Wednesday, 7. January 2009, 13:55:36
MMMMM, movies
I can't begin to describe the brilliance, ingenuity and efficacy of this small movie. It's low budget, in fact very very low. But that doesn't deter the narrative of this cleverly crafted sci-fi tale. Last post, I marvelled at 'The Day the Earth stood Still', especially at its ability to maintain the pace of the movie without special effects, expansive action sequences , instead just relying on the crisp dialogues. Well, Man from Earth easily surpasses these standards expected.
The movie is solely based in the living room of the protagonist's (a badly punned 'John Oldman') and the porch of this house. It's amazing how the movie sustains itself for one and a half hours just in these two places. Reminded me of '12 angry men' or even 'Rear Window' (Cinematically, no where as close, but, one has to give leniency keeping in mind its shoe-string budget).
I can't divulge much details about the movie without revealing its little twists and turns. The protagonist is a Faust like figure (without the extensive mythos) who uses his longetivity in the quest for knowledge. A bunch of professors discuss the possibility of such a 14,000 year old man existing in today's society. In the process, it brings forth ideas of science, human nature, faith and religion. The latter being the film's strong point. It basically highlights the evolution of a simple thought into current-day religion that is so full of futile rituals and absurd mythology. Its conclusions make 'The Da Vinci Code' sound like kindergarten literature.
On the flip side of the coin - the movie does have its foibles. The acting is average, but it does in no way hinder the narrative. There's lot of flat jokes (especially from the biologist) and a few inane dialogues. The movie has a very low budget feel to it (well, it is very low budget). But these are amply compensated by the story itself.
The movie is apparently impossible to find (Which is why I downloaded it. Apparently the producers have no problem with illegal downloads). But, if perchance, you can procure the movie DVD, I would suggest you catch it. Any movie that kept me thoroughly engrossed (I slept half-way through movie behemoths 'Transformers' and the recent Star Wars prequels) deserves,10 out of 10
Tuesday, 6. January 2009, 07:02:02
MMMMM, movies
After the debacle that is The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) (Should have been called 'Klaatu and GORT's bogus journey. Imagine a film in which GORT, the robot, has a better emotional range than Keanu. It's the day movie sensibilities stood still), I decided to see the original 1951 version. And what a great sci-fi movie it turned out to be.
For starters, the story and direction is really good. A sci-Fi movie with a story! A rarity indeed. And luckily, it doesn't rely much on special effects (Thank heavens too. The special effects look like they've been done in MS paint. Can't expect anything otherwise in 1951). The spaceship looks impressive, but GORT, looks like a rejected power ranger. And even with little action, little special effects, the movie does not tend to lag - credit that must be given to the director Robert Wise.
The acting is generally good, especially when compared to 2008 version. Some allowance must be given for the sensibilities of that age - like, overly melodramatic scenes with delayed, irrational screams, walking two steps forward and talking to the camera when the interlocutor is behind this character (like the soap operas of today).
As with most sci-fi classics, the movie does have a moral message to give. As with most sci-fi classics, humans, with their inherent trait of despising and threatening any species that is different from theirs, are shown in poor light. The moment that this benevolent alien lands on Earth, he is shot. He is immediately regarded as a threat. And, you can't help but agree with him that humans do pose a threat to all other civilizations (His message: Stop this violence, else we'll kill you ALL). We're inherently war-mongers.
But, the movie is hindered by too many minor plot-holes. Well, it just shows how simple that time was:
1)The space ship is said to travel 4000 miles/hr (it was later updated to 10^7 miles/hr in the 2008 version). 4000 was considered to be inhumanely fast!!!
2) Stranger (the Alien, incognito) to Mom: 'Can I spend time with your son'. Mom:'We'll ask little Billy how he feels'. She does say yes without any hesitation. Child safety related paranoia was non-existent in the pre-Michael Jackson era.
3) The Spaceship landing is the most important event in Human History. Yet, the spaceship was guarded by only two guards and a feeble corrugated steel wall! Even when GORT attacks the guards, the military persists in placing only two guards around it! When Klaatu is placed in the hospital, hi-tech military security involves locking him, and hiding the key!
But, even with all these minor flaws, the movie is still a Classic. 8 out of 10 1 star removed for its niggling plot holes.
1 star removed for the spaceship scene (when GORT lifts Mrs Barley and takes her into the spaceship). Slightly irritating.
Sunday, 4. January 2009, 15:30:37
movies, MMMMM
Ghajini is the Bollywood version of the Kollywood (The Tamil film industry) version of the Hollywood classic "Memento". It was one of the year's most anticipated Bollywood releases. And, does it live up to he hype? Yes and No. Let me expound furthur:
It is true that I judge Bollywood movies with a lower standard. Bollywood are marketed for the mass audience and subsequently changed to suit their tastes (The concept of "independent movies" is still in its nascent stage).
The main character has anterograde Amnesia, a condition brought on by a severe blow to the head, which basically implies that he can't form new memories (a 15 minute memory). He spends his every waking minute, in the quest for his fiance's killer. Yes, the revenge plot again. This story is unfolded by a series of flashbacks (and extremely detailed diary entries). But, that's where its resemblance with Memento ends.
While Memento was a thriller that dealt in the morally ambiguous, Ghajini pretty much stuck to the 'Bad guy' vs 'Good Guy' act. While, Memento had incredibly complex character development, with even more complex sub-plots, Ghajini has mainly two-dimensional characters - The wife is unnaturally good to everyone around her, while the baddie is unnaturally bad and the rest are just forgetable.
Ghajini also concentrates on the romance between the leads. And, even though that makes the movie package-able to Indian audience, it tends to dilute the unfolding of the story and the pace of the film. At 3 hours, the movie is about half an hour too long. The movie does lag in the first half. But, the last 45 minutes, beginning with the killing of his fiance and then concluding in the 'vanquishing of the baddie'
in his 'seemingly impregnable fortress', is fantastic.
Ghajini is all about Aamir Khan. He's built up, looking like the Incredible hulk. Even though his look might be a marketing gimmick, it does lend credibility to the carnal, raw, almost animal like aggression of the 'hero'. He screams around for every little reason and, mostly, roams about shirtless. But, his performance stands out in the movie (especially in the climax when he snarls at the villain). The supports are average at best, with Jiah Khan as a medical student (who breaks all laws of medical ethics by divulging medical records to random people) being totally wooden.
Overall, I would say that the movie was a little better than average. It should have been tauter, better edited, with probably a song or two removed. But, with slim pickings this season, it is a pretty enjoyable watch. 6 out of 10 1 star removed for bad pacing.
1 star removed for being an unoriginal concept.
1 star removed for bad acting (Jiah Khan being responsible).
1 star removed for some pretty inane dialogues, small plot holes (screenwriter's amnesia).
Saturday, 3. January 2009, 12:40:12
MMMMM, movies
Wall-E is one of the best animated movies I've seen, well, it's one of the best movies I've seen for a long time. It's rated number 34 in imdb's top 250, 8.6 stars and it deserves every star. It's tied with Toy Story 2 (funnier than Wall-E, cruder in animation, but it still warrants a sort of nostalgic liking) as my favorite animated movie. And unsurprisingly, both are Pixar.
Wall-E is animated, sci-fi, and a romantic-comedy! And, it mellifluously shifts between these genres. The story is relatively simple, but is incredibly done.
The animation is nearly flawless. Earth, or whatever remains of it, looks eerily real. Wall-E, the other robots (Mo, Eve, the stewards, the police and the rogues) look great. The live-action footage (Fred Willard and scenes from 'Hello, Dolly') are seamlessly inserted into the movie.
Wall-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter, Earth-Class) is one of the most endearing characters in recent movie history. It's rare that an audience emphasizes with a character, let alone an animated one. Wall-E is funny, charming and clumsy (very Chaplin like), and he does all this without even saying a word! The scene where Wall-E shields EVE from from the capricious Earth weather is particularly heart-warming. So is the climax (EEEEE-Vah!).
As a science fiction movie, Wall-E has a very relevant message. We, humans, are destroying the Earth. We do realize our vision of utopia, but it comes at the price of the planet. We've generated so much garbage, that it becomes impossible to sustain life on the planet. We're so dependent on machines, that we become obese, almost inhuman, with no human physical contact and largely unaware of our surroundings. For anyone skeptical of such a vision of humanity, refer to the obesity figures over progressive years. As a science fiction movie, it is very much reminiscent of '2001: A Space Odyssey'.
In conclusion, Wall-E is one of the best movies of the year and is a must watch. A sure shot 'Best Animated Film' at the Oscars.
9 out of 10
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