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Reviews
Gunda (1998)
a dazzling 2 hours with 100 % entertainment
I was a bit apprehensive about the film at first but I came out with a huge smile on my face having witnessed some of Hindi movies' finest moments in the form of 'Gunda'. The movie is very subtle at first, showing a meeting between two characters who succintly describe the political agitations of their world. These characters do not last long but their impression is indelible. Then in a change from the norm, the villains all get introduced initially and we await eagerly the entry of the grand hero, and what an entry. The coolie underdog one-man-army takes on the evil underworld while everything around him falls to pieces, no less than a modern day retelling of a Greek epic.
The dialogues are to die for. Paying direct homage to the great shaayiri and Indian fascination with rhyming couplets, the movie is generously sprinkled with fine examples. They add a unique sense of tension to an already taut scene, each rhyme leading to the next with great anticipation and building tension in our minds and helping us delve into the psyche of the character being shown and his reasons for being. Kanti Shah was way ahead of his time with the direction and I'm sure future generations will look to this movie for inspiration and draw immense amount of pleasure from the director's treatment. The shot selection is flawless. Bulla, the great villain, is initially shown in deep focus, coming into him, as though he is a presence larger than life and coming straight at us. He owns a pet leopard which obviously is used to symbolize his status in the kingdom as grand but third to the Lion and Tiger, who he sees in the form of the politician and Sankar. The characters walk towards us seemingly from nowhere. Madness? or sheer brilliance... by directly pointing to the fact that these characters exist solely from their present surrounding and look only to their future, with their past behind them, he tells of the existence of the common man, who merely survives and is affected by the today of our nation. Each character in the movie is a representation of the common man and what he can become depending on the route he chooses. Sankar the righteous, Bulla the evil.
The action of the movie is marvelous, in how the director diverts our attention with large setups and like a magician pulls the rug from under us with subtle meaningful, beautifully choreographed fight scenes that both enthrall and frighten you, leaving you begging for more. The allegory and symbolism in the movie is undoubtedly the most fascinating aspect. The airport is a recurrent theme for a conversation, subtly hinting at how this could be a farewell conversation from a person who's departure is certain. The monkey stands for the disdain the common man has for the world which has abandoned him and how a lower evolved form has more compassion than the human society which is merely a faction of humans devoid of any humanity. Chutiya obviously stands for the emasculated boys of India, who grow up in places with no firm father figures, who are wither too busy with work or too lazy to impart any form of true wisdom to their children and how hence rather then through parents, the Indian boy becomes a man through the knowledge derived from his peers which ultimately seals his fate. The director obviously is deriding the state of the child in the Indian home and calls for his father to interact with his child.
It is hard to describe a work such as 'Gunda' in one word. Anybody who has seen the movie will describe its individual part and still fail to see the picture as a whole. Maybe that is a failing in us that we may never be able to fully comprehend the majesty of such a grand picture, or maybe it was the intention of Kunti Shah saab to give World Cinema a picture worthy of reprensenting the Indian sentiment in a year which saw the release of such classics as Titanic, Saving Private Ryan, American History X, etc... These movies really put perspective on this small movie from India, which undoubtedly would beat all the other movies in entertainment value. A must see for any Mithun-da fan, and (like me) if you weren't one before, this movie will change your life.
Hotaru no haka (1988)
A Beautiful movie I was not prepared for
This is one of the most powerful war-time dramas I have ever experienced. I expected a certain amount of sentiment throughout the movie but I certainly did not think the realities of war from the point of view of two orphans would be this harshly portrayed. The film was quite hard to digest for the simple fact that the older brother, Seita, can be easily sympathized with but at the same time, we realize that the situation he is in is his own doing. His pride came in the way and watching him struggle with his sister is just too heart-breaking. I really didn't expect an anime to produce *the* most depressing ending ever and I was totally not prepared to witness it but i am still glad I saw the movie. It was simply terrific.
Mathilukal (1990)
Adoor at his best
Adoor Gopalakrishnan weaves magic as he spells out the story of a man in jail. The story follows him and all that happen to him as he meets a woman on the other side of the wall separating their jails (men and women). Neither has seen each other, nor do they know much about the other, but they end up gaining a connection although separated by the wall.
Mammooty plays to perfection the role of a man in jail. His expressions, his friends, his good nature, all perfectly. The symbolism of the tale is excellent. The wall symbolizes both unity and separation. It is only through the wall that two people met. yet, it is that same wall that keeps them apart. Characterization is key and the ending is open and for you to decide what will happen.
All i can say is :"Mastery of storytelling"
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
Excellent piece of work
I finally got don to seeing this movie the other day and i was blown away. The animation was insane especially using different styles within the same movie (which is usually evident in animes). The clear star had to be the Joker. From his spectacular entry to the explosive finish, The Joker was running the show. Mark Hammil was born to voice the joker. To sum things up, this is one excellent Batman(maybe even better than the movies). Batman enthusiasts will want a stab at this. Any person (including myself) that appreciates a brilliant villain will find this quite satisfying. The suspense is riveting and all i have to say is that this is a total fun pack that guarantees satisfaction. Watch it!
Spadikam (1995)
Lalettan with his curled mustache
In Spadikam, Mohanlal dons the role of real-life rowdy Thomas Chacko aka Aadu Thoma. The film follows the account of Thomas and his father who he has grown estranged from in his childhood. Living under the same roof, they are unable to be father and son to each other. Thomas, the classic rowdy and his father the schoolmaster.
Mohanlal does an excellent job in the portrayal and this has to be one of his best works. The opening scene where Thomas appears from out of the wilderness and captures a goat is classic and will remain etched in the minds of fans forever. Thilakan is another great actor cast in a typical role. That of the father. His style is exceptional and does an impressive role as that of a harsh schoolmaster with mixed feelings of fondness and hatred for his son and his behaviour. The film does feature comedy and this is the movie with the classic scenes where Mohanlal beats up a police officer and finally removes his 'mundu' and tries to choke him. The fight scenes are typical though and the role of the witty and smart rowdy is done impeccably well by Mohanlal. Overall the film is exemplary of Lal at his violent best. Though not his best piece of work, it doesn't fails to draw applause. And as Rasikan goes, 'Spadikathe thomachane kandavano marakuvilla'.
Extreme Force (2001)
This is pathetic and an utter waste of time!!!!
It was last night that I got around to seeing this film. I expected something of a martial arts fest and I was right. But what was utterly disappointing was that it was topped off with so much useless garbage that I barely could keep watching. Michael Qissi, though he does and OK job with the stunt choreography, should not direct. He lacks the capability to direct others and the cinematography was totally sick. It is clearly evident that the guy had no proper experience directing a good movie. One thing props up in my mind every time I think about the film, the betrayal. The leads character is betrayed at the beginning of the story, a shot to the heart. However, instead of treating it with certain horror to it, the guy openly touches his wound and rather than show himself the blood, he holds it out for others to see, that too at full arms length. The martial arts are not too shabby but I was disappointed to find out that most of Qissi's martial arts focused on the sheer strength of the fighter. It is a well known fact, since the late Bruce Lee's time, that it does not matter how strong the opponent is, It matters how you quick you react and how fast you can move. Overall, I see that the movie is not for me nor for any fan of the true spirit of martial arts. However, if you want a story that can show you all the violence you want coupled with some extremely bad acting and direction, this should be at the top of your pick.
Gangs of New York (2002)
EXCELLENT!!!
This has to be one of the best movies I have ever seen. Daniel Day-Lewis gives an excellent performance as William Cutting. So good was his performance that I believed he would win the Best actor Oscar that year which unfortunately went to Adrian Brody. Martin Scorsese has done a brilliant piece of work on this film and I should rate this as amongst his best works yet. I do believe that the ongoing romance between diCaprio and Diaz did not particularly enhance the viewing spectacle, I see it more as a vice than as a virtue. "The Butcher" was portrayed brilliantly especially at places where he himself was supposed to act to the mob around him. his capricious behaviour combined with deadly accuracy of his aim was remarkably portrayed.