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Reviews
Jeevan Dhaara (1982)
Amazingly Bad
One of those films in which everybody is selfish and bad just because writer wants to show one guy good. Rekha is good and everybody else in this film stupid. Horrile.
Anuraag (1972)
Waste of time
If you want to get depressed please watch this film. First they make you fall in love with a kid and then that kid grows cancer and in the end he dies. You want to watch this??
Karma (2015)
Waste of time
If you want to waste your time please go ahead and watch this film. From the first frame you know who is the killer. Its bad from all points of views. Very bad actors. Very obvious end and exceptionally bad shoot. Same room has two light set ups. Even film students don't make such mistakes.
Chakravyuha (1978)
A very bad film from all aspects
I am a big fan of Rajesh Khanna and Basu Chatterji but this film is really really really bad. It has no plot. It has nothing to offer. Music is bad. No innovative story or sequences. Utter nonsense. Film is completely linear. One thing happens then the next and then the next. There is no need of the previous scene for the current scene. Its a complete waste of time. First 15 minute we see Neetu singh looking for Rajesh Khanna and every time she just miss meeting him. He finally meets her standing at her house door and thats the end of it. There is no relevance of whatsoever later. Nonsense. Watch 'mrityudata' aur even 'Rab ne bana di jodi' instead. They are masterpiece compared to this nonsense.
Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke (1969)
Beautiful flick
Kanhaiyalal is a poor farmer whose family, a wife and two half brothers, survives on small piece of farm land. He spends a lot of money on his Sanjeev Kumar's law education while the other brother Jitendra, works with him on fields. Kanhaiyyalal's opponents and changing times breaks his family apart. Jitendra goes to city and becomes a driver, while Sanjeev kumar separates from his modern wife and his brothers and vows to show his face only after he earns enough money to buy his brother's land back. Family values, correct education and eternal love for righteousness bring the broken family together in the end.
It's great cinema. The land around which the entire film rotates is just one song. Story is unstoppable. It keeps flowing with perfect twists and turns. Kanhaiyyalal plays 'Hori' of Godan and does it to perfection. The character is torn between fancies of his brothers and reality of his economic situation. He loves his brothers and does everything for them. That's exactly what finally saves his family. Characters are very real and dramatic. Masterji of the village is an extremely interesting reference to sanity in a village torn between old values and industrial revolution. Sanjeev kumar's wife is also quite realistic as opposed to caricatures like Bindu in 'Do raste' etc.
Everybody has done a fantastic job but undoubtedly it's a kanhaiyyalal film. He shines in front of actors like Sanjeev Kumar and Durga Khote. Music is popular and melodic. Sanjeev kumar gives another perfect performance. Jitendra is extremely good. I know at least 5 bollywood directors who think that 'Dharti Kahe Pukarke' is one of the best Indian films. 9/10.
Imaan (1974)
Great film with a great cast and perfect ending
Its a suspense film so please don't read further if you haven't seen the film. Madhav comes out of jail but is given a chance to run a shop with complete honesty. Madhav fails in his mission. Madhav gets arrested and shop closes down. Madhav's brother comes from his village and runs the same shop with illegal rules and mints money. The film is about which path to chose in life.
Sanjeev kumar as Madhav and Laakhan is great. He really looks two different personalities. Film really belongs to supporting cast. Kaishto mukherji, Anwar Hussain and Johhny walker are too good. Johnny walker speaks 'Marwari' with ease and perfect pronunciation. Anawar Hussain as mean dukandar is a very strong portrayal. Leena is also very good. Music of the film is forgettable except 'Paise Bina Pyar' by kk.
Film is an adaptation of a story by Hermann Sudermann. Its serious cinema. It doesn't meander. No extra scenes. Just the story and the basic conflict. Film asks the question if honesty is the best policy or its not a policy at all. Story is full of twists and turns and is very engaging. The best part of the film is the end. For a story like this the end becomes a difficulty because you can't really say what is right and what is wrong and so you generally have to create a dialog and leave it at that like Plato's style. Film almost does that and still gives a logical end to the narrative. Highly recommended. 9/10
Do Ankhen Barah Haath (1957)
A timeless Classic
A real classic. I watched it about 25 years back and watched again yesterday. I did the magic both times on me, as a child and as a middle aged man. A jailer fights the eternal battle of good against evil when he decides to make 'men' out of 6 hard-core criminals.
Story doesn't meander. Plot is simple and filled with surprises and mythological grandiose. At times movie becomes sheer art and work of genius when V Shantaram through his spectacular framing and simple screenplay details talk about the psychology of a common man or uncommon man in dynamic society. Scenes like grandmother, Shankar walking out, first night sleep etc are just mind blowing. My favorite scene is when Jailer drags the barbed wire woods.
Making of the film is extremely artistic. All the scenes are thoroughly conceived. You can make out each and every actor moves from spot to spot. Camera moves in spots. Every single frame is detailed to its last frame. Acting is extremely animated but works in favor in a film like this. Background music is extremely provocative as lots of drums are used. Very entertaining drama. 9/10.
Yadon ilaheyya (2002)
What is it about?
Did I waste my time. This is very pretentious film. In the beginning you will think there's something going on but by the time some 30 minutes go by you realize nothing is happening. I waited for another 20 minutes and by then i was so frustrated that I started reading reviews on IMDb and realized that the director has wasted precious time of so many people.
Unbelievably boring pointless film. Stay away. So many good soundtracks. I will give one point for the police inspector joke because that worked for me. I laughed for a long time but otherwise a very bad film. Stay away.1 on 10.
El Bola (2000)
Child abuse is sick
Pablo is 12 years old and is abused by his father while his friend Alfredo and Alfredo's family watch.
Film is done in a very interesting style. Not much violence is used. Pablo isn't shown doing great histrionics. Father also isn't shown a neurotic or a psychopath. It's just that their chemistry has gone wrong somewhere and they can't get along. Pablo comes across as a energetic, non-conformist boy. Relationship between all the characters are very real and full of daily conversation. Film doesn't have a single dull moment.
Pablo's father steals the show here. Great acting. Acting is mostly above average and cinematography is amazing. Pablo is really very good and so is his friend. Scene where Alfredos father pull up Pablo and Alfredo in the car is very good. I kept wondering what would be the end of the film. To my expectation the ending was perfect ending. Good film. 8/10.
Amazing Grace (2006)
Very Inspiring
Wiliams Wiberforce is an English Parliamntarian who fought all his life to pass the anti-slavery bill. This film is about his personal and political life as a social reformer, as a loser and finally as a winner.
Amazing grace is an inspiring film. It is a biopic and not a film based on social events like 'Roots' and 'Amistad'. William must be a great man. The whole concept of foreign slave trade was not done well. It should have been done with good examples and with more explanation. I really had to scratch my head on internet to understand what they actually did.
A good history lesson for college and school kids.
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy (2002)
A lesson on history, sociology and politics.
The overall idea of the documentary is to show how 'market' is evolving globally. Its in 3 parts. 1 part shows the market in the era of communism, depression and socialism. 2 part shows the opening of domestic markets in 70s and 80s and third part shows the cross border exchange of goods, ideas meaning 'globalization'. The over all attitude is very positive and politically neutral.
The best part is that all economic changes are shown with political point of views and so they become more meaningful and easy to understand. Highest order economists and politicians are interviewed like Clinton, Thatcher, Hayek etc.
Its not a Bible Sermon as I found this documentary a lil harsh on central planning issue. Keynes is compared with Marx and Lenin. They are completely different in their approaches and are very successful politicians/economists. Capitalism isn't working as well and so open market seems to be not the 'real solution' either. I really wonder what people have against Marx. Whatever Marx said is absolutely right. The real solution has to come from communism as Capitalism is losing ground because of the hoarding nature of human beings. We live in groups and community solutions are the real solutions for us. Anyways. It is a brilliant learning experience. Watch it if you wanna learn.
Asphalt Zahov (2000)
Racist Yes but involving
There are 3 stories in the film. A Bedouin boy mowed down by Jewish truck drivers, A German wife trying to runaway from her Bedouin husband and a Bedouin man involuntarily gets involved as a mute party to an extramarital affair between his Jew boss and an Arabs domestic help which ends up in community clash.
All three stories are very well executed. First story is about 10 minutes and leaves a question in your mind if thats possible. I personally don't buy it but its a work of fiction so its fine. Also message sent is good. Second is pretty good too. Its very optimistic. A German wife in veil and a Bedouin husband. Pretty involving and very well shot. Third is probably the best in the lot. I don't really understand the Social aspect between Jews and Bedouins but as a story its pretty interesting.
Acting, Camera and speed is good. If you like short stories then watch it. Highly recommended.
La nuit de la vérité (2004)
It takes a generation to clear up the load.
Two tribes come together for a reconciliation. Two men can't party if they have killed each other's sons.
Message of the film is 'peace'. The whole thing is done in a very slow speed so to be able to narrate more and more atrocities. Frankly you get tired when you see the same thing or hear the same thing again and again in a film but in here director had a complete vision of the story. She new that each story of atrocity was adding to the tension and building up the climax. Climax is done beautifully. Whole experience has left me with a bitter taste. This probably is one of the most violent film. One of those flick where camera, actors, locales don't matter a penny. You are glued because of the story. Still Brilliant performances by females actors.
Films like these leaves you thinking and you learn your own lessons. Leasson I learnt is that there are issues which can't be reconciled by the same people who made the issue. Like caste system in India or apartheid in western world. It takes a whole new generation to see the issue from a new point of view. So it is important to either not create the issue at all or wait for the slow process to take its own time. Very honest cinema.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Oscar?
A fugitive, a killer and a cop. How original. A fugitive with a family, a killer happy with trigger, a cop with one liners. How original.
I still can't believe I actually saw the whole film. It has to be one of the most over-hyped 3rd grade film I saw in a long time. The other overrated films I have watched recently are 'O brother Where art Thou' and 'Michael Clayton'. I finally rented 'The fugitive' again to restore my faith my Hollywood. NCFOM has to be the most obvious flick. A man keeps killing people around him and American police isn't even around. US police is the most efficient police in the world. Its a sheer mockery and insult of US law. I don't know why Americans like so much violence in films.
Technically film is very good but that doesn't count if you don't have a story to tell.
Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Match Ki Pahli Ball Or Ye Laga Sixer. Amir Phir Champion.
An 8 years old child is having a hard time in his school and home as he can hardly cope up with studies . Even worse he has a meritorious elder brother and a demanding father. A temporary painting teacher 'Nikumb' comprehends the situation and help the boy recover his lost self-confidence.
TZP is definitely one of the finest films ever came from Indian film Industry. Film has a perfect social and political timing too as India sees kids committing suicide because of exam pressure. Unfortunately I myself have attended one such funeral where a 9th class student committed suicide and his mom on his death bed kept calling Shiva for restoration of his life. "Agar Tu Bhagwan Hai To Lauta De, Maine Janam Diya Tu Kaun Hota Hai Lene Wala". Hope this incident is never repeated in a close minded society like ours. Its an intelligent pondering over an extremely sensitive issue. Hope teachers and parents also take a positive lead from this film. If a single child is saved from committing suicide because of this film I would call it the best film ever made. There is a possibility of that.
Acting wise everything is perfect. Amir's first few scenes are mind blowing specially where Ishaan isn't painting and Amir says "Koi Baat Nahin Koi Jaldi Nahin Hai". He sets the mood there it self. Thats how you deal with kids. In the making of TZP also Amir says "Bachchon KO Maza Ana Chahiye". Music of the film is mediocre except for the title song. I found lyrics of the songs very irritating. Being casual is one thing and being out of meter is another. Prasoon is fresh air but without a genuine meter I hope he doesn't blow out fast. While Ishaan's moon walk scene left me rolling on the floor, title song have me shed a few tears. May be there are a few things which aren't right like animated situations, animated characters, over enthusiastic climax but I take it as a drama par excellence. To me it wasn't a film. It was a classroom lesson which will help me become a better person and so my teacher took examples of extremities so that the message doesn't get lost somewhere in trying to make a 'hatke' film or too modest or honest to digest. TZP has left me thinking if we are doing enough for children. 9/10.
El laberinto del fauno (2006)
What is it about?
OK guys I understand the story of the king and queen, I understand Spanish civil war and peasants and doctors. I understand technical movements and special effects. I understand the concept that children live in their own world and their fantasies go hand in hand with their surroundings. I understand that fawn in this film is not Pan BUT for goodness sake please tell me what is this film about?
It reminded me of Full Metal Jacket. Its like watching two films. Of course there is a big difference in FMJ as both films are related but in this case there is just no connection. Its like watching 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'Lords of the Rings' simultaneously. Of course both not as good as these two great flicks. Very overrated flick. the only reason you wanna watch this film is for the Phalanges movement. Its a spoiler. A balloon which inflates and burst without a sound.
Michael Clayton (2007)
Confusing narration leads to a worthless wait
Clayton is a lawyer who is known as a 'fixer' . He is called to fix a situation by his firm. Soon he finds himself embroiled in the eternal battle between good and evil.
Extremely substandard film. Story line is weak and very confusing. Narration is incomprehensible and after a point becomes too much to bear. In the first 35 minutes some 5 tracks are left open. By the time you realize whats going on you realize you have seen it in 200 other films and its not interesting. Clayton finds a document which can ruin the CEO of the company? How intelligent piece of writing. A complete waste of time. A mediocre attempt. 5/10.
Traffic Signal (2007)
Too Good
Many a times I have thought of writing a script which has all these characters. Basically Mumabi street brawls to Vidhan Sabha corridors. I could think of only separate issues like flesh trade, beggars, rickshaws etc. Madhur has done a fantastic job by showing them all in a film and the common theme is 'Traffic Signal'. Never thought that way. Brilliant.
Film is fresh, intelligent, humane, tight and hard hitting. Its a lesson learned with popcorn and Pepsi. My wife kept saying "I cant watch all this" but she watched it and she finally said "what pathetic lives people live, sometimes our own lives look so meaningless". Madhur sent his peace of mind home. A six. A home run.
Casting and acting is perfect. Khemu will go a long way. Rani was beautiful. It was nice to see youngsters playing youngsters in an Indian film. Love songs made sense that way. Sudhir Mishra was a treat. Konkona Sen is very good and so is Ranvir. Santosh is good. Simple actors have performed so good. Madhur is a magician. My favorite track is IDB bank. I loved it when Sudhir says "Thank you aake bol". Its nice to see a panwala who looks like a panwala or chappal wala who looks like a chappalwala. A must for all the people who think we are just about to become a superpower. Very honest cinema. 9/10.
Ha-Ushpizin (2004)
Delightful!!!
An orthodox poor couple waits for a miracle in their empty and disciplined life. What happens is nothing less than a miracle.
The film is deep. It has layers and is very interesting. From the first frame you know what is gonna happen but things take too long to happen and not the way you think they would. It has all kinds of scenes but comedy and serious scenes has good impact especially when Moshe goes to the jungle. A few scenes are funny and do come as a pleasant surprise. Its more of a fable than a film. There are lots of hidden messages and philosophies which you cannot ignore because they are told through characters you really sympathize with. The most touching aspect is how good people make this world a better place despite being framed by bad people all the time. You can see so many Moshes around you and really appreciate them for their simplicity and sheer gentlemanly behaviour.
Acting is very good. Camera is just good. No need for extra shots just keep it on the face and make it 60%. The best philosophy for a film which is character driven and is mostly emotional. A decent film. very honest approach.
Transformers (2007)
works for a while
Tranformers is definitely for Sci-Fi/Action lovers. There's lot of action, comedy and drama but after a while it becomes lousy. It just stops moving. I laughed my guts out in the first half and really enjoyed myself. Especially Shia Labouf. He is very comical and full of energy. If it wasn't him film wouldn't have been interesting in the first half also. Dialogs are very good and have been acted out pretty well. In the first half the seriousness and comical moments make the film interesting. Later it becomes very repetitive. There's hardly any suspense what's gonna happen so it becomes pretty difficult to see cars becoming robots and robots becoming airplanes again and again. Special effects are unbelievable and definitely will fetch Oscars. No doubt. Overall interesting but pretty long. 6/10.
Patch Adams (1998)
Over-dramatic
A patient in a rehabilitation center, while helping another patient, realizes that all he ever wanted to do was to help other. He decides to become a doctor. Adam's ideas, ways and means are outrageous and so he ends up becoming a thorn in the eye of the system.
The concept of the film is moving and content is good but the film is boring. Almost every scene is trite and overdone. Most the medical student only appear while clapping for Adams and that too with the same expressions. Its a serious film but director has made a fool out of the real character. Movie has serious problems. On few occasions it becomes very evident that Adams is doing everything for himself and not for others. The whole romantic angle is just too big a pain to bear in a film which is supposed to be 'philosophically elevating'. Then it becomes a fight between a hero and a villain. Except for a few scenes Patch Adams is a let down.
Au revoir les enfants (1987)
A January morning
Opens at a school in German occupied France in 1944 where in a boarding school a little grown up children are shown taking classes, making confessions, reading sex magazines and sneaking into each other's private lives as Europe delves into the 5th year of second world war. The narration goes more political and humane as children try to comprehend the worst of the world around them. Last 20 minutes are very moving.
Narration is very slow and lots of characters are just too elementary or too obvious. Still film works in the last 20 minutes. It's based on a true story. Nothing great except for a few scenes like class in the basement and fight between Julien and Bonnet. Still not worth 1 hour 44 minutes. 7/10.
The 39 Steps (1935)
Another nice thriller
Just like any other Hitchcock film its a great film. It is thrilling and the suspense is very rewarding. Robert Donut has acted well. The best part of the film is the plot itself. Scenes in the handcuff are truly inventive. Its old Hitchkcock so lot of frame detailing is lost in shoddy light and indoor shoots. Scenes where Robert Donut describes his criminal background is very funny. Last scene of the film is also fantastic. Its a definite watch for all 'thriller' lovers(specially Hitchcock fans). This film is initial success of Hitchcock. He won an Oscar after 4 years for 'Rebecca'(his first American film). He made 5 other films in this duration. A must watch for a hitchcock fan.
Babel (2006)
A single thread weaves lives across the border
I really wonder why 'The departed' won an Oscar when Babel was also nominated. Babel is a classless film. When I watched it I had no clue what the film was about but I really loved it. I finally understood the concept of the film when I read what 'Babel' means. For those who came in late 'Babel' is a tower built by the descendants of Noah to reach heaven. It seems god foiled the plan by creating a confusion through multiple languages. The backdrop of the story is confusion and its shot in Morrocco, US, Mexico and Japan. Its brilliant. The confusion is between people from different civilization, among the people from the same country and genius work is that the confusion is traced between parents and children. I must admit I still don't get why Brad Pitt connects with his children but may be I am reading too much between the lines. Morrocan family has done a fantastic job.
Brad Pitt is brilliant. Alejandro González Iñárritu finally made a film which is not all about colors and camera angles. Hope he changes his narration next time as it looks very typecast for him now. There is a little America bashing here but then America deserves all the non-violent bashing when it bashes rest of the world literally using terrorism. A must watch for film lovers.
The Departed (2006)
A near perfect thriller
Undercover cops and criminals. There are moments when you think you are watching Face Off, Catch Me If You Can, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, Reservoir Dogs or may be Casino but its all there in 'The departed'. Story is flawless except for a banal ending. Narration is very regular;three stories very obviously connected run parallel and meet after almost half the film is over. It opens in layers and is a sheer joy to watch the character finally crossing each other's territory. Dialogs are punched and speed is fast. Editing is a little shoddy in a few scenes but may be footage weren't too helping i guess.
Its a definite Oscar winner. 'Gimme Shelter' works again for Scorcese. John Lennon reference was damn funny :> Everyone is extremely good but its just impossible to not mention Caprio. He is so gifted and he is so good. He plays a perfect undercover policeman. Popping down tablets of speed, short tempered, a nice guy playing a bad guy trying hard to get back to his real side. He plays it so beautifully. Scene where he get up slapping his face with both hands is a stealer. I hope Scorcese make 5000 more films and he cast Caprio in all of them.