Shutter Island - An Intelligent movie!!

When intelligent people come out of the movie, they say, I knew the story in the first half hour. Of course they have seen the full movie and will be able to tie all the lose ends. Does that make me dumb? I don't think so! Its because I enjoyed the movie a lot and they did not. Since this is a science/ suspense/ thriller, I was looking for clues right through and in the first half hour, I guessed, its the story where the hunter becomes the hunted! But was that right? I don't think so!

The movie flows through fine but with a few hiccups. There were different phases where an intelligent fed marshall (Di Caprio) is ably supported by his side-kick (portrayed exceptionally by Mark Ruffalo). Ben Kinglsy as the shrink is worth a note here. He does not let his emotions reach anyone (including viewers) and plays a perfect fit for a psycho analyst! And the visual effects were appealing especially in the scenes where the fed has his nightmares with his late wife. It was a cake walk for Di Caprio but there weren't many scenes which required him to portay his emotions. He was always shown in a confused state as to whom he should believe.

Talking of which, this was the movies biggest asset - Martin Scorcese kept the viewers guessing. You can expect a twist in every other scene and you might not be let down. The climax does pack a couple of punches and before the viewer could come out of it, the movie is over. And you get a feeling that you have just watched an intelligent movie which again is a success for the director.

On the flip-side, the movie lacked the running pace through out. The movie came to a jog in a couple of scenes with long dialogues. And to expect the average movie-goer to concentrate on every detail for more than 2 hrs is a bit taxing. Its a critics movie where the attention to the details is maintained well. But does that mean, this is a boring movie? I don't think so!


Summing up - this is a movie worth the watch. Don't overload yourself trying to concentrate too much. Just ease, sit back, relax and let the mind flow with the movie. You would encounter a couple of edge-of-the-seat scenes. Enjoy the sudden dip in the roller coaster and it is worth it.

Avatar - An emotional sci-fi flick

The movie is simply mind blowing.
Director James Cameron has sculpted this epic with his heart and mind together.

The main reason why the movie is worth a watch is because the movie is complete and has all the ingredients. The movie is full of CGI. But not once do you notice that and the 3D never irritating to the eye. The movie has a good feel for the movie-goer. With all the previews/ promos talking gadgets, I expected a sci-fi flick. But the movie has all emotions in it - love, vengeance, sacrifice, humor, sober, valour, pride... you name it and you have it.

The plot is simple. Hence it has a greater reach. The way it is told is excellent. The movie binds the sentiments with science.
The way the characters see the movie is excellently portrayed. When the scientists see, they see samples. When the power hungry humans see, they see money. When the Navis see, they see life and its simplicity. When the avatars see, they see the difference in lifestyles. And its an excellent work from the director that we see all these.

Its not an edge-of-the-seat thriller but its not a sit-back-relax-watch movie either. The story is simple, the screenplay rivetting and the background score simply spell-binding. What else you need for 150 minutes of entertainment?
This is a visual treat one ought not miss and will be talked about for long.

Its worth the wait for 11 years and I will surely wait another 11 for a cameron movie.
In the sky, if movies become stars, this movie will be the moon (I prefer it to be Pandora) to the human eye. dont miss it.

Spoilers:
A few scenes worth mentioning
1. An adrenalin pumping scene when the Navi's climb the floating mountains.
2. When all Navi's pray (first for Sigourney W and then for Sam W), the music, the camera work and the special effects were out of the world. The music was rhythmic to the beat of the heart!
3. The director named the mineral 'unobtainium'. A rhetorical name?!?
4. It was a good punch when the captain calls the hero as 'a traitor' in the climax. There is no denying that for the avatar.

Black - Trust there will light at the end of the tunnel

When it comes to God, we are all deaf and blind! None of us have ever seen him or heard of him.

"For me everything was black. But my teacher taught me a new meaning of Black.
Black is not only darkness and suffocation. It is the colour of achievement. The colour of knowledge. The color of the graduation robe."

Ever seen a complete movie? You could say YES if you have seen BLACK, the hindi movie of 2005 that stamped the authority that the Indian movie industry is not devoid of making people sit without fight, songs and comedy scenes.

Every scene in the movie is sculpted to perfection. The initial handicap of the parents not realizing what the problem is with their special child. The portrayal of agony when their daughter was differently handled by a complete stranger who is willing to break the protective shell of their beloved one, the tears that come out of joy when their child makes a minor progress, the care and love the teacher shows to help the parents come out their mental blocks and realize what their child really wants, what she really is...

And the attitude of the child that changes from frustration, dependence, sorrow, ignorance to understand and move in the path the teacher wants her to go.. in search of light.. not to see, not to hear, not to speak but just to feel it!!! and he indeed brought the light!

The performances by BigB and Rani mukherjee were commendable. I would bet that they would not only rate this performance of their's at the top and also have to struggle a lot in the upcoming opportunities if they get one to surpass this. They mainly made an impact because of the cast surrounding them. This is definitely not a movie run by two people with their strong display but also ably helped by the mother, father and most importantly her sister. No pillar strong enough without the sand particles filling the gap!

Kudos to the man of the movie, Sanjay Leela Bhansali for providing an emotionally striking movie. People are made to think that Emotional movies are a slow and boring enterprise. But the myth is broken by this astounding narration. Never did the movie flinch, not even a second. The people were rooted to their seats. This movie where the teacher takes his student towards the path of light will make your heart heavy. Tears will dribble down from your eyes even when you try to convinve yourself that this is just a movie. But you will never feel embarassed about it because you will not be the only one.

What I am trying to establish here is that, this movie is just not another tear-jerker. Here you will not be moved by the sorrow scenes where someone dies but with the display of joy at the success after a long hard fought battle. Tears will normally be salty but the tear of joy will be as sweet as the success itself.

And again a film to prove that 'Actions speak louder than words'