Yes, I know I ought to have watched this long ago. Yes, I know that practically everyone has already watched this. But it moved me to tears, and I cannot not write about it.The story of a struggle against all odds is always touching, but what truly moved me was love. When is it not?A child, five years old, willing to keep on going. A child whose biggest sorrow seems to come from losing a beloved toy. A child who wonders whether his mother left home because of him. A child who worships his father, and keeps on going even when he's tired.A father who is not perfect. He gets angry, even violent. But he does everything he can in pursuit of happiness. And in pursuit of happyness for a son who means everything to him. … [Read more...]
Movies and Me
I don't like horror movies. Or even thrillers, or anything remotely frightening.I don't find them funny, the way most people seem to. They don't make me laugh and say, "How lame! That's not scary at all!" I get scared. It's as simple as that.I remember a time we got together to watch Hide and Seek. We were spending the night at a friend's place, and, as is meet, we started watching the movie at night. I was determined not to be afraid. I kept telling myself, "This is just a movie." I drew my eyes off the screen over and over again. "It's just a movie. It's not real." I thought about happy things. "They're just actors. Why should I be afraid?"And then, a friend of mine screamed and clutched my bare leg with ice-cold hands.That did it.I don't watch scary movies any more, even if people try very hard to convince me that it's only pseudo-scary. … [Read more...]
Monsters University
When humour, action, plot, story, character and setting are all rolled into one, how can I not leave the cinema hall smiling like I have a tummy full of food and am ready to sleep?Monsters University made me happy. Why should anyone (particularly me) pretend to write a review? I like Mike (and Sullivan). I love 'OK'. I love the story. I love the Monsters University campus. I love the idea - and hugely respect the fact that such a grand prequel was made for a movie like Monsters, Inc.In short, I like animated films and this one did not let me down! … [Read more...]
The Great Gatsby
Is it fair to compare a book with a movie? Especially a book with such a strong narrative voice? I was a little put-off by the idea of Nick talking to the doctor. But then, that was one way of getting the narrative voice loud and clear, I guess. It was exactly like the book and nothing like it. Long, rambling sections where I was bored. While reading a book, I can just skim, skip and flip. At a cinema hall, I couldn't fast-forward, so I took of my 3-D glasses and yawned. But there were parts that I thought were perfect. Gatsby's beautiful, flawed dream. The green light. And above all, hope.Daisy... Ah, Daisy, Daisy. With her voice full of money. What a description that was, and how well done! The carelessness, callousness, shallowness - all of that came through.It was long and overdone in so many parts, but it left that bitter-sad, yet fragile-hopeful taste in the mouth. … [Read more...]
The Life of Pi
I like to get involved when I watch a movie. I like to feel with the character, hold my breath during moments of anticipation and cry during moments of sadness and joy.That did not happen with The Life of Pi. Not because of the movie itself but because of the cinema hall.First of all, we were in row H. I thought, "Hmm! Not bad." We were in the third row from the screen. There were only ten rows in all.A couple that came late, walking in when the movie had already begun. They had seats at either end of row H. In the true spirit of adjustment, the usher asked all of us to move one seat. I felt as if we were in a bus. The whole row got up and moved, next seat, next seat, next seat. So that the couple could sit together.Children squabbled, laughed and shouted in the rows behind us. Even then, I tried to get engrossed. I tried to enjoy the beautiful 3-D graphics. I tried to get into … [Read more...]