chapsmack Reviews

Vanaja (2006)

A rare gem of a film

[9/10 · 2 September 2009]

Vanaja is a film of superlatives. It has an exceptionally well thought-out cast with Mamatha being the crowning jewel, a superb production and possibly pre-production with Rajnesh at the helm, a fantastic journey of rural Southern India through the eyes of a 15 year old, a remarkable mixture of song and dance, traditional and modern, blended perfectly, and a beautiful backdrop of lush color of the flora and fauna that make up the magnificent experience. What a towering achievement for a debut director!! The casting was absolutely dead-on. I wish India would come out with more of such films. This film will remain as one of my top favorites for my entire life. 9/10.

Aarya (2007)

Boring as heck

[4/10 · 2 September 2009]

Madhavan needs to take his head out of the sand and prove what a versatile actor he really is. None of the actors impressed, and the less said of the heroine, the better. The storyline is wafer thin, and then it is stretched for an abysmal two and a half hours which is more of a test of your skills in patience. You would be better off watching a rerun of a movie you liked than wasting your time with this one. The only reason for writing this review is to warn you to stay away from this, not even worth watching on video, or even if someone pays you to watch it!! On the contrary you can use it as a good move on an arch enemy of yours...it really does function well as a good torture equipment!! 4/10.

Baladoor (2008)

Why was this movie made

[4/10 · 1 September 2009]

So what kind of audience was this movie made for? Unless you are a gung-ho fan of the starcast, there is absolutely no necessity to watch this movie, even on video. Heck, I couldn't manage to watch the film even while fast forwarding half the scenes, that's how bad this was. Absolutely zero storyline and a waste of talent from all the notables that were cast. The comedy scenes were pathetic and the entire movie was so predictable that even a five year old could have told you what happened next. And the villain, less said the better. Maybe you can watch the film to see how hopeless it is. Ravi Teja needs to select his roles more properly or else he will be a baladoor for his entire life. 4/10.

The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008)

Edge of the seat account

[7/10 · 1 September 2009]

The movie is more geared towards German audiences and for folks who know about the working of the RAF in Germany. For those who do not know much about RAF (like me,) the film strikes you more as an edgy thriller about the making and breaking of an urban guerrilla group. From what was depicted the film gives more focus to the ideologies of Baader and Ensslin while leaving Meinhof in the background. It also doesn't really depict how RAF got it's name and who was involved with it. Nevertheless, it was quite an edge of the seat experience with the film moving at a breakneck speed depicting the trio and the political environment they are in. Even with the film revolving around the volatile three, Bruno Ganz gives a subtle effective performance. Although I am quite used to subtitles, this movie deserves to be dubbed as it is destined to leave a mark on your mind. 7/10.

The Beach (I) (2000)

Keeps you glued

[6/10 · 1 September 2009]

Danny Boyle is quite a director, no matter what you say. Here I am almost ten years since The Beach was released, and the movie still looked like it was released this week. From what I know Boyle makes most of his films based upon novels, and I make it a point to not read the novel to enjoy the film. The Beach doesn't disappoint and while some characters could have been more roles -- Ledoyen was practically paraded through the entire movie -- the premise and the beautiful locales make it a film worth watching. However I was confused by the ending -- not as much as how it ended but in the manner it ended. Altogether abrupt but worth the watch. 6/10.

Fighting (2009)

Not bad...for a video rental

[6/10 · 31 August 2009]

Fighting lacks brilliance from any characters, but it is alright for something to be watched on video. Channing Tatum looked a welcome change and Terrence Howard fits into the side-kick/friend role quite nicely. But then again Tatum mumbles through the entire movie and Howard's character isn't really that interesting. Zulay looked nice, but not much to talk about really. Luis Guzman was wasted. And then there is the title of the movie, Fighting. If the movie has a title like that, one would expect the fight sequences to be something to rave about, but then the fight scenes looked quite ordinary including the climax. I wasn't bored though which was good. 6/10.

Smart People (2008)

Bit of a routine

[6/10 · 31 August 2009]

The movie looked a bit too indie for my liking, if there is such a thing. The cast did their part, the storyline wasn't that bad. It's just that there wasn't too much to offer on the whole. Hayden Church stood out in his role, and was a central character to the entire movie. Ellen Page although doing her part didn't distinguish herself any further from her prior works, and displayed her usual lackadaisical attitude to the entire film. Maybe the role required it, maybe not, in any way not impressive. Casting of Jessica Parker was interesting but the film didn't really offer her that much. Kind of a film that you will likely forget than remember. 6/10.

Train (I) (2008)

Not bad at all

[6/10 · 31 August 2009]

For fans of gore with a not so bad of a story line this is quite a decent movie. Although "decent" might not be the right word in this kind of a movie since it is anything but! There may be some loopholes but all these are if you are thinking excessively. See the movie for what it is, and the movie lives up to it's name for a low budget production. Although Thora Birch might not really be my ideal kind of a revenge seeker, I did like the turn about in the end. I was wishing they could have started off with the revenge plot already as I did like the vengeance seekeing scenes which were less drawn out than the punishment inflicted by the villains. 6/10.

New York (2009)

Casting problems

[5/10 · 24 August 2009]

In the end I didn't know what to make of the movie. The storyline was not bad but it seems to fail on taking a stand. If it was intended to be serious, why introduce all the funny moments between Irfan and Mukesh? If it was intended to be a comedy, why make the whole shabang in the end? John Abraham was a complete miscast and he looked to be modeling in the entire movie rather than giving a serious tone to his role. Could have been better as an independent flick but all the jokes and the songs take the sting out. These are compounded by some typical questions which are left unanswered in the entire movie which bring this movie down to a very average Hindi flick. 5/10.

Billu (2009)

Dragging, but alright

[6/10 · 24 August 2009]

Billu succeeds in maintaining the primary storyline of the movie throughout. But it does feel dragged and could have probably benefited by introduction of a few more characters and taking some unintended characters out. The cop playing his dialogues out was far from entertaining. And having to see Billu making a go/no-go decision is kind of tiresome if it continues with every frame. The movie does have a few pluses with Irfan giving a pretty good performance, and Lara Dutta not overdoing her role and the scenes between the parents and their children. SRK is his usual self as was demanded by the role - on a caffeine high. 6/10.

District 13: Ultimatum (2009)

Soooo 2004

[6/10 · 24 August 2009]

B13U gets to be another run of the mill sequel and doesn't add anything new from the original. While I liked the parkour and the action there wasn't anything significantly different from the first movie which proved disappointing. There was a little to complete lack of any guns which is surprising considering the number of gangsters involved. For solely action buffs and parkour fans, this movie would be a great addition to your collection. But for folks who are expecting some creativity and a decent storyline with the action not much really. This movie just picks it up from the original of 2004 and just stays there. 6/10.

500 Days of Summer (2009)

Refreshing change

[8/10 · 24 August 2009]

Same old story, retold countless times, filmed even more. And yet Mark Webb makes it all the more original. Creative and funny, sad yet truthful 500 Days Of Summer hits all the sweet and sour aspects of romance and the fall out on its head without being over indulgent. Chemistry between all the actors worked out perfectly, and the architectural views of downtown LA showed how carefully the entire movie was thought out. The movies brings the best out of both Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel with the latter performing increasingly well with every new movie she picks up. Kudos to Webb and the entire cast and crew members for one great romance! 8/10.

Pontypool (2008)

The rise of the intellectual zombie

[6/10 · 21 August 2009]

So it was coming and so it did. Zombies have finally evolved, and what a better way to start this evolution than from an independent director at the helm, with the freezing Canadian winter in the background. The plot was interesting, the storyline refreshing and McHattie stood out in the acting department. So what's wrong then? Somewhere along the line someone thought that they needed to appeal to the mainstream masses being that this is a zombie flick, which has universal appeal. This is where the movie falters and as soon as the movie switches to all things sundry, the charm is lost, McHattie just goes with the flow and the zombies look far less spectacular. Good effort though. 6/10.

The Orphanage (2007)

Compelling storyline, slick direction

[8/10 · 20 August 2009]

I would have a hard time classifying El Orfanto as a horror film or a fantasy film since it brings in the best of both the worlds. The story moves along gently and lets the pieces of a puzzle fall into place with time. The direction and the screenplay was flawless and suit the pace of the movie. The entire mystery is portrayed through the eyes of Rueda and she does the job superbly as a protagonist. For a film involving spirits and ghosts I was expecting a lot of off the wall scenes. At the end I felt none of the scenes were induced and every scene was required to solve the pieces. This is a mark of a genius for a debut film maker like Bayona. 8/10.

Gigantic (2008)

Quirky and different

[6/10 · 17 August 2009]

Gigantic is a different movie and this factored with some great direction and strong performances made the movie quite interesting. Paul Dano and Zooey Deschanel made quite an unassuming yet refreshing pair. But it's Ed Asner and John Goodman who actually work their magic and steal the show. The film however disappoints in various levels mostly in all the side stories - for one thing although I couldn't believe I was seeing Galfianakis again this year, I couldn't quite make out of what to do with the homeless man every time he appeared. They could have done away with the character completely and the film would have been so much better. Similar such scenes exist throughout which are probably meant to convey some meaning probably but serve more of a distraction. Nonetheless the movie was absorbing and the direction was sleek. 6/10.

Adventureland (2009)

So this is how teens behave, how very boring

[4/10 · 17 August 2009]

First off, if you are expecting something similar to Superbad you are wayyyy off target here. Secondly if you are expecting some action kind of adventure nope this isn't for you. If you want to see see a choppy teen romance with teenagers on pot all day long in a rigged theme park you might just have found your niche in this movie. There wasn't a single scene that I found funny or for that matter romantic. Perhaps someone was on pot when they wrote the script because this movie goes nowhere. And they forgot what funny was, and what romance was, and why both of them can work without being high all day. Not for you and certainly not for your kids. 4/10.

Taking Chance (2009 TV Movie)

Moving

[7/10 · 17 August 2009]

Taking Chance is based on a a real life story of a 30 year old soldier from Wyoming. But it doesn't matter if it was a 30 year old or a 20 year old or a veteran, what is important is to note how every single being in our universe has to be treated with the same dignity and respect, irrespective of creed and color. The movie is thought provoking and provides a deeper insight into the complete process of a marine after he/she dies in combat. The film was very touching and Kevin Bacon fits the role perfectly. And with every salute of Kevin Bacon I was reminded of how irrelevant war is in our times and how we need to apologize to every single soldier out there. 7/10.

District 9 (2009)

Watch it on the biggest theater you can find

[9/10 · 16 August 2009]

This is a movie that deserves to be watched on the big screen, the bigger the screen and the louder the sound the better your experience! Very realistic and a much more plausible story than most other science fiction films that I have seen. From frame one onwards you are transported to a 2010 South Africa where aliens and humans co-exist, and trust me, you will believe every bit of action that is taking place in it as much as you will believe that MNU exists! The perfect cast in such a film is where you know none of the cast. And it worked out perfectly - I can't attest to a much more realistic science fiction than this one! Similar to how Dark Knight was for 2008, District 9 is for 2009. Hopefully they will release it in an IMAX version. Don't miss it! 9/10.

Batman: Gotham Knight (2008 Video)

Nice solid punch of shorts

[7/10 · 15 August 2009]

I happened to pick this one up expecting a movie similar to how Green Lantern First Flight was. Instead it was a collection of short stories depicting Batman in his early and later years. After my initial adjustment and possibly disappointment, I did however began to like all of them. Much darker and much human than how the Batman should be, the collection focused on life in Gotham City for a hero who wishes to sacrifice himself for his principles. The animation was top notch, the story-telling superb and the background music chilling and dark as it should be. I would love to see more from this team, preferably an hour long one this time! 7/10.

Visioneers (2008)

The future of us office folk

[7/10 · 15 August 2009]

I guess my review is kind of biased - if I had never seen the Hangover, I would have probably not enjoyed the movie as much as I did. Somehow ZG seems to be exuding the right kind of vibes for this year or something. Visoneers reminded me of a plethora of American movies - Hudsucker, Brazil, 1984 - all mixed into one in a somewhat subdued, indie approach. If you haven't seen any of those movies this movie would strike you odd as it is one to convey a meaning much similar to the J-horror of Kurosawa. Considering the strangeness of the movie I expected the end to be somewhat living up to it, but this is where it kind of veers back to normality which I think may have been done for a proper distribution. If you want to watch it for ZG or have a penchant for movies that make you think go ahead full steam, otherwise just wait for the next ZG one, now that he's almost famous. For attempting to make a movie like this and picking ZG before he was famous, this movie gets my 7/10.

RocknRolla (2008)

Ain't enough rockin or rollin to pull this one off

[6/10 · 14 August 2009]

It's a Guy Ritchie film and it's got the usual shabang of characters and a singular piece of material that revolves around the whole cast. It's also a gangster film with the British humor and the f-word being used very suavely. But and here's the essential but (pun or not go figure) of this movie - the movie looks soooo 90s mate. Completely lacking substance and trying to be funny to make a sub-par plot look good, the movie goes down the pipe with every puff. Guy Ritchie is brilliant, the background and soundtrack was top notch, the dialogs are something I would love to quote, the casting was great. Would I see the movie again? Probably ten years ago. 6/10.

Solstice (II) (2008)

For fans of the Half Blood Prince

[5/10 · 5 August 2009]

All ye fans of the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, rejoice! They made another movie for you. Yay! You fans can add this to your quota of 8+ ratings. Solstice is pretty much passable fare, and no wonder it hit the video circuit directly. Has all the elements but the story line has been cracked open so many times that you wonder why they are repeating it again. Teens in the woods and all that yarn. But then teens can be guiled easily, right? But then I was tricked too...tricked into watching it that is. The title Solstice is sooooo misleading, it makes you want to pick up the video up..so kudos to the maketing team, my hat's off to you guys....unfortunately for you guys, it isn't a McGonagall hat. 5/10.

The Hurt Locker (2008)

Bullets, brains and bodies

[8/10 · 4 August 2009]

One of the absolute must-see movies of 2009, The Hurt Locker uncovers the harsh realities of the bomb defusing unit of the Delta Company seizing you from the get go. The backdrop of the bombs and the war, the uncharacteristic styles of the leader and his unit, the feeling of being in an alien country, the personal lives of the unit all of them are juxtaposed perfectly to reflect what it takes to be actually on the ground in a war zone. The documentary style shooting adds impetus and makes it all the more realistic. Wouldn't be surprising if the movie receives multiple nominations. Bigelow and Renner, the casting, everything looked brilliant. Special appearances from a few well known actors was a great touch! From Near Dark to Hurt Locker, Bigelow is now a director of her own. Not for the faint of heart. 8/10.

Ek Chalis Ki Last Local (2007)

A Bollywood dark comedy

[7/10 · 4 August 2009]

What's up Bollywood, you are actually making movies that are out of line!! Ek Challis Ki Last Local is a dark comedy, and the surprising thing about this one is that it is more realistic and enjoyable than most other movies from the tinsel town. Even the songs are blended in...talk about that! Abhay Deol seems to be picking roles that require more acting than doing the dance numbers which is a step in the right direction. Guess a fresh new director can bring new ideas in, and Bollywood does need more Khanduris and Kukunoors. Could have been more tightly done as the second half seemed to drag, but still enjoyable and watchable than most of the Bollywood movies out there. Not one for family viewing though. 7/10.

High Tension (2003)

Edgy, but what's with the name

[7/10 · 3 August 2009]

I don't know if the name of the movie is making me give it a lesser rating. Somehow the name "High Tension" makes me feel that the movie was less tense. If I take the name out of the equation however the movie is quite intense and gory enough to be classified in the horror genre. The twist in the movie at the end does propel it to a better rating and makes the movie stand out from the crowd. I was also terribly pleased with the scene that has the barbed wire and the pole - they could have extended it a few more minutes! In any case could have been an 8, but the name of the movie is so lame that I'll have to give it a lesser sting. 7/10.