Terminator Salvation

I watched this film recently at AMC, NYC with some of my friends. Terminator leaves an impression on you being full of noisy action, thrills and less of drama. Of course, you would not find the legendary Arnold or Arnie in this movie (except in the end which i think was a fake young Arnold). Terminator Salvation, the fourth in row of Terminator series offers lot of action packed time where the terminators have really advanced from being T-100 to T-800 now. They are aggressive, non humane, possess extreme hatred to mankind and its survival. Luckily John Connor is trying to bind all survivors with his small search team. This time we see a terminator with the heart of a human so a new concept but not very promising down the long lane. I am impressed how the director McG's (of Charlies Angels fame) vision of a world in 2011 devoid of humans would look like. This is not an easy task to do as there is lot of research and homework need to be done in undestanding how the world would look like with no mankind. This too has to be communicated to the visual effects team in the best possible way for standout graphics. The protagonists to me in the film are the T-800 terminators than the actor "Christian Bale" himself who does not look convincing with his acting skills. Even in the latest batman movie, it was late Heath Ledger who as a joker stole all the limelight than the batman Christian bale.
The film is good for those who need to be in touch with Terminator chronicle. The film does not disappoint with its plot, direction, visual effects, action but if you are looking for someone who will standout in the acting department, you will be disappointed. The film dialogues are subtle and not brutal like the ones spoken by Arnie in the austrian accent. The film is a timepass and can be watched once. I'll rate the movie 6.5/10. Go watch it on a lazy sunday afternoon.

Slumdog Millionaire

The fact that this movie portrays India in the list of slumdogs disgusts me and you may not find this very convincing if you are not Indian (I am). I write this from the core of my heart after i watched the film couple of weeks back. Somehow, the western packaging of India slums worked for Danny Boyle and his film crew who got to bag 8 oscars for his movie. Am not jealous that a British director has today opened the way to Indian mainstream cinema in the hearts of millions around the world. He brings to light what happens to kids living in slums, how they are exploited to beg by some hoodlums but the big question is what happens after 3-4 months of spectacular fame. No one in India cares about the slum kids who acted in th film, they dont still have a house, no food, no education and now their father trying to sell them!!!!! This happens only in India.
So was the corollary of the movie also to wake up the sleepy Indian government to the sorrows and needs of distressed slum people. Is that the reason why we make such films? I am very certain that Danny Boyle, Anil Kapoor, AR Rehman are sleeping in their best times now but the slumkids have been left to their destiny and nothing promising remains in their favour. Audience in western world is absolutely oblivion of events happening in India. My advise to them is please do not compare your world with ours. Do not keep very high expectations from our Indian world. One of my colleagues in NY asks me if it was true that there was so much poverty in India, or are there really slums in India. Deep within my heart i curse the director, my government and my country.
I have watched "Frost Nixon", "The Curious case of Benjamin Button", "The Wrestler" in the same best film category as Slumdong and slumdog comes no close against the strong plots of other movies. In the best music/song category, there is only 1 man standing, thats AR rehman. so guess what, by obvious reasons he only wins the oscar...so lame because i do nt think "Jai Ho" is a oscar winning song. Slumdog bags 8 oscars by virtue of its luck and destiny because it has an extremely wicked, weak , fragile plot. The Acting is pathetic even from senior actors like Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan. The kids were however brilliant in acting and so natural to their personas. I do respect the Academy's decision on choosing the best film of they year but with due respect, you cannot judge an Indian film from the eyes of an American. It needs to be a true native or Indian to feel this film. Building relationships with film fraternity is important but getting talent from outside while the nurturing the indigeneous Indian talent getting discouraged is an horrendous idea and like a sacriledge with the Indian Film Industry.
Satyajit Ray is a big name in Film school books in US but why have films like Pathar Panchali not made a name for India on the red carpet. Is it just because it was to the core all Indian, made by Indian director, made in India and everything India. Even Lagaan reaches oscar only in Best Foreign Category but not in best film category because its directed/produced by Indians and not a britisher/american. So hypocritical !!! Slumdog definetly arouses sympathy, pity, excitement, compassion for Indian slums, Indian people. I bet you on that as i live in US and most of my peers are Americans. From my stand point, i do not see any convincing reality besides the slum life in the movie and Danny boyle adapts "Vikas Swarup's" novel targeted only for Western audience and his pride. If only someone would not come to my country and show how/what it is all about the way Danny shows, my reasoning and logic would have been different. Why should an Indian like me be so critical when his country name is on the tongue of evert American? But i and neither do my country need the worlds sympathy by showcasting the poor life in our films. We are what we are but we will not be always like this. We follow the hype and get caught in trap to watch the film, same was with me. I do not recommend this movie to any Indian, thats for sure but even if you do watch it, i'll be more than happy to read your comments on my blog. I'll rate the movie 4/10.

The Kite Runner

So i had not seen this movie in a while and the book and its adapted movie were out. I think this is the time and begin to watch "The KiteRunner". German director Marc Forster who has movies like Quantum of Solace under his belt opens the movie with beautiful scenic view of 2 kites fighting to win over each other in Afghanistan. The life of young Amir and Hassan portrayed brings to light to me that the story between rich and rag does not work even in visual cinema. After Amir does not want to be shown as a coward, he frames Hassan to be thief and Hassan along with his Father Ali leave Baba's (Amirs father) house. Jealousy brews in the young heart of Amir against Hassan who suceeds in his mission to keep apart from Hassan. Shooting in the intense Taliban controlled region would have been a daunting task for the director and his crew, but they do pull their strings well and manage a well deserved film.
I have not read the novel yet as i dont think there would be a need now. Am not sure why the director would want to show the stronger Hassan getting anally raped and then bleeding all his way to home. I personally hated that scene while the coward Amir just keeps watching by. There is certainly a transformation in the character of Amir played by Khalid Abdalla who after 15 years decides to come back to Pakistan and rescue Hassan's son. However, i feel the director could have got much better work done from his Actor. Khalid Abdalla is not very convincing in the film but may have landed a job due to his Middle eastern looks (just assuming). Rahim Khan played by Shaun Toub does justice to his role by meddling the relationship between Amir and his father Baba. Last time i saw Shaun in a movie was in "Crash" where he acted well too. Soraya, the wife of Amir has not much to offer in this movie besides being a moral support. Baba was convincing too as the head of the family. Overall the film is strong not because of the characters each one plays but for the plot. The direction is far from mediocre and swifts a journey from Afghnistan to California back to Pakistan. The director captures Afghnistan with the help of his DC and its culture tighly to remain visible in my mind. I can recommend this film on its plot, dialogues in afghani accent, a flavour of simplicity, comradeship, relationship, friendship, innocent and interwined lives. I still believe the novel of Khalid Hossieni would spell more beans. My rating for this movie is 7/10. Go watch it for brave Hassan!!!

Summer in NY 09

After a long time, i finally take a break from posting my views on films and poems here on my blog. As the title says, its summer time in NY now. The worst winter of my life is 95% over. Well for all NYorkers its over but i am still sensitive to cold so i will still need to rap up the remaining 5% cold to declare summer officially. This would be my 2nd summer in NY. I cant wait to get in shorts and t's and explore the day buzz of NY skylines. With good options to see new Beaches, take a bath in sea and watch some hot looking chicks !! I have always enjoyed summer although i know it gets harsh too here but not like that in Cali or Arizona. With summer comes sweat and i have to admit that i sweat a lot. I just cant take the fact of reaching office with a shirt soaked in sweat. Believe me this has happened to me before and it gets embarrasing but life offers solutions. My approach is to wake up in time and reach office early. I still cant believe i managed to traverse through th harsh chilly NY winter. I saw my first snow here, piles of snow accumulating outside my house and making it extremely difficult to walk. I almost tripped one day on my stairs in a bid to each office soon but one needs to be careful. With heaters in each home and office, i never really felt cold for a long time, only while commuting. I feel summer is a source of getting outdoors and being energetic. It should turn ones brain sharp (Well i dont have proof for this but i know you kinda agree, dont ya !!!) To my contrary, i recently read an article that gloomy weather makes peoples mind run faster according to a research. May be i am one of the exceptions. Am sure there will be more of drinking this season which i look forward to :)...so welcome summer of NY 09 !!!! Ohhh, I should say NJ too as i am a proud resident and worker here....See you in summer (not for my new blog but incase you wandered in the NY/NJ city by mistake)....hahahahaahahahahaahahaha

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Only if i knew that this movie was so wonderful and breathtaking, i would have seen it last year only. I got to watch this film in NYC with a friend of mine. The Curious case is a slow drama movie and is a long movie from an American's point of view. The film starts well depicting an era after WW-I in 1918 when benjamin button is born. He is born as an old crippled ugly man whom anyone would abandon and disown. You have to watch out this film for its Visual Effects. They were awesome and there is a reason for Curious case to bag an Oscar in visual effects. The driving force in the movie is Benjamin played by Bratt Pitt aging backwards since his birth. It requires a strong vision to bring this possible on 35 mm screen and Director David Fincher makes its possible. Am disappointed that he couldnt bag the best film or director oscar but the art direction and makeup oscars are credit worthy.
This is the best brad pitt film i ever watched in my life. Brad i simply adorable and is immensely so into the character of the role. The film has introduction scene of his wife played by Cate Blanchett (who acts superbly too) narrating her lifes story to her daughter. I felt she was made look too old for her age as her daughter sitting next to her looked mere 35-40. The logic of aging backwards is also irking me. When benjamin is born, he is old and crippled in a young childs body. He has arthritis in a young childs body but as he grows old he is aging backward and i would have expected him to die as a child in an old man's body. But this doesnt happen. Perhaps i am thinking wrong but i just think of having reverse logic being put in place. The saddest scene is when brad now a baby since he is aging backwards dies in the arms of Cate Blanchette. YOU have to watch this scene. Brad is poised throughtout the movie and delivers an oscar performance. All supporting actors like Taraji do a commending job lifting the spirits of the movie high. This movie is very emotional and will keep you glued to your seats if you are interested in watching how brad will look like now. In one of the scenes, brad is shown as 17 yr old. Surely the makeup dept convinced the academy for an oscar on this. I liked one of the dialogue when brad tells Cate (Daisy) that he needs to leave and that she cant raise both of he and his daughter. For me, the best movie of 2009 and for coming years. I strongly recommend you watch this movie. I'll rate this movie 9.5/10

Delhi-6

I heard a spate of Delhi movies are in the Bollywood pipeline. Feels good because i am a Delhite. Director Prakash Mehra captures the spur and warmth of delhi in Delhi-6. The whole story revolving around "Kaala Bandar" (Black Monkey) is hilarious. As a delhite, we all know that this story was making rounds of Delhi's towns which seemed to be menaced by a man dressed in black monkey suit and haunting people. Mr. Mehra gives a good start to the film as his cinematographer did a brilliant job with different camera angles. The one i liked the most was the camera motion moving swiftly in up and down motion enacting scenes just like from the eye of the monkey. I still feel glueing Kaala Bandar topic with his story, Mr Mehra is late as this happened long years back. Anyways, Abhishek's journey to India does not seem to bother him much except the electricity issues. He gets used to Delhi's closed streets very soon, earlier than with any family ! Abhishek fails to deliver an Indian American accent i was looking forward to. He definitely disappoints me in that department. In some shots Abhishek speaks fluent hindi, in some he tries to get the slang then Indian English. Someone who has seen the Daniel Perl Story (Well this is what i can remember now), watch out for Angelina Jolie's cuban accent in that film who is originally an American. She is simply superb !
Abhishek has more clothes to wear than his stay in Delhi which is very unnatural for any American who would be very casual for his attire. Somehow i have observed that Abhishek suits for films which require deep thinking and contemplation. There are actually some scenes in the film where his work is praise worthy as he thinks of all loose strings in the families. Waheeda ji gives a performance close to her heart and is delightful to watch. Am banking heavily on Mamdu (Deepak Dobriyal) and Jalebi's (Divya Dutta) work in the film and i hope they bag a filmfare for their supporting actor performance. They were brilliant and add stars to the film. Mamdu who plays a muslim character is full of spontaneity and energy. You have to see his work in the forgotten "1971" film. Great acting by him in the midst of Hindu-Muslim agitation makes him stand out. Divya Dutta is another actor whom i cant stop praising. I liked her in Veer Zaara as well and i dont know why she doesnt get noticed by filmfare academy. She is brilliant with her acting and Haryanwi fluent accent in the film. Please watch this drama queen !
The casting director fares well in his choice of cast selection except Sonam Kapoor. She is the biggest disappointment in the film. Abhishek just doesnt seem to have the right chemistry with her in the film. The theatre actors from Delhi (Pavan Malhotra, Om Puri, Supriya Pathak, Akhilesh etc) add to the spark in the film. This is a family film and has minor glitches from my point of view. City locales in Chandni Chowk have been shot well and will resonate with the heart of every Delhite. I recommend you watch it. I'll rate the film 7/10.

Gran Torino

Am pretty sure only the die hard fans of Clint Eastwood went to the theaters and watched it. Am turning into a fan of Mr Eastwood and this was an amazing film to watch. I had no clue what Gran Torino meant so i googled and found it was a 1972 ford car. The film is interesting because it shows how one can bridge the differences one can have with his neighbors which ofcourse in this film were the courteous and extremely hospitable Hmong people. Sir Clint Eastwood directorial gives a superb acting performance who is always frustrated not only by his own family members but also a racial disgust for the Hmong Asian neighbours. Not untill one of the Hmong teenager tries to steal Eastwood's car, the story takes a turn. The young teenager later apologises and wants to work for Eastwood for redemption. The closeness between the 2 families starts to grow. Clint starts visiting the Hmong family and gets aquainted with Hmong people.
With no support from his own family, Clint slowly finds company with his Asian neighbours and protects them against all evil and gang members. The movie is simple and draws attention to the way Clint becomes part of the Hmong family helping and protecting them. The dry and cold Clint transforms into a person who looks beyond his near ending life after his wife's recent death. His racial differences against the Asian neighbours vanish soon as he gets closer to them and understands their culture. And in the end, when he sacrifices his life being gun shot by all sorts of ammunication a gang would possess is very tragical and emotional. His never visiting sons and their family hope to get his car "Gran Torino" in Clint's will. For Thao (the young teenager), its a bliss to get Clints car after his death from his will. Sir Clint plays his never shown selfless part even after his death. You need to watch this for Sir Clint Eastwood, an amazing movie. I'll rate this movie 8/10 because i feel direction could have been better.