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areehal
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The Green Hornet (2011)
Truly imbecilic
So who was the biggest imbecile connected with the making of this mediocre film?
Let's start with the chief culprit, Seth Rogen - possibly the worst actor out there and apparently also the worst writer since he also collaborated on the script. Then there are the producers who conned the studios into shelling out money for this rubbish. Of course, the direction by Michael Gondry, whoever he is, is equally to blame.
This is one of those films where you think it can't possibly get worse but shocks you by sinking to lower and lower depths with every scene.
Fortunately, I never saw this at the theatre. I bought the 3D Bluray on clearance simply to see if the 3D was any good. The opening credits and Bluray menus actually look really cool in 3D. The cars and special effects also look fabulous in 3D. Seth Rogen isn't helped by depth, however, he is grotesque and unattractive enough in two dimensions, never mind three. Who in their right mind would cast him as a leading man?
So my plan is to create an edited 3D digital file that has about 20 minutes of the cool 3D stuff and then cremate the BluRay.
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Great technical achievement undermined by formulaic screenplay and mediocre direction
I watched this film for the 3D, the CGI, and set design. It delivers on all three fronts.
Unfortunately, it also comes with actors, a screenwriter, and a director. All three are failures.
Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana give decent performances but the rest of the main actors are abysmal. Director Justin Lin must surely take the blame. Either he is inexperienced or totally inept. Then there is the "paint by numbers" screenplay that strings together every cliche of the action genre. I assume screenwriter Simon Pegg was enjoying a few drinks while he had ChatGPT churn out this rubbish. Certainly, no human intellect is in evidence. As we know, studio executives can't tell the difference so the ultimate shame falls on the producers. That leaves the viewers. Well we also know there are lots of mediocre people out there, so there will always be an appreciative audience for mindless onscreen mayhem and destruction. Fortunately, many smart people have seen the film and detested it and I enjoyed reading their reviews.
Wo de qian ban sheng (2017)
Engaging, intelligent, emotionally satisfying drama
Ultimately this is a melodramatic soap but it is so well done and the production values are so high that it compares well to BBC-Netflix-Amazon series rather than the rubbish we see on American networks. In some ways, it's the Chinese Madmen.
I was initially intrigued because I wanted to see a portrayal of Chinese life by Chinese producers for a Chinese audience, rather than a western interpretation. It is based in Shanghai and we get to see many beautiful shots of the city. The offices are beautiful, the streets are spotless, there is no air pollution, parking is a cinch and there are no poor people to jar the aesthetics. So, ok, it's a fantasy world but it's a Chinese fantasy so in a way it's authentic. Ironically, then, the fantasy is to be American. Whatever the politically situation in China, it is clear, from this highly acclaimed (in China) TV series that culturally the USA (or more specifically Hollywood) has won! Western clothes, cars, music, fast food, toys, cosmetics, shoes, etc... are what the viewers aspire to.
So apart from the anthropological aspect, how is it as entertainment? Totally engaging! - the inaccurate and sometimes comical subtitles not withstanding. The acting, direction, cinematography, set design, dialog, and plot are all world class.
The title refers to the main protagonist's life before and after a tumultuous divorce. Her good looks eased her into a life of upper middle class bliss where shopping, eating at fine restaurants, turning up her nose at the common folk, showing off to her family were her primary occupations. There are half a dozen other main characters. As the story progressives each of these characters' multiple facets are sympathetically and honestly revealed. There are a couple of ancillary characters that are perhaps one dimensional but it seems that is deliberately done for comic effect. The main characters all have complexity and nuances and flaws just like all of us. It's easy to empathize with their lives and the situations they find themselves in.
The complexity and heartbreak of divorce between loving parents with children involved is so well portrayed it will bring tears to anyone who has empathy.
Annihilation (2018)
Smart novel turned into mindless Hollywood potboiler
This screenplay and direction are both by Alex Garland so he can justifiably be blamed for this brainless adaptation of a quite good sci-fi novel. Nobody sets out to make a lousy film so I presume, this disastrous attempt is simply due to an utter lack of talent or intelligence in Garland. Why adapt a book where you have absolutely no interest in the main premise or the main plot line. In fact, this isn't really an adaptation, more of a "loosely based on".
It's a Wonderful Afterlife (2010)
Director Chadha "jumps the shark"
After a string of good films, especially the delightful "Bend it Like Beckham", Chadha seems to have lost her footing. My favourite parts of the movie were the outdoor scenes in London's Southall community. It brought back childhood memories of the area. The acting is decent but the plot, even by screwball comedy standards, is completely unbelievable. I get that Chadha is satirizing the extent to which Indian mothers will go to marry off their offspring. Like thousands of other asians i've experienced that scene in the sikh temple (Gurdwara) first hand. In fact, the scenes depicting everyday life are done very well. What spoils the picture is the whole ghost thing. First off all there is no explanation as to how a mild mannered mother would commit such violent crimes. Surely, a subtle poisoning would have been more believable. Then there is the appearance of the "ghosts". They're not scary - just visually unappealing. Makes much of the film nauseating to watch. In the "making of" feature, on the DVD, one can tell that Chadha finds them hilarious. I just found them gross. Chadha also says the "Carrie" scene was her favourite. Again, I can't agree. It was sheer self-indulgence to film it - it adds nothing to the story. After the dismal financial failure of this ego driven piece, hopefully, Chadha will go back to what she does best - show the foibles, follies, and delights of life in the Asian community in London.
Agar Tum Na Hote (1983)
A cut above the usual Bollywood fare - Rekha shines as usual
This film is far superior to the standard melodramas that Bollywood churns out so relentlessly. There is not a single car-chase, not a single gunshot, and no misogynistic villain.
It will come as no surprise that Rajesh Khanna plays the hero, but it is a tribute to the writer and director that they manage to coax a performance more believable than the two-dimensional efforts Mr Khanna has delivered in dozens of his films. He uses his trademark "look" in only a couple of the scenes. Anyone who's seen the 1980s BBC documentary about Mr Khanna will know exactly what I mean!
The supporting cast is mostly good, with Asrani playing, unusually, a backstabbing friend. The only miscasting is in the role of the little girl who plays Rajesh Khanna's daughter - she is more annoying than lovable. But, of course, the film belongs to Ms Rekha. Frankly, it's a travesty that she only gets co-star billing - her performance is what makes the film so compelling. The double-role is a Bollywood staple but the first role is short and most of the time we see Rekha in her role as the governess. She captures the emotions perfectly as she is torn by the lies she has to tell to keep everyone around her happy. Yet her inner strength is evident - at no time is she a victim. She makes her choices with full acceptance of the consequences. It is an added bonus that Ms Rekha was at the height of her beauty when she made this film - she lights up the screen as the camera lingers on her every expression.
There's one other plot feature worth noting which makes this Indian film unusual, if not unique. When it comes time to propose (after the song "Dheere Dheere"), it's Rekha's character that does the proposing. The dialogue is beautifully written for this scene.
There are only seven songs, with three of them being different versions of the title song. In fact, the title song is quite lovely and has that haunting, sad quality that those of us of Asian origin seem to have a genetic pre-disposition towards!
A few words about the DVD. Sadly it is in 4:3 format, but the resolution is acceptable. The colour is also acceptable except for a few scenes where it has a noticeable tint. The sound is clear during dialogue, but distorted during the songs and it is in mono.
Sholay (1975)
Woefully pathetic curry western
Unashamedly plagiarises spaghetti westerns. Cliched, over-the-top, 1-dimensional heroes and villains. Glorifies violence against women. Director desperately wanted to make a movie that would be accepted in the west. Unfortunately, an utter lack of talent and vision meant that the best he could do was steal scenes from other films and string them into a cheap melodramatic hodge-podge. The only bad film that the brilliant Indian actress Jaya Bhadhuri has participated in. This film makes me ashamed to have an Indian ancestery.