tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103202992024-03-12T23:24:40.930-05:00ScreentimeViews on movies that find their way to my screen.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-65863565045161916972009-04-06T23:41:00.001-05:002009-04-06T23:41:24.346-05:00For the 3rd timeIn case this setting works.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-86229582955263630552009-04-06T23:37:00.001-05:002009-04-06T23:37:50.677-05:00Yet another testanother test.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-87205206424583489742009-04-06T21:53:00.002-05:002009-04-06T21:53:39.087-05:00Test PostFor testing the Intense Debate stuffMadhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-35775517940688774132007-06-14T08:32:00.001-05:002008-12-12T18:08:43.855-06:00Spider-man 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RnFDf8Pq5NI/AAAAAAAAAUU/Y2zyLYplpLs/s1600-h/spidey3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RnFDf8Pq5NI/AAAAAAAAAUU/Y2zyLYplpLs/s320/spidey3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075912471050118354" border="0" /></a>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.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-50540155862040631032007-06-13T23:57:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:08:44.003-06:00A Film by Arvind<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RnDLycPq5MI/AAAAAAAAAUM/VcnMSzrof2Q/s1600-h/a+film+by+arvind.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RnDLycPq5MI/AAAAAAAAAUM/VcnMSzrof2Q/s320/a+film+by+arvind.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075780847482365122" border="0" /></a>Not bad, at least the first half. I liked one particular moment in the climax too, when the scriptwriter..ok, no spoilers.<br /><br />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).<br /><br />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.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-70448382708698400502007-06-13T23:47:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:08:44.139-06:00Shrek the Third<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RnDI5sPq5LI/AAAAAAAAAUE/qSOSKt_ycao/s1600-h/Shrek-3-Poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RnDI5sPq5LI/AAAAAAAAAUE/qSOSKt_ycao/s320/Shrek-3-Poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075777673501533362" border="0" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The movie drags from the beginning to the weary, lazy, slipshod finale. Wish I could find something positive to say. Tough. Sad.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-47091717747094060072007-04-14T14:09:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:08:44.324-06:00The Lookout<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RiEnvaA_VuI/AAAAAAAAAMU/kXya7p0JUzk/s1600-h/lookout-2007-poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RiEnvaA_VuI/AAAAAAAAAMU/kXya7p0JUzk/s320/lookout-2007-poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053363952277214946" border="0" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />Starts off well, slow buildup and a good, albeit predictable, climax. Nice doses of humour throughout the movie too.<br /><br />Worth a watch.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-58960683317551251932007-04-08T20:24:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:08:44.468-06:00Grindhouse<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RhmW5kQKiUI/AAAAAAAAAL0/OJQQW4IvT40/s1600-h/planet_terror.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RhmW5kQKiUI/AAAAAAAAAL0/OJQQW4IvT40/s320/planet_terror.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051234372800907586" border="0" /></a><br />I'm thrilled to bits that I watched Grindhouse in the US, as one full segment: both features and all the three previews. Muahahahaha!<br /><br />Bloody brilliant.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-46057236934735128422007-04-01T20:44:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:08:44.609-06:00The Holiday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RhmaqkQKiXI/AAAAAAAAAMM/mjv6__zVei8/s1600-h/holiday-poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RhmaqkQKiXI/AAAAAAAAAMM/mjv6__zVei8/s320/holiday-poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051238513149380978" border="0" /></a><i>The Holiday</i> 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.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-72617095315529876722007-04-01T20:42:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:08:44.772-06:00Varalaru<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RhmaXUQKiWI/AAAAAAAAAME/oF_YaqZiTA0/s1600-h/varalaru.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_acT4zgyXXOM/RhmaXUQKiWI/AAAAAAAAAME/oF_YaqZiTA0/s320/varalaru.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051238182436899170" border="0" /></a><i>Varalaru</i> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />A must watch, of course.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1136350692950798492006-01-03T22:41:00.000-06:002006-01-03T22:58:12.960-06:00King Kong<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/640/king-kong.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/320/king-kong.jpg" border="0" /></a>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.<br /><br />Peter Jackson, Lord of the Kings, I salute you. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1136351439666855472005-12-30T23:10:00.000-06:002006-01-03T23:15:43.386-06:00Rajamanikyam<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/rajamanikyam.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/rajamanikyam.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />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?Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1136351296166091782005-12-30T23:08:00.000-06:002006-01-03T23:13:05.866-06:00Miller's Crossing<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/Millers.Crossing.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/Millers.Crossing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />One of the Coen Brothers' best films. Brilliant story, awesomely cool characters and a great background score. How did I miss this?Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1136351019372079672005-12-30T23:03:00.000-06:002006-01-03T23:14:25.410-06:00Crash<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/crash.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/crash.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />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.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1136351309194653742005-12-29T23:08:00.000-06:002006-01-03T23:12:37.236-06:00Quills<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/quills.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/quills.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />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.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1136351215584071382005-12-29T23:06:00.000-06:002006-01-03T23:13:36.773-06:00Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/hp-goblet-of-fire.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/hp-goblet-of-fire.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The book was better. The book was better. The better the book. Whatever.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1136351137115327332005-12-29T23:05:00.000-06:002006-01-03T23:14:01.996-06:00Dogma<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/dogma.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/dogma.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Funny, but not wickedly funny. Entertaining, but not edge-of-the-seat. Good, but not great. A could-have-been film.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1136350888491393942005-12-03T23:01:00.000-06:002006-01-03T23:15:01.356-06:00Akira<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/akira.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/51/3032/320/akira.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Entertaining film that brought anime to the world. Nothing compared to Miyazaki's stuff, but worth a watch nevertheless.Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1130708364928297702005-10-30T15:35:00.000-06:002005-10-30T15:39:24.933-06:00Hot Shots! Part Deux<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/640/hot-shots2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/320/hot-shots2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br />Not all that great, not all that bad. Timepass, as they say. Sends up Rambo, Casablanca and Saddam Hussein. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1130700592861203822005-10-30T13:27:00.000-06:002005-10-30T13:29:52.863-06:00A History of Violence<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/640/history_of_violence_a-poster.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/320/history_of_violence_a-poster.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br />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. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1130700351682303342005-10-30T13:24:00.000-06:002005-10-30T13:25:51.690-06:00Herbie Fuly Loaded<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/640/herbie_fully_loaded_2005_poster.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/320/herbie_fully_loaded_2005_poster.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br />Honestly, there was nothing else to do on the flight. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1129691749913177132005-10-18T22:13:00.000-05:002005-10-18T22:15:49.916-05:00RunwayRun away. As fast as you can.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/640/runway.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/320/runway.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1129691572441954222005-10-18T22:09:00.000-05:002005-10-18T22:12:52.450-05:00Sleepy Hollow<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/640/Sleepy-Hollow.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/320/Sleepy-Hollow.jpg" border="0" /></a>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.<br /><br />Alright, I'll stop. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1129270972412999902005-10-14T01:07:00.000-05:002005-10-14T01:22:52.426-05:00Chocolate<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/640/chocolate.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/320/chocolate.jpg" border="0" /></a> Har har har. An outrageously stupid remake of <em>The Usual Suspects</em>, with a couple of scenes from <em>When Harry Met Sally</em> and <em>Basic Instinct</em> thrown in. It's not even mildly interesting, nor remotely intelligent. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10320299.post-1129175884673198202005-10-12T22:53:00.000-05:002005-10-13T00:56:40.936-05:00Nerariyan CBI<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/640/cbi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: right;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1488/46/320/cbi.jpg" border="0" /></a> 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").<br /><br />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. <a href="http://picasa.google.com/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a>Madhavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055110355159071668noreply@blogger.com0