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Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Everything is stupid all at once
If I was 15, I'd have still found it stupid. But 20 years later, yea this is, without question, the stupidest film I've ever seen.
Just don't watch it. You'll have a better time watching rehashes of old films and re watching sitcoms that you've watched 20 other times.
This is the case of the academy taking themselves too seriously and the writers and directors having a laugh at everyone's expense.
I imagine the writers sitting in a room and laughing on the floor seeing this has received 7 academy awards.
I might have to increase the ratings of other films so this can take the bottom spot with 1 rating.
Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai (2004)
The Very Best!!!
I started watching this series about 10 days back. I liked it so much that I finished the entire season in just 10 days. It is one of the best sitcoms I have ever seen in my life. It offers a unique combination of slapstick and subtle "sophisticated" humor.
The characters of this series are unique and are instantly likable. Only after 1 episode, you are able to form a bond with them and understand the situation from their perspective. The acting is top notch. I would specially like to praise the choice of cast. No one else would have done a better job in their respective roles.
Satish Shah is just so immensely comic. Ratna Pathak gives a splendid performance, perhaps the best of the lot. Roopali Ganguly is sweet, innocent and bubbly and Sumeet Raghavan is mature and rational. These are joined by Rajesh Kumar who I believe was the source of most of the humor in the series.
The characters are constantly shown to be one dimensional. All of life's situations are characterized differently by each of them because of their characteristics and this generates intense humor. There's always friction between some family members but the latent love that they have for each other always prevails.
The background score is just too good. The theme music when Maya starts to count the list of middle class things that Monisha does/like lifts the mood instantly. Even in crisis situations, the "list" of middle class things instantly makes you laugh and smile.
I believe the show deserves every hype it gets. Because it always kept a big smile on my face. Even if there was no humor, I never stopped smiling.
Recommended for everyone looking for light hearted but good comedy!!!
The Lego Movie (2014)
The Makers of the Film were MasterBuilders!!
!!!Massive Spiolers Ahead!!!
I found the experience of this film to be very different and very entertaining.
The movie starts in an apparent Utopian Lego society where everyone follows rules and in which creativity is hindered (Similar to the hindered creativity of the adult as compared to the creative mind of a child - that is revealed in the end). That happiness is an illusion and true happiness comes from creating something (or alternately doing something creative)
Then we meet our protagonist: your average, normal person who doesn't realize this. But upon the realization, strives to become the most interesting person in the world. This quest leads him to meet MasterBuilders (is this a word play? i am not sure). These MasterBuilders are highly creative yet eccentric people who are fighting against Lord Business (Another strong pun). And it is because of their eccentricity and maybe ego, that they are not able to succeed. They work individually but not as a team.
Ultimately, the protagonist uses his organizational skills to form a plan to ultimately defeat Lord Business. But as usual a lot of hurdles come in the way.
But in the end, something different happens. The villain is not defeated yet he is transformed from evil to good.
There are a lot of themes that are touched in this film. There are also a lot of word plays which are hilarious. The characters are awesome especially The Batman. There are also a lot of cultural reference here and there. Famous scenes, dialogues, scenarios are spoofed numerous times.
All in all, a very entertaining film which has something for children as well as adults.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Good Entertainment!!! Typical Marvel..
Well, some of the lesser known heroes (and villains) of the marvel universe come together and the result is not all bad.
It's an entertaining film. There is a lot of action and a lot happening in the film to keep you preoccupied and not focus on the larger scheme of things.
It has many typical marvel characteristics like:
1. The characters are simple. They are not introduced. They are just there.
2. There is little or no character development. We are told that a certain character likes this or hates that without much reason or thought process
3. Its fast paced. Leaving you occupied without focusing on the broader scheme of things and concentrated on the action at hand
4. The characters are either good or evil (not otherwise)
5. They hate each other in the beginning and combine together at the end (big surprise there..). They are selfish at first but a bigger cause unites them.
6. They all are after a small tiny object which supposedly is key to unlimited power.
The film is highly entertaining. The characters are funny. One liners are pulled off nicely. There are emotional moments.
All in all, it felt like Avengers 2 with lesser known characters. And thats the good thing. Now, we have something other than watching the same old(ahem.. some young) marvel heroes and villains. But still, it feels commercial in making; designed to make money rather than appeal to the genuine movie-watching audience who feel the need to connect to a film before fully appreciating it. But its best for going with buddies on a Friday night. You will enjoy. You will have a sense of satisfaction and you will tell people about it.
Singham Returns (2014)
Achieves what it tries to. Nothing more!!!
I watched the film because some of my friends had already booked tickets for me without my permission. Otherwise, i wouldn't have.
Anyone who has seen Singham has to necessarily see this one. I actually liked the first Singham film. The purpose of this film seems to be to enhance the reputation of the titular character. It does so quite successfully but adds nothing more. You are there in the multiplex, you know whats going to happen, yet you still watch it because the first film was good (I call it the First Film syndrome).
Now, coming to the actual review. I think the film lacked substance, originality as well as plot. The plot was relatively simple. Most of the film is full of slow-mo shots of Ajay Devgn walking from a car towards some one or delivering a highly intense dramatized dialog and very loud music playing in the background as the camera pans followed by intense mindless actions (but isn't it the point of Singham films).
There was one point on which the film could have elaborated more which was the plight of the family of the deceased police officer. But it was relatively short and ended up without much consequence. Some humorous one-liners were tried during the film but they were too few and too far between.
The film tries to portray the unity among Mumbai police but its very clichéd and highly improbable.
The end result is that you are disconnected from the film. You can surf the net and read an entire chapter of the Mahabharata while Singham has walked from his car (or whatever it is) to the villain. But you are never bored.
The film achieves what it wants. You have to decided whether you want the same thing. If yes and if mindless action films are your taste and you want only goodie-good things happening in your film whose start and end can be predicted with a 98% accuracy by a 3 year old, then this film is just for you. Enjoy.
Ship of Theseus (2012)
Good Film!!
I had heard a lot about Ship of Theseus before and after its release. It was supposed to be an extraordinary film. After having watched it, I must say that it is.
The film is an ensemble of various short stories about different people. There is an underlying theme of organ transplant and organ donation. The bigger picture seems to fit with the Theseus paradox. We notice that after the organ transplants, the people change. They are no longer original. But it is not necessarily the organ that changes them, rather the consciousness of the organ being present or being replaced that changes them. Therefore, this seems to add another dimension to the Theseus paradox (which to be honest is quite an intellectual topic in itself).
Another good part about the film is its characters. The characters are so real and in everyday situations. Its as if their life has been captured using a camera. You do not think that this is actually a film shot. Things are just happening and a documentary has been made out of it. All the actors deliver great performances.
The film uses a lot of visual imagery in order to convey messages and generate effects. It does not conserve time. It rather consummates it nicely to deliver an overall effect.
In the end, there is a strong powerful feeling of the organ donor himself watching the films that he shot before dying through various people who have received his organs. To me, it hit as a moment of realization that the whole movie buildup was towards this.
Overall, this is a film that makes you think (not in a change the world kind of way) in an exploring possibilities kind of way. There is lot of intellectual thought and stimulation which you can think over even after completing the film.
However, sometimes there is a lot of focus on individuals expressions when they are doing nothing. Its not necessarily a bad thing, but does not add a lot of purpose. The viewers are already aware of the though processes of the characters.
Overall, a thoughtful film. A must see!!
Kokuriko-zaka kara (2011)
Unappreciated Little Gem of a Film
Great Film. Surprisingly unappreciated. Perhaps because it was the second film of Goro Miyazaki whose first wasn't appreciated either (though it wasn't that bad).
This is a simple enough story. The characters are simple but strong. The love story is very innocent. More importantly it tells a story. You don't need hard and fast action to make a film entertaining, nor do you need lightning quick pace of the film. What you do need is a good story line with good characters. This has both.
All these features make it a treat to watch. The film progresses slowly but it is never boring.
It's one of the films that is very real. Most Ghibli films will have fantasy elements about them. However, this one doesn't. This is the plain and simple story about determination and love, loss and remembrance.
Good film. Must see for someone who enjoys slow, simple films.
Karigurashi no Arietti (2010)
Something Different as Always from Studio Ghibli
I watched The Secret World of Arrietty today. I had to watch the Disney version as I couldn't get my hands on the Japanese version and I believe that the translation takes a lot of magic away from them.
This film is not epic by any proportions such as earlier more famous films were. Here, the story revolves around the little world of the Borrowers which is uniquely fascinating. Although the concept of little people has been user numerous times before, this takes it a step further and adds a little bit of magic.
The story is pretty plain and simple yet not at all boring. In fact its an enjoying ride through the fantasy land. It does have some serious moments and some mysterious characters, but they are all too very short. This is a film which will make you happy. You will have a smile on your face for the entire duration of the film.
The only weak points are that the characters are not much developed. They start and end the same way. Arrietty of course learns a few things but fundamentally she is the same as before.
That's the big difference from Kiki's delivery service wherein the main character evolves with independent experience. The story is simple in that also.
But nonetheless, a good work which is still far ahead of animation elsewhere. Give me Frozen and Arrietty, and I will choose Arrietty any day... :D
La Môme (2007)
Brilliant Acting Pulls It Off
I am convinced that this is one of the finest acting feats for a biopic by any actor along with Jamie Foxx for Ray and Meryl Streep for the Iron Lady come to mind. Also Charlize Theron for Monster.
As in all the cases, Marion Cotillard is able to bring to the screen the charisma of the character that she is portraying and that is what gets you hooked.
There is a lot of content, which is somewhat non-linear and can be a little irritating at times and a little tiring.
The characterization of Edith Piaf from Poverty and struggle to riches based only on her talent is quite inspiring.
The film shows the vulnerability that the best of the talents have to endure from the mass of attention that surrounds them. It is not always easy to cope with them and those that can't, end up very miserable.
However, this film in general doesn't seem to have much purpose, e.g. to address the larger music scene. It tends to focus only on Piaf and her strong hallucinations as well as tantrums.
It would have been nice had the film had a broader context. But nonetheless, the film handled its content quite nicely but lacked a sense of direction in general.
If you are looking for great acting performances, watch this. If you are looking for great stories, this may be skipped.
Hotaru no haka (1988)
A Moving Experience
Beware, this is not a movie for people with weak hearts. Keep a box of tissue ready with you always while watching.
I read a lot about Grave of the Fireflies before watching and this kind of research generally leads to decrease in intensity of the film while watching as one generally expects what is going to happen. However, it didn't happen with this. It was not only more overwhelming than I imagined, it was more overwhelming than I could have imagined.
As soon as the movie starts, you know how it's going to end, but still can not bear to watch as scene by scene unfolds and you are hoping and praying that the scene does not end in the worst possible way.
You are hoping to end the misery for the little kids as much as for you. I am very certain that I will never watch this film again as I can not go through the pain. However, I recommend everyone to watch it at least once.
The things I liked about this film were:
1. Amazing portrayal of a war situation. You will not find any more realistic and sad portrayals of the effects of war
2. Contrast: The contrast of the innocence of kids with the hatred and suffering of war
3. Helplessness: There is nothing more heartbreaking than the face of a helpless child. You get to see it so much in this film. It is truly heart-wrenching.
4. Special moments: This characteristic is very familiar in almost all Ghibli films, where you get an amazingly real portrayal of exchanges between two people that is almost impossible to create artificially and that is what I like so much about all Ghibli films. E.g. the scene where the brother and sister are taking a bath, among others.
5. Untouched/Non-discussed subjects: Subjects such as guilt, depravity, etc. are more than touched in this film. This makes it unique among animated films or even among live action films.
I remember very few films that have such an effect on me. Perhaps, none will ever will and that is the importance of this film for me.
This, according to me, is one of the finest Studio Ghibli films ever made. It is one of the most moving films I have ever seen and will probably ever see in my life. It doesn't get the recognition it deserves. When people start watching Ghibli films, they generally tend to focus on Hayao Miyazaki films, and films such as these get neglected. However, this film by Isao Takahata is up there with the best films ever made animated or non-animated.
I don't get the fact that people say that this deserves a live action film. I say that live action films don't deserve this script. I don't understand the hatred for animation and the movement towards effects rather than story. I for one, am a fan of animation, and this credit goes only to Studio Ghibli. Hats Off!!!
Kaze tachinu (2013)
Beautiful!!!
I have been watching Studio Ghibli films for only a little over a year. And by now, I have seen more than a dozen films. I have seen films released in 1986 (Laputa) to 2013 (The Wind Rises) and the beauty of the films has not decreased in 27 years. That's a long time to be consistent and I appreciate Studio Ghibli to still be producing films of such quality.
I first watched The Wind Rises just after watching Grave of the fireflies (which is a great movie itself) and therefore could not appreciate the film to that extent. Having recovered from Grave of the fireflies after about 2 weeks, I watched the film again and was astounded. And since then, I have watched the film 3 more times. The magic doesn't seem to fade. Its still there.
And what a soundtrack. It is the best of all Ghibli/Miyazaki Films and whatever credit you give to Joe Hisaishi, it is still less. The music is stuck in my head since then and with the same intensity.
I can not overemphasize the beauty of this film. There are a lot of strong moments, moments which will persist even after a long time. You feel like you have gone back to childhood. There are a lot of themes touched. Love, Sacrifice, Regret, Determination to name a few.
Its more of an experience than a film.
Its a tribute to Flight and Animation and if its to be Mr. Miyazaki's swan song, then it is fitting enough be considered one of his if not the best.
There are not a lot of things you can call beautiful, but this surely is... Great work!!!
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
Mildly disappointing..
Review of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag!!! This is my first review. I regard movie-watching as a genuinely important experience. It is an opportunity to learn and expand my perspective rather than just 2 hours blandly watching things moving on the screen.
Having said that, I was very eager to see this movie after reading about all critical acclaim it had garnered and that this is a good 3 hrs long.
Maybe, because of such high expectations, I was mildly disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad. It had its good moments too.
The Negatives:
The story: The base story is quite simple which in itself is not a bad thing, but having to watch it slowly unfold in a predictable manner for 3 hrs is. What did bother me was the fact that all, the movie offered to us was the story and nothing else. We get to see the ghosts of Milkha Singh's past coming to haunt him but the ghosts are never buried. There is no triumph. With such a complicated past, the character of Milkha Singh appears to be very simple. I feel there is lot that could have been done with the character.
The length: One of the biggest drawbacks. This movie is 3 hrs long but lacks the content of a 3 hr film. We do get to see the struggles faced during the path to success but it is all too short in a film that is 3 hrs long. In the end we are left with a lot of slow-motion shots of Farhan Akhtar runnig, jumping, etc. Therefore, I can not help but feel that this was more of a sponsorship of how Farhan Akhtar put in enormous effort (dont get me wrong, he did put an enormous effort) to prepare for this film rather than that of the Milkha Singh himself.
The Feel Good factor: Its truly not a sports film. There is a hero who has suffered a lot in childhood and has risen from mediocrity to become successful. But while the whole movie portrays his Olympic and Asian games effort and how hard he tried to break the records, the movie ends in a race between just two nations and against a competitor who he had already beaten when his leg was injured. Surely that's not a climax.
The soundtrack of the movie is not bad, but its not appropriate either. The triumph scenes of Milkha are accompanied by a rock sound which generates feeling of a rush but doesn't lead to generation of emotions. This combined with the above factor leads to a lack of feel good factor even in the climax. Maybe something more orchestral would have been good. Mediocre acting: Other than Farhan Akhtar, I found others to be mediocre and/or overly-dramatic
The positives
Great Entertainer: If you overlook all the above facts, its really not a bad film. You'd find it money well spent.
The biggest positive is that it celebrates the life of a true Indian athlete and a forgotten legend.
Very few people in Indian history can boast of the same level of athleticism as Milkha Singh in his prime. We have always been good at cricket and while cricket involves a lot of technique, athletics involves a lot of effort and preparation which is what I feel is lacking among young Indian sportsmen. We are good at chess, shooting and badminton, but when it comes to pure effort, we leave a lot to be desired.
Indian sports has been poor in track events at Olympics and other games. Hence, such athletes are extremely rare and this is all the more reason that they should be given all the recognition possible. They should be seen as an example by young athletes aspiring to become future champions.
Preparation by lead actor: I like few things like Farhan Akhtar bending forward near the finish line at the end of each race like real athletes. This shows the attention to detail and the commitment/preparation on the part of the actor to get in the shoes of the athlete. Then, there's the running style with and without shoes, and obviously the effort to get in shape would have been challenging as well.
My overall review: You should watch this once to get to know the story of Milkha Singh. Although it might not inspire you, you still can take away positives from this movie.