Predictable, but witty and intelligent

Sherlock Holmes - A Game of Shadows; Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris; Director: Guy Ritchie; Rating: ****

Till the 1960s, wit in American and British cinema was not an exception but a rule. Helmed by good writers who were well read and exposed to theatre, the dialogues as well as scene conceptualization were exemplary. Today, while the revolution in film cameras, techniques and editing allows one to be visually witty, when it comes to writing, the quality has gone downhill.

"Sherlock Holmes 2", a film whose writing wit matches its filmmaking quirkiness, comes as a wily reminder of the times gone by.

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) has been tracking the movements of Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) and suspects something big. Meanwhile, Dr. Watson (Jude Law) is about to get married and Holmes decides to leave him out. But when Moriarty suggests otherwise, Holmes ends up crashing into Watson's honeymoon. But catching Moriarty would be harder than the two imagined for he is the 'Napoleon' of crime and matches Holmes move by move.

In terms of the original stories of Sherlock Homes by Arthur Conan Doyle, this one resembles "The Final Solution" where Doyle, tired of writing the Holmes series, wanted to kill him off. The film, however, takes merely its gist to create one that has less to do with the actual story and its time, than it has to ours.

Obviously, considering that Moriarty is often considered one of the greatest villains in literature, his plans had to be hideously sinister.

Writers Michele and Kieran Mulroney manage to wriggle out of the throats of that era, a story that is believable in its setting despite its grandiose, though cliched theme of saving the world.

What we thus have is the perfect marriage between good writing and filmmaking. A kind of film which the masters of the past, had they been exposed to modern cinematic techniques and quick editing, would have made.

The blending of history and fiction is near perfect. Moriarty's evil plan is to plunge the world into a World War. And when Holmes prevents it, Moriarty reminds him that he has only delayed the inevitable since greedy countries of Europe are sitting at each others throat, ready to slit it.

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law make the perfect deductive pair as they match wits with a master criminal. However, the major drawback of the story is in the character of Moriarty. Though his scheme is sinister enough, it has been done to death so many times in cinema, that despite its generous peppering of accurate historical details, it seems cliched.

Secondly, pandering perhaps to popular demand, more time is spend on Holmes and Watson, than on Moriarty. His cynicism and terror, does not really translate on screen. Also, the film relies on typical commercial formula of beginning it with good action, peppering enough dosage of the same throughout and ending it with a bang.

Though the action sequences are craftily done and the end where Holmes and Moriarty literally play a game of chess not on the board, but by dictating moves verbally, is masterly.

Though often, the wit of the film gets overbearing with almost every second line being a punch-line, Guy Ritchie manages an entertaining fare, a good cinematic way to end your year. Despite it being predictable for the intelligent and spectacular for the ones less so.

Mission Impossible 4 gets a grand opening at the Indian Box Office

Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol is one of the best Hollywood films to have hit the Indian theatres in a long time. Tom Cruise starrer Mission Impossible 4 collected 19.05 crores in India, only in three days at the Indian Box Office.

Mission Impossible 4 did better than the Bollywood release Pappu Can't Dance Saala at the Indian Box Office. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol managed to collect Rs 19.05 crores in India in a matter of three days.

The Hindi Version of Mission Impossible 4 fetched 15 crores while the Regional version managed to collect Rs 3 crores. Paid previews got Rs 1 crore at the Box Office. Mission Impossible 4 has set a record of Hollywood opening in India.

Directed by Brad Bird, Mission Impossible 4 also stars Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg and also Anil Kapoor, who is seen in a small role.

War Horse - Review & Official Trailer [HD]

Young Albert (Jeremy Irvine) is a lad growing up on an impoverished farm in Devon. His drunken father (Peter Mullan) spends the family savings on a beautiful horse in an effort to best his landlord (David Thelwis). Albert’s mother (Emma Watson) is horrified by her husband’s purchase, but Albert feels a deep bond with the animal, which he names Joey. With the outbreak of WW1, his father sells the horse to a dashing Calvary officer (Tom Hiddleston), who’s touched by Albert’s devotion to the animal, and vows to one day return the animal to its rightful owner. But war is an unpredictable beast, and soon Joey finds himself in an increasingly dark odyssey through the blood-soaked battlefields of WW1.
REVIEW: I wasn’t prepared for this. In the days leading up to the press screening of WAR HORSE, Steven Spielberg’s latest- I was joking with friends about the premise. Yeah right, a horse in war... whatever, I thought. Boy, oh boy, was I wrong.

From the first seconds of the film, showing Joey’s birth under the watchful eyes of his soon-to-be beloved master Albert, I was hooked. It's absolutely gorgeous to look at, with DP Janusz Kaminski eschewing his usual washed-out palate, for beautiful greens and golden hues. In these early scenes, it’s like Spielberg was channeling John Ford’s HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY. But then, the film takes a dark turn upon the outbreak of war, and from there it becomes a harrowing odyssey that shows both the terror of war, as well as some of the humanity that transcended the battle lines. One thing WAR HORSE illustrates is that, initially, The Great War was fought with a 19th century chivalry that was impossible to maintain in the face of a 20th century war that dished out death on a scale that was unimaginable to even the hardest veterans.
There’s a scene about an hour in that really drives home this point, when Joey’s new master Captain Nichols (a touchingly humane performance by Tom Hiddleston that strikes me as Oscar-worthy) is forced to lead a Calvary charge, only to find his unit decimated by German artillery. There a shot contrasting the horses being ridden by their soldiers, to the horses, now rider less, jumping over the machine gun nests, that’s stirring and perhaps even iconic.




Once the film gets to the war, it becomes highly reminiscent of western called WINCHESTER ’73, which charted the fates of several old west characters as the titular rifle fell into their hands on the way back to its rightful master. We see Joey has he goes from Nichols, to a German deserter (David Kross, THE READER) to a farmer (Niels Arestrup, A PROPHET) and his sickly granddaughter, to a German soldier (Nicholas Bro, ADAM’S APPLES) who sees a humanity in Joey and his devotion to another Calvary horse that he doesn’t see in his fellow soldiers.
As the war winds on, Albert finds himself on the battlefields, leading to a climax that left me absolutely gutted. For the last twenty minutes or so, I was a quivering puddle, and this is the first time in a while that a film has had that kind of devastating, emotional effect on me.




Make no mistake; this is Spielberg at his most masterful. I’d wager it’s at least on par with MUNICH (which is brilliant up until the last 15 minutes), and might even be his best since SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Young Jeremy Irvine is a real find as Albert, and his relationship with Joey will be profoundly moving to anyone who’s ever had a close relationship with a beloved pet (I found myself thinking of my childhood dog throughout).
Naturally, some are going to attack WAR HORSE regardless of whether or not they like it, as in our cynical age emotion and humanity seems to have gone out of fashion- which is a tragedy. There’s room for optimism, and while this is a dark tale, its message- that there’s humanity in even the direst of circumstances, is one that should resonate with us all. It’s a masterpiece.

’Machine Gun Preacher’ - believable drama with a strong message

"Machine Gun Preacher"; Cast: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Shannon; Director: Marc Forster; Rating: ****

Often we see such bad things that it shakes us strongly. But we turn our backs convincing ourselves that it is someone else's problem. "Machine Gun Preacher" is a true story of a 'sinner' who refused to walk away after his eyes were opened and thus changed things.

After realising the error of his ways, drug peddler Sam Childers (Gerard Butler) turns to Jesus and sorts himself out. A few years later on a trip to Sudan, he is appalled by killings that leave thousands orphaned. He tries to help. When his honest attempts are thwarted, he refuses to give up and picks up a gun.

Guns hiding behind Bibles and Korans have made the world a dangerous place. Director Marc Forster thankfully refuses to lose his way in the rhetoric of Christianity to create a compelling, believable drama which focuses on an individual and what he can do to change things.

He paints the transformation of a man and provides those who want to help a template for their own transformation and for bringing change in the world.

We often encounter big problems. Sadly, we get so overwhelmed by their enormity that we don't even attempt change. After all, how much can you do? Sam Childers answers this question: do whatever little you can. But, do it.

In a scene that can be easily missed, Sam sees a lot of kids sleeping on the ground outside and tries to take them to his room. When reminded that he can't take all, he says he will take as many as he can. All the problems of the world can be solved if all of us could cultivate this attitude - help and do as much you can.

The larger problems of humanity can make for compelling drama. Yet, most creators of art, cinema and literature choose not to even attempt it. They run after little pointless stories with beautiful but often useless metaphors. "Machine Gun Preacher", an action film in the typical Hollywood mould that also packs in a caring heart with good writing and direction, gives such films a tight slap.

Hence, besides writer Jason Keller and the director, credit also goes to people like producer Gerard Butler to have believed in a story that needed to be told and for saying it the way it is. That it is true, helps to reinforce the urgency of action.

The film has an even pace and builds the transformation of Sam very well. Yet, where it scores over many others in the genre, is in not ending with just this. It goes beyond and explores Sam's character, and how he loses sight of his faith in the onslaught of uncaring souls till a second transformation finally purges him.

The film is relevant in the Indian context as well. What's happening in Africa is also the story of India's tribal hinterlands.

Those of you who have seen photos of the 644 burnt villages in Chhattisgarh will see an uncanny resemblance with similar scenes in the film. Perhaps burnt villages look the same everywhere. And so does poverty. The poor are expendable everywhere. Yet, the most relevant point is, would you shake up your rust and do even a bit of what Sam Childers continues to do?

Australian cricket all-rounder Andrew Symonds is set to enter the "Bigg Boss 5

Australian cricket all-rounder Andrew Symonds is set to enter the "Bigg Boss 5" house this week.

Symonds will be the second international celebrity to enter the Colors' show after Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone. He will enter the show as a participant, said a source from the channel.

The 36-year-old will address a press conference to make a formal announcement of his entry in the show in Mumbai Tuesday.

In "Bigg Boss", contestants are required to stay inside a secluded house, without any connection with the outside world, and under 24X7 camera surveillance. The fifth season started Oct 2 with 14 contestants.

Some of the remaining contenders include Mahek Chahal, Juhi Parmar, Akashdeep Saigal, Siddharth Bharadwaj, Shonali Nagrani, and Amar Upadhyay, apart from Sunny.

Mission Impossible 4 - Ghost Protocol - Official Trailer

Hollywood star Tom Cruise, who is on a worldwide promotional tour of his much-awaited film "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol", landed here early Saturday. The 49-year-old arrived here at 6 a.m. and headed straight to the Leela Palace, Chanakyapuri. He is staying at the hotel's exquisite Maharaja Suite, which has a personal gym, jacuzzi and is one of the most expensive suites in the country, said sources.

Cruise, who features as intelligence agent Ethan Hunt in the popular film franchise, will go to Agra, accompanied by Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, who has a role in the latest "Mission Impossible" movie.

The international star is also due to fly to Mumbai where he is hosting a special screening for 1,500 fans two weeks before the film's worldwide release Dec 21.

MARTIN SCORSESE’S “Hugo 3D” in Theaters Nov 23, 2011 New Trailer Now Avialable

Twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy.
■Director: Martin Scorsese
■Cast: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz and Christopher Lee

A.R.RAHMAN at DAM 999 AUDIO LAUNCH & VIDEO SONGS

UAE-based BizTV Network's forthcoming movie, DAM 999, directed by Sohan Roy, scheduled for a nationwide 3D release in India on November 25th officially launched its audio in a grandeur ceremony at various locations around the globe.

The official audio launch function was presided over by acclaimed musician, A.R. Rahman, who was handed over the first copy of the audio CD in India by renowned music director Ousephachan in a grandeur ceremony in Chennai.

The most innovative launch was the Middle East audio launch, which took place soon after a grand concert held at Sharjah Indian Association Hall, UAE. The honors were done by legendary South Indian classical musician. Sri. Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma, popularly known as Prince Rama Varma. The first copy of the audio CD was received by Prince Rama Varma as part of the launch.

The Kerala audio launch was presided over by popular Malayalam actor Dileep. The director of the movie, Sohan Roy presented the actor with the audio CD to mark the release of DAM999 audio in Kerala.

As evident the enigmatic number '9' holds a special position in the movie and one aspect is in relation with the DAM999 audio, which consist of 9 songs. The lyrics are penned by debut director Sohan Roy and tuned to the music of celebrated music director Ousephachan.

Ousephachan says, "The movie had a lot of possibility for background score and the most unique experience was that songs in 3 languages were incorporated in the movie."

The director and lyricist Sohan Roy adds, "The songs in the movie express nine moods and mark the voyage through 5000 years of music history of the nation starting from the Veda mantras to the latest contemporary style."

CHECK OUT: DAM 999 Movie Preview

Various acclaimed National award winning singers like Hariharan, Shreya Ghoshal, K.S. Chithra, P. Jayachandran and others have lent voice to DAM999 songs.

The DAM999 audio is nationally distributed by Junglee Music and will be available in all leading music store across the country. Junglee Music is a label under the Times Music banner which offers mainstream film music.

DAM999 is all about a corrupt mayor who builds a new dam for political gains and personal glory endangering millions of innocent lives; a mariner desperate to save his sister from evil; two not-so- young lovers challenging destiny in a bid to unite; a woman on a mission to win her family back; a little boy battling a deadly disease; a devoted wife wants to be with her husband even in death; and the astrologer who has foreseen their ominous fate - Nine lives entwined by the impending disaster. Take the journey of a lifetime - Nine characters, Nine moods and a crumbling dam of emotions.

DAM999 is a movie with a social cause to make the masses aware of an impending danger of a dam collapse, if not attended on time. This is the first 3D international venture from India and is slated for a nationwide release on November 25th by Warner Brothers in India.

'A Dangerous Method' Stills & TRAILER

Can a play about personal conflicts in the nascent world of psychiatry at the turn of the 20th century be translated into an effective film? In the hands of playwright/screenwriter Christopher Hampton, director David Cronenberg, and three exceptional actors, the answer is yes. It takes some getting used to, as we don’t often see films that are so dependent on dialogue to express relationships. But if you avoid it because you don’t like “talky” dramas you will miss some of the finest performances of the year.

Michael Fassbender, whose reputation is soaring on the basis of his widely varied work this year alone, is a riveting presence as Carl Jung, the meticulous, impeccably-groomed doctor who adopts Sigmund Freud’s daring technique of talking out problems to deal with his latest patient, a Russian Jewess (Keira Knightley) suffering from extreme anxiety.

In time, he gets to meet his hero, played with perfectly-judged sangfroid by Viggo Mortensen. Freud welcomes Jung as a friend and protégé, but as the story progresses their relationship becomes strained because of the older man’s massive ego. He is unwilling to entertain any serious ideas other than his own.

A deeply troubled analyst, played by Vincent Cassel, is sent to Jung for treatment by Freud, and turns out to be a dangerous provocateur who stirs up a hornet’s nest of trouble.

A Dangerous Methodis exquisitely mounted, but it is also, for all the fire simmering underneath the surface, a placid film—except in Knightley’s opening scenes, where she is on the verge of combustion. It may be difficult to fully embrace on an emotional level, but it offers a level of intellectual stimulus we rarely get in English-language cinema.

'Harry Potter...Deathly Hallows 2

All good things must come to an end and so does the journey of the name that launched a trillion dollar industry and burnt countless fans down in lawsuit.

But there are only two problems - this is not the end of the Harry Potter franchise and neither were all the films in it good, including this last one that seems like an unexpected whimper if you are not a big Harry Potter fan.

Harry Potter (Danielle Radcliffe), with his friends, rushes to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes even as Lord Voldemort gathers forces against him. In a final confrontation between good and evil, good triumphs as Harry saves the day, Hogwarts School and a trillion dollar franchise that gave the world its first billionaire writer.

Carrying on with the tradition of the first part, the film stays closest to the book as compared to the first six parts. And therein perhaps lies its biggest problem. It is slow and dimwitted compared to the book and has lines that are at best, juvenile. Sample this: after seeing her daughter being attacked, a mother lets out a scream, "Not my daughter, you bitch!", and saves her.

This is the sort of writing you'd expect in a B-grade movie, not a high-budgeted Hollywood blockbuster. Agreed that from a children's film, this has graduated to a teen semi-horror flick, yet, such atrocious writing will go well only with juvenile minds.

And indeed, minds soaked in the nostalgia of a franchise that comes to an end will gloss over the spectacular special effects in the film, and of seeing their imagination come to life and a satisfying conclusion on the big screen. They will not notice that the film is full of bad direction, terrible acting and completely childish plot executions.

And that is where the problem lies, not just with the film, but with its audience who have abandoned craft and quality to nostalgia and fame. Perhaps they are justified, after all, this film marks the end of the Harry Potter universe. But does it really?

After the fan base of Harry Potter swelled post the first book, the owners of the book and movie franchise have been overtly possessive and protective of what is obviously their biggest cash cow.

Fans of Potter who have come out with spin-off stories or content in the Harry Potter universe have been slapped with thousands of lawsuits worth millions of dollars in the last decade. Obviously, if they anticipated the end of Harry Potter, the owners wouldn't have gone through so much trouble.

And it is indeed not the end. Warner Bros. has already opened the first of many Disneyland styled theme park in Orlando, and the book sales have only intensified over the years with translations in many more languages in the offing. And though there's no indication, one can't rule out a TV series either.

So fans of Harry Potter can rest assured, Harry Potter fought the odds and survived in the end, and so will his franchise. Indeed, for all we know, this might just be the beginning.

Cast                                            : Daniel Radcliffe,Rupert Grint,Emma Watson.
Director                                      : David Yates

'The Hunger Games' Trailer

'The Hunger Games' Trailer:

5 Instant Observations While Watching

The full-length trailer was released Monday, revealing Lionsgate's take on Panem,

District 12, the area and of course, Katniss, Peeta and Gale.

1) The film will adhere strictly to the novels. If this first trailer is any indicator, there should be no risk of a Hunger Games devotee uprising due to variations between the book and movie. The footage, which runs in chronological order, starts with Katniss and Gale at their lookout point, just as the first book does, continuing on to the Reaping, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta's (Josh Hutcherson) time in the capitol, before closing with our first view of the arena. One notable difference seems to be the upping of Gale's (Liam Hemsworth) presence in the film. In the novels he's only present during the beginning and end, but judging from the trailer, the audience will get to see what he's going through while Katniss is in the area, something readers didn't get to experience in the novel.

2) District 12 looks less gritty than its written counterpart. Fans got their first views of the supposedly most-bare-bones and neglected of Panem's districts, and the depiction seemed to have bit of a Hollywood sheen on it. Yes, the Reaping's participants were all dressed in monochromatic outfits and seemed to be standing among rubble, but everything else was a little too pretty for a coal-mining town. The books describe everything as having a fine layer of dust over it, but the trailer showed a brightness in the woods (which looked positively lush), the buildings and the dresses of District 12's inhabitants. Probably the darkness didn't translate well on film.

3) Was that the forest or the arena? The trailer opens and closes with shots of scenes in the woods. In the beginning viewers are watching Katniss and Gale in their real-life sanctuary, the forest outside of District 12's non-functional electric fence. At the end, the trailer shows the film's heroine in the supposedly man-made woods of the Hunger Games arena. But, the scenery sure does look a lot alike. The film was shot in North Carolina, but, producers may have used a little too much of the area's natural aesthetic to make the arena believable as a Capitol creation.

4) The leading men have a long way to go to reach Twilight-guys level of fan obsession. There are Twi-hards and Twi-moms ... will Hunger-hounds and Hungry-mothers be next? It's hard to tell. Aside from the initial uproar over Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner's castings as Edward Cullen and Jacob Black in the Twilight franchise, the leading men have inspired screaming hysterics since well before the first film's premiere. Both Hutcherson (Peeta) and Hemsworth (Gale) have been around well before their Hunger Games castings. Because of their lack of obscurity, it is unlikely that either will suddenly incite riotous behavior. Fans seem to be in love with the story more than the players, which was reflected in this first trailer. Neither leading man's hunk-factor was relied upon too heavily.

5) Did Jennifer Lawrence capture Katniss' essence? Fans have seen Lawrence dressed as the book's heroine in photos, and previously-released video clips that showed her running, but this is the first time Hunger Games devotees have heard the actress truly embody the heroine. I was struck with how well fed Katniss appears to be...when coming from the starving District 12. It seems that the movie version of the story is focusing on it's leading lady's strength rather than her frailty.

Immortals Movie Review & Trailer

The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion and his murderous Heraklion army are rampaging across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king's mission. As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus vows to avenge the death of his mother in one of Hyperion's raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra, her disturbing visions of the young man's future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final desperate battle for the future of humanity.

 

Also Known As:	Immortals 3D
Genres:	Action/Adventure and Fantasy
Running Time:	1 hr. 50 min.
Release Date:	November 11th, 2011 (wide)
MPAA Rating:	R for sequences of strong bloody violence, and a scene of sexuality.
Distributors:	Relativity Media

Immortals (2011) Movie Review & TRAILER

Director Tarsem Singh has made ‘Immortals‘ a visually stunning movie with both scenery and actors, but that doesn’t hide the fact that the story is quite the hot mess. He could have learned something from watching a few episodes of Starz’ ‘Spartacus‘ for storytelling.

‘Immortals‘ is definitely one of those films that looks great and is less filling and won’t tax anyone’s mind. It’s pure escapism for both men and women of all walks of life. It’s that film that women will gladly go to with their boyfriends to check out some hardcore male bodies so you can be sure this film will do well in its opening weekend. The fact that the film disregards some history like the fact that Socrates came along much later than 1228 BC, but quotes in the film are still used from him. I guess we can call that the Nostradamus effect of some intent foresight.

Director Singh is best known for the Jennifer Lopez movie, ‘The Cell’, which was just incredibly beautiful to watch. With the ‘Immortals‘, it feels like he was solely focusing on creating another visually stunning film and keeping his fingers crossed that our next ‘Superman’, Henry Cavill, would be able to work through some godawful dialogue. I’m sure making sure Cavill’s 8-pack was on constant display might help distract moviegoers from all the flaws. Now, I’m not saying many won’t enjoy the intense violence in 3D plus seeing Mickey Rourke’s Hyperion do some crazy damage to an ally like striking him in the crotch with a very large mallet (and that’s not some homoerotic subtext…unless you’re into the gut punching fringe fetish).

What’s interesting is that while the ‘Immortals’ looks nothing like any other Greek mythology type film, the story feels like every other movie we’ve seen. It couldn’t have been easy for Singh trying to walk the delicate balance of creating stunning 3D visuals while keeping what could have been an interesting story intact, but it doesn’t seem like he had much of a script to begin with.

Even the plot is hard to describe since it feels like the actors did some schizophrenic improv with dialogue that just meandered along giving us hope that if we stuck with it, there’d be a killer ending making us forget the mess we’d had to sit through. Many people will undoubtedly compare this to Zack Snyder’s ’300‘ (which looks like ‘Lawrence Of Arabia’ compared to this one). The main gist of the film is that King Hyperion (Rourke) thinks that he can win his war with the Greeks by freeing the imprisoned Turks in Mount Tartarus. I can get into just going with the flow of a movie’s story, but many of us were curious as to why Hyperion was in a war with the Greeks to begin with. That might better explain things better and his journey to find the magical Bow of Epirus.

This leads Hyperion to get with the virgin oracle Phaedra (Freida Pinto), who’s looking for the Bow herself while obviously resisting giving up her precious virginity to a Greek peasant named Theseus (Henry Cavill), who wants revenge against Hyperion for slaughtering his mother. Sorry, I just had to add that part in since it’s hard to buy this aspect of the film, but suspending disbelief is what this film is truly all about…or else you’ll give yourself a migraine trying to remember back to that college course you took in Greek mythology to pick apart all the historical liberties ‘Immortals’ takes. Obviously, knowing that Theseus has an ax to grind with Hyperion should keep us on the edge of our seats wondering if he’ll get his revenge, but tThe crew I saw this film with just sat with their mouths open wondering how much worse the dialogue was going to get.

One really nice aspect of Singh’s direction was the way that he directs the battle scenes and differentiates between man and god by slowing down the speed for the gods while the men fight in real time. One line that made everyone in the audience break out laughing was Mickey Rourke saying “A man’s seed can be his most dangerous weapon.” I was almost wondering if they were going to start talking about STD’s or something, but like with everything else in the film, there’s no need for explanation before we’re whisked along with more beautiful eye candy including Cavill’s abs, Pintos curvaceous body and Rourke’s odd looking helmet.

Thinking back on it now, the ‘Immortals’ feels like one of those dreams we’ve all had where we’re just jumping around from one scene to another without anything tying the sequences together. Cavill gives us an idea that he will be able to pull off playing Superman since he somehow manages to get through some of his awful lines with a shred of dignity, and Mickey Rourke is that rare actor who just gives his crazy role everything he has.

So if you’re wondering about the finale of the film…it’s just as spectacular to look at as you’d think with this type of film, and there’s plenty of warriors flying through the air with a soundtrack that will rattle your body in the seat. If you can get to a theater that doesn’t have a muddy screen (sadly this can be hard to find even in New York or Los Angeles), ‘Immortals’ is worth checking out for this. You’ll definitely get a giggle in for some of the over the top theatrics and dialogue that sounds like it was written in crayon so it won’t be a wasted night at the movies.

Best Movies Ever Rating: C-

The only reason why I’m ranking ‘Immortal’s’ this high is that it’s such a visually stunning film, that can’t be ignored. The awful dialogue and storytelling bring down a film that could have been amazing if not for those little details.

Immortals Movie Trailer – Best Movies Ever

Immortals Trailer

Kim Kardashian becomes quiet and reserved

Kim Kardashian, who filed for divorce from husband, 26-year-old NBA player Kris Humphries has apparently become very reserved and is reportedly keeping very quiet since she began working for Tyler Perry’s upcoming film The Marriage Counsellor.

According to sources on the sets of Tyler Perry’s The Marriage Counsellor, Kim Kardashian seems very upset and keeps to herself. She is extremely reserved and prefers to be quiet most of the time. Speaking to New York Daily News, a source revealed, “Kim has been reading a script and not being very social at all.”

Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kris Humphries, barely 72 days after their grand wedding

The Adventures of Tintin Movie

The Adventures of Tintin - The Secret of the Unicorn"; Cast: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost; Director: Steven Spielberg; Rating: ** 1/2

The sheer thrill of seeing one's favourite childhood comic being transposed on to a different medium (film) combined with technology and the best of hands from Hollywood surely sets one's expectations soaring. Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" features superb animation and the most refined use of motion capture technology thus far.

This film attempts to bond three different Tintin stories -- most notably "The Secret of the Unicorn" (which is the film's subtitle) as well as "The Crab with the Golden Claws" and "Red Rackham's Treasure".

What 'The Adventures of Tintin' boils down to is essentially an Indiana Jonesesque movie, and is very much in that vein; a rollicking tour around the globe, hunting for mysterious treasures with various complex outcomes and action set pieces.

Set in the 1930s, Tintin's (Jamie Bell) adventure starts at a market place in Brussels. A few seconds after he purchases a miniature sailing ship he gets exorbitant offers to sell it off. He learns that the miniature is a replica of a 17th century sailing ship called the Unicorn.

Apparently the Unicorn was navigated by Captain Haddock's (Andy Serkis) ancestor and was carrying huge treasures in its vaults when it was raided and sunk by the pirates. This ancestor was the only person who knew the exact location of the sunken treasures. So he left behind a clue on a parchment in the three identical miniatures of the Unicorn.

Mild humour is infused in this film by the bumbling police officers Thompson and Thomson (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) and Tintin's faithful canine Snowy.

The treasure hunt takes Tintin along with Captain Haddock through exciting and visually delightful chases. Easily the most stunning and ambitious of these is a chase through the streets of a Moroccan port. They are chasing a mysterious man by the name of Sakharine (Daniel Craig) who is also trailing the Unicorn treasure. The sequence is about five minutes long and is conducted in one single, unbroken shot which, given the ludicrous ambition, complexity and pacing of the action, would have been simply impossible if the film had been live action.

It also takes place in a photo-realistic environment, which gives the sequence a physicality that should be at odds with the exaggerated characters, but actually heightens the tension and excitement of the whole scene.

Robert Zemeckis' design and creation of this film knocks anything he has attempted before. Zemeckis' earlier films, "Polar Express", "Beowulf" and "A Christmas Carol" failed to create that photo realistic version of humanity, because trying to motion capture and animate real people in that photo realistic way just makes humans look plastic and dead behind the eyes. Here there is a valid reason for this use. It could be done in no other way.

The animation is attempting photo realism but still has that cartoonish quality. They have the Herge tropes, the funny noses and weird hairstyles. Captain Haddock still looks like Captain Haddock from the comics but it's Haddock as if he were a real life being.

That technique, however, is incredibly effective, and never distracting.

Unfortunately the sequences aren't the most inventive. Beyond its gorgeous visuals the film resembles a conflation of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" with John Williams's music always on the point of bursting into the Indiana Jones triumphal march, the film has very little to offer and it is a great shame.

Discussing Tintin's action sequences makes it sound like it's little more than a series of set pieces strung together around a wafer-thin plot.

The script is, quite frankly, all over the place, chock full of ellipsis which can sometimes be very helpful to a film but here it is just lazy and sloppy. The talented trio, Joe Cornish, Steven Moffat (of Doctor Who fame) and Edgar Wright haven't done a very good job of covering the exposition. The plot depends heavily on too-perfect coincidences. It sets out to deliver thrills, spills and chills with as little extraneous stuff as possible, and at that it succeeds beautifully. Also, the dialogue delivery, I am sure would be an issue for the Indian audience.

This grand scale adventure story directed by Spielberg is a clean family film pitched to a much younger audience, probably those below eight years, for the slapstick comedy and good natured fun that does not resort to crass, lowest common-denominator pandering.

There are some very good parts in the film, but as a whole this film is disappointingly unremarkable.

Blistering Barnacles!!! Thundering Typhoons… My heart breaks to say so….

Dam999, a collage of 9 concepts

DAM Disaster

DAM999 is a tribute to the lost souls of the world's worst man made dam disasters which claimed a toll of lives. Around 250,000 people died in 1975 Banqiao dam disaster in China. The collapse of this dam did not make it to the world for over 15 years. It was worse than what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. DAM999 spreads the message about the consequences of an unfortunate disaster which is predicted in the near future. Dam999, a fact worth waiting for.

Emotional Thriller

Suspense in the movie titles it as a thriller. DAM999 portrays the realities of life, some shared and some unshared. Navarasa or 9 human emotions are shown by 9 characters in the movie. Just as a Dam holds water, the 9 characters in the movie hold back their emotions, which eventually breaks out during a disaster drawing the audience to a gripping climax.

Navagrahas

The foundation of astrology, considered as the pillars of influence on human beings. According to Hindu customs, the Navagraha are typically placed in a single square with the Sun (Surya) in the center and the other deities surrounding Surya. It is a mystical arrangement with lot of facts in it. The secrets of this unknown science will be revealed to the world through DAM999.

Navarasa

Navarasa is the essence of Dam999. It is the idea steering its story and the nine lead characters in it. Dam999 brings into play the long standing concept of Navarasa but in a way that is exceptionally original. The individuality of the characters is the element that each character is the personification of one rasa. Their nature, the intensity of their reactions, their strengths, their failings - all guided by the rasa they represent, which in turn shape the story of Dam999. This very factor makes the movie the only one of its kind ever made.

Mariner's movie

Life in the sea has always created a lot of inquisitiveness for a layman to know more about a mariners life and the marine world. 'DAM999' is an answer to all the questions which entices an individual who has never been to the sea. Vast Oceans conceal within them endless tales, some told and few untold. There are various moments of amazement, adventure and agony which are solely shared by a mariner who confronts the sea. 'DAM999' is an initiative to replicate these reflections on screen and portray it to the world.

Musical Movie

Music has always been considered as the rhythm of life. DAM999 will give the audience a feel of the 9 character with 9 assorted tunes. The concept of a musical movie will be redefined by DAM999.

Cultural Voyage

A culture rich country like India requires more than words, the reels of the movie will speak for the forgotten shades of India. The script of DAM999 makes sure that the rich heritage of the country doesn't go unnoticed.

Nine Forms of Lost Love

Love refers to a deep, ineffable feeling of tenderly care for another person. Many have written about the types of love but not many have explored the concept of lost love. DAM999 depicts the 9 forms of lost love through various sequences- Unexpressed Love,Sacrificed Love, Mistaken Love, love that was not returned, love Separated by fate, love unable to return, love that was expressed late, withdrawn Love, loving and realizing it cannot be fulfilled.

Ayurveda

The movie sheds light on the magical healing power of Ayurveda - A lifestyle unknown to many. This method of treatment has proved its worth and cured many conceding them with health and a promising future. The movie sheds light on ayurvedic treatments of many diseases like Psoriasis , juvenile diabetes , paralysis and many more.

Dam999 - CAST

Ashish Vidyarthi : The national award winning actor Ashish Vidyarthi plays Durai, the antagonist in the movie. Bheebatsa is the rasa he represent and it symbolizes disgust. Though he started his acting career with a Kannada film, he soon became the 'most punched' villain in Bollywood. He is a gifted actor who has completed over 150 movies.

Linda Arsenio : The audacious and heroic mood of Veera rasa (Courage) is portrayed by Linda's character Sandra, a clued-in TV journalist. This young actress and model from Texas debuted with an English film 'The Process of Creative Deception' before stepping into the Indian film industry. She has acted in films world wide.

Rajit Kapur : Rajit Kapur, the versatile Indian actor, is the winner of the National Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in the movie 'The Making of the Mahatma'. Rajit Kapur is a theatre actor as well as a director. In Dam999, the acting maestro dons the role of Shankaran who portrays Shantha rasa, the rasa of tranquility.

Joshua Fredric Smith : He plays Captain Fredrick Brown, a tongue-in-cheek Anglo-Indian mariner, an epitome of Hasya, the rasa of laughter. Joshua, who was born in Northern California, made it to Hollywood following his grandfather's desire to make him a 'star'. Through his passion and determination, he is slowly and steadily on his way to fulfilling that dream. Joshua's recent films are 'Finding a Place' and 'The Road to Freedom' which got an entry in Cannes.

Vinay Rai : Vinay Rai takes the part of Vinay in the movie, a mariner and Freddy's trusted friend. Vinay is aggressive, fierce and ferocious and stands for Roudra rasa, the rasa of fury. The actor was merited for his performance in the Kollywood which is India's second largest film industry in terms of revenue and world wide distribution.

Jaala Pickering : Jaala is Maria in Dam999, Freddy's invalid sister who is confined to her home. A picture of Bhayanaka rasa, Maria characterizes terror. Jaala Pickering is a well known English actress, model, television host and a professional dancer. She has played lead roles in 'A Brief History of Women' and 'The Humdrummer'. This hazel-eyed beauty has had many highly popular TV series and commercials to her credit.

Vimala Raman : An actress, a model and a trained Bharatnatyam dancer, the charming Vimala Raman plays Meera, an archetype of the rasa of compassion, Karuna. This former Miss India Australia 2004 has proved her mettle as an actress in four South Indian languages.

Megha Burman : Megha Burman the young Bengali beauty portrays Shringara Rasa that stands for romance in the movie. She plays the character of Raziya, a Pakistani in DAM999.The young actress has been a part of various Television commercials, Promos and print Campaigns.

Jineet Rath : The youngest star in DAM999, who will mesmerize the audience with his acting skills. Even at this age he has managed to capture the attention of world, with appearences in more than 150 advertisements and a couple of movies. In DAM999 he resembles Adbutha Rasa.