Movies Watched Recently

A trip back memory lane… I recently revisited XMen-3 which of course is still a “new” film in that it was released this year. But having already seen it, I enjoyed watching it again… though I feel it isn’t the best blockbuster of the year. My vote would still be for Pirates 2. X3 was fun, though at times it was surprising that the mutants seem to be less powerful than they could be. ie. A big deal was made about the Alcatraz facility… but if the mutants were ok with that kind of action… then they could have been violent in greater degree earlier. But whatever… it was fun to watch. And move on.

Then, a chick-flick semi-”ghost” story… Just Like Heaven. Hmmm. I know, I know. Don’t crucify me but I recently saw it for the “second” time and once again, there were aspects I liked about it… and certain things I didn’t. Still, on a day you don’t want to think… Just Like Heaven helped just fine!

Going further back into time… I saw Seabiscuit again. Haven’t heard of it? Well… it was a understated story of a Horse, his owner, his trainer and his jockey. I really enjoyed the narrative, and strangely the movie was shorter than I remember it. Meaning, the narrative didn’t drag as much as I thought it did the first time. The best way to describe it was a luxurious pace. I liked the character/plot development. And if true, the story is all the more remarkable. Seabiscuit was an enjoyable movie…heart-felt and fun.
Still further back, I re-viewed Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. I still remember looking foward to this film so much, especially after the huge Disney prior successes. I was so excited about the alternative (out of the stereotype) plot etc. And I remember being disappointed that Disneyfications were too extreme… the softened the story too much. Strangely, I felt the same way 10 years later.

And way-way back to Fried Green Tomatoes… I just finished watching it. And once again, a movie with a luxurious pace. It impressed me by its multiple plot-line… both old and new. It was a little predictable… and yet engaging all the same. At one time I didn’t want to be watching a movie about racism and domestic violence… but the film did well enough to raise those issues and yet not linger on them for too long. On the whole, it was a positive story… though the ending seemed strange and incomplete.

Swapping service providers: An explanation

Already, if you’re coming to this site after visiting it’s blogspot predecessor, you’ll notice that this is so much better. WordPress offers so many features, especially categories!!! I moved to wordpress for categories alone. But there are many more things to look out for… statistics, page-links, calendars etc.
If you have done some ‘blogging’ of your own, you will also agree that wordpress offers a much more powerful interface. Of course there are certain things that I could do in blogspot that I haven’t been able to do here, but somehow the gains are more than the losses.

I do sincerely regret any inconvenience this move may have caused you, but I’m sure that this site will be more fun to read; and more enjoyable for me to update.

Review Notes: Omkara

If you haven’t realised it already, please watch this movie and realise that popular Hindi cinema is going through a positive flux. Some of the stuff coming out these days is surprisingly innovative… and almost crossing the line to become art.

Almost art… is perhaps the best way to categorise Omkara… but as popular cinema goes… it succeeds in making a difficult subject, through a difficult medium (language, style)… accessible/enjoyable… and watch-worthy.

The reason why I’m calling Omkara popular cinema and not “art” cinema… is largely because its use of “stars”.

I found it extremely difficult to differentiate Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberio… etc… from their previous on-screen avatars. They were just playing another role.

The only person who stood out as “transformed” was Saif… and while I still feel that it was not a “perfect” performance… his work in this film showed how all the actors “should” have done their roles… entirely immersed in their character.

Of course… it’s easy to play Iago… aka whateverhisnamewasinthemovie… so rather than blame the actors alone, I guess the producers of the movie must take the blame (or the credit) for making this remain “popular” cinema’s tryst with alternatives… rather than a genuine path-breaking venture.

“Omkara is a very good example of new directions in Indian cinema. It is a difficult film to watch; both for its plot and its treatment. But if we consider it within the “popular” genre, then it certainly makes for an satisfying cinematic experience.

Now to certain aspects that were truly commendable…

Firstly… the contextualisation of the Shakespearean plot. Othelo is one of my least favourite Shakespearean stories… but Omkara in its UP setting provided such a new and believable perspective… that it made me look at the age-old story with new eyes. I actually found the story gripping and would rather see Omkara than the Lawrence Olivier version (with Black paint) any day.

Secondly, (and credit to my wife for pointing this out) the Konkona Sen Sharma character of the sister-in-law… was a unique perspective in the story. Interestingly, I don’t find her kind of character in the original… but her inclusion only strengthens the story and adds a new dimension. The paisa vaisol moment were the Sita allusions she draws out when Omkara tells her about his doubts. Excellent. (of course *spoiler warning* the scene where she confesses is very weak and unbelievable)

Thirdly, the Saif’s acting. Chalo… give the man his due and accept that he should get the best villain Filmfare award. Clearly his best performance. But especially in the moment when he conflicts over his feelings of sadness/betrayal and joy. Saif’s acting, as I said earlier, is not perfect… because at some points his “star” mannerisms immerge. Especially while taking photographs… and the ending. But still… if a someone wanted an excuse to see the movie, s/he look no further.

There’s no need to delve too much in the weakness. Briefly, the stylistic narrative compromises in character development, so much so we have no idea who is related to who and how till three-fourths into the movie. Plus, that whole Bipasha Basu element, that attempts to tbe a ‘realistic’ portrayal of village performers… is extremely forced and tasteless… it lacks dusty realism… and instead has little to differentiate it from cabaret scenes from other modern-day movies. Another surprising weakness of the movie is the action (read fight) scenes. I found them weak and ununspiring. Almost as if that was not the director’s strength. This is best highlighted in the scene when Omkara etc dress as police officers. The ensuing gun battle is unclear and confusing… it doesn’t lift the audience anywhere… it only makes us scratch our heads and wonder what is going on.

On the whole… I would say that Omkara is a very good example of new directions in Indian cinema. It is a difficult film to watch; both for its plot and its treatment. But if we consider it within the “popular” genre, then it certainly makes for an satisfying cinematic experience.

Quick Review: Da Vinci Code

Da Vinci Code (The Movie) wasn’t that bad.

I found the film “softer” than I expected in terms of its challenge to Christianity, and I guess the movie investment was so high that they wanted to minimize the risk.

In effect, the argument made solely through the movie is largely sketchy and unconvincing. I guess the book makes a slighter better case against the Christian narrative; but since I’ve not read the book, that’s just a guess.

Back to the movie… I felt it was finely crafted. I did feel Tom Hanks looked too old and jaded, but in the movie his character worked reasonably well.

I enjoyed the quest angle; and it felt like a more serious version of National Treasure.

The pace of the film was also good; and it didn’t drag too much, and kept me reasonably engaged.

All this “middle-ground” critique suggests that while I liked the movie, I didn’t really love it. I enjoyed watching it, but I don’t think I’d watch it again any time soon.

If I was to grade it like a paper, I would most easily give Da Vinci Code a “B”… effective in accomplishing its goal, but never excelling/pushing the limits.

Movies Watched Recently

Poseidon Adventure (the new one): Sources say it was a flop, I wasn’t surprised. Makes you wish you watched Titanic instead. The characters are too flat… and the action sequences too confusing… we don’t ever good the picture of where the characters are going… obviously they don’t… but somehow they “conjure” up exits/entrances… which always act like Deus ex Machinas. I didn’t mind the movie too much… but wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Shiva (the new one): Another disappointment, with one good concept… “weak villains”. “Bapu” gangster was a delight. And the Munna Bhai “Bapu” as the villain was another surprise, casting wise. What irony!