Ink (2009)

cool start to the movie; the blurry haze for the father-daughter scene did confuse me initially; but the dream-bringers raise a lot more questions. then comes the nightmare-inducers .... but that's not all! Enter the big-nosed boogie-man called Ink!?

Did the costume-designer for this feature get fired?? But I must add, there were some really nice low-budget SFX for a low-budget movie. I was just about to grapple with all the supernaturality of these 3 groups when the flickering of John's business colleague threw me off the plank. I gave up trying to figure out this movie on my own in its 20th minute. For the remaining 80 mins, I'm gonna just sit back and admire the amazing visuals that the cinematographer dared to capture. Every individual scene was coloured imaculately. The wakeup scene in blue; the office in beige; the kids-in-the-woods in golden-hue, etcetra.

The audience is still awaiting a hero to root for; & Jacob the path-finder gets thrown into the mix. I was already thinking that this film can have an entire tv-series spinoff to cater for the stoned crowds hungry for some 3am sci-fi. When Ink bowed to the Nightmare-inducer I wrinkled my brow. & the quest for assembly-codes <$#!% enter your favourite expression of bedazzlement here> was clearly written by someone who had bumped his head really hard while reading Lewis Caroll's books.

They're all reactions. A man has a weakness, he's flawed. That flaw leads him to guilt. That guilt leads him to shame. The shame he compensates with pride and vanity. & when pride fails, despair takes over & they all lead to his destruction. which will become his fate.

First Viewed: Alone at Harborne in Parramatta.

Rating-3*

Arthur (2011)

As the tagline reads 'Meet the world's only lovable billionaire', it seemed quite a bold statement. Arthur comes across as quite a underachiever if he really was a lovable billionaire.

He's got movie-collectable cars & a hover-bed; cleared out a train station for a date; trains with Evander Hollyfield; buys a publishing company for his sweetheart. All this doesn't showcase any of Arthur; it merely projects Russel Brand and his flair.

The movie has its good moments; and it does manage to entertain without making things gross or crass. This must be to cater to a wider family audience. But it also has moments which were disconnected. There are unexplained gaps which don't justify actions. Nick Nolte's character was a waste. Jennifer Garner's character did not draw any gasps from the audience.

There were chuckles to appreciate the witty writing (like the MTWTFSS question); but it was Dame Mirren's Hobson who was the most believable on screen. Everything else seemed either syrupy-sour or toffee-sweet.

As Executive Producer, Brand made sure he had plenty to emote. & thankfully the ending wasn't too sappy.

First Viewed: Alone at cinema in Parramatta.

Rating-2*

The American (2010)

The movie starts off with a cute bare bum & then an immediate scene introduces us to Jack's cold psyche. After watching the movie I felt that the entire movie's a stretched out short-film.

Setting it in a sleepy town in rural Italy made me think that it was another 'In Bruges'. The entire movie was shot beautifully; every scene was photogenic. But trust George Clooney to stand-out as the most gorgeous. (aaw, he's sold his soul to look like that at 50!)

It's a very simple story, but it's the execution that grows on. The blatant nudity does seem unnecessary; but who am I to object? My lower jaw hit the floor when Clooney was doing his pushups & pullups. I liked the way the lighting & music was used in the movie. I don't know if the director was aiming for a sense of restlessness amongst the audience; I certainly was getting anxious as to what cul-de-sac was I heading toward. It's a tricky film to critique. I liked it, but I know most won't.


Fav scenes: Edward's face after Clara leaves asking him out on a date; the booby-trapped gun; the end of desperation.

First Viewed: Alone at Harborne in Parramatta.

Rating-2.5*

Short cuts (1993)

The movie is a very simple humanistic view of people cohabiting a community. & it's almost like a double-feature at the drive-in because of its 180+ minute duration. I'm a sucker for interwoven tales (& I've always admited that). 9 families; & they all share the ecological complaints & geographical turbulences.

It's a very existential movie where grief and humour taste the same. & because of the range of social-substrata explored (albeit white & good-looking) it allows the audience to be judgemental & prejudiced. It allows the audience to disapprove of actions that they themselves have never encountered. I felt the hypocritic elements within me get slapped multiple times throughout the movie.

I see why the director chose to interweave the stories; because the context changes each time the scale of involvement changes. I didn't have to dissect each of the characters, because every single one of them is humane. All the human emotions possible were crammed up in this script; & thankfully potrayed by different vessels.


Fav scene: 2 couples at the bbq dinner with clown-makeup; mother's grief vented on the baker; cuckolded husband's frustration; estranged husband's wrath; the exchange of death pictures and the hypocrisy expressed.

First Viewed: Alone at Harborne in Parramatta.

Rating-3*

Capricorn One (1977)

Conspiracy theories have always intrigued a section of movie-goers. Many movies have used the wild rumours as fodder for interweaving a good story. Capricorn One does just that. Moon landing conspiracies have been rebundled with a political edge & journalistic passion. This time the setting is for Man to land on Mars. & there's no beating round the bush. The movie dives straight into the plot & uses the available resources to a good potential.

It's not a wonderful script; & there are loopholes aplenty. But the unravelling of the story is brilliant, because the audience gets to root for the protagonists. The ending seems a bit rushed, but the jubilant dash through the cemetery felt appropriate enough to tie up the tale.

Alternate ending: The exageration of the plot makes it slightly chunky to gulp. NASA operatives seem to have way too much access; & a lot gets swept under the carpet very conveniently. The fate of the captured astronauts was left unanswered. I'd want some definitive closure.

Fav moments: The commentary at the start; The "Go jump yourself" conversation between the journalists; The reporter's brake-failure accident; dead-cat joke

First Viewed: Alone at Harborne in Parramatta.

Rating-2.5*

The Terminator (1984)

The movie begins with lightning & 2 naked men appearing out of nowhere. & Both are after the same girl, Sarah Connor.

One equips himself with autoloader guns & 9mm UZIs; & his onscreen presence leaves no doubt in our mind that he is THE TERMINATOR; & it's not good if he's out to get you. The other's flashback paints us a very bleak dark picture, with gigantic machines trampling human skulls & airborne jets shooting pink laserbeams at the footsoldiers. The ominous background music keeps the audience engaged, knowing the phone-book killer is in hot pursuit of his target. & then there is the night-club shootout; where we see him come back to life; & then the iconic words 'Come with me if you wanna live'.


A metal exoskeleton covered with living tissue, travelling through time in a time-displacement-facility. Cybernetic systems model 101; a cyborg sent from the future to kill you. & the fire singes away his eyebrows making him look even more menacing. Highly intelligent & unpredictable story; I had goose-bumps for most of the chase scenes. It made me question how open I would be to the idea of believing Kyle Reese's wild tales. Linda Hamilton (Sarah) potrays her role superbly. The story takes sci-fi imagination to a new level; & its got great action. The writers took good care to keep the plot intact with all the time-travel loopholes. But with zero CGI effects (purely animatronix and stop-motion graphics) it makes a wonderful viewing.

Fav scenes: The psychiatrist analysis; the car chases; The concept of alternate realities & possible futures; The photo in the end.

Alternate ending: Reese's end was a well-thought scene, making Sarah's grit more palpable. I'd want a introduction to Cyberdyne as a more befitting reference to the oncoming storm.

First viewed: Alone at home on TV in Nerul.

POTC3: At World's End (2007)

The movie starts of with a lot of singing; pirates at death-row humming at the gallows.. & LizzySwan too sings the same tunes while she rows to meet Singaporean pirate-lord . The initial premise is continuing the promise from the previous movie; find Capt. Jack Sparrow & bring him back from Davy Jones' locker.

I think the music was better used in this one...or maybe there was a much better scope for music other than the usual theme-song. 25 mins into the movie, & there's no Depp on screen! & then we get to see about 25 of him in the same scene. Whoever thought of this scene (including the crab-conveyor-belt) must be congratulated. It indeed is a visual treat. & so's the up-is-down rock-the-boat madness.

This isn't the kind of movies you can critique without contradicting your previous reviews. it's a theme-park ride, don't try to make any more of it.

I had several questions regarding Tia Dalma/Calypso, but I'll let it rest. & the unexplained dead Kracken?? They had too many loose ends to tie.. & there were so many ppl trying to kiss Lizzy. I thought Calyspo's 50-ft woman would a game-changer, but all she did was create a 20min whirlpool for the climactic battle. But you do get to see what Jack does best, swing acrobatically from ropes & well-choreographed sword-fights.

First Viewed: With friends at cinema in Reading.

Rating-3*