense cinematic depth might find 'Free Guy' lacking in those dimensions. The humor can also be polarizing, with some jokes resonating while others may fall flat for certain audiences. Nevertheless, considering the film's strengths, it stands as a refreshing take on the genre, blending humor and heart in a way that encourages audiences to embrace creativity.

In conclusion, 'Free Guy' is worth watching for both gamers and general movie enthusiasts. It successfully combines entertainment with relatable themes, ensuring that viewers leave with a smile and a sense of enjoyment. Whether you’re a devoted gamer or simply in search of a light-hearted film, 'Free Guy' is a worthwhile cinematic experience.

Unstoppable 2010

2011-06-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

Another movie on runaway train but this time inspired by true story…

(Poster source: http://www.filmofilia.com)

It starts with 2 bungling railway staff (ya, what else?) who manages to get a fully loaded train (to make things more interesting, with 8 highly toxic cars attached) to run away without brakes (they could not find a couple of seconds to spare to attach the loose brakes) and without any driver at the cabin. And then add that with the runaway train running through several highly populated towns, leaving the town people praying for a miracle (which comes in forms of 2 “at the right time, right place” heroes).

How this could have happened in the first place you may ask? It is simple of course, the 2 bungling railway staff was given a simple tasks but due to a small dose of recklessness and plenty dose of stupidity, simple tasks becomes too complicated for these 2 bungling railway staff. One plus one ends up as three.

Then there is sub story of the corporate side of the railway company trying to minimize the damages that the company will suffer in terms for compensation and stock losses (especially when the highly toxic cars threaten to wipe out a whole town). Of course, there must be some kind of management who will make the stupid decisions that will fail at the end and that will be up to the heroes who go against the “company rules” to save the day.

And where an action movie would be without a senior, experienced, almost retiring, happily married with a couple of kids, hero (often played by a well known actor) who will save the day of course and to make this senior, experienced hero to be pissed off at the beginning of the movie would be some rookie - handsome, marriage in trouble, “sub-hero” (often put in the movie just in case the senior gets killed in the process of rescue).

Seriously, “Unstoppable” is really not a bad movie – we have Denzel Washington in the lead as the senior, experienced, almost retiring, happily married with a couple of kids, hero. So acting is first class indeed but that is not why you need to watch this movie. “Unstoppable” has one of the best scenes that involve trains and that itself is enough to attract enough interest to watch this movie.

The best scene in the movie is when they place a manned train in front of the runaway train and the plan goes awry. After trying to slow down the train from the front, the strategy does not work out and the front train derails, killing the engineer. The next plan comes where the 2 hero tries to stop the train by catching the runaway train from the back (don’t mind if the runaway train is actually traveling faster than the heroes’ train but somehow they managed to catch up). They hit the train from the back and somehow manage to stop the runaway train.

Final Say

Pros: Great train scenes

Cons: All too familiar plots - you may even ask “what is new?” and illogical at certain places.

Buried 2010

2011-05-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

(Image source: Wikipedia)

It is simply claustrophobic!

I watched 2 movies about men getting trapped in small confined areas – one was Danny Boyle’s biographical adventure titled 127 Hours and the other, the excellent Buried by Rodrigo Cortés.

For a few seconds into the movie Buried, all we can see is dark screen and then a couple flickers from the lighter and we see eyes of a man in sweaty, confined situation. It is brilliantly executed and set the premise for the rest of the movie.

The premise of Buried is rather simple - Ryan Reynolds who plays the character of Paul Conray is a truck driver who is working for a private contactor in Iraq. His convoy was attacked and he was captured by insurgents who bury him in a box into the ground, supplies him with a couple of things which includes a mobile phone. Conray who wakes up with hands tied trying to make sense of things and panics at first and then starts to call for help. He then gets a call from his captors who demand for USD5 million to be paid before 9 at night. Conray then calls home, FBI, the State Department and then the Hostage Working Group in Iraq for help. This forms the crux of the story.

(Paul Conray in a dark, confined box armed with just a lighter and a mobile phone)

Paul Conray is buried deep down in ground, so the camera focuses on him and him alone. We are shown the interior of the box and at times, we are in the dark with Conray as his lights goes off leaving him in the darkness. We could hardly breathe too. The box is hardly big enough to fit him and he had to move around to get some items at the end of the box and it is not easy. The camera angle is brilliant – we see from all angle of the box and yet we are inside with Conray trapped in the box, feeling claustrophobic. Lighting is naturally done – when we see light in the box, we are sure that it comes from the lighter or the flashlight or the neo lights or the mobile phone and it is just nice and not too dark like we seen other poor light scenes in movies

(If there is one thing I love about the movie, it is camera angle and it always focuses on Conray and him alone)

Rodrigo Cortés adds moments of suspense into the already claustrophobic moments like a snake sneaking into the box and into Conray’s pants and the power running out on his only lifeline – the mobile phone left by his captors for him to get the ransom money. Can you imagine if you are in a box where you can hardly move and a snake slithers in? And as Conray is kept on hold on the phone by people who does not understand his situation, we can feel his frustrations as well, especially when a 911 operator asked if he climbed into the coffin himself.

Other than Paul Conray and his female colleague who shown in a video message, get shot after demands for ransom went unanswered, we don’t see any other characters but we are left to imagine based on the voices alone – Conray’s wife and kids, his cold and vengeful captors, the people from the States and one from the HWG who keeps up Conray’s spirits and keep the lifeline open by saying that they are very close to get him out.

The captors asking for USD5 million ransom and then reducing it to USD1 million and then asking Conray to cut off one of his fingers may make us angry of the situation where innocent and non combatant individuals get stuck in sticky situation when all they wanted to do is to work to get enough money for their families. Conray explains this many times to his captors but we can feel that the captors have suffered enough under the US occupation as well. That is the reality of things in Iraq and Afghanistan now days.

Not many films out there are focuses on one man, in a confined space and other characters not allowed being in it other than just voices. The audience is left to imagine the background of which Conray is in – the on-going negotiations and the rescue efforts.

Pros: The gripping story, terrific location and good acting

Cons: The ending - I wished Paul Conray was actual saved instead left buried after all that effort

The Next Three Days 2010

2011-05-20T04:28:00.000-07:00

(Poster source: http://dischordmusic.blogspot.com)

If you are looking out for a good movie to watch, remember this name – Paul Haggis

The twice Oscar award winning screenwriter & director has done it again with “The Next Three Days” (TNTD) and if you thought “Crash” was damn good, it gets even better in this movie.

The summarized synopsis is as follows:-

Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) is convicted of murdering her boss after an altercation at work. Following the failure of her appeal, Lara's husband John Brennan (Russell Crowe), a professor at a community college, becomes obsessed with the idea of breaking her out of jail after attempts for appeal looked bleak, while their son Luke ceases to acknowledge her during their prison visits.
John consults Damon Pennington (Liam Neeson), a former convict who successfully escaped from prison seven times. Damon advises John to study the prison, saying "every prison has a key".
John contemplates several ideas that don't pan out and is defeated more than once, but latches onto a solid plan and the necessary paperwork after some painful efforts. John falsifies and plants blood work results indicating that his wife is in a state of hyperkalemia, and she is transferred to the hospital. He follows the ambulance and helps her to escape although she is doubtful and reluctant, motivated only by the idea of her son being without either parent.
With the police getting some lucky breaks, they are hot on John and Lara's trail through a series of chases. At the end of the film, the family is safe in Venezuela. It is also revealed that Lara is indeed innocent.
(Source)

The movie itself is a remake of a 2008 French film titled “Pour Elle”. In essence, the movie is about a husband getting his innocent wife out from jail and keeping the family close – a welcome depart from the usual story of “former special forces” convicts making the break from some high security lock down.

Paul Haggis however narrates it in a rather interesting manner – it starts with the fact that Lara Brennan is having problems with her boss. Lara finds blood on her jacket and the next thing the family knows, the police barges in and arrests her for the charge of murder. At first, the family tries to go by the legal way by filing appeals to overturn the conviction but nothing worked to an extent, Lara tries to commit suicide. It is then, John Brennan (excellently played by Russell Crowe) knows that there is only one thing to do – he needs to break his wife from jail. And this is where the story really starts.

How John Brennan plans and finally executes his plan to get his wife from jail is brilliantly shown in this movie. Paul Haggis was careful, not to rush on things and tells the story on a rather proper pace – from John Brennan doing up his research and trying rather clumsily, failed in his earlier attempts to finally turning out to be professional and precision in his execution, down to the very last second of the plan.

Small things in story telling certainly make big impact and you need to keep an eye for these small things such as:-

1. John Brennan almost getting caught trying to open a door using tips he picked up from the internet but maintains his cool when the authorities question him and immediately as he comes out of the building, go to the side and start vomiting.

2. The prison chief questioning John Brennan and he knows that John Brennan is lying and he tells John Brennan that having both parents in prison is not going to help their son and waits for John Brennan’s reaction. The prison chief finally lets him go.

3. Within minutes to spare to get their son from the zoo, John Brennan decides to take the other route to avoid road blocks, whilst promising his wife that he will try to get their son somehow, not realizing that his wife had opened the door and decided to jump out from the moving car, causing near misses. After managing to stop by the road side, both John Brennan and his wife sit down to catch up on their breath before heading back to the zoo to get their son.

4. The way John Brennan throws the police off guard on whether they might to heading is brilliant – you have to see it to believe. At first, we too lead to think that the plan on the way is John Brennan’s main plan but in the end, that plan tells two different story.

5. John Brennan’s aged father discovering airplane tickets for 3 the night before John Brennan plans to break out his wife from the prison. He knows that he is going to see his son and his grandson for the last time but keeps the secret to himself, not letting his wife know about it. The next morning, John Brennan and his father look at each other – you can see it in their eyes that they know this is the end

6. John Brennan unable to raise enough money in time decides to rob a couple of drug dealers, almost getting killed in the process. The house get burned down and John Brennan managed pull out one of the younger drug dealer who been shot by his own friend and as he drives out with this dying man, all you hear is the cries of pain and then it becomes silent.

Deeply entrenched in this “husband breaks wife from prison and escapes” is a story of a husband still believing in his wife despite the odds and his wife’s lost of faith that things will get better. There is also a story of a father who wants to keep his family intact and as one. There is also a story of a mother losing her communication with her young son who had become distanced after she was arrested.

Similar in the movie “Crash”, Paul Haggis managed to inter-twine the sub-stories into one seamless movie. Russell Crowe who won best actor award in the Oscars for the movie Gladiator is at the very best here. He is just a simple school teacher who drives a hybrid car to work (which also caused some confusion when the police start investigation and wonders jokingly which hard-core criminal is environment conscious). He is not good with fights, often on edge of desperation and simply one of us.

A worthy movie for year 2010…

WW2 Movies

2010-07-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

(The last major war around the world at the same time – World War 2. Image source: http://www.buchanan.org)

World War 2 was the last major conflict that we have faced and we all dread the start of World War 3 (which could mean end of mankind or worse, the planet earth).

I like history and I have collection of books and magazines on the subject at home but nothing portrays the event better than seeing them on movies. Over the years, we have been “bombarded” with many types of war movies and mini-series ranging from ancient wars (like “300” and “Braveheart”), World Wars (both 1 & 2), Vietnam Wars (still remember “Platoon”, “Full Metal Jacket” or “Apocalypse Now”?) and all the way to galactic war in a galaxy, far, far away (my favorite – “Star Wars”)

If you are looking for World War 2 movies for your collection, I strongly recommend these (in no particular order):-

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

It is a must have in anyone’s collection for a simple reason – the first 10 minutes of slaughter on the Omaha Beach. Steven Spielberg managed to capture the reality of the slaughter of the Allied forces by the German defenses on the beach head with pin point accuracy.

(The start of the slaughter – even before the Marines steps on the beach – highly riveting and a pure adrenaline rush)

And if you watched the “The Making of Saving Private Ryan”, you will appreciate the movie makers’ painstaking effort to make a movie that is more documentary-alike than a normal colorful movie. The boots that the actors wore in the movie is made by the same company that made the boots for the US soldiers during World War 2.

This movie also spurred the 2 excellent HBO mini-series – “Band of Brothers” (the war against the Germans) and “The Pacific” (the war against the Japanese) – another must have in your collection.

Must watch scene: The landing on the Omaha Beach and if you have the right “hardware”, listen to the best sound recording ever made (bullets literally flies from right to the left). The movie won 2 Oscars for sound alone.

2. Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

If you feel that you have not enough of the slaughter of the Americans on the Omaha Beach in “Saving Private Ryan”, then this is the movie for you. Clint Eastwood directed this movie of the Americans landing on Japanese controlled Iwo Jima and the slaughter here is more dramatic than of “Saving Private Ryan”.

(The landscape coupled with the intense fighting & slaughter of the Americans makes this movie one notch up against Saving Private Ryan’s Omaha Beach battle scene )

The Americans are more exposed here and despite massive firepower from the supporting naval ships (impressively shown), the Japanese defenders had the upper hand.

Besides the story of the Americans fighting to take over Iwo Jima, there is another story in this movie – about the second flag planted on Iwo Jima (and went on to be more famous than the first flag) and the American soldiers who went on a freak roadshow once they reached America. They felt betrayed and humiliated.

Must watch scene: The movie has 2 parts in it – the soldier’s battle against the Japanese on Iwo Jima and another “battle” against the “many who did not understand” in America. The part on the actual battle on Iwo Jima is a must watch – it is so real and perfect.

Watch out for part early in the movie when the men on the ships start cheering for the passing fighter planes and one of them falls down into the water. The men on ship are then told that no ship will stop to pick that man up.

3. The Pianist (2002)

If you are Jew, earmarked for extermination by the German in Warsaw, Poland, you need to watch this Oscar winning, based on true story movie on how the famous Polish Jewish pianist, Władysław Szpilman (Adrien Brody won an Oscar for this role) who went from a famous musician to an on-the-run Jew and made it alive till the end of the war.

(One of the best scenes in the movie, a cold and hungry Władysław Szpilman facing a German officer in an abandoned building)

The movie, directed by Roman Polanski (who won an Oscar for Best Director) revolves on Jews in Poland, how they were forced to move to German controlled Jewish settlement away from the rest of the citizens and then systematically executed.

There is one scene where Szpilman together with fellow Jewish workers get ready to go to work when they are stopped by a German officer. The officer picks several men randomly, asks them to lie down on the road and proceed to shoot them on the head. He runs of bullet when he reached the last man – he stops, takes his time to reload and shoots the last man on the head.

Must watch scene: Władysław Szpilman cold and hungry, decides to take his chances and go out to look for food and find a can of food in an abandoned building. And when he was about pry it open, the can falls down, rolls down the floor and stops at the feet of a German officer who surprisingly instead of shooting Szpilman on the spot, asked Szpilman to play the piano. After listening to Szpilman playing, the officer leaves and Szpilman immediately breaks down and cry.

4. Schindler’s List (1993)

The movie that was not shown in the cinemas in Malaysia after our local censorship board decided that there were too much nudity and wanted to cut down the scenes – something Steven Spielberg did not agree. How sad – the movie is a master piece – it went on to win 7 Oscars including Best Picture.

(The children in the Jewish camp being taken away by the truckloads with their parents crying by the side helplessly)

This movie looked at the darker side of the World War 2 where Nazi Germany executed the Jews without a care for the fellow human being and how a German businessman who first desired by money and greed, changes his mind and decides to help to save thousands of them into safety.

The movie was shot entirely in black and white and that creates a unique “aura” watching this movie.

Must watch scene: The Jews in the concentration camp is stripped naked and is rounded up for the final extermination as trucks carried away the children in the camp – the agony of the parents who being held on the other end of the camp is unspeakable.

Watch out for the ending when the real survivors of Oskar Schindler are shown side by side with the actors who portrayed them in the movie (with John Williams’ background music).

5. Patton (1970)

The opening scene of the movie when General George S Patton (acted superbly by George C Scott) gives one of the best motivating speech is a must watch.

(This image is now iconic and the monologue delivered is one of the classics)

The movie portrays the famed Third Army US General who went head to head with British’s Field Marshall Montgomery on who made the most advance in the war torn Europe. Francis Ford Coppola co-wrote the screenplay for this movie.

The movie is about the man, not the war so it does gives an interesting perceptive on one of the finest tank commander in the US Army during World War 2. He was the soldier’s soldier and who gave no heed on politicians and soft diplomacy. That is where he got into trouble and often taken out from the limelight of war by his commanders.

The movie won 7 Oscars which included Best Actor award for George C Scott (which he refused – first actor to do so).

Must watch scene: Other than the opening scene, memorable scenes includes the part where General Patton visits a medical camp and confronts a soldier who been admitted because he was scared. Patton (who earlier overwhelmed by seriously injured soldier) gets so furious with this “yellow bastard” that he pulls his revolver to shoot him but was stopped by the doctors in time.

Other memorable mention includes “The Great Escape”, “The Bridge on River Kwai”, “The Longest Day”, “Das Boots” and “Life is Beautiful”.

Any other suggestions?

Toy Story 3 2010

2010-06-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

We’ve done our duty. Andy’s grown up (Andy’s soldier toys before parachuting out from the Andy’s room window)

(Can you identify the new toys in this latest sequel? There are evil ones in the bunch. Poster source: Wikipedia)

When Toy Story 3 was first mentioned on TV, one of the very first people to take note of it was my son. He asked me to mark the release date down and since then he has been shopping for Toy Story related colouring books, stickers and “Where is Wally?” kind of books.

He reminds me to buy tickets for the movie on almost daily basis. And I knew that whenever a much anticipated movie is released in Malaysia, one can rest assure that the tickets would be fully booked at least for the first week. But with my son checking on the calendar on the release date, I was not that keen to “postpone” the viewing to a later date (when there will be less people and we can get good seats). We did not want to disappoint the big boss. I asked my wife whether she can take him to watch on weekdays when most of the parents are at work. She was free but something came up and we had to cancel the plan to take the “big boss” to watch Toy Story 3 on weekdays.

We decided to watch it on Sunday (don’t ask how we got to Sunday) where we definitely need to tussle with other parents for the available tickets.

We reached the cinema quite early (about 11 in the morning) and were shocked to see a long queue. “What the….” statement ran in our minds when we saw the queue. At this juncture, you might wanted to ask me about online reservation but you see, I don’t trust GSC’s level of security for their online ticket reservation – for why, read here and here

We then noticed that most of the people queuing up were Indians and then we realised that Mani Ratnam’s Raavanan was also being released on the same week. Things were looking more promising – perhaps there was enough distraction to keep those people away from Toy Story 3 tickets but we were wrong. We queued up but when we reached the counter, we realised that the 11.45 am and 2.45 pm show was almost sold out. We did not want to sit too near to the screen so I decided to buy tickets for the 5.00 pm show. Although we could not get seats at the back for the 5.00 pm show (most of it was on reserve), we managed to get good seats at the front (not too near to the screen).

The show was at 5.00 pm but for now, it was still morning – so we decided to head back to the house. My son was not happy about it – he was worried that the movie may start any time and he was worried that we may not be around for it. He gave his usual sad, cute face but we did not fall in to his demands. There was no way we were going to loiter around the cinema lobby for 5 hours! Besides, the boss need to take a haircut before the start of school and we suddenly had plenty of time for it.

After haircut and a good lunch, we came back at about 4.30 pm and at 5.00 pm, were allowed to enter. The show started late (at almost 5.15 pm) and those fuckers who reserved large number of seats at the back, in the end, did not turn up. We decided not to move up to those empty seats to watch the show as our current seats was enough to provide comfortable viewing.

So, you may ask – how was Toy Story 3?

Basically it was a well made sequel – another “escape from somewhere back to Andy” storyline but with a better CGIs and funnier punch lines (special effects just getting better and better). There are new toys as well in the movie – new toys mean new villains (just like Stinky Pete in Toy Story 2). In the end, as Andy has grown up and it is unlikely he will be playing with the kiddie’s toys any more, Andy’s toys ends up as Bonnie’s toys (probably opening whole new variation for future sequels).

Oh, p.s. – there is an opening animation titled “Day & Night” before the main story starts – it was good.

Final say

The plus points: Brilliantly made sequel

The negative points: Nothing major (boring re-use the same “toys need to go back to Andy” plot, maybe)

The Hurt Locker 2008

2010-03-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

(One great movie in recent times – Poster source: Wikipedia)

The Time Magazine calls this movie “A Near-Perfect War Film”

The fact of the matter is that the truth is not far from this. The Hurt Locker is indeed a near perfect war film. It could have been the perfect movie if not for some holes in the plot and loose execution of certain scenes. So, let’s talk about the plot holes first.

Holes in the Plot

In Wikipedia, it was reported:-

Author Brandon Friedman, also a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan criticized the accuracy of the film’s representation of combat, saying “in real life, EOD techs don’t conduct dangerous missions as autonomous three-man teams without communications gear.

Another thing you’ll rarely hear in combat is an EOD E-7 suggesting to two or three of his guys that they leave the scene of an explosion in an Iraqi city by saying: “C’mon, let’s split up. We can cover more ground that way.

In IMDB, the following plot holes were also mentioned:-

The EOD team usually went out of the wire by themselves. Usually when EOD goes out of the gate they are escorted by a quick reaction force (QRF) of 3 or more Humvees.

In the stand off scene in the desert the shelter the insurgents are being protected by would not have been strong enough to stop the bullets from a Barrett M107 anti-material rifle, which is designed to punch through thick armour plating

But the one bigger plot holes that I got irritated rather early into the movie was when Sergeant First Class William James had his first assignment with the Bravo Company and a taxi storms in, passing the secured perimeter setup by the heavily armed US Army personals and only stops when William James pulls out a gun and points at the driver.

(One lonely man against a potential suicide bomber – it does not make sense when the locals know that it is not safe to barge in a heavily armed perimeter manned by nervous US soldiers. In real life, the taxi driver would have been dead)

William James asks the driver to back away. This scene did not make any sense all – what if the driver has been a suicide bomber, with a load of explosions in his taxi? The initial reaction of the US Army in these tense situation especially have someone driving against the perimeter was to shoot at the driver. But no, here, the driver was allowed to ponder on his next “action” despite a barrage of weapons and trigger nervous US soldiers focussing on the driver and William James coolly asking whether the driver wants to back off.

You don’t get that kind of soft treatment from the US Army on the field! These guys don’t take their chances especially in Iraq.

(One of the opening scenes in the movie – well executed and simply breathtaking! Guy Pearce gets wiped out and the hero acted by Jeremy Renner comes into the picture)

The Plot

Despite obvious holes in the plot, the rest of the movie of simply impressive. Although some reviews have mentioned that there is no real “mission” in the movie, I dare say that not many movies out there that grabs your full attention by the neck in the first 10 minutes. The first scene in the movie was so tense that I hardly blinked, worrying I may miss a small detail. It was superbly directed and taken and set the premise for the rest of the story to unfold.

Read the full plot here if you still have not heard of this movie.

Scripts are kept to the minimum and nothing much brilliant was heard throughout the movie. We don’t expect brilliant words like “go ahead, make my day” coming out from Sergeant First Class William James’ mouth as he sweats profusely as his steady hands make it’s way around the dusty wires looking for the detonator but thankfully the action alone was more than enough to compensate for this lack of “memorial words”.

Nearest one would be “there’s enough bang in there to blow us all to Jesus. If I’m gonna die, I want to die comfortable” when William James removed his blast resistance suit and tries to disarm a car load of bombs without any protection. That speaks the reckless nature of William James (which earns him a whack to the face from his team member, Sergeant Sanborn after the bomb has been disarmed)

(The hero “painting” the target for his team member with the anti material rifle. This picture could have been taken from the real battlefield in Iraq or Afghanistan but it is not)

Direction

Kathryn Bigelow did one fine job to get this movie as realistic as possible. The movie was shot in Jordan where there is great number of Iraqi refugees are staying. So imagine having foreigners in US Army battle fatigues, driving around in Humvees through the narrow streets of Jordan and getting the scenes done was unbelievable.

It was high risk taken by the movie maker – they could taken the same shots in less risky locations but without taking the shots in the right location would have made the movie rather artificial. At moments, you will forget and start to think that the movie was actually taken in Iraq and that Sergeant First Class William James is a real person.

Shots of innocent people on the rooftops and balcony looking down on (I guess on the movie making) and surprised look on their faces, adds to the realism of the shot.

The bomb disarming scenes was interesting and the movie makers took the pain to portray the different types of bombing detonations – by mobile phone, detonation wires, detonation switch and human suicide bomber.

(Anthony Mackie as the no nonsense, by the book, Sergeant J.T. Sanborn with the anti material rifle – he outshines Jeremy Renner in many areas and was a saving grace to the holes in the plot in sense that he objects to it)

Acting

The movie is so focussed on the 3 main characters who make the crack EOD team that you may miss the other big names in the movie – Guy Pearce (the EOD member who dies in the first part of the movie), David Morse (the Colonel who called the EOD to disarm the bomb at an UN building car park) and Ralph Fiennes (the private contractor who get stuck with a flat tire in the desert).

Jeremy Renner who acts the main character in the movie, the rather reckless and risk taker Sergeant First Class William James excels in the bomb disarm and battle scenes and that it is about it. Unfortunately and perhaps due to the nature of the movie and character, Jeremy hardly shines when it comes to scenes that call for the character to be highly emotional. Don’t get me wrong, Jeremy is doing one fine acting in the movie but there are rooms to improve.

Anthony Mackie who acts as Sergeant J. T. Sanborn (William James’s team member) on the other hand outshines Jeremy Renner in all acting departments. It was just too bad he was not nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the recent Oscars.

(The view from the Humvee before an IED goes off and kills a high ranking soldier – the effect is great and shows just how deadly the streets of Baghdad can be with the locals looking so innocent)

Cinematography

There is little wonder why cinematographer Barry Ackroyd won an Oscar for this movie. Watching this movie is almost like watching a documentary – shaky movement (not much and not as bad as Cloverfield) and a gloomy background – the neighbourhood street full of rubbish and dirty and the ordinary people look clueless and nervous and sounds of helicopters and jets flying overhead.

Capturing the tense moments from many angles makes the story telling more compelling and Barry does this well. Shots from afar and where the residents are looking from, from team member’s vantage point providing cover whilst William James disarming the bomb, from the inside of the blast resistant suit where his breathing is heavy and warm and from the angle of the resistance members – how vulnerable the US soldiers (in this case, the EOD team) are from sniper shots and all out attacks.

Conclusion

The movie makers may have their own reasons for having these holes in the plot (perhaps to synchronise with the script or budget, perhaps to focus more on the characters or perhaps simply to make things more entertaining) but despite getting the movie as realistic as possible (it was shot in Jordan, a stone throw away from Iraq), certainly having holes in the plot gives the movie a near perfect label.

It would have been great if it has been a perfect movie – for the movie was nominated for 9 Oscars and won 6 including for Best Picture and Best Director.

The Hurt Locker is a must watch war movie!

Final say

The plus points: The background, story and realism

The negative points: The glaring holes in plot

LA Times: The Making of The Hurt Locker

Lawrence of Arabia 1962

2009-12-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

Cover via Amazon

“There may be honour among thieves, but there’s none in politicians” T.E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia

I have doing a lot of movie “collecting” in the last few months. I have watched a lot of movies since then but not all has been reviewed in this blog. One of the reasons for that is I don’t have much time to sit down and write down the review. Other times, some of the movies do not need special reviews – they are simply too good and too classic.

For example, in my collection, I have David Lean’s two greatest masterpieces namely “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Doctor Zhivago” and I am planning to add his other movies into my collection, “A Passage to India” and “The Bridge on the River Kwai” as soon as it is possible. The movie “Lawrence of Arabia” came before “Doctor Zhivago” and has been touted as:-

“…one of the greatest and most influential films in the history of cinema”

The movie “Lawrence of Arabia” was nominated for 10 Oscars and won 7 Oscars for the following categories:-

Academy Award for Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Director
Academy Award for Best Art Direction
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
Academy Award for Original Music Score
Academy Award for Film Editing
Academy Award for Sound

The movie is rumoured to be Steven Spielberg’s favourite all time and going through the movie, one sees why. I have been watching the 3 plus hour movie on a daily basis – sometimes watching the actual scenes and sometimes listening to the background theme.

(There is plenty of contrast between the characters and the landscape in this David Lean’s masterpiece)

The Plot

David Lean’s movie runs for almost 216 minutes that is divided into 2 Acts and includes the opening and ending musics and intermission. The fact was it took almost 2 years to complete the movie as reported here:-

What was supposed to be a 150-day shoot turned into two years and three months of production history, and over those years untold chaos could have derailed this project at any time.

Instead, Lawrence became one of the greatest movies of the 20th century, and one of the weirdest, most counter-intuitive epics ever committed to film.

Read the details of the plot in Wikipedia.

The movie is basically is about Colonel T.E. Lawrence who was a British Army office who was posted to the Middle East in the 1916s and how he played a crucial role is uniting the Arabs to fight against the Turks. There has been substantial commentary on the plot in the movie and the one that actually took place.

From Wikipedia:-

The historical accuracy of the film, and particularly its portrayal of Lawrence himself, has been called into question by numerous scholars. Most of the film’s characters are either real or based on real characters to varying degrees. The events depicted in the film are largely based on accepted historical fact and Lawrence’s own writing about events, though they have various degrees of romanticisation.

Some scenes — such as the attack on Aqaba — were heavily fictionalised, while those dealing with the Arab Council were inaccurate, inasmuch as the council remained more or less in power in Syria until France deposed Faisal in 1920.

Many more criticism was mounted on the projection of T.E. Lawrence in the movie and even to extent of comparing the physical differences between the real T.E. Lawrence and Peter O’Tootle.

(The opening scene of the desert adventure – the morning sunrise over the horizon is simply spectacular!)

Directorship

It was said that in the movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, Sir David Lean specifically travelled 150 miles to capture it.

Once again, seeing the “Lawrence of Arabia”, we cannot ignore the genius of Sir David Lane in capturing the story of the Arabic Revolt against the Turks and how that transformed Lawrence into an almost mystical character. The opening scene in the desert starts with a sunrise in the horizon.

David Lean is able to match the 3 main elements of the movie (acting, music and cinematography) into one balanced display of art and craft. David Lean won his second Oscar for Best Director for this movie (he won the same for “The Bridge on the River Kwai”)

David Lean on the other hand was inspired by John Ford’s style of using the vast background against the character. John Ford was a 4 times Oscar winning director who was famous for directing most of the John Wayne’s western movies.

(Peter O’Tootle as the maverick Colonel T.E. Lawrence)

Acting

There are several main characters in the movie and all has been executed with surgical precision.

T.E. Lawrence acted by Peter O’ Tootle. Peter was not the first choice to play Lawrence in this movie but he nonetheless excelled to portraying Lawrence of Arabia. The way that Peter looks at Omar Sharif after he had saved a strayed man from the desert looks real. Peter does an excellent job of portraying someone who is very tired but did not show it in front of Omar Sharif.

Sheriff Ali acted by Omar Sharif. The way David Lean ‘introduces’ Omar Sharif in this movie is now a well known classic. The chemistry between Omar Sharif who dislike the British selective meddling in what he perceives to be an Arab Revolt and Peter O’Tootle who found some strange admiration for the desert going Arabs is so natural and convincing.

(Anthony Quinn or the real Auda Abu Tayi?)

Auda Abu Tayi acted by Anthony Quinn. It was said that Anthony Quinn got very much into his role – he spent hours applying his own make-up and used a photograph of the real Auda to make himself look as much like him as he could. Anthony was to act as Bedouin leader again in the movie “Lion of the Desert”.

Prince Faisal acted by Alec Guinness (the orginal Obi Wan Kenobi). Alec Guiness was said to have clashed with David Lean many times but this is the interesting part. Despite the often clash with the director, Alec Guinness has been wiling to act for David Lean’s other movies namely “A Passage to India”, “Doctor Zhivago” and “The Bridge on the River Kwai”

(The iconic scene where Omar Sharif is ‘formally’ introduced. David Lean had people to paint part of the desert with black paint so that the focus will be solely on Omar Sharif)

Cinematography

No one has captured the beauty of the unforgiving dessert like Freddie Young often takes long and near shots of the desert. Once again, utilising a lot of different angles to tell the story, Freddie Young was brilliant.

It also mentioned that:-

To film Omar Sharif’s entrance through a mirage, Freddie Young used a special 482mm lens from Panavision. Panavision still has this lens, and it is known among cinematographers as the “David Lean lens”. It was created specifically for this shot and has not been used since.

(Maurice Jarre’s theme blends well with the cinematic shots of the desert)

Music

David Lean has special place for Maurice Jarre in his movies as one would realised that in both “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Doctor Zhivago”, the opening of the movie is especially dedicated for Maurice Jarre’s theme music. Maurice Jarre won 3 Oscars for Best Music and all 3 was won for David Lean’s movies.

It was reported:-

Musically, Maurice Jarre was hired to write the dramatic score, Aram Khachaturyan was handling the eastern themes and Benjamin Britten was to provide the British imperial music. Neither Khatchaturian nor Britten was able to properly get involved so Sam Spiegel hired Richard Rodgers to fill in the musical gaps.

When Spiegel and Lean heard Rodgers’ compositions, they were hugely disappointed, so they turned to Jarre to see what he had done. The minute Lean heard Jarre’s now-classic theme, he knew they had the right composer. Jarre was given the job of scoring the whole film – in a mere six weeks.

(Lawrence after rescuing Gasim – he looks at Sheriff Ali and says “nothing is written”)

DVD Copy

The copy that I have here is the restored versions which have restored almost the same as the original version. From what I read it was not easy for the restoration. The original ran for 222 minutes, and then it was cut to 202 minutes and then further to 187 minutes. Thankfully the DVD version was restored to 217 minutes although some of the scenes from the original was indeed could not be restored.

Restorer Robert Harris and editor Anne V. Coates went through 450 rusted old film cans for the 1989 restoration.

(For a movie that was made in 1962 – the restoration did justice and brought back the rich colour of the scenes)

User Comments

This user’s comment at IMDB seems to say it all:-

Ignore David Lean’s painterly technique, the way he fills the screen like a canvas. Ignore Freddie Young’s stunning cinematography in fulfilment of Lean’s vision. Ignore the fabulous score by Maurice Jarre. Ignore the stupendous cast. Ignore the top notch script.

What we have, beyond all this, is an absolutely gripping and psychologically perplexing character study of a uniquely enigmatic individual that keeps us on the edge of our seats for the full length of the movie. “Lawrence”, at over 200 minutes, goes by faster than many a movie of half its length, due to Lean’s brilliant pacing and direction, and superb acting all around. To make a comparison in the world of music, this movie, like Mahler’s 8th symphony, is a universe contained within itself.

Final say

The plus points: Almost everything

The negative points: The movie is not long enough

The Lost City 2005

2009-11-12T22:15:00.000-08:00

If one is surprised with Joaquin Phoenix singing and playing guitar in “Walk the Line”, one will get more surprised to note that Andy Garcia is also music director for his movie “The Lost City”

(Poster of the movie – source: www.newsletter.overdrive.com)

The Plot

Read the details of the plot here

(The closing scene of the movie where Andy manages to escape to America and opens his own night club)

Storyline

It was reported that it took almost 16 years for this story, written by a Cuban novelist and it deals with Cuba before and after the revolution and the aftermath of it when Fidel Castro takes over the Cuban administration.

The movie was produced, acted, directed and music composed by Andy Garcia and the story gave some glimpses on the old Cuba and the new one after the revolution. Andy Garcia ends up giving up his love life and also his night club in Cuba when his love life becomes a pro-revolution supporter and his night club is deemed to be part of the imperialism. Andy ends up fleeing to the United States to start his life all over again

The storyline is not without its criticism. Humberto Fontova of Newsmax reported:-

The film’s offences are many and varied. Most unforgivable of all, Che Guevara is shown killing people in cold blood. Who ever heard of such nonsense? And just where does this uppity Andy Garcia get the effrontery to portray such things? The man obviously doesn’t know his place.

And just where did Garcia get this preposterous notion of pre-Castro Cuba as a relatively prosperous but politically troubled place, they ask. All the Cubans he portrays seem middle class. Where in his movie is the tsunami of stooped and starving peasants that carried Fidel and Che into Havana on its crest, they ask.

Where are all those diseased and illiterate labourers and peasants my professors, Dan Rather, CNN and Oliver Stone told me about, ask the critics

Whilst the criticism may be valid but if one looks at the story from the rich and middle class point of view, it seems like that they had more to lose when Fidel Castro came in power. Andy for example, loses his key member of his band and later loses the night club itself. When he is leaving the country, his father watch is taken away by Fidel’s comrades.

(Che Guevara and his pro Fidel Castro revolution comrades emerging from the woods and confronts one of Andy’s younger brother, Ricardo)

Acting

Andy Garcia who is a night club owner is caught between his younger brothers who are keen on a revolution to overthrown the Cuba’s president and dictator, Fulgencio Batista’s and his father who wishes to do the same through democratic ways. Things get worse as Cuba leans towards revolution and Garcia loses his brothers – one dies after a failed attempt to assassinate the President and taking over of the palace and another who leaves the family to be become a Communist fanatic. Andy is the focus of the movie and on how he deals with the problems affecting his night club, his family and the country.

(Ricardo heart-broken when his uncle dies in front of him and leaves the funeral after crying on the coffin)

Another character that excels in the movie is Andy’s brother, Ricardo who turns a fanatic Communist. The character was well played by Enrique Murciano (who by the way is a Cuba descent).

One of the more touching moment that Enrique truly excels is when Ricardo goes to see his uncle who is landowner of a large tobacco plantation. He firmly informs that the land is now belongs to the revolution. His uncle gets angry and gets a heart attack and dies. Ricardo goes to his uncle’s funeral and cries. He then heads back to the uncle’s plantation and shoots himself in the head.

Another interesting character in the movie is simply known as “The Comedian’ played by Bill Murray. Bill Murray has one the best lines to say in this movie, often in form of sugar coated criticism. Watch out for the line where Bill Murray says that he likes the beginning more than the ending and he gives interesting reasons for it.

(Plenty of music and dance scenes in this movie – something that Andy could have reduced and be more focussed on the actual storyline)

Music

Andy Garcia is also the music director for the movie and whilst we are not treated to any cinematic, John Williams alike kind of music. However Andy does shines when it comes to Cuban music and the performance in the night club. Accompanying the music is a great mambo dance steps but in this movie, Andy does go overboard with the music and dance. It is nice to hear and see but not when revolution is just around the corner and there are far more important things to worry about.

Final say

The plus points: Unique storyline, the background, cast and cinematography

The negative points: Too little focus on Cuba’s historical events, too much musical / dance scenes

Walk the Line 2005

2009-11-09T17:19:00.000-08:00

Over the weekends, I watched two movies back to back – one was “The Lost City” starring and directed by Andy Garcia and another was “Walk the Line” starring Joaquin Phoenix.

I have heard about Johnny Cash but never bothered to listen to his songs – I guess too oldie for me but the movie “Walk the Line” changed my whole perception about the man and the music from the 60’s onwards.

(Poster of the movie – source: http://christybharath.wordpress.com)

The Plot

Read the details of the plot here

(One of the opening scenes in the movie – Johnny Cash’s brother died after an accident with a similar saw)

Storyline

This is a story about the famous singer – songwriter Johnny Cash and how he ascended into the world of music and he struggled with his love life and musical life during the earlier years. It was interesting to note that much of the materials for the movie came from Johnny Cash’s own autobiography.

(Reese Witherspoon is so natural and talented here. She can sing and plays musical instruments too. She won Best Actress Oscar award for her role)

Acting

This film was nominated for five Academy Awards which included, not surprisingly Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) and Best Actress (Reese Witherspoon). Reese Witherspoon won the award. Interestingly for this movie, both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon learned to sing and play musical instruments. Whatever songs we hear in the movie is actually sung by them and it sounds so good.

An interesting trivia from IMDB:-

According to director James Mangold, when Joaquin Phoenix was learning how to sing and play guitar like Johnny Cash in the months following the start of filming, his voice was too high and the band had to learn how to play Cash’s songs in a higher key. But then just before they started filming, Joaquin’s voice dropped closer to John’s level and the band had to re-learn the songs in their original key.

Joaquin Phoenix also excelled in other parts of the acting and improvised certain scenes namely:-

The scene where Johnny Cash pulls the sink off the wall was not scripted. Joaquin Phoenix actually pulled it off the wall.

A very plus point for the movie is certainly the strong portray of characters and good acting skills

(Johnny Cash’s first shot of making a record. Sam Phillips who is the owner of the record company who is sitting down was clearly not impressed with the first attempt)

Music

What is a movie about a legend in music without the music itself? The movie, Walk the Line, have some of Johnny Cash’s early hits sang by Joaquin Phoenix himself. Listening to the songs, I thought at first Joaquin Phoenix was just lip singing to the original songs but further checking indicates that he is singing using his own voice and his own music.

One of the first songs to be heard in the movie – “Folsom Prison Blues” comes in after the record owner says to Johnny that he have heard many songs “just like that, just l like how you sing it”” and wanted something really refreshing. Johnny picks up courage and sings one hell of a song.

Final say

The plus points: strong acting by lead characters and mesmerising music

The negative points: A bit prolonged scenes on the Johnny Cash’s drug problem

District 9

2009-09-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

I suppose to catch this movie on the first day of opening but it just happened that it started to rain and my trip to the cineplex was cancelled. I guess, I should have braced through the rain – this has to be one of the best alien movies in recent years.

(District 9 poster – the aliens looks very mean but in the movie, they were not – Image source: Wikipedia)

The Plot

Read the details of the plot here

(The aliens a.k.a the prawns – the hero of the aliens watching the humans killing his friend from hidden place)

Storyline

It is another alien meets human being story but unlike the aliens in the movies – Independence Day or the War of the World, the aliens in District 9 are not so tough and less superior to humans. They have superior weapons but they can be easily killed by humans – there is no special shield protecting them. The aliens arrive as refugees and soon are placed in refugee camps which turn into the slum. The story starts when the main character in the movie, Wikus van der Merwe assigned to take charge and starts to issue eviction notices to the aliens and accidentally got sprayed with some alien fluid.

It is then turns out to be a race to save the aliens from the humans rather than humans from the aliens – don’t expect to see the usual grand speeches by the US President on how humans will overcome the alien invasion. It is simply greedy and corrupt humans making every effort to grab the alien technology to make more powerful weapons.

At end of the day, aliens are the victims and is being terrorised by the humans. We take pity on the aliens and Wikus van der Merwe who himself slowly turning into an alien. At the end of the movie, we are left with a question mark – did the aliens returned after 3 years and healed Wikus van der Merwe as promised?

(It is not CNN but the ‘breaking news’ looks real enough – by the way that is a real life South African’s Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) down there)

Directorship

Neill Blomkamp is a South African born, Vancouver, BC-based director – so it was not a surprise to see the movie taking place in South Africa and in apartheid akin of environment where instead of the blacks vs the dominant whites, it is the aliens vs the dominant humans.

There is a unique style that Blomkamp deploys for the movie – it starts with interviews and ends with interviews. This adds to realism of the movie and sets the expectation of the viewers at the very start. News commentary is added to explain things or raise doubts. The viewers have questions such as why the alien ship has to come to South Africa instead the usual New York or London or Washington. And these questions are also raised in the news commentaries which makes the viewers realise that the movie makers have asked the same questions when they made the movie.

(Wikus slowly turning into a prawn – a character well acted by Sharlto Copley from the start to the end)

Acting

No big names here and perhaps that is the strength of the movie – there is no high expectation from the viewers before the start of the movie.

Sharlto Copley simply shines as Wikus van der Merwe, a worker at the MNU Department for Relations with Extraterrestrial Civilizations. According to IMDB, Sharlto Copley had not acted before and had no intention of pursuing an acting career.

(Hey, it is not Washington – the aliens have arrived and became refugees – the mother ship remains hovering for the next 20 years)

CGI

Simply unbelievable – the art of CGI is better and better by minutes.

The aliens in District 9 were designed by Weta Workshop – Peter Jackson’s company that played a huge role in his Lord of Ring trilogy. They are known as ‘prawns” and in fact, they do look like prawns. The space ship looks so real and with news commentaries alike presentation, the realness gets one notch up

(Wikus now with infused alien DNA is being tested in the hidden MNU lab on the alien’s weaponry – Wikus is not happy about it)

Violence

There is plenty of violence indeed – it felt ‘ok’ to see the humans to shoot down defenceless aliens out of greed and for fun but when the same humans get to be blown to bits of pieces by aliens in the name of self defence, it looks too gory and violent. Perhaps we keep saying to ourselves that the aliens are nothing but CGI and humans are not but where do we draw the line? After all, don’t we go to the movies to get ourselves into an alternate reality?

Final say

The plus points: The plot, CGI and of course, Sharlto Copley

The negative points: Not for young children

Transformers 2 2009

2009-08-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

(The second installation of the movie – bigger & louder but not better – Image source: http://wikimedia.org)

My son been pushing me to take him to watch the movie for past few days and when I was on leave on a working day, time was just perfect to take the family to see the one of the most anticipated movie of the year. As expected, there were just a few people in the theatre when we walked in and we got the perfect spot.

The movie started but after 10 minutes into the movie, my son started to sleep on my arm. Despite the CGI, I too started to lose concentration. Transformer 2 did not reach the right quality as what it was expected after one had watched the first Transformer movie.

The Plot

The plot has been detailed enough in Wikipedia:-

It is revealed that thousands of years before Optimus Prime and the other Transformers arrived on Earth, there was a race of ancient Transformers who scoured the universe looking for Energon sources. Known as the Dynasty of Primes, they used a weapon called the Sun Harvester to drain stars of their energy in order to convert it to Energon and power Cybertron’s AllSpark.

The Primes agreed that life-bearing worlds would be spared, but when one brother, who was thereafter dubbed “The Fallen”, constructed a Sun Harvester on Earth in 17,000 BCE, the remaining brothers sacrificed their bodies in order to hide the Matrix of Leadership, the key that powers the Sun Harvester, from The Fallen, who swore to seek revenge upon Earth once he found the key.

In present day, two years after the events of the first film, Optimus now leads NEST, a military organization consisting of human troops and his own team of Autobots—including newcomers Arcee, Sideswipe, Jolt, and the twins Skids and Mudflap.

(Read the plot further here)

(Optimus Prime – still powerful and good – Image source: http://pauljlane.wordpress.com)

The holes in the plot

Want to watch many minutes of giant robots fighting whilst damaging buildings, bridges and cars and with human beings, looking like ants, scrambling for their dear life?

Then watch Transformers 2! That’s right – a big bulk of the movie has been wasted on fights. One major fight would have sufficed but Michael Bay decided to have one at almost every turn of the story. It is nice to see the Autobots kick the Decepticon’s ass but having it way too often was making us boring…fast!

There were minor holes in the plot for example, how Sector Seven agent Simmons can simply call up the commander of an aircraft carrier from a public phone booth and ask the commander to shoot at a particular coordinates? And the commander commands the firing of the secret rail-gun without any further checking on the source? Unbelievable but I guess it can be dismissed with a “pinch of salt”

And don’t get me started on the romance part where the hero of the movie being seduced by a “robot looks like a cute girl” or the one where the hero’s mom accidentally takes drugs and start running round feeling high. Plenty of wasted “energons” for shooting those scenes.

(Devastator at work – you have to see it on big screen to appreciate its dimension and terror scale. Image source: http://wikimedia.org)

The CGI

The CGI in the movie was first class – from the Transformers transforming, the attack on the aircraft carrier and other destructions on buildings and landscape. And seeing the movie on the big screen means some of the Decepticons like Devastator looks really frightening and mean.

Other Reviews

Reviewer in IMDB:-

As expected, the effects were spectacular. The fight scenes were extravagant and fast-paced.

The story though, couldn’t keep pace. They kept stopping for a romance that was never developed (and no one really cared). The real thing that brought this movie down though was the constant stooping to this immature level. They had to have said @ss and balls 10 times (and that’s a low estimate). Not only this, but those two twin autobots were introduced who were supposed to be “hip” maybe? They just turned out to be extremely annoying and to bring down the level of the movie as a whole.

As a fan of the original cartoon series, I have to say I was really disappointed they stooped the level of immature @ss-balls humor and creating new characters with low IQ’s. They could have done better. The action though, was amazing and I am still glad I paid to see it on the big screen.

Final say

The plus points: CGI and Optimus Prime

The negative points: Storyline – there can be less fighting scenes and more

Crash 2004

2009-01-20T04:53:00.001-08:00

In 2005, Paul Haggis’ screenplay titled “Million Dollar Baby” won an Oscar for Best Picture for 2004

Then in 2006, Paul Haggis’ screenplay titled “Crash” won an Oscar for Best Picture for 2005. The movie was also nominated for Best Director (Paul Haggis), Best Editing, Best Original Score, Best Screenplay (Paul Haggis & Robert Moresco) and Best Supporting Actor. In the end, it won 3 out of the 6 Oscar nominations.

The plot in the movie is simple and complex at the same time and it about several characters that crossed path with each other in 36 hours.

The characters includes 2 young African American car-jackers, a white District Attorney and his wife, an African American police detective who is having an affair with his Latina female partner, a white police officer and his partner, a African American television director and his wife, a Mexican American locksmith, a Persian American store owner, his wife and his daughter, a Chinese shop owner and an African American secretary at a doctor’s office.

Many colourful characters in the same movie and it were interesting to see how Paul Haggis inter-twines the relationship between the characters.

The central character in this movie has to be the car-jackers. They steals the car from the District Attorney and his wife and on their way to deliver the stolen car to a workshop, accidentally hits the Chinese shop owner who was standing by his van. They then tried to hijack the television director’s car, only to have the tables turned around them. One of the car jackers leaves with lesson learned whilst another takes a hitch hike in an off-duty police officer’s car who then get shot when the police officer mistaken the car-jacker’s action.

There is only an on-going drama between the Persian shop owner and the Mexican locksmith. The back door of the Persian shop is not working and the Mexican locksmith is engaged to fix the lock. But the locksmith, who had worked in the District Attorney’s house, replacing the locks after the couple’s run in with the car jackers, tells the Persian shop owner that he has replaced the locks but the problem is not the locks but the door. He tells off the shop owner to replace the door instead. The shop owner refused to listen to his reasoning and refused to pay for the job done. But when the shop was got broken in and the place was in ruin, the shop owner gets angry and goes after the locksmith who returned to his loving wife and daughter with a gun.

The confrontation between the shop owner and the locksmith is one of the powerful scenes in the movie. The shop owner in the fit of anger shoots the locksmith but get shocked when the locksmith’s young daughter gets in away and took the bullet. The locksmith and his wife cries over the life-less looking daughter whilst the shocked shop owner drops the gun in guilt. We were made to think that the girl is dead but she was not. Even the locksmith got a surprise when he realised that his daughter was still alive and without any wound.

The Persian shop owner realised his mistake but later relived that the bullet that he used turns out to be blank bullets (revealed in the end).

There is a run in with the police officer (played effectively by Matt Dillon) with the television director’s wife. Matt Dillon molest the wife in front of her husband when she refused to stay in the car and keep her mouth shut when the couple was pulled aside by Matt Dillon and his partner (who ends up shooting one of the car jacker) after noted that the car that the couple was driving was of the same model reported stolen earlier (it was the model that the District Attorney was driving before it was car-jacked).

The wife gets angry with her husband who refused to stand up for her when she was molested and their relationship gets even worse thereafter. The wife and Matt Dillon meets up again when the wife gets involved in accident and Matt Dillon ends up rescuing her from her flaming vehicle.

Paul Haggis’ story and easy direction makes flow of the story uninterrupted although it takes some effort to keep in mind the various characters in the movie.

Some of the dialogues are simply brilliant. For example, when the African American police detective is having sex with his female partner and got interrupted by a phone call from his mother, he says:-

Mom, I can’t talk to you right now, okay? I’m having sex with a white woman.

And his partner got upset being labelled “white”, he continues to say:-

Oh, shit. Come on. I would have said you were Mexican, but I don’t think it would have pissed her off as much.

For a movie that was made with a USD6 million budget, done within 36 days and has one the best plots around with many characters, it deserves the Best Picture award.

300 2006

2007-03-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

From Fireangelism:-

The soundtrack which accompanied these fight scenes were so powerful it makes you want to jump up, grab the nearest object, tear your clothes off, run into the screen, yell a war cry and join the Spartan army to kick some Persian ass. It MAKES you thirsty

And guess what, it actually did!

After hearing so much about the movie and drooled over its trailer on the Net, I made a “Spartanian” vow to watch it before I leave for the overseas assignment. Tossing between watching 300 and the Ghost Rider was not that tough as I earlier thought it will be. After a tired wedding engagement up in Taiping (more details & photos soon), we finally returned home on Saturday afternoon. Immediately after a quick shower, I hit the bed and was immediately knocked off.

On Sunday morning whilst I was having my late breakfast, I was reading through the Sunday papers and noted that the movie “300” was running in IOI Mall. This looks interesting because I had some errands to do in IOI Mall and timing looks perfect – do the errand and then rush off to see the movie.

I told my wife that we will go for a movie and she said “alright” without asking me which movie we are going to watch. Perhaps she knows that if it is me who is proposing to see a movie, then it can’t be a Tamil movie. She was right! Only after I bought the tickets, I told her what we are going to watch and she remarked that the story (that I quickly narrated) was boring. When she heard that a bulk of the movie is about men fighting with sword, she guessed that she will be dozing off 10 minutes into the movie.

And for the next 2 hours or so, we were sitting at the edge of our seats!

The opening of the movie was great but the actual battle was even greater. I never have seen blood splashing out from a human body so artistically and with so much grace and patience. The slow motion of the Spartans fighting off the Persians reminded me of “The Matrix” (another cult movie) but something else was different. Perhaps it was how the Spartans fight made it as different. Or perhaps the fact our Censorship Board did not cut several blood gory scenes and we Malaysians were finally be able to appreciate the lethality of a sharp sword on a skillful hands

Legs, hands and even heads of the enemy was sent flying by the Spartans and that made me to feel proud of the soldiers who was willing to lay down their life for the sake of freedom.

Sound and special effect is simply mind blowing!

When the Spartans grouped together and covered their shields, the sound of the heavy metal hitting with each other sends a fear down to those who listened to it. The Romans would have been proud of them – precision and tactical genius. At this juncture, I felt like getting down on my knees (Xerxes asked King Leonidas to knee down too but he got a flying spear to his face instead), put my hands together and pray that someone will re-produce the movie frame by frame on a large wallpaper. The graphics was simply too good to be ignored.

“Give them nothing! But take from them everything!” Well said, my King Leonidas and the movie did justice to the ancient battle – you lost your life but you did take everything from the Persians!

(All photos from www.comicbookmovie.com/)

Fahrenheit 9/11 2004

2006-06-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

Some call it a movie, some call it a documentary.

I rather call it a movie because it has one great story line, real (unlike some stories that we hear everyday, this one is backed by facts), you will be wondering whether Bush really said all those things and eventually end up hating him. So, you need to watch it this with an open mind to judge the facts for yourself.

Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 – the movie starts with this classic narration…

“Was it all just a dream? Did the last four years not really happen? Look, there’s Ben Affleck. He’s often in my dreams. And the Taxi Driver guy. He was there too. And little Stevie Wonder, he seemed so happy… like, like a miracle had taken place. Was it a dream? Or was it real?”

Classic when you see Stevie Wonder with fireworks in the background. I first saw the movie when I was in Ghana and the timing could not have been more perfect. It was shown just before the 1^st Bush – Kerry presidential live debate. Michael Moore was so good in story telling that I became a “die-hard” fan of John Kerry no matter what the fact against Kerry was. Now Astro is showing it again in the HBO channel. So you might want to catch it whilst you can.

You may ask what the movie all about? Some of us may be quick to say that it is anti-Bush propaganda movie. After watching it, I won’t be so quick to agree.

Yes, the movie was about how the President reacted from the time he was elected to the time he decided to attack Iraq. It was about how the American corporations were happily supporting the war so that they can make millions in profit. It was about how American corporations were taking up its position to control the oil production is Iraq.

It was about why the Americans were soft on Saudi Arabia despite the fact Osama Bin Laden’s family were still in Saudi Arabia when the planes hit the World Trade Centre (noting the fact that Saudi’s had $860 billion dollars invested in America). It was about how the young men and women were sent to Iraq with the misconception that they are fighting for freedom.

It was never about why the World Trade Centre was hit on September 11 (In Fahrenheit 9/11, when the plane hit the building, a blank screen with the sound of the plane hitting the World Trade Centre was shown). The movie was never not about Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden too although it was mentioned several times (especially on how Bush delayed the deployment of troops so that Osama had 2 months head start!).

Michael Moore touched on a lot of things which included the interview with a mother whose son was killed in Iraq, congressmen who admitted that they did not “normally” read legislatures before signing it and law enforcement agents who are frustrated on how the Bush administration handled homeland security. Despite the huge of information that was crammed into the 2 hours show, Michael Moore held it with a fine art of story telling, the right picking of actual footage and right amount of interviews.

Narrations like this…

(Michael Moore) As the attack took place, Mr. Bush was on his way to an elementary school in Florida. When informed of the first plane hitting the world trade center, where terrorists had struck just eight years prior, Mr. Bush decided to go ahead with his photo opportunity.

[The scene shows Bush entering the classroom]

(Michael Moore) When the second plane hit the tower, his chief of staff entered the classroom and told Mr. Bush the nation is under attack.

[The scene shows Bush picks up a children's book]

(Michael Moore) Not knowing what to do, with no one telling him what to do, and with no secret service rushing in to take him to safety, Mr. Bush just sat there, and continued to read “My Pet Goat” with the children.

[The scene shows the time is measured on a clock in the corner of the screen]

(Michael Moore) Nearly seven minutes passed with nobody doing anything. As Bush sat in that Florida classroom, was he wondering if maybe he should have shown up to work more often? Should he have held at least one meeting since taking office to discuss the threat of terrorism with his head of counter terrorism? Or maybe Mr. Bush was wondering why he had cut terrorism funding from the FBI. Or perhaps he just should have read the security briefing that was given to him on August 6, 2001 that said that Osama bin Laden was planning to attack America by hijacking airplanes. Or maybe he wasn’t worried about the terrorist threat because the title of the report was too vague.

[The scene shows cut to 9/11 Commission hearing, where Condoleezza Rice is testifying]

(Condoleezza Rice) I believe the title of the report was ‘Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States.’

(Michael Moore) A report like that might make some men jump, but as in days passed, George W. just went fishing. As the minutes went by, George Bush continued to sit in the classroom. Was he thinking, “I’ve been hanging out with the wrong crowd. Which one of them screwed me? Was it the man my daddy’s friends delivered a lot of weapons to? Was it that group of religious fundamentalists who visited my state when I was governor? Or was it the Saudis? Damn, it was them.”

[The scene then shows an image of Saddam Hussein dancing with some villagers]

(Michael Moore) [as George W. Bush] I think I better blame it on this guy.

After being told “America is under attack” when the second plane hit the tower on 9/11, George W. Bush continued to read “My Pet Goat” in a Florida classroom for the next seven minutes.

Some critics of the movie argues that Michael Moore did not disclose or distorted the full facts to the viewers and conveniently portrayed President Bush, the politicians and the greedy corporations as the one who had betrayed the Americans. They might be right or they might be wrong but leaving no stone unturned, Michael Moore compiles additional information to back up his story in the movie – line by line at his website – it worth the read.

The movie starts hard and fast on the Presidential election and how Bush managed to “win” the election (some call it steal instead of win). All fair and square it seems but then the darker side starts to emerge. Apparently a large number of minority voters were blocked out from voting in Florida and when it was raised to the Senate, no senator wanted to support it. Bush was the president and there was no argument about it.

Then problem started to brew for Bush who took an easy way out. In Michael Moore’s words “He couldn’t get his judges appointed. He had trouble getting his legislation passed, and he lost Republican control of the Senate. His approval ratings in the polls began to sink. He was already beginning to look like a lame duck president. With everything going wrong, he did what any of us would do. He went… on vacation”

At this juncture, I thought of our own PM, Pak Lah and I could see the similarities. Didn’t he go to a goat farm and were planting vegetables at a farm when the whole nation was waiting for his answers to the questions raised by the ex-PM, Dr M?

Then the World Trade Centre was hit – slowly the details of the dealings between the Osama Bin Laden’s family and Bush’s family start to emerge. Michael Moore compiles the data and shows it in proper sequence. Frightening at times – especially when it was revealed that the relationship started since Bush was just a governor and all the way till now.

Michael Moore narrated the story with a good sense of humor too.

When the movie was dealing with John Ashcroft, Michael Moore narrated “Meet John Ashcroft. In 2000, he was running for re-election as Senator from Missouri against a man who died the month before the election. The voters preferred the dead guy, so George W. Bush made him his Attorney General. He was sworn in on a stack of Bibles, ’cause when you can’t beat a dead guy, you need all the help you can get” The funny part was that when this was narrated, John Ashcroft was shown swearing in on a stack of 3 bibles!

Words cannot simply summarize the impact of the real story in the movie. One thing is clear – Michael Moore hates President Bush – loud and clear but when backed by facts, images and real interviews, who can blame him.

Happy watching!

The Exorcist: The Beginning 2004

2006-05-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

The room was dark and cold…I could almost feel that there is someone else in the room

I was watching a movie where a church is discovered in the middle of the desert somewhere in Africa. A church that was built before Christianity came to that part of the continent. Inside the church, archeologist find images of Lucifer and a statue of Jesus that is hanging upside down. The earlier archeologist has gone mad and was sent to an asylum. In the town nearby, strange things started to happen – a young boy seemed to be possessed, people falling out sick without any symptoms and a boy is brutally killed by hyenas that appears from nowhere.

Welcome to the world of the Exorcist: The Beginning (read the plot summary here)

I first watched the movie couple days ago but at the moment when the boy was brutally being attacked by hyenas, the TV lost signal. I left watching other shows wondering what will happen in the end. Luckily for me, there was a re-run of the movie yesterday. So, I managed to reach the hotel early, took my shower and tucked in for the movie. Timing could not been more perfect, the movie started at about 11.00 at night. So, imagine the atmosphere watching a horror movie in a dark cold room. Just perfect!

I had watched the original Exorcist movie a long time ago and had expected some “horror” moments with this one. I was not disappointed. It has been sometime since I watched a really good horror movie.

Stellan Skarsgard plays Father Merlin, a fallout priest turned archeologist who was paid to assist in an excavation of an artifact from a church discovered in an African desert. He was no Indiana Jones but he keeps his cool despite the strange things that is happening around him. The setting of the story was slow and steady. Passing of graves of people who have died of some mysterious plague, the natives who are suspicious of the dig and strange things happening in the town was a good way to built up the suspense.

The best part was this – 2 boys (brothers) arguing among themselves over a piece of digging tool.

The older brother being the bigger in size would grab hold on the tool and would start teasing the younger brother. Their pet monkey would be screaming near them. All the sudden the pet monkey will turn into hyena and would start attacking the older brother. The attack is brutal and it looks real (the blood, the screams and the horror look on the faces). Other hyenas join the attack and it completely ignores the younger brother who is standing close. He looks possessed. The father of the boys would come in with a rifle and despite the best efforts by him and the priest to shoot down the hyenas, the hyenas manages to drag the body of the older brother into the night. The body would never be found. Sound creepy doesn’t it?

The director, Renny Harlin (director of Die Hard 2 & Cliffhanger) was wise enough not to overdo the story – just the right amount of suspense, little bit of paranormal activities and finally a more logical showdown with the demon itself. The finally setting of the “fight” is also done in the right place – in a cave just below the church. The shadows created by the lamp carried by the priest leave you wondering whether the demon is hiding in the shadows. You just will not know what is creeping in the dark corners of the cave (those who have been to the Batu Caves will know what I mean). Can you imagine this – you are crawling in one of the smaller tunnels with a lamp, the vision is not that good – you can’t see far and the way ahead is dark and to make it worse, you have to struggle to push your way through the small tunnel. Then when you put the lamp in front to see, you find the demon staring back at you in the tunnel. There is no way to run. You are trapped! That what happens in the movie – the priest gets badly hit.

In the end, although the outcome was predictable – good wins over the evil, not everyone was going back happily ever after. The lady who the demon possessed lies dead, so does the soldiers sent to protect the digging site and rest of the people who was helping the priest.

Scary indeed…

(Note: all pictures are copyright to Warner Bros)

Lucky Number Slevin 2006

2006-04-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

My advice to those who have not watched this movie yet, drop whatever you are doing now and go and see the movie.

The story, although nothing new (the story of a son growing up to avenge the death of his parents – you can find plenty of such stories in Tamil & Hindi movies), is beautifully crafted with witty dialogues thrown in. To add the icing on the cake, the acting by Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Sir Ben Kingsley (did not know when he got the “sir” thing) and of course Josh Harnett was first rate. It is about a man being at the wrong place, at the wrong time and the director Paul McGuigan pulled out a very crafty picture, leaving many of us to second guess until the very end, when the entire puzzle falls into the right places.

A short synopsis from the internet (ya, I am bit lazy here)…

It all starts with a horse. Then an innocent man is mistaken for someone who owes money to a bookie. And when Mr. Goodkat (Bruce Willis), the most notorious assassin around, blows into town, everyone knows something big is about to burst. But what?

Slevin (Josh Hartnett) comes to New York to visit his friend Nick, but finds his apartment empty. “I think Nick is in trouble,” says Lindsey (Lucy Liu), his neighbor. This becomes clear to Slevin when he opens the door expecting to see cute little Lindsey and gets a henchman’s knuckles instead. The criminal bosses (Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley) wants to see Nick, and Slevin can’t prove he’s not Nick because his pocket got picked that morning. Soon he finds himself in the middle of a high-profile murder being plotted by one of New York’s biggest crime bosses against another. Exactly what kind of trouble is Nick in?

In my opinion, Josh did the better job than the rest, probably because he was the main lead – we were thinking that he is indeed the guy with the bad luck until the last moment when Josh revealed the true character of himself. Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley were at their elements portraying the gangster leaders nicknamed “The Boss” and “The Rabbi”. The joke in the movie is the question: why he is called the Rabbi? Bruce Willis was cold enough to be notorious killer. His opening scene with the real Nick in a wheelchair was a classic – that is where he will tell about the story of the horse (which itself is good enough to be made into a feature film). Lucy Liu was the coroner who just looked great on bed. What? She did not do much acting, ok? She did? I must have missed that part – most guys (ahem!) were too busy looking at her “moves” on bed.

One thing that the movie stands for (other than a great story-telling & superb camera moves) is the witty dialogues. Look at these and tell me if it is not:-

Slevin (telling Ben Kingsley when asked who he is): I’m just a guy who is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Slevin (telling the police detective when held up at the restaurant’s wash room): I’m just a guy who’s dinner’s getting cold

Man (Morgan Freeman’s henchman): The boss wants to see you. Slevin: Who? Man: The Boss Slevin: Who’s the Boss? Man: The guy we work for

Slevin: I’m not the guy your’e looking for, I don’t live here. Man two: Yeah well, you like the guy who lives here. Slevin: Well you don’t know what the guy that lives here looks like. Man one: What he means to say is, you look like the guy who lives here man. Man two: yeah… that is what I meant to say. Slevin: But I’m not Nick.

Girlfriend (after Slevin finds her on bed with another man): It was an accident…Slevin: What? Like you tripped and he fell?

The Boss (Morgan Freeman as he is walking towards Slevin): I’m the boss. Slevin (pointing at the bigger and better looking henchman): I thought he was the boss.The Boss: Why, do we look alike?

Slevin: They picked up the wrong guy. The Boss: The wrong guy for what? Slevin: Whatever it is, you want to see me about. The Boss: Do you know what is, what I want to see you about? Slevin: No. The Boss: Then how do you know, I have the wrong guy? Maybe I want to give you a $96.000 dollars. In that case, do I still have the wrong guy? Slevin: Do you want to give me $96.000 dollars? The Boss: No. Do you want to give ME $96.000 dollars? Slevin: No. should I? The Boss: I don’t know, should you?

The Boss to Slevin: “You’re in my pocket and if you don’t do what I want you to do, you’ll go from my pocket to my fridge (whilst looking at the fridge containing his bookie’s dead body)”

Enough said. Just go and watch the movie (or the trailer here)