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!!!