Category: Motion Pictures

The aftermath of the holocaust serves only as the backdrop to this fascinating story and isn't by any means the sole focus of it as may be the misconception. Brilliantly constructed and presented, the story has multiple layers and angles by which to view the human condition.

It is primarily a love story that transcends age and time, which in and of itself is enough to leave one in awe of the beauty of such a phenomenon. But beyond that, it is a window into the complexity of the human psyche that has the ability to blur the lines between right and wrong, and render everything to be relative.

This is a story of an absolution that is received without it being given; a redemption that is achieved despite the central character's inability to process absolutes; a story of restoring sublimity and meaning even when second chances might be dismissed; a story of a love that is relentless in its ability to persevere in the harshest of terrains regardless of the promise of any further fruition; a story that affirms the amazing power of the written and spoken word. "…it doesn't matter which you heard– the holy or the broken hallelujah!"

Two thumbs up to the acting and the nice juxtaposition of past and present that is quite seamless in how the story plays itself out.

Go see it. 

Big conspiracies in high places and a lot of suits doing a lot of globe-trotting. Sadly, not enough suspense.

Clive Owen might be a babe alright, but needed something more to make his character memorable. And if you haven't seen the Guggenheim, well then, you get a pretty good feel for what its like on the inside thanks to the prolonged shootout that happens there.

Nice cinematography of the views of Berlin and Milan also.

All in all, so-so. [this is no indication of the quality of the film, but I must admit I dozed off mid-way for a little bit and was told that I hadn't missed too much anyway…]

No type-casting for Neeson in this film, and all things considered, quite a surprisingly crafty performance, although no matter how remarkable the acting, it is the story in the end that really matters. But the story is a predictable one, with its share of drama and suspense and fast-paced action that has a all's-well-that-ends-well ending, but isn't remarkable in any particular way.

Yes, one identifies wit the horror, despair and outrage of being a parent who has a child kidnapped, but the almost super-human reaction portrayed by Neeson to fight back (and succeed in his every move) is one for the heroes among us.

The sex-trafficking of young women from anywhere in the world, but particularly from the West, is a chilling reality (reinforced in real-life with a similar incident in a nearby town just last week!) depicted quite well that made me reach for my cell in order to text my own kids at home even while Neeson was zigzagging the streets of Paris hunting down the bad guys!

Given the state of current offerings, I'd say its worth going to the movies for– as opposed to waiting for the DVD. 

The hype is over the top and this movie is overrated. It is a well-made movie, but it is not remarkable. Neither is it earth-shattering, and it didn't blow me out of the water like I was expecting it to. The story is a feel-good one, but the plot has many holes in it.

Given that it is not the standard Bollywood masala movie, such holes need addressing, such as: how did he get on the show in the first place? a minor allusion wasn't sufficient. I've seen many a good Hindi movie that have the Bombay underworld depicted far more graphically, so this was all small potatoes. And as for the big surprise ending that's being talked about, I didn't think it was anything but predictable.

See Anil Kapoor's Parinda for a great story about surviving (or not) in the drug mafia of Mumbai, and that's one story of a heart-wrenching romance with a twisted ending that will leave you in a puddle. 'Crash' from a few years back also did the same. But, I'm sorry to say Slumdog didn't do that for me.

And Dev Patel's quasi-British accent was a tad annoying– I mean if you're from the slum, you gotta sound like it, even in English! So, yeah, go see it if you can't wait for the DVD.

Final note: the cinematography gets higher marks than the storyline.

No action thriller, this. It may even seem somewhat slow at times, but a shadow of Dirty Harry is back! Still, that isn’t the focus or scope of this movie. What it is, is a careful and heartbreaking study of the human condition as seen in the life and circumstances of a man now old and alone (but at one time a soldier in the Korean war, and later a family man working toward the American dream), weathered with time and having no expectations from the retired life he leads. If anything, the loneliness and grief of loss of his wife is more than good reason to have embraced a cynicism, nay, a disdain for everything and everyone around him. Until the most unlikely of people enter his life, and despite all resistance to their friendly advance, things begin to change.

So strong is the human connection that is rooted in love that the ultimate sacrifice is gladly made for a mere friend– without apology or regret. 

And please, somebody, give that 70+ year old actor with a 50-year acting career to his name another Oscar, please!

Long story but a very sweet one! How to summarize in one line? Love is blind; love knows no age; and love has an endless memory.

Two good performances by Pitt and Blanchett.  Also, good cinematography and makeup.

And a fantasy story that leaves you wondering: what if??

🙂

Excruciatingly good-looking vampires (pale as they might be), are apparently irresistible to highschool teenage girls. And what's more, said good-looking vampire even sparkles all over when exposed to the sun!

Having watched it with two fourteen-year olds and one twelve-year old (going on twenty-one), it wasn't too hard getting caught up in the moments of oh-my-god-they're-now-going-to-finally-kiss.

Bottom line: part old-fashioned love story where hero gives all for his love, and part non-sensical nonsense.