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Friday, February 25, 2005

Feb Wrap Up

1) Japanese Story (Directed by Sue Brooks):

This one is hard to judge because it is a movie not made for commercial success. Ofcourse, such a movie would garner critical attention but it is not a movie to judge, rave or slam down. The story is simple enough – Toni Collette (perfectly cast in her role) plays a hard working Aussie woman who is roped into giving a guided tour to a visiting Japanese client. Collette’s character is not happy with the idea of acting as a guide, but she has no choice – she has been told that the Japanese client might buy her software. Gotaro Tsunashima plays the Japanese client who is not interested in the company’s software but more interesting in seeing the Company’s real sites likes the mines, the desert, etc. While driving through the desert, a series of incidents occur but one of the incidents comes as a major shock. I don’t want to give it away but it is something that is not seen coming. And the way the incident happens makes one care for what is going on in the movie. This is not a happy movie, but it is a poetic tragedy. Worth seeing.

2) The Forgotten (Directed by Joseph Ruben): Rating 5/10

This one feels like an episode of X-files crossed with The Arrival (1996 movie directed by David Twohy) and spliced with ideas of Dark City and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. However, the movie ends up being boring and dull. The big failure is because the big suspense is given away too easily. The movie starts off with some suspense but while we are trying to think what is going on, we are shown exactly what the conspiracy is. And from then on, the movie goes through the motions. That being said, there are 3 brilliantly shot scenes while jolt the viewer – the visuals and the sudden action takes one by pure shock. Unfortunately, 3 scenes can’t save this movie. And what’s worse is that neither the director or writer are first time movie makers, but they make such poor mistakes that one normally attributes to a new film-maker – for example like making things too simplistic, not paying attention to details, etc.

3) Gong Fu (English title, Kung Fu Hassle, Directed by Stephen Chow):

Rating 8/10 overall
Visuals, Entertainment Value: 10/10

It is a hard act to follow an entertaining flick like Shaolin Soccer. And this is what actor/director/writer Stephen Chow had to do. And he does not disappoint. Gong Fu is highly entertaining with some brilliant fight sequences. The story is basic – The Axe Gang is a notorious band of thugs which terrorizes innocent people. But when the gang tries to demolish the residents of a certain pig sty community, they run into their match! The gang is duly defeated. So the gang turns to outside help to take revenge. Fight Fight. But oh what amazing fights. The first half of the movie is slow with enough time given to introduce us to all the characters and lay the foundations of the story. There is even a tender love story threaded in the movie. Unlike House of Flying daggers, the love story does not dominate the movie but stays one step behind the action. Pure Fun though!

4) Gadjo Dilo (Directed by Tony Gatlif): Rating 7/10

Tony Gatlif movies are not an acquired taste – either you like them or you don’t. If you don’t like them, then seeing more of his movies won’t change your view. Like most of his movies, this one centers around the Gypsy life, theme of alienation and is peppered with music/dance. The story is as usual wafer thin but in Gatlif’s movie, the story is not the driving force – it is always the music and the characters. This time the characters are interesting enough – Romain Duris plays the Frenchmen who travels to Romania to hunt down a singer whose music his dad loved; Rona Hartner (a Kate Winslet look alike) plays the passionate Gypsy who detests Belgians and Izidor Serban plays the hilarious villager who adopts the Frenchman for his own selfish interests. Themes of alienation and traveling to understand one’s father are explored further in Gatlif’s Exils (2004).

5) Harold and Kumar go to White Castle (Directed by Danny Leiner): Rating 5/10

A poor cross between American Pie and Dude Where’s My Car? Both those movies were funny. This one is not even though there are some decent funny elements. It tries to play the ethnic card but wastes it.

6) Shark Tale

I am the wrong person to judge these animation movies. Even though the animation is great and the dialogues funny, I find these movies pointless. As per the standard for all animation movies, there are countless pop culture references in this movie (some references clearly for adults). I have to admit portraying the sharks as a Godfather mafia was a funny idea. These movies try too hard to be funny and cute -- as a result they are huge commercial successes. Perfect fluff movie!
I do acknowledge the amazing amount of work that goes into making such movies but they are being made to fill a niche….

7) Shaun of the Dead (Directed by Edgar Wright): Rating 8/10

A really good spoof idea of comparing the Zombie concept to modern consumer culture! The movie stays true to the spirit of Zombie flicks (mindless creatures who moan and stagger around) but at the same time wraps a hilarious story around it. I liked the movie but after the first hour, I found it too dry and well, not funny anymore. Worth a watch though just for some of the ideas.

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