Category: Motion Pictures

This is the week for movie reviews – both catch-up and newly watched ones – today’s review falling into that latter category.  Because what I have to write about today is what I just watched – and I cannot but help want to rush to put into some words – as inadequate as they might be – my deep admiration for this indisputably and gloriously epic love-story in the time of the Marathas in the northwestern part of India.

And the rendition of this famed love-story is no ordinary one; it is indeed an extraordinary one.  It is a love-story that is most irreverent and untamable, no matter the circumstance.  It is a love-story that transcends status, faith, culture, familial relations, political connections, geographic boundaries, and any other societal divisions one can imagine.  Set in the eighteenth century in feudal India, this is the kind of love-story that legends are made of.  When the name of both lovers is spoken as though it were one name, you can feel it in your bones from the very first moment that this is a love that is doomed, but a love that will go down in the annals of history to set the bar for what it means to have loved and lost.

Frame all this in the most grandiose of cinematic sets – both indoors and outdoors – that include masterfully orchestrated battle scenes, breathtakingly beautiful palace interiors, exquisite costumes and jewelry, and a cast of convincing actors, and you have an epic motion picture.   Add to that a great musical score, moving dialogue, and a pulsating chemistry between Singh and Padukone, and you have a winner.  Not without flaw, but trivial enough to be negligible, the story of Bajirao Mastani follows the trajectory of the lovers, whom nothing can separate, and whose destinies seem intertwined.  

High marks, all around – to the directorial prowess, the spectacular cinematography, and the skillful acting.  And a strong word of recommendation to see it on the big screen at the movies, please.  Anything less would be cheating yourself of a most fantastic viewing experience.

 

 

Fast on the heels of my last review comes another one I best put down on paper before it all begins to fade away…

This is an enjoyable movie with a lot of the excitement of The Empire Strikes Back, and with some better script writing, even.  For someone who hasn’t seen the entire series of episodes (or sequels as I might have called them otherwise), I’m glad to report that one wouldn’t be at a great disadvantage to follow along without too much difficulty.  And of course, for all those die-hard fans, I’m sure there was much nostalgia and joy in the many throwbacks to the old characters who still wielded the power to amaze and fascinate.  But beyond the old characters, there were several new ones who infused new life into the franchise, chief among them a young woman who seems to be the anointed one and the mantle-bearer for the inevitable future.

State-of-the-art computerized imagery, cutting-edge cinematography, incredible sound effects, and a cast of characters that represent what a lot of the human race currently looks like is what the new appeal of this film is going to be for the current generation and for generations to come.  Oscar Isaac, the extremely good-looking actor from who-knows-where (and no relation to self) adds greatly to the story, as does Daisy Ridley who plays Rey, the intense girl who grew up too soon and has seen too much, but will not let anything keep her from doing the right thing.  There.  Is that vague enough so as to not inadvertently give off any spoilers? 

Suffice to say, the Force is most certainly awakened.

When one waits too long to write a review, one is short on memory and long on wishful thinking, and there is always the danger of the review to be nothing in line with the movie itself, but come now, one must take a chance, all things considered…

And so, one of my vivid recollections of the somewhat long and action-packed thriller is the time the girl says to Bond, “You’re a good man, James…”  Now, what could be sweeter than that?  Does that not capture in spirit the very essence of the idea of James Bond: a “good man” on duty for her Majesty’s government, doing what is needed, wherever it is needed, in whatever shape and form it is needed, and doing it, of course, in style at all times – a style that never goes out of style even as Mr. Bond wears those impeccably tailored suits, cuff-links and all. 

Notwithstanding my ability to offer a thorough analysis of the plot, per se – and only because I truly cannot recall it in its entirety – I can certainly highlight a few things that did stand out in my memory:  the opening chase scene shot brilliantly on the train; a masterful sequence having originated in Mexico on the Day of the Dead that included a fantastic parade through the heart of the city.  Bond is consummate in his confidence and courage to go after the bad guys and take care of business.  Which is how the rest of the story goes.  Visually stunning sequences in fantastic locations treated with the most spectacular cinematography, it almost matters not how weak or strong the storyline is, what matters is how entertained you are at the end of it all!

On a personal note, there is the bittersweet feeling in the knowledge that this is the last of this Bond’s tenure.  Daniel Craig, the latest Bond of this blockbuster franchise of the past forty-plus years, is the Bond of my generation.  Always ultra-cool, Craig’s Bond is far less sexist but perhaps a little more romantic and less physical than the 007 of years past.  Thanks for the memories, Daniel!

 

This is yet another example of a movie review being written with a delay from time of viewing to writing – which typically results in a not-so-stellar review, but my hope is that I am able to convey at least something small of value to perhaps be the equivalent of either a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down.

And so, right off the bat, I must say that I must give this one a thumbs-up without reservation.  Which was a surprise to me.  Because Owen Wilson is more than a funny guy; he’s quite the convincing American in a foreign land trying to protect his family at all costs.  Granted, his point of view is somewhat a myopic Western-eye view of the locals, but it is the film’s narrow focus on the panicked and bewildered Americans that makes it so breathtakingly gripping.  And I might go a step further to say it even does a great job in serving as a scare tactic to the viewers in perhaps dissuading them on any immediate impending international travel!

This is a high-drama political action thriller that is literally one long chase.  Interesting to see Pierce Brosnan in his role of loud-mouthed Brit doubling as savior.

Worth more than the price of admission, no question about it.

 

This is what happens when I wait too long to write a movie-review: I kinda-sorta forget three-fourths of the movie which is not very  conducive to writing a reasonably intelligent, honest, and engaging review.

Which is where I find myself even as I try to recall more than the one obvious fact about this movie, viz., that Tom Cruise was awesome. 

And if you think that says it all, well then, you’ll understand when I say that this little fact eclipses the movie altogether to the point that even the plot and the impressive James Bond-style action thriller scenes that included Jeremy Renner, Alec Baldwin and Ving Rhames – although I can’t say I remember clearly how exactly they contributed to the story – is trumped by Tom Cruise’s awesomeness.

Bottom line:  it was fine entertainment, if only mildly robotic and senseless at times.  Oh, but nothing that threatened Tom Cruise’s awesomeness factor .  Did I mention that already?  🙂

This is a stylish 1960s-style spy picture with no pretense to anything but entertainment.  Never having had the pleasure of catching the television series by the same name, I must admit I have no benchmark to offer, but I certainly have a glowing opinion of it and a matching recommendation for it.

First things first:  the two guys, i.e., the CIA agent and the KGB operative are eye-candy.  But they’re more than strong jawlines and mesmerizing voices; they’re as dapper as they come in their Italian tailored suits and impeccable manicures, and know what they want and where they’re going.  The plot itself might have been a bit more convoluted than necessary but the super-snazzy and elaborately retro-looking period sets keep your attention span alive.  

Overall, well worth the price of admission.  If you have fun company, it definitely gets even better.