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Reviews
The Dark Tower (2017)
Building the Dark Tower
DT epitomizes a period of entropy and chaos in cosmic history and one man's struggle to overcome inexorable forces as civilization breaks down. The movie captures none of the essential plot elements of the series. This is the usual outcome when studio heads decide to "downsize" a great story as a product for PG13 mass market consumption. They should have taken a leaf out of the DT books: "The road and the tale have both been long, would you not say so? The trip has been long and the cost has been high... but no great thing was ever attained easily. A long tale, like a tall Tower, must be built a stone at a time."
Her (2013)
A deeply "human" film with an AI theme
This is a beautiful and deeply humanistic movie that should resonate with the audience on many levels. The cinematography with its understated color tones was meticulously constructed in a disembodied future where artificial intelligence enabled people to form emotional attachment in a void of broken-hearted relationships. Joaquin who played the melancholy lead with so much sensitivity deserved a standing ovation. As a motion picture, it may come across as somewhat staid, premediated monologue that could benefit from more realism in projecting the relationship between the protagonists. Nevertheless, the movie is profoundly moving and at times bitter-sweet - an endearing thought experiment on human existance, notions of self versus relationships, nature of love, letting go and finding contentment in the small things of life.
Gekijouban Made in Abyss: Fukaki Tamashii no Reimei (2020)
Makings of a great anime
The rabbit hole goes deeper and this time round, the arc has a more convoluted storyline than previous installments. Bondrewd shines as the nemesis in character design. In this world, he's seen as an extremely valuable person, bore no ill will but clearly does not have any moral boundaries. Horrific and gruesome experiments have been conducted on victims for common good where knowledge is prized above all moral considerations. The practice has gone on since time immemorial by those in power and control. In the last scene, Bondrewd concluded that it is a shame to lose a good body and summarises the ethical conundrum. The music and soundtrack by Kevin Penkin is on point. The art direction and fight scenes could be better portrayed while it's understood that the producers wish to remain faithful to the manga series. There are also inconsistencies in some of the plot details and the bond between Pruskla and Riko seems a little too contrived. Overall, the movie will not disappoint fans but short of the standards of the greatest animes.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Classic Spielberg
The movie's theme recognizes the advent of artificial intelligence which will render many of today's jobs redundant. The movie beautifully illustrates the concepts of impermanence, desires, illusions and soullessness without preaching the viewer. The love of David for his mother is single-minded and demonstrates the paradoxical selfishness and selflessness in true love. The ending is heart wrenching and in its own way, perfectly executed when he finally recognizes the futility of his pursuit. Spielberg's movie is an underrated achievement that will be recognized as classic in time to come.