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Reviews
Quantum of Solace (2008)
as good as casino royale
I wish people would come to their senses.This film was not casino royale, it was good in its own right and I feel will be judged as much in years to come.I am glad that Marc Forster had the vision to make his own film and the producers had the courage to give him that freedom.The film like its predecessor was class.The action was blistering and real- if it was bourne-like so what it out-bourned bourne.The opening car chase and roof top fight were amazing with ultra precise choreography.The DOP was also brilliant. These last two films have taken bond to another level.I for one am not surprised by the box-office of these two films. Seriously if we are criticising this film what does it say for films like octopussy,a view to a kill,FYEO etc. we're making them sound like movie gold or are we suffering memory loss.
The mood of quantum is definitely sombre without much levity but I feel it is important for the producers to evolve the films rather than jump straight back to the typical bondian elements-girls,gadgets,quips,Q and Moneypenny;especially if they want to continue the legacy.
If they pursue this current gritty style they can only run so far with it but if there is one thing you can guarantee its that the producers will mix it up thats why the franchise has lasted so long.
As for the bourne comparisons well I think they are very good films too but there is only one Bond-what bourne does with a skoda bond does with an aston martin,a girl and a martini and some bombastic music
Casino Royale (2006)
Dan's the man
Just saw casino royale last night
One word 'classy'
I was apprehensive about EON messing up the franchise with the introduction of Craig and Martin Campbell doing some adrenaline fuelled picture with no heart or style.
There was a lot of hype, the trailer looked good but fans were still unsure ......Mr.Potato head ...a blond blue-eyed bond.....this can't be right !
Well my friends we needn't have feared because Craig and Campbell nail this big time.
WARNING don't bother coming to see this if you are looking for fantasy bond.
Craig from the outset grabs you by the proverbial 'nuts' and doesn't let go.He is chilling,tough,tender(for the ladies) and a damn good actor. From the clips and trailers I saw I felt he may be too wooden and humourless but he reels off his lines with aplomb and a swagger.Even though there are some very corny lines or moments in the film Campbell always puts a twist in the take which catches you off guard. .The film is noir-ish,compelling,confident in its exposition: a hark back to 60's Bond but with a hard edge.
The support cast especially Judi Dench,Eva Green and Mads Mikkelsen are just great.This is a film first and then a Bond flick.
By the time the signature tune kicks in you will be under no illusion that
Daniel Craig is BOND .......JAMES BOND
but of course the ladies would have already figured that out!
King Kong (2005)
For the love of an ape
You have to give credit to Peter Jackson for investing so much passion and attention to this monumental production.Firstly in rendering a beautiful CGI Kong and making the audience care about it .Secondly on creating another world in Skull island and producing a breathtaking reproduction of a 1930s New York. Previous reviewers have mentioned the hour long prelude to seeing Kong and the unnecessary banter of the ship's crew. However this is an important part of the story in setting up the characters and Jackson masterfully draws the audience in to mystery of Skull island from an unlikely start in depression hit New York. Of course once the action starts on Skull island the director's brilliance in staging the set piece is clearly evident with some real jaw-dropping moments with a variety of nasties, be they dinosaurs,bugs or bats.This is all interspersed with some emotional and tender moments between Naomi Watts and Kong. The acting in the film is generally very good with Watts herself being the pick of the cast.Jack Black is surprisingly convincing as the over zealous director and Adrien Brody plays the anti-hero rather well. You may wonder why the film is being rated at 9/10.Well it does suffer with uneven pacing.Jackson could pick up a few tips from Spielberg about plot development.There are also overly long moments like when Kong is shaking Ann(Naomi Watts) having just captured her and some of the generally excellent CGI is spoilt by some scenes where it almost looks comical. To sum up, the film almost plays like a superior B-movie but I feel that was a deliberate move by Jackson who cited the original 1933 King Kong as his inspiration to become a filmmaker. In this version he delivers a spectacle and riveting climax which shows what a labour of love the project was for him. So gripes aside this film is what cinema is made for and for that ladies and gentleman we should raise our hands
Black (2005)
Great idea.....idiotic execution
I just saw this film a few days ago following a lot of hype and accolade.This was Oscar material,filmfare awards were up for grabs....etc.etc. I had my reservations about the film from watching the promos.....things looked overdone,overacted but I had to make my own judgement. It is safe to say 'Black ' met all my expectations from SLB. Wonderful cinematography,a rousing background score,a lot of mood and shadows.Great performances were also meted out by the principle players namely Amitabh Bachan,Rani and the young Michelle.......BUT these were not reigned in by the director SLB.Hence a great deal of overacting ensued and what was the premise for a great film sank to idiocy. My basic problem with 'Black' was this.It is essentially a serious film with a serious topic.We were dealing with a physically handicapped child who was misunderstood and mishandled by her parents.She was DEAF and BLIND from birth. So how does Amitabh Bachan deal with her to take her from her world of darkness(Black) to the light .Yep you got it ...by SIGN language and shouting at her....oh yeah and also by chucking water over her .You are a genius Sanjay Leela.Did you do any research whatsoever? You also had the crazy situation where the young Michelle ate like an animal from a dinner plate but happened to know where the doorway was as well as the shutters for the windows ...not bad directional sense !You would have thought that Michelle's parents would have had the decency to have spoon fed her when she can't see even her plate.This makes a mockery of that scene. If you can overlook that major faux pas then the rest of the film is passable apart from Rani's absurd Chaplin-like waddle -you're supposed to be visually and aurally stunted not physically. In fact the most poignant scene for me came after Sara's wedding when Rani is in Amitabh's bedroom and she contemplates the physical love she would never know Alas if only the rest of the film matched this expertly handled scene. Standing ovation?I don't think so.....genuine unpretentious cinema....that is worth a slow handclap!
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001)
Lazy................. Karan Johar
Bollywood films tend to fall into two camps.A-entertaining film...nonsensical story or B Intelligent film but no Box office. This film is firmly in camp A.
I'll tell you why.The film is amazing to look at in terms of the sets,costumes,song and dance numbers etc.etc.Needless to say it also has the biggest stars going in Bollywood BUT it is ....LAZY! It is a paint -by -numbers film. Amitabh Bachan is a big business mogul in the film .He and Jaya Bachan have two sons Hritik and Shah Rukh Khan, who was adopted. Everything is going great .Shah Rukh is lined up to get married to Rani and is being groomed to take over his Dad's business. Everything is sweet until he sets his eyes on Kajol who is doing a spur of the moment dance in Chandi Chowk and yes you guessed it - Shah Rukh Khan has before you can say SRK-Kajol chemistry post DDLJ and KKHH fallen in love.I mean she was not even looking hot.I mean c'mon Karan Johar that was pure laziness on your screenplay.You were playing on the audiences preconceptions to drive the story. In fact it is only after this dance that the lovebirds banter goes into overdrive with the audience lapping it up. Now Amitabh goes mad when he finds out and orders SRK out the house denouncing him .Now cue the story shifting to England where Kajol's younger village sister has turned into a slut called Poo and is attending Kings College London where everything rocks...although I attended it I don't recollect recess being quite as hip and zip as it is shown here.Again Karan has to produce a bit of new wave glam for the modern crowd with plenty of "Clueless' style jibes without the audience having to think too hard why a decent looking village girl would turn into a slut. Kareena overacts to death here. The chemistry with her and Hritik is spot on even if he dresses like a homosexual but I think we need to give Kareena her dues in filling a part few could have done.
The SRK -Kajol chemistry is great once things are underway -the two just exude a certain warmth which is heartfelt.Kajol is particularly amusing when talking in Hindi to one of the Mums of the schoolchildren and SRK is great in the scenes with Kareena where he is trying to exert a fatherly influence over her loose western ways. After twenty or so years and two massive dance numbers later following his ejection out of the house the climax builds when SRK returns back to the family home with Kajol and Amitabh Bachan says SPOILER ALERT***********You didn't have to take what I said seriously.........What!!!!!!!!!
Let's get this straight he kicks his son out of the house ,says he is not of the same blood(obviously for dramatical impact) and doesn't talk to him for the next twenty years and he says you didn't have to take what I said seriously...How pathetic is that Karan Johar.
Unfortunately you know what makes the box office tick and you are prepared to sacrifice everything to achieve that end.I gaped,I stared ,I laughed and I cried ....in incredulity at what is -entertaining nonsense.
P.S Why do all your dance routines have ten million people prancing in all of them it's almost as if you lack a certain amount of confidence in your film.Sanjay Leela Bhansali also seems to suffer from going over the top.
Kyon Ki... (2005)
Could have been better
First the good points-good acting from Salman Khan,good picturesque cinematography,nice songs ...totally unexpected ending. Now the bad...the screenplay doesn't grab,on screen chemistry between the lead pairs is not very convincing.
The pacing of the film could have been better and as it is a serious kind of subject ...it doesn't give much hope for future serious Priyadarshan films a la Viraasat.Especially considering the Box office success of all his comedies.
The film is worth a look if you are looking for a non stereotypical role from lover boy Salman.