For the 3rd time

In case this setting works.

Yet another test

another test.

Test Post

For testing the Intense Debate stuff

Spider-man 3

I saw Spidey 3 the day it was released in the US, some six weeks ago. The only thing I remember from the movie is Peter Parker's singing and dancing act in that NY club, a la Shammi Kapoor. A total waste of time.

A Film by Arvind

Not bad, at least the first half. I liked one particular moment in the climax too, when the scriptwriter..ok, no spoilers.

The story is about a Director-Actor duo who hit the road to plan their next movie together. The director has half a script with him, which he finds interesting. He finds it even more interesting when the script comes alive, as he and his friend travel in their Tata Safari (of course) and pick up a hitchhiker or two (natch).

The pace isn't sustained till the end and the movie just gives up after a couple of hours. Still, worth a watch, at least for its novelty value. Thanks, Jayasankar.

Shrek the Third

A.k.a Shrek the Worst. Doesn't generate a single laugh, not even from my four year old who has been looking forward to this movie ever since she learnt the art of how to look forward to movies from her dad.

My biggest complaint is that Shrek has been reduced to a caricature of himself, a figure who is forced to look upon his own story from the sidelines. Gone is the mean, green fighting machine from the first and second parts.

The movie drags from the beginning to the weary, lazy, slipshod finale. Wish I could find something positive to say. Tough. Sad.

The Lookout

Saw this yesterday night without knowing much about the story. Just remembered it had a pretty high tomatometer rating and the protagonist had a mental disability. The movie was surprisingly good: one of those low budget movies from Miramax with relatively unknown actors - Jeff Daniels was the only face I recognized.

Starts off well, slow buildup and a good, albeit predictable, climax. Nice doses of humour throughout the movie too.

Worth a watch.

Grindhouse

I'm thrilled to bits that I watched Grindhouse in the US, as one full segment: both features and all the three previews. Muahahahaha!

Bloody brilliant.

Planet Terror is the B movie to end all B movies. It's got everything - and I mean everything. Right from the sherrif who won't believe the hero to the rapist who loses his..well, I don't want to spoil the fun for you. And oh, Naveen Andrews has some balls!

Death Proof starts off as another B movie satire, but quickly morphs into a Tarantino flick, which is what you've paid money for anyway. Lots and lots of dialog, a bad ass bad guy, cool chicks and a killer soundtrack. I've become a fan of Sydney Poitier, by the way. And that's no typo.

The Holiday

The Holiday is a heart-wearming tale of two women (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) who, having been treated un-heart-warmingly by their lovers, decide to exchange homes and find their hearts warmed by Jude Law and Jack Black respectively. Quite heart-warming, really. Especially Kate Winslet in a slinky black dress.

Varalaru

Varalaru stars Ajith, Ajith and Ajith in a complicated saga of emotions, drama and dance. The story goes like this - Ajith is a classical dancer, whose wife-to-be walks out on their wedding date as she finds him effeminate. His mother dies of a heart attack while watching this, so he does the obvious thing: he rapes the girl and proves his manhood.

Girl walks away with tearful mom, delivers two baby boys, Ajith and Ajith. Ajith the father takes one of them, not knowing the existence of the other. He wants to ensure his son grows up normally, and does the obvious thing again: he pretends to be paralysed and spends the rest of his life in a wheel-chair.

Meanwhile, the other Ajith grows up to become a lunatic, hell bent on killing his father. En route, he rapes a woman, attempts to kill a man and generally makes an ass of himself. The third Ajith - ah, forget it. You really don't want to know.

A must watch, of course.

King Kong

A movie that defines what movie-making is all about, what movie-viewing should be. Makes you want to go up to the next guy who says "They don't make 'em like that anymore" and sock him in the face.

Peter Jackson, Lord of the Kings, I salute you. 

Rajamanikyam

Ivan puliyanu, ketta! A must-see movie for anyone who has spent at least a week in Thironthoram. Take Mammootty out and you don't have anything in the picture, but why would anyone take Mammootty out?

Miller's Crossing

One of the Coen Brothers' best films. Brilliant story, awesomely cool characters and a great background score. How did I miss this?

Crash

Crash is one of those people-keep-bumping-into-each-other-thereby-forming-a-plot movies. That said, it is well made and each character is etched out quite nicely. No one is in black and white, heh heh. Yup, worth a watch.

Quills

Starts off very well, but meanders towards the end. Rush hams it up quite well, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Caine are good as always and Kate Winslett is very, very, pretty.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The book was better. The book was better. The better the book. Whatever.

Dogma

Funny, but not wickedly funny. Entertaining, but not edge-of-the-seat. Good, but not great. A could-have-been film.

Akira

Entertaining film that brought anime to the world. Nothing compared to Miyazaki's stuff, but worth a watch nevertheless.

Hot Shots! Part Deux

Not all that great, not all that bad. Timepass, as they say. Sends up Rambo, Casablanca and Saddam Hussein. 

A History of Violence

Brilliant film about a small town regular joe who isn't. Great screenplay, direction and fantastic performances by everyone. William Hurt's cameo is superb. An absolute must-watch. 

Herbie Fuly Loaded

Honestly, there was nothing else to do on the flight. 

Runway

Run away. As fast as you can. 

Sleepy Hollow

Things come to a head when the Headless Horseman is brought back from the dead. All because one person wanted to get ahead in life. Heady brew, but leaves you with a headache.

Alright, I'll stop. 

Chocolate

Har har har. An outrageously stupid remake of The Usual Suspects, with a couple of scenes from When Harry Met Sally and Basic Instinct thrown in. It's not even mildly interesting, nor remotely intelligent. 

Nerariyan CBI

Ayyo. This is not a movie, this a long advertisement for four products - AVT Tea, Tiger Biscuits, Kalyan Jewellers and Tata Indicom. Mammootty makes tea ("Very good tea. Very strong"), eats biscuits (the Tiger logo leaps out at you from an advertisement on the road when he's driving), checks out a jewellery store ("This is genuine 916 brand gold") and interrogates a sales person at a mobile store ("I am a TruePaid customer").

As for the suspense: bah! Think of the one person who could not have done the murder and there you go. Oh, sorry for the spoiler.