SAMTHEBESTEST Reviews

Murder, He Says (1945)

George Marshall gives a "glowing" touch to "The Ghostbusters (1940) days, minus Bob Hope hysteria.

[7/10 · 3 June 2024]

Murder, He Says (1945) : Brief Review -

George Marshall gives a "glowing" touch to "The Ghostbusters" (1940) days, minus Bob Hope hysteria. Remember James Whale's classic gothic horror-comedy "Old Dark House" (1932) and Bob Hope's "The Cat and the Canary" and "The Ghostbusters"? Murder, He Says is something like that, but you have no Bab Hope going hysterical with his trademark chatter and jokes. Of course, you can't have Fred MacMurray as his replacement, but this wasn't even supposed to be one of those comparisons. Look at it as a fresh film, and you have a super entertainer in front of your eyes. Murder, He Says is a mix of murder mystery and comedy, and then you have a slight touch of horror as well. MacMurray plays a trotter poller, looking for one of his colleagues who went missing. He goes to the haunted-like house of the nutty and murderous Fleagles family and finds himself in a jam. A dying granny tells him a secret of $70, 000 of bank loot, and he can't make a head or tail out of it. Bonnie, a jailbird who has had a successful jailbreak, is after the money and arrives at the house at the right time. Wait, do we have a real Bonnie? Let's not spoil the fun. So, things get mixed up in the house, and the search for money turns the family members against each other. Meanwhile, fake Bonnie has her own agenda, and we have a scientist with a powerful glowing liquid to make things mystical and intriguing. The script, the screenplay, and the character fit well in the funny mess together, and we certainly enjoy the chaos. Seeing Fred MacMurray in such a funny role was a big surprise to me. I have always seen him in intense and classy roles. Helen Walker brought that Bonnie accent well, but the character wasn't well-written. Marjorie Main was deadly, and Jean Heather sounded cutely dumb. Marshall's trademark scenes were visible here. He actually made them look different and did quite well there. Overall, a healthy entertainer.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)

A typical family revenge western from the near ending golden days.

[7/10 · 31 May 2024]

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) : Brief Review -

A typical family revenge western from the near ending golden days. The 60s was the last decade to have quality western dramas with all that old-school drama, which actually started this genre way back in the 1930s. The Sons of Katie Elder is a revenge drama with a typical storyline, but the characters add some depth to it. The film is about the 4 sons of a dead woman, who return to the town for her funeral and find out that their mother's land was snatched before she had to move out of her place just ahead of her death. They later find out about the cheating their father had gone through when he lost the land in a card game. While these 4 seek nothing but revenge, a neighbouring woman tells them about their mother's wishes. More killings only lead to more killings, she says, and the eldest brother has a change of heart. At the same moment, the antagonist is planning to put them in a jam to save his neck, and then it becomes a perfect conspirational drama. It's a well-written screenplay, as we see things moving forward at a good pace, and all the happenings are genuine. A slight bushing of romance was visible, but thank God, they didn't touch it and kept the narrative about the four brothers, the villains, and the sheriffs. A few scenes go wrong methodically, but nothing out of mainstream proportion. The Duke plays the eldest one here, and he has done great justice to his role. He had that charisma, that attitude, and the style needed for someone to look like a man with no competition, but at the same time, he had to be sensible, tactical, and lenient while making good decisions in tight moments. Sadly, George Kennedy's role was cut short, whereas James Gregory shined as the main antagonist. The other actors have done well, and the direction of Henry Hathaway was pretty nice. What this film lacked was one memorable sequence and a few intellectual dialogues. Nevertheless, a solid Western.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Summertime (1955)

Another version of the classic "Brief Encounter" by Master David Lean in gorgeous and romantic Venice

[6/10 · 30 May 2024]

Summertime (1955) : Brief Review -

Another version of the classic "Brief Encounter" by Master David Lean in gorgeous and romantic Venice. If you have seen Lean's classic tale of tragic romance, Brief Encounter, then I have a spoiler for you. Just switch the gender of the person who leaves at the end. The train is there too, but instead of a refreshment room, we have a direct goodbye by the couple, with a bleak farewell. Summertime is set in Venice and is more focused on Venice than the ultimate fact of romance. I am not saying the romance is not there; it is there, but the essential explanation and detailing are missing. In Brief Encounter, we have several moments that define the romance between the couple and the bad consequences it can have on their personal and married lives. Summertime lacks that because one character is married and one is not. That makes it difficult to stand as a sensible film. A middle-aged girl, Jane, arrives in Venice and is stunned by its beauty. Feeling lonely all the time, she sees a man staring at her. After a while, they get acquainted and begin a passionate affair. Even though Jane knows that her trip may end sooner or later, she does not hesitate to carry on with this joyful affair. However, her dreamy romance turns into a nightmare when she learns that her boyfriend, Renato, is married. That was kind of predictable, looking at his age and the fact that he was living in Venice. "In Italy, things are different," he says, and I ask myself, "How much, bro?". Having an affair with a married man (separated) can't be okay for an American girl or even an Italian girl if we are looking at it as a serious affair and not a platonic thing. Lean didn't bother about making some more sense like he did for Brief Encounter, or else even this one would have been a great film like that one. Nevertheless, more than just a watchable affair.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Designing Woman (1957)

Does not disappoint mysogynists and feminists both in a healthy after-marriage comedy.

[7/10 · 30 May 2024]

Designing Woman (1957) : Brief Review -

Does not disappoint mysogynists and feminists both in a healthy after-marriage comedy. We have become used to the idea of two people falling in love and getting married quickly. After marriage, they realize that their friends, jobs, and lives differ a lot. It doesn't make much difference as long as they are in love with each other. But the love is threatened when they both learn about their previous lovers. Now, that's a game, and we have seen it in many movies over the years. Let's give it to Vincente Minnelli's "Designing Woman" for cherishing the idea for us. It is such a pleasant film, even though we have something like a previous affair in it. Mike, a sports journalist, meets, falls in love with, and marries Marilla, a fashion designer. Marilla earns more and is very posh, whereas Mike's life is a bit adventurous and lacks tidiness. Nevertheless, both love each other very much. Marilla receives a wedding gift from one of our clients who wanted to marry her. This makes Mike a bit jealous. On the other hand, Marilla suspects Mike of having an affair with an actress. Taking the mess forward, the actress, the client, and Marilla are working together on a project, raising Marilla's suspicion. Will they both be able to clean this mess up? Designing Woman is a clean family entertainer with no vulgarity or double-meaning jokes involved. Gregory Peck has done a good job as a surviving husband, while Lauren Bacall looked glamorous as his wife. In a few scenes, her face looked manlike, and I was shocked by it. I noticed the same thing about Dolores Gray. Mickey Shaughnessy played the hilarious and crazy part of Maxie. This two-hour film keeps you engaged and thoroughly entertained. Vincente Minnelli has made a sweet little gem of a comedy that certainly needs a higher buzz in today's times.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Nothing Sacred (1937)

Nothing special about Wellman's screwball comedy, even with Carole Lombard's typical hysterical chatter.

[5/10 · 29 May 2024]

Nothing Sacred (1937) : Brief Review -

Nothing special about Wellman's screwball comedy, even with Carole Lombard's typical hysterical chatter. Just a year before this, Carole Lombard starred in "My Man Godfrey" (1936), which is perhaps her most memorable comedy ever. That chatterbox character never looked so funny and dangling. She carries the same chattering accent here and tries to save this comedy, but alas. There is no enough substance in the end to make a good comedy. Wellman's comedy is about a journalist who is blamed for fake news and now wants to redeem himself. He learns about a girl who is dying of radium poisoning. However, just before he meets her, she learns that she has nothing to worry about. Yet, she goes to New York with the journalist just to get rid of her boring life in her small town. She becomes a sensation, a public hero, and an idol for every citizen of the city. As expected, the journalist and she fall in love, but what would they both do to hide the fact that she is not dying after all and the public will lynch them for playing with their feelings? Nothing Sacred seemed like a decent comedy in the first half, but it doesn't have a substantial storyline in the second half. The climax looks too stupid to believe. The only good thing about this film has to be Carole Lombard and Fredric March's performances. They couldn't share the chemistry because the narrative hardly has any scenes for them to romance each other, except that one kissing scene in the dark beside the river. The film feels depressive on occasions, but some of those crying scenes are funny too. It was too early to crack the idea of a comedy out of a dying person, and everyone around it is only weeping, so it was a fair attempt. William Wellman could have worked more on the story and gotten the climax right, and then it would have ended up as a "good comedy." For now, I'd say it's an average affair.

RATING - 5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Double Wedding (1937)

The old madness of a true screwball rom-com that got the brilliant "Yumphs."

[7/10 · 28 May 2024]

Double Weeding (1937) : Brief Review -

The old madness of a true screwball rom-com that got the brilliant "Yumphs." I didn't know the meaning of yumphs, nor did I hear the word before watching this movie, but now I'll remember it forever. This is a true screwball comedy from the golden age of Hollywood, which certainly hasn't gotten its due over the years. I am a huge fan of 1930s screwball comedies, as I believe they set the stage for films to follow for years, and I don't need to tell you how popular the same mad comedies and rom-coms are, even today. This film has a mad plot with an illogical conflict that I'd care to forgive and go ahead with. The two people who lie about loving each other seemed too dumb about that one thing. Rest, every character has a nasty feel, and one or two got true philosophical sense. One such scene is the conversation between Lodge's ex-wife and Margit. "So he married you for your money?" asks Margit. "No. He left me for my money," answers Claire Lodge. That was some conversion. Mr. Lodge made a very likeable character for her. A free-spirited artist with no future is just living in the present. On the other hand, he is mingled with an exact opposite character-a rich and overly disciplined girl. Irene and Waldo are those stupid fellas you'd want to see in every screwball comedy, and I personally believe that such films are incomplete without such characters. I only think that the film was rushed in parts. The romance between Lodge and Margit deserved some more space, and I missed Lodge's philosophical advice to Margit too. Powell and Loy made a lovely pair yet again, and I am not sure how many times I have said this same thing before. Richard Thorpe's rom-com is honest to its genre, a complete screwball, nutty rom-com, and therefore a must-see for those who know this genre inside out. However, he missed a chance at a classic rom-com by a step or two, I guess.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Malliswari (2004)

"It Happened One Night" Indianised in K. Vijaya Bhaskar style. Belongs to those rom-coms that they don't make anymore nowadays.

[7/10 · 28 May 2024]

Malliswari (2004) : Brief Review -

"It Happened One Night" Indianised in K. Vijaya Bhaskar style. Belongs to those rom-coms that they don't make anymore nowadays. Bhaskar's filmography is full of remakes, and Malliswari just happens to be one, but unofficially and differs in parts. I enjoyed his Nuvvu Naaku Nachav, which wasn't a remake of any film, but I could see a lot of references from other movies. K. Vijaya Bhaskar knew the pals of Telugu audiences, especially family audiences, so he served them with his cinematic knowledge of commercial entertainers (clean entertainers too). We all know Frank Capra's timeless cult, "It Happened One Night" (1934)-Hindi audiences know it from "Chori Chori" (1956) or "Dil Hain Ke Maanta Nahin" (1991). Now, just remove a few elements here and there from the original, add Indian masala as per requirements, and you have your "Malliswari" ready. The girl is a princess, just like it was in the original, but the boy doesn't know about it until the first half is over. In the original, the boy knows it, and that's why he is with her. During the trip, they fall in love, and the girl realizes how important he is to her. The boy isn't after money; he saves her life, and she finally runs away from her wedding and all that.. You know all the stuff already, so I won't spoil much. The action and villain angles are new here, and that's why it makes a perfect family entertainer. Some emotional scenes do carry you away. I liked that one when Balu, the chauffeur, shows his respect towards Prasad and asks him to leave because he thinks that this man is too big for these small-hearted people. In reply, Prasad says, "You can ask for interest after lending money, but you cannot ask for thanks after helping someone." It won my heart there. Then, there was a typical speech by Malliswari, and it really worked on emotional levels. Overall, a nice adaptation of an iconic rom-com and a healthy comedy, if not a complete remake.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Presenting Lily Mars (1943)

Norman Taurog could have given a pathbreaking ending to the old "actor's" tale, but alas..

[6/10 · 28 May 2024]

Presenting Lily Mars (1943) : Brief Review -

Norman Taurog could have given a pathbreaking ending to the old "actor's" tale, but alas.. Presenting Lily Mars is the same old story of a girl aspiring to be a stage actress but isn't getting the chance. In a few films from the 30s, we saw the girl getting a supporting role, and then at the end, she gets the main role because the arrogant main actress has left the show. Lily Mars is the same girl here, and there is another same old angle of romance with the hero/maker of the show. Nothing new here, but the same tale is told in a funny manner here, which keeps you entertained. What Presenting Lily Mars does different from others is that it allows itself to go with a negative end, which makes it more logical than our typical happy endings. The girl is rejected for the role towards the end, and she is feeling low. But the director/her lover advises her to stay and take her old role back. "Do that maid's part like no one had ever done on the stage," he says, and I was clapping all the time for 5 seconds. As expected, she returns, making it a damn good film with an offbeat but more sensible ending. However, the next 5 minutes have the same old happy ending, and we are left with a typical watchable film after promising a pathbreaking theory of hard work (it would have destroyed nepotism too). I wish the film had ended there with that kiss and "Lily Mars" intro segment instead of her own grand show, and then, I would have called it a must-see. But alas... It goes on to be a typical, funny, and entertaining rom-com drama. Judy Garland with that hairdo was slightly better than her regular roles at the time. I haven't seen much of Van Heflin, so I'd say he was okay. Marta Eggerth was that arrogant main actress I was talking about, but even she had a nice change of heart at the end. Norman Taurog has directed many of my favorite flicks, so this was an easy job for him. This was more of a Ziegfield show than a Taurog show.

RATING - 6.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

A tragic love story of an Eurasian girl and an American man amidst war

[7/10 · 27 May 2024]

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955) : Brief Review -

A tragic love story of an Eurasian girl and an American man amidst war. You know it's better to have your story set in a difficult time rather than using the difficult period as the major conflict to turn the story around. Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing is set during the Korean War and tells the story of an Eurasian girl trying to tackle the social norm of her identity. An American man falls in love with her, and they begin a passionate romance. Now, what bad could happen to them if you had to make surroundings look real and rational? Let's have it: the man is married, and his wife won't divorce him. The woman is a widow but won't give up her nationality or profession. Now that's some battle for a love story. They both have to find a getaway, which is, of course, a marriage, but what if destiny has different plans? They are ready to fight society and live happily as a married couple, but there is a lot that comes before getting married. Duty calls! That's one of the major scenarios here for both characters, and it looks plausible. There are typically romantic but breezy scenes, with the background music making them look mesmerizing. Some dialogues are too good. "If we didn't believe the unbelievable, what would happen to faith?" "So you're a reporter?" Asks she. He replies, "Please. A correspondent." "What's the difference?" He hits, "About $100 a week." I mean, just wow. Both characters are mature and educated (a doctor and a journalist), so we don't see any immature or illicit things or love affairs here. It's a love story for adults who believe that love is not just about the sex appeal and kisses the characters share on the screen but about the words and philosophies they discuss. William Holden was fortunate to have been part of some brilliant love stories that had tragic and meaningful endings in his time. Jennifer Jones looked good and did well. Henry King can always write his book with this movie in the first 10 pages.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Like Father, Like Son (2013)

Too many nuances of parenthood's ego, dignity, love, and expectations destroyed in a subtle family drama

[7/10 · 27 May 2024]

Soshite Chichi ni Naru / Like Father Like Son (2013) : Brief Review -

Too many nuances of parenthood's ego, dignity, love, and expectations destroyed in a subtle family drama. Like Father, Like Son reminded me of some of those parenthood tales I have been adoring for years, but for a big change, instead of one, we have two fathers, two mothers, and two sons here. That makes it different and more advanced. There are too many nuances to notice, and unfortunately, most of them will be overlooked by the audience because not all of them are verbal. The biggest plot twist in the film is the biological identity of the child. For me, the film isn't about it. It may be the major conflict of the narrative, but the actual potential of this moving drama is unfolded by small small nuances the writer and the director have captured through child characters. The child switch was too common, and it was easy to guess that the child wouldn't be happy with his biological father after all and would return to his parental father. Despite this highly predictable plot, the film manages to uplift itself from regular drama as it delves deep into human emotions and instant character changes that have no intelligent thoughts. "Now it all makes sense" was a dialogue that destroyed three lives in 2 secs. The father, who suddenly realizes why his child is not like him; the mother, who was receiving taunts already but is finally angry about it; and third, the child, who isn't aware of the egoistic character change his father and mother are going through. Having one family rich and the other poor, with the regular idea of "happiness can't be bought with money," felt pretty good here. The structure of a restricted family and an unrestricted, big family is explained very well. The only problem with the film is that the drastic and desiring change in the characters doesn't reach its peak or limit. The father wanted both sons and didn't really seem to understand what he was doing. A few things like these remain unexplored, but excluding that, you have a buffet full of unseen nuances here.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Pirate (1948)

Judy Garland and Gene Kelly's underrated romantic musical will hypnotize you with its colorful romance, the pirate, the Caribbean, and enchanting setups

[7/10 · 25 May 2024]

The Pirate (1948) : Brief Review -

Judy Garland and Gene Kelly's underrated romantic musical will hypnotize you with its colorful romance, the pirate, the Caribbean, and enchanting setups. The Pirate has to be one of those colorful rom-coms that hasn't gotten its due. It did not bother the reputation of Vincente Minnelli since he has many classics to his name, but it's better to receive praise for something that's deserving than what's overhyped. You know it happens sometimes that you are watching a movie and you start predicting what's gonna happen next. Actually, you want those things to happen, and they actually happen in the movie. That satisfaction is something else. The Pirate gave me that satisfaction as a movie viewer. It may be that old formula of rom-coms, Don Juan, and Robinhood stuff, but the writer has tweaked it very nicely. Usually, we see the girl not knowing the real personality of the man she loves, and the man is actually the man of her dreams. That dream-come-true part comes in the ending to make things happy and cheerful, but in this movie, we have a twist to that old but adorable theory. The girl here is fooled by the man of her dreams, but the actual man of her dreams is worse than this man. That's a metaphor too, if you see it in depth. The musical numbers are enchanting, and the comedy factor works too. Garland was a beauty with a voice, and that's why there was no one like her at her age. She was sensational and will forever be. How gorgeous she looked here! Gene Kelly has another great role that's more in the female-friendly zone. Quite similar to some of his memorable roles and movies, but still something different. Vincente Minnelli has created a joyous musical romance that can lift your mood on any off day. The Pirate and the Caribbean were never so lovable with false identities. Sometimes reality is more beautiful than fantasy. The Pirate proved it with a lighthearted show.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Easy Rider (1969)

Hollywood's new wave cinema attempt at communal, druggist, and problematic social change.

[7/10 · 25 May 2024]

Easy Rider (1969) : Brief Review -

Hollywood's new wave cinema attempt at communal, druggist, and problematic social change. Easy Rider is exactly opposite of what we call an inspiring film. This is devastating. The film compiles several youth problems without a short narrative that takes form through a road trip. Two bikers carry drugs to New Orleans, and they pass through several situations that reflect the social problems of the new era. First, they are joined by a hippie hitchhiker. Hippie was a new counter-cultural phenomenon back then. The women in their town openly move their attention and advances from their men to these new fellas. These two leave the town with LSD and are put behind bars for entering the parade. They meet George, discuss the American Civil Liberties Union, and are freed from jail. Then they go to the brothel and spend time with two hookers. The LSD they were carrying is finally used by these four, and we see one of the most difficult and challenging segments of moviemaking, led by an unorthodox and non-aligned storyline and experimental cinematography. What happens in the last scene shouldn't be revealed here, but I must say the truck passenger didn't really make any sense to me. I've cut 1* from the final rating for that illogical action taken by a truck passenger. Easy Rider is definitely not an easy film for American people who are rooted in their culture and traditions. It's a new look at society, and it's damn painful too. Those devastating facts can't be accepted, but we have to accept their existence since we are part of the same society. The screenplay and cinematography are far from mainstream cinema style. I'd rather call them pathbreaking, even though there was nothing much in the storyline. Dennis Hopper's independent road trip challenges many movie codes in Hollywood, so it's definitely not for regular viewers. It leaves you stunned, for sure.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Do the Right Thing (1989)

A bold statement on racism and the conflict between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Essence-wise, surpasses Robert Wise's "West Side Story."

[7/10 · 24 May 2024]

Do The Right Thing (1989) : Brief Review -

A bold statement on racism and the conflict between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Essence-wise, surpasses Robert Wise's "West Side Story." The film ends with two text quotes: One is of Malcolm X, in which he talks about killing someone in self-defense, and one is of Martin Luther King, which talks about how an eye for an eye makes everyone blind. Two different mindsets, but that's how society behaves. We meet both kinds of people in our lives who follow either ideology, and Do The Right Thing is about that conflict. Racism has been one of the major issues in America, and we have seen many movies exploring those factual errors of humanity. Here is one more, but this one's effective too. Set in a hot summer, the film explores a Brooklyn neighborhood's simmering racial tension between its African-American residents and the Italian-American owners of a local pizzeria. Even though those black people like the white man's pizzas, some of them are jealous. Those few jealous people cause a tragedy and violence that does not only destroy peace and lives but also leaves us with so many questions about dead humanity. The screenplay is pacy, and the use of rap and music gives it a modern touch. A lot of F words do feel irritating sometimes, but that shouldn't be a problem because this film is only for mature audiences. West Side Story dealt with a similar issue and also had a tragedy in the end, but that was a love story (based on Romeo & Juliet). Do The Right Thing is a powerful social drama with devastating visuals of human activities. The performances were impressive, and so was the camera work. Spike Lee did it again with his favorite theme, "racism." All black people and some white people in America must be grateful to him forever for his work. The money scene in the end is an ugly mirror of society. Don't miss.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Mad Action, But No Max Entertainment

[5/10 · 24 May 2024]

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) Review -

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga marks George Miller's return to the Mad Max franchise as he brings a prequel to his 2015 mad action classic, Mad Max: Fury Road. You can forget the first three Mad Max movies featuring Mel Gibson, and you can even forget Fury Road in case you are worried about the timelines and characters of Furiosa. Fury Road had some breathtaking and magnificent action set pieces and stunts that blew my mind almost a decade ago. Miller made the best Mad Max movie ever without a hard storyline, and he attempts a similar thing with the prequel, only to fall short by miles. Miller and Miles-what a combination I've found there! Furiosa has some brilliant action blocks that leave you in thrills, but we are used to them since Miller served us the same dish in 2015, which was fresh and new back then. Today, it felt repetitive, and again, the writing dried out in the first half only.

A young Furiosa is abducted from her homeland, known as an abundance place, by members of the Horde of the Biker Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). He trades her with Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), the leader of the Citadel, in exchange for food, water, and oil. Years later, Dememtus' people are turned rogue and are on the verge of killing each other due to a shortage of food and oil, and he demands an increase in supply from Joe. Growing up, Furiosa seeks revenge and is trained as a warrior and a soldier by Jack. Will she be able to finish Dementus and save herself from Joe?

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a lengthy revenge saga that feels too stretched in the second half. It was a simple revenge drama, unnecessarily pulled to the point where it became a boring saga. There are flaws. Yes, many of them. One such flaw was Furiosa leaving Dementus hanging on the machine when she could have easily killed him. It takes her the next 30 minutes to repeat a similar attack, and that too without a left hand. That seemed too silly for a revenge drama in 2024. A similar mistake was made in the beginning when young Furiosa returned for her mother as if she were going to save her, abandoning her own mother's orders and plans. Towards the end, we hear about a 40-day war of wasteland, but unfortunately, the screenplay writer and director both did not bother to show us that, which could have been the grandest action sequence in the entire movie. On the positive side, we have terrific action blocks at the pre-climax and pre-interval points that deserve to be seen on a large screen format like IMAX.

Anya Taylor-Joy finally appears in the movie after the first hour is over. That's less screen time compared to what Christ has here, and the funny thing is that the movie is titled after her name, Furiosa. Anyway, she was good in her role. It was unlikely to see her in gorgeous and glamorous avatars, but let me tell you, she did look scary enough with the black rubbing on her forehead. Chris Hemsworth plays an antagonist with humor. His English, his accent, his actions, his decisions-everything is somewhat immature, yet he feels dangerous. The make-up was visible in how they wanted to make him look a little different from the actual Chris. Lachy Hulme as Immorta Joe is the most frightening face in Furiosa, and I wish he had more screen space (which wasn't possible because he played the main villain in the sequel). Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, John Howard, Charlee Fraser, Angus Sampson, Jacob Tomuri, Daniel Webber, and others have done pretty okay in the supporting roles.

Simon Duggan has provided excellent cinematography for Furiosa: A Mad Max. We see some close angles that take your breath away, while those dusty and speedy chase sequences put your eyes at work by not letting your attention move anywhere. The background score goes too loud in some scenes, but the rest of the time it was pretty good. Furiosa follows a similar set design as Mad Max Fury Road, or rather a little dull comparatively, but it looks lavish and grand. The first frame of Charlee Fraser (Mary), when she rides away to save her daughter, and the camera goes wide and backwards to show us the full picturesque design of an abundance place. The same could have been done during the war sequence, but... they missed it. The visual effects are good, and IMAX viewing is mandatory in order to have a close look at those beautiful visuals. George Miller is widely known for the Mad Max franchise, and he has made it popular globally. Moreover, the Mad Max franchise has given him popularity all over the world. None of his other films are that kind of mad action movie, nor do any of his other films have a similar impact as Mad Max 2 and Fury Road. If you see the pattern, he has made one memorable film and then gone down with the next movie. Fury Road was a peak point, and so Furiosa is, what can I say, a step or two lower than the standard he set for himself and us viewers. He could have made it better, much sharper, faster, and more entertaining. If you are expecting the same magic as Fury Road, then you'll be disappointed. If not, you have a decent watch.

RATING - 5/10*

Atlas (2024)

Human intelligence and artificial intelligence sync well in this explosive sci-fi action saga

[6/10 · 24 May 2024]

Atlas (2024) : Movie Review -

Atlas, starring Jennifer Lopez, brings Brad Peyton back in action. One must realize that Jlo on stage is different, and Jlo on screen is different. The stage one will always be far superior, and the on-screen Jlo may not go well with many cine-viewers. Atlas is Peyton's version of Transformers and Avatar clashing with each other in an AI-driven futuristic universe. The disaster lover Peyton goes dystopian but brings more emotions and explosions alongside his regular mainstream tantrums of entertainment. Jlo fit well in the suit; I don't know how, and I did not even expect it, but it happened, and for our own good. Lopez immerses herself in the character, and despite that "you are looking old" taunt, she manages to look fit and somewhat sexy without any skin exposed. In short, Atlas makes a fairly entertaining watch for action-drama lovers who can digest some holy-smokin theories of a futuristic AI world.

The film begins with Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez) waking up in an AI-driven world and speaking to even more superior software than Alexa. She is a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, which was caused by a painful trauma in her childhood. What's that? We get to know later, of course. Harlan (Simu Liu) is an AI robot who has been planning to wipe out humanity and bring new mankind into this world for years. Colonel Banks (Sterling K. Brown) is off to find him and destroy him, but he needs someone intelligent like Atlas to be with him. Atlas believes that she should be on this mission because she knows Harlan better than anybody else could and that he is smarter than any of them humans. She joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. When plans go awry, her only hope of saving the future of humanity from AI is to trust it and go in for 100% syncing.

In exactly two hours, Atlas hardly has any larger-than-life theory in its storyline. It's simple, and in this case, that helps. You can't get too complicated with AI theories because that's totally fictional and might cause the audience to lose human connect. Atlas keeps things pacy and engaging, so you don't really want to move from your sofa. As expected, it gets a bit dramatic and cliched by the end, but not to the level of a headache. Shepherd's physical and emotional connect with Smith, the AI suit, is typically sorted, but you feel their bonding. The friendship is there, and we, as humans, can't hate that thing ever. It may remind you of Stephen Lang's colonel Miles from Cameron's "Avatar" (2009), with the only difference being that he was an antagonist, and here Shepherd is in the positive role.

Jennifer Lopez has surprised me with her acting skills here. I guess many of you will agree with me when I say that her discography is much better than her filmography. Her singing and dancing skills are better than her acting skills. Despite being a firm believer in these two things, I liked her as an actor in this film. Now you can imagine the impact she has created here. Those emotionally tormenting scenes were too good. The neural sync with Smith was definitely amazing. I didn't fall for her hot figure and face, but her personality and tech-savvy conversations really won me over. Simu Liu made a perfect villain, but his screen space was too low. It happens with many non-human villains; they are deadly, but they can't be like humans. Sterling K. Brown played a fine colonel, and so did Mark Strong. Abraham Popoola's Casca Robo was fairly good, and Lana Parrilla did an excellent job in her small role.

Talking about action, Atlas isn't an upgraded flick or too modern about it, but it definitely has those traditional set pieces that you enjoy on any off day. I think they could have made the futuristic war weapons more dangerous and lethal rather than just using an ION bomb and fire shots. Simu's use of the Rings MCU looked far more futuristic than the sword he used here as a robot in the future world. Also, the film lacks some heavy punchlines. Maybe because there was no male protagonist. The macho stuff was missing; even though Smith added something of its own, it wasn't enough. The explosions were entertaining and pleasant. The production design and background score were okay. Atlas' camerawork doesn't offer anything new since it is set in an AI world; all we have are those same close-ups during fight sequences and top views of forests, robots, and fighter planes. Those who know Brad Peyton for Journey 2, San Andreas, and Rampage will get what they are looking for here. He just changed the world, not his ideas. He may be stuck to them, but that's fairly enough to pass your two hours on Netflix.

RATING - 6/10*

Oopiri (2016)

Vamshi Paidipally's well-attempted copy-paste of the French flick "The Intouchables," despite not being his territory.

[6/10 · 23 May 2024]

Oopiri (2016) : Brief Review -

Vamshi Paidipally gets out of his territory for a well-attempted copy-paste of the French flick "The Intouchables." Vamshi Paidipally gets out of his territory for a well-attempted copy-paste of the French flick "The Intouchables." Vamshi, known for action and masala movies, entered a different territory with Oopiri/Thozha. He could dare because it was easier to borrow an acclaimed film than make a fresh one. One of the biggest plus points for the French flick was having a white man with a black man, giving it a racism boost to align social notions with humanity. Oopiri couldn't do it. The only thing it could do was have a rich man and a poor man. That was too outdated. Next, the humor wasn't intelligent. Of course, Telugu and Tamil audiences wouldn't understand that. For them, Vamshi's attempt to create a sensible film was a welcome change from his usual masala flicks. Tamannaah was a perfect choice. She looked breathtaking. I mean, gorgeous as hell/heaven (mind the expression). Having Karthi opposite her somehow made things comparable to what The Intouchables did with a black man and a sext secretary. Nagarjuna was the leading man and did fine, but nothing extraordinary. The one change I saw in the film was Anushka Shetty's character. In the original flick (which was inspired by true characters), the man had lost his wife in that accident, so the trauma was even more difficult to forget. Here, we have the same old cliche of a disabled man avoiding a beautiful girl to stop her from doing her injustice. "Love Affair" established that conflict back in 1937-79 years before Vamshi could use it (not to mention so many remakes of that iconic romance). Oopiri borrows enough to make you smile and bring tears to your eyes, so it makes a decent remake, if not great. Since Tamil and Telugu people are not heavily exposed to international cinema, I can understand why they overhyped Oopiri. No complaints; it was better than the other outdated masala stuff they usually overrate.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Tin Star (1957)

Mann's Western teaches about gunfighting beyond "shooting," as the man learns the power of "The Tin Star."

[7/10 · 23 May 2024]

The Tin Star (1957) : Brief Review -

Mann's Western teaches about gunfighting beyond "shooting," as the man learns the power of "The Tin Star." Anthony Mann's westerns are always driven by machoism, far from temporary effects. The man in his movies is like an idol. Here, we have two for a change. One is experienced, and the other is learning. However, by the end, the learned one learns something from the learning one, while the learning one has learned his lessons. Doesn't that sound amazing to you? Even while writing/reading, it feels so magical, no? So, The Tin Star sees a bounty hunter, Morgan Hickman, arrive in a small town to collect a reward for a man's killing. The town has a newly appointed sheriff with no gun experience or any other skills except morals. The new sheriff, Ben, is saved by Morgan from a hooligan in the town, and then Ben asks him to stay and teach him about gunfighting. "There is more to gun fighting than just gun and shooting," says Morgan, and we men feel so proud of it. If you don't, you ain't a man-a real one, I mean. While Ben is learning his lessons, two Indian shooters kill a couple of the town's men, and then a mob is off to kill them. Ben, being morally obsessed, wants to catch those Indians alive and give them a fair trial. Will it be possible for an inexperienced fella against the mob? Mann's Western is about a man learning about morals and one major thing that comes out of Morgan's mouth: "the job." Where he went, why did he go? We don't get those answers, and it was bleak too, but it doesn't matter much. The point is that Morgan and Ben have both learned something that's beyond guns and shooting. Talk about versatility, and see how Fonda did The Tin Star and 12 Angry Men in the same year. Anthony Perkins was top-notch, and so were the others. The cinematography and screenplay were both great. Mann's direction is superb, even though the last 10 minutes looked rushed.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

Rob Reiner's tribute to Woody Allen's theories in a sophisticated manner.

[6/10 · 23 May 2024]

When Harry Met Sally (1989) : Brief Review -

Rob Reiner's tribute to Woody Allen's theories in a sophisticated manner. I don't know where it came to my mind, but almost every scene of Reiner's When Harry Met Sally reminded me of those Woody Allen's movies that spoke about romance, sex, and relationships. Allen was damn allegorical and brutal about it, whereas Reiner made it sort of sophisticated, that is, with the use of the sex word again and again and in more likely rom-com fashion. The outcome wasn't satisfying, hence the entire narrative and the entire process of those two characters knowing, liking, and avoiding each other went in vain. I mean, a happy ending wasn't something to look out for in the late 80s and definitely not appropriate for such a film, which was talking about relationships in intelligent and weird manners right from the beginning. "A man and a woman can never be friends" was the tagline, or rather, a question. Then why go mainstream and typical to find the answer? You were speaking of Casablanca (1942) having a great ending and the best last line for a movie ever, and you didn't learn anything from it? Did Casablanca have a happy ending? Imagine Ilsa running back to Rick instead of getting on the plane, and then they kiss and live happily ever after. Would that have made Casablanca iconic? A big and capital NO. Then don't tell me When Harry Met Sally is iconic or anywhere close to that. I'd have preferred a negative, or rather an intellectual, ending with Harry and Sally being friends forever and happily married to different partners. Harry was speaking about men, women, sex, bed, and love so frequently and easily, then what made him go dramatic and soft about it all of a sudden? We liked him that way, so don't destroy his image for us. Sally, too, was so smart, then became desperate and jealous of her own ideology. Enough said I guess, WHMS had its own high moments and its own dumb falls, so it's better to call it a decent-to-good watch, especially after watching so much of Allen Cinema.

RATING - 6.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Bull Durham (1988)

A decent baseball sex comedy for a minor-league audience.

[6/10 · 21 May 2024]

Bull Durham (1988) : Brief Review -

A decent baseball sex comedy for a minor-league audience. Bull Durham is a funny sex comedy that lacks depth in the storytelling and enough substance to be called one of the "AFI's 100 years 100 laughs" list movies, so I'd like to kick an aas of the man who put it there. A movie genius like Kevin Costner was made a sex doll and I don't mind seeing a handsome and sexually appealing man like getting a sexy role, but where is the genuineness? He was halfly paired with Susan Sarandon, a woman, who is even worse than sex doll or a female ascot. I thought, why would a sensible man like Crash (Costner) wait for a woman who is changing sex partners every baseball season? Wouldn't a half-brained man go for a new girl with less bed records? Then, you have to think about the entire movie as a comedy, a sex comedy to be more precise, and then you start enjoying it for a while. Then, you have to forget the whole thing again and get serious about life changing theories, baseball theories, sexual theories and those intellectual quotes that meant nothing to the whole storyline. Wasn't it contradicting the entire plot again? That was the mess this film couldn't get out and it feels more messy with that wannabe intellectual and emotional ending, throwing some bitter life facts on two people who didn't care about it in the first place but are now kneeling down before it. This would make a fine comedy for minor-league audiences who aren't familiar with other cult comedies made over the period of 6 decades before Bull Durham was made. It was for the contemporary cinema lovers, and worked decently according to that. However, i still feel it had a larger potential, which got wasted amidst sex show. Overall, a decent "show" for baseball lovers-not Costner lovers because he has had better films and real classics to his name. Still, it's funny enough to spend 110 minutes.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Hoosiers (1986)

A basketball film with all your favorite cliches that you cannot really miss.

[7/10 · 20 May 2024]

Hoosiers (1986) : Brief Review -

A basketball film with all your favorite cliches that you cannot really miss. It so happens that I had to watch one of the worst sports films ever and one of the best sports films on the same day, back-to-back. The worst one is Challengers (2024), and the latter is, of course, Hoosiers (1986). It isn't a classic tale for me, but it's a close call. Maybe because the 80s had a classic like Chariots of Fire (1981) that dealt with a sensitive topic. Hoosiers was much lighter and somewhat funny too. Recently, Taika Waititi made "Next Goal Wins" (2023), and now I can say it was so similar to this one. Factually speaking, both are inspired by true events, so my statement does not make any sense. However, the similarities are too close to be overlooked. Anyway, David Anspaugh didn't know that Waititi was going to make a similar film after 37 years, with a higher amount of humor and comedy. That's what's missing here, maybe. Set in the early 1950s, Hoosiers tells the story of basketball coach Norman Dale, who is appointed to coach the local rural team, Hickory, in Indiana. With his techniques and sort of unfriendly gestures, he makes a hell of a team, but it turns everyone against him. He is given another chance, and then he brings never-before-seen glory to Hickory. That's a practical story with an engaging screenplay that has every cliche from the textbook. Rather, I'd say some of them were born here. They keep you on the edge of seats, and you hardly have a moment to get up and walk except in some of those slow moments. That could have been avoided, but that'd be like asking too much of debutant David Anspaugh. He has done very well for a newcomer and has almost made a must-see basketball coaching film for ages to come. The performances were fine, but a few unwanted features like romance, drunken dad, and all that could have been avoided.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Frenzy (1972)

A pure directorial masterclass by Alfred Hitchcock. Watch out for the utterly devastating and sub-divisional climax

[7/10 · 20 May 2024]

Frenzy (1972) : Brief Review -

A pure directorial masterclass by Alfred Hitchcock. Watch out for the utterly devastating and sub-divisional climax. Frenzy happens to be one of the last outright thrillers directed by Hitchcock, who has had a glorious run in this genre. It wasn't like anything he hadn't done or that suspenseful, but the framework and his directorial skills were much more advanced this time. All the mystery and suspense stuff was done and dusted with almost a decade ago, so he challenged himself as a director to see the same old things in a new way. That new look and those new lenses are what make Frenzy a must-watch thriller for Hitchcock fans. Also, there is a devastating climax, which appears only for half a minute, and then a typical ending, but the gasping and subdivided effect you feel in that one moment are indeed surreal. It was going to be a dark ending, with some noir stuff used by many film noirs in the 40s and 50s. Unlike them, we don't have a devastating or sad ending, which I personally think would have been better, but it might not have done well with the majority of audiences. Frenzy is also a very sexually and psychologically advanced film by Hitchcock's standards. Not because of nudity, since we have seen that in many films, but because of the way he used those disturbing graphics with a dark background score. The film is about a serial killer who rapes women and then kills them with a necktie. With Alfred at his best, we are fooled by a deception with the first character, followed by a revelation that the murderer is a different man. How to prove it is the main theme here, which also resembles "The Wrong Man" theme. The performances are good, the sexual intensity is high, the screenplay is engaging, the camera work is brilliant, the background score is thrilling, and last but not least, the Hitchcock touch. The director really tried something different with the same old story, and you can feel the change in the wind. Do experience it.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

One of the biggest nostalgia for 90s kids in gender-bending comedy! All hail Robin Williams.

[7/10 · 19 May 2024]

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) : Brief Review -

One of the biggest nostalgia for 90s kids in gender-bending comedy! All hail Robin Williams. This man has had classics and better movies than this, and even a few much more character-driven roles than this, but I tell you, whenever we 90s kids speak about nostalgia about a particular character and that too in a gender-bending comedy, Robin Williams will top the list. What he has done here may be a dream, even for Oscar winners. He has done Dead Poet's Society, Good Morning, Vietnam, Jumanji, and also lent his voice to the iconic Genie in Disney's classic Aladdin, but Mrs. Doubtfire beats them all when it comes to a character with a never-ending impact on 90s kids. The character is based on a fantastic metaphor, actually. I don't know how many of you noticed. A man who couldn't make his woman happy made her happy after becoming a woman. Children weren't bothered much, and that's some silly idea too, to make it look like they think it's a "real character," except the 5-year-old. But even with that flaw, the character stood out brilliantly. Again, some jealousy part was childish too, when you think of a character who is mature enough to understand his place and say, "I'll wait outside." The film could have overcome these few mistakes, but who cares when Robin is running riot on the screen and there is so much fun going on? That happy birthday dinner scene alone is enough to call Mrs. Doubtfire a superb comedy. The inspection scene too, and how freaking, madly amazing Williams was in it. The character comes out as a shock, but never scares you. Rather, it feels warm and cute. That's the power of writing and the actor's conviction skills. "Carpe Dentum. Seize the teeth!" Humour crossed all the limits there. Not to forget the use of old Hollywood actors and movies. Wilder's classic "Some Like It Hot" may be the greatest comedy ever made on a gender-bending theme, but the greatest character will always belong to Mrs. Doubtfire. If you DOUBT it, I'll set your aas on FIRE. I mean it!

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Fantastic Planet (1973)

A French-Czech sci-fi animation that captures enough to compare itself with three giants together: "Planet of the Apes" (1968), "Star Wars" (1977), and "Avatar" (2009).

[7/10 · 17 May 2024]

Fantastic Planet (1973) : Brief Review -

A French-Czech sci-fi animation that captures enough to compare itself with three giants together: "Planet of the Apes" (1968), "Star Wars" (1977), and "Avatar" (2009). By the headline, you must have gotten the idea of what I am talking about. Planet of the Apes is a cult classic that deals with a sci-fi idea set in the future where apes are torturing humans. On the other hand, Star Wars is a sci-fi phenomenon that takes us into alien nations and their flights into space. Believe it or not, Fantastic Planet actually manages to capture enough portions of both films in a single narrative and succeeds in making even a larger picture within 70 minutes. That doesn't mean it's better or even as good as those two Hollywood classics. It's just that the film manages to think about two films at one time and then creates a sensational animation of its own. It's easier to get such things done in animation format since layouts and designs can be of any shape you want. Fantastic Planet's animated characters are somewhat different from other animation films you have seen, be they Disney or others. It's an alien idea, and so it deserves some alien concepts in art design. What you see there is completely unexpected and unseen. Having humans as a play doll for aliens is already an out-of-the-box office thing, and then you see a civil war between them, driven by fictional weapons. It also has that mating session coming out of the box to blow you away. That necklace, remote, mediation, and all that is so creative and so crazy to think about in a sci-fi genre. Then there is a big war, and it's amazing too. René Laloux made his Avatar way before James Cameron could make his. Laloux made an animated feature with a limited scale and vision, while Cameron went larger than life with his magnum opus. As a whole, it's a freaking brilliant and sensational animation film for its time.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Robin Hood (1973)

The iconic tale of Robin Hood in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

[7/10 · 17 May 2024]

Robinhood (1973) : Brief Review -

The iconic tale of Robin Hood in Disney's Animal Kingdom. Having seen Douglas Fairbanks' "Robin Hood" (1922) and Errol Flynn's "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), there was nothing surprising in the story or screenplay for me. Disney's adaptation still has its own magic as it explores the same iconic tale with a midas touch of amusement park. This is set in an animal kingdom, with the leader being a fox. Robin Hood is robbing Prince John, who is making people penniless with his oppressive taxation while King Richard is away, to return it to the poor. The heartless sheriff is after poor people like the devil and wants to catch Robin Hood. Maid Marian is waiting for Robin Hood to come and propose to her for marriage, but it's been far too long since they have met each other. Robin Hood enters a ln arrow competition to win Marian's kiss, unaware of the fact that the competition was John's conspiracy to grab him. Robin Hood escapes and then returns to save others. In 70 minutes, Robinhood gives you drama, romance, adventure, music, and action. That's enough for a one-time meal, and you won't even burp. Disney's Animal Kingdom is visually beautiful and theoretically adorable. The practical sense is missing, but book yes about it when you know you are into Disney's amusing park. It's all fiction and fanaticism, and we love it that way only. Some dialogues work fine, while others are flat. The same goes for the songs, and I think the romance could have been trimmed. John and Robin Hood's battle could have been given more space. The idea is fascinating-to get everything done in a quick time and in such a manner that kids and adults both find it cute. Those who have heard of this story will feel nostalgia, while those who want to know it will get nostalgia for a lifetime.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Garfield Movie (2024)

This Cheesy Story of Garfield is As Sweet As Orange Candy

[6/10 · 17 May 2024]

The Garfield Movie (2024) : Movie Review -

Mark Dindal is here with the orange-flavored, catty-sweety animation flick called The Garfield Movie. Let's see, what are the basics of getting an animated feature right? A good story, enough emotions, some comedy, adorable characters, and beautiful visuals, right? Garfield's family story has it all. Coming in summer makes it a perfect entertainer for children, who don't belong to concept-driven animated flicks. This sweet orange candy has enough spice and cheese to wet your tongue, just like that smart doggie in the film, so you better book a recliner sofa, just like Garfield does in the film, but without a remote, and enjoy this popcorn entertainer in cinemas near you.

The film tells the story of a little cat named Garfield, who is abandoned by his father on a stormy, rainy night. Jon adopts him and takes him home, and they grow close to each other. Jon and Garfield have another pet, Odie, a dim-witted dog who is smarter than you think. After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father, a street cat named Vic, the pet dog Garfield, and his canine friend Odie are forced to perform a high-stakes heist of milk. How can this risky operation go well when this father-son duo is not getting along well with each other? Will some secrets from the past bring them close and make this heist successful?

Based on Jim Davis' Garfield, The Garfield Movie is a fun-filled film right from the beginning. The way Garfield eats, the way he lives, the way he spends his day, and his I-am-the-kimg attitude-everything tickles your funny bones. There are funky vibes to the background score that elevate Garfield's persona, and you start liking him more. The Odie is too sweet already, but Vic makes you fall in love with him by the end, when a lot is discovered from his life. It's that typical Pixar drama, not coming from Pixar. Whatever.. there are more punches, more comedy, and more cuteness in this Monday-hater cat's world.

Chris Pratt and Samuel L. Jackson's hate-me-love-me banter is verbally and expressionally adorable, and you must give credit to them for their perfect voicing. The rest of the voice cast, including Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, Bowen Yang, and Snoop Dogg, were fine with their roles. It's not as much of a voice-over-driven film as you might think because we don't know how cats, an ox, and other animals would sound in a cinematic world. Yet, one has to give them applause for convincing us that those human voices were coming out of creatures.

The Garfield movie has pretty decent visuals, but the 3D viewing isn't necessary. It happens with many animated movies, but with this one, it's clearly visible how unnecessary those specs were. The production design is fantastic and fascinating. You will love those nuances, be it the house, Catflix, Odie's movements in the background, kidnapping, pinecake, cheese factory, deadly but color-changing meow, heist, rescue on the top of a running train, and that blue one-horned Ox and his pink sweetheart. It's tremendously creative for a run-of-the-mill story and the characters it has. Thankfully, the emotional quotient comes to boost the so-so story in the ending, and we literally end up with one or two drops of tears, if not a river like Garfield does in the adoption scene. The film slips a bit down in the middle but covers the loss with an even better conclusion portion in the last quarter. Mark Dindal uses 90 minutes (excluding end credits) to deliver an engaging, adventurous family drama that is worth your time and money. Go, enjoy a piece of cheese pizza along with a piece of cheese-loving cat's sweet tale.

RATING - 6/10*