ijenuse-1 Reviews

Kick-Ass (2010)

This is how you do it!!!

[8/10 · 29 March 2010]

There is a line where Johnson's Kickass compares his need for action after fantasising for a long time with that of a serial killer. The film shares pretty much the same attitude; unconventional in it's attribution to the more cosmic superhero flicks and dethroning the s**t out of them to claim an entirely unexpected yet commanding fan following. If you think this is an exaggeration, u obviously are alien to the internet.

Saw this at Cineworld Haymarket in London at a preview screening. Had heard great reviews about it and was sceptical it may not match my high expectations which has been not infrequent in the past. But Kickass was FUN!!! right from the shrewd opening scene to the super violent culmination, the movie was just one great ride. Clichés are over turned on its head and given new dimensions. Like the inevitable love angle, mental trauma of the superhero- his constant struggle with his alter-ego and the society's take on his avatar- everything is like nothing you have seen before.

Performances in a superhero flick tend to be incredibly wooden unless a genius like Nolan is at the helm. Without making any comparisons, its safe to say Mathew Vaughn knows how to mold his actors into the characters he has envisaged. Aaron Johnson is confident and quite perfect as kick-ass with the right amount of vulnerability on show. His American accent is perfect. Nic Cage makes a welcome comeback in a small but well written role. Mintz Plasse is competent and is getting there. It's always great to see the super cool Mark Strong and he is brilliant in this too. But as you expected sweet and cuddly Chloe Moretz steals the the thunder and makes Hit Girl an iconic pop cultural phenomenon. The foul mouthed ultra violent 11 year old may have your granny fuming at her real life parents but she is sure to have created an indelible stamp on your mind you will just sympathise with poor granny for not having nearly as much fun as you did. Trust me, like the nerdy friend of Kickass, you too will fall in love with her! Kudos to Vaughn and team for this entertaining little gem and an extra pat on the back for him for daring to move out of the studio system to fund the project himself. The film is so much better for it. Don't believe me? Watch studio pet child Wolfman...

Dunno wen this releases in the States but drop your pants and see this whenever that is. The most incredibly entertaining flick of the year!!!

Daybreakers (2009)

Could have been a genre-defining one, but still good...

[7/10 · 7 January 2010]

Saw 'Daybreakers' at Piccadilly today. Been curious ever since i saw the trailers and being an Ethan Hawke fan decided to check it out anyway. The film started out on a bloody brilliant note. The scenes conveying the near-extinction of the human race and how the vampires are taking over and how the vampires themselves are threatened by the blood shortage issue was done rather effectively and the audience seemed to love it. There is a sense of foreboding throughout the film which can be expected in the genre, but nevertheless is very vital to it as most films fall short here. Daybreakers is not your typical cliché-ridden vampire horror. There has obviously been some sensible writing involved here. But towards the end the screenwriter tends to lose his grip and throws in some regular scenes just for the sake of cheap thrills and gore. This for me did take a bit away from the essence of the film especially considering the rest of the film was great,

But nevertheless I would recommend this film, as there is much to be enjoyed. The cinematography and colour combos and contrasts have been created masterfully. Even most of the cgi seems credible enough. Ethan Hawke is his usual intense self and Sam Neil re-surfaces into the mainstream with a Batman-sounding villain character. But its William Defoe as one of "the folks with the cross-bows" who gets the best lines in the film. Sample this- " a human in a world of vampires is about as safe as barebacking a five dollar whore!"

Could have been a great vampire flick, a genre defining one, but is reduced to merely a good one. But that isn't too bad considering the amount of vampire dung we were dished out for the entirety of 09. This one is the best of the lot! Cheers

Laaga Chunari Mein Daag: Journey of a Woman (2007)

Flashes of brilliance are not enough to savour the disappointment!!!

[4/10 · 12 October 2007]

Parineeta was among the best films to come out from bollywood in the past five years or so. Pradeep Sarkar had become a highly renowned name with that one subtle masterpiece alone. And when Yash Raj roped him in to direct 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag', expectations were inevitable huge. And with the kind of star cast it boasted of, a quality offing was imminent. Alas, how you wish they had thought of making something worthwhile of their talents than this done and tested excuse of a story. I am not even bothering to write a synopsis as it would seem outdated even for a 70s audience. Each scene and sequence is ever-so-cruelly predictable. It does have its moments though. It is a beautifully presented film. The cinematography and the design and choreography are absolutely fascinating. The performances are top notch as well. Rani Mukerjee is excellent as you would expect, but she is betrayed by the film writer. Abishek Bachan and Kunal Kapoor have gone completely mental. How else could they have opted for such pathetically portrayed characters? Jaya Bachan shows her class but its Konkona Sen who shines. She comes as a whiff of fresh air in the otherwise dry and pointless enterprise. Sadly these glimpses of brilliance are not enough. Disappointing!

The Prestige (2006)

A Cult Classic!!! Masterpiece Perfection!!!

[10/10 · 12 April 2007]

Let me start of with saying that I am a HUGE fan of Christopher Nolan. but even by his high standards, Prestige took me completely by surprise. having immensely enjoyed his Memento and Insomnia, I was expecting nothing short of such a path-breaking effort. But Prestige is a masterpiece. a once-in-a-lifetime movie. U may not see one like this again. And if you do, rest assured, it will be from Nolan.

The film is about the ever-lasting rivalry between two magicians. One,a gifted showman - the other, a true magician. The story is quite a simple one.It deals with various attempts by the two to outdo each other-by hook or crook. But what happens when one of them unveils the greatest magic trick ever? What could the other one possibly do to rival or out-perform such a great feat?!!! Watch The Prestige. And like u may well expect, Nolan doesn't go with any conventional narration techniques. He chooses his own cult method and the result is a deliciously twisted, dark, and dramatic tale that keeps you guessing until the end titles roll.

It is very important for a film like this to have good performances from the cast. I can say with conviction that Prestige has the most astonishingly powerful performances from all the actors involved and most certainly from its two male leads. Christian Bale does the role of Alfred Borden with at most conviction and ease. It just seems like a walk in the park for him. He is absolutely brilliant in a role with relatively less heroism when compared to his Batman outing with Nolan. Michael Caine once again proves he is the among the best in the business even at this age. He has a very significant role and you can trust Cine to deliver a stunning performance and he does. Scarlett Johanson brings the glamour quotient and doesn't really have much to do-but she does play her part well. But Hugh Jackman steals the show. It is without a shred of doubt the actor's best performance till date.He plays Robert Angier with supreme confidence and elegance and with the charm that is in born him. He is so good that you feel he was born to play Angier! The cinematography,costumes and make-up are brilliant. The movie captures the mood and look of Victorian London brilliantly.

Last-but-not-least the direction. No one, not even Tarantino or Spielberg could have done the movie better than Nolan. He has made an absolute spectacular movie which is as close to perfection as you could possibly get! An absolute must for everyone. Go grab the DVD now if you missed it in the theatres!!!

BRILLIANT!!!