tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89308200787732209802024-03-05T00:25:07.761-08:00Reviewers without BordersDanish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-41452945121853337552016-01-29T08:51:00.002-08:002016-01-29T08:51:53.644-08:00Period Drama Month: Wolf Hall, The Last Kingdom, Mr Selfridge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Wolf Hall (<i>2015 Miniseries - 6 episodes</i>)</b><br />
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Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn are the Marvel superheroes of world history, in that, they get a reboot every couple of years and are utterly done to death. I get that 6 wives, beheadings and a break with the Vatican are a big deal, but the topic has gotten very boring. It needed the masterful touch of Hilary Mantel to rejuvenate it. Mantel's brilliant book of the same title tells the story of that tumultuous time in England through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, a merchant who rose through the ranks to become one of the most powerful men in England... and then promptly lost his head, obviously. If you've read/watched <i>A Man for All Seasons</i>, then you might recognise Cromwell as the greasy evil man who manufactures evidence against the noble Sir Thomas More. Mantel does not shy away from Cromwell's ruthlessness but gives him so much nuance.</div>
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The miniseries does a fabulous job of bringing Mantel's book to life; it is a thoughtful and well-scripted drama with plenty of court intrigue and illicit sex-having to satisfy the historical fiction aficionado. Mark Rylance as Cromwell and Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn were especially good. My only complaint is that, it drags at certain points and some of the bearded people can get indistinguishable.</div>
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<b>The Last Kingdom (<i>2015 Season 1 - 8 episodes)</i></b></div>
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Now here's a more interesting time from British history: when the country was little more than a bunch of little swamps and mud fortresses and the Viking galleys struck fear in everyone's hearts! Set during the reign of King Alfred the Great, this show is firmly in <i>Outlander/ Game of Thrones</i> category, minus dragons and time travel.</div>
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Uhtred Ragnarson, played by Alexander Dreymon is a Saxon boy taken by the Danes and brought up as a warrior. He's a fantastic protagonist,
especially in the looks department. <i>Mostly </i>in the looks department actually. He is tall and broad-shouldered,
with a twinkle in his eye and moves with great assuredness. </div>
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There's plenty to criticise about the show: the dialogue is middling and character development is patchy. For
example, they make a big deal about how King Alfred is the Tyrion Lannister of England and has spies everywhere, but his handling of everything from episodes 4-7 was terrible and utterly out of character! Brida who plays Uhtred's love interest starts off as a complex character-- wise among the Danes, totally clueless among the Saxons and her chemistry with Uhtred was great. Around episode 5 they don't know what to do with her so they make her weird and utterly waste her. What.</div>
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But I loved it. The plot is well paced and it is dramatic, sexy and funny. Also, did I mention that Uhtred is very very handsome. </div>
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<b>Mr Selfridge <i>(2013-14 Seasons 1 and 2 - 20 episodes)</i></b></div>
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<i>Mr Selfridge</i> isn't a <i>proper</i> period drama with courts and kings and swords; it is more in the <i>Mad Men</i> genre. It's the story of the eponymous Harry Selfridge, a bombastic American who showed Londoners a thing or two about business by opening one of the most successful department stores in the early 1900s. </div>
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The most intriguing thing about the show is that the title character is the plot
device while the most interesting characters are transforming themselves
and have beautiful, emotional moments of character development around him. He isn't even the moral centre
of the show. That's not to say that he isn't portrayed as a force of
nature but it's just that he's the most boring part of the show. The best episode was when he was in a coma and everybody else comes
together to do wonderful things. </div>
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It is the soap opera-iest of all the shows mentioned in this post. There are also the pretty clothes and the "Ms Towler's dazzling window display that is unveiled at the climax" sort of moments but it is perfectly acceptable if you need a period drama fix (the first two seasons are on Netflix).</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-15946272458117115612016-01-08T07:28:00.000-08:002016-01-08T07:34:50.322-08:00This Pop-Cultural Week: A new Tarantino, a new Kaufman, and some classic Greek comedy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Cinema</b><br />
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This first week of the new year allowed me to catch up on some promising titles I'd been hoarding since December, leading to a much higher movie-per-week average than usual. These included the latest from three of the most talented individuals in Hollywood and one spectacular debut feature.<br />
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<i>The Hateful Eight</i></div>
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rTDo1n6DPv6fxoa8eWw3ON/0GPP5VSPAO1q4jwroJ0z+dtEij5SY8X+Lf96rB4f2g2DIDJMEwFBLHI1sPgyoBLeeNPzqaVMs0ah3Ee0fhkDBDOHbXoIjGdG+CW6AKPX+FbvgfMUF28qwHWkQjzKMFGMgLaQfUADOf2hTQ2uKVOxQIqBpFNAp+mgRQM000VkIpmKBpogUaFAiK5f7YPxi694vox11BXL/bD+MXXvF9GOiVb3Y9+E2/vL9aStzzlzALC2Ny0ZlAdE0htJ8ZO+SD6Vp+x78Jt/eb60lSPjvCIbuPuLhC8ZKtpDMu69DlSD51RXo7Zl1aP6Pl1Zxp70as+mnu85rYy9q6raR3X2OQh5ZItPejwmNUbJbRjfXjHyqB3fEIhzF3/eJ3Qu0YyahoCqFBOrpgY/lUy7V+GW1nwsQQgR95dLLoLsxZsHvGGok4HhzjYZrSPcnauv2Q3f2N9PfiHT3o80L6tWjGNtOPnXr4Z2lia0uroWkgFt3fg7wNr7xsHDBNtPU9dvSqojiuP6I1/bE+zd/o+yYGvvM6tWcZ/fxnoKnHZ5exrwK+BkVSvf5BYZHexKsefTUwIHqaK9MfbUDnTw+VsbnTKDgepxHsP+lTjkPmteJ27TrGYgsjR6SwfOlUbOQB+1/KqO7NrwxTs5vYrWId0ZkkwftMSsS0Sgjc41DA/bFXzyjxezuoWkslAiDlSBF3Q1hVJ8OBnYrv/wBKg3tGmrTsVlRpUaRoFTXUEYO4PUHoc+VGjQM7pc5xv/36VHOdeT4uIwdy5IwdUbdWjf1BPVSMgqeu3TFSYUcUHLXN3DrmwA4fOsZ0v36SoSdSsCoxkDoQfbOKZwnni7hyrP3qnSCZFDuFBBK6m+NSNtL6hvtg710dzNyva38fd3MYbG6sCVdCf2XG49uh9KqXjfYrIhb7PcqR+RZ1Cas/lEikjPQbqM1pPCvZoraVdayskxyzI8YSMnrpTQSE9AN87fDXhli0YzjBGQQQQRnHUfMYI8sVsuNcp31pkz20iqM5dRrj26nvFyB+uKw8J4s0PQB4z1Q5x/eVhuj4yMjrncEbVSNtybxCKN2E6GSFFaYJglWkhUtGrY/+HnBJOwx88jPxnna6uEIed9TdcYUBW+JUUDwr0GOu3Unet8sttFbGWHue8ulFu0p+KKGRTLL3sMY0CTQqjWvUncL513cwlGKnGQegOR6jf0qRqzV09/8AS8ksfcyvqjXGgHAZACThXx8+h2PyrxPaZcKjKQR8TYjAA2y2Tgb9Tk1ikt3ChirBW6MR4TkZAB6ZxvisnD7hI3DvH3gG4UsVGoDw5I3wDuQOvSqiS8F5FldftFy6Q2g3aRZFZpBjViIAEOT09/athzkOGW8ax2kKsWU6pi2qWOUaSoGonK4zqyAPGMHIxUV45zBcXZUyvkKMBVAVQSdTHSuBktuT7elYhwz/ANN9o7xPjCmI7PpORrGT4l1DGwPnkjGKDBfWjQytEeqNjp5jB6Hy+fmN/OrQ7D2mFzcIZXXCkyxMmQXDBVbIPhYDUP3um+M15eyvlqK/xPcI33Q0JIMEOVwYy3XxxhSMkYKlBvtUwtuVmsOIPe4ZoZI2jcQjfUSDraMnIGFHwZxjOw2qWpVjxnIB9fUYP8D0NHFeDg80bpmKXvVJyDnJHy9R7HfrWwFZUsUDSNCgbTSKcTTCKAGlSNKgBrl/th/GLr3i+jFXUBNcv9sP4xd+8X0YqJVv9j34Tb+831pKkHMfHYrGE3E2rQGVfAoZst02JG21aDscH9U2/vN9aStj2hWiScOug6hgsMki9dnjRijbeYNagr2wflq5nSJba67yaQKMmRV1yNjciXYZPpW45u5x4Jcv3N5FcuYJJFGlWUBgdD4KyDI8NVXylxWG0u4riaIypGSwUEA6wPAwJ22bB/SsfMvEYrm6mnhjMUcjawhIJBIGskjbd9TfrVF18J5e4NccNMscEv2UNJOVMkgk1wq0bH48/CCAM4qP2nMXLscE1ukF2Ip9BlXxkt3Z1J4jLlcE+VTvgyW9rwdCyAQra95Iu/i1xa5B65Yk/wCaqHteHRvZXFw0kaSpLEI4dQDMjZ70qhOSo1x4/uGgsnlvgXL18s7w21xi3UO+uSVTghjt94cnwH+VejlvtE4JZRGK2iukjZi5BQv4iFBOWkJ6KP4V4OxF45IL+3VVE7J8e/iR0ZFB+SuT0H56j3NvJR4bw2DvhEbhrkqZIyxzF3LELlgPzKT0qaFhntm4Z6XP/BH++thxbtTsLYQ94J/voUnTTGD4JCwXPi2bwnaqp5D5Q/pGzvVjWP7QkkAikkLAKpJMgyAeoB8q23a7wFbaw4aHVftEaLbu6kkFYoydIzjK6iT086aEx/8AOrhn7Nz/AMIf762/BO0eyuormWITBbaPvJNSAHThj4RqOT4T6VSXZ9c8OZha3doZpbiVEjlDAd0JNKDYnfDHNXZyp2cWlitwivLMlwixyLKVwVGrbwKvXUaaVrf/ADk4b+zc/wDCX/fQPbJw0AnTc7f/AEl/31SPF41juplC4RJ5VCjyRJWAX/KMVafCOS+GcatxPbRy2Sq7xsqFGLnCnJJ1YxnbHzq6RKOL9qlhbStDIs+tQhOmMEeNFkG+r0YUT2p2H2X7Xifu++7jHdjVr7vvPh1dNPnVa9tvDo4byHQuC8Clz5uyExhj89KqP0rK3D4v/CveaBr+0a9W+dff9zq9+78PtU0LHtu0+xktZrsCfuoXRHzGNWqTZcLq3Fawds/DDsVuT/8AaH++tVyFwS3k5emLxBi4uHc7+J4DJ3Tdfy4GPaqx7ObGO44jaRTKHjdiGU5wcRu3l8wD+lB1SIxjzx898/x61A+cuzC2uwGgWO2lBYlkQBZCegZQemd8jfep8PalU8DmfiHd20d1YTQlJFA0SNkuZ1ZWZhjKiNlVcbfCPiySK3HM3CbeThq3drbxxxo6IWU/eS6tKHvN8Ah3wPPKk7A4qwO0bku3u2NxJLMjLGVHcxGQ7ZYEgAnGMjy6jcZrTWdxw2/s3srZ2V+6ZNOgRzYVdQJiJAmYONwD1JIxmrWpZruinIlpaPra7nTQ+pDAWQ9zuo1tGxyVOEwyjbBz5MNnxnsvgALRzNEDurkiSBgOoDE6kbHRWY74wT5e62tOG8UtYZZbdElcBAynuleRQA4DLuj5B+IHPlmo1fX99wRjEsneW8gYRLMDlemVaNhjbIBAyp30lT0z77OXxj+qIg3B5Wa4WNe9+zhmkaIhhoVgutSM5XcHIzgZz0NWzZcPt+JvEturPZWUcZVC5RmmlT4UcAMhRQG8gXPluarLhvHpoZTdpJIZiDr0/doGJwiuBtLGVGdOF3x6b+zlTm/7IDG8ZZGJbXGQsqMQBgA+B49h924xkZGK1Y4pU/NonDrxZ0mmjWZmSQCNe8DAagJoBhW33EijxAkYJIapYvNkzmFREkYlKiGWTOmfJJJjTIKDQNXjYNvgK9VvxrnBLqWznR372KSJQkcXiwWGcBgw7zUUGnUykE4J3FWHxWaOIyoWgGAXkjYqYH8yxU5NtN1Or4Tk5yemVsl8PVx2Ozt271rhbORj4ZC6gSnzzGTh9zudj86x2fOCRtouJImAB+9ibXGfPcdUOPy+vrVJc1TvcTveHLQLpWJXkV2Vc6VQrkkeLLb+RG5rRXPEZZPjdjnyJOMeW3TFbYdZWt6kqh4mV1PRlYEH9QaeXBwQfPbzzj2/72rlLhXMF1bPrhuJIyeuk/F7qdm/WrE4N2v3Kx5ktu+ChVyuUyzHqZAulRnIxjfbfY1LBdbNTSapni/bU52trZR4gdUrEgqOvhXG59fL0NS/s752PEmuSwWMo0ZjizlhGUAYlseId4DvjbNTS7TY0M0TQFQEmuXu2H8Yu/eL6MVdQ5rl/ti/GLv3i+jFRKt/sc/Cbf3m+tJXp7U714eHT6E1mQCEjBJCyhlLADzFefsc/Cbf3m+tJW4505hawtjcrEZdLKCoYrhWzliwBwBj086oors6eSHiVq3ckhpBEdaNpCzHQzdOoByPasHOzSTX91J3LLmVlARG04j+7BG3mEB9yasGPtmmZWZeHOyL8bCZyq/3mEWF/Wt1ddpzpw+3vltSwmkkQoJmxH3bFQS+j8xHQgfrWhFeZeZbmTg1lAISomV0k0q+oLaOioMeWrGTn0o8Fsrb+g7id+HI88TmIMyt3j94UxIDpyCveHAGfgFTnk7tFF3FczzQm2it1Vmk1s4bOrIB0jxDA2GT4xWjXtgmllb7Pw6WWNN2IdjIE/aKojKnn1P61BXfIXEbizvoZEjY6iIXDI4BSVlUnptg4b9Knnb1fSs8FqIyyAd9qVWJ1feR6dtsYOfWt7wTtQa5tb25S1P/AKUIVQSljIHJ64Xw4AztmvJwHtYkuTMFsSO6gkm8MrNqMYGlNo9tW4z8ulUR7sIv5Y7mW2MRCSoZC7KwIaIAADO2DqP8Ky9vt9K80FqIiUVO+1KrE6nLxldhjGFB9d63XLna693KY/sRAWKWVmExYARRs4z93sCQFz861rducgVWbh5UMMqTMQGA2JBMe4ztkVBCuT+b7rh0UkcVoHMjatbxyakOkKNOBjbGanfZzzjxGSDiM1yzzNbwLJErxhAWAlJHhVSc6VFSXkHtCk4jPLC9q1uY41k3ckkMQB4Si4BBBBqeZoOTbnvZJnmMTgvI0pGh8As5cjp0ycV0tyXxJrqyhneNYmkDFkUEAEMy9Dv0AreavnSzTZpUnbpy3NL3N3CjSLGjRyhAWZQW1K+kblclgcdMiq6tuZLmTh44THAXBl1gqrNJ8feaNAGPi/N6bfOuoKAAG4G9TZpWc0E/CeXe70B5ipV03Ok3TtrA09Sof/8AGqY5bu57O5iuUhZ2iJIVkfScqV3wM+ddaClv61djnbh3Hrq+4za3EkbxZlhUqokEeFOM+L1+ddFim5PrTlqVYBWqx5/7NBKZb20eRLrPe6Q2zso304GUk2yCDjPp1Fn0jTY5H4rxeeedp5CFlOA2hRHugxuo/NnOc75JqU8N7R2CFLu2S6XQI8Hbwg6tic6d8bDbYYA6VcPNHZzYXzGR4zHKTkyxEIzf3hgq3uRn51BuJ9huFzBebjymjGP8yHb+Bp2qzKzsr6/ksncPb5jiYqJLeT7ttyRqEviTSNQPh6ac6awWXLjTMUjnt2kC5KFyCdsnDAFGx/e9Om4Hs4ryDxGB3Q25k0Y1GEiQYIJBwDqGQOhFaXh3EJrWTVGSjjZlZQQcHOlkYYO48xkfKrfoSz23PCuH31o7v3BBEUjblfB922JAAT4gGyMjBz5ZBHiueOO0YhKjTsW/adgdTFm6kk9c79alPMPNMd3axlYSviEl0iNgaImPh1AeAM7qdhnGCfWoTd2kgHeNHIiMcqzoVDA7jDEYb9M0m75XOYy/p8Ma3B1M2w1ZyABg53xp6EfKvRAsDugbWgPxd3hskkBQocjTnfckjpRseDyzozQgSMuS0SZMoRQpMmjG6ZYDbJznbYmvHb3DowZWKsvQjqp6fof9KrKQT8Pt7TLyapJc4jgcJgafiklI1ArnAVVOTvuK1/EeOzS4BbC6cFVGFboSWHmcgewwBgCtYWJ8yfLf08hUs/8ACwHDI7hlP2iedEt1BLGVHwFGAdK5xId99k6ZoI3HZSO6pGhZnA0BQW1eROw9Qc+hz6VP+yvhXccXkhm2dIZQM6lJP3ecf4SwIPz8xW37GuFdzczx3HguoQdMEi4ZVfAaWN84KnAB07b53yKtGTglu1yt0Yx36oYxJvkIxJx6Z3O/XBI86lR7IR4RnGfPBJGfkTvin4p5WmYrKiK5e7Yvxi794voxV1DmuXu2L8Yu/eL6MVEq3+xz8Jt/eb60leztQuFThd1qbTqQIufNmYEKPmcH+FeTsc/Cbf3m+tJUm41wiC7j7q4jEkeQ2nLDxL0OVIPnVFG9mPFI7ZpJZr4QwqwL2unUboaGAwM74JG1TftG4/bXHBdcB0pNKgiUroLGKX7zwDpjBNb9ezfhP/yi/wDEm/31sJeSbB4I7ZrcGGJmaNNcnhZ92OdeTn5mqKq4Apm5fvYYjqkjnWZ0G7d0DES2PTwOf8BrJ2acxR2tnfKs8MNyxSSEzbK2lcYG3iOx8I38Qq3eAcr2tkXNtCIzJpD4Z2zp1afiY9NR6eta+97OOGSuXa0UMTk6HeNSfUojAfyps0hPInMk09nxOa4WCKJYSuuOFIsyyJJsxX4j4l/z/OoTyFbzN9oEV99j0W5dzp1d4iZ1L1GAM5z+9XQbct2xtjadwgtyMGNfCvXV1Ug5yM5zmtfZ9nvDotei2C643ib7yU5jkwGXd9s4G/Wm1VJ2GNEb2aKTAE1s0YQkjXupdR/gDfwrH2229vDPb21sAqwQMpjBJ0F3MgBzvuGz+tXHwjkTh9rKs8FuElXOltchxqBU7MxHQmjxnkPh91K089uHkbAZi8gzpAA2VgOgFNoXKNhatHHewhTJNBEjygsdQjVVxgnGxTHTyqR14uFcOitokghTRGgwq+IgAknGTk9SfOvdg1FgZok0MGjg1As0dVDBpaaAmkKGk0dNAqctMxThQOpUBSoDQZQRgjPyPSjSoMZTc/8AeP1qNcxciWF6/eTwAyHGZELI5xt4mU4byG4//kpNCqac4c22dxwqa4tMq9vPEVQEDT3ZOVfHlKpJ38zv02recyXMl7wjvbjWkirHJEjjRH3aaFLR5+IlRI2dzhsdKtLmfgMVwNTWsFw4VkHfEjCtvhSFODnG+3U7iq1XnUBpeF8QhjtMK0LNH44F7yPSMoTlI91YFTt8hS/RZZ7jRcsXcPCyPttnIjkhluNOrwn4dBDeDY51LuehB2xMp4eH8QBdkhuBJssyIBMkg3w4TDb7dd9znAO2u4VzY1pDHY8SYK8eEBVcskQGIpdeSkqEDHkcYyrAmo/zjyy8LmWxJKSoxkERGjTkYOj8m7fDjY7rp6Vm+XLjvXziONwSN7qeASCAAOYu9ZNzldMbMrEZwW3BJ8OSOuLE5V4iLh2uZWWBrZFiiQxh4/tQQCdiiDGogBFAOojOn0qp4rl4/hUI661dsHXl/XV8LDBAIAI38969PBeP3FoWMMmA4xIjKHSQejo2zdevX51qzbj+LXhdPMN8jXHDLhkKSi5VNWkjMMyMhwWIJTWyDBAIyNtxmwbdn31Y29AR+vUjr/pXN/Fue5Li3jhkhQtE4kjfW2A6nw+A76cbaSxx5bbVeXK/N9rerqikywVNanIZC3UFOvUHxYwfWnfXdMvht3EjNNpxO1Y0qINcv9sX4xd+8X0Yq6gzXL/bF+MXfvF9GKiVb/Y4P6pt/eb60lTN6h3Y1+E2/vN9aSplJVCSsymsS1lWoRlSsimsAasgais4NHNYlanA0D6NKligQpUjSFAqVKlQGhvSzSoFSzSzSoETRoURQIUs0jQoHZpUAaVAaFKhQA1HOb+ULa/idHjQSEeCXA1o2PCQ2M42GR0I8qkYpVRyVx7gtxZymK5RlYbAnJRgNgUfoy4G3oB0GKVhxy5hx3crDAwvnpA8gT0X5V1RfcMhlUpJFG65zpZAy6j+YqRjPzqMcT7N+Fyoc2aoQOsBZG/QKcE48iDS6vlccrjdy6c/XfF2lZXcDvEIIYAYPi1bxnw/yx8q3nKPCrG+nW2cSwMVYiZZYwGIGymGQEEn9wjPoKlvFexZ+8f7PcERgAr3yhsk5yupDnbbqvnVdcy8tXNi5juYivo4y0bA9CsmMfpsR6VZJFyzuXlNOJ9j10iBoZkmbfw6O72H77Of9Kh/DL264fMHCvGdQVwy+GRVYFk38LjA8j59as3sz5sW7QWl1O/fj+zL4KyqpJAHTMgH7WSQNs42nF7wJblZ4LnLxuyMFyDjMarkHSGUhlbBGDt702w2PLvFYrqBJoSSjDYkYO2xBHkRjp/rWwxVH8E4RxHhfFY7WF2aOUg5I1RvbhiXdkGdDLlhkY8TDyarshmDZx5HB9QfQ1LFZK5e7Yfxi794voxV1DiuX+2L8Yu/eL6MVRKuDsc/Cbf3m+tJU1loUqoatZlNKlQg04ClSqKeBTxmjSoMgNHNGlQLNLNKlQKlSpUCpUqVAqVGlQLNLFKlQImhSpUBpUqVAqApUqAUsUqVAqbpFKlQBYxkkdT/AMqZNCrgqyhlOxUjKkehU7GjSqxKq3nzsshde+sUMUg3MSY0PjcFFJGhgfQ/ptWPsv4dxiJlNxj7M4IZJpMzLp1aSg3YDUSMMehOwpUqtFnCNs+WkdNjnpg7k/pisoFGlWVKuXu2H8Yu/eL6MVGlRK//2Q==" 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" 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"The 8th film by Quentin Tarantino" we are helpfully told at the outset. What does one an audacious director do when the promise of unpredictability itself becomes a given as far as he is concerned? For QT, it means taking up the challenge, lock, stock and sixteen smoking barrels, giving us his most theatrical production yet. I mean this quite literally - this is a movie bound largely to two sets, a stagecoach and a bar. The confined setting simply allows Tarantino to spin out even more whip-smart dialogue as eight dastardly villains prepare to face off across one snowy evening. If the increasingly taut sequences don't approach the terrifying power of Inglorious Basterds' opening interrogation, there is still more bloody and invigorating entertainment to be had here than pretty much anything Hollywood put out last year. </div>
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Rating: 4/5</div>
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<div>
<i>Anomalisa</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS_AMNUEyWNaBF5gerHxQjQIdSJua3M0Z-FP4jmHVxIhTqimCum" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for anomalisa" border="0" class="rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS_AMNUEyWNaBF5gerHxQjQIdSJua3M0Z-FP4jmHVxIhTqimCum" data-sz="f" height="167" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="KHR6KPPQqFsI1M:" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS_AMNUEyWNaBF5gerHxQjQIdSJua3M0Z-FP4jmHVxIhTqimCum" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a><br />
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Charlie Kaufman's latest is also surprisingly stage-bound and linear - though, as this increasingly complex stop-motion animated feature makes clear, there is no way it could have worked outside of its particular medium. Our protagonist, a consumer-relations guru spending a night at a hotel, has a peculiar problem. Everyone's voice sounds the same to him. His wife, son, the hotel attendant, all bleed into an unsettling monotone that typifies the man's increasing alienation. Until that is, he hears a woman's voice down the hallway that finally sounds distinct, and launches in single minded pursuit of her. Is this true love? Is it a manic delusion? Coming from the creator of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, you know the likely answer is option c): both, and so much more. The movie didn't work for me on the level of his other achievements - the animation style, while so essential to the story, distanced me from the characters and there are definite pacing issues even though it clocks in at a slim 90 minutes. Still, this is Kaufman continuing to be ambitiously original and that, in and of itself is something worth celebrating. </div>
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Rating: 3/5</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Crimson Peak</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThfT5USasAVoQnlqHRfBJUsvXggVebBp7WH9t3RID5IRt0djOSqw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for crimson peak" border="0" class="rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThfT5USasAVoQnlqHRfBJUsvXggVebBp7WH9t3RID5IRt0djOSqw" data-sz="f" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="RhuApmmboZQPsM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThfT5USasAVoQnlqHRfBJUsvXggVebBp7WH9t3RID5IRt0djOSqw" style="height: 168px; margin-top: 0px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
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Guillermo Del Toro, along with Baz Luhrman, is pretty much the Sanjay Leela Bhansali of Hollywood. I mean this in the best way possible, keeping in mind Del Toro's love of dramatic excess and sumptuous detailing of time and place. The trend continues in this movie, but the excess here can come off as a bit ... excessive. This is framed as a horror story ("Ghosts are real" is the first line of the movie), which position it occupies alongside its clear identification as a Victorian romance. The problem is that neither element is developed adequately. The scares just don't exist, and the romance elements are strangely half-baked, not helped by a lack of chemistry between the otherwise very capable Mia Wasikowska and Tom Hiddleston. Without spoiling much, there is plot purpose to explain the lack of scares, but it doesn't quite cut it. Also not helping is the cacophonous score - again, explained away, but if everything is backgrounded by a scoring crescendo then no moment really lands. And yet, I couldn't look away from this movie, because what Del Toro does with the art direction is nothing short of remarkable. Allerdale Hall where much of the movie is set is more of a character than its human leads, its arches knotted with insidious intent, its floors leaching blood, its walls whispering. Even the early sequences set in less forbidding territory are rendered in beautiful detail. As for Mia Wasikowska's stunning gowns - never has running for your life looked so elegant, with every anguished pace matched by a magnificent billow of fabric.</div>
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<div>
Rating: 2.5/5 </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Tangerine</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a 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" style="height: 169px; margin-top: 0px; width: 299px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Two trans-female sex workers light up the streets of Los Angeles in this raucously funny and deeply moving story. There's a gimmick at play - this movie is shot entirely on iPhone video with augmentation - but it doesn't distract from the old school filmmaking skills at display here. Sean S. Baker does some excellent work by allowing the screwball chaos to heighten frenetically, and then defusing moments with unexpected grace notes. He's aided by two incredible performances from transgender actresses Kiki Rodrigues and Mya Taylor, who never allow the proceedings to devolve into lazy stereotype.</div>
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Rating: 4/5<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8930820078773220980" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8930820078773220980" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<i>Spotlight</i><br />
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" 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" 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This looks to be frontrunner for the Oscar this year, and as with most frontrunners, is a solid, unexceptional movie. A journalism procedural, </div>
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detailing the Boston Globe's investigation of child sexual abuse in the early 2000s, it's a clear eyed and refreshingly unsentimental take on a horrifying issue. There are no easy targets either: as the team discovers, it might take a single man to carry out the abuse, but it takes a larger system to silence and cover it up. The ultimate chain of complicity runs deeper than one might expect. Good performances, restrained direction, certainly not the best movie of the year, but when was the last time the Oscars were about that?</div>
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Rating: 3/5</div>
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<b>Literature</b></div>
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<i>Lysistrata - Aristophanes</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8930820078773220980" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8930820078773220980" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I finally got around to reading Aristophanes' Lysistrata. My only experience with him before this has been through Plato's ventriloquism in the Symposium. There, the character of Aristophanes gives us an unforgettable articulation of the origin of love (strikingly evoked by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3oSc8gMrGo">this </a>song from Hedwig and the Angry Inch). In this play though, Aristophanes is concerned more about sex. Sex as pleasure, sex as a medium of social exchange, sex as power, and ultimately, sex as revolution. The premise is delicious: the women of Athens, led by the titular Lysistrata, decide to deny their husbands sex until they lay down their weapons and end an existing war that ravages the city. The version I read was a modern translation by Douglas Parker, which allows for delights like the following articulation of Lysistrata's vow:</div>
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<a href="https://shelverscove.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/mmm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="irc_mi" height="320" src="https://shelverscove.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/mmm.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="246" /></a><br />
"I will withhold all rights of access or entrance/ From every husband, lover or casual acquaintance/ Who moves in my direction in erection..."<br />
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You get the hint. Those erections stand particularly, er, tall in the blisteringly funny denouncement where the men gather in sexual frustration and their inability to cloak it, brought to their knees by the women. I was surprised at the play's giddily feminist delights, given the overwhelming silence or outright derision that women face in the other contemporaneous Greek texts that I've come across. Here, though, spindling is a metaphor for governance and budgeting the household is prefatory to budgeting the economy. No metaphors for what I thought of the play - this is pure pleasure.</div>
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Rating: In as much as one can rate a classic on anything resembling objectivity - 4.5/5<br />
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-61720785978150015882016-01-07T03:45:00.003-08:002016-01-07T07:26:39.343-08:00RWB's Back With a List of Great Shows to Catch on Netflix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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2016: the year RWB returns with a bang and Netflix comes to India! Rejoice, everyone except paid VPN
services! I've got a list of fabulous shows on Netflix that will almost definitely kill your desire to leave the house this year.</div>
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<u><b>Netflix Original Shows:</b></u></div>
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Netflix Original hit the ground running with some of the best television on TV. For all those who HAVEN'T just kept their US/UK Netflix
accounts and haven't already watched all of Netflix's original
programming on "other" sites, here's a few to get you started!</div>
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<u><b><br /></b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>1.
Master of None:</b> This is by far the best comedy show of 2015 (I feel
like the word "sitcom" no longer applies to most shows). Aziz Ansari
plays an Indian-American actor in New York navigating through the
vagaries of relationships, career and his family's immigrant history.
You might think you know what to expect if you've watched Ansari's
standup, and yes, there are a few scenes from his old material that make
it in here but they are meatier and fit well into the narrative of the show. Think
Woody Allen's older movies set in the 21st century.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>2.
Jessica Jones and Daredevil</b>: These two are kind of companion shows so
I'm putting them together. Marvel's lesser known superheroes get the
obligatory gritty treatment, but completely OWN it. Jessica Jones is a
superhero version of Veronica Mars, complete with the noir PI office and
painful past. Matt Murdoch is an idealist lawyer by day and beats up bad guys at night. There is a bit of
self-consciousness about the kitschy superhero costumes, but both of
them make it work. And better yet, we meet two of the best Big Bads on
television: Kilgrave and the Kingpin. Kilgrave especially is played to
perfection by David Tennant. Watch Daredevil first to ease you into the
murky world of Hell's Kitchen and then feel very pleased with yourself when you spot all the
easter eggs in Jessica Jones.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>3. Orange
is the New Black</b>: This was probably the breakout hit from the Netflix
stable and you'll see why when you watch it. Piper Chapman is a prissy,
rich, white woman who ends up in prison for a past indiscretion. From
her perspective we meet a fantastic group of women with richly drawn
histories and motives. By season 3, Piper-the-outsider's role is reduced and OITNB truly becomes an ensemble show. It's ostensibly a comedy show but I've cried more than a few times. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>4.
Better Call Saul:</b> My favourite Netflix show! A
spinoff from the masterful Breaking Bad, Bob Odenkirk plays Saul
Goodman, a conman trying to go straight with a law degree and a
hole-in-the-wall office space. It's funny, it's sad, it's dark and
everything else you want from a television show.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<u><b><br /></b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<u><b>Non-Original Shows on Netflix</b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While
most Netflix originals are fantastic, here are a few
non-Netflix shows to watch while waiting for the new
seasons from your favourite shows. These are shows I'd probably not have
watched if they weren't on Netflix:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>1. Call the
Midwife</b>: I'm a big fan of the period drama and this one is particularly excellent. Set in post World War II London, just
after the introduction of the National Health Services, a naive young
midwife, Jenny Lee sets up shop at a hospital in the dreadfully poor
East End. She's confronted by crushing poverty and squalor and joy in unexpected places. And also makes a powerful case for universal
healthcare and reproductive rights! Supported by a fabulous cast that
include Miranda Hart and Jenny Agutter, expect to sob and laugh and
learn loads of uncomfortable stuff about childbirth.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>2. North and South</b>: This one's an oldie but a goodie. If you liked the Colin Firth-starring Pride and Prejudice,
expect to love this miniseries. Set in grimy, industrial era-y
Manchester, a beautiful woman adn a very handsome rich man (Richard
Armitage of Thorin Oakenshield fame!) fall in love (sort of) but
discover that they're on opposite sides of the labour rights movements
(but only kind of). I'm not doing a very good job of selling it, but it's REALLY
good.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>3. Broadchurch:</b> Yeah so, there is
going to be a lot of British television on this list. David Tennant
plays a sad broken detective in a quiet little holiday town on the
Jurassic Coast. The town is ripped apart by the murder of an 11 year old
boy and suddenly, everyone's a suspect and everybody saw their
neighbour sneaking off somewhere at 1 am. Broadchurch is more than just a
whodunnit-- it's about loss and loneliness and how hard it can be to do
the right thing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>4. Brooklyn Nine-Nine</b>: This one is a
really funny if slightly typical sitcom. Set at the 99th precinct, it
features a motley group of cops and is surprisingly good! A lot of the
humour is apt (including a great unselfconscious Die Hard parody) and avoids
many sitcom pitfalls. It is the perfect show for
post-work-dont-want-to-leave-the-couch-procrastination.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>5.
Orphan Black</b>: This is one of those shows that you've probably heard of
but somehow haven't gotten around to watching. Well, now you've got
Netflix! Tatiana Maslany plays Sarah Manning, a hardbitten woman who
discovers that she has 10 or more clones (all played by Maslany of
course). Manning and the clones must uncover their dark past while escaping
from shadowy corporate thugs who don't want them spilling any beans. A gripping show (with a somewhat silly season 2 "reveal" but still
watchable) but really, it's all about Maslany. She manages to imbue
every clone with a singular personality, so much so that you entirely
forget that they're all played by one person.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>6. Life
on Mars</b>: This is a clever little show with a gimmick that ends up playing very
well! DCI Sam Tyler is an intelligent and thorough police officer who
wakes up in the '70s after a road accident. Now he's got to find
murderers with the help of an incredibly inefficient and corrupt set of
colleagues, all without any forensics. You'd think that they would run
out of stuff to mock about the '70s after the first two episodes, but the
show becomes a lot more than a parody, as Sam struggles to tell if he's travelled back in time or is just dreaming it all up.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>7. A Young
Doctor's Notebook</b>: This miniseries should only be watched on a gloomy
evening, with a moscow mule or fifteen at hand. An adaptation of Mikhail
Bulgakov's short story collection, Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe play
the old and young versions of a country doctor sent off to practise
medicine in a small village hospital somewhere in the middle of nowhere
in Russia. The older doctor reflects on his past, as though he can try
and stop himself from treading in steps that will inevitably lead to his
downfall. Depressing, obviously</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-75446451323928906292014-08-06T22:43:00.001-07:002014-08-06T22:45:54.103-07:00Weekend Watch: Lucy and Begin Again <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Lucy</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Luc Besson's latest feature is the most giddily
stupid movie I have seen in a very long time. It also an incredible
amount of fun.Please note that I do not use the adjective "stupid"
lightly - the stupidity displayed in Lucy is daringly reckless, almost
like the creators and performers are challenging the audience to not
laugh. </div>
<br />
Well, I laughed. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I giggled
when we first have our protagonist (Scarlett Johansson is such a
superstar) being closed in upon by the bad guys, and since the ominous
music may not be enough indication to the audience, Besson intercuts the
scene with a gazelle being stalked by a lion. When she is finally
captured, Besson makes sure you know she is captured by showing you the
lion capturing the gazelle. <img class="irc_mut" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRYwoTVBKjg7s-wz8XyF7xrYLtkVd2T-btW9H0nyCvyMf9bPs0x" height="225" style="margin-top: 79px;" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I chortled through the
movie's philosophical ruminations on what it means to be human - it
turns out that time is really the key to everything, and again to make
sure we get it, we're treated to Lucy sitting in an orthopaedic chair
whizzing past the creation of mankind to the start of the universe
itself. It's kind of like the Tree of Life sequence with scarier
dinosaurs and less breathless whispering. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is more, much more. There is an Exorcist-like possession, there is Morgan Freeman giving a presentation on <i>the magic of the human brain</i>
that sort of goes on for half the length of the film, there is an
unearthly magical flash drive. This movie is nothing if not generous. </div>
<br />
I had a blast. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Begin Again</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
John Carney hit the big league with his charming musical <i>Once</i>, and on the surface of it, this follow up feature could just as easily be titled <i>Once Again</i>. Originally called "Can A Song Save Your Life?" (which, again, kind of describes the plot of Once), Begin Again trades in the almost claustrophobic intimacy of the earlier movie for a bigger scope and New York City setting. Also, stars - besides headlining Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley, here's Adam Maroon 5 Levine somewhat innocuously making his Hollywood debut. The end result - it's not the all out triumph that was <i>Once</i>, but it works in its own way. </div>
<br />
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This is a "let's get together and make beautiful music" movie, and the most crucial criterion of its success lies in how good the music is. Well, it starts off as somewhat unmemorable, but at the halfway mark, the songs start to take on an earwormy quality, and by the climactic soaring falsettos of Levine, I knew I'd be playing atleast a few songs on repeat. Keira Knightley in particular is an unexpected treat, finally eschewing her period dramas for this role as a spunky song writer; she plays off well against Mark Ruffalo's jaded music exec. There are frequent moments of banality in the screenplay, and yet whenever it comes down to Knightley and Ruffalo talking about - and making - music, the movie soars. </div>
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-38270755201435894232014-07-10T03:53:00.001-07:002014-07-10T04:23:25.970-07:00Graphic Novel Review: Watchmen/ Spandex<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Two extremely different kinds of superhero stories this week: one a genre defining classic; the other a frothy-till-it's-not new entrant.<br />
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Watchmen has always been one of my big cultural blind spots. I only seriously began to read graphic novels about two years ago, and as anyone barely cognizant with the medium will tell you, this is one of its seminal works - by many accounts, this is the greatest graphic novel, period. Now having finally gotten through it, I realize that this may in fact be a true statement, in the same way that Citizen Kane gets described as the greatest movie of all time. These aren't necessarily the most entertaining or moving examples of their respective mediums, but their contribution is one that is paradigm altering - taking a medium that has shown a certain amount of promise, and irrevocably altering it for good, doing things that just weren't thought possible and conducting them with a breathless flair. </div>
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Watchmen's fantastic conceit is grounding the superhero myth in as concrete a reality as possible; then trying to see how the consequences of truly inexplicable power might play out in this world. Masked crusaders are part of its tableau, but the real gamechanger is Dr. Manhattan's god-like being, with the ability to manipulate matter. What might look like everlasting peace is only seemingly the delayed onset of inevitable war, as the world grapples with potentially being rendered obsolete. This is of course only one strand happening among many, and part of the achievement of Watchmen is how it juggles everything so effortlessly, how it weaves in past and present to create rich psychological profiles of its heroes. Time is a meaningless concept for the omniscience of Manhattan, and so it seems to become for the other characters as they find tendrils from their past seeping into the actions of their present. This narrative complexity is aided by a simple layout - every page consisting of 9 equally sized panels, every chapter ending with a different piece of narrative from a fictional work in the Watchmen universe. It's all dazzlingly ambitious, it all works perfectly well, and it justifies its pride of place in the literary canon. I will however say that there are simply better works from this medium that I have experienced. (edit: more on these, soon!)</div>
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Spandex is not one of these, though then again, it clearly isn't aiming for that kind of greatness. 7 queer superheroes (each a different colour of the rainbow, see) band together in a fight against, mm, destructive 50 ft lesbians, vengeful ninja gay lovers, and the forces of conformity. It's all very irreverent till it gets suprisingly dark, surprisingly quick. The layout can be visually cluttered to the point of incoherence, but it's set off by the sheer amount of fun the creator seems to be having with this work. Love is always the answer in this world, even if it comes after unexpected assassinations and brain damage. Queer enough for you?</div>
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-79211763609804799282014-07-08T01:23:00.001-07:002014-07-08T01:23:58.305-07:00The Fault in Our Stars (2014)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The biggest fault with this movie is simply this: for a story about two terminally ill teenagers in love, it was quite unable to move me. There is much to be said for a story about cancer that largely avoids mawkish sentimentality and is underlined with a gentle humour, but inspite its well structured foundations, there is something curiously lacking at its heart. Shailene Woodley gives a very good performance as the protagonist Hazel Grace but the actor romancing her (I couldn't even bother to find his real name) is unable to transcend what is allready a somewhat ridiculous too-good-to-be-true character. There's a curious inertia and airlessness to a story where the essence of time should have added velocity to the narrative.<br />
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One of the few scenes that does succeed on a purely dramatic level has a jerk of an author lashing out at the kids and how they've been pitied to the point of being spoilt all their lives. If nothing, it serves as a fascinating meta commentary on what the movie is doing to its own characters: young people with one foot in the grave get to fall in love with dreamily lit cinematography and well timed indie music. I'm not saying I needed more scenes of grim suffering and anguish - just that the movie was unable to communicate the heft of its very real stakes to me. </div>
Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-80991565590689535042014-06-30T00:05:00.005-07:002014-06-30T00:07:40.927-07:00RWB, the Sequel: Leaner, Meaner and Still Kicking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello loyal readers (all 3 of you!) and confused googlers who stumbled upon this page following a search for "sad kitty eyes". It has been well over a year since Lekha and I posted anything resembling a review here, or anything at all for that matter. This must change, we gather. Our excuse for the last year was something along the lines of not wanting to be distracted in our respective pursuits of knowledge at Oxford and Michigan, but now that we wind up with those particular charades, there is reviewing to be done. </div>
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We will however, shake things up a bit. One, the reviews will for the most part be shorter. Like, paragraph-length short. This is mostly to ensure that we end up actually posting something, but it's also an experiment in trying to work towards a particular kind of precision in writing about pop culture. If we find something we particularly loved (or, even more fun, hated), you will be subject to much longer piece of writing, but, largely, this is going to become a more bite-sized blog. </div>
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Two, we're going to try and do a bit more of book reviewing than our present rate (zero, I believe). This should prove to be a bit more challenging with the shorter format, but I'd like to see if we can make it work. </div>
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Oh and three, Queen is the best movie I've seen this year across languages and genres. I take back my numerous past doubts about Kangana Ranaut's acting: what a wonderful, heartwarming performance she gives here. By the time she does the inevitable triumphant stride of pride in the closing moments, set to the allready uplifting <i>Kinare</i>, I was ready with fist pumps and wolf whistles in the privacy of my living room. It's the little details that elevate Queen from just a great central performance to a great film, period - the perfect inflections of Rajouri lingo (<i>thodi hippie type ki hai na?</i>), the moments of quiet wonder that Ranaut's character displays at the seemingly mundane (<i>joke! lip-to-lip kiss!</i>), the sheer goodwill that the movie has towards its characters (there'a s final hug that reconfigures what could have been a mean spirited moment of triumph in lesser films into a complex gesture of forgiveness and acceptance). If there is a false note, it's the unfortunate stereotypes embodied in the Japanese character, Taka. In the midst of feather light grace notes, this de-sexualized man-child seems to have been dragged in from another movie. Still, it only truly jars given how perfect the rest of Queen is. </div>
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-36341222798844478432013-04-23T00:51:00.003-07:002013-04-23T00:52:15.512-07:00Ek Thi Daayan (2013) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Before it succumbs to the
Bollywood curse (ha) of a listless second half, Ek Thi Daayan is a shiver-inducing
blast. We start with Emraan Hashmi's magician botching up a trick on stage, induced
by hallucinatory visions. A strangely paced love song with Huma Qureshi later
is followed by a trip to his childhood psychiatrist. The good doctor pushes our
magician into his pre-adolescent past, in the months leading up to the death of
his young sister. And then, for a glorious 45 minutes, Ek Thi Daayan soars like
no other Bollywood horror film I've seen. </div>
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As our young child, our
protagonist shows an unhealthy obsession with the occult. In one of the most
spine chilling scenes of the movie, he takes an elevator ride with his sister
down to hell - an act that may also have inadvertently summoned a witch.
Atleast, that's what the kids believe Konkona Sen's Diana is - their single
father on the other hand is besotted by her. Soon enough, Diana enters their
home for good, and as far as the kids are concerned, the games begin.</div>
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The genius of this segment of the
movie is the playful use of metaphor. Diana may just be a witch - but she could
also just be the wicked stepmother our protagonist needs to project his anger
on to. Konkona Sen is perfect for walking this tightrope of a performance - the
brief flashes of menace across her face could just as well be the frustrations
of a woman facing rejection from the children she yearns to reach out to. Particularly
delightful is a sequence where she plays a game of hide and seek with the
children - note the manner in which her voice floats from playful to spine
tingling while still somehow maintaining an element of ambiguity. It also helps
that this entire segment sparkles with humour. The kids in particular have
great comic timing, aided by a witty script that knows enough about the horror
genre to not take itself too seriously. </div>
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But, but, but. </div>
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The flashback only lasts for half
the movie, at which point we are pulled back into the dour present. And it is
here that the cliches begin to pile, dramatic deadweight sets in, horror movie
logic becomes rampant. Kalki Koechlin's appearance gives the movie a jolt of
energy, but the strange extended loop of the plot, and the overbaked climatic
sequence squander that goodwill. Director Kannan Iyer has admitted that
commercial considerations plagued the direction this film takes eventually, and
that seems about right. </div>
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For a while, Ek Thi Daayan builds
its power through the faint suggestion that nothing is at it appears, that the
paranormal evil is just the other side of our lived experience. Besides Diana,
Kalki's character could be a witch - or she could be an obsessive lover. Both
narratives work, and the mere suggestion of ambiguity is the most tantalizing
idea. However, rather unfortunately, the movie decides to come down rather hard
one way, dumbing itself down and losing some of its potent first half magic. </div>
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Still, I'd say, go watch this one.
Even half of a great movie that tries to overreach is better than the banality
of cinema that doesn't try at all. </div>
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-27177149564068599332013-04-05T01:37:00.001-07:002013-04-05T01:37:37.078-07:00And that's a wrap, folks: Remembering Roger Ebert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>In the Mood for Love</i>
was a bit of an over-hyped affair if you ask me. A lot of people who are
familiar with Wong Kar Wai's work rank it as one of the best films about love
and loss ever made. And yet, when I finally got done to watching it in the
internet centre at Nalsar with a friend, we were left a bit puzzled. It sure
looked pretty, and we supposed there was something to be said for the hypnotic
score, but in the end it felt mostly like an overlong snooze fest.</div>
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Disgruntled and feeling our faith in humanity's cinematic
tastes fast eroding, we went straight to Roger Ebert's review of the film. It
begins with the lines<i> "they are in the mood for love, but not in the time
and place for it". </i>That felt about right, as right as a later line - <i>"the
thrust of Wong's film is that paths cross, but intentions rarely do"</i>.
Reading these lines, retrospectively improved the film we'd watched. Finally we
got to the point where Ebert notes - <i>"Lovers do not notice where they are,
do not notice that they repeat themselves.
It isn't repetition anyway - it's reassurance. And when you're holding
back and speaking in code, no conversation is boring, because the empty spaces
are filled by your desires". </i></div>
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And with those words, we felt <i>In the Mood for Love</i>
transforming before our eyes, edging past the endlessly repetitive sequences
we'd been exasperated by, and becoming a better, more worthy piece of
filmmaking. In about 700 words, Ebert had managed to salvage a movie for us,
had given us something legitimately beautiful that we could take away from it. </div>
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Weeks later, the same friend and I were watching Charlie
Kauffman's <i>Synecdoche, New York</i> back in the internet centre (we sure watched a
lot of movies there). This time round,
we hadn't heard much about the movie. As we reached its brutally unflinching
ending, we sat in silence, watching the end credits roll, not quite being able
to articulate our thoughts. We knew we'd seen something astonishing, but how to
adjectivize this emotion, how to frame it within the strictures of language?</div>
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And again, Roger Ebert came to
our rescue: <i>"We find something we
want to do, if we are lucky, or something we need to do, if we are like most
people. We use it as a way to obtain food, shelter, clothing, mates, comfort, a
first folio of Shakespeare, model airplanes .... whatever we think we need. To
do this, we enact the role we call "me", trying to brand ourselves
a person who can and should obtain these
things. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>In the process, we place the people in our lives into compartments and
define how they should behave to our advantage. Because we cannot force them to
follow our desires, we deal with projections of them created in our minds. But
they will be contrary and have wills of their own. Eventually new projections
of us are dealing with new projections of them .... Hold that trajectory in
mind and let it interact with age, discouragement, greater wisdom and more uncertainty.
you will understand what Synecdoche, New York is trying to say about the life
of Caden Cotard and the lives in his lives". <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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What made Ebert stand out from so
many other critics, what initially drew me to his writing and made me seek out
his reviews, was the manner in which he necessarily gleaned the best out of a
movie. Where just about every other major critic seemed to be more intent in
ripping apart film after film, pausing for breath at the Oscar lineup, Ebert
was finding the good in the movies left
by the wayside. He notes in his 4 star
review of <i>Romance and Cigarettes</i> how
it stands at 33% on the Rotten Tomatoes meter because <i>"so many timid taste
mongers have been affronted by the movie"</i>. Not him though - for him,
Romance and Cigarettes was, <i>"the
real thing, a film that breaks out of Hollywood jail with audacious
originality, startling sexuality, heartfelt emotions and an anarchic liberty.
The actors toss their heads and run their mouths like prisoners let loose to
race free"</i>. His hearty endorsement got me and my friends to watch what
is one of the most enthralling musicals of all time, one that also manages to
sneak in a scene of Susan Sarandon using the word "whoremaster". </div>
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Of course, sometimes this fervent
need to see the good could go too far. I am baffled by his review of Prometheus
where he terms it a <i>"magnificent
science-fiction film, all the more intriguing because it raises questions about
the origin of human life and doesn't have the answers".</i> And to call <i>The Golden Compass</i> <i>"a darker deeper fantasy epic than the Rings trilogy or the Potter
films"</i> is just ... I'm still trying to frame an adequate response to
that gaffe. Then there were the times when he could really bring the sarcasm -
his review of <i>Valentine's Day</i> tells
us: "<i>Valentine's Day</i> is being
marketed as a Date Movie. I think it's more of a First-Date Movie. If your date
likes it, do not date that person again. And if you like it, there may not be a
second date".</div>
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Zing. </div>
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Ebert came to gradually define the way I watched movies. I recall a glorious period of time where I
could see no wrong in cinema, where I'd forgotten the bitter sting of
disappointment because I could just somehow focus on the parts of the film that
worked. Sometimes I was more Ebert than
Ebert himself. I will admit, for instance, to actively enjoying portions of <i>Valentine's Day</i>. And I don't just mean the bits with a shirtless Taylor Lautner, which, come on, even Ebert probably enjoyed. </div>
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Lately, the Ebert in me has been fading, slowly replaced by
someone more cynical, perhaps more discerning.
There is a set of criteria that my mind forces onto every movie it
watches, and if it is unable to stand up to those standards, I am unable to
defend it. This doesn't fill me with any
sense of pride or joy, and it is often frustrating. It is the reason why I am
unable to be enthusiastic about The Dark Knight Rises, even with its somewhat
exhilarating final hour, and why I couldn't quite heartily endorse Life of Pi
even though there were parts of it that took my breath away. </div>
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Losing Roger Ebert means the loss of one of the most enthusiastic cinephiles of
our time. In his writing, there was droll wit and autobiographical verve. There
were wonderful insights into a life
lived in the service of cinema. There was a desire, a need that leapt out from
the written word, to ensure that you got up and watched that film he was
recommending to you, everything else be damned. As his health began to fail
him, there was sadness, extended reflections on mortality creeping more and
more steadily into his writing. </div>
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Always, always, there was an unabashed love for the cinematic medium and its myriad possibilities.</div>
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So Goodbye Roger Ebert, and thank you so very much for letting
me into your world for so many years. As I consider the prospect of not having
a new review of yours to look forward to, I will think of the words of my
friend Lawrence: "Three thumbs down". </div>
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-16958415623719677162013-02-26T01:33:00.003-08:002013-02-26T04:07:56.615-08:00Zero Dark Thirty (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A film that begins with an insurgent being tortured into revealing crucial intelligence? Surely they follow that with one of the characters making a speech about the wrongness of torture? What, there isn't so much as a single line about the futility of torture but instead they portray the torturers sympathetically, as non-sadistic people who take no visible pleasure in their task? There must have been a scene where the victim of torture is revealed to be utterly innocent at the very least, right? Nope, he's responsible for a terrorist attack. Then there can be no other conclusion except that <i>Zero Dark Thirty </i>is a pro-torture film!<i> </i></div>
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But see, I'm not referring to ZDT: Those are scenes from Gillo Pontecorvo's award winning film, <i><a href="http://www.criticaltwenties.in/mediapopularculture/revolution-state-of-mind-part-2" target="_blank">The Battle of Algiers</a> (1965) </i>which is today acknowledged as one of the <a href="http://www.empireonline.com/features/100-greatest-world-cinema-films/default.asp?film=6" target="_blank">greatest films</a> ever made and has the distinction of being one of the few films that was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-kim/rethinking-emthe-battle-o_b_282967.html" target="_blank">compulsory viewing</a> for guerrilla movements and counter-revolutionary forces alike. The film gives the clear impression that Algiers dissidents were crushed thanks to information received through torture. Even though <a href="http://www.salon.com/2004/06/21/torture_algiers/" target="_blank">later reports</a> from the Algerian revolution reveal that torture was not as instrumental in obtaining intelligence, it would be quite a stretch of imagination to call the film "pro-torture".</div>
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So why the double standards for Kathryn Bigelow's film<i> </i>about the hunt and eventual assassination of Osama bin Laden? The Academy Awards were handed out yesterday and ZDT has been properly screwed over in every category because of the controversy over its depiction of torture and deviance from fact. Ironically, all accolades went to the utterly undeserving <i>Argo </i>which, at best, had a rather tenuous grip over the meaning of 'fact'. Before I watched ZDT, I was horrified that anybody would release a film that was pro-torture propaganda. Now that I have watched the film, I realize that Bigelow's brilliant film has been completely misunderstood; <i>Zero Dark Thirty </i>is among the best war/political films I've seen in recent times and is very reminiscent of <i>The Battle of Algiers</i> in the way it dispassionately, almost clinically, dissects the events surrounding bin Laden's death.</div>
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One of the first scenes from ZDT, when the detainee who was defiant through the torture sessions breaks down when he is handed a bottle of orange juice, hating himself for feeling gratitude towards his captors reminded me of a very similar scene in the beginning of <i>The Battle of Algiers </i>where the revolutionary is lying there, broken after the torture, and weeps when he is handed a French uniform. While it is difficult to watch a man being beaten into submission, it is downright heartrending to watch a man's dignity being stripped. In case you missed it, that was the film-makers humanizing the dreaded Al-Qaeda even as the torturers were de-humanizing them: something that Hollywood has been incapable of doing thus far.<br />
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Oddly enough, if you see what <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2013/feb/07/disturbing-misleading-zero-dark-thirty/?pagination=false" target="_blank">the critics</a> are saying, they aren't saying tortu-- oops I mean enhanced interrogation techniques are not used by the CIA or that black sites don't exist; they're saying that the CIA didn't use torture to catch bin Laden. And the CIA doesn't use crude methods like dog collars! Those are the mainstays of low level military police, the CIA only use water-boarding and there are doctors monitoring the detainees' health! And torture doesn't even <i>work, </i>you guys so that's why ZDT is a dishonest movie<i>.</i> But for a film-maker, saying all of that in a movie is the easy, Oscar-baiting way out. The difficult question is: what if it did work? What if torture did lead to the capture of bin Laden? Films are not about faithful adherence to events (and some are certainly more than just entertainment) but are about posing questions that we may not want to hear the answer to. To me, ZDT was not endorsing the view that torture did lead to the capture of bin Laden. To me, the film was asking us if robbing countless men and women of their humanity and dignity was worth the price of shooting <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/08/seal-book-says-bin-laden-was-unarmed-killed-outside-his-bedroom/56311/" target="_blank">an (allegedly) unarmed man</a> in the head in the middle of the night; a man that hadn't been seen in years; a man that the US Government itself had<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2006/09/14/7472/barnes-osama/" target="_blank"> lost interest in</a>. All that the SEALS left behind were scared, wailing children and a blood stain on the floor, while patting each other on the back for getting Public Enemy No. 1. But the genius of ZDT is that it never passed any judgment either way: there were no maudlin speeches about how sad torture is or any Col Nathan R Jessup/ army types telling us that reality is harsh and war needs torture. The film only asks us if we can afford the bill at the end of the meal.<br />
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If you are going to watch a film by a major Hollywood studio to look for the truthful version of a historical event, you're doing it wrong.<br />
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But more than anything, ZDT was a very personal film a woman's dogged pursuit of bin Laden. Maya (played by Jessica Chastain) has a hunch that she simply wouldn't let go of for 12 years-- even though she's been targeted by terrorist groups and everybody from her boss to the dog walker have asked her to simply let it go. And Maya keeps us and her colleagues at arm's length-- she texts during meals, she wont suck up the higher ups, rarely smiles and is a bit of a recluse. But at the end of the film, Maya when the goal she has been working for her entire adult life has been achieved, when she has nothing left except tears, we finally share common ground with her. Are there any of us that have not feared the utter emptiness that follows the achievement of one's life goals? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-37610028500483901302013-02-23T04:35:00.000-08:002013-02-23T06:56:23.235-08:00The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Early on in this
transcendent movie, we find its lead
trio at a late night car drive. A song comes up on the radio, a song which we
know as David Bowie's anthemic Heroes, but one that they don't yet recognize.
They instantly fall in love with it, and Emma Watson's character commands her
step-brother who is at the wheel to drive
through "the tunnel", even as our wallflower protagonist Charlie
looks on in confusion. As they get to
this tunnel, Watson stands up and spreads her arms above her head. Charlie
looks up at her, watching in wonder as she is illuminated by golden streaks of
tunnel light.eve Meanwhile, Bowie's chorus crashes and pulses. </div>
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"I feel ... infinite" he says.</div>
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That, precisely, is how the movie made me feel. </div>
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower centers
around Charlie - His closest friend's
killed himself the year before and he starts his freshman year painfully shy
and alone, desperately counting down the days before he's able to get away.
That is, until one fine night he summons the courage to sidle up to senior
Patrick at a football game . He's soon
joined by Patrick's step sister Sam (Emma Watson, finally NOT evoking
Hermione!) and before he knows it, the boundaries of his life start falling
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This simple enough coming-of-age
story is rendered extraordinary through the manner in which it zeroes in on
relatable moments with considerable nuance, or the way in which its characters
are so likeable without the movie trying any manipulative tactics to make them
superhuman. The incalculable excitement of meeting and connecting with a group
of strangers, the nervous joy of realizing a new set of friendships, and the
terror of losing them - Perks swings
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It helps that it gets in a trio of great performances - As our wallflower, Logan Lerman perfectly captures the awkwardness and subdued charm of the central character. He's also good with physical comedy - cue the part where he attempts to shuffle up to Sam and Patrick on the dancefloor, doing what can only be described as a variation of the snake dance. For Emma Watson, this is her first real post-Potter test,
and she acquits herself remarkably. Her Sam is a character at once tough and
vulnerable, self-assured and simultaneously on the verge of important realizations about herself. "We accept the love we think we deserve" says Charlie's English teacher, and it is a lesson that she in particular must learn over the course of the film. The revelation for me though was Ezra Miller's Patrick,
whose livewire presence gives the movie a burst of vitality every time he's
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Ultimately, The Perks
of Being of a Wallflower does the remarkable feat of maintaining a tone of
bittersweet melancholy through its running time, while also proving hilarious
in its acute observations. Nostalgia permeates its frames - the movie somehow
feels like a recounted memory, even though it is told in a present-day
chronological manner. Fitting then, considering what a memorable cinematic experience it is.</div>
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-44044914389031074282013-01-04T05:23:00.001-08:002013-01-05T01:47:32.278-08:00The Hobbit (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Peter Jackson's <em>Lord of the Rings</em> film trilogy was not perfect-- it was disappointing when Faramir went through that weird evil phase or when the hobbits did not get their moment of bravery in the end, but LOTR is tricky source material. Tom Bombadil <em>hey-derry-dolling</em> through the Old Forest would've raised eyebrows among Tolkien novitiates. What is important is that PJ's vision and devotion to the books was true and that's what makes the trilogy eminently rewatchable (I am one of those rabid fans that rewatches it annually). So you can imagine how excited I was when there was talk about making The Hobbit into a film. I signed the "<a data-mce-href="http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2006/07/31/1248-let-the-hobbit-happen-34931-total-signatures/" href="http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2006/07/31/1248-let-the-hobbit-happen-34931-total-signatures/" target="_blank">Let the Hobbit Happen</a>" campaign; I spent hours and hours scouring TOR forums for casting news; I wrote <a data-mce-href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2011/02/there-and-back-again-tale-of-doomed.html" href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2011/02/there-and-back-again-tale-of-doomed.html" target="_blank">anxious blog posts</a> about the studios' inability to shoot the movie; I must've rewatched the<a data-mce-href="www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDnYMbYB-nU" href="http://www.criticaltwenties.in/wp-admin/www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDnYMbYB-nU" target="_blank"> film trailer</a> a few hundred times and yes, in the darkest moments, I doubted PJ's decision to split the book into three movies.</div>
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What I am building up to is the fact that I wrote this review before the film was even made, nay, in that moment when the stars were scattered into space. I utterly loved this movie. I am sad that there will be only 3 and I have to prepare to say goodbye to Middle-earth once again. I am also a little surprised that this film only has a <a data-mce-href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_hobbit_an_unexpected_journey/" href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_hobbit_an_unexpected_journey/" target="_blank">65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes</a>. Too much space has been wasted on discussing the "<a data-mce-href="http://www.webpronews.com/hobbit-nausea-movie-might-make-you-sick-2012-12" href="http://www.webpronews.com/hobbit-nausea-movie-might-make-you-sick-2012-12" target="_blank">nausea-inducing</a>" 48 fps format (who ARE these absurd, endolymphically challenged people anyway?). Was it somewhat jarring? Yes, for about 20 minutes. It is mostly forgotten by the time Bilbo is entertaining his dwarf guests. The way these critics have been carrying on about it, why you'd think it signaled the end of the world! The only thing that makes me less angry is that history does not remember the breast-beating Luddites who rued the end of the cave painting era ("Say what you will, but papyrus just doesn't <em>smell</em> like cave wall").</div>
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Among the many complaints about the LOTR films was how little background was given to the sad story of the Elves and minor characters being left out. <em>Peter heard us</em>. This time around, he gave the dwarfs a rich and textured history. We can no longer think of them as blundering, blustering ale-quaffing comic reliefs. We also finally begin to understand why dwarfs and elves mistrust each other.</div>
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A lot has also been said about how the Hobbit is only a 200-page book and how three movies cannot possibly made. See, this is why you shouldn't trust the critics. Apart from the fact that the film draws from the LOTR appendices, what people don't realize is that, in the book there are several crucial plot points that are dealt with in less than a paragraph. Take the Necromancer for example: in the book, there is barely any discussion about him even though he is so important to the tale. Can you imagine Gandalf saying, "There's a Necromancer who has never been mentioned that I have to go defeat or something. Okay toodles have fun on your quest! Try not to get killed!" In a good book you can say, "He was evil and everybody was afraid of him." In a good movie, you have to show it without saying it.</div>
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Is it a detailed and faithful adaptation? Yes. Is it overlong and plodding? Hell no! And I don't just say this as a Tolkien fan: the movie was well paced with several exciting battles and meditative scenes which raised this film above "action flick" status. The Goblin Town escape and the rock giant scenes were superb (and looked much better in HFR format, might I add). And Andy Serkis had better be nominated for his heartrending portrayal of Gollum. I realized that I had never really understood the line "But mercy stayed Bilbo's hand," till I found myself crying in the cinema hall.</div>
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A <em>few</em> liberties have been taken (the grave of the Witch-King and Azog, for example) but these only served to make the plot more cohesive. In fact, the film-makers' eye for detail was obvious by how well they tied the LOTR films with this movie. The best part was how this film was barely about Bilbo and rightly so, because Bilbo takes some time to fit into his role as burglar/hero. And Thorin! What a glorious heroic dwarf! Never even in my wildest dreams did I think that some day I'd have wild dreams about Thorin. True, Thorin and Co's avarice has been slightly downplayed; their intention to return to Erebor has been made more noble but if one reads The Hobbit, one does not get a complete sense of how revered Thorin was among the dwarfs. He's not a very pleasant character; Tolkien merely refers to him as "decent folk", "arrogant" and of "Durin's line" and we never understand what that means till the end of the book. It is in LOTR that we understand Thorin's sad history so I am thankful to PJ for treating these characters with so much respect.</div>
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My only concerns are that the dwarf Rings ought to have been mentioned by now and Balin as the Venerable Voice of Wisdom, seeing as Balin was the foolhardy dwarf who rushed off to reconquer Moria with a laughably small army a few decades later. Then again, people change and there are two whole movies left so I'll save my questions for the end of the class.</div>
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I can see why some have said that this film is inaccessible to non-fans. Gondolin blades are bandied about without telling us what Gondolin is; we aren't told why it is shocking that Belladonna Took's son should good-morning Gandalf. But these little things are meant for the enjoyment of fans and do not materially affect the understanding of the plot. It is possible that the reduced plot exposition may have left some moviegoers puzzled but I don't care because PJ made this film for me. If people refuse to improve their lives by reading Tolkien's books, they don't deserve this film.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-80035854437871411442013-01-03T02:51:00.000-08:002013-01-07T02:42:38.749-08:00RWB's Top Ten Films of 2012 (And Then Some)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgly-EbqM2tY8Sa1ZO3YuvKr5YXmjWZXyG8FY9xNMwgOqs-0NeFVE5v6uoWEe9GTDNbVRaq9pedSm8W3LRpIuR1v_wSgyxoSsAsotXCjg2n_YHH8k5I_J0L7pMKxKTfz9Ig1mY2GEhyphenhyphenRZI/s1600/2012_2009_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgly-EbqM2tY8Sa1ZO3YuvKr5YXmjWZXyG8FY9xNMwgOqs-0NeFVE5v6uoWEe9GTDNbVRaq9pedSm8W3LRpIuR1v_wSgyxoSsAsotXCjg2n_YHH8k5I_J0L7pMKxKTfz9Ig1mY2GEhyphenhyphenRZI/s320/2012_2009_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's right folks, it's that time of the year when RWB furiously researched IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes and tries to sound knowledgeable about movies!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2012 was a very busy year for me and I did not watch all the movies I wanted to. It was also a pretty unremarkable year in film. All the big well-advertised films did as expected, but there were such few films where you went in not knowing what to expect and came out as a different person. Still, there were plenty that thrilled. We've linked to the reviews that we wrote so you can read them again:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DANISH:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. <a href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2012/10/cloud-atlas-2012.html" target="_blank">Cloud Altas</a>:</b> The best book adaptation of all time, and quite possibly one of my new all time favourites, there are so many reasons to love this movie. It is ambitious on a level that few films today are - whether it be in the manner in which it plays with narrative, toys with language, or attempts to cast the same actors across six roles in six timelines and then somehow forge a connection between them. Most daring of all though, is the way it keeps its uncynical heart on its sleeve, culminating in a climax that is almost unbearingly moving. Once again, Cloud Altas is what I go to the movies for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Kahaani</b>: Satisfying in a way that few mystery thrillers are any more. A great, labyrinthine plot is aided by a constantly menacing sense of atmosphere and that fierce central performance by Vidya Balan. Throw in one of the great all-time Bollywood villains and that fantastic plot twist, and Kahaani rockets its way to cinematic greatness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. Damsels in Distress:</b> If the first two movies on this list can list narrative strength as their USP, Damsels in Distress coasts by with barely a plot at all. A new girl is befriended by three strong willed women at a college. Their project: save people, and volunteer at the suicide prevention centre. Their chosen method: tap dancing, and at some point, inventing a new international dance craze. From this premise, the film just sort of coasts. But it coasts with dialogue worthy of early Woody Allen, a cast that is utterly charming and a sense of such joyous quirk that I couldn't help but grin through all of it. A trifle, but a great one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. Eega:</b> When I first saw the trailer, I knew I had to watch this movie, simply for how ridiculous the premise looked. I mean come on, guy loves girl, gets killed by another guy, is reincarnated as a fly, and exacts revenge. Also, the film was in Telegu, without subtitles, but who needed plot when all we were going to do was laugh at its inanity? Instead, turns out that Eega was one of the most inventive, witty and thrilling movies of the year, one that somehow managed to make an endearing, expressive character out of a computer generated fly and gave us a satisfyingly bloody revenge saga.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. Chronicle:</b> If you thought the found footage genre was done to death - and I know I did - along came this movie about three teenagers gaining telekinetic abilities that blew me away. What elevates the thrilling script is the manner in which the direction actually elevates the visual effects - as a critic noted, this movie somehow made special effects feel <i>special </i>again. The best example of this is a mid film sequence where a plane whizzes by our airborne heroes accompanied by the squeal of the audience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6. Keep the Lights On:</b> Amongst the best gay cinema I've seen in a while, the movie follows the course of a relationship that's marred superficially by alcohol dependence, but is really struggling with the larger problems of an emotional incompatibility. Dropping in on a couple at different moments of their slowly fraying relationship, there is a searingly powerful quality to the way the movie captures the growth and loss of intimacy between two men. It's the kind of gay cinema we need now, one that moves beyond a pre-occupation with questions about coming out or even homosexuality as such, but also stops short of simply inserting two gay men into a heterosexual story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. Ruby Sparks:</b> What would you do if you wrote about the person of your dreams - and they came to life? Made by the people who brought us Little Miss Sunshine, Ruby Sparks starts with this interesting enough premise and then turns it into a fascinating exploration of what it means for us to even try to seek that perfect person. Its helped along by a typically low key performance by Paul Dano, and the refusal of the script to give us any easy answers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>8. English Vinglish:</b> Sure its predictable, but it doesn't prevent this movie from being utterly charming. Anchored by a great performance by Sridevi, but also aided by the underrated and really quite fantastic ensemble, English Vinglish is a heartwarming winner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9. Life of Pi:</b> If Life of Pi had somehow just been about that middle hour in the sea, it would've easily made it to my top 3. These are visually stunning and viscerally terrifying sequences, aided by Ang Lee's excellent dialogue-less direction for the greater part of the hour. What isn't all that great is the faux-spirituality that opens and closes the movie, the ham-handed "Is there a God?" existentialism that we're essentially force fed, the often clunky dialogue writing. They rob a hypnotic movie of some of its power. Thank god (ha) for Richard Parker then.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10. Skyfall and Cabin in the Woods:</b> Two "genre" movies make my final cut, in part because they're sneakily not genre movies at all. Skyfall starts off as your typical Bond movie, but then takes a surprisingly moving detour into becoming a deconstruction of the role of intelligence agencies in general, and this man in particular. Judi Dench's M gets an extended role becoming the movie's Bond girl in a way, and the visuals - ranging from a laser light drenched silhouetted fight, to a bleak orange-fire burnished landscape finale - are stunning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cabin in the Woods is one of the best horror movies I've seen, mostly because it also manages to take a detour into becoming a question about why we indulge in a genre at all. With a crackling script by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, Cabin in the Woods deconstructs and scares in equal measure. It also has a murderous unicorn, which single-handedly (single-horndedly?) earns it its place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Best Movie I watched this year that wasn't released in 2012: </b>Chungking Express</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Biggest Disappointment of the Year:</b> <a href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2012/07/the-dark-knight-rises-second-take-2012.html" target="_blank">The Dark Knight Rises</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most Rewatched Movie of the Year:</b> Pitch Perfect (Glee with acapella, whee!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Best first-half that is unable to sustain itself:</b> Prometheus</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most purely entertaining movie of the Year, that I can't objectively call "good": </b><a href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2012/10/aiyyaa-2012.html" target="_blank">Aiyyaa</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Worst Movie of the Year: </b>Dark Shadows, tied with the thankfully little-seen The Tall Man</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Not seen at the time of writing but would possibly make it to this list:</b> Django Unchained, Les Miserables, Zero Dark Thirty)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LEKHA:</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. <a href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2012/07/the-dark-knight-rises-2012_26.html" target="_blank">The Dark Knight Rises</a>: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never has the weak, maskless alter ego been so brutally examined in the superhero genre. While some did not think of it as a worthy successor to </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Dark Knight</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, The Dark Knight Rises was a fitting conclusion to Nolan's superb Batman trilogy with fantastic performances by Joseph Gordon-Lewitt, Tom Hardy and Marion Cotillard. Besides, we have this series to thank for the upcoming gritty, red underwearless Superman film.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Gangs of Wasseypur: </b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">At once a hilarious take on cinema's effect on the Indian masses and a documentary of India's dark </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">coal legacy and the dramatic tale of a family and a film that required one to carry a slang dictionary, Gangs of Wasseypur was easily one of the best Indian films this year with scintillating dialogue pulled off with ease by actors like </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Manoj Bajpai, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the well-chosen supporting actors.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>8. Looper: </b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Of all the things one could possibly use time travel for, trust futuristic crime gangs to use it to send their victims back in time to be murdered and disposed off. Like any good time travel film, Looper kept you on the edge of your seat and had a climax that you never saw coming. Of course it had a few loopholes but nitpicking is so passé.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>7. Lincoln: </b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I don't mind admitting that despite its heavy-handed editing of historical events and unnecessarily dramatic courtroom scenes,Steven Spielberg's Amistad is one of my all-time favourite films. Spielberg returns to what he does best with this biopic of Abraham Lincoln's final days. Daniel Day-Lewis is precise as ever, with his deliberate speech and ability to fascinate and irritate audience with the neverending anecdotes and quotes. It's films like these that make you want to beseech god to bless America.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>6. Life of Pi</b>: </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">It's a common complaint that since Avatar, few films have truly captured the magnificence of 3D. Life of Pi brought the magic back with jaw dropping vistas of oceans, thunderstorms, jelly fish, whales and night skies that will make you believe the film's theist message. The dialogue may have been a bit clunky and overwrought but who's listen when your eyes are treated to such a visual spectacle?</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Chronicle: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If this is what the superhero genre is going to look like once they run out of comic books, then the genre is in safe hands. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chronicle</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> tells the story of three high school students bestowed with superpowers and will leave you thinking about it for days after.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Moonrise Kingdom: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Wes Andersononian as a Wes Anderson film can get, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moonrise Kingdom </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was a delight to watch! It was hilarious, funny and touching. Yes, it was what one may call quirky, but not in that contrived Zooey Deschanel way. And Edward Norton had better get a supporting actor nomination for this.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Frankenweenie</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: Wes Anderson and Tim Burton are two of the most scorned directors today because they happen to love certain motifs. Frankenweenie, a remake of Burton's 1984 film had all the swirls, ghouls and zombies that one expects in a Burton film but did it feel like we had seen it all before? Not in the least. This was Burton's loving tribute to the horror film genre and if anything, reminds us why Burton is still at the top of his game.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <a href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2012/05/avengers-2012.html" target="_blank">The Avengers</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: Dark and gloomy superheroes with dead parents? No thanks. Give us lots of superheroes, explosions and side-splittingly funny lines with a side of The Hulk. Hurry up with the sequel, Marvel Studios!</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. The Hobbit</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth with this superb and faithful adaptation of the book. Initially, I wasn't convinced by the decision to split the book into three parts, but now I can see why it made sense and cant wait for part 2 and 3. While there has been some mixed reviews over the format and the length of the film, it remained true to the Tolkienian ethos and honestly, I don't know why anybody would want to complain about spending 9 gloriously immersive hours in Middle-earth.</span></div>
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<u>Honourable Mentions:</u></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To Rome with Love:</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A quintessentially Woody script that only suffered from the lack of an overarching theme. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Skyfall</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: Gritty Bond is fine, but why did they just film The Dark Knight Rises with guns and Aston Martins?</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2012/10/english-vinglish-2012.html" target="_blank">English Vinglish</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: An adorable if mildly cliche-ridden film that was was a joy to watch.</span></div>
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<u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Films that are great for a Boring Saturday Night, even if they aren't great films:</u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Argo</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: Look, it was suspenseful and historically accurate and everything, but it is strictly watch on Star Movies at 9 pm stuff.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2012/06/men-in-black-iii-2012.html" target="_blank">Men in Black 3</a>: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Josh Brolin's awesome Tommy Lee impression is reason enough!</span></div>
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<u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Films that could have been great, but lacked a certain je-ne-sais-quoi</u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Amazing Spider Man:</b> It wasn't that it lacked good actors or a solid script, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but this film did not manage to justify a remake so soon after the Sam Raimi trilogy.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.criticaltwenties.in/mediapopularculture/in-defence-of-tim-burton" target="_blank">Dark Shadows</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: Burton sure knows how to weave the macabre with the funny but it lacked that Burton quality that makes us shiver and weep and laugh at the same time.</span></div>
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<u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film that I loved even though, in my heart of hearts, I know that it was not a very good film:</u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John Carter: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've already defended this film like it was my first born, so you can just read it <a href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2012/03/john-carter-2012.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Criminal wastes of time and money for everybody concerned:</u></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snow White and the Huntsman</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: I dont want to be a part of the Kristen Stewart Hate Wagon, but my god, she's a terrible actor who did her best to commit to a godawful script.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://reviewerswithoutborders.blogspot.in/2012/10/barfi-2012.html" target="_blank">Barfi!</a>: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't hate it with a vengeance immediately after I watched it. But now that I've seen what 2012 has had to offer, the fact that Barfi was India's official Oscar entry just makes me hate it with a passion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a great 2013, folks! May all your Oscar bets bring you money (unless you differ in opinion from us, of course).</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-6074532698729142562012-10-30T02:57:00.000-07:002012-10-30T05:06:55.573-07:00Cloud Atlas (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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THIS. This is what I go to the movies for.<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I encountered David Mitchell's novel on which this movie is based back in the </span><span style="text-align: justify;">twelfth grade. It wasn't the easiest book to read - starting innocuously enough with an 18th century journal aboard a ship, it abruptly skips to another narrative about an aspiring composer set in the early twentieth century, before taking another sharp left turn into a '70s conspiracy thriller. Next up are stories about an aging, institutionalized publisher, a futuristic dystopian tale, and finally, a post apocalyptic quest. Mitchell allows for this last story to conclude, then doubles back to finish the other stories in reverse order. So yes, it wasn't a particularly easy read, but it remains one of the most satisfying - and daring - literary feats I have yet encountered. I was naturally nervous about the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer's adaptation, wondering how they could possibly bring this seemingly unfilmable novel to the screen.</span><br />
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Well, they brought it. And how.<br />
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If the book was daring, this movie is flat out insane in the best way possible. No more nested narratives - the six stories now happen simultaneously, weaving in and out of each other in a mind-boggling act of orchestration. What this juxtaposition does quite beautifully is enhance the sometimes dormant themes of the novel, and a clearer picture emerges before us. Cloud Atlas is ultimately the tale of how the human spirit strives for freedom, how the small everyday acts of bravery are no less heroic than the grand tales of rebellion. In its own way, it takes the history of humanity and paints it into a wondrous narrative that spans time and genre. </div>
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And it doesn't stop there. The other huge gambit the directors take is casting actors across different roles in different time periods. Except for bits where the makeup team occasionally fails them, this is a perfect decision. The novel snuck in the theme of reincarnation through hinting that the protagonists in each its stories were iterations of each other - the movie manages to take that theme and suffuse it with deeper meaning. Lovers cross and re-cross paths, meeting each other in one period, losing each other in another. One character's ultimately triumphant struggle with his dark side becomes a motif across each story. Connections established in one lifetime determine the choices made in another. Days after watching this film, I'm still going over its intricate puzzle pieces in my head.</div>
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This is incredible film-making. Through its final half hour, I was fighting back tears of astonishment, marvelling at the way it managed to work through moments of such grandeur to touch on experiences so deeply intimate. The romantics said that if you describe the particular with enough detail, the universal will begin to seep through - Cloud Atlas approaches this situation in the reverse, and through its broad abstractions, it finds its emotional reverberations. </div>
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One of the greatest book to film adaptations of all time, and hands down, the best movie of the year.<br />
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-89346605548007243902012-10-19T02:33:00.000-07:002012-10-19T02:33:56.122-07:00English Vinglish (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwby5vEYJWfr_IYEtEz9mBt_-5ySp9AdvuN_kYVb39NlxgmlH_3BOIcDLsK11ikKWIu6FPfYMBBq3-ik73zQkke_t-Owe7uzk7mWqil35WClnS2fnZCBZ4CokRy66RWHb15Y_7pvhiDKI/s1600/english-vinglish-1082012108341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwby5vEYJWfr_IYEtEz9mBt_-5ySp9AdvuN_kYVb39NlxgmlH_3BOIcDLsK11ikKWIu6FPfYMBBq3-ik73zQkke_t-Owe7uzk7mWqil35WClnS2fnZCBZ4CokRy66RWHb15Y_7pvhiDKI/s1600/english-vinglish-1082012108341.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Most people who grew up in the 80s or 90s will fondly remember the British TV show, <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“<a href="http://www.criticaltwenties.in/mediapopularculture/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_Your_Language" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #333333; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;" target="_blank">Mind Your Language</a></em>“. The show hasn’t aged too well unfortunately, what with all the racist stereotyping and today, its worth is only nostalgic. I often wondered how a remake of the TV show might fare in the thicket of PC rules we have today. Thanks to <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">English Vinglish</em>, we have an answer: very well indeed! In addition to the predictable array of misspoken English jokes, this film beautifully portrayed how wide that gulf of language can be. English isn’t just a spoken language with rules of grammar and punctuation, we were reminded, but is also a culture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sridevi plays a typical Marathi housewife who finds herself increasingly alienated from her children and husband who all speak fluent English. They “lovingly” mock her for her mispronunciations and are visibly embarrassed by her. During a lengthy visit to the US to help her sister prepare for her niece’s wedding, she can no longer bear the alienation caused by the language and signs up for an English crash course. There she meets a motley crew of foreigners who want to learn English for their own personal quests. Her quest is for a little r-e-s-p-e-c-t from the loved ones. On the surface, the English class is composed of stereotypes: the Mexican nanny, the Pakistani taxi driver, the Tamil software engineer, the middle-class housewife etc. But as we get to know Sridevi better and realize that there is no such thing as a “typical housewife”, we understand that these characters also want to escape from the pigeonholes they have been put in. And they share such a great camaraderie that one does not even notice the “I like Rajnikanth and idli” cliches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Much has been said about Sridevi’s comeback so I wont say much more except to add my adulation. The movie rested entirely on her shoulders and she pulled it off with such grace that it is not surprising that men still have her poster up on their walls. And her sarees! Appropriately dressed-down enough to be credible as a housewife’s daily wardrobe, but so colourful and elegant. Britney Spears, THIS is what a comeback looks like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anybody who has ever been to a foreign country will know how terrifying it can be to do as the locals do. Even a visit to the supermarket or a restaurant is fraught with fears: am I doing it correctly? Have I committed a faux pas? And if something goes even slightly wrong, mouth goes dry, everything in front of your eyes start swimming, sound is muted and all you can hear is your pounding heart. If you don’t speak the language, so much the worse for you. <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">English Vinglish</em> portrayed this feeling so well in a scene where Sridevi tries to order a sandwich and it was so taut with humour, confusion and mortification that it has to have been based on a real life experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But strangers aside, this film beautifully handled that generation gap issue: parents whose children not only speak English at home but whose tastes have grown so alien to their parents. I remember the first time my family ordered pizza from the newly-opened Pizza Hut (at my sibling’s and my insistence). We’d heard so much about this dish from the sitcoms we were addicted to, that it HAD to taste amazing, surely? We picked one that didn’t have any mushrooms (because mushrooms are a gateway meat according to my parents). Apart from complaining about the cost, my parents’ view on pizza was, <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“too much garlic</em>“. Since then, pizza became one of those mysterious things that the children liked for no apparent reason but something they lovingly tolerated. So too does Sridevi lovingly tolerate trips to the cafe with boys and jazz dance classes, but what she won’t tolerate is her daughter’s assumption that these interests are somehow better than Hindi and laddoos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had two problems with the film though. First, those absurd, jingoistic, we-are-better-than-USA jokes had no place in a film with such a strong script. Second, I took issue with the total effacement of Sridevi’s needs. All she wanted from her family was some respect and recognition of what she does for them and completely puts their needs before her’s. Children, I can understand, but even the needs of her uncaring, somewhat douchy husband? I don’t get that. I understand that this is supposed to represent the reality of housewives, but her utter lack of any sexual desire or temptation to cheat did her character a disservice and bought into that ‘Indian women are so selfless and awesome that they would never so much as look at a man other than their husband, even if a caring, gorgeous Frenchman threw himself at them’ cliche. But these are tiny, overlook-able defects in an otherwise wonderful film.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(My mother’s verdict on the film, “<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes, you were an insufferable brat too. Sridevi’s ability to emote has diminished considerably. Must be botox</em>.”)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-86256948158920698862012-10-18T06:38:00.004-07:002012-10-18T06:38:35.197-07:00Aiyyaa (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In the first year of law school, in the process of getting high on each other, my friends and I had a particularly inane conversation. Out of that conversation was born an even more inane idea. We would, at the appropriate moment, stage a snake dance. We'd be a snake family, hiss in synchronized serpitude, arch our hands above our heads threateningly, perhaps do a few lolls on the ground. It was gloriously silly and of course we wouldn't EVER commit to it, but just the thought of doing it would make us convulse with hysterical laughter. </div>
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Aiyyaa is the result of someone committing to such an idea. It is a deranged film, high on its ideas, unashamed and unembarrassedly ploughing ahead with the loopy situations it engineers. It is crass and loud and pretty darn silly. Its also the best, most hilarious time I've had at the movies in quite a while. </div>
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Now this wouldn't necessarily be a memorable film if it stuck to that template. It'd dispense with its duties as a no-holds-barred entertainer, and that'd be all. But what Aiyyaa does is actually contain two completely different genres, two completely different kinds of movies, that may as well have been directed by two completely different people who hadn't seen each others scripts while making the movie. There is the unsubtle laugh riot I've mentioned. But there is also this other achingly melancholic, overbearingly sensual piece of film-making that jumps out at strategic points in the madness. That other movie is about a girl who is in love with a smell, and the fact that it belongs to a rather attractive man makes things that much more difficult. When her olfactory senses are triggered, she is unable to do anything but follow the source, chasing the man in a dazed state through increasingly narrow alleys. Even as her yearning escalates in intensity, he remains seemingly oblivious to her presence.</div>
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This other movie is not just an occasionally powerful piece of film-making, its also an incredibly refreshing one. This is one of the few Bollywood movies I've seen where the female gaze so unashamedly objectifies the male body, where sexuality is celebrated as such a powerful, positive force. A scene where Rani Mukherjee and Prithviraj stand on opposite sides of a curtain, his body as close as possible to her without her actually registering her presence - the screen absolutely throbs with erotic charge. There is similar sensuality in the sequences where she follows him down a street which explodes with colour as a religious procession marches past. </div>
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Aiyyaa then, is not a conventionally <i>good </i>movie. It doesn't play by the established rules of narrative, it can be too loud at parts and slow down too much at others. This juxtaposition of genres doesn't always work. But, if the purpose of art can be to move you, if it is to make you feel, vital, alive, if cinema can also be about the thrill of the unexpected - then Aiyyaa is a roaring success. It will be compared, and be held as inferior, in scrutiny to last week's English Vinglish. Both are "comeback" vehicles, both feature defining performances by heroines who can hold an entire movie. And yes, while English Vinglish is the technically better movie, while it gets the script and performances right and goes for the heartwarming finish, its also less <i>vital</i> in some ways. The boundaries of cinema are pushed by the ambitious failures rather than the conventional genre products. </div>
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Go watch this movie. And even if you hate it - and there is a reasonable chance you might - you will have experienced something far, far removed from what the conventions of Bollywood have given you to expect. </div>
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-89658570475134750292012-10-04T03:26:00.002-07:002012-10-04T03:27:50.605-07:00BARFI! (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tired of sweeping shots of the Andheri sky line and the protagonist being all pensive about the mafia on Marine Drive? Don't fret, because Calcutta is now Bollywood's go-to gritty city with its mysterious (but romantic) alleyways, gritty (but romantic) trams and Durga statues. Anurag Basu's latest film, <i>Barfi! </i>takes us to '70s Darjeeling and Calcutta to present day.<br />
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A ridiculously gorgeous girl, Shruti (played by Ileana D'Cruz) moves to Darjeeling and meets the eponymous hero, Barfi, who is a charming rake and was born deaf. They promptly fall in love with each other, even though she is engaged to another man. She decides to marry her betrothed because Barfi's disability frightens her (although, I'd have empathized if her reason had been his total lack of a job, salary and the desire to get one). In the meanwhile, Barfi is desperately in need of money and abducts the unloved and autistic daughter of the richest man in Darjeeling, Jhilmil, and hopes to ransom her. </div>
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Ranbir Kapoor as Barfi was great and I applaud him for sticking to what he knows best. He has played the same charming funny honest optimist in nearly every film he's been in. Barfi is also a similar character, except without the talking and he effortlessly glided. Priyanka Chopra on the other hand was not convincing; she clearly put some effort into this role but there was something missing. Someone should've told her that incessant lip-biting and an odd gait don't constitute character development. I was also unable to look past the sexy bombshell persona she normally inhabits and her self-consciousness was palpable. That said, she had a couple of good moments like when she starts becoming conscious of her appearance and her sexual awakening. </div>
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<i>Barfi!</i> was no doubt a beautiful film but it just did not impress. Like Priyanka Chopra's performance, it got so many things right because it took every opportunity possible to remind us that it was quirky and touching and ended up feeling gimmicky from overusing motifs. The raconteur-musicians were a great idea, but in this film, they were jarring and unnecessary. The Charlie Chaplin routine was cute at first but did not belong in the second half of the film and there were just far, far, far too many chases. I don't know about you, but I am still recuperating from chase sequence fatigue after <i>Gangs of Wasseypur 2</i>.<br />
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And all those movie references and homages-- again, they were cute but to what end? The Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton references and Donald O'Connor's iconic "Make 'em Laugh" tribute were all very well made and nostalgic blah-blah but I still don't understand what their purpose was, apart from providing Anurag Basu several opportunities to flaunt his deep knowledge of film. Now compare <i>Barfi! </i>with <i>Benny and Joon (1993),</i> starring Johnny Depp. I wont say that the former is a blatant copy of the latter, but the similarities do pile up. In <i>Benny and Joon</i>, an eccentric, laconic cinephile (Johnny Depp) enters the lives of siblings Benny and Joon. Joon is a schizophrenic and is unable to live without assistance. Charmed by Johnny Depp's eccentric ways, Joon falls in love with him and they live happily ever after. Guess how Johnny Depp charmed her? Chaplin/ Keaton tricks. The Chaplin/Keaton sketches fit in because it reinforced Johnny's character's love for film. What was Ranbir Kapoor's reason? Anurag Basu had a drawer full of cool ideas and he decided to stick them all into the same movie. At some points it almost felt as if Basu built his film around the quirkiness rather than let them add colour to the story.<br />
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Also, was I the only one who got vaguely creeped out by the Barfi-Jhilmil story line? So here we have this grown man, Barfi, who abducts an intellectually disabled woman who has the faculties of a child, keeps her with him (forcibly in the beginning) for months... and then proceeds to marry her. I get that they were going for the whole love-knows-no-boundaries-and-blossoms-everywhere thing but Stockholm Syndrome much?<br />
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But hey, I'm no h8r. Like I said, the movie looked great and it is difficult to detest it. Darjeeling and Calcutta are lovely places and even though Anurag is a bit obsessed with tracking shots, it was all very lush and pretty. The story was certainly more than a National Association for the Deaf educational video and it did rise above being one of those preachy, the-disabled-are-just-like-us films (I'm looking at you, <i>Taare Zameen Par)</i>. Was it an obvious tear jerker? Yes, but that isn't such a bad thing. And we really must encourage this new trend of Bollywood leading ladies de-glamourizing themselves for a role.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-50445805418081411722012-08-09T03:42:00.000-07:002012-08-09T04:03:19.898-07:005 Things Hollywood Needs To Do<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to our four devoted readers and spambots, RWB is 50,000 pageviews old! Danish and I decided to commemorate this momentous event by putting together a handy checklist of things Hollywood urgently needs to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now Danish will tell you that he has had enough of the remakes and reboots, but let me assure you that one half of RWB is pragmatic about these things. Let's face it, they wont stop making reboots because</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> they know we'll watch every last one of them. I say, bring on <i>The Dark Knight Rises Again </i>starring Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. But w</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ithout further ado, here's our list of top five things Hollywood needs to do!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Danish Says</u>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. That searing gay romantic drama with Ryan Gosling and Benedict Cumberbatch as the star crossed lovers.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come now Hollywood, it's been a while since <i>Brokeback</i>, and while it was fun watching Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor cavorting in <i>I Love You Phillip Morris</i>, the time is ripe for a scorching romance with same-sex lovin'. And what better, vulnerable lovers than Gosling/Cumberbatch - the latter's had some experience in this regard with a passing gay subplot in <i>Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy</i>, but damnit I need to see some action, stat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, it's important that Michael Fassbender have a supporting role as a jealous former lover. The story could resolve itself by having the three of them agree to a menage a trois at the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. Ceasefire on the reboots and remakes.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay I did kind of like <i>The Amazing Spiderman</i>. And it doesn't look like <i>Total Recall </i>blows completely. But really guys, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have more cinema where we weren't intimately familiar with the details of the climax? I'm not even saying they need to create original screenplays - there's a wealth of fantastic literary material out there waiting to be adapted. <i>Cloud Atlas</i> is one of the unusual book-movie transitions coming out this year, and even if it turns out to be less than stellar, I hope it achieves atleast some amount of success, simply for the reason that big bucks were spent on such a dazzlingly ambitious - and difficult - idea. More of that, Hollywood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. More musicals.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because the notable musicals of the last few years have been, well ... <i>Burlesque. Rock of Ages. High School Musical 3</i>. It's been a while since something on the calibre of <i>Once </i>came along, and more than a decade since we were razzle-dazzled by <i>Chicago</i> and <i>Moulin Rouge.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's bust some moves Hollywood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Note: this is NOT an appeal for more dance movies. At least not until they figure out that it's possible to have dance movies which feature a plot beyond a) bringing together motley crew to b) save some revered institution)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. A <i>Community</i> Movie</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give the creative team a reasonable budget, and let them create ultimate horror-romance-comedy-scifi-</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">western-thriller. There will be no more need for cinema once Dan Harmon and team are done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Ban Dev Patel</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Nuff said. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S7EtQ0zV9jlYDLSxh02usLb2hmBvkX-L4LqQk3ZIGbsCr8ebZ73_WKsgaauFQDzcR0MKngnkUvq_691pqTUi9Km91iEU3rcVm0X272QfEAfA0hfnM7VYXrjMoj6pFYLTu6XR6c1LE5Aj/s320/dev_patel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S7EtQ0zV9jlYDLSxh02usLb2hmBvkX-L4LqQk3ZIGbsCr8ebZ73_WKsgaauFQDzcR0MKngnkUvq_691pqTUi9Km91iEU3rcVm0X272QfEAfA0hfnM7VYXrjMoj6pFYLTu6XR6c1LE5Aj/s320/dev_patel.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Lekha Says</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. Appreciate Edward Norton.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously, this guy is superb. Right from his first film, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Primal Fear,</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> he has been regularly blowing us away with his formidable acting prowess. Too much of a baby face, we accused him. BAM. He comes back with </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">American History X.</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Okay, but enough with the serious roles, loosen up and have some fun in a shitty movie we said. He gives us </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Italian Job</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Not cult enough we said? </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fight Club. </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not commercial enough we said. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Incredible Hulk</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. This man has given us everything we have ever asked for and yet, Hollywood regularly lets him down with crappy scripts or poor promotion for his films. The lowest blow has to be his non-nomination for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leaves of Grass </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and to a slightly lesser extent, for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Painted Veil.</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I thought he was wonderful as the responsible but naive scout leader in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moonrise Kingdom,</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> so please give him an Oscar or two for jobs well done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. Stop Splitting The Last Book Of A Series Into 2 Movies.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can only imagine studio executives' faces lighting up in joy and wonderment when Warner Bros announced that they would be splitting <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</i> into two parts, as they looked at each other in wonderment, "<i>We can do that?! CHA-CHING!"</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now every trilogy/series being made into a movie is pulling a Harry Potter: <i>Twilight, The Hunger Games, </i>and most recently, <i>The Hobbit.</i> Cinema has become too much a part of our lives for us to stop watching them. We WANT to be invested in your characters, Hollywood. We WANT to spend money on your overpriced popcorn and soak ourselves in your glossy dreams. SO STOP TRYING TO ROB US BLIND BY UNNECESSARILY PADDING YOUR SCRIPT TO STRETCH IT OUT INTO TWO MOVIES. THIS IS NOT NECESSARY.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes Peter Jackson, I am talking to you. You are officially removed from my <i>Silmarillion</i> TV Series Fantasy Crew because I don't want to spend my life savings on a 1000 part series.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. Start Making Romantic Comedies Memorable Again.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Nora Ephron gone, it truly is the end of an era. Is the romantic comedy genre dead? We had <i>No Strings Attached/ Friends With Benefits</i> which were eminently watchable for the most part. <i>The Five Year Engagement</i> was cute but formulaic. <i>Bridesmaids</i> and <i>Easy A </i>were standouts, but apart from the odd film or two, most lack that je ne sais quoi which defined romcoms from the 90s and early noughties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We want genuinely funny, infinitely quotable movies with their heart in the right place and infused with just a hint of reality and wisdom. We don't want your shitty movies that r<a href="http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2011/10/03/111003sh_shouts_kaling?currentPage=all" target="_blank">einforce stereotypes</a> and pander to what Hollywood perceives as "female demographic". We need those romantic comedies where there is just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her. We need more lone reeds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, we are willing to settle for Hugh Jackman in period costume.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Give Us A Break From the Traditional Superhero Films.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With <i>The Avengers</i>' unprecedented success and even <i>The Amazing Spiderman'</i>s modest takings, superhero films are now box office safety nets for studios. Never before has this genre been taken this seriously nor has it generated this much money, so much so that that this is how our weekends are going to be for the coming years: <i>Captain America 2, Thor 2, Superman 2, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Avengers 2, Batman reboot, X-Men: 2</i> and these are the only ones that have been greenlit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stop and think, Marvel/ DC. Don't overmilk this cash cow. Give us some time to recover from <i>TDKR</i> and <i>The Avengers</i>. Bring out the Collectors' Edition DVDs, we'll buy them and rewatch them rabidly and we promise not to get all snooty about how much better the comic books are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But do make more movies like<i> Chronicle </i>and <i>Kickass. </i>Those were awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Stop Scrimping on the 3D/ CGI Budget.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really, in this day and age, there are <a href="http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-7-most-common-cgi-screw-ups-explained/" target="_blank">no more excuses</a>. We've seen some shockingly good CGI techniques and we, The Movie Beasts demand nothing but the best. After having seen some incredible visual spectacles in <i>Avatar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Hugo, The Adventures of Tintin </i>and several other recent films, crappy CGI or afterthought 3D are unacceptable. And stop re-releasing old classics and <i>Titanic </i>in 3D, it simply does not add anything to the film and just reinforces our perception that Hollywood is run by a bunch of greedy cokeheads.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>(Dis)Honourable Mention:</b> <b>Stop rewarding <a href="http://deadspin.com/5918440/the-stupid-stupid-unforgettable-madness-of-adam-sandler-thats-my-boy-reviewed" target="_blank">Adam Sandler</a> and <a href="http://www.cracked.com/funny-275-michael-bay/" target="_blank">Michael Bay</a> with movie scripts. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unless these two take a good hard look at their professional choices and totally revamp their styles, it is safe to say that they are both well past their sell-by dates. One could argue that Michael Bay is an aberration who never deserved a director's chair in the first place, but that's a story for another day.</span><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-80339670316370628962012-07-29T08:17:00.000-07:002012-07-29T08:17:06.984-07:00The Dark Knight Rises - Second take (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns comic,
Lana Lang is attempting to defend Batman: </span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Fd173203-Identity-H;">"<i>We live in the</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Fd173203-Identity-H;">shadow of crime . . . with the
unspoken understanding that we are victims-of fear, of violence, of social
impotence. A man has risen to show us that the power is, and always has been in
our hands. We are under siege - He's showing us that we can resist."</span></i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Fd173203-Identity-H;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's an important point, one
that has seemed crucial to Christopher Nolan's take on the Batman universe. The
idea here in those lines is about transferring some amount of autonomy to the
citizens of Gotham city - <i>"the power
is, and always has been in our hands".</i>
More on that in a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's a bit hard - nay
impossible - to be completely objective about a movie series if you've been the
kind of fan that Nolan's Batman films made you.
If you were a proud comic book nerd, you gushed at the ways the movies
had paid homage to different parts of the canon, ultimately weaving in a new
narrative that stands proudly aside the best of what DC has to offer. And if
you were just the regular cinemagoer, you marvelled at the complexity of the
narrative, the brilliance of the performances, the sheer thrill value of the
movies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The problem with being a fan
is that it becomes particularly difficult to write a review resembling anything
approaching balance. I sensed fleeting moments of disappointment within myself
while watching the Dark Knight Rises, and yet when a friend began dissing the
movie as we walked out, the rabid fan in me took over. <i>You will not dismiss this movie, </i>the fan said<i>, you will acknowledge the brilliance of Nolan's vision, you will
accept that this is the best conclusion to a motion picture trilogy yet, you
will </i>... you get the drift. But over
the days that have passed since I saw the movie, it is that mild disappointment
that has festered and grown, not the admiration for the parts that worked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Try as I might, I have been
unable to love The Dark Knight Rises the way I loved some of its individual parts,
or the way I loved its predecessors. So what
did I appreciate? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One part of Bane's plan: the
idea of having Gotham cut off from the external world and be forced to retreat
into a Hobbesian state of nature. The fact that it must face this, its greatest
challenge punctuated the absence of Batman, and also the absence of its state sanctioned
law enforcers. To the extent the movie focuses on that, its conflicts are
grandiose, its stakes never higher. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anne Hathaway: Her Selina Kyle
takes pride of place in the canon of magnetic characters Nolan has etched out.
Every line reading she does is delicious, and every time she's on screen, the
movie fires up with a vitality it lacks otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheer spectacle: Except
for the opening sequence which was filmed in a curiously flat manner, the set
pieces in this finale upstage anything that's come before by a long shot. The
mid-movie football field implosion is fantastic, as is the frenetic final half
hour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But then, there is the question of what the movie does
to Gotham city. This has been a series as much about the battle for Gotham's
soul as it has been about Bruce Wayne's.
The Dark Knight crystallized this by giving us the two standout sequences
of the series - and perhaps cinema as a whole.
There was the terrible choice that the citizens of the city had to make
as they sat on two explosives-laden ferry boats; and there was the choice that
Batman has to make when he finds out the lives of Rachel Dawes and Harvey Dent
are in imminent danger. The citizens
make the ethical choice despite all indications to the contrary (of course
Batman himself is on shakier ground here, but that's another story). Despite
the Joker's best efforts, he is unable to tilt the citizenry into anarchy, thus
also proving something essential: <i>Gotham
is a city worth saving.</i> The League of Shadows might have believed it was
beyond hope, and the Joker may believe it is beyond hope, but the citizens by
choosing to not press the trigger prove them wrong. They take, as Lana Lang
would say, some amount of power into their hands. Social order prevails. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cut to The Dark Knight Rises.
The ferry-boat thought experiment has now been in a way expanded to include all
of Gotham within its ambit. Anarchy reigns wide in the city - but not quite.
There is also the fascistic regime of the Scarecrow presided
"sentencing" court, where the only sentence is, effectively, death. Across the city, the 99% seem to resort
to thuggery and looting (thanks for demonizing the Occupy movement guys!). The
law enforcers are of course trapped underground, until they're rescued for the
final standoff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who are they and Batman
fighting for? For a city that's content to finish itself off, bomb or no bomb?
For a citizenry that is unable to raise its voice, take a stand, open its doors
to kindness, demonstrate some sense of an ethical compass? I don't know where the Gotham of the last
movie disappeared to, but it's not on display here. Unlike the Dark Knight, the
city doesn't earn its salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While my biggest gripe with
the Dark Knight Rises is its (mis)treatment of Gotham, there's also the fact of
its alarmingly ham-handed dialogue - poor Michael Caine is saddled with a
clunky bit of exposition which he is required to deliver through blubbering
tears. Then there is that disappointingly conventional idea of a nuclear bomb
serving as the plot driver, devolving into an annoyingly familiar race against
the clock. Batman's ultimate enemy is really chaos and anarchy - to saddle the
conclusion of this trilogy of ideas with such a stock Hollywood device feels
like a failure of ambition. Also, Bane?
Doesn't work. After the physical fear toxins of the first and the mind games of
the second, to have it all come down to a question of sheer brawn? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That said, the movie still
works as a conclusion to the arc of Batman/Bruce Wayne. <i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">"</span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you make yourself
more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, you become something
else entirely. Are you ready to begin?".</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> That's the
challenge Ra's al-Ghul puts before him early in Batman Begins, and that's a
theme that has echoed through the trilogy. The Bruce Wayne who was ready to
shoot his parents' murderer in cold blood has disappeared, replaced by a man
who refuses to engage in retribution, to a man ready to sacrifice everything
for his beloved city, and finally, a man who comes full circle. As we leave
him, he's able to close one journey and pass on his identity to another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Gotham, as we say
goodbye to it, still needs Batman. But Bruce Wayne, finally, doesn't. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Look, it still works. It works spectacularly as a comic book movie in general, it works perfectly as a Batman story in particular, and it is just about serviceable as a conclusion to this fantastic series of films. But, to echo the words of
Commissioner Gordon, the Dark Knight Rises is not the movie I needed it to be.
Maybe, with the over-high expectations, it's the one I deserved? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-9714524208389819082012-07-26T01:36:00.000-07:002012-07-26T01:37:07.356-07:00THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All superheroes are ultimately tragic characters. <a data-mce-href="http://www.wisegeek.com/why-are-there-so-many-orphan-heroes-and-superheroes.htm" href="http://www.wisegeek.com/why-are-there-so-many-orphan-heroes-and-superheroes.htm">Most</a> of them lost their parents in terrible circumstances; others lost their entire planet. Oh, Marvel may put a happy spin on things with wise-cracking alcoholic superheroes, but donning a mask and cape and saving hapless women from rapists makes for a lonely life. But few superheroes have fared better from a gritty reboot than the Batman. The adoption of his phobia as his symbol, the filth of the city of Gotham and the excellent decision to omit the placement of underwear over tights have all helped make the gritty reboot a thing. It has fared so well that the <a data-mce-href="http://meganandtimmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/bat-nipples.jpg" href="http://meganandtimmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/bat-nipples.jpg">Bat Nipples</a> are now forgiven and nearly obscured from memory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The<em> Dark Knight Rises </em>brings Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy to a close. It began with Bruce Wayne's childhood trauma of losing his parents, his rise through the ranks of the League of Shadows, him defending Gotham against all manner of evil, whether or not it wanted him to and then saving Gotham again from the clutches of The Joker. T<em>he Dark Knight </em>now occupies the place of the superhero movie that was so good that its sequel could never hope to top it (?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now everybody wants to know if it was as good as <em>The Dark Knight </em> and there are the inevitable comparisons between The Joker and Bane. This is where most people will fall in two categories: people who have invested so much love and time in TDK that TDKR will be loved regardless and people who have raised their expectations so high that anything short of Greatest Movie Ever Made On the Planet Till Forever More will be loathed. And as much as I believe that a series should be judged in its entirety, everybody knows that the second movie in a trilogy is (sometimes) <a data-mce-href="http://www.affinnova.com/blog/bid/88305/The-Trilogy-Tricorder-The-Top-10-Movie-Trilogies-and-20-Also-Rans" href="http://www.affinnova.com/blog/bid/88305/The-Trilogy-Tricorder-The-Top-10-Movie-Trilogies-and-20-Also-Rans">ALWAYS the best</a> and then there's the <a data-mce-href="http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=223531" href="http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=223531">Dreaded Curse of the Third Film</a>. Once you have a bad third film, the entire series is just tainted. Is there anyone who can say "Spiderman Trilogy" or "Matrix Trilogy" without looking nauseated?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite having so much riding on this film, Nolan's Batman series shrugged off that curse and TDKR provided a fitting conclusion to the series. It wasn't perfect, but then, neither was <em>The Dark Knight.</em> Seriously, what was that ending? Why did Batman have to take the fall for Dent's death? If they really and truly wanted a martyr, why couldn't they have just put out a story that the Joker killed him or that he died from septicaemia? In the words of one inimitable Supreme Court advocate, "[because] <em>Batman is a drama queen</em>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of <em>The Dark Knight</em>, Bruce Wayne set aside his Batman persona and let the memory of Harvey Dent's idealism and Giuliani-ness save the city and clean the streets off the mafia gangs. 8 years after Harvey's death, Bruce Wayne is no longer Batman; he's a broken man mourning the loss of his love, Rachel Dawes. But he must once again put on his Batsuit and save the city from a new kind of evil: a deliberate, precise and cold brute of a man, Bane and his ruthless team of sycophants who are intent on completing Ra'as Al-Ghul's pet project: destroying Gotham city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bane was a fantastic character and Tom Hardy played him so convincingly. Where the Joker was insane and unsettling, Bane is just flat out terrifying. He is insurmountably strong and his brawny physique is complemented by his calm, deliberate and calculated speech. His first fight with Batman was gut-wrenchingly visceral and ups his respect level considerably. Hardy is a fine lesson to actors that you can have your face obscured for an entire film and still manage to be memorable. Unfortunately, the character was let down by a weak ending which took away from all his strengths while adding little to his character. In any case, a weak Bane story line did not ruin the film because he was not as central to this film as the Joker was to the last. Joker's story arc was to remind Batman that there is a yin to every yang; that there is no Batman without the Joker and no Joker without Batman.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, this film went back to some of the unanswered questions from <em>Batman Begins.</em> Are Batman and Bruce Wayne two different people? Does Gotham need Batman? The Bruce Wayne from the first film was a vengeful man who wanted to clean the streets of Gotham because his parents died at the hands of a common criminal. But the Bruce Wayne we see now, almost a decade later is old and weary. His thirst for vengeance brought him nothing except more loss. His alter ego wasn't stopping crime as much as it was creating other crazies in masks. While he no longer doubts whether or not Gotham needs a Batman, Bruce finally begins to question his need to be Batman.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for Catwoman, full disclosure: I cant stand Anne Hathaway. I did my best to be unbiased but have you met a more yawnworthy Catwoman? Oh, I'm glad she wasn't licked back to life cats or something, but she was just so goddamn boring and without individuality. Even her fight sequences were boring. Apart from one or two good lines, she would've been completely lost in the epicness of the film if it wasn't for the fact that she was wearing a latex suit and was straddling a bike in a way that only Megan Fox could (<em>Transformers). </em>I get that they didn't want to festishize her like Michelle Pfeiffer but girlfriend's already got the skintight suit, red lipstick and mask, might as well make her purr her lines. But Joseph Gordon-Lewitt, on the other hand! Now <em>there's</em> a side-character who managed to stand out. He wasn't just the young idealist foil to Gordon/Batman's jaded veteran but he was no hothead either. He managed to combine Bruce Wayne's anger and Commissioner Gordon's composure and forged a very interesting character. I can't wait to see Gordon-Lewitt in more movies that aren't <em>500 Days of Summer.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;">There were also a few ridiculous things which are to be expected in a film about masked vigilantes like Batman taking the time to rig up a large-scale pyrotechnic marvel of a Bat symbol while Gotham is being ripped to shreds. Was it awesome? Yes. Was it symbolically relevant to the plot? Sure! Did I cheer and clap like mad when it was lit up? Of course. But one merely questions the timing of setting it up, that's all. And while I enjoyed the film: the nail-biting climax, the cool new gadgets and superb subplots and side-characters like Gordon, the conclusion to Bruce Wayne's story arc was supremely out of character, unsatisfying and totally unnecessary. You may disagree, but never forget that</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;"> </span><a data-mce-href="http://conservapedia.com/Main_Page" href="http://conservapedia.com/Main_Page" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;">Conservapedia</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;">has now claimed this film as</span><a data-mce-href="http://conservapedia.com/Essay:Greatest_Conservative_Movies" href="http://conservapedia.com/Essay:Greatest_Conservative_Movies" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;"> one of its Greatest Conservative Films</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;"> (because it correctly portrays those Occupy Wall Street hippies as thugs and murderers). Along with those other conservative classics like</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;"> </span><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;">Ghostbusters </em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;"> </span><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;">The Lord of the Rings. </em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.88888931274414px;">Yeah.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, the reboot has <a data-mce-href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877830/" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877830/">been announced</a>.</span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-35811175922337941592012-06-19T01:55:00.002-07:002012-06-19T01:55:40.778-07:00Movie Review Round Up - June 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Having enough time on my hands to catch a lot of big screen action, but strangely not enough to write a full length review, here's a short burst of opinions on what I've seen this month. The lengthier reviews will be back soon. No, really.<br />
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<b>Prometheus</b><br />
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Begins spectacularly. Looks stunning. Pulls you in, hook, line and sinker into an ambitious plot that's heavy with existential dread.<br />
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Then, at about the 1 hour mark, it starts to fall apart.<br />
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Wj+GLPnQTuxIy+kEHHT/APa+jfEXALTj1uZFRYr0D+HMNsn+VqxvwxG1vDc21yhWSGZgynrnxSfkLyxkbkcOtXbJZVXc+WpfcXFzcwLOskg1n5AQQPbcV3j5ZUiiidGJHMKg0Vw8Rtw2KTBAkXVvsRWb9NVxUyfELa4kRnguCAGOtGWkl5I3JYH1bD9a1XGplhjbRjG/SstMjyxM5Bw5wAPNYbaR04TYRwKaOCZGZHaR22wdl8fuKr4iGa+icnfuaJsIDBZ6ypznSWI7n/xQ982m5TO+dqv+PU2L/wBCWWkgtvU8ZoO+jVpPXsMUwjiLvHpGc1y8sWbIeuiU5W0Kk9MRCbionLEbUx/y4W8Y5jbVyB43uCpCqF6Z70/lL0Fq+FUNrJJjC4+oopbEKf4jgD2rz3ZyAD6c9RUppAwylPiF/pnY4YI2ODqJ89qomu8A6ANm7UNcyzMNjj6CgtbJIN985oe3+AsJ9Y1hvZEug0yFT1Gaer8R6ITkLrxgPWXu7iSSaNydRC4oeZ5GXGOtL7YfCYyvblLpkbmaWJJB81dbcNkuWJHrLDK6ex6UrhIjuo+dHrVVxjNabg1zaoh5xdM/Lp7U899FpfK4L7vhQ4eQk+6oudAOc0LdNAbcyK7LKD6FXoKacUukeeR3YFW2QigDugG2kb47mmyFf0wjkcoY6juKljnJzR/qL84Hf3qeLdosGRsedFWWot4Z1KSvq8ldhWMOts5aL6Syg6z6Vo+F3gzyjqf8zdh9KhMbbSFty65GojIBOa8rFIwVj6+WpyCtIsr6C8gBB8VDh450ciH1MoOk+R4rzzSqCAEx4xmqobi6SQhXwR2AxRwHS1UdYVhXqN2PvRvBoGGssQuDnfvVnCl563JlnVTHkgNglqilyBken6YqlCNNtQPe65kZCAZJ3qUaliCNwelLIrgaj6TgnsafWEtu1usYjIfOdWaaMmofTvgW0HCvh1LzlF5Ltyz466RsB/U08PFoVk5jgx/yo3zHbrjxQHw8hvfhW1ixpaLUn+/1qiOxH+Yrryy/nz32qllNUy1p/UHV1dSPGkcGOcWXYHp3yfaqLziEf4o28WWlOyui5GrwaFvluHtpFsYIpJD1LLuQP2z/AGrK28V0vFltmkkixnmKjZ2/N3x0okHedNbYX/4pw5DFskEjbTpP/nFBfFVmkF4t7CADcrlh5YYH9MVPiHFxa2gnljjhgUeoRkHbOw9+1d45eQX3DLCa2kWSIqZc+FyF/qcVO1xFfz9Zmrm7XRiWCRGHfGofrQ737SWxZAQq7bjFE3nL0HD7Y7Go8FtJbqfSkJliBycjAY9hXP8A12sqnVlUzlxruMKQdRbFaSy+HxcKsTpGixRalLkj1nzj27U5/wAo4VwUJc8cuohPKxaOLoCf7e9FSy293aFeHn8QZJFEk6fJljpwD32JG3TNeV/b+mt6/wAnZhLKopg/w/uuIIJrmRLfEeYBHIWUE+R/XespL8PTRXU0N5KBLDAZQG9jjP3xX2m5vobCOOADMzriONd/18CvmfxekV00t7PLkyQtGZD6VcjA9A7gBvuSK7f4rSjRjuP0zMczrIgUYI6ijZZo0jYMMu3kUGI5mm5si6TrIbHTOev360TPAJXGGwQK9DL4cO5QbiKSSwbtuBsB3pOIWedeox1rROsSxBSctj5qWIyQyuqtqLUaDDiKTANXzDHarShRD3qGEZ8gkHxV75C+aRYDIsyJl0IB6E0tudTNtsacXDTXEQXOQuwGKTybTANmkx5ZOF2Mo1eKvlGuaNB+Y1WkavdopbSh6t4r2HjuS+dSgkIT3FBTZfKivcaUfBB3BokwsNDYbCiqbcGSXtl9zTvlhLd9O+O9WkY61BWV1JkDSRufeul4sKuTuenaoSzo0npGfcVJLUOdbNgD8nQ00IyYaMWAyoGT96CUnmah8qgnFEXUTmImQaXPTB2P0oaAhY3Ldhg1i/TrQTLhhEc78sVeGfABYnHeh2QSCAqT8n/eiYrWXTlmIFAqVETq+sbgbggVbaCa6lZ3+c/vREcLRk4YEd6ItiGJMKfrTSE2ULw64Lgo3qwAfFFrwh4iHlkU57VfKZ4YlGwY9loTnSFmEzNvVNRwzWm1UWpCus4CmmVtA6jOAPfNLHtprV41lTl6xkEnrV9vM2ojUcKfNOzhLVVPo/wJ8SQWLPbXzlYZNwcZ0t/atze2Ud1Estu4KsMhgdiPavg7z6HBjYlT581t+A/GRs+BXNpNMofT/AYqTpJO4/TOKacdRlrFXTaNJdq5OzLjSBjNYex4vr+IWt76NYH1mPO2OvRs/belfCfia84HMGytxaTdicqd98eD7U9+Lk4Nx7gI45w24RLmIhHjY4Zv+kjyOo8jNU9IWc6sY0+Pbcj4elcKo9a6mUYz7+/ash8IC44lE0D5FtFCygrkE4bXpHnc6vsKF/8AWEl38ONwW9XXoIMU2fVgfl/80r4Txaa24cIoJmhZbkyB16Z0gb/v+prH+jf4bYzFB5dzSwXxZ3BjU6JlIzoP5XHsR19/rRd3xritpEkVrdiEHZeUq5/WkT3dzNLLdOA0vLxlBjIJA+/XtVd/czrCY0VQ/M0oGO5VOoB/T9a5t4T9R0YbSNhwCwhu7pZ+JO19evgu07FlUe+ev06VuOMcWsOAcNjuJyBkhYYgBqkb2H1x9AK+V/D3GPwKapmCSHqzjIH6VT8QfEfC2jNy5nveJOxBlnbCxKDsEUef1rH5VhX+maDhHxA13xC8iu+Zcy5BC9A23Rn8Z6KBmsXf8avbu6W645BLcwMhK4OhI18KR0we3t3rOjjU4mk5QxzDl21EMfuOlekuZ3j5IfKnbRnA377/ANa6VJAjNZZXt8OEwSXyxp6gqIqBToOADt3371frdT82S1ATcYjn4VY2sgV5bbGoRJpQbekZO7Ede29F8i4nsRxCGJ2tVOl5F3Ebe/8Aets6MN4foa7LGkfMA+Xes47sLppF2GdqYNOzxKGbJAoblwtFKZJCrr8o81T6RlQsiAkw4x70UvQ6jtil8ACgYNEKDgkGhMpom2Yj1xnpQV7b6X1x5II3NFK4ZtMgOn2q10WNOQ5BZtwfFMmxie3ZueciirjGr2VcGrZIOVIDpOcdfNDSa3k5YU4PXyaUKtLbUarhGAwM0ZeSEbayqHqO5oa11Qklhg9BmoXBcSZxq8UyGqwq2iUwOYlxgdT1oiyjRbVpJG9fauxvy7En87L0oFp/+GYE43qqZ+maiQJb4X1qTup3FdgsYbhXCkoxIGlu/wBDTe7S3itIlWPQR1NUQm3MXMA1HNZyOHRW1UQh4Q3oBB9II/ejvwNxJHy0QYHdtq5FxKULyQMeGNWXxurYKLW4E+tctp6inwVfjKDwo26mSafTnYgV2IWVuAofUSc4zS+5luHhxcOSnvQSKDN6TkdTT+kvEJY0/WNpr3UxhjB056+KXyc7WRLswNS4breZ87erer5/VOyH5x09/apt9LSWeIhNcTTAfiJGfQMLq7CpQMWbCkgHqaAklLTMh6UdrRLfCfOq569TR6DyGxAs7am9K7KcdfNAy3miZ12IBK4NVrcTYEkeGwBlehoHiM4ecMUKHSAy+9VriEs1je14s0EMsDqJIJsa1I3GCDqU9m26+9de9NpcF+HXcmj8rgaW7HBHsftSITdFY5XO/motKQcZ6VH0X8Bz3JDFs75ztTC2uVkGNtLhslRurYyD+2PvSANk0y4LfJZ3QZ1RlyNWoZwO5qG2X8hoknUDYHvsdJqD3M6EsEk1ec5r6CP8RXhAteL/AA/w69Efp5gAXVjbI2IoHjvxR8L8S4ZPHB8M/hL1l/hyxuAFbycY/pWH3r9Q1lGClubmTPzA+TQbozNl2J+9N7e1MqyO+yoASp6kHv8A780vvzGkx5C4U9FJzirg6UjQmxH2FQeTfC5Jqtm0jY7mrLVGB5gOy9NupqkqDcRdErxRhjIyu257ivpH+F3EJL0X3AppfwyX0ekTxEagQOwII3r5q3qx2YbAeat4dfz8NvEmifQytkMCdjVJQn1Gz4zwufgfFJLC5cM8ZwGxgOOx+4oBscwhuhrnFOMTcV5F3ctrmI0M+ck7ZH9DQ1vNlizEgL581aZk8jCFQF9IyaYSWRSzWUt6z+WlMcmCCG6UaLtmPqyfvVpojSf4V89cKgj9YO5NUTPmUMu5HWm/ErzhkltCLaPRKo9bYpdFHEdw2WJ7DakJnra6yhDDI1Y3q5E1XKywkBh2NDQOsbuujI1VyWVzIQqlSe3gUxHbpZ+azkfSoW0umULIdz0zTOMo6KJWGQKVXgC3AYIcA+KIK3gxe3eZgyMNK9fpSy7CrIwLenNWi6mZGZBjbBzQE85IDKmojYkjahtCymekkaOFUdgyj+auPoiCjQTkZxnApV65JAxc4zls1XJdTzSk+rc4ApU3+GNVmfWMQqB2PWrnkaPDq5BPUDt7UtjleGMqDqfufFeFzJ/zB6D19qVF80P4nxF7iy/BRxRqYzq1AbsKSJKVfru3b2oi4Dao2xuRjI9u9VOouH5kQAdRgj+b6UmWi3h6TNJI8TYBOKhcpdLKWOrI7iivh/1mTVsNfSth+CtJLYAkIunPNPUnxTzmonW/lmECmTVL0YD1j/vXXbDQkn5zgiiby3WC/Zo2OOmANjQHEJY0mxEMCPYb5o86Uul8k0MTGU41DoB1NKrmczTFmxnbpUHlLZLdTVXX+9TrbZpnELC24xRXKMlpz48kqxDAeNt6BAyd+nsM0+t0WxswqukjTR6jhgSo32OM4PtmpG+CkSlhUlbAb6Yq/jsVtb8Q02KMsRjQ4JyNRG+PbOaBGTuaBrp9M/wzNtxLjC2fE0jn/EQNHofzsRgecKenc0f8a/DEHDJJrjhsPMtYsLcIGOu3fHfyp6hseRXyy2uZbaVJYnZXQhlZTggjwa+z/Cnxfa/ElmJeJy8ritjAwnZRn8ZDjoy9G3xkdc4IxvhrvCNKdPmjXJU7SSKBsMnOKVyvzJGc99h9K3vxv8LSJavxDhVqIx/8qzQ6mts9x5X+m/jb59IQF26DpUtQMlROXI79KZxaUUJjZRv/AL96X2sTyyBgPzen3NNLawnu3WKBGmckkIo3Y08NJj0gW7lgjcKCSSM1MEXlq4VcSJupcHLDxnpUbgRWygG0DFj6mOxXB6e3SjoL2JbVlEM0Y0k5Zsqa0IK+FXAeBopBh10uue4yP+1GyuFIjI6bn61Va2iNFHLKrZij23xkntUVPMYO3UHceagG6xlZyRgEuuo42qQeVXOVAPiqbXY5Zds7CjJFBTNWZsHu85DKMhhnp0qVustuhkbZW6KacWnDObZO0uVOMoT4pTcPFzNLSs2ldgKbTXSFq8LLRTKxYfU0f+GlEBuSg0E9cZxQlhNHDhhtnpk0bd8Xt2tmAZY3+UhTsffFUpOk6tFUl+8crg9R0xQU160kg5r6VO1FxOtwxZogB/Me9Ayy2oYq8Y069pD/AEFR0uJFEfOMrR4ZkYEBx0PjevQO6f6k2lf5Q2aJvCInVYrvUBhgANgPFEWPCxfPIzGJ0AyABg+1NJ+Cbgiy6WuBuzNpFUSTiI8sfN3bx7UTfJyIkVZASNmYb/XFL9Kntn61DZulS5GYt6WIq4STKulgCvk0MrOqYAP2FWo5xllO1BQbbzQyxcmQlWU+lsbY8VSymKXMSKfB1Zr0Mwwx0AEChUkIkbup/KaqkRjaxuGww0FZM9AMavpRUknELt3hslLrEBqx1zQnB8MWkDNoTcq2+PvU14vNw28/GQlY3Q5KkbPR+EysBuLp7ZJYp1bWOzjBU0kkkLsST3ojjHE5uK30lzORrkbLYGBQQIqG6b5zESBzXRUa7napKLFyWAowSYAVdgNqCQ9cde9T1ZJoE1RkZQ8RikJKtS2VTG+Dv7+atWXbDD7ivOySLjIB7E0CXCgGibG+ueH3cV1ZTvBPGcpJG2CKEIwa7nNBR9R4H8Q3HE71OLWM6Q3mFW+gk+QqMDUB/KcD/wCpPjFV8f8Ahmy48Xm4Bpt+Kqmqbh7YAkPfQRtq8gbHqMdK+d8NvpuH3YuICQwBU4PUEYIpyvHMzi6hYxTKQcqcbjoR4Iqk6umfzHwodXtXKaChQadLDBH1961v+GfELW14sr3Wn0nZj2pdK8XxOZb95Cl45PNY/LIw7jxSu1sBDkXGt3ZsjSxUEeBnYmnnDTonrkZtvjG24fe/EFzNw11MMmGLIAUL49X7/vWYfh6Qv6Y1Gfyr0J7bUxs2UJq1HCjdiMfqOxxUlkVpYxJ6TJlt+x7foBW04YtwAmYoTEV0kDceTS8xFXyGxnpmmfEY9E5y4YkZzS6TEyrjYr3rJ/8AS8vnAmByACdzRMkyiPcNvS6DXG3XNHTeqEEA59xSQNHW41MkHK1MR23pUl0zysz9TVgxq1sBgHpU7OON5e2kmn1iSS8GcEYKR9tO5z2oa75a4RI01Kd3NTa+SMmLsOp81VrjdS5JBAwV8imyUyuCSQIwkBz5z19qAmmCyOZIydsBR2psMToTjoNsdqSXDjJwWDA779allIojnxINPpzsabcNnliZZFJWMIRJvjGKTrJJJJojXV9aaz3MSWDiJFbXhm8HGxxVZFtCuGf/AIbddSatxUWRJAHhY47g9qqtnDQcvGCSMGtjwTg8IiyV9J9OoddXv7UZz9Gm9LBlkEiAEZwT1xsaJSZGXEqb+RTbjNqEh5bTaVhYnSo2pKk1kNhzpP0FJqCzv6VI641JVScGieDcLm4lcsI1JQeBVSzQlgI7VSSertmnXw7xoW07RIgCjqAuNQ708pXottpcLJuHfgoHijUk5zjsfvWJvbiWdwZNhjYeMGvpfG+NxtbaViCpjOSN6+XTMWmfJ/Mf60v6c8H/AArTpGvDFcrtZnQdB8UVNZvBBDM7L/GBKqOoHvQ8K6pFGMjO4NH30mu0tzjoWH700Q26AjbpUgetQ3AzjbNewM9KRRcGUbZwa7qz3qUEaNuWH0AoxLSBiVIk1YyMEY/cUgAXAcdgap6daInhMLgHYHuKoYnHT75oAiWxXhlu4xXK72pgG2dzNYkSW0x9xnb7itDw+9tr5PwtwdAkOvBJwGxuVPXtmskCUYEdaYWE5LM8LNFPCDJGy7gYG+ft/WqWmidZTNPaSSLEYZmEm4wy5wV67HwdtuxzVdzLruQWf0rtQ1lxZbuRmCtrxuOoUbbgnfc9qJmKquQAQfar+qoZvMZesiXcTRAgyRjY+RSxlMbkdDXrYkXDMh048UWUS69bjBDY2pN/RCXxwHjZ85IyKPknTkgZ3oGaMwyaQfcVIOMYI3pIv0pnOlQezZrto2lGGcORv/0irVhRjqbBx0Hk0MitJI7d13I8UCfRpCY2jVSoOBjPeqTCElymNLbE/wB6hascYql5G/FtoPTqPaiihL8WttFLFnJPQ+1LOc8qmPbQDqLntTJYYbqIk+gpv9val15a3OuMIEEQ9SqG6/X3pMP+DS14K13btyNlAyyqcM3vVdxY8tmyTygmgDv0rUcBvIFVdcASQrjWvelXG5+XKzxJkPIAAfrvW0UMFptw/9k=" />
</div>
<br />
<br />
The very reason that Prometheus came into existence is also the albatross around its fascinating neck. This was a movie designed as, if not a direct prequel to Ridley Scott's Alien, then at least a close cousin of the movie, sharing, as Scott put it, the "DNA" of the cult film. In this attempt to link it to Alien, Scott manages to squander a fascinating premise. "Where do we come from?" is the question the movie asks as it begins, and "Why were we made?". But as it reaches its conclusion, the metaphysics is replaced with one big question: "What does the black goo do?". Prometheus doesn't actually devolve into a terrible film, just one that leaves aside the soaring heights of its initial premise to try and give us more convention sci-fi thrills.<br />
<br />
Still, the hypnotic first hour, the beautiful visuals, and a reliably excellent performance from Michael Fassbender make this an important summer watch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted</b><br />
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<img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFDaW0Rdyumcom1tOsYfPqwMUUp-w9SEGXGEkc6WbF8hffnw-x6g" />
</div>
<br />
I've seen the first two Madagascar movies, and been faintly amused - and that's it. Passable, lightweight entertainment. To my delight , this third outing decides to leave behind all moorings in reality - or sanity - and delivers one of the more satisfyingly entertaining experiences I've had at the movies in a while. The plot is besides the point, the movie exists in a series of staggeringly fun set pieces. My favourite of these is probably the one where King Julian the flamboyant lemur falls for Sonja, the tricycle riding bear. Then they go to the Vatican and get married. Then they go on a honeymoon where her tricycle breaks. So of course King Julian buys her a motorbike, which she rides on the streets of Rome with wild abandon, her husband secure on her shoulders.<br />
<br />
What, you need more reasons to watch this?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Shanghai</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
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<img 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" 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Having eagerly tracked Dibakar Bannerjee's cinematice oeuvre, one has come to expect genre-redefining acts from him at abandon. The charming family reverse-con in Khosla Ka Ghosla, the <i>other</i> side of the conman in<i> Oye Lucky, </i>and of course the audacious, chilling <i>Love, Sex aur Dhokha. </i>If Shanghai fails at any point, its that it betrays that red hot streak of boundary pushing. Its an excellently made political thriller, with great all-round performances (with the exception of a somewhat grating Kalki) and a crackerjack script. The plot zips along and the pace rarely slackens from its gripping tautness. But its Dibakar Bannerjee and unfair as it is, he's led you to expect something <i>more, </i> another layer perhaps, or a moment of stunning revelation, or even unexpectedly fierce poignance. <span style="background-color: white;">It doesn't come. Shanghai remains a fine film, one of the better Bollywood productions we'll see this year.</span><br />
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What it fails at is transcendence - a forgivable enough flaw.<br />
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<b>Rock of Ages</b><br />
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Rock of Ages has a bit of a problem. Its a 2 hour-odd film, with about an hour and ten minutes of song. The songs represent some of the 80s biggest rock hits, and are mostly sung well, if not always staged perfectly. The problem is that the other fifty minutes comprise incredibly shoddy dialogue and alarmingly hammy acting. And those imperfect staging choices? Yeah so one of them involves splicing random shots of Mary J. Blige's <i>extremely </i> peripheral matter into a series of musical numbers that have no business involving her. Also, her hair goes from resembling a dying hedgehog to a glossy lion mane. </div>
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If anything else stands out in this strange production, its the one terrific performance of the lot: Tom Cruise as rocker-of-ages Stacee Jaxx. Cruise takes the slightest of material and crafts a memorable character, one haunted by the excesses of fame. Also, he can sing. Really sing. Particularly memorable is his rendition of Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive, a performance he seems to be pouring every fibre of his being into. </div>
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If only the rest of the movie displayed the same kind of delirious commitment. </div>
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<br /></div>Danish Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715691370124189956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-70521368722735025512012-06-01T05:56:00.000-07:002012-06-01T05:56:24.895-07:00MEN IN BLACK III (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About six hours after watching this movie, I had a flight to catch at 6 am. My sleepy, bleary-eyed cousin kept vigil with me while waiting for the taxi when he said, "<em>I've been thinking about it. You know that scene when J and K .... <spoilers>?</em>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right there. That's the sign of a time travel film worth its salt: one that keeps you looking for inconsistencies, for how-did-they-do-thats and makes you constantly revisit the film. But at the other end of the spectrum you have those films that use time travel as a plot devise and then lazily ignore it once it has done its job (I'm looking at you, <em>Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban</em>). Time travel may not have been the centrepiece of <em>MIB III</em>, but I'm so glad they spent enough time on a decent screenwriter to cover (most of) the plot holes. Of course there were inconsistencies. Even my <a data-mce-href="http://www.cracked.com/article_17390_5-reasons-terminator-franchise-makes-no-goddamn-sense.html" href="http://www.cracked.com/article_17390_5-reasons-terminator-franchise-makes-no-goddamn-sense.html">favourite time travel film</a> is riddled with those, but in a well-made film those are less of an annoyance because there is so much more to these movies. With humour, a fantastically gross villain and surprisingly good 3D effects, <em>MIB III </em>succeeded in doing just that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones don their black suits and sunglasses and take on alien criminals and scumbags for the third time. Time travel plot line aside, was <em>MIB III</em> worth the decade-long wait? Did I want to be neuralysed after watching the film? Do I want to go back in time and stop the sequel from being made? As you can see, this post would have been far more fun to write if I hated the movie but no such luck. It was a funny, well-made film with super action scenes, 3D that wasn't just an excuse to plunder my wallet and a fabulous revelation known as Josh Brolin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />12 years have passed since Agent J (Will Smith) joined the Men in Black. He is now a Class 1 Senior Agent, but it still rankles that Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) isn't forthcoming and honest with him. And then they find out that the crazy powerful alien Boris the Animal has escaped from prison and is determined to never be caught again, even in the past. He goes back in time to prevent K from ever capturing him and it is up to J to go back in time as well to prevent this from happening.... and yeah yeah, enough of this. Let's talk about Josh Brolin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JOSH BROLIN! He plays a young Agent K and what a fantastic job he does. Not only does he manage to get Tommy Lee Jones' mannerisms down to a pat, but he also interprets the character as he may he been in his youth before he forgot to stop and just look at the stars, a time when a romance didn't seem altogether unrealistic. The imitation was flawless and totally believable, but without caricaturing Tommy Lee Jones and that, I think was the challenge. The comparison to dour, old, present-day K may be funny but one can't forget how critical J is to that comparison. J is a man who never lost his sense of humour or wide-eyed idealism even 12 years after hunting down alien smugglers and slimebeasts, unlike K who built a fortress of cold rationality around him. This gave the scenes with Josh Brolin and Will Smith a lot more depth and their camaraderie was fantastic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The great cast was supported by a really, really funny script that took plenty of digs at '60s racist America and hippies and reminded us why we fell in love with the MIB series in the first place. Oh I know I'm in a minority but I thoroughly enjoyed <em>MIB II</em> (even though the de-neuralyser machine seemed like a bit of a cop-out). I was also pleased to note that there were few references to the old films and almost zero rehashed jokes. Just for not making me sit through scenes with that irritating talking dog, this film gets my vote.</span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-30293893900509322172012-06-01T05:47:00.000-07:002012-06-01T05:48:38.990-07:00The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.criticaltwenties.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/bestexoticcast.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #333333; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4966" height="317" src="http://www.criticaltwenties.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/bestexoticcast-564x317.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438) 0px 0px 4px; background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(171, 170, 166); display: block; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="564" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a degree of stereotyping that comes with foreign films about India. Just as Parisians must accept accordion music and sweeping shots of the Eiffel Tower with a c’est la vie attitude, I too have come to accept the trite call-centre/elephant/bazaar scenes as unavoidable. Without these cliches, no doubt foreign audiences would rise up in protest at having been cheated out of their money’s worth of camels and havelis. Which is why, my only yardstick for judging the merit of a film set in India is whether nor not the film manages to disentangle itself from the colour and the confusion of India that film-makers are so enamoured by, and whether they allow their characters to be more than National Geographic narrators.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel </em>tells the story of seven British senior citizens who find themselves on a one-way journey to Jaipur for a variety of reasons. Some are lonely, some still crave adventure, some need surgery, some have no money to live in England and others are on a personal quest. They find themselves in a ramshackle hotel run by Dev Patel, who is also on a quest of his own: proving his worth to his family. The seven seniors are played by a stellar cast: Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Celia Imrie and Penelope Wilton. Yes, that’s pretty much 80% of the Britain’s Greatest Actors List. And by God, they have proved why they’re so deserving of their numerous awards and orders of chivalry (fun fact: there are 2 DBEs, 1 CBE and 1 OBE among them). While it takes a director with great restraint to stop himself from making a self-indulgent film filled with long shots of palaces and elephants, scenes of characters oohing and aahing palaces and poverty and spouting patronizing dialogue about India’s rich and poor divide, it also takes strong actors to take command of their characters and really internalize their histories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But why oh why would they ruin this movie by putting Dev Patel in it? Every single scene with him was irritating and completely unnecessary. His scenes with Lillette Dubey tested my patience to the utmost. I was willing to forgive this film for all its cliches, except for the big fat cliche that is Dev Patel’s story arc: he proves himself at his job and marries the girl of his dreams. His mommy doesn’t approve. No, really. That’s all there is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, Tom Wilkinson got to be a retired High Court judge who goes to India to look for his gay lover from his youth. Maggie Smith was brilliant as a retired housekeeper battling with feeling irrelevant and her friendship with the servant at the hotel was such a natural progression. Or Penelope Wilton, who just plain hates India: she is a perfect foil for all the tourists who are so amazed by the dust and colours while she only has eyes for the dirt and squalor. Despite playing such a disagreeable character, she manged to bring empathy and realism to her role. And Bill Nighy! Full disclosure: I am a little bit in love with him but that doesn’t mean that his idealism and humour wasn’t wonderful to behold. His ability to take so much pleasure in being able to fix a faucet or being able to bargain for a scarf or visiting an ancient temple may have been a bit too <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Incredible India!</em> for some, but I thought his character worked perfectly in the ensemble. The others had such sadness, longing and even bitterness in them that one needs a Bill Nighy to remind us that one’s daughter may lose all your life savings in an ill-advised internet project but hope springs eternal. Of course, one also needs a Ronald Pickup to remind us that there are those who are 70 years old and don’t need Viagra.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But Dev Patel. Dev Goddamned Patel. Every time I think of the movie and some nice line that Judi Dench spouted (as the resident narrator), I think of Dev Patel’s smirk and his accent and am filled with blood lust. The fact that the climax of the film was centred around him, his insipid girlfriend and annoying mother came very close to ruining the film for me. And why did his girlfriend have to work in a call centre? She could’ve been an accountant, a salesgirl or a hedge fund managed but no, they HAD to make her a goddamn call centre employee who conveniently enough, needed to be taught about Britain by Judi Dench. But then, Penelope Wilton snapping at Bill Nighy and telling him, <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you!</em>” was priceless and saved the film. Perhaps the ending was a little too neatly tied up, but who doesn’t love a happy ending? All in all, A for effort.</span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-35287173982297750502012-05-17T06:15:00.000-07:002012-05-17T06:16:42.245-07:00IN DEFENCE OF TIM BURTON<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.flesheatingzipper.com/entertainment/2012/05/dark-shadows-review-familiarity-breeds-contempt/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;">Many</a> feel that Tim Burton has become a bit of a one-trick pony; that the whimsical genius behind <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Big Fish (2003), Edward Scissorhands (1990)</em> and<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Beetlejuice (1988)</em> has been replaced by a hack with a <a href="http://sarareidunit15.blogspot.in/2011/03/tim-burton-styles-and-common-themes.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;">fetish for checks, swirls</a> and Johnny Depp. More specifically, Johnny Depp wearing white makeup and doing crazy things with Helena Bonham Carter sporting a crazy ‘do. They also say that Burton’s typical weird world stories of monsters-that-are-misunderstood are becoming a bit of cliche. They say that slapping on funny wigs and paint on actors with some creepy Danny Elfman music has been done and done and then done again in every single one of his earlier films. Be it visual imagery or plot progression, we’ve seen it all (they say).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But allow me to make a case for Burton’s films. Sure, most of them bear common motifs and trademarks, and many of them (<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alice in Wonderland (2010), Planet of the Apes (2001))</em> cannot hope to be rescued by this apology but all his films are not cut from the same cloth, despite what popular opinion may claim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Burton’s latest film, <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dark Shadows (2012)</em> has been accused of all of the above and<a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dark-shadows-2010/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;"> panned universally.</a> <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dark Shadows</em> is about a rich philanderer, Barnabas Collins who philanders with the wrong girl, a witch named Angelique who curses him to an eternity in a box as a blood-thirsting vampire. He suffers for two centuries of painful solitude when he is accidentally released in the year 1972. Imagine that. To have to suffer the hell of isolation and and then to be subjected to hippies and disco.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Barnabas finds that even though they’re a bit low on fortune, his descendants have persisted in the grand old Collins manor. But so has Angelique and her thirst for revenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The so-called Burton cliches of precocious children with a taste for the weird, Depp as an awkward fish-out-of-water fellow, Helena Bonham Carter in a funny wig and monsters with a heart of gold … are only what anti-Burtons see. I saw one of the silver screen’s few vampires who is troubled by his eternal existence, who really feels the weight of the centuries on his shoulders, who grasps the meaning of “forever” and is terrified by the knowledge. I saw Depp’s white face paint and anachronism, but I also saw a bloodthirsty creature unable to control itself. I saw the beautiful Angelique who wasn’t a misunderstood monster… unless that is, you mistook her for someone who plays nice and doesn’t hold grudges. Even her ability to love is so gloriously twisted. I saw Roger Collins, who uses his son as a lookout while he screws the coat check lady. Or the quintessential Burton heroine, the sane-insane Victoria, who sees ghosts. They’re a wonderful menagerie of well-developed characters, but do they make a wonderful story together? Let’s put it this way: it isn’t the greatest epic story ever told or even Burton’s best film, but with the help of hilarious dialogue, AWESOME ’70s music that is surprisingly appropriate, Depp’s ability to get angsty without getting maudlin and some serious WTF moments, Burton weaves together an amusing Gothic soap opera that treats its characters with respect without taking itself too seriously. It certainly doesn’t deserve the flak it’s getting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That’s all very well, you say, but what about those very relevant criticisms levelled by Burton notfans? To that I must ask you, are those criticisms REALLY criticisms or are Burton’s naysayers behaving like the pitchfork wielding townspeople in a Burton film, who don’t understand that it takes all kinds to make the world? Yes, it’s a bit meta and I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out that we’re all actually characters in a Burton film and our supposed normalcy is the source of much horror and nervous mirth for an audience somewhere… but bear with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One does not say that Martin Scorsese is a one trick pony because of his numerous depictions of mafia, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Scorsese#Director_trademarks" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;">women in white dresses</a> and overuse of Robert DeNiro/ Leonardo Dicaprio. <a href="http://unrealitymag.com/index.php/2009/01/15/eight-film-directors-and-their-muses/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;">Many directors</a> have this tendency of latching onto an actor and that shouldn’t automatically disqualify Tim Burton from among the most talented directors we have today. Does anybody think that Raphael was a hack because he regularly milked the ‘soft shadows/ light reflective colours’ cow? Well, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood thought so, but nobody cares about them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Artists have trademarks, artists tend to go back to things they have done before, to actors and muses they enjoyed working with, artists are constantly reworking and polishing their craft and yes, often fall back on things that have worked well in the past. One can’t fault Woody Allen for making awesome, cerebral films about love and marriage and one can’t fault Burton for his desire to drag ogres and all manner of beings from the shadows and onto the silver screen. I mean, he is practically the latter-day J.M. Barrie. If creaky, uneven stairs get your pulse racing and you are on first name basis with the monsters under your bed, then you will never tire of Burton. If Edgar Allan Poe had to clamour for attention with ’<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Go Jane, Go’</em>, then possibly, you may not enjoy every one of Burton’s films.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tim Burton has struck his colours and they are checks, spirals, fog and gorgeously warped monsters. If you don’t like it, then by all means follow the direction the bony, moss-covered hand is pointing at: it will lead you out of that creaky door (with a gargoyle for a knob) to the crumbling old, ivy-covered mansion and off the nearest wind-swept, brambly cliff.</span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930820078773220980.post-24580207933846562772012-05-09T02:34:00.000-07:002012-05-09T02:35:10.041-07:00THE AVENGERS (2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.criticaltwenties.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ranking-the-avengers1.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4905" height="330" src="http://www.criticaltwenties.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ranking-the-avengers1-564x330.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438) 0px 0px 4px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(171, 170, 166); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(171, 170, 166); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(171, 170, 166); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(171, 170, 166); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="564" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Admit it. You thought this film was going to be a self-indulgent Robert Downey Jr vehicle. I was certain that Downey, being the most bankable star in the group would get all the limelight with some obligatory Scarlett Johansson cleavage and 30 seconds for everybody else. I expected bloated egos, one-upmanship between the A-listers, unnecessarily messy action sequences and a surfeit of CGI. Ensemble casts can be tricky, especially when everybody in the ensemble has already had a taste of the top billing pie. Either the actors stick around just long enough to pick up their cheques or they’re fighting each other for our attention. Fortunately, this IS Joss Whedon we’re dealing with. A man who understand superheroes (<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Astonishing X-Men</em>) and how to bring it <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(Buffy the Vampire Slayer</em>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After five films’ worth of teasers, <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Avengers</em> film puts together the biggest and badassiest of Marvel’s superheroes. The covert organisation S.H.I.E.L.D. is attempting to harness energy from a mysterious object, the tesseract. The tesseract opens a doorway to Loki, Thor’s evil brother who arrives on Earth, bent on wreaking destruction with the help of his mindlessly evil alien army. In the face of certain destruction of the planet, Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. decides to restart a once-abandoned scheme: The Avengers Initiative. Abandoning that scheme was possibly the only sensible thing ever done by S.H.I.E.L.D.: I mean, who in their right minds would put an angry/ strong green giant, a demigod of Asgard, a genetically engineered man from the 40s, a megalomaniac who hates playing by the rules and a couple of sexy assassin-spies in the same room and expect them to play nice? Fortunately for us, S.H.I.E.L.D. values mega-awesome Iron Man v. Thor v. Captain America fight sequences over logic and prudence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The best thing about this film is that there was none of that tedious origin stuff which is so popular these days because even superhero movies now have a chance at the Oscars. Every single motif in the film: the heroes, the villain, the plot helper-alongers and the Macguffin are from previous films. So they basically had to fill two hours with superhero banter, well choreographed fight sequences and mind-blowing alien ship explosions. Check, check and CHECK! But action scenes aside, Joss Whedon and his screenwriters’ homework has paid off: they really understood their characters and their origins. That said, the comic book references never became excessive or irritating. This film also managed to give far, far more depth to The Hulk than the two previous Hulk films combined. With all due respect to Edward Norton’s formidable acting prowess, Mark Ruffalo brought a Jekyll-Hyde facet to The Hulk which was never sufficiently believable in the 2008<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </em>film. The allusion to the Black Widow and Hawkeye’s evil past gave their friendship depth without having to resort to exposition or flashbacks. Little touches like these ensured that no character (with however little screen time) went under-appreciated or underused. Except for Maria Hill (played by Cobie Smulders): Give that woman an ass-kicking role already!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also can’t get over how excellent the chemistry between the characters was: Everybody brought a different sort of energy to the group and managed to stand out without trying too hard. Doubtlessly, Iron Man was the fulcrum on which the group turned and he got some very funny lines but most of them wouldn’t have worked if it wasn’t for his co-stars’ prowess. The group dynamics evolved so naturally: Captain America slipped into a leadership role which would never suit Tony Stark, who works better as that unbearably cool guy who regularly pisses everybody off. The Hulk is the quiet guy in the background that everybody’s just a little bit wary of while Thor was largely relegated as the butt of all Tony Stark’s jokes but he got some sweet Mjolnir smashing scenes to make up for it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My only not-quite-a-quibble-quibble is that Tom Hiddleston as Loki just didn’t pack enough punch, especially in comparison to the superb development of the Avengers. That said, I can see why they used Loki as villain and why it worked in this film. Tim Burton’s <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Batman (1989)</em>was among the first films to realize the importance of villains. Few comic book villains on screen have been as lovingly portrayed as Danny DeVito’s Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman. <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dark Knight</em> was almost entirely carried by Heath Ledger’s dramatic and terrifying performance. But <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Avengers</em> didn’t necessarily need a deep and interesting villain because this film is not about that complex relationship between superheroes and villains. A non-charismatic villain worked perfectly in this film because it wasn’t so much about<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">who </em>the villain was, but how a bunch of alpha dogs and lone wolves set aside their differences and came together to overcome their common foe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Did Christopher Reeve and Adam West ever imagine that just a few decades after their campy, Good-versus-Evil films, this genre would evolve into something that would be taken seriously by critics? I doubt it, but the re-imagining of superheroes and the gritty realism that now defines this genre became inevitable after Alan Moore’s <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watchmen</em> was published and Tim Burton’s Batman films hit the theatres in the 80s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many have prophesied that the superhero genre is in its <a href="http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/GiFF/news/?a=22775" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;">dying throes</a> and Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dark Knight Rises</em> will be its swan song, but Marvel’s latest offering has proved that this genre still has a few rabbits in the hat. Besides, if they made an <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Avengers</em>sequel with Wolverine and Spider-Man joining in the fray, we’d have to come up with new words to describe the sheer levels of superbificenticity it would reach.</span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09610611971424924332noreply@blogger.com0