Just the other
day, I was lamenting about how 2013 has been a watershed – pretty much – for the
animation segment. There were hardly any
good movies that were released to date.
And one could have only hoped through the trailers that Tarzan was good. But coming up before Tarzan to put a smile on
my face – Monsters University!!!
Showing posts with label Alfred Molina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alfred Molina. Show all posts
Friday, 21 June 2013
Thursday, 26 January 2012
The Da Vinci Code
What can you get when you get together 3 people – one who has been widely regarded as the top 10 directors of all time if not the top 10. Another who is responsible for giving us one of the biggest block buster novels of the previous decade – probably the #1 bestseller other than the Harry Potter series and definitely THE most controversial of the lot. And the third who has been regarded by most people as one of the best actors ever to be born – one who is known for his “boy next door” looks and yet regarded as capable of taking up any role that is possible (I would like to see him play a villain though – haven’t seen that yet but I am certain he can and will give us the pleasure of that sooner than later). Well what you get is one of the best adaptations of a book into a movie – I would like to stick my neck out at this stage and call it the best after The Godfather and The Adventures of Tintin – Secret of the Unicorn.
Ron Howard would have been extremely challenged at the thought of directing The Da Vinci Code for certain but he smartly roped in Tom Hanks who is known to be an actor who eases the stress out from the director’s head immensely. And they had the support of Dan Brown to try and get this to life. The way Dan Brown has layered the book and keeps peeling it out like an onion is something which can be very difficult to get alive on the silver screen. I can only say that the team that created the movie should be really proud of what they got out eventually.
I cannot think of any scene that was badly executed or any aspect that was missed out from the book. Difficult sequences such as the point where Sophie (Audrey Tatou) and Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) figure out that a pope actually stands for Alexander Pope and the walk to Newton’s Tomb is superimposed with that of the actual funeral of Sir Isaac Newton. Or the casting for Silas (Paul Bettany) which is impeccable. But nearly not as impeccable as Bishop Aringarosa played by someone who I consider is probably more versatile (if there is something like that) that any other actor who I have seen till date – Alfred Molina. Time and again Alfred Molina has stunned the daylights out of me in the way that he gets into his character and makes you believe that the character in the book was created specifically with Molina in mind – simply scintillating I say.
True to the book as they say, The Da Vinci Code is a great movie to watch any given Sunday. It is edited well, has great cinematography, good solid performances and has a story that is great (apart from the ending where Dan Brown always screws up :p). You can watch it even if you haven’t read the book. 7 on 10 is what I say.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2369847833/
Ron Howard would have been extremely challenged at the thought of directing The Da Vinci Code for certain but he smartly roped in Tom Hanks who is known to be an actor who eases the stress out from the director’s head immensely. And they had the support of Dan Brown to try and get this to life. The way Dan Brown has layered the book and keeps peeling it out like an onion is something which can be very difficult to get alive on the silver screen. I can only say that the team that created the movie should be really proud of what they got out eventually.
I cannot think of any scene that was badly executed or any aspect that was missed out from the book. Difficult sequences such as the point where Sophie (Audrey Tatou) and Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) figure out that a pope actually stands for Alexander Pope and the walk to Newton’s Tomb is superimposed with that of the actual funeral of Sir Isaac Newton. Or the casting for Silas (Paul Bettany) which is impeccable. But nearly not as impeccable as Bishop Aringarosa played by someone who I consider is probably more versatile (if there is something like that) that any other actor who I have seen till date – Alfred Molina. Time and again Alfred Molina has stunned the daylights out of me in the way that he gets into his character and makes you believe that the character in the book was created specifically with Molina in mind – simply scintillating I say.
True to the book as they say, The Da Vinci Code is a great movie to watch any given Sunday. It is edited well, has great cinematography, good solid performances and has a story that is great (apart from the ending where Dan Brown always screws up :p). You can watch it even if you haven’t read the book. 7 on 10 is what I say.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2369847833/
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Abduction
Nathan (Taylor Lautner) is a rugged looking character and Karen (Lily Collins) is a pretty looking girl. They are both in high school and have been next door neighbours for quite sometime now. The chemistry between them is thick enough to be cut by a knife for certain (or so the makers would like us to believe). But an incident during their growing up years has left some kind of a soreness between the two. Karen continues to speak to Nathan only on a need basis and vice versa. Nathan on the other hand keeps harbouring hopes that one day, he will be able to muster up the courage to ask Karen out once again and re-kindle their relationship in a manner of speaking. Nathan’s friends keep egging him to do this but our hero doesn’t quite have it in him. Oh the magic of being in high-school…. Hey now wait a minute… why the hell am I making this into a mushy high-school romance when Abduction is actually an above average flick with loads of action sequences and especially the peppy chases which add to the drama – cant call it edge of the seat drama but it is entertaining nevertheless.
Taylor Lautner is going to be or already is quite a hit with the girls – that I am quite certain of. What with his boyish yet chiseled looks and to make matters even better for the women – he can fight like few others… at least when it comes upto mixed martial arts. Would be interesting to check up his history. And he is a decent actor also. Nowhere close to good as of now but decent. Will not make it to the level of serious actors but that’s what most of us said of Leo DiCaprio when he started. So Mr. Lautner – I guess u have some hope. However, I would, in the interest of your career strongly advise you to avoid screen space with the likes of Alfred Molina and Sigourney Weaver. More importantly the former because he can make you look like you are the scum of the earth. Will someone tell me what Alfred Molina cannot do? Is there a more versatile actor that has been born to date – I am completely amazed at his talent. Whether it is the frustrated pastor in Chocolat or the CIA agent in this movie, it is simply amazing to see what this person can achieve – despite this being one of his weakest roles to date.
Abduction could have done with some consistent tempo instead of the movement from the mushy romantic to the non-stop action (which is what confused me in the first paragraph ). The movie slows down at times to almost a drawl!!! And then speeds upto frenetic action and then turns mushy like nothing else and then back to drawl and then back to frenzied action. A bit difficult to keep up. John Singleton to look into the matter for future reference I say. As such quite entertaining and definitely worth watching once. Overall a 6 on 10.
Trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3861355545/
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Rango
It is inexplicable how movie houses fail to see the magic that a movie creates and move it off the screen within the blink of an eyelid. Just when I thought that I would take the opportunity to add another movie to my “must make everyone see” list, Rango moved out of screens this week. It’s a sad but true story of how quality work will never get enough critical mass in this country. In the same breath, an average animation movie such as Rio – and I tip my hat to 20th Century Fox’s marketing team on timing – is ringing in the cash across the country for over a month now. I say fantastic timing because it coincided with the kids vacations and every parent that I see at the box office counters is going nuts. Thank God for small mercies that there is no merchandise that has yet hit the stores. Is TCF missing a point here? I would guess so. But this write up is more to do with probably the best Animation movie released since Toy Story. An I would not be incorrect if I were to say that Rango moved out sooner than it should have because people just did not get it – because it is not a kids animation movie. It is one, for the more cerebrally evolved.
Lars (Johnny Depp) is a chameleon who has been relegated to the position of a pet. Yep – a pet chameleon who stays in a glass box with a few inanimate objects. A decapitated miniature doll, a plastic toy fish, lots of gravel, a bowl of water amongst other not so exciting things. And I can only assume that the family is shifting or doesn’t want to leave home without their darling chameleon – which explains why Lars is in the back of the car under the hatch. He is biding his time here by honing his acting skills – he believes that he is God’s gift to acting in the chameleon world. However, in between a skillful rendition of a romantic hero, an unexpected bump on the road and a near accident finds him ejected from his comfort into the desert – a place that he has never been in. After saving himself from an eagle on his way to a town called Dirt, he finds himself with Beans (Isla Fisher), a lizard who helps him to the town. He gets there only to find out water is as good as gold. But Lars’s survival instincts get the better of him and using his passion for acting he weaves a story about how he single handedly killed seven notorious brothers and how he is close pals with Rattlesnake Jake (Bill Nighy) the most dreaded animal other than the Chihuahuan Raven. He then begins his conquest, along with the Mayor John (Ned Beatty), a desert tortoise to find out where the water has disappeared.
I would have to agree with my good friend Vinay Zende on this one (not that we agree too much these days). Rango is not an animation movie. It’s a western. And I strongly recommend that you watch it like you would if you were watching a classic Clint Eastwood – who is by the way the inspiration for the character of The Spirit of the West (Timothy Olyphant). The quality of animation is lifelike – almost alive – as good as Clint from TGTBATU – and if u don’t know what that ridiculous abbreviation means I suggest you have a relook at your status as a lover of Western Movies. The voice overs especially the ones by Bill Nighy for Rattlesnake Jake send a cold shiver down your spine. The narration by the four Burrowing Owls is amazingly amusing and yet so creative. I honestly cannot find fault with Rango in too many places, but there are a few consistency errors which can be noticed by probably the seasoned movie watcher only. The Gore Verbinksi and Johnny Depp combination has done it again I say!!!! Don’t miss Rango – its definitely a 7.5 on 10 if not an 8. My first pick for the nominations from 2011 for the Academy awards.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2047646233/
Lars (Johnny Depp) is a chameleon who has been relegated to the position of a pet. Yep – a pet chameleon who stays in a glass box with a few inanimate objects. A decapitated miniature doll, a plastic toy fish, lots of gravel, a bowl of water amongst other not so exciting things. And I can only assume that the family is shifting or doesn’t want to leave home without their darling chameleon – which explains why Lars is in the back of the car under the hatch. He is biding his time here by honing his acting skills – he believes that he is God’s gift to acting in the chameleon world. However, in between a skillful rendition of a romantic hero, an unexpected bump on the road and a near accident finds him ejected from his comfort into the desert – a place that he has never been in. After saving himself from an eagle on his way to a town called Dirt, he finds himself with Beans (Isla Fisher), a lizard who helps him to the town. He gets there only to find out water is as good as gold. But Lars’s survival instincts get the better of him and using his passion for acting he weaves a story about how he single handedly killed seven notorious brothers and how he is close pals with Rattlesnake Jake (Bill Nighy) the most dreaded animal other than the Chihuahuan Raven. He then begins his conquest, along with the Mayor John (Ned Beatty), a desert tortoise to find out where the water has disappeared.
I would have to agree with my good friend Vinay Zende on this one (not that we agree too much these days). Rango is not an animation movie. It’s a western. And I strongly recommend that you watch it like you would if you were watching a classic Clint Eastwood – who is by the way the inspiration for the character of The Spirit of the West (Timothy Olyphant). The quality of animation is lifelike – almost alive – as good as Clint from TGTBATU – and if u don’t know what that ridiculous abbreviation means I suggest you have a relook at your status as a lover of Western Movies. The voice overs especially the ones by Bill Nighy for Rattlesnake Jake send a cold shiver down your spine. The narration by the four Burrowing Owls is amazingly amusing and yet so creative. I honestly cannot find fault with Rango in too many places, but there are a few consistency errors which can be noticed by probably the seasoned movie watcher only. The Gore Verbinksi and Johnny Depp combination has done it again I say!!!! Don’t miss Rango – its definitely a 7.5 on 10 if not an 8. My first pick for the nominations from 2011 for the Academy awards.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2047646233/
Thursday, 22 July 2010
The Sorcerers Apprentice
Veronica (Belluci), Balthazar (Cage) and Horvath (Molina) are the 3 closest aides of Merlin the lord of all Magicians way back in 740 AD. Merlin’s sworn enemy is Morgana who is the lord of the dead. Horvath betrays Merlin and joins hands with Morgana. Merlin dies but in the attempt to protect Balthazar, Veronica casts a spell through which she consumes Morgana into her mortal self and Balthazar in turn traps both of them in a Grimhold – a doll that looks like those Matryoshka Russian 9 in one dolls takes u back to your childhood. Balthazar also traps Horvath in one of those. Before he dies, Merlin hands over his ring, a dragon, to Balthazar. The ring will find its true owner who would be the Prime Merlinian (true descendant of Merlin). It is only the Prime Merlinian who can eliminate Morgana.
The story then moves to Y2K in NY where David, all of 10 years, is totally smitten by Becky, his class mate. On a school trip he gives Becky a note in which he asks her whether she would like to be his friend or girlfriend. Now, Becky does write the answer down but the wind blows it half way across the block to an antique store called Arcana Cabana. No points for guessing who runs the place – our long lost friend Balthazar . Balthazar senses that this is no coincidence and shows David the dragon ring which quickly crawls onto his palm and wraps itself around the finger of its rightful owner. But, David does not heed to the warning given by Balthazar of not touching anything and inadvertently frees Horvath from his Grimhold. A fight ensues between Balthazar and Horvath resulting in both of them getting trapped inside a 10th century Ming vase inside which they spend the next 10 years. David on the other hand gets out of the store and is ridiculed by his classmates coz they think he has lost it.
In the meantime, David (Jay Baruchel) has grown up to being a 20 year old Physics geek. And he bumps into his classmate – no points for guessing again – Becky (Teresa Palmer). The Ming Vase has found its way into a Russian household in NY and our hero and villain reappear and continue their search for David. Horvath finds David but is unable to locate the Grimhold coz even David does not know where it is. Balthazar arrives just in time to save David and uses his Grimhold Tracking Device ( yes everything is possible in a fantasy) to find out where the Grimhold is.
David agrees to helping Balthazar and his training begins. Parallely a relationship with Becky also develops which Balthazar is quite wary of. Horvath in the meantime has also found an apprentice of his own, Drake Stone.
The Sorcerers Apprentice takes you through a phenomenal fantasy world of what sorcery could do. Plasma Bolts, Fire Bolts, Hungarian Mirror Traps, Reverse World, Persian Quick Rugs et al. The graphics and special effects are very well done. One does not expect anything less from a Disney Production. John Turtletaub uses all his experience from his previous 2 Disney Block Busters – National Treasure and National Treasure –Book of Secrets and his 9 other movies as director to give us a nicely finished fantasy. One which does justice to the Disney brand association.
Nicholas Cage is his usual confused self. I have never quite managed to figure out how he made it this big. I am sure people love the fact that he is confused. Yet to see a movie in which he has not looked as if he didn’t know what hit him. But consistency does deserve points I guess. Monica Belluci in her 3 minutes of screen time looks luscious as ever. I wonder how these nearly 50 year olds manage to look so hot. Jay Baruchel will be loved by most of the girls who watch this movie coz he does look true to the definition of cute – ugly but tolerable. Teresa Palmer is probably just furniture. But the pick of the lot is one of my favouritest and versatile actors of all time. Alfred Molina. What cant Molina portray is a question that I have always asked myself. I keep coming up with the same answer – Molina can play any role that you give him. Versatality is probably his middle name. Although the kids would not like Horvath but when they grow up to understand the finer nuances of acting, Molina will be up there in their books. Truly a super star!!!!
All in all, The Sorcerers Apprentice is a wonderful treat for the family. It is definitely not the best movie ever made by Disney but is worth a dekko for sure but then Disney’s average movies are far superior to any other in their genre or otherwise. I give it 5 on 10.
The story then moves to Y2K in NY where David, all of 10 years, is totally smitten by Becky, his class mate. On a school trip he gives Becky a note in which he asks her whether she would like to be his friend or girlfriend. Now, Becky does write the answer down but the wind blows it half way across the block to an antique store called Arcana Cabana. No points for guessing who runs the place – our long lost friend Balthazar . Balthazar senses that this is no coincidence and shows David the dragon ring which quickly crawls onto his palm and wraps itself around the finger of its rightful owner. But, David does not heed to the warning given by Balthazar of not touching anything and inadvertently frees Horvath from his Grimhold. A fight ensues between Balthazar and Horvath resulting in both of them getting trapped inside a 10th century Ming vase inside which they spend the next 10 years. David on the other hand gets out of the store and is ridiculed by his classmates coz they think he has lost it.
In the meantime, David (Jay Baruchel) has grown up to being a 20 year old Physics geek. And he bumps into his classmate – no points for guessing again – Becky (Teresa Palmer). The Ming Vase has found its way into a Russian household in NY and our hero and villain reappear and continue their search for David. Horvath finds David but is unable to locate the Grimhold coz even David does not know where it is. Balthazar arrives just in time to save David and uses his Grimhold Tracking Device ( yes everything is possible in a fantasy) to find out where the Grimhold is.
David agrees to helping Balthazar and his training begins. Parallely a relationship with Becky also develops which Balthazar is quite wary of. Horvath in the meantime has also found an apprentice of his own, Drake Stone.
The Sorcerers Apprentice takes you through a phenomenal fantasy world of what sorcery could do. Plasma Bolts, Fire Bolts, Hungarian Mirror Traps, Reverse World, Persian Quick Rugs et al. The graphics and special effects are very well done. One does not expect anything less from a Disney Production. John Turtletaub uses all his experience from his previous 2 Disney Block Busters – National Treasure and National Treasure –Book of Secrets and his 9 other movies as director to give us a nicely finished fantasy. One which does justice to the Disney brand association.
Nicholas Cage is his usual confused self. I have never quite managed to figure out how he made it this big. I am sure people love the fact that he is confused. Yet to see a movie in which he has not looked as if he didn’t know what hit him. But consistency does deserve points I guess. Monica Belluci in her 3 minutes of screen time looks luscious as ever. I wonder how these nearly 50 year olds manage to look so hot. Jay Baruchel will be loved by most of the girls who watch this movie coz he does look true to the definition of cute – ugly but tolerable. Teresa Palmer is probably just furniture. But the pick of the lot is one of my favouritest and versatile actors of all time. Alfred Molina. What cant Molina portray is a question that I have always asked myself. I keep coming up with the same answer – Molina can play any role that you give him. Versatality is probably his middle name. Although the kids would not like Horvath but when they grow up to understand the finer nuances of acting, Molina will be up there in their books. Truly a super star!!!!
All in all, The Sorcerers Apprentice is a wonderful treat for the family. It is definitely not the best movie ever made by Disney but is worth a dekko for sure but then Disney’s average movies are far superior to any other in their genre or otherwise. I give it 5 on 10.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)