Movie Review: Agent Vinod (2012)

RAW Agent and a raw movie
* * * * * / 5

Stunning! Spectacular! The movie is made in epic proportions. No expense is spared to make the story live out large on the big silver screen. Non-stop action from the word go. It is a delight to watch. Finally, you can say Indian cinema, and I mean mainstream cinema, is catching up with Hollywood's best action thrillers. And also, finally you can cheer for India while seeing awesome stunts and controlled explosions.

After Don 2, this is only the second Bollywood movie to stun me with an out and out action story set in India and international territories. While Don 2 had the brilliant camerawork for a 3D movie and a few international locales, in Agent Vinod we literally trot the world and hoop through amazing locations and deadly terrorist fronts to end up back where the climax is set - INDIA!

The movie starts in a deathly desert in Afghanistan. Agend Vinod is partnered with a guest appearance from Ravi Kishen, the Bhojpuri superstar who already thrilled us this year in Naseeruddin Shah starrer "Chaalis Chauraasi". If you thought he was good in that role, you have to see it to believe it here. In the brief appearance Ravi Kishen has done a memorable job as a fellow RAW Agent. Then on action hits non-stop from Russia to Pakistan to Morocco to Somalia and so many amazing scenes and characters.

My favourite old gentleman from Indian cinema, Prem Chopra does an important role in this movie. Yes, he is back here and interrogating Agent Vinod with the help of a mysterious Doctor played by Kareena Kapoor. Finally after Omkara (brilliant adaptation of Othello), Kareena and Saif are back in a big movie together and this time paired as a leading couple. Kareena shines as a demure girl trapped in a big bad world of politics and terrorism. She is stuck and Agent Vinod doesn't trust her at all.

More action and more gunfights. Streets filled with people running - not in India mind you - these extras in foreign countries have done a brilliant believable job as witness to the mayhem caused by jihadi terrorism.

But beware, this ain't no lame storyline of another Jihadi-terror group out to blow up India. There is a secret organisation. A shadow group of power-mongers out to control the world and they are orchestrating a grand scheme to cause nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

Hints are given openly without naming the group which is obviously the all-powerful - The Bilderberg Group. This group http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Group has always created sensation in media and lot of crazy conspiracy theories surround it. Last time they invited a calm black gentleman to their annual conference in Europe and the man became the first black President of USA. That is Barrack Obama of course. Many wealthy industrialists, politicians and celebrities are in on their clique's agenda.

Anyways, that is not a spoiler because most people in India are not aware of The Bilderberg Group. I just hope this great plot and sentiment doesn't go a bouncer over the heads of audiences who are rather used to seeing and cheering an anti-Pakistan or anti-Jihad style of cinema.

Now the question you all are wondering about - yes Saif Ali Khan ROCKS in this movie. He plays it cool. Looks believable in the role. No over-the-top antics. Everything flows smoothly and there is a reason and scene and dialogue explaining every turn and twist in the plot. So go out there and watch him knock out the bad guys with punches and kicks and with a bullet when he finally finds a gun in his hand - not that he needs one - the unarmed combat is spectacular and convincing.

Enjoy your three-day weekend. This is a movie worthy of the rumoured 3D sequel.
http://www.followagentvinod.com/

Movie Review: Conan the Barbarian (2011)

See it to believe it. Naysayers are only fooling themselves.

* * * * * / 5

I didn't watch this in the cinemas because I was not at all impressed with the previews and trailers. Watched it in regular DVD today. I actually liked it. There is good reason why.

This one has no connection nor shared mythology with the wonderful Arnold Schwarzenegger movies of the 80s - this one is a good followup though it failed to reboot the franchise at the box office. It is a good pulp action movie. Everything you would expect from a costume-sword-sorcery-legend. I didn't like the the first few minutes with the narration, they should have worked it into the plot. But I guess if they did that, they would have to make long drawn out boring trilogy like The Lord of the Rings which is still not as worse as the boring snoozefest written by Tolkien. But after that brief narration, when this movie starts, it starts in amazing style and drama. You have to watch it to realise it.

This is an engaging remake of the original Conan the Barbarian movies. Much better production of course, thanks to improvement in technology and design. I don't understand the criticisms of this movie. Sure, it is a predictable pulp fiction plot. But that is why I am watching it, no? A real pulp no-holds-barred thrill.

The pace is good. The story doesn't rush forward. It unfolds its plot well. The action is on a grand scale. Real war. Million times better than watching a bunch of dwarf kids running around with a magical ring in Middle Earth. Conan rises. He is the prodigal son born out of war and death. His father raises him under due discipline. But Conan has wild barbarian blood in him. The child actor playing the young Conan, Leo Howard is brilliant. He does a good job showing the cold-blooded brutality and harsh reality of a savage world of an ancient era. The man playing his father is also a very good character actor here. The son grows up alone and he seeks revenge. He slays and pillages and loots. He has comrades. But the man he seeks, he shall fight him alone. This raw energy is well portrayed by the actor Jason Momoa. He is a fresh change from Arnold Schwarzenegger. Of course the image of Arnold as Conan the Barbarian shall be imprinted on our minds forever. But see this movie as a new one, a fresh narration. Actor Jason Momoa is an athletic, intelligent and impressive man, not the bulging angry hulk that Arnold portrayed. Jason Momoa is also quite handsome and delivers his lines well with good amount of emotion and strength in his voice. That dialogue delivery alone takes him up a few notches to match up with the legend that is Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is a more realistic depiction of an ancient warrior.

During the making of the Arnold version of Conan, many scenes were cut on the editing table because of graphic violence. This 2011 version doesn't suffer that fate. Here the savagery is naked and startling. But the Arnold version was true to the sword and sorcery genre. This 2011 remake is more mainstream and seeks more "realistic" depiction of ancient warfare, chaos and belief systems. I like both. I can't pick one over the other. Both as they stand alone are beautifully made and well directed. The 2011 version is in epic proportions, a lot more money having been spent on making this one. The cinematography and lighting is very complimentary to the storyline as it progresses.

Jason Momoa is a great find. I haven't seen any other movies of his. I would like to. I hope his career isn't affected by the boxoffice results of this Conan adventure. He has great potential as an action hero in any type of movie, period or modern. His talent shines here and carries the movie on his broad scarred shoulders as he rampages against an evil warlord. He is one good reason to go watch this movie. The other is the costumes. It is not overdone like in Gladiator or The Lord of the Rings. Here the costume doesn't steal the limelight and attention from the actors playing their vicious roles. In Conan 2011, the costumes blend in and become an essential accessory of the storyline. We don't get distracted. It just makes everything more real.

The franchise has a real chance of surviving. It needs better brand management among other things. Such as a whole new storyline, updating the ancient Robert E. Howard texts by making it more attractive to modern day sword-sorcery-fantasy fans. This would mean a real reboot of the series. There is so much that can be done. I hope a serious director takes up this project in the near future and rebuilds it as it deserves to.

The sets and location of Conan 2011 is spectacular. It overshadows any compliment you could give to the 1982 movie. The climax especially is in epic proportions and righly so. Lot of good work has gone into this movie and this is apparent as it progresses through the second half.

Among other memorable characters, there is a real talent in the actress playing the evil daughter-witch - Rose McGowan. She exudes evil and she lives it in the role of Marique. Stunning! The other villains also steal the show. They are more memorable than say Conan's allies such as his pirate-friend or the master-thief. Stephen Lang does justice to his role as a warlord. He is not overtly evil. He is patient and wise and calculating. Well portrayed to bring a worthy adversary to Conan. And of course there is the incredibly recognisable and impressive narrative voice of Morgan Freeman retelling the legend of Conan.

Actually, the movie needed better marketing effort. I now wish I had seen this on the big silver screen in 3D as it was meant to be. Never mind! Watch it, you won't be disappointed - it is a entertainer and awe-inspiring effort too. I am giving this 5 stars. The Oscar winners don't know what fun they are missing!

Those who are complaining about this movie saying it is a travesty or saying that they liked the 1982 film but this one is horrible - you know, these are the same people who would have given bad reviews to the 1982 film if we were living in 1982. But now, they call that a great movie and call this poor. LOL.

Movie Review: John Carter (3D)

Epic Science Fiction!!!


* * * * * / 5

Wow! This is easily the best movie to come out from Hollywood in 2012. The 3D effects aside, the movie itself is brilliant. All you Avatar fans can go to hell. This is how you make memorable characters, memorable story and an epic science fiction. Not since Star Wars hit cinemas 30 odd years ago has there been a space saga so beautifully been made and (re)told.

Yes, this is the retelling of the cult pulp story by Edgar Rice Burroughs titled "A Princess of Mars". And all you naysayers who think a big budget special effects thriller can't have a good story - I got two words for you - "Michael Chabon". Yes, the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist has co-written and reviewed the script of this movie. The movie itself is made by Oscar winning writer-director Andrew Stanton who has given us "Finding Nemo" and "Wall-E" in the recent past. This grand movie is rightly dedicated to the memory of Steve Jobs (Apple). For decades this movie couldn't be made. But with technical visionaries such as Steve Jobs, these ancient heroes have come to life on the big silver screen.

The post-intermission half is easily the best part. The action, suspense, thrill escalates to epic proportions here. But to those imbeciles who criticise the movie by saying it is "imcomprehensible", well why don't you stick to watching paint dry - that's all you can understand in your limited intellect.

The first half sets the tone and style for this grand adventure. Who is John Carter? Why does Uncle Sam want him? Why does a strange man shadow him and wants him? Why do the warring aliens on Planet Mars want him? Why do the elite race of Therns who play God with various civilisations want him?

The movie has a brisk pace. Every scene hints at a strong and tight plot. We move from Virginia to the action against Red Indians, then suddenly John Carter is no longer on Earth. He has reached Barsoom - the name given to the red planet by its natives, what us on Earth call Mars.

As the story unfolds we are revealed the backdrop as well. It seems John Carter is a rich uncle of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Young Edgar has just inherited the estate of John Carter after the latter had passed away. The tomb of John Carter holds much intrigue and mystery too as it cannot be opened from outside. It only opens from the inside.

What was John Carter planning for his young nephew Edgar? What secrets does Carter conceal in his private notes. Why has the wealthy John Carter explored every corner of Earth excavating ancient mysteries? What is John Carter looking for?

Well, all you need to look for is a prized ticket for the HouseFull screening of John Carter in 3D. All will be revealed. This is a science fiction you will remember pleasantly for a long time. Not since the reboot of the Star Trek TOS has there been so much excitement about a scifi movie. And you won't be disappointed. This is better than the forgettable characters and premise of Avatar. This is more engaging and thrilling than Star Trek reboot. This movie is a thrilling biography of John Carter, a Civil War veteran, a Warrior, a man just and honorable, a man in love and a man who will fight for the survival of an entire planet.

The special effects are judiciously done, bringing life into the fantastic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The characters and alien species are beautifully crafted and entirely realistic. The movement, the cinematography,  the lighting, the sets, the locations - it all adds up to making the story come alive on the big screen. The drama, the dialogues, the suspense will keep you glued to your seat. The most exciting part of the movie is that it is loyal to its original author - Edgar Rice Burroughs. So the ancient 1912 vision of this famous pulp fiction author is honored and glorified on celluloid by the brilliant cast and crew of John Carter. Walt Disney has a new winning franchise here after the successful "Pirates of the Caribbean" series. All of you who thought that this ancient production company is dated and brings nothing new to the box-office - well, check out the trailers and if it makes you curious, it's because this movie is irresistible.

There are 3 novels in the original novel series: "A Princess of Mars", "The Gods of Mars", and "The Warlord of Mars". This movie is an adaptation of the very first novel in the John Carter series. I gladly look forward to a sequel and an adaptation of the remaining books in the series.

As a bonus feature for reading this blog, please have a look at some classic images of "John Carter of Mars" from legendary illustrator Frank Frazetta.
And as an added bonus in honour of this first visionary, here is http://frankfrazetta.org/
Cheers!!!

Movie Review: My Week With Marilyn

The Ultimate Dreamgirl
* * * */ 5
The movie is about a third assistant director who remembers his time with Marilyn Monroe when she shot the movie The Prince and the Showgirl in England for Sir Laurence Olivier.

I had high hopes of the movie so was of course disappointed. Based on the memoirs of the third assistant written as a book in the nineties, it is an engaging yet unsatisfying movie.

Yes, you get some insight into Marilyn Monroe's lifestyle during the height of her success and how she dealt with the attention and how people regarded her despite her obvious talent. She was a pinup for most, not a real celebrity, not a real Hollywood royalty.

But it is not much of a story. Maybe the editor in me is dissatisfied with the plotline. But what plot? This is a memoir, not a fiction story.

So it is an engaging movie. Entertaining, revealing, emotionally fragile, intense and wild. Marilyn Monroe comes alive on the big screen again. I caught the last day last show at 11:05 PM and had a good time.

The girl from Harry Potter movies makes a good small supporting role in the movie. The actor playing Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), the third assistant is brilliant. Kenneth Branagh shines as a out-of-patience Laurence Olivier. Michelle Williams is most comfortable as Marilyn Monroe. No complaints regarding the movie as such - it keeps you glued to your seat - just that it is a BBC made memoir and hence not fictionalised the way Hollywood makes The Aviator, Catch Me If You Can or other such biopics. It is a very real movie, which should be a good thing, but kind of leaves you feeling something is missing. Yes, Ms Monroe left us all too early in real life and that's how you feel after this movie is over.

Colin sums up the tension on the sets with the simple explanation...

Colin Clark: "It's agony because he's a great actor who wants to be a film star, and you're a film star who wants to be a great actress. This film won't help either of you."

http://myweekwithmarilynmovie.com/

http://www.myweekwithmarilynbook.com/

Worth catching and reminiscing.