Reader's Digest of Movies

62. Cliched Romance

2011-03-27T15:45:00.012+05:30

How many times have you seen a film and thought, "Well !!! Please kiss the girl & the get the film over with !"

Romance is so cliched such that we sense whats going to happen next like the long lost lovers re-uniting at the end, friends rallying around to help their friends achieve the impossible or even the most done to death sequence of parents getting convinced at the climax and showing the green signal for their children's love.

So why do we always see these Cliched scenes ??

PLOT : " A man moves into an apartment only to find the previous tenant still there. "

I saw this film without any prejudice because I didn't read any reviews or ratings, I just wanted to see a breezy romantic comedy and ended up with a very pleasant feeling, even though I knew how the film was going to end.

"Just Like Heaven" directed by Mark Waters is one of those films which will make you feel with the characters and root for them, this kind of emotional bonding with the film's characters is not easily achieved.

The film is based on the novel If Only It Were True (Et si c'était vrai...) by Marc Levy, it was adapted on screen by writers Peter Tolan & Leslie Dixon. The screenplay was well written & racy, making it perfect.

Reese Witherspoon & Mark Ruffalo portrayed the roles of a doctor and a lonely architect to perfection.

Mark Ruffalo was a real find, I have seen his other movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Zodiac, Shutter Island but this was one of his best roles till date. Having seen him in serious type of movies I was completely dumbstruck by the way he pulled of this role, I would love to see him in another romantic comedy.

Reese Witherspoon, my my, she is such a talented actress, I can't find a single fault with her during the film. She carried herself so beautifully.

The chemistry between the lead actors was so sweet that you couldn't resist the charm they brought, their body language, the simple smile to the display of emotions, they were simply adorable, one of the best on-screen pairs I have seen.

Cinematography was another added advantage to the film, Music by Rolfe Kent was another feather in the cap.The director has made use of his team efficiently.

The other cast includes Donal Logue, Jon Heder, Dina Spybey who played their parts really well making full use of their screen time.

The film unravels itself in its own silly, lovable & moving ways, but its the way in which it unraveled itself that made this film such a memorable & sweet one.

There were many cliched scenes in the film, it makes you think that but the fact is we have grown up listening to fairy tales of how the knight comes, rescues the beautifully damsel in distress, how they fall in love & live happily ever after.

But the real truth is that the words "Once upon a time" & "they lived happily ever after" brings about a smile in us even today.

So tell me, do you hate these Cliched Romances ???

Director : Mark Waters

Writers : Peter Tolan & Leslie Dixon (screenplay), Marc Levy (novel)

Cast : Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo , Donal Logue , Dina Waters , Jon Heder

Rating : "PG" for some sexual content.

P.S : " The producers bought the rights to the novel without having read the original French book after receiving a proposal with a rough outline of the story. "

61. Teenage LOVE

2011-03-16T17:15:00.006+05:30

We fall in love in various stages of our life, right from childhood to old age but all the love we encounter on our way have different meanings to them.Some last some days, some weeks whilst some are etched on our memory throughout our life.

Teenage is that kind of age where only a thin line separates the right from the wrong. Friends, family, relations get defined which shape up our lives, LOVE during Teenage is one such instance that becomes a nostalgic parts of our lives that brings about a smile even today.

PLOT : "A teenage boy and girl describe their love for each other in their own perspective. "

This film has entered my list as one of the sweetest love stories I have ever seen, I have seen the movie many times since the last 3 months, such was the sweetness in the film. The scenes, settings, characters have all brought about a magical combination called "FEEL-GOOD FILM".

"FLIPPED" is directed by Rob Reiner, his other movies includes When Harry Met Sally..., and A Few Good Men. Although this film was adapted from a successful novel, its not easy to reproduce the same in a movie and the director has pulled this off with his magical touch.

The screenplay was written by Rob Reiner along with Andrew Scheinman, never did the movie lose its pace, full credits to them both for this feat.

Casting was simply superb, all the characters in the film who had meaty roles to minor roles pulled it off charmingly, you can't resist to playback some of the reactions of certain characters.

Callan McAuliffe as Bryce Loski and Madeline Carroll as Julianna "Juli" Baker are so very talented, I would love to see them in a full fledged romantic comedy when they grow up.

These two characters were the crux of the film and they did justice to it or should I say lived their roles to perfection, the subtle reactions, teenage crushed were evident in their roles. Their roles were sensible and effective.

The story moved in a he says she says pattern, this kind of story telling needed synchronized cuts, Editing by Robert Leighton, who is regular in Rob Reiner's films has not let the director down. His experienced work is profound and never lacks the punch.

As I already described, the settings of 1960s American suburbs were achieved well. Cinematography Thomas Del Ruth has made sure that everything had the right tone to it

Rob Reiner's another regular technician in the movie was Marc Shaiman who has scored the music for the film, his contribution is evident in the film's trailer itself.

The way the movie had played itself was so very beautiful that I can't stop admiring the various talents involved in the film-making process to bring out this feel. The family fights, the jealousy, hardships in the family are portrayed in a very appealing manner.

I never got the feeling that this story could happen only in foreign countries, the problems & the issues that cropped up in the movie gives the nostalgic feeling that this had happened sometime back in our lives.

Looking back at those scenes there is simply no denying the fact that the memories of LOVE we see in teenage will last forever.

Director : Rob Reiner

Writers : Rob Reiner & Andrew Scheinman (screenplay), Wendelin Van Draanen (novel)

Cast : Madeline Carroll, Callan McAuliffe, Rebecca De Mornay, Anthony Edwards, John Mahoney, Penelope Ann Miller, Aidan Quinn, Morgan Lily, Ryan Ketzner

Rating : "U"

P.S : "In the novel, the story is set in the early 2000s. The movie shows it set in the early 1960s."

60. Timeless Classics

2010-12-21T16:40:00.007+05:30

TIMELESS - without a beginning or end, eternal, everlasting.

Only a few movies earn the tag "CLASSICS" & only a handful of those films become "TIMELESS CLASSICS".These films even after decades will still bring about the same nostalgic sensation with the latter generation, such is the impact of these well crafted masterpieces.

At the same time movies will always be movies irrespective of the language they are made, the feelings, pain, sufferings get etched out so well that language is never seen as a barrier.

As the saying goes "MUSIC & MOVIES TRANSCEND ALL BARRIERS".

PLOT : " The film tells the parallel love stories of a mother and daughter. "

Kwak Jae-yong & Alejandro Amenábar are my favorite directors, their films serve as an inspiration for me & many alike throughout the world.

And this korean film "The Classic" directed by Kwak Jae-yong is my all time favorite movie, having seen so many movies of various genres I had never felt so much for the lead characters in a movie.

Everything about the movie was captured so well, Kudos to the director for utilizing the potential of his team so beautifully.

The script was also written by Kwak Jae-yong, he has effectively brought out the love stories of both the mom & daughter in a very well crafted manner such that the parallel timelines never serve as an hindrance.

One of the most persistent characteristics in Kwak Jae-yong's movies is his sense of comedy, "My Sassy Girl" is a testament to that, here too that part is handled very well along with his trademark love scenes between the lead characters.

Music as always been a major plus in all of Yong's movies, it gels so well with the flow of the film that it elevates the movie to a whole new level, the background score & music by Jo Yeong-wook here is also very haunting & soothing.The music in the trailer will serve as an example for the excellent musical score.

The lead characters have just grabbed the opportunities presented to them, Son Ye-jin as the mom & mother was simply outstanding, she pulled off both the roles with panache & she was very very gorgeous.

Jo Seung-woo ,Lee Ki-woo & Jo In-seong too were a treat to watch especially the former for his role as the lover torn between friendship & love was so very well portrayed & enacted.

Cinematography by Lee Joon-kyoo has captured the two timelines in the movie with perfection adding authentic backdrop so convincingly.

Editing by Kim Sang-beom & Kim Jae-beom were crucial to maintain the flow & feel of the movie & the both have done it superbly.

Great are films that immerses the viewers in a fictional world where they feel & relate with fictional characters, this is one such film even with its cliches & slow pace immersed me into its world of love & drama.

This film is one of the finest products of cinema that will surely have an everlasting appeal, it has something for everyone, from youngsters to parents to grand-parents.

Director : Jae-young Kwak

Writer : Jae-young Kwak

Cast : Ye-jin Son , Seung-woo Cho , In-seong Jo , Ki-woo Lee

Rating : "PG" for some brief scenes of nudity.

P.S : " Kwak Jae-yong is known for his limitless fondness of love stories set in a mix of different genres. "

59. Promoting Violence

2010-12-05T01:11:00.006+05:30

I was very particular about the movies I post on my blog, I also never wanted to criticize any movie however bad it might be but this time am taking an exception & I really do hope so that the exception ends with this movie.

"All of life's riddles are answered in the movies", this is my view about cinema.People flock to theaters to spend time away from the lives & surrender themselves to the movie maker & enter a fictional world of the director.

Why do people do this ???
Well, everyone has their own set of problems & people tend to relate themselves to the hero on-screen with themselves, when the hero is down & out we feel an urge for the hero to defeat the villain & come out victorious.

Kids, youngsters & adults alike even consider heroes as demi-gods and try imitating what their idols do on-screen & alarmingly the negative aspects are imitated more like SMOKING, DRINKING & most importantly VIOLENCE.

PLOT : " The film is based on the life of Paritala Ravindra and that of his rival Suri. "

Ratha Sarithiram is directed by Ram Gopal Varma.The film features Vivek Oberoi as Ravindra in the lead role, whilst Suriya as Suri.

The promos of the film were quoting the lines from Mahabharata which goes like "REVENGE IS THE PUREST EMOTION", the lines are justifiable but the entire film was less of revenge and was more on violence.

To put it in simple words, this film glorified violent retribution.All the characters spoke only about retribution or justifying it, even the woman characters in the film were supporting this cause which was something very hard to digest.

The screenplay of the movie had little do with the actual revenge saga, even the new characters that appeared in the movie were vying for retribution.

The violent showdown between the rivals were even glorified by showing them in slow motion & the film for the most part was in slow motion.

There are numerous films which have been based on the concepts of Mahabharata but each had their own ways of expressing their emotions but in this film the only way in which emotions were shown are of violence, violence & more violence.

Even some of the gory fight scenes of Suriya was encouraged by some of his loyal fans, this is what I was mentioning about people considering their heroes as demi-gods.I feel so sorry for these kinda encouragements, the heroes should be more responsible on what they portray.

The only consolation from this film was of the acting of Suriya & of his counter part Vivek Oberoi who gave a power packed performance.

Cinema is a medium in which certain aspects of our lives cannot be portrayed, Cinema has enlightened the minds of millions around the world with its depictions of real life events but at the same time certain elements cannot be glorified.

Even terrorists have their own causes to fight but we can't glorify the violent methods they adopt, "VIOLENCE IS ALREADY PROFOUND IN OUR SOCIETY & FILMS SHOULDN'T JUSTIFY IT".

Director : Ram Gopal Varma

Writer : Prashant Pandey

Cast : Vivek Oberoi , Suriya , Shatrughan Sinha , Kota Srinivasa Rao , Sudeep , Priyamani

Rating : "A+" definitely not for kids & women.

P.S : " The film was actually made in two parts in Hindi & Telugu but was released in Tamil as a single part. "

58. Coming of Age : "GIRLS"

2010-11-20T18:22:00.006+05:30

Coming of age is that part of our life ,that part of our life where there is just only a thin line that separates the right from the wrong & the wrong from the right.

There is also this argument of GIRLS being discriminated & being sidelined while BOYS enjoy all the liberties ,well that is a point well said & that is very agreeable.

Alas ,its human nature to commit mistakes especially during the twilight period in our lives called "Coming of Age" but what happens then ???

BOYS : "Well, BOYS will always be BOYS, they will charm, mesmerize, seduce & there are many who UTILIZE(Hope you GIRLS understand the meaning of utilize)"

GIRLS : "Well, GIRLS never LEARN, they get charmed, mesmerized, seduced & in many cases are USED"

PLOT : " A coming of age story of a school going girl."

As i was watching this film a lot of questions went through my mind whilst watching this film, "An Education".Lone Scherfig has directed this beautifully film ,she has raised enough issues such that even after watching it you will be left pondering.

The movie is based on British journalist Lynn Barber's memoir of the same name ,Nick Hornby has adapted this into a well focused screenplay that moves along effectively with a well directed message being shared.

The cast was simply amazing, Carey Mulligan was nominated for an oscar for best actress for her role, well after watching her performance i full endorse the nomination she received.Her role of a school going girl was very very very believable ,she looked so young & vulnerable ,i was shocked when i looked up her real age.

The rest of the cast includes Peter Sarsgaard, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Emma Thompson ,Olivia Williams, Alfred Molina & Cara Seymour.All of them had their roles well defined, some characters had just minutes of screen space which was very well characterized ,this is a testament to the role of a writer.

Cinematography by John de Borman provides the look of 1960s London in a very authentic manner ,editing by Barney Pilling also adds strength to the movie.

The progression of the film is simple & at the same time very compelling, the way how a school girl reacts to the situations like in the film is so relatable to the issues of today ,the role & importance of parents also comes into scrutiny.

Overall this film works on many levels like the importance of education, coming of age, value of parental guidance & the like.Even though films like these have been part and parcel of cinema, the journey of the school going girl in this film stands stall & will surely serve an enlightening message across.

"EVE WAS CHARMED BY THE SNAKE TO EAT THE APPLE, WHOSE FAULT WAS IT,

WAS IT THE FAULT OF THE SNAKE THAT BEWITCHED EVE ???

OR

WAS IT THE FAULT OF EVE IN ALLOWING HERSELF TO BE BEWITCHED BY THE SNAKE ???"

Director : Lone Scherfig

Writer : Lynn Barber (memoir), Nick Hornby (screenplay)

Cast : Carey Mulligan , Peter Sarsgaard , Alfred Molina , Cara Seymour , Dominic Cooper , Rosamund Pike , Olivia Williams , Emma Thompson

Rating : "PG" for underage smoking & some sexual content.

P.S : " The creative team were initially worried about casting the 24 year old Carey Mulligan in the role of a 16 year old, but were convinced by her screen test. Rosamund Pike reportedly really wanted the small part of Helen, because "no one ever lets me be funny "

57. Friends to Foes

2010-11-16T19:06:00.007+05:30

There is always a stage in life where we reach the crossroads in relationships ,whatever it may be ,friendship or love.

Sometimes or should i say that most times these crossroads change the entire course of our life ,what does happen to us during this transition ??

Our careers might shape up better or vice versa !
Get into a beautiful relationship or vice versa !
Or
We might end up losing our friends or worse is that when these friends become foes !!!

PLOT : " A story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook. "

The hype surrounding this movie "The Social Network"was very justifiable ,recently all the hype surrounding a movie ends up inversely proportional to the film's reception but i'm so glad that for once the hype was worth it.

I was always in doubt as to how could the story of Facebook be conceived into a movie & my curiosity even more increased after watching the rave reviews this film got.So with a bit of hesitation i watched this film.

This film blew me away right from the very first scene ,never for once during its runtime of 12o odd mins the audience felt restless.Thats some commendable work ,i still can't get this movie out of my head.

Directed by David Fincher of Fight Club (1999) fame ,the film stands tall among all the movies released this year.The director has utilized the fame of Facebook to the film's advantage and boy it worked out perfectly !!

Of late there are lot of movies adapted from books ,Aaron Sorkin adapted the screenplay from Ben Mezrich's nonfiction book The Accidental Billionaires.

Its easier to read a book but to adapt it to a screenplay is a different matter altogether ,here the adaptation has worked really well ,an oscar for this would be well deserved.

Casting of the lead actors too worked out really well ,Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg gave a stellar performance ,he was very believable as a computer nerd ,a drunkard ,a Harvard University dropout & a hotshot young billionaire.

Taking no credits away ,the supporting cast of Andrew Garfield & Justin Timberlake were on par.The former we know as as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the franchise's 2012 reboot & the latter is a international pop star.

The other cast of Rooney Mara ,Armie Hammer ,Max Minghella were also equally impressive ,it was an all round team effort that has given the film the critical acclaim it has achieved.

The nonlinear narrative pattern adapted for the screenplay was well put together by editor Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall ,the pace of the film never had a dull moment.

The film effectively brought out the foundation stages of Facebook ,the numerous law suits & its background.But for me this movie not only brought out the rise of a internet giant but also excellently demonstrated the crossroads of life where one is forced to take certain decisions.

Friendship ,its value ,its capability ,its downfall & its hardships are persistent throughout the film ,this film also brings to my mind a famous quote ,
“Your closest friend can be your weakness, power, or, in some cases, your worst enemy.”

Director : David Fincher

Writers : Aaron Sorkin (screenplay), Ben Mezrich (book)

Cast : Jesse Eisenberg , Andrew Garfield , Justin Timberlake , Rooney Mara , Armie Hammer , Max Minghella

Rating : "PG" for brief sexual content & drug use.

P.S : " Jesse Eisenberg's cousin works for Facebook, apparently near the real Mark Zuckerberg. "

56. LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND

2010-10-26T14:44:00.004+05:30

WAR for a common man is something that he/she gets to read in a newspaper every morning over their cup of tea/coffee.

WAR for a politician is nothing but to formulate a new domestic or foreign policy.

But what is WAR to the actual soldiers who are involved in it ???

Do they fight for a cause or do they die in vain ???

PLOT : " The film depicts the Battle of Mogadishu ,a raid by the United States' effort to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid "

Black Hawk Down is based on the book of the same title by Mark Bowden ,there are some critizations from various quarters that the depiction of the battle was more biased towards only the sufferings & hardships that the US troops faced.

But whatever might be the case the audience will never forget the fact that whatever country the troops represented they had fought not for their country but for the man standing next to him.

Ridley Scott ,the man who gave us the epic "Gladiator (2000)" delivers another masterpiece.His directional skills are evident throughout the film that runs for over 2 hours ,the film never ceases to amaze the audience on the issue at hand.

Screenplay by Ken Nolan is very racy & at the same time provides enough characterizations for the numerous characters in the film ,we could easily relate to the emotional bond that each soldier has for his fellow comrade.

Casting for the film is done really well ,with an ensemble cast of actors the film makers had a huge burden to take care ,the burden is to give the actors enough screen space & i should hand it out to them for executing this work with flair.

Each & every cast had their task cut out for them which they had lapped up superbly ,their acting was seen as a healthy competition that at the end proved to work for the benefit of the film.

Cinematography by Sławomir Idziak was something that greatly helped in the depiction of the battle sequences ,the color tone used ably pointed out the hardships faced by the soldiers.

This film won the oscar for best editing by Pietro Scalia ,why am i not surprised.The editor held the tension level of the film together right from the first shot ,the plot flows well & is never let to loose focus.

If you have a home theatre then this surely is a film to showcase your audio setup ,the oscar winning sound for the film is evident with the various gun shots ,missiles & swirling helicopters.

The background score by Hans Zimmer & Denez Prigent is another feather in the cap for the entire team ,it captures the essence of the backdrop & couples it efficiently with the various emotional moments.

I liked the way the movie was presented ,it never questions the politics behind the battle but focuses sorely on the actual ground realities where every soldier is fighting for himself.

A conversation in the film goes like this "Once that first bullet goes past your head, politics and all that shit just goes right out the window."

These lines hold true to those soldiers who risk their lives for their fellow comrades who stand by their oath to "LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND".

Director : Ridley Scott

Writers : Mark Bowden (book), Ken Nolan (screenplay)

Cast : Josh Hartnett , Ewan McGregor , Tom Sizemore , Eric Bana , William Fichtner , Ewen Bremner , Sam Shepard , Ron Eldard

Rating : "A" for intense war violence.

P.S : " 18 US soldiers died in the incident depicted in the film. The number of Somalis who died during the battle has been estimated between 500 and 2,000. "

55. Book to Screen

2010-10-20T19:50:00.007+05:30

How often have we seen a famous novel being butchered when adapted to a full length motion picture ????

Then are comes a glimpse of hope that these adaptions sometimes do serve their purpose ,many novels have become international sensations when they are made into movies.Most times the movie doesn't follow the book faithfully but takes some cinematic liberties which enhances or spoils the essence of the book.

And its the latter that prevails in most of the adaptations.

PLOT : " A woman's quest to restore the memories of her amnesiac husband who doesn't even remember being married. "

It was said that this novel was impossible to translate to a full length movie so to the creators made some changes to the script & dare i say that they have done an amazing job of it.

Random Harvest is a 1942 film based on the 1941 James Hilton novel of the same name ,the novel follows the life of a war veteran who looses his memory ,falls in love & again regains his older memories only to loose all his recent memories.

It then becomes a quest for his wife to make him regain his memory.I was fully engrossed in this film from the start till its gripping end even though i knew the plot before ,its the treatment meted out to the screenplay that has made this possible.

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy with screenplay by Claudine West, George Froeschel and Arthur Wimperis ,this movie stands testimonial to quality writers resourcefulness & a director's magic touch.

"Old is Gold" ,this stands true to yesteryear classics that still looks fresh even after decades.These kind of films makes me even a stauncher believer that its the scripts that are always evergreen.

Taking no credit away from the two lead actors of Ronald Colman & Greer Garson who have should i say made hay with their meaty roles.

Greer Garson ,WOW i still could remember those mesmerizing eyes ,she was outstanding in her role of a lover torn between two lives ,her stunning beauty was ever so visible even though the film being in Black & White.

Ronald Colman was not far behind ,his performance of an amnesiac patient is something to look out for ,his attitude ,his expressions during various stages of the film was very convincing.

This film is also one of the rare cases when a single film sweeps the awards ,it deserved each & everyone of the seven oscar awards it won.

Books & Movies are a great source of information & inspiration but when these two work hand in hand then we sure are provided with a dazzling spectacle.

Random Harvest surely is an evidence of it ,the adaptation of a Book to Screen coupled with creative & quality writing is sure to weave its magic even after decades.

Director : Mervyn LeRoy

Writers : James Hilton (Novel) ,Claudine West , George Froeschel , Arthur Wimperis

Cast : Ronald Colman , Greer Garson , Philip Dorn , Susan Peters

Rating : "U"

P.S : " Greer Garson , whose performance was well-received, was ineligible for the Academy Award for Best Actress, as she had already been nominated that year for her role in Mrs. Miniver which earned her an oscar. "

54. Journey Called Life !!

2010-10-12T15:29:00.009+05:30

More often than not we have the tendency to complain about everything or most things life throws at us.Whatever it might be , for example a promotion is a moment of joy but as time goes on we curse the grueling shifts & wonder as to why life's treating us so badly.

Is this how we behave ,are we all the same ????

Do we overlook what life has given us all the time for the things we don't have ????

PLOT : " The chronicles of the life of Forrest Gump. "

" The World will never be the same once you've seen it through the eyes of Forrest Gump "

The above tagline was used for the movie's promotion ,these lines i should say were coined for perfectly that gelled very well with the film.

Forrest Gump is a 1994 film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom ,the film is said to have to have many differences to the novel but this was one such film which truly captivated me such that thought of reading the novel has never yet occurred to me.

The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis who is well known as the director of the time-travel Back to the Future movie series.He has provided us with one of the beautiful works of the 20th century that will stand testament to the genre of drama.

Screenplay by Eric Roth whose works speaks about his talents is well remembered for this film because of the emotional content which the movie sustained from the very start to very end.

This film is one of the many films which made Tom Hanks as a household name ,the title role of Forrest Gump enacted by him is & will be one of cinema's memorable role.He literally carried the entire movie that fetched him the oscar for best actor.

The other cast of Robin Wright Penn ,Gary Sinise ,Mykelti Williamson and Sally Field blended into their roles perfectly ,all of them added their contribution or should i say made the film a classic.

Music by Alan Silvestri added further strength to the emotional drama producing the right chord at the right times.

For a film with a duration of 140 odd minutes it was very essential that the plot never lost focus ,editing by Arthur Schmidt ensured that the movie's pace held the audience's attention.

Cinematography Don Burgess was a perfect sync with the various timelines that the movie progressed ,the director had effectively used his team to bring out the best out of them.

Looking at the various stages of life of Forrest Gump its very easy to relate to our daily lives where we meet people who do things which are so called impossible ,these people overcome their hardships and look at the millions of things life has offered to them.

These are the people who teach us that life is not about what we have its about what we make out of it ,everyone doesn't have everything ,there's always somethings life will never give us for free.

Director : Robert Zemeckis

Writer : Winston Groom (novel), Eric Roth (screenplay)

Cast : Tom Hanks , Gary Sinise , Mykelti Williamson , Sally Field , Robin Wright

Rating : "PG" for war violence.

P.S : " Bill Murray, John Travolta and Chevy Chase turned down the role of Forrest Gump. "

53. Death Penalty

2010-09-20T13:53:00.005+05:30

There are many countries in the world who have abolished death penalty & there are even more associations who rally for the cause to abolish it in India but what effect will this bring about in the mindset of criminals ?????

Will you be able to digest the fact that a notorious criminal will be able to save his skin from the clutches of justice ???

Will you feel safe if all these butchers are set free to roam around in jail where they might tutor & breed even more criminals ????

Will a person feel vindicated to see the life of the criminal who tortured to death his loved one just end in a few seconds by hanging ????

PLOT : " A legal counselor tries to pen down a novel about a case of rape & murder that took place 25 years before. "

"El secreto de sus ojos" aka "The Secret in Their Eyes" is a spanish film that won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards.The interest to watch the film became even more after watching its trailer.

I still can't stop thinking about the film ,such was the subtle impact the film had over me.The film faithfully follows the life of a legal counselor who tries to unravel the case of a brutal rape & murder of a newly wed wife ,his hesitations in expressing his love for his senior counselor & the trauma faced by the husband who had lost his lovely wife.

Directed by Juan José Campanella ,based on Eduardo Sacheri's novel La Pregunta de Sus Ojos (The Question in Their Eyes).Its a crime thriller set in the backdrop of 1974 Argentina ,the film also portrays the unstable nature of the judicial system where criminals are let scot free.

The flow of the film was never disturbed at any part during its running time of 2 hours ,the director maintained the pace of it beautifully.The characters in the film were all very realistic & hard-hitting.

Ricardo Darín as the counselor ,Soledad Villamil his love interest & senior counselor ,Guillermo Francella his assistant ,Pablo Rago as the husband & the accused as Javier Godino gave outstanding performances.

Cinematography Félix Monti of 1970s Argentina was very justifiable ,the colour tones used helped as it went well with the film ,it gave a serious & a more concerned look for it.

Juan José Campanella also took care of the editing ,his dedication to the film is evident as the plot never looses its rhythm.By the time the film gets over the audience will be left pondering over & over.

I have never read this novel yet but seeing the way the movie had come out i would certainly love to give this a read.

The sufferings of the husband & his desperation in finding out the one who had taken the life of the person he loved most was very moving.The justice he seeks out for the horrific murder was definitely right ,we cant let criminals like those suffer a quick death.

After all death penalty is awarded to serve as warning but what use is it if its carried in a simple manner ,its only justifiable if similar gruesome treatment is meted out to the criminals who carry out heinous crimes.We cant bring back the dead but we can however make an example out of these criminals so that it serves as a stern warning for those who think they can get away with anything.

Director : Juan José Campanella

Writers : Juan José Campanella(screenplay) , Eduardo Sacheri(novel)

Cast : Ricardo Darín , Soledad Villamil , Pablo Rago , Guillermo Francella , Javier Godino

Rating : "A" for nudity & violent images.

P.S : " As of 2009 it is Argentina's most viewed cinema movie since 1983, with nearly 3 million viewers.
This is the second movie directed by Juan José Campanella to receive an Oscar nomination. The first one was Son of the Bride (2001). "

52. Rules of Attraction

2010-09-07T14:18:00.010+05:30

How do we judge a person ???
It differs from people to people as to how they evaluate a person ,some look for a person's character ,some for skills ,some at their background & the like.

How does one fall in love ?? Even to be specific ,What are the Rules of Attraction ??
Likewise ,this also differs from people to people ,some get attracted by the person's skills ,some by their charm ,some by companionship they provide & most get attracted by the person's LOOKS.

So the X factor in getting attracted is a person's LOOKS ???

PLOT : " A very handsome & rich man's life is turned upside down when a car accident severely disfigures his face. "

"Open Your Eyes" aka "Abre los ojos" is a spanish film written & directed by Alejandro Amenábar ,who is one of my favorite & inspiring directors.He is also critically acclaimed for many of his works which include The Others & three other spanish films of which one earned him an oscar.

I got completely immersed in the movie from the start ,all in all expected a drama kinda film but was bowled over by the sheer talent of the director who had orchestrated such a emotional & compelling film.

The way the director had handled the movie is something which movie makers off late seem to get inspired from ,after watching the movie you would pretty sure know where Christopher Nolan got his ideas for Inception.

Apart from directing & writing the script ,Alejandro has also handled the music along with Mariano Marín.The music was set in tune with the flow of the film which thereby raised the emotional content.

The cast are Eduardo Noriega ,Penélope Cruz ,Chete Lera ,Najwa Nimri & Fele Martínez.All of these actors had their roles perfectly fitted & had ample scope for performance.They all put stellar performances & justified their selections.

Camera work was mesmerizing in this film which is to be expected from Alejandro whose has a penchant for it.All his movies come with beautiful cinematography that enhances the viewing pleasure.

The role of Eduardo Noriega as a disfigured man was a neat performance by the actor ,giving him company or should i say his competition were his four co-stars ,for the entire film was centered around these five people.

Handling such an intricate theme was always going to be risky & complicated but the director has simply showed his class by outfoxing the audience till the very end.

Mind you ,this film grows on you slowly & finally leaves you with a feeling of awe.The screenplay kind of confuses you here & there with its flashbacks ,however you will understand their relevance thereafter.

The trauma faced by the lead actor is something that which happens in our society ,how people are avoided or grouped as untouchables ,ugly or allergic.It rarely occurs to those who have the luxury of beautiful looks that life is unpredictable & we might also be outcasts one day.

There are people who have a blind notion that looks are the X factor to be attractive but there is more to it than it meets the eye.

Director : Alejandro Amenábar

Writer : Alejandro Amenábar

Cast : Eduardo Noriega ,Penélope Cruz ,Chete Lera ,Fele Martínez ,Najwa Nimri

Rating : "A" for sexual content.

P.S : " Director Cameron Crowe remade the film as Vanilla Sky , with Tom Cruise , Penélope Cruz reprising her role as Sofia, Cameron Diaz , Jason Lee as the friend and Kurt Russell. "

51. Price of Oil !!

2010-08-31T16:32:00.007+05:30

Long gone are the days when wars were fought for PRIDE ,HONOR ,LAND ,WEALTH & EVEN WOMEN ,these days the war that is fought is more or less focussed on a commodity called "OIL" which virtually runs our entire planet.

Obviously such a needed commodity has a price but its not the monetary price alone that needs to be looked at but also the human price thats paid.

People always look at the middle east an an unstable region with the stable countries heavily relying on its western counterparts to take care of their security alas there is one point which never makes sense at all ,why are the richest Arabic countries armies dependent on a foreign entity for its security ,are they not able to form an army or are they forbid from maintaining one ???

PLOT : " A political saga that throws light on the politics behind the shady PETROLEUM POLITICS. "

A WARNING TO ALL THOSE WHO EXPECT POPCORN TYPE ENTERTAINMENT ,THIS FILM IS DEFINITELY NOT SUITED FOR THOSE KIND OF AUDIENCE.

True to the above spoiler ,Syriana is one of those films focussed on the oil crisis in the middle east however this is not another run of the mill story of action & drama ,this film will certainly enlighten those unaware of PETROLEUM POLITICS.

Written & directed by Stephen Gaghan of Traffic fame ,the film operates on multiple ,parallel storylines that has the audience hooked from the very beginning ,you need to have sincere attention to comprehend the happenings on screen.

With an ensemble cast its easy to loose focus but Stephen Gaghan has just proved otherwise ,i like the working pattern of hollywood stars who have no qualms in multiple starrers unlike their Indian counterparts especially in South Indian film industry.

Casting of George Clooney ,Matt Damon ,Jeffrey Wright ,Amr Waked ,Chris Cooper ,Amanda Peet ,William Hurt ,Christopher Plummer ,Tim Blake Nelson ,Alexander Siddig ,Mazhar Munir was one of the best assembled cast.

Each & every cast had a role to play which in itself was not easy considering the depth of each character in the film ,they had definitely done their homework to ensure justice to the screenplay.

I especially loved the roles of George Clooney ,Matt Damon ,Alexander Siddig & Jeffrey Wright ,do watchout for them for its so memorable to see them perform in the various roles ranging from a secret agent ,to a Prince who is willing to take extra effort to make his country a prosperous one.

Music by Alexandre Desplat provides the film with an ample dosage of whats required during the various pressure points in the film ,the authentic feel of middle was also a treat to hear.

For a film on such a complicated backdrop the editing work by Tim Squyres stands out ,the audience are lead on the right track from the very beginning & are able to feel with the characters.

Political dramas based on real incidents offer the audience to look at things in different perspectives & enable them to understand the real happenings in the world today but its a sad fact that most films in this genre especially in our country face opposition from political parties who are entangled in the many scams.

Syriana only provides glimpses on the happenings behind the shady mergers ,assassinations & many terrorist attacks taking place due to OIL ,these all just form a small percentage of whats a much larger conspiracy thats happening so that we don't come to know the true PRICE WE PAY FOR OIL !!!

Director : Stephen Gaghan

Writers : Stephen Gaghan(Screenplay) , Robert Baer(Book)

Cast : George Clooney ,Amr Waked ,Christopher Plummer ,Jeffrey Wright ,Chris Cooper ,Matt Damon ,Amanda Peet ,Alexander Siddig ,Tim Blake Nelson ,William Hurt ,Mazhar Munir

Rating : "PG" for some scenes of violence & language.

P.S : " Syriana is a term used by Washington think-tanks to describe a hypothetical re-shaping of the Middle East.
Harrison Ford was the original choice to play role which eventually went to George Clooney,but he turned it down. He later told a magazine that is one of the few movie career decisions that he has regretted."

50. Leader or Politician ???

2010-08-16T23:00:00.011+05:30

Lets take a look at the definitions for a Politician & a Leader ...

Politician - A politician or political leader is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making. This includes people who hold decision-making positions in government, and people who seek those positions, whether by means of election, coup d'état, appointment, electoral fraud, conquest, right of inheritance or other means.

Leader - Leadership is stated as the "process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task."

Gandhi is an example for a Politician & Netaji Subash Chandra Bose is an example for a Leader ,so given an option to be anyone of these two people ,who would you choose to be ???,

A Politician called Gandhi who butchered the Indian nation using his policy of DIVIDE & RULE or to be the charismatic Leader namely Netaji Subash Chandra Bose who fought for the cause of a unified nation ?????

PLOT : " A reluctant son of an assassinated politician takes up his father's role as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh only to learn that he cannot be a Leader & a Politician at the same time. "

Since this was my 50th post i was just pondering for a looong time as to what movie should i be writing on ,there are lots & lots of great movies i still need to write on but when coming to this post i was left searching ,all my of search did not end in vain for i just found the apt movie.

Leader written and directed by Sekhar Kammula just swept me off my feet ,out of all commercial films about politics & its backdrop ,this film brings about an enlightening portrayal about our paralyzed system called Democracy.

The director has touched upon many issues in the film that depicts the sorry state of affairs thats happening in our country.Kudos Sir ,you have done justice to the genre of Political drama.

Lead role by debutant Rana Daggubati was simply superb ,its a dream launch pad for the tall & handsome hunk who has what it takes to make it big in films.I was so very impressed with his attitude & body language ,hoping he does more meaningful films rather than take the commercial route.

The rest of the cast includes debutant Richa Gangopadhyay ,Priya Anand ,Suhasini Mani Ratnam ,Harsha Vardan & other prominent actors ,after a long time i has seen so many actress given pivotal roles in one film.

Richa Gangopadhyay ,Priya Anand & Suhasini Mani Ratnam were splendid in their performances ,debutant or experienced didnt matter ,they all utilized their meaty roles effectively ,its something which has proved be a major advantage for the film.

Music by Mickey J Meyer was very potent especially in the background score ,the songs & the background score gelled well with the flow of the film ,never hampering its progress.

Cinematography by Vijay C. Kumar & editing by Marthand K Venkatesh were crisp & racy ,its a team effort that was able to pull this film off so convincingly.

The lead role's dilemma to be a Politician or a Leader was well etched out by the director ,at times we see glimpses in the film of how even a honest bureaucrat turns rogue thanks to our pathetic system of democracy.

Hope is one thing that people expect for in this corrupt world but all this hope will be only in vain unless something is done about the the way we let ourselves be governed ,we don't need people with election manifestos & false promises ,we need an able person ready to come down to the needy ,work with them ,share their pains & give them hope ,so what do we need a LEADER or a POLITICIAN ???

"Its Better That Power Lies in One Capable Person Rather than Distributing it Between Fools."

Director : Sekhar Kammula

Writer : Sekhar Kammula

Cast : Rana Daggubati , Richa Gangopadhyay , Priya Anand , Suhasini Mani Ratnam , Harsha Vardan

Rating : "U"

P.S : " Rana Daggubati is the nephew of actor Venkatesh.He is also the nephew of Nagarjuna Akkineni, and his cousin is also a movie star known as Naga Chaitanya. "

49. Assassinations

2010-08-08T15:44:00.004+05:30

We are very familiar with the word "ASSASSINS" as many historical & legendary figures were killed by them but more often we overlook certain facts & events that lead up to an assassination.

Like everyone knows Nathuram Godse assassinated Gandhi yet not many know the motives behind this assassination ,is Godse a terrorist or religious fanatic or an assassin ???

For me ,Godse was the single most important person who cleansed India of the virus named Gandhi ,If you call Godse a murderer then what do you call Gandhi who single handedly was responsible for the massacre of lakhs of Hindus & Muslims due to the Partition of India.

If you still support Gandhi's views then read this here & Godse's speech here.

PLOT : " The film chronicles the events plotted by German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and to use the Operation Valkyrie national emergency plan to take control of the country."

I was initially hesitant to watch the film because of my preconceived notion that this film would be a drama & i was in no mood to watch a drama film that day but all of that notion vanished when i watched the trailer.

I was so crossed with myself once the movie got over.Damn !! How did i miss this film in the theatres ,the pace of the film was so very gripping that we are never made to loose focus at any point in the film.

Directed by Bryan Singer of "X-Men" fame ,the film transports the viewer to 1944 Germany in an authentic way ,the properties ,the gadgets & the planes all gave & enhanced the 1940s feel to the film.

Even though the film was based on actual events its upto the writers to present it in an appealing way & writers Christopher McQuarrie & Nathan Alexander have provided the director with the right kind of script that has the essential dosage of drama ,action & thrills.

The script is the major player here ,i still cant think of a single scene that affected the flow of the film.The actors gelled with the script enabling the viewers to feel the emotional moments that they go through.

Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg has given a stellar performance which serves as the crux of the film ,even his uncanny resemblance to the real Stauffenberg was an added plus.

The rest of the cast includes Kenneth Branagh ,Bill Nighy ,Carice van Houten ,Eddie Izzard ,Terence Stamp ,Tom Wilkinson & Thomas Kretschmann who were all splendid in the roles they enacted.

I have missed out many characters here but full credits to all the cast who have brought out a thrilling movie ,the film still holds its sway on the audience in spite of these many characters .

All the credits go to the director & writers for achieving this distinction ,all in all the movie serves as a testimony to the valiant efforts of the German army officers who risked the lives of themselves & their family.

Assassinations most times change the course of human history but whether the change is for the good or bad depends upon the time of the assassination ,sometimes these assassinations happen a tad late that change the face of a world or country.

But the moral side of the assassinations are never heard or covered up by the respective governments ,as Nathuram Godse said on his final speech on court "My confidence about the moral side of my action has not been shaken even by the criticism levelled against it on all sides. I have no doubt that honest writers of history will weigh my act and find the true value thereof some day in future."

Director : Bryan Singer

Writers : Christopher McQuarrie , Nathan Alexander

Cast : Tom Cruise , Bill Nighy , Kenneth Branagh , Tom Wilkinson , Carice van Houten , Thomas Kretschmann , Terence Stamp

Rating : "PG" for some scenes of violence.

P.S : " Germany has strict laws against displaying the swastika, though artistic displays are specifically exempt. Filmmakers usually use incorrect swastikas to avoid causing public outrage. The producer wanted swastikas for authenticity, so the crew posted warnings around the filming locations. Still, a local resident filed an official complaint with the city, who pressed charges against the owners of some filming sites. "

48. Latter Stages of Life

2010-08-02T20:43:00.006+05:30

What are the things which we all strive for in our Latter Stages of Life ???

A hefty pension every month ?
Happy moments with the entire family ?
Love & affection from the family ?

Plenty of hard earned rest ?

All of the above would suffice but there's one most important thing that stands tall.

Respect ,yes ,its the utmost important thing which makes the Latter Stages of Life a living paradise or a unimaginable hell.

PLOT : " A retired widowed war veteran learns he has more in common with his Hmong American neighbors than his very own estranged family. "

Clint Eastwood ,yeah you heard it right ,a powerhouse performance from one of cinema's living legends ,this is just the third film i had seen in his direction & each time my respect for him increases.

His role as a retired widow war veteran is one of the most memorable characters i have ever seen ,his attitude & body language is something to cherish here.He stands apart in a league of his own with films that have a lasting effect on the viewer.

The director of the film ,Clint Eastwood ,has effectively portrayed the plight of people in their old age especially how it affects them mentally.How a family gets estranged is also neatly captured leaving a sympathetic feel for his character.

There are three other main characters in the film being the neighboring girl played by Ahney Her ,Bee Vang as her younger brother & last but not the least a 1972 Ford Gran Torino.

Ahney Her was a real live wire in her role who coaxes Clint to come out of his shell of hatred & loneliness ,Bee Vang as an innocent fellow seeking the guidance of Clint was also an apt choice for the role with his innocent looks.

The sister & brother combination of Ahney Her & Bee Vang make up an adorable family of Hmong American whose culture & traditions form the crux of the film.

Crux in the sense that these people who respect their elders such that Clint who has an estranged relation with is family starts feel at home with them.

The other cast of Hmong American's along with Christopher Carley form the rest of the cast who essay their roles effectively.

The film showcases the life of people at their old age who are more often than not ignored by their children ,how they are torn apart by their children seeking their property & belongings & the way how their grand children serve to be a bane on their already stressed life.

No matter how our present lives turn up ,its the concluding part of our lives which decide whether our lives were worth treasuring or cursing.Gran Torino gives us glimpses of such moments that form the Latter Stages of Life.

Director : Clint Eastwood

Writers : Dave Johannson(Story) , Nick Schenk(Story & Screenplay)

Cast : Clint Eastwood , Ahney Her , Bee Vang , Christopher Carley

Rating : "PG" for some scenes of violence & strong language.

P.S : " In box office terms, the most successful Clint Eastwood movie ever, both in the U.S. and the U.K, but not with inflation. "

47. A Story about Love

2010-07-24T16:04:00.007+05:30

Love - something that can truly never be explained or can we just say that its something that is never really & clearly understood.

I will obviously go for the latter ,coz these days Love is never truly understood by the generation we live in ,what seems as Love for one might be just a friendly relationship for the other.

And there are others who truly understand that someone's loving them but instead of saying their true intentions ,they just play along with them only resulting in a devastating end for the one who truly is in LOVE.

PLOT : " Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn't. "

A plot doesn't get as simpler as this ,"500 Days of Summer" will be very nostalgic & deeply affecting to those who had been taken for a ride in their life in the name of love.

"How did i miss this film ???" ,this was my first reaction after watching it.This film has all the ingredients for a romantic comedy but what makes it special was its plot & screenplay that blows the concept of romantic comedy out of the water.

Directed by Marc Webb ,who also happens to be the director of of the 2012 Spider-Man reboot ,the film is something which brings a whiff of fresh air to the otherwise redundant movies coming out of hollywood these days.

The scriptwriters Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber have just given the audience a different feel about romantic comedies that leaves something for everyone who enjoy these type of genres ,the disclaimer at the opening of the movie doesn't make sense in the beginning but after the film gets over it makes perfect sense.

The lead pair of Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Zooey Deschanel are simply marvelous ,Joseph as the guy who's waiting for the love of his life & Zooey who doesn't share his views about love ,they are one of the best lead pairs i have ever seen.

The chemistry between these two make up an interesting premises that keeps a tight grip on the screenplay ,the supporting characters of Chloë Moretz ,Geoffrey Arend & Matthew Gray Gubler were too perfectly employed.

The way in which the plot moves back & forth also tends to add strength to the film's narration ,the entire narration takes place within a matter of 500 days which signifies the 500 number in the movie's title.

The director has used his tricks very cleverly ,never revealing the true intentions of the lead pairs until the very end.He has brought out a enticing story about love that's truly lovable & believable.

The ending of a move plays a major role ,whatever may be genre ,the climax plays a crucial part & the audience make up their minds to certain extent regarding how the movie ends but if the filmmaker can truly outfox the audience then it becomes a major advantage that decides the fate of the movie at the box-office.

I truly was truly outfoxed & left with a smile at the end of the movie which is a realistic take of Love ,the boon & bane of it & also how certain people play with others in the name of it.

(500) Days of Summer is one of the best romantic movies to come out of ,be sure not to miss it.This is not a love story.This is a story about love.

Director : Marc Webb

Writers : Scott Neustadter ,Michael H. Weber

Cast : Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Zooey Deschanel , Geoffrey Arend , Chloe Moretz ,Matthew Gray Gubler

Rating : "PG" for some sexual content & language.

P.S : " Co-writer of the film Scott Neustadter admitted the film was based on a real romance. Neustadter explains that when he met the real girl who inspired the character Summer , he was rebounding from a bad breakup back home, and promptly fell "crazily, madly, hopelessly in love" with the girl who "returned his kisses but not his ardor." The ending of the relationship was "painfully and unforgettably awful," which prompted him to co-write the film with Michael H. Weber. "

46. Sci-fi Magic

2010-07-17T02:13:00.006+05:30

Lets see..
Future is something which intrigues us ,Future fascinates us ,it's alluring ,it's a mystery.

All these make for an interesting premises for a movie maker to showcase his vision of the future to the audiences.These sci-fi movies hence sometimes bring out an interesting perspective of our future that works like a magic trick.

A magic trick that leaves the audience in awe of our future.

PLOT : " A skilled thief who steals memories from people during their sleep sets out to do an Inception i.e: to plant a memory into a person during his sleep. "

I'm still yet to overcome the magnitude effect of "Inception" ,such was the scope of the film.The entire film's concept was so vast that it requires constant attention from the viewer from the very beginning till the very end.

Christopher Nolan's Inception was for me like a vast syllabus that had to be finished in a matter of just 3 hours.Imagine reading your entire college syllabus in just 3 hours ,such was the content this movie offered.

Nolan who's a well-acclaimed writer/director delivers a complex & intense film in a grand manner that explores the concepts of our dreams in a most compelling manner ,Hats off to him in bringing out such a concept.

But for all the praises about the film ,there are certain sections of the film which reminds us of cliched scenarios in typical hollywood movies ,i was surprised & disappointed to see this in a Nolan's film.

Casting of Inception includes Ken Watanabe ,Joseph Gordon-Levitt ,Marion Cotillard ,Ellen Page ,Tom Hardy ,Cillian Murphy ,Dileep Rao ,Tom Berenger ,Michael Caine & of course one of favourite actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

DiCaprio was at his usual best ,his role as the extractor who works on people's memory was a very convincing portrayal.He held the major screen space eclipsing all others ,i could go on about the other actors but lets say they were splendid & a treat to watch too.

The special effects here was a major pillar to the mammoth vision of the director ,the entire theater were so pulled onto it the film ,it was like witnessing a magician's trick in a grand scale.

What especially kept the film so hooked was its script ,got to hand to Nolan ,He's one hell of a script writer ,he handles the pressure points of a film really well which earns the appreciation of the audience.

Music by Hans Zimmer was really captivating ,it gelled well with the flow of the film ,the highs ,the lows ,the drama ,the action ,all of it were in a perfect rhythm.

A script so complex was edited by Lee Smith in a alluring manner that kept moving between various scenes in a neat & crisp manner.His collaboration with Nolan has yielded rich dividends in the past ,Inception is sure to be another feather in his cap.

Even though i can go on & on about the film ,i was left high & dry in certain parts of the film.On the whole i was not left disappointed because of the unique & compounding script the film offered.

Nolan is a magician ,a truly gifted one ,regardless of the flaws in the film he still got a standing ovation from the audience for enticing them with a riveting concept & screenplay which was truly Sci-fi Magic.

Director : Christopher Nolan

Writer : Christopher Nolan

Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio ,Joseph Gordon-Levitt ,Ellen Page ,Tom Hardy ,Ken Watanabe ,Dileep Rao ,Cillian Murphy

Rating : "PG" for some scenes of violence.

P.S : " Christopher Nolan's first film since his feature debut, Following (1998), that is a completely original work. All of his films between them are either remakes or based on comics, novels or short stories. "

45. Ethics in War

2010-07-13T16:53:00.010+05:30

Gone are the times when battles are fought during daytime.
Gone are the times when the dead soldiers were laid to rest with honors during war.
Gone are the times when humans practiced ethical codes during wars
&
Gone are the times when prisoners of war were treated with respect.

Countries are called developed or developing or even a failed state ,i was always left pondering as to what are the criteria for these statuses to be given.

But after all the mayhem happening around the world its just that we can arrive on a conclusion that its about the ability of that country in war that earns it that status.

These countries are not only advanced technically but also in the torture techniques they put forth on the their prisoners ,however do they ever ultimately achieve peace out of these heinous practices ???

PLOT : " A terrorist plants nuclear bombs & gets caught by the authorities ,a deadly game then commences with the authorities & the terrorist willing to go to any extreme to get the better out of each other. "

By the time the film got over i gulped down a full bottle of water ,such was the tension in it.I was literally in two minds whether or not to see the next scene.

The brutality here is of the highest order imaginable which is definitely not advisable for children & light hearted individuals & the sametime you will be exposed to the various interrogation techniques followed by various different agencies in a government.

Unthinkable ,directed by Gregor Jordan is one of those films which will keep you pondering well after the movie gets over.The issue of prisoners subjected to torture was well materialized that will leave a lasting impression on the viewers.

The plot & script were well written by Peter Woodward that kept its pace throughout & at the sametime never lost focus on the issue at hand.

With a cast that boasts some big names like Samuel L. Jackson ,Michael Sheen & Carrie-Anne Moss ,the film was packed with stellar performances which adds momentum to the script

Samuel L. Jackson as the interrogator was at his electrifying best ,the kinda stone heart he portrays will surely look surreal.Michael Sheen ,what can be said ,this was by far the best terrorist roles enacted on-screen.

Carrie-Anne Moss looked stunning & played out her role as an FBI officer to perfection ,her locking heads with Samuel were so convincing.The other support cast namely Brandon Routh ,Gil Bellows ,Martin Donovan were too utilized well by the director.

The psychological battle that takes place between the terrorist & the interrogators size up the major chunk of the film ,there's never a dull moment during these scenes as it forms the crux of the plot.

The film's take on torture techniques being employed & its effectiveness was well brought out ,it will surely leave you to stunned & in disbelief.

We humans have ethics in whatever we do but in war all these practices are ignored just to get the better out of the opponent ,ultimately we become the worst beings on the planet & the final goal of achieving peace is never achieved.

Director : Gregor Jordan

Writers : Peter Woodward

Cast : Samuel L. Jackson , Carrie-Anne Moss , Michael Sheen , Martin Donovan , Gil Bellows , Brandon Routh

Rating : "A" for extreme violence.

P.S : " The film was released on 5 November 2009 in the United States ,it was not released on the international film market. "

44. Small budget "Dark Horses"

2010-07-03T21:51:00.009+05:30

In a period where cinema industry is stretching its limits to provide quality entertainment ,more often than not we end up with high budget extravaganzas that increases the benchmarks of the industry.

But in all the grandeur & amusement ,many a films fails to achieve the crucial aspect of their target i.e ENTERTAINMENT.

But amongst these biggies a Dark Horse gallops away with all the accolades ,the end result is these Dark Horses are a product of small budget that entertains & reaps the rewards.

PLOT : " The happenings in the life of a pampered & unruly son who falls in love with his arch rival's sister & the rest of the plot revolves around whether he succeeds in his love or not. "

Thanks to the word of the mouth reviews from my social networking buddies i ended up watching this sure-shot entertainer from mostly new comers.

The film "Kalavaani" had traces & impacts of previous village oriented films but its the treatment of the script which places the film in a league of its own.

Directed by debutant Sargunam ,the film follows the troubles & exploits created by the youth of villages in a pleasing manner.The director has followed the lines of the other great directors who break the shackles by providing success with a new team & cast.

Kudos to the producer Nazir of Sherali films ,being the first film off their production block i think they have started on a right track.Lets hope we get more quality films from them.

Casting of the film was immaculate ,new comers have come to the party in the film with charming performances which earns smiles & laughs from the audiences throughout the film.

Vimal of "Pasanga" fame stars as the ill-behaved son ,boy isn't he a treat to watch.The trouble he brews with his group of friends gels well with the flow of the film ,his ladylove Oviya serves as the right pair.Her role of a school going village girl is a credible performance.

The other cast includes Saranya ,Ganga Karupu ,Ilavarasu ,Thirumurugan ,Soori & other notable artistes who make up a dominant cast.

Saranya & Ilavarasu as Vimal's parents make up for a great comical family whose dialects are fum to listen & see ,supported with a steady script the actors make the most of their screen space.

The film handles its runtime of nearly 3 hours on the support of its script which serves as its backbone ,the length of the film doesn't bother much thanks to the humorous treatment of the script.

On the whole the team of Kalavaani have provided a laudable work which will surely be lapped up by the audience ,for people unfamiliar with Tamil ,language wont be a major barrier to understand the happenings in the film.

Amongst a flurry of high-tech & high budget releases that rake the moolah in the box-office ,there arrives a film with a small budget handicap that doesn't deter it from becoming the Dark Horse.

Director : Sargunam

Writer : Sargunam

Cast : Vimal , Oviya , Ganga Karupu , Saranya , Soori , Ilavarasu

Rating : "PG" for some violence.

P.S : " Be sure not to miss the end credits of the film. "

43. Above the law ??

2010-06-22T14:46:00.009+05:30

Law - "The principles and regulations established in a community by some authority. "

We have all gone through all these definitions ,phrases & various acts of law from school an umpteen number of times but more often than not these lines become just lines in our society.

All these so called laws are like a tissue paper in a restroom which are used at will & when necessary especially by the authorities who are responsible for enforcing them.

And finally its the aam aadmi (common man) who pays the price in this puppet show called democracy where the judicial society are well above the reaches of the so-called law.

PLOT : " A local village rebel kidnaps the wife of a police officer to prove a point that no one's above the laws of justice but things take a drastic turn when he decides to kill her. "

First things first ,With Raavanan Mani Ratnam has threaded on a path that is well known here in India ,Ramayana is a well known epic among indians on which the plot of the movie is loosely based on ,kudos to the director for taking this path & showcasing a refreshing premises.

There are mixed reviews among people upon the film's release but i'm for one who would say that i thoroughly cherished the movie from the intense start to the poetic ending.

Screenplay moved with the flow of the film that reverberated with powerhouse performances from the lead actors and the supporting cast ,the director deserves the credit for bring out stellar performances from his crew.

Vikram as the protagonist is the shinning light in the movie's cast ,his character of a man with complex thinking has surely struck the right chord in the film ,he shouts ,he's silent ,he imitates ,he growls thereby exposing all his bottled up emotions.

Aishwarya Rai ,the lead lady goes through grueling sessions of physical & mental hardships that put to test all her years of experience which turns out impressive.Prithviraj as her husband is stiff physically & emotionally which reflects his role as a cop.

The other supporting cast includes Karthik ,Prabhu ,Vaiyapuri ,Priyamani ,John Vijay & Munna.They too were a treat on screen ,all of them had their meaty share of roles that were utilised well.

Cinematography by Santosh Sivan and V. Manikandan is one of the best i have seen ,all the beauty locales were justifiably filmed ,it would rival the best picture demos.Everything was so mesmerizingly shot.

Stunts by Shyam Kaushal and Peter Hein are topnotch ,a single stunt scene where the lead lady crashes to the river was so beautiful ,editing by 7 time national award winner A. Sreekar Prasad was evident in his crisp clips of the film's songs.

A. R. Rahman's songs & background score provide enough chills & moods to the films at the right places ,his association with Mani Ratnam has beared fruit yet again.

The premises for the plot of revenge & kidnapping is a tried and tested one but what makes Raavanan special is not its plot but the cinematic treat the film offers at the hands of one of India's finest directors ever.

The director's lead character Veeraiya portrays aam aadmi's (common man) sufferings at the hands of the judicial authorities who get away with all the atrocities they do in the name of law.

Such is the convenience democracy provides to these people ,say how many of these judicial people have ever been convicted for their atrocities ?

Are they above the law ??

Director : Mani Ratnam

Writer : Mani Ratnam

Cast : Vikram ,Aishwarya Rai ,Prithviraj ,Karthik ,Prabhu ,Priyamani ,Vaiyapuri ,John Vijay , Munna

Rating : "PG" for intense scenes of violence.

P.S : " Vikram has lead parts in both this film and its simultaneously-produced Hindi version Raavan (2010) ,however they are reversed.In the Hindi film he plays the role of Aishwarya Rai's husband. "

42. Unity is Strength

2010-06-14T12:15:00.006+05:30

We have been told about certain morals & proverbs in our childhood days & some of them do play a vital role in our daily lives too.

"Unity is Strength",this proverb is one which we all will remember easily but how much of strength can a united set of people acquire ??

Hmmm may be this film could provide us with the answer for that

PLOT : " The events taking place before & during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in the newly elected anti-apartheid South Africa government headed by President Nelson Mandela. "

Clint Eastwood is one of the main reasons i watched this film ,i was so very impressed with his works in Flags of Our Fathers & Letters from Iwo JimaThe director in him has yet again proved his calibre with this film Invictus.

The film portrays the initial stages of the newly formed government in South Africa headed by Nelson Mandela & the problems that plagued his government then.

The racial remarks in the films are effectively drafted such that the audience could understand the degree of tensions that prevailed in then South Africa which was breaking away from apartheid.

Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela was the perfect man to do the role ,the way he moved & talked reminded me of the real Mandela himself.Watching him people could easily see the man who brought South Africa together.

Matt Damon essays the role of François Pienaar ,the captain of the Springboks ,the South African rugby union team.His body language is truly amazing ,he clearly is a class act.

These two men shared the bulk of the screen time & were a treat to watch ,they way in which these two men command the loyalty of their fellow men is something every leader would dream of.

Cinematography & Art direction is very convincing ,it was like the happenings in 1995 South Africa ,the cars ,the buildings ,the dresses ,all of them were a perfect sync.

The supporting actors too played out their part well especially the people who enacted the role of Mandela's bodyguards were a treat to watch when they locked horns with each other.

The racists problems that plagues our world today can be clearly seen here ,everyone has their motives & fears but making them work together is such an herculean task which is aptly demonstrated.

Sports & music is a universal language that knows no barriers ,as i had already put forth "how much of strength can a united set of people acquire ??"

Well the unity of people in South Africa brought about the change in fortunes for the South African rugby team who in turn served as an inspiration to bring together the entire nation.

Director : Clint Eastwood

Writers : Anthony Peckham (screenplay) , John Carlin (book)

Cast : Morgan Freeman , Matt Damon

Rating : "PG" for strong language.

P.S : " Nelson Mandela himself has said that only Morgan Freeman could portray him. And so Freeman was the first actor cast. "

41. Comedy is not easy

2010-06-04T14:58:00.011+05:30

Making people laugh is one of the toughest things to do.Its a natural talent that some people posses which is a gift because its not something that everyone can do.

As a famous irish quote goes like "A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book."

Films based on comedy genre are always lapped up by people when given in an entertaining manner ,these lines hold true to this film "Date Night".

PLOT : " A case of mistaken identity leaves a couple on a date to run for their lives. "

Its been quite a looooong while since i had watched a comedy film in theatre so i just thought i might give this film a watch.

What made me choose this film ??? Well its simple ,i loved the trailer & the dialogs in it were enough assurance that i'm choosing a good movie.

Steve Carell is one of the main reasons for me watching this film ,i was very impressed with his previous film Get Smart.He has done more than justice to my opinion ,the entire theatre was in complete splits throughout the film.

Directed & produced by Shawn Levy of Night at the Museum fame ,Date Night was a great follow up to this director's line up of super hit films.

I dunno whether the script written by Josh Klausner was a comical one or its just the sheer talent of the director to translate it to a comic caper on-screen.Anyways i'm gonna leave that for you people to decide.

I'm taking no credit away from Tina Fey who was the lead actress here ,she was awesome in her dialog timings too.These two set the screen on fire with their humorous & numerous escapades.

The other casts includes Mark Wahlberg ,James Franco ,Taraji P. Henson ,Common ,Jimmi Simpson & William Fichtner.

Casting was perfect for the film ,i'm always left pondering when it comes to casting for a successful film.May be its just how life is ,in success everything seems to so perfect.Still i'm all praises for the casting department ,they have just assembled a wonderful cast.

Steve Carell's dialog delivery and his sense of timing was very hilarious ,he's such a natural when it comes to comedy.He along with his partner Tina Fey were one of the best on-screen comical couples i have ever seen.

Dont miss the credits after the movie ,its an added bonus for the audience.

As Mark Twain says "The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”

And the people who make humans use this effective weapon are such a blessing for us ,an instant laughter transforms people to another world ,thats why its said COMEDY IS NOT EASY.

Director : Shawn Levy

Writer : Josh Klausner

Cast : Steve Carell ,Tina Fey ,Mark Wahlberg ,Taraji P. Henson ,Jimmi Simpson ,Common ,William Fichtner ,James Franco

Rating : "A" for some sexual references.

P.S : " Despite the fact that his character's minimal apparel is a running joke throughout the movie ,there is a dedicated wardrobe assistant to Mark Wahlberg listed in the end credits. "

40. Man's Best FRIEND

2010-05-30T12:42:00.012+05:30

It goes without saying as to who MAN'S BEST FRIEND IS but for those of you who still regard DOGS as untouchables ,i'm sure this movie would atleast bring about a certain change in opinion.

DOGS are sometimes or ,should i say ,most of the times are human's solace at times of grief & despair ,having a canine as a guardian is better whereas having them as a companion is a whole different world altogether.

"One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he/she doesn't try to find out why."

PLOT : " A true story of how a group of sled dogs left abandoned in Antarctica fight for survival. "

Never have i cried so much whilst watching a movie ,"Eight Below" is one such masterpiece that presented such a moving theme coupled with an heart wrenching screenplay.

Directed by Frank Marshall of "Alive" & "Congo" fame ,this must be one of the best canine related movies ever made.The connection between the dogs & the characters in the film was so convincingly portrayed.

The characters enacted by Paul Walker ,Jason Biggs ,Bruce Greenwood & Moon Bloodgood are all very well played & portrayed.The way Paul feels dejected after letting go of his dogs & how the dogs look up to him when he leaves evokes sympathy from the viewers.

All the dogs in this movie deserve special mention ,they were very well trained & performed exceedingly well in their roles.

The cinematographer has pictured the dog's responses in a compelling manner ,it was like watching the dogs in a natural environment.DOGS are such good actors these days.

I dont think i can ever watch this movie again ,such is the impact this movie had on me ,i was literally crying throughout the latter part of the film.

This movies is actually based upon the 1958 ill-fated Japanese expedition to Antarctica that inspired the 1983 hit japanese movie Nankyoku Monogatari.

Eight Below is the fictional adaptation of the events of the 1958 incident moved forward to 1993, the last year that sled dogs were used in Antarctica. In the 1958 event ,fifteen Sakhalin Husky sled dogs were abandoned when the expedition team was unable to return to the base.When the team returned a year later ,two dogs were still alive.Another seven were still chained up and dead, and six unaccounted for.

The movie's climax is one of the happiest moments i had cherished in cinema ,kudos to the entire team for this excellent experience.

Dogs have given us their absolute all.We are the center of their universe ,we are the focus of their love and faith and trust.They serve us in return for scraps.It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.

Director : Frank Marshall

Writer : David DiGilio

Cast : Paul Walker , Bruce Greenwood , Moon Bloodgood , Jason Biggs

Rating : "U"

P.S : " Dogs have been banned from Antarctica by treaty since 1993 because of evidence that disease was spreading to seal wildlife. "

39. Business or Family ???

2010-05-23T13:59:00.011+05:30

There is a scene in the film "GODFATHER" where the Don asks his godson the following question

DON : " Tell me, do you spend time with your family? "
GODSON : " Sure I do. "
DON : " Good.Because a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man. "

The last phrase in this conversation is the point which needs to be given a closer look ,"A MAN WHO DOESN'T SPEND TIME WITH HIS FAMILY CAN NEVER BE A REAL MAN. "

In our daily life in this competitive world we tend to loose out on the things that must be valued the most ,Family is one such comfort that is overlooked the most out of these.

Lots of pressure ,lots of stress for working parents to bring up their children with proper education ,decent lifestyle in a healthy environment but parents so often than not fail to provide the one thing their sons & daughters want ,"Their parents spending time with them."

PLOT : " The plot revolves around a brother & sister who yearn for the love & affection of their father who keeps his business always ahead of his family. "

As i exited the theater after watching this movie ,i left with an heavy heart.Such is the impact of this movie especially the penultimate scenes & climax which leaves the audience pondering.

"Remember Me" moves at its own pace that might put off some people but if you have the patience to understand the happenings in the movie ,you will surely be rewarded with an enriching experience.

Directed by Allen Coulter & Written by Will Fetters ,the film is a romantic drama that has a perfect cast who play out their characters with such conviction which makes the audience relate to them.

Robert Pattinson is fast catching up as one of the poster boys of hollywood & he deserves it.His character of a son who refuses his father's wealth & influence is an adorable one.

Emilie de Ravin plays his love interest here ,God isnt she young for her age.I really thought that she was a teenager until i looked up her age.Those two had a nice chemistry throughout the film.

Chris Cooper & Pierce Brosnan enact the roles as fathers of Emilie & Robert respectively ,the veterans made the most out of their roles here ,the other supporting cast also were on par.

The director has brought out the exact emotions required from all the cast whether it might be a serious scene or a comical scene ,there are only few movies that had moved me & this film is surely one of them.

The way in which Robert consoles his sister each & every time is very touching and soothing ,the girl's longing for her dad's presence is very realistic so much that people who had missed spending time with their parents could reflect upon her easily.

Most parents think so much of their children's future that they fail to provide the essential love & care that their sons & daughters require at present ,and by the time they realise that life is all about living in the moments those times would be lost forever.

Director : Allen Coulter

Writer : Will Fetters

Cast : Robert Pattinson , Emilie de Ravin , Pierce Brosnan , Chris Cooper , Tate Ellington

Rating : "PG" for some love making scenes.

P.S : " This is one of many movies made since 09/11 that aim to create emotional responses from the terrorist attack. "

38. Misconception.

2010-05-07T13:16:00.007+05:30

Misconception - A mistaken thought ,idea ,notion or misunderstanding.

We as people are prone to mistake or misinterpret whatever we see or hear ,thats human nature ,isnt it not ????

Infact we have abundant lists of common misconceptions ,just click here if you wanna know what they are.So why are so erroneous in our judgements ???

The answer is simple ,we humans make life harder for ourselves & make even the simplest of matters complex...

PLOT: " A viking colony's misconception's of dragons have resulted in a bloody conflict between dragons & vikings ,a young boy & a dragon form an unlikely bond that might end this conflict but is it too late ??? "

Well first things first ,this is a 3D film & secondly its an animated film ,well then this makes the first animated 3D film i have seen.

I was literally left with no other movie to go this weekend & i ended up watching "How to train your Dragon".I'm now exteremely happy with my decision ,this is one of the best animated flicks i have ever seen.

The movie has something for everyone ,romance ,comedy ,action & the thrills.A more of a feel good movie that entertains throughout its full length.

Directed by the duo of Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois ,this film eventhough with a predictable storyline keeps the audience focussed ,an achievement indeed.

The script was well worked out with the right kind of ingredients that makes for an enjoyable movie ,the conversations between the animated characters proves to be a show stealer ,humourous & at the sametime meaningful dialogs.

The voices were perfectly casted here ,Jay Baruchel ,Gerard Butler ,Craig Ferguson & America Ferrera's voices applied the right kind of responses to the various situations & moods.

And about the 3D animation ,it created a lively ambience in the theatre which was alluring.Taking this factor into account I wonder whether 3D flicks will be offered more beacause of its appeal.

If you are planning a perfect family weekend with your kids then this film will definitely be the perfect start or the perfect end ,some characters in movies have an enchanting appeal with the masses ,i'm sure the kid "Hiccup" & the dragon "Night Fury" will create a similar waves.

You will be kept wanting for more as the film draws to an end ,such is the appeal of the movie.I'm again glad that i made the right choice in choosing this flick.

The way in which a simple issue is made complex by misconceptions is aptly illustrated here ,humans although possesing a certain sixth sense tend to decide things based on the overview of how things happen or had happened.

Because of our irrational thinking we have let ourselves be ruled by a handful of jerks called politicians these days who capitalise on these faults of ours.

If we can just lookout at the clear picture things might make more sense to us ,may be we are stubborn or ignorant to overcome these misconceptions just like the vikings in this film.

Director : Dean Deblois , Chris Sanders

Writers : William Davies , Dean Deblois , Chris Sanders ,Based on novel by Cressida Cowell

Cast : Jay Baruchel , Gerard Butler , America Ferrera ,Craig Ferguson

Rating : "U"

P.S : " With the film's success a sequel is being planned with a schedule to release by 2013. "

37. WEAPONS OF MASS-DESTRUCTION !!!

2010-04-24T16:43:00.008+05:30

WEAPONS OF MASS-DESTRUCTION : Does this phrase ring a bell ???

OH !! Of course it must ,this was the very agenda used by the U.S political heavyweights to invade IRAQ ,Have they ever succeeded in finding such weapons ????

Obviously the answer is a BIGGGGGGG "NO" ,everyone in the right senses knew from the onset of the IRAQ WAR that there would never be any such weapons there ,then why did they ever invade that nation ???

I feel very SORRY for all the poor souls who believed that the U.S politicians were invading IRAQ to get rid of SADDAM HUSSEIN & help the people ,its OIL my dear poor souls ,its the one & only reason why IRAQ was invaded.

PLOT: " An American chemical weapons officer decides to discover as to whats really happening in IRAQ after he finds out that there no chemical weapons there. "

If you ever wanna see a film that would enlighten you about the facts on the Invasion of IRAQ then look no further ,this film delivers all the knockout punches to the U.S administration's role in this so-called WAR.

"GREEN ZONE" directed by Paul Greengrass of Bourne Ultimatum fame is an edge of the seat action thriller from the start & sustains its momentum till the end.

I was very impressed by this film's trailer that i was waiting for the film's release for a looong time & my patience was well worth because the film effectively brought out the harsh ground realities in IRAQ.

Being a film revolving around the military & political circles of the U.S ,its ambience was one of the best i had ever seen.A perfect sync i should say ,the attitude & body language of the cast to fitted perfectly.

The casting was a major assest to the film ,all of them contributed.Credit must be given to the director for extracting the cast's potential.

Matt Damon was impeccable in his role ,he has lived up to the expectations i had on him.Carrying out his role with ease ,he fitted the fill role completely.

Adapted from the book by Rajiv Chandrasekaran ,the screenplay was very racy & at the sametime did not loose out on the issue in hand ,the writers too had done their part well.

Thanks to the use of hand held cameras the action taking place in the film was very real ,i felt like sitting in the middle of a battlefield ,we can actually feel the tension & adrenaline that would happen within a soldier.

The various facets of the U.S administartion were clearly portaryed here ,with each & every department having ugly secrets of their own ,its the soldiers who pay the ultimate price.

The issue of anguish & hardship that the soldiers face in IRAQ while the bureaucrats enjoy the luxuries inside their hotels will were very disturbing for the families of soldiers who had lost their loved ones there.

There are lots of countries in the world where people face untold sufferings but for the people of IRAQ their sufferings were heard by the U.S administration because the people of IRAQ had what they wanted ,its "OIL".

SO is "OIL" really the weapon of mass-destruction that U.S politicians were talking about ???????

Director : Paul Greengrass

Writer : Brian Helgeland , Adapted from the book by Rajiv Chandrasekaran

Cast : Matt Damon , Brendan Gleeson , Yigal Naor , Greg Kinnear

Rating : "PG" for some war violence.

P.S: "Many of the soldiers in film were actual Iraq War and Afghanistan War veterans, not actors. "

36. BLOOD MONEY...

2010-04-13T15:57:00.007+05:30

Money has taken various forms thoughout human history but whatever be the form the very means of earning them hasn't changed.

Some people have the luxury of having too much of them whereas there are others who toil day & night to make ends meet with the money they earn & yet there are people who almost are enslaved to the employer to earn that little amount.

Enter Ranganathan Street in T.Nagar ,most tourists are taken to this place whenever they visit Chennai.Tourists are made to believe that this place is the shopping hub of Chennai but maybe after this post they could think otherwise.

PLOT : " A reality check of the suffering the employees face working within the walls of many Shopping stores in Ranganathan Street. "

Vasanthabalan impressed one and all with his previous work "Veyil" which earned him loads of accolades & was screened at 2007 Cannes Film Festival.His next venture was eagerly expected & boy!!! He hasn't let us down.

"Angaadi Theru" ,which means "Shop Street" was an apt title for the film.The director has delivered a film that questions the very essence of professional ethics in a workplace ,his script has portrayed the harsh realities of the workplaces we go shopping for.

The entire process of how innocent people from village are brought to city with big dreams are made to labour almost 14 hours a day ,draining them out & the inhumane treatment metted out to them are extensively portrayed in the film.

The lead actors Mahesh ,Anjali , A. Venkatesh & Pandi are very impressive with their performances whether it might a dramatical or comical.

Anjali & Mahesh deserve special mention ,stealing the show throughout the film with scintillating acting ,after a loooooong time i have seen an actress sharing more screen space in Tamil Cinema.

"Aval appadi ondrum" song by Vijay Antony was mesmerizing to hear & see ,very soothing number in an otherwise intense film.

The movie never lost focus on the issue it catered making me feel ashamed of the very fact that i had actually shopped in these places ,watching the sufferings of the employees i might never go there again.

Different facets of life in & around Ranganathan Street are effectively brought out with a reality check ,these kinda films are very rare in Tamil Cinema ,i'm still clueless as to why these kinda films aren't made.

Government officials taking bribes to ignore all the atrocities committed by these shops are also not missed out here ,its not that money these people are getting ,its the money tainted with the blood drained out from the workers.

In other terms ,its BLOOD MONEY.All the government officials accepting these money will never realise that they are accepting a curse in the form of money.

Any person who watches this movie will surely leave with a heavy heart with lots of questions in mind ,as for the Tamilnadu Police & Politicians its nothing for them to worry about as long as the Shop owners in Ranganathan street send them their bribes.

Director : Vasanthabalan

Writer : Vasanthabalan

Cast : Mahesh ,Anjali , A. Venkatesh , Pandi

Rating : "PG" for some strong language & scenes.

P.S : "The film has mainly targeted Saravana Stores which is one of the leading shops in Ranganathan Street ,if anyone has an idea of going shopping there or to any nearby shopping complexes do watch this film & think ,its BLOOD MONEY you are spending. "

35. From Real to Reel

2010-03-30T11:56:00.008+05:30

Many a times in life we come across people who stand up against all odds & achieve things which inspire a generation ,these things they achieve come from extreme suffering ,hardship,insults & distress.

Not everyone have the will to overcome all these but there will be some who breakdown at times yet come out successful.

The chronicles of these REAL people to REEL cinema will serve as an inspiration when we recount their struggles in life that make them such great personalities.

PLOT : " The true inspirational story of entrepreneur Chris Gardner. "

There are only a few films that had such a touching tale ,"The Pursuit of Happyness" is one such film.The subtle story telling of this film is so much responsible for the movie's success.

Even though being a emotional drama ,there are few scenes in which you find the lead actors crying it out or having facing melodramatic moments ,this is where the movie stands out.

Gabriele Muccino ,has directed to inspire.His style of expressing has brought out some of the best acting moments in film ,while seeing the film you could never deny the fact that the director along with the scriptwriter are the true captains of the movie.

Without a good combination of director & scriptwriter we cannot be treated to watching good cinema ,this film serves as a testimony for it.

Will Smith as Chris Gardner has lived the role ,he gets into the skin of the character he's playing ,all his films illustrate that fact.I could not think of any other person enacting this role after watching his perfomance.

Its too bad that a lot of good films came up in that year which eventually earned him just the Academy award nomination for Best Actor ,hope he gets that award soon.

Will Smith's son Jad e n Smith as Chris Gardner's son in the film was another feather in the cap ,he has justified his role with some superb performances.His dad can be damn proud of him.

Adults especially parents whilst watching this movie can feel a sense of Deja vu ,they could easily relate their struggles with certain scenes in the film.

Dialogues also are a perfect sync ,the way Will Smith answers his son's queries are so good that you cannot deny the facts in them.His attempts at marketing in his office are also an honest portrayl of a sales person's life.

An autobigraphical work to a film is no easy work ,certain films while doing this transition loose track but this film captures the true spirit of Chris Gardner's hardships with realistic moments.

For inspiration in our life ,we look up to certain people.Here is a one such person's life justifiably made from REAL life TO REEL cinema.

Director : Gabriele Muccino

Writer : Steve Conard based on Chris Gardner's memoirs written by himself & Quincey Troupe.

Cast : Will Smith , Jaden Smith , Thandie Newton

Rating : "PG" for some smoking scenes & harsh languauge.

P.S : " The homeless people who worked as extras received a full day's pay at minimum wage ($8.62/hr) and free catered meals.For some it was the first money they'd made in a while. "

34. Coming of age

2010-03-23T12:17:00.006+05:30

Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood.

Everyone in his/her life goes through this transition in their life ,but not all transitions are for the good ,some get guided in a better way whilst some in a wrong way.

Successful persons go through this stage with lots of pitfalls that shape up their character that helps them achieve in their life.

PLOT : "The coming of age story of a rich & spoilt boy. "

I regret my decision to skip this movie when it was in theatres ,such a feel good movie this is that it makes me regret my decison even further ,hope these kinda films are made on a regular basis.

Coming from the production house of Karan Johar ,Wake Up Sid is one of those films that most youngsters could relate to ,whether its their college life ,friendship or career dilemma.

Ayan Mukherjee who is also one of the film's writers has directed this romantic comedy that strikes the right chord with the youngsters ,his portrayal of urban life mixed with the upper middle class culture has come out really well.

His choice of casting couldn't have been better ,Ranbir Kapoor as the rich & spoilt kid & Konkona Sen as an aspiring writer wanting to be independent was a perfect sync.

Ranbir Kapoor ,i was really impressed with his perfomance in Bachna Ae Haseeno ,has more then served justice to his portrayal of a rich kid who is completely dependent on his dad for everything in his life ,this actor is really going places.

Konkona Sen ,well this was my first glimpse of her & my feedback is ,"Bravo !!!".She has really given a tough competition to Ranbir here ,both have given a splendid performance & sharing a beautiful chemsitry.

The approach to the film by the writers Ayan Mukherjee & Niranjan Iyengar is very realistic which clicks for the film & its cast.I'll be more then happy to see these two come together for more films.

Music by Shankar-Eshaan-Loy is neat ,its goes hand in hand with the movie's pace & keeps with the it throughout ,not many movies achieve this kinda sync.

All the scenes in this movie can be easily related to a youngster's life ,the sudden urge of a family asking to grow up ,a vaccum left by friends who take leave to settle down & the dilemma of choosing a career is placed well here.

The friendship between the lead actors is a one to lookout for here ,they serve as one of the best portrayed friendships in cinema ,a friendship with the right dosage of care ,affection & anger.

Indian cinema is on a revival path these days with real life themes getting a warm reception by the audience & collecting the moolah at the box office ,winds of change have arrived & lets hope things get better.

Witnessing films of this genre might certainly help out certain youngsters who are in a phase of dilemma in their life ,wanting to grow up & at the sametime wanna have some fun ,a clear indication of Coming of age.

Director : Ayan Mukherjee

Writers : Ayan Mukherjee , Niranjan Iyengar

Cast : Ranbir Kapoor , Konkana Sen , Anupam Kher

Rating : "PG" for some scenes involving heavy drinking

P.S : " Karan Johar apologized to MNS chief Raj Thackeray for referrig the city of Mumbai as Bombay in a conversation between Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen some 12 times & the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supporters objected this by halting the film's screening. "

33. Deadly Rivalry

2010-03-10T16:56:00.006+05:30

There's always a competition happening amongst people to come one up on the other opponent ,on the positive aspect this creates an healthy competition but what happens on the flip side is the notorious fact thats happening in our world.

In whatever facets of competition ,may it be SPORTS ,POLITICS or CAREER ,there exists a rivalry that derails the ethical concepts of competition & turns out to be an ugly confrontation of EGOS.

The cost of this DEADLY RIVALRY is sometimes LIFE itself !!!!

PLOT : "Two magicians confront each other to be the best in their business ,confrontations that turns deadly."

The one thing that makes this movie so mesmerizing is the way it was put across ,i was completely bowled over by the screenplay.It made me sit up & think "Can i also deliver a script like this ??".

Christopher Nolan ,well-known for his blockbuster movies like "THE DARK KNIGHT" is the man behind the film ,this director makes me very jealous for the fact that his movies are not only captivating but at the sametime intelligent.

His brother & fellow Writer Jonathan Nolan deserves equal accolades ,these two people are the brains behind this magnificient film that takes the audience into a world of illusion ,magic along with its deadly secrets.

"The Prestige" with its star-studded cast line is nothing short of a CLASSIC ,all the lead & supporting actors had very well drawn up characters.Every cast were in roles that seemed liked tailor made for them.

Christian Bale ,the man storming the US box office with his recent spree of BIG TICKET movies ,is at his best playing the enigmatic magician shrowded in mystery throughout the film.With a mature & realistic performance he is surely one of the show stealers.

The other show stealer being Hugh Jackman ,well-known as "Wolverine" of X-MEN ,plays the other protagonist magician ,the battle between the two lead actors serves as the crux of the film ,right from the start till the very end.

The other supporting actors namely Michael Caine ,Scarlett Johansson & Rebecca Hall serve their roles to perfection.

The magic tricks that happen in the film makes you contemplate what happens behind the screen when a magician performs his so called tricks ,everything we see here is an illusion that is being enacted by the greatest actors who call themselves as "MAGICIANS".

Some tricks are even very hard to digest.

The character development in the film is one of the very best ,the scenes leading upto how the magicians turn deadly is very believable & at the sametime sorrowful.

The film clearly illusrates the fact as to how a competition could turn the best thinkers into commiting various crimes that they repent with their life ,never could have this clause be so beautifully protrayed.

Competitions are an integral part of every person's life ,man competes with himself ,nature & science to prove his capabilities but MAN must also acknowledge the fact that when he competes then there is only a thin line that separates a Healthy competition into becoming a DEADLY RIVALRY.

Director : Christopher Nolan

Writers : Christopher Nolan , Jonathan Nolan with adaptations of the Novel by Christopher Priest.

Cast : Christian Bale , Hugh Jackman , Michael Caine , Scarlett Johansson , Rebecca Hall

Rating : "PG" for violence & disturbing scenes.

P.S : " Sam Mendes had shown interest in adapting Christopher Priest's novel for the big-screen, but Priest insisted that Christopher Nolan direct the film, based on his love for both Following (1998) and Memento (2000). "

31. Fabricated world

2010-02-20T14:04:00.021+05:30

Implausible world ,meaning "a world not having the appearance of truth or credibility".

It may be a hard to digest this but this is the world in which we are all living ,everything in our day to day life is getting fabricated.Even a smile to a colleague in office serves a hypocritic purpose ,fabricated cases ,fabricated news ,fabricated truths ,the list goes on.

Some people who get caught in this web are taken for a ride and when the ride ends they are either no more or join the wagon of fabrication.

PLOT : " An innocent cop takes justice in his own hands after a fabricated case against him threatens his life & the life of the people he loves. "

The plot of the movie may sound like a regular run of the mill cop story but what made this film so appreciable are the lead actors who just lifted the scripted to an engaging thriller.

Samuel L.Jackson & Kevin Spacey are the lead actors am talking about ,both of them had their lion's share of roles in the movie which they had executed flawlessly.

The presence of these actors in certain scenes raised the tension levels & served as the movie's backbone.Both these actors enacted the role of a hostage negotiator with their own working style.

"The Negotiator" directed by F.Gary Gary is a perfect example of excellent acting coupled with crisp direction.The director ratifies the audience with scenes that have a clear message that what happens in the movie is happening in our world today.

Supporting actors too had a major role in the movie ,they sometimes provide the comic relief needed in this intense movie which never fails to deliver when it comes to the thrills & suspense.

What clicks in this film is the treatment of the script ,Kevin Fox & James DeMonaco have provided the director with a script which is racy and at the sametime a taut intelligent thriller.

The beauty of the script lies in how the plot unflods at you in a neat & clear manner ,all the subplots too make sense when the main plot gets revealed ,kudos to the script writers for achieving this.

Samuel L.Jackson's portrayal of an innocent husband forced to be on the wrong side of the law deserves special mention here ,his roles of a trustworthy friend ,an honest cop are also not to missed out.

Kevin Spacey rides into the movie into the middle leg and takes over thereby starting a game of cat & mouse between him & Jackson which culminates into a justifiable & clever climax.

The way the movie is put across makes the viewer understand the functioning of our world today ,everything around is & will get fabricated.Either we have to cope in this Implausible world or get perished.

"The Negotiator" plays out the plight of certain people who try to prove their innocence in a way that is less propable to happen but at also reflects the hue & cry faced by innocent people who are framed in this FABRICATED WORLD.

Director : F.Gary Gary

Writers : Kevin Fox , James DeMonaco

Cast : Samuel L.Jackson , Kevin Spacey

Rating : "PG" for violence.

P.S : " The movie was originally written to star Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Spacey. Spacey was supposed to be the hostage-taker and Stallone playing opposite him. When Stallone turned down the part, Spacey decided he wanted the other part and had his original part recast. (Samuel L. Jackson got the role.) "

30. Slaves to Free people.

2010-02-12T15:12:00.011+05:30

Slaves have existed right from the day when man stopped to hunt & started to think ,thinking which led to the term SLAVE.

We are all aware of the morals of life but still many country's leaders feign for the call to end Slavery ,Slavery was officially abolished in many parts of the world but taking a look around we are also just feigning.

Sometimes the tide of the world changes in which SLAVES BECOME FREE PEOPLE.

PLOT : " The true story of how slaves of 19the century AMERICA led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw turned around the tide of the American Civil War & in the process earned their rightful freedom. "

This real life incident demonstrates how African-American people who were sidelined in the NEW WORLD of AMERICA stood up to claim their freedom during the AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.

I just happened to come across Director Edward Zwick's name after watching the film Defiance ,he is a director who comes off good with his films that mostly are related to WAR genre.

The director begins by depicting the backdrop of AMERICAN CIVIL WAR continuing with the plight of AFRICAN-AMERICAN people in 19^th century AMERICA with an urge to fight & earn their rightful freedom.

Casting was of top notch in the film with Denzel Washington ,Morgan Freeman & Matthew Broderick using up their meaty roles to perfection.Whatever the scene requires the actors have emoted themselves in a lively & at the same time in a subtle manner.

Matthew Broderick as Robert Gould Shaw excels in his portrayal of the commanding officer who stands by his men at all times & leading them from the front.His frequent misunderstandings with his men & that of his fellow senior officers are very clearly shot.

James Roy Horner has orchestrated a wonderful score for the film that takes the movie viewing level to a whole new experience ,the subtle emotions between the characters are also well captured.

Screenplay by Kevin Jarre is the backbone of the film ,whatever the scenes that had appeared had some meaning to it & some scenes were so uplifting & at the sametime inspiring.

Dialogues too had a major role here ,the near clear messages in each dialogue that were needed to inspire ,some nostalgic feelings & a sense of hope that they would also be free one day were etched out aptly.

The penultimate scenes were some the best scenes i had ever seen in a war film ,if you hadn't seen the movie then you would have definitely missed out one of cinema's most uplifting moments.

In everyday life there are certain sets of people who are grouped in a category to be used up accordingly ,but there comes a time when these people stand up together to confront situations which people who call themselves SUPERIOR RACE cannot confront.

GLORY is one such film of that genre which portrays the turning point of the AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ,If had to pick out one of Director Edward Zwick's best works then this film would be my pick.

Director : Edward Zwick

Writer : Kevin Jarre

Cast : Matthew Broderick , Denzel Washington , Cary Elwes , Morgan Freeman

Rating : "PG" for intense battle scenes.

P.S : " Matthew Broderick is believed to be a distant relative of Robert Gould Shaw, the character he plays. "

29. Sherlock Holmes

2010-01-24T21:35:00.009+05:30

Let me be straight about certain things before going into the movie part ,

Sherlock Holmes is a legendary fictitious detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is also famous for his another work namely "The Lost World" which was the inspiration for many movie & tv series of the same name.
Seldom have i read or seen any work related to Sherlock Holmes until this movie.

PLOT : " Sherlock Holmes & his partner Watson are on the trail of Lord Blackwood ,a notorious criminal who is on the verge of bringing about a new world order with his diabolical plans. "

Well first things first ,whenever is see a kick-ass movie i usually keep expecting more from it but sadly most Hollywood flicks have a runtime only about 90 mins or so but this film more than satisfied me with a runtime of about 120 mins.

120mins of pure adrenaline pumping action ,comedy & ofcourse the versatile characterizations of history's most famous detective & his trusted partner.

Guy Ritchie has directed the movie with panache ,right from the start the film moves at a rapid pace keeping the viewer engrossed with it.The director must recieve loads of accolades for providing a clean entertainer with the right dosage of facts & logics.

Equal appreciation must also be given to the writers of the film who have provided an excellent screenplay that caters the needs of many genres of this film ,be it action ,comedy or mystery.The film scores in all these aspects.

Casting couldn't have been better ,Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes was a treat to watch with his terrific body language that evokes laughter at the right times.Jude Law as Watson has more than done justice to his part as the trusted partner ,the presence of these two characters is dynamite onscreen.

Mark Strong was a convincing villan with his dark attired costumes ,Rachael McAdams was gorgeous as Irene Adler & Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade was perfect.

The art direction is really commendable with real life sets of London transporting the viewer to 19th century England.Costumes were also a perfect sync ,creating the perfect backdrop.

Where the movie really works is with its characters ,each & every character in the film is etched out really well with a touch of realism.Robert Downey Jr has brought to life the legendary detective ,furthermore was his sense of comedy at which he excelled throughout the film.

I dunno how ardent fans of Sherlock Holmes would react to this portrayal but i loved it to the core.The way how a detective works & the speed at which the clues are unravelled are sketched out neatly.

The plot was a bit confusing at first which kept building up right upto the penultimate scene during which every question & logic is answered at a breakneck speed.

Music by multi-oscar winner Hans Zimmer was riveting and at the sametime added the extra gloss to the film.He has delievered a soundtrack that goes hand in hand with every scene.

If you have plans to see a top class entertainer anytime then look nowehere ,this a scorcher of a movie that traverses through the world of crime & mystery with history's legendary detective Sherlock Holmes.

Director : Guy Ritchie

Writers : Michael Robert Johnson , Anthony Peckham , Simon Kinberg , Lionel Wigram

Cast : Robert Downey Jr , Jude Law , Mark Strong , Rachel McAdams , Eddie Marsen

Rating : "PG" for some scenes of violence.

P.S : " Colin Farrell was in talks to play Watson before Jude Law was cast.The set for Sherlock Holmes's home in this film was previously used as Sirius Black's home in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007). "

28. Aayirathil Oruvan

2010-01-14T13:54:00.007+05:30

The wait is finally over !!!!

Selvaraghavan's long due project hit the screens today ,today was the day i was been waiting for a looooong time.

Was the wait for the movie worth it ????

PLOT : " An epic adventure undertaken by a group to people to trace the Last Chola King & his heir "

The plot of the movie is just a mere understatement ,i was just expecting another Indiana Jones type of movie after seeing the trailer of the this film but beware there's more to it.

Director Selvaraghavan has scripted another beautiful masterpiece which he can be damn proud of ,the director's work is on par with any international movie when it comes to the story and screenplay for this film.

Originality was the keyword in this movie ,every scene had originality to it with not even an hint of being lifted from any other epic movie.

The cast of the film mainly comprises of Reemma Sen ,Parthiban ,Karthik & Andrea.Everyone's work is really appreciable.Reema Sen has given the best performance of her career ,awards for her role might not come as a surprise ,she is main pillar of the movie around which the entire story revolves.

Parthiban was another pillar with his versatile acting & body language ,Karthik has done a role similar to his prevoius film "Paruthiveeran" but here his comic sense is more so profound ,he really comes to life during the latter part of the film.

Andrea has done her part ,pity that her role was overshadowed by the performances of the other cast.Her acting too was very well brought out as so we can expect from a Selvaraghavan movie.

Technical wise the film scores really well with the visual effects coming of its own in Tamil Cinema.The film crew's hardwork is evident throughout the film ,more so is the work of the make-up department & the supporting junior artists.

The strength of the film is its script which requires avid attention from the audience ,if you walk in to the theatre expecting every detail to be thrown at you then am sorry then this film will not work out for those kind.

In a period where Masala Films have been grinded out at regular intervals from the Tamil Industry ,Aayirathil Oruvan comes as a rare glimpse of hope that all is not lost.

Periodic films have become a rare genre these days.I dunno why people are hestitating to produce such films in India which is rich in its culture and tradition ,the film also brings back the good old Tamil from ancient days that was very pleasant at the sametime warranted great amount of attention to understand.

The first half of the film is very much an adventure ride with great comical scenes with an extra dosage of reality whereas the second part traverses the side of lost civilizations ,impeccable acting and some irrefutable facts of how people have a destiny to fullfill.

Spiritual aspects play a vitol role in the film ,the main concept of the film is how people each have a destiny.

Was the wait for the movie worth it ????

Oh YES !!!!
The film was worth the hype and wait ,expecting the film to be a run of the mill adventure flick i was pleasantly astounded as the film unraveled itself.

Go with an open mind to enjoy the movie ,some people might find it hard to understand the plot of the movie but i dont blame them because we audience are being fed only worthless masala movies most of the time.

Aayirathil Oruvan has broken many barriers in Tamil Cinema with ease.
Make sure you dont miss it !!!

Director : Selvaraghavan

Writer : Selvaraghavan

Cast : Reemma Sen , Parthiban , Karthik , Andrea

Rating : "A" for strong language & some nudity.

P.S : " The film starts with a disclaimer message that this movie is just fictional and the content is in no way connected with the CHOLA kingdom."

27. Talent Wasted......

2009-12-30T12:44:00.010+05:30

Talent is something that is unique with every individual which sets them apart.Making use of it people scale great heights by accomplishing things ,things that not everybody can do.

Some put their talents to good use whereas there are equal numbers wasting it ,and there are others with sadistic thoughts trying to put their talents to the test in a more gruesome manner imaginable.

PLOT : " A peasant boy born with a superior sense of smell embarks on a journey to create the world's best perfume but the ingredients of his perfume have a price ,a price which turns him into a murderer. "

I have never been so enthralled whilst watching films of this genre ,the flow of the film was like watching a play being orchestrated by the finest entertainers.

Director Tom Tyker has created a masterpiece here ,his previous works "RUN LOLA RUN" "HEAVEN" are his other trademark films.The way the entire script was handled coupled with the beautiful screenplay just made me sit upright till the end.

The peasant boy portrayed by Ben Whishaw was so subtle & perfect ,his acting was really commendable.His quest & the paths he takes to create the best PERFUME is etched out really well with his scintillating performance.

" THE SOUL OF A BEING IS THEIR SCENT " ,remember this phrase because only then will you know how this phrase has been sketched out into a movie so convincingly that it will take you for a ride you wouldn't forget.

The other cast includes Dustin Hoffman ,Alan Rickman & the sublime beauty of Rachel Hurd-Wood playing out their roles near to perfection.

The background score had such a beautiful sync in the movie ,this along with the crisp cinematography was an uplifting experience for me.

Music conducted by the trio of Tom Tykwer ,Johnny Klimek & Reinhold Heil is something out of the blue for a ardent movie buff like me.The background score along with the movie worked like a symphony with a soothing touch.

The film is basically adapted from the novel by Patrick Suskind which was a international best seller ,I haven't read the novel but i can just imagine the experience in reading it whilst watching the movie.

The beauty of the script made me ignore the heinous crimes committed by Ben such that it made me ponder whether his crimes were justifiable to support his cause.

The talent possessed by Ben in the movie could have brought enough fame & fortune than anyone can imagine if he had utilised it in a more appropriate way but he ended up as just another in a bunch of individuals ,individuals who end up on the wrong side wasting their immense talent.

PERFUME portrays one such individual who had the gifted talent in him & how his talent brings upon a curse to fellow beings & finally to himself.

Director : Tom Tykwer

Writer : Based on the novel by Patrick Suskind

Cast : Ben Whishaw , Dustin Hoffman , Rachel Hurd-Wood , Alan Rickman

Rating : "A" for nudity.

P.S : " Perfume as of 2006 was the most expensive German movie ever made ,It was deemed unmarketable for American audiences and released in a very limited number of theaters in North America. "

26. HUMAN GREED....

2009-12-17T23:06:00.010+05:30

Greed : An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves ,especially with respect to material wealth.

It is natural for human beings to go above and beyond in search of the ultimate possibilities in any interest or field.This natural urge supercedes peoples ability to realize or care about when they are taking advantage of those who are disadvantaged.

The person ,who knows contentment, eats to live but the greedy person lives to eat.Due to human greediness every day we are loosing one or the other species.When will it be our turn?

PLOT : " Avatar is the story of Jake Sully ,a paraplegic marine ,who replaces his brother on a secret mission to infiltrate the Na' vi ,the colony of beings that sit on the planet of Pandora ,where there is a precious ore ,that sells at a ridiculous amount.When Jake learns the ways of the Na' vi ,his feelings and learnings will put him and the people he trusts in dangerous jeopardy."

"Avatar" is visually mind-blowing ,I have never seen a film that could come any close to match its beauty.Even though everything in front of you was made from the scratch ,you never feel the world you see in the film is not real.And it doesn't matter the film's over 2.5 hours long - you never want to stop watching.

I can't even imagine how many people must have worked on 'Avatar' and for how long ,to make it all happen ,but you certainly believe in what you see ,wanting to know how the events will develop.

Because if you can't appreciate 'Avatar' then you just can't appreciate the art ,And 'Avatar' is a piece of art.It is a masterpiece of our times.Those who go and see this film will know what I mean.

AVATAR is the "STAR WARS" of this generation ,with no doubt is it a family film.This film isn't just about visuals ,it's about the magic of film-making.And that is something rarely achieved in such absolute beauty ,beauty that leaves you walking away from the theater spellbound.Avatar is unique.

You are immersed in the movie and you are exploring a new world.It is more than one time that you loose your breath.Beautiful images are following each other at high speed and you just can't believe what you are seeing.

Director James Cameron ,the man behind the legendary "TITANIC" ,really impressed me as he deals with nature and spirituality in this film and manages to explain it through biology and chemistry rather than implying any sort of holy deity.

Sam Worthington was fine as a leading man and some of his awkward attempts to integrate into the tribe are great.Zoe Saldana plays the Na'vi tribe perfectly.She is strong and wise ,yet vulnerable and feminine.She is the heart of the film.

The acting is superb ,both by the actors and the na'vi characters.But the strength of this experience lies in the world Cameron takes you to - the sights and sounds are realistic beyond compare.This is not your ordinary computer graphics - this is one of the very rare cases where special effects will make it more of a journey than just a movie.

It is also a film where 3D really shines.Till now ,3D was the forte of animation movies.Here, 3D will bring you uncannily close to realism.

The story is a bit thin and predictable though there are nice character developments.But that just doesn't matter because Avatar is just more than a movie ,a movie that writes film history.

The film ends leaving you wanting more ,it starts by slowly enticing you ,then gradually building up into one heck of an adventure ,rolling at such a speed that you'd never think it would end ,but films end eventually ,and I just hope that we are given SEQUELS in the future.

The happenings in the film serves as a stark warning that human greed is threatening to destroy the environment.

‘Spend/destroy now ,pay later’ is an extremely selfish move driven by HUMAN GREED.

Everyone has a right to a decent lifestyle but perhaps we all need teaching or reminding what a ‘decent lifestyle’ really should equate to.And our motivation should be the type of planet we would like our grandchildren to inherit.

Director : James Cameron

Writer : James Cameron

Cast : Sam Worthington , Zoe Saldana , Sigourney Weaver , Stephen Lang , Michelle Rodriguez

Rating : "PG" for intense war scenes.

P.S : " James Cameron originally attempted to get this film made in 1999 as his immediate follow-up to Titanic (1997). However, at the time ,the special effects he wanted for the movie ran the proposed budget up to $400 million.No studio would fund the film, and it was subsequently shelved for almost ten years. "

25. I'M not a KID !!!!

2009-12-06T12:35:00.010+05:30

Parents play a vital role in the lives of their children.Children have always thought that once they reach the age of 18 they are finally on their own and their parents will leave all the decision making to them.This is not true.

Parents will try to continue making the decisions until the child puts their foot down.Sometimes even when the child attempts to put a stop to it ,MOST parents still don’t listen.

Children are left in a situation where they have to make their decisions without hurting their parents.Everyone knows that most of the time the parents are just worried and want what is best for their child no matter what their age is.However ,this tends to put a damper on the child’s life.

This situation can cause different problems.It can cause problems in the child’s relationships or marriages.It can cause big issues between parent and child in regards to the way the child lives.

PLOT : “An overconcerned father decides everything in his son’s life ,the son tired of the forced spoonfeeding breaks the shackles & experiences life his own way.”

Bommarillu is the best example of perfect casting.Here is another tailor-made role for Siddharth.He is very natural ,charming and elegant.The most crucial part of his performance comes in the confrontation scene with Prakash Raj.

Genelia steals the show with her mind-blowing performance as a happy-go-lucky and innocent girl.Prakash Raj is at his best in this role that demands extraordinary performance.

Director Bhaskar arrives with this film as a terrific talent.There is lot of freshness in the film.He understands the nuances of filmmaking extremely well and applies them all with perfection for his debut film.

Story & screenplay of the film is tight.Direction is exceptionally good.He has dealt both fun scenes and emotional scenes with same degree of dexterity.

''Bommarillu'' reassures the viewers that there are plenty of talented people around in India to come up with films sans vulgarity and violence to present pure entertainment in a dignified way.

Bhaskar has fleshed out the characters of the father and son brilliantly.How the relationship evolves over a period of time and how the son musters courage to put his foot down.

Devi Sri Prasad’s Music of the film is very good and background music is excellent.Soothing tunes adds to the film’s strength.

We all have our own choices to make in our lives ,but if we choose to fall in line with our parent's wishes ,we do not have any right to blame them if anything goes wrong in our life.

At the sametime Parents might let their children learn from their own mistakes ,Parents should be neither an anchor to hold back their child ,nor a sail to take them forward.

''Bommarillu'' probes deep into this psyche of parents and their grown up children to analyze where and how conflict between them starts.It also presents the solution.

This film can change quite a few people’s outlook on how to raise their kids & make some Parents realise that their child IS NOT A KID ANYMORE.....

Director : Bhaskar

Writer : Bhaskar

Cast : Siddharth , Genelia , Prakash Raj

Rating : "U"

P.S : "After filming ,the runtime of the film was 3 hours and 15 minutes.It was later trimmed by 25 minutes"