LIFE (2017) - ENGLISH

A film that made did not let me relax after the first 30 minutes till the end.

This is one of those films where it was tough to blink an eye. This was a horror film masked as a sci-fi film. Before going to the film, I just knew that there was Jake Gylenhall, I did not know anything else in the film. Also, I am happy that I did not watch the trailer. There is a lot of surprise in the film and the twists are worth the money.

The best line I give to "I Belong up here. I don;t want to go back to those 8 billion fuckers".

Jake Gylenhall as "David Jordan" was poised, calm and thoughtful. Ryan Reynolds as "Rory" was adept in his job. Others were rightly placed in the job based on skills. Mind you it's a NASA space mission so nothing is taken for granted. Yet, a mistake happens that comes to haunt them with their own lives at stake.

This is a spine chilling affair that put me at the edge of the seat even as the end credits rolled in.. The background music was superb and was apt for the scene. It wasn't loud or haunting but just right to create the mood. The cinematography is stupendous to say the least. Mostly set within the space craft yet to manoeuvre camera in the confined space was brilliant.

The trills are great and yes, there were a couple of jump scares too which added to the fun. Overall, it's a film that I took back home and it's haunting me with questions even now.

A 4/5 for this. A bang for the buck.  

KONG SKULL ISLAND (2017) - ENGLISH

A purposeless film. There was no need to make and there is no reason to see it.

Yet, I watched it and lost interest after the first few minutes. It was very predictable and did not offer any "OOH" or "WOW "moments like the "KING KONG" did. The movie has it's own story line which was utterly useless in engaging or grinding up any emotions. The fights are choreographed like they used to in 1990's. The visual effects are not over the top. A 2D KING KONG was so much better than this 3D KONG any day and I stand by that. 

I was totally disappointed with just purposeless film. A 1/5 for their effort though.

THE BOY STRIPED IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS (2008) - ENGLISH

I liked this film but I have my reservations.

Firstly, will there be a 8 or 9 year old in a concentration camp during the Nazi regime.
Secondly, was the camp border so unprotected that anyone can sneak through.
These are just two of my many questions in this film.

I liked many aspects of this very aptly made, touchy emotional film but if ever I have to cry watching a holocaust film, I would fall back on the great "Schindler's List" or the wonderful "Life is Beautiful". This is a trivialised tale of holocaust and bringing in kids into such tragedies is what I found gimmicky and I am apprehensive that ever such films are being made on children. They were too innocent as kids during the Nazis and we must keep them innocent till they are atleast 12-13 I believe. Now a days kids are too curious and it's anxiety that kills the fun and spoils them too soon. I am better off being away with such films and books.

Yet, I loved the performances of the kids. Asa Butterfied as "Bruno" and Jack Snalon as "Shmuel" were both terrific in the film. The sound, the cinematography and the production design are top notch too.

The writing is something I seriously question. The intention of writing, worries me above all else.

A 3/5 for a film that is good and I wish it won't be watched by kids who don't understand or are mature enough to sit through such films.  

TRAPPED (2017) - HINDI

An engaging film that made me invest a lot of emotion and empathize with protagonist.

This is the third endeavor of Vikramidtya Motwane and I am a fan of him already. Loved his "Udaan" liked his "Lootera" and now loved his "Trapped". The three films are radically different from each other and Trapped shows his growth as a film maker too. 

Trapped is a survival genre film but unlike the Hollywood film "Cast Away", "127 Hours", "Buried" which have been set in alienated backdrops, the setting and backdrop of Trapped is in the heart of a metro city among millions of people. It makes it an interesting as well a satirical take that makes a statement of the way of life in a busy city in India. We are too populated yet too entangled in our own lives that we seldom care about others including our immediate neighbours. 

Rajkumar Rao is terrific and the way he brings his characters to life is quite unbelivable. He did "Shahid" and then "City Lights" and now "Trapped". These three films he plays characters that are real and belivable but vulnerable and his depiction of the characters ha always pleased me. Amongst all, I loved "Shahid" and now "Shaurya "in "Trapped". 

I can sit through the film more times just to understand how he pulled such a character. There is dumbness in him, there is stupidity, there is desperation and there is fear. Wow, the writing of the character is fine but the portrayal is worth many awards and I genuinely hope he gets recognised for his performance in this film. 

Ths music is haunting and is right up there. The sound design is commendable in this film. Although this film is claustorphobic and has little scope for cinematography, it's done well I must say. The angles, the elevations, the following of objects, the detailing of nuances is done pretty well. 

Overall, I loved this entrapment and was with "Shaurya" even after walking out of cinema. This is one film that's something we are bound to take back home. Memorable affair this. A 4/5 for such an effort to the team, Rajkumar and Vikramidtya.

तुम आओ मेरे साथ

शरमाने कि अदा आप से खूब कोई जानता नहीं 
जानता भी हो, तो उसका रहना मैं तो मानता नहीं 
चाहत है मेरी इतनी की तुम आओ मेरे साथ 
उस दुनिया में जहां हमें कोई पेह्चानता नहीं

छोड़ जायेंगे

कितने आये यहाँ कितने गये भी 
बातें रहगये उनकी और कुछ यादें भी 
रहे न रहे हम कल यहाँ पर 
छोड़ जायेंगे कुछ निशानी कुछ फरियादें भी

ऐसी अजनबी

राह वीरान है, मंज़िल सुनसान है 
हर कोई जो हमसे अनजान है 
चाहत है कि कोई ऐसी अजनबी मिले 
जिन्हें मिलकर कहे ज़िन्दगी तुमपे कुरबान है

ZOOTOPIA (2016) - ENGLISH

An amazing adventure that has some wonderful moments which are watch worthy multiple times.

Technically, it's superb in detailing from the fur of the fox or rabbit to the diction of sloth, everything was in the perfect place. Emotionally, it is a roller coaster ride the rabbit Ginnifer's rise and fall, the foxes cunningness and the conspiracy drama all gelled well and made this is a wonderful watch. 

The plot is simple but it is layered just when I thought the movie was over, it opened up another chapter which was engaging and interesting than earlier. So there was real progress in the story telling through the film. It began with a simpler note that a rabbit wants to prove itself but it grew beyond that into much more purposeful adventure. I loved the transition throughout the film.

If there are moments that I had to pick, then there is a tribute to classic "Godfather" and also Sloth. Wow, these are two events in the film that I shall remember for long. Although, there are many other good moments, these are just brilliant. These moments once again prove that animated films are not just about fun and entertainment. I believe that giving references to classic films is a fun way of telling kids about films that inspire film makers.

I loved it wholeheartedly and if there was one crib that was about Sloth. I wish sloth was not put in the trailer and the surprise element would have been revealed only while watching the film. I wish I watched in theater as I had to watch this at home. Thanks to hotstar for adding this film.

A 4/5 for a brilliant animated film. The best since "Inside Out".

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998) - ENGLISH

Greatness resonates from the word go.

The mission is to save a private in world war.  Looks simple huh? To save a human in a war of worldly proportions is no mean feat. Lot of sacrifices are done, many hearts are broken and thus a man is saved from dying in a war. It's the depiction of these sacrifices that makes this film great.

Steven Spielberg is a great director in many ways. He handles a drama as well as a Sci-fi film with great ease and the basic ingredient of his every recipe is emotion. We fall for the soldiers here, we wish they we would win and not die like I wished for a dinosaur to save a family in Jurassic Park. It's through emotions that he conveys stories. His characters more often than not are standing up to a cause which they firmly believe. They are strong and some of them we can sincerely look up to. Captain John Miller played by Tom Hanks is one such character that deserves a salute.

Humanity, patriotism and many more are embedded in this film but for me its obedience and friendship that drove the film. The captain is obedient to his officers and accepts the orders putting his life in danger amid dire circumstances. This is an epitome of obedience and sincerity. Also, he is so friendly with his troops and camp that he empathizes and understands genuinely what they go through and is always there for them. Friends that is true friends they are.

Technically, the depiction of war is perhaps a near perfect one. Only recently I saw HACKSAW RIDGE and I was reminded again of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN because the depiction of war in this film is very natural and I could feel the blood of the soldiers. It's too real for my comfort. Each department is par excellence in this film.

A 5/5 for one of the greatest war films ever.