Maleficent

It is the age of Dark Fantasy and the age of setting the record straight in the world of fairy tales.  Or at least that’s what Robert Stromberg begins by saying in his attempt to direct a contemporary version of a classic fairy tale.  This time it is the turn of Princess Aurora or what most of you would better know as – Sleeping Beauty.

Edge of Tomorrow

Let me start by saying that I am not the biggest of Tom Cruise fans.  I have always believed that any of his movies would be far better if someone – anyone – else replaced him in the lead.  There may be a few exceptions to the rule though.  And Edge of Tomorrow (Surprise! Surprise!!) will feature in my list of Tom Cruise movies wherein he actually does well and I was really glad.

The Dark Knight Rises

With every Christopher Nolan movie, I dread walking into the movie hall. Because every time, I see a new one from his table, my older ranking starts seeming like a joke. In 7 years, this is Nolan’s 5th movie. And every time, I am tempted to give a 9 on 10. I land up giving it only to bite my tongue a year or two later. So I am really not sure whether I should rate The Dark Knight Rises at all.

No one but Nolan has really shown the story of Bruce Wayne, the way Bob Kane would have wanted it to be narrated. And that can happen if an only if you love something so much that you give it everything one has – not to mention the truck loads of talent that is required to bring a passion to life. TDKR is no different. There could not have been a more fitting finale to give Batman the status of “the most popular superhero to hit the silver screen”…. Or can there be?

Disclaimer – I am a huge fan of Nolan and more importantly the Dark Knight as narrated by Nolan. So this review is definitely going to be biased. So if you want to read a genuine critic talking about how the movie could have been better etc., then I suggest you look elsewhere coz here you are going to find only good things being written about Nolan. In fact Nolan has to actually commit hara-kiri and we may still pardon him.

In true Nolan fashion, this part also is brilliantly scripted and shot with great emphasis on each frame and character. No hero can or will ever be great without an equally brilliant villain. I will not even think to venture into The Joker’s territory as one of the best villains ever but you need to watch out for Tom Hardy as Bane in TDKR to believe what I am saying. And it is not just the eerie nature of the mask or the gruff muffled voice through the mask which makes you cringe in your pants. One cannot help but admire casting director John Papsidera. How can anyone pick such perfect actors for each role?

I cannot say that TDKR is flawless. The exceptionally trained eye will pick up some glitches – but they are too insignificant in the context of the movie. But I also haven’t yet seen a standing ovation to a Hollywood movie. I haven’t seen so many people staying glued to their seats till the last line of the credits moved out of the screen. And I haven’t seen a housefull 7 am show anywhere in the country.

Enough said. Time for you to go out there and try your luck. Watch it on the IMAX Screen some time at least – even if it is the 2nd time – don’t worry… you will be back for seconds. 9 on 10 once again!!!! Chris Nolan – you rock our world!!! I know… I haven’t given any sneak peek into the story this time. But believe me that’s intentional. I would not want to ruin the best movie of the year so far with even the smallest of spoilers. The shows @ IMAX are full upto Monday I am told. So if u get lucky…. U get lucky… enjoy.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2376312089/

The Three Musketeers

Just last week I was watching Alexander Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo – the movie. One of the movie channels. I think it was Zee Studio if I am not mistaken. Probably the only adaptation of the classic to date. It has so much potential to be an absolute pot boiler even today and I wonder why no one has gone for it once again. But The Three Musketeers has been attempted thrice. First in 1973. Then in 1993 which featured the cult classic by those 3 rock stars – Sting, Rod Stewart & Bryan Adams – All for Love. And the 3rd one released yesterday. Wonder why they did not keep up with the 20 year window and released this one in just 18 years. The ’73 and the ’93 versions were exact adaptations of the classic. The 2011 version has just that little bit of spice and slickness that is expected of a modern day adaptation.
And it has a cast that is – how do I put it – adventurous. Milla Jovovich is the hottest and I repeat THE HOTTEST ACTION WOMAN to ever have hit the silver screen. One may argue that it is Angelina Jolie but I guess Jolie is more versatile that Jovovich. Jovovich sticks to what she knows best – Action, Action and more Action. Her portrayal of Milady DeWinter – one of the most gorgeous and scheming villains of all time – is filled with all the elements that would scream out “JOVOVICH! JOVOVICH!! JOVOVICH!!!” And Mila does full justice to the role. Along with a not so great attempt at being a villain from chocolate boy Orlando Bloom as the Duke of Buckingham. And a an effortless portrayal of the sinister Cardinal Richlieu by the super talented Christoph Waltz ensures that The Three Musketeers is a movie to be watched for the villains and not the heroes by far. The lead roles of the fabulous four French fencers (now that’s an alliteration) is played by Matthew Macfadyen as the lover boy Arthos, Ray Stevenson as the brute Porthos, Luke Evans as the pious Aramis and Logan Lerman as the enthusiastic D’Artagnan. Not sure if it was the best possible cast.

This version kind of disappoints you with the final product which seems to have experimented with a truck load of action and loads of special effects. Now I am perfectly fine with the slick action sequences and they only add a lot of character to the movie. I am however, not able to point a finger on a particular aspect that seemed to have let me down. It was just average across the board and great in no aspect. If I can think of one aspect, it would probably be the acting and the fact that a bunch of French Musketeers sound like British Agents. Milla Jovovich fans are in line for some stunning sequences with the gorgeous heroine… oops villain. But overall disappointing. 6 on 10 at best. Paul Anderson does a better job with Resident Evil.

Trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1451924505/

Atonement

I had to finish Valentines Day with a movie that epitomizes true love. There are enough and more romantic comedies that were aired all through the day; some really good ones also. But what about the truest of love stores? The ones that are gut wrenchingly, excruciatingly painful but represent the concept of a long lasting love better than any other? I reviewed The English Patient yesterday and it was a sub conscious choice without giving much thought to the fact that it was actually a great build up to V Day. But picking up Atonement from my collection was not only a choice driven by the fact that I hadn’t seen it (the previous copy I had picked up was a DVD released by Big Videos and didn’t have subtitles and so was promptly returned) but also because I was looking at a love story and not a RomCom to finish off the day. I had my share of RomComs before Atonement with Hitch and Hope Springs. So a Golden Globe Winner and one with 7 Oscar nominations (one win) seemed to be a great choice.


What would be the emotions you could possibly go through if you are about 13 years old (a very peculiar and impressionable age) and you walked into the library of your massive house and found your sister having sex with the man that she loves who is coincidentally the one that you have a massive crush on. 13 year old - Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan – pronounced SEER sha); Sister – Cecilia Tallis (Kiera Knightley); Lover – Robbie Turner (James McAvoy). The embarrassed couple straightens their clothes and walk away.

The Tallises have their cousins from the north staying with them due some domestic problems – The Twins – Pierrot Quincey (Felix von Simson) and Jackson Quincey (Charlie von Simson) along with their elder sister Lola (Juno Temple). The twins don’t want to stay with their cousins and decide to run away that evening. Obviously the family panics and a search party is sent out. During the search, Briony stumbles upon someone molesting Lola and is shocked even further. Neither Lola nor Briony is sure about who the person was. But using this as an opportunity to get back @ Robbie, the naïve 13 year old gets him arrested as a prime witness. The fledgling romance between Robbie and Cecilia is smashed to smithereens. Robbie goes to prison and then to the war. Cecilia, leaves home and becomes a nurse. They keep their relationship alive through the years despite the frequency of meetings and the distances.

Atonement as the title suggests is a story of a girl’s search for retribution as she comes of age and understands the gravity of her actions. And how she tries to set things right. Yet another adapted screenplay, this one is based on Ian McEwan’s novel of the same name. I haven’t read the book but can only assume that it did deal with the aspect of Briony’s struggle to come to terms with her actions a bit more in detail. As aspect that was not given as much justice in the movie. The movie focused more on the love story between the protagonists who have done a very good job of bringing to fore the emotions that the lovers go through in sustaining their relationship through the years that build up to the war. Somehow, Joe Wright doesn’t seem to have done justice to the entire concept. Maybe it was in an attempt to keep the movie to under 2 hours. I would have risked extending it by about 30 minutes because the pace is quite solid and doesn’t really drop through the movie. The first thing that does hit you about the movie is the music which seems to be made with a typewriter and one which got the movie its only Oscar. Great cinematography. Some obvious slips on attention to detail – like Kiera Knightley’s luscious red lips in a nurse’s uniform. But Beautiful love story overall. Put this on your must watch list. 7 on 10.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3836805401/