Returned 42 results for 'Monthly Archives: November, 2011'
Movie Ratings and Reviews - Legion
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
Movie: Legion
Year: 2009
Genre: Fantasy/Action Thriller
Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Stars: Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid and Charles S. Dutton
Snapshot of Story:
Legion is fantasy movie where an angel comes to earth and along with a band of humans try to save mankind.
Movie Rating and Review of Legion
Storyline:
The angel ‘Michael’ played by Paul Bettany lands on earth in much the same way as the ‘Terminator’ movie and makes his way to a remote gas station. At first we are not sure of his intentions as he battles with some police officers but we soon come to learn that Michael has good intentions.
He arrives at the gas station run by Bob Hanson played by Dennis Quaid where a group of diners already inside the establishment will be taken through a ride of their lives as they battle some of the spirits sent by heaven to bring down planet earth.
There are some excellent special effects scenes as they rage battle against the shape-shifters with their supernatural powers. In particular the old woman arriving at the station was well executed as her body twists and contorts and springs horror inside the diner. The quick thinking of Bob manages to eradicate the vermint but they must battle a greater war that is imminent.
Michael must protect the baby that is still unborn in one of the woman who will be the saviour of the planet earth. In one scene, the angel Gabriel arrives and we hear the sound of some distant trumpets which was very well done. However, the movie is now almost taking on the similar plot of Terminator.
Final Thoughts:
The movie ends with Michael battling Gabriel and manages to overcome him. Although the movie is based on the angels of heaven, they don’t really have any bearings on the teachings and philosophy of the religion and was made entirely for entertainment only. The movie scores well in the special effects arena but fails to deliver in the original script. However, the movie is still watchable as it has all the remnants of other movies such as the Terminator and Quentin Terantino’s ‘From Dusk till Dawn’.
Rating:
6/10
Tags: Charles S. Dutton, Dennis Quaid, Movie Ratings and Reviews - Legion, Paul Bettany
Movie Ratings and Reviews - The Messengers
Monday, November 21st, 2011
Movie: The Messengers
Year: 2007
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Directors: Oxide Pang Chun, Danny Pang
Stars: Dylan McDermott, Penelope Ann Miller and Kristen Stewart
Snapshot of Story:
A family arrives in a rural farmland to take up residence in a farm house away from the bustle of city life and comes across some horrifying ghostly beings.
Review of the movie - The Messanger
Storyline:
Kristen Stewart who plays Jess is now a superstar celebrity after her debut in the ‘Twilight’ series but this movie may have very well been the springboard to her fame. In effortless style Kristen Stewart plays the shy and introverted teenager with a troublesome life and parents who are overbearingly protective. The scene with her and Bobby played by Dustin Milligan in their first meeting was superbly portrayed and shows the candid innocence of two teenagers when they first meet.
The horror action was well executed and there were many moments of tensive scenes where the creatures appear out of the dark and randomly appear clinging to the roof or simply levitating in the air.
In one scene Jess freezes in the hallway as her brother witnesses a ghost coming towards them but Jess has her back to it. She remains in this position for what appears to be forever until the creature almost touches them and then she turns. This seemed to be an unnatural piece in the scene where I would have expected Jess to turn right away and make a run for it.
In the early part of the movie where Jess witnesses the ghostly happenings around the house, I felt that a ‘real person’ in that same predicament would hide and go the other way whereas Jess continues to explore the sounds and events that has already terrified her. I came up with a term for this and called it ‘a sadistic need for terrification’ meaning a desire to be terrified.
There is a twist at the end of the movie where the actual hired helper is the culprit and the ghostly beings were there to send a ‘message’ to the newcomers of the imminent danger (*spoiler).
Final Thoughts:
Kristen Stewart plays the innocent and shy teenager who comes face to face with some ghastly creatures of the farm house and her acting is up to par but some of the scripts are not so believable. In particular the scene where she freezes momentarily while a creature comes from behind. I found that the directors must have been horror aficionados after watching this movie as I saw some snippets of similarities from ‘The Shining’, ‘Poltergeist’, ‘The Birds’, and the ‘The Sixth Sense’. All in all the movie is watchable and has it’s good moments but the plot and overall acting is not substantial enough to put this movie in the category of the best.
Rating:
6.5/10
Tags: Dylan McDermott, Kristen Stewart, Movie Ratings and Reviews - The Messengers, Movie review of The Messenger, movie reviews and ratings, Penelope Ann Miller
Movie Ratings and Reviews: Groundhog Day
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Movie: Groundhog Day
Year: 1993
Genre: Comedy/Fantasy
Director: Harold Ramis
Stars: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott
Snapshot of Story:
A weatherman from a popular US TV channel finds himself in a town where he relives the same day again and again with interesting consequences.
Review of movie Groundhog Day
Storyline:
Groundhog Day is an unusual movie not coming from the same classes of mainstream movies but has a very charming feel to it. Bill Murray comical in every way gives a superb performance to an often melancholy movie that stirs up tangible emotions and feelings in all of us.
Phil (Bill Murray) the weatherman is assigned to a location where he needs to report on the cold freeze much to his dislike. The town is celebrating the ‘Groundhog Day’ and he covers up his frustration as much as he can with sly comments and remarks towards his tv crew. When he retires for bed that evening, he goes through the whole of the next day in the usual manner and as he wakes up for the following day, he finds that day has been repeated. In essence, all the other town folks are experiencing a new day but for Phil he is experiencing the same day. This happens day by day with interesting consequences.
The repeated daily incidents allows for interesting developments from the part of Phil who sees the same day again and again. This development of the movie has been well portrayed with much creativity and humor and has made this movie a big hit of it’s time.
For example, since he already knows the incident about to occur, Phil takes quick action much to the amazement of the other town folks. What is interesting in this movie is that he takes the opportunity to improve his own self by understanding the nature of people since he has nothing better to do. He learns the piano and explores other people’s personalities by doing something different each day. This shapes Phil’s character as he is able to see beyond the facade of people and digs deep into their inner lives.
During one night he finds that the life has resumed as usual and he is no longer living the same day. Much to the amazement of his tv crew they are astonished to find a new ‘Phil’ with the change of personality and heart.
Final Thoughts:
The movie is based on an original script by screenwriter Danny Rubin who is to be credited for writing such a wonderful, creative and clever script that blends all the elements of character, humor and intrigue in one. Bill Murray was the perfect choice for this role with his uncaring and frivolous attitude to life and the change we all witness as he goes through each Groundhog Day.
Rating:
8.5/10
Tags: Bill Murray, Chris Elliott, Harold Ramis, Movie Ratings and Reviews: Groundhog Day, Moview reviews of Groundhog Day
Movie Ratings and Reviews of Paranormal Activity III
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Movie: Paranormal Activity III
Year: 2011
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Stars: Chloe Csengery, Jessica Tyler Brown and Christopher Nicholas Smith
Snapshot of Movie:
The movie is a continuation of the popular Paranormal series that produced a sensation in its simple story telling with it’s original version which was done on a very small budget. The movie is about a family and the evil spirit inside of their house as they record the events through a home movie camera.
Review of the movie Paranormal Activity III
Storyline:
The hugely successful original Paranormal in 2007 was created by independent filmmakers on a low budget but attracted a worldwide audience in much the same manner as the Blair Witch Project. Unfortunately, the two successive movies did not quite live up to the mark with the third helping being somewhat of a disappointment.
Dennis who is a wedding movie/photographer lives with his recently wed wife Julie and two girls from Julies first marriage. Having all the equipment for movie making, he finds unusual events occurring around the house which he records on his camera positioned around the home. The setting of the movie is in the 80’s and one can reminisce with some of the objects of the movie such as the car, movie camera, furniture and even their clothings. The director has gone to great lengths to create the 80s theme although I am not quite sure if this was necessary since the storyline itself does not require a time era to make it believable.
When Dennis discovers unusual happenings he has a hard time convincing his wife of the paranormal behavior occurring around their house. At one point he places the camera on a fan so it sweeps the whole dining, living and kitchen area at the same time. We see a figure that is wrapped up in a sheet in one corner of the room and as the camera pans to the right we again see the figure moving further towards Julie. This effect was deftly created to portray a sense of danger and keep the viewers excited.
When happenings around the home get too much, the family takes off to Julies mums house but evil awaits them in her house too.
Final Thoughts:
The movie does well to recreate the sensation of realism and ghostly happenings in a simple household. There are clever scenes such as the panning of the camera that keeps the audience’s excitement heightened. However, the confusing events towards the end of the movie was not well executed despite the frantic pace that it was delivered. Unfortunately, the Paranormal series may have come to the end of the line with this third helping since there were not much originality from the first two movies and was let down with a confusing end. Perhaps a new setting other than a house maybe required to keep the audience engaged with the highs and lows that they have come to appreciate in the Paranormal series.
Rating:
6.5/10
Tags: Chloe Csengery, Christopher Nicholas Smith, Jessica Tyler Brown, Movie Ratings and Reviews of Paranormal Activity III, Movie review of Paranormal Activity III, reviews of Horror movie
Movie Ratings and Reviews : Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Movie: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Director: Karan Johar
Time: 1998
Genre: Romance, Musical, Comedy, Drama, Family
Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee and Salman Khan
Snapshot of the story
Debue director Karan Johar has made musical love triangles to start his Bollywood career. Gripping on-screen story makes the audience smile, dance, cry and fall in love all in the same movie. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was a super hit on the year that it was launched and bagged many movie awards.
Movie Ratings and Reviews : Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Storyline
The story starts with the college days where Shah Rukh Khan as Rahul, Kajol as Anjali and Rani Mukherjee as Tina. Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan are always fighting with each other, play pranks but they are always best of friends. Kajol is a tom-boy and unlike other girls does not do any makeup and dress or the latest fashion to attract boys. Shar Rukh Khan is always behind girls and looking for a sweet heart. In comes the Rani Mukherjee as sweet, gorgeous and up to date with fashion and becomes Shah Rukh Khan’s friend. However, Anjali is in love with Rahul and want to tell his feeling. Jealous of Tina, Kajol also wants to dress like her to impress Rahul but hiding her feeling from him.
Finally Rahul tells his feeling to Tina and unable to bear this heart break Kajol goes ways from their life and does not contact either of them. Tina gives birth to a sweet baby girl but unfortunately dies during labor. Now Rahul is alone again with only his daughter.
There is portion of the story where Tina left a diary for her daughter about what happened in the college and how much Kajol used to love Rahul which Rahul was not aware of. This left a lot of question in that Tina was aware about her imminent death. Any way these is the part of Indian cinema where you are not supposed to think too hard but follow your heart rather than you brain.
Then start the series on how Rahul’s daughter turns the situation and makes arrangement so that both Kajol and Rahul can rediscover their love. But now Kajol is engaged with Salman Khan and is soon to be married. This is the time of high drama and emotional scenes.
Final Thoughts
Kukh Kukh Hota Hai did turn to be the mile stone for the debue director Karan Johar. KKHH has a great music score of 90’s with Jatin-Lalit with some unforgettable lyrics and songs. Lyricist Sameer wrote the romantics songs to add much charm this story. Yash Raj banner also showed faith in Karan Johar and he did not disappoint them. Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Kukherjee and Salman Khan all looked good and gave some of their best performances.
Rating
I give 9 out of 10 to Kukh Kukh Hota Hai for portraying brilliant on screen romance and heart touching emotional scenes.
Tags: Kajol, love, Movie Ratings and Reviews : Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Ramance, Rani Mukherjee, Review of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Shah Rukh Khan
