intinvestor Reviews

Spectre (I) (2015)

Much below expectations

[6/10 · 23 November 2015]

I have been a fan of Daniel Craig since his first bond movie, Casino Royale and the top he reached with director, Sam Mendes in Skyfall. Skyfall was a near perfect film as everything supported Director's vision of an antihero. and when Sam Mendes came back for second movie, expectations were sky high for next movie.

Spectre title announced sounded great with perfect star cast. Fans were ready for another thrilling ride, but what i saw in theatre is not upto even Quantam of Solace. Film starts with perfect starting sequence, which captures u completely with its highly stylized technique. U get ready for a movie u were were highly expecting but as movie kickstarts, it begans to lose steam slowly and after halfway Director goes directionless, he doesn't know where to take this behemoth. Story by so many writers is without any direction, after a point u don't feel like u r watching a Bond film but it feels like ur watching a poor copy of bond film.

Sam Mendes who starts well but has lost track due to commercial reasons or he was this time not given full control on story, as characters here are not etched properly and biggest flaw is antagonist, with actor like Christoph Waltz we expect much more.

Action sequences and locations captured are best in Bond movie, feel like we haves seen this before, nothing seems new or original. Both actresses don't get enough depth and they feel distracted, they are not the bond girls we expect.

End is so much stretched that we are tired that when will this mess end. Please Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig we want more from u.

Highway (I) (2014)

Imtaiz Ali at his best

[9/10 · 24 February 2014]

Imtiaz Ali has shown growth from his first movie up to his last. He has reach a crescendo with Highway. His tales have always been about self realization of protagonist, but there depictions have make them special. From his first film "Socha na tha" he has shown spark in the way story is told, his first three films have been light Romantic comedies, but with rock star he has changed the track and self realization become more prominent in it. The way Ranbir's character grows from a naive guy to a lover troubled with his interactions with world and person he loves, was an amazing journey which we viewed.

In Highway he goes a step further. He is inspired by Terence Malick movies with lesser dialogue and more visuals, which capture your imagination and let you flow with story. Unusual relationship that he has shown between tormentor and victim, and how journey together change their dynamics, journey is more important than destination. Some may find it slow, without plot more character driven, but its brilliant, it is something new for Indian audiences, but such experiment has been performed that's important and they are not like slow moving art-house work of 80's, they are more contemporary. Cinematography by Anil Mehta just captures Indian Highway and Landscapes in such beautiful way that u may want to start journey just coming out of theater.

Best thing about movie is Alia Bhatt's taut performance, she is another of Ali's naive heroine turned mature woman, but way she brings Veera to life on screen is just amazing. Randeep Hooda is also at his best, revealing how a person has become a tormentor. Movie is like a roller coaster ride which captures you from its first scenes of marriage unto last. Rahman's music makes journey musical and fun, Pataka Guddi, anthem of movie, captures the freedom to live so beautifully.

Heat and Dust (1983)

A journey of two souls

[9/10 · 12 November 2011]

It's a story told in two different time periods of two different woman who are attached by decision taken by both of them in there lives. Both the era generated by director with there details are mesmerizing, but modern day India dulls against the British one as there are many clichés that are shown which exist till today among western countries about India. Period films are mastered by merchant ivory production and this one of the finest examples of it. We are captured by the brilliant photography and then by the characters etched by screenwriter and director. Greta schahi proves her mettle in her first major role and Julie Christie is just as natural as always. Casting of every little character is perfect. Best thing is the way story is told, how two era become one and how easily is one moving from one to other.modern day story dulls little bit against raj era one but it is saved by Julie Christie's beautiful presence. Certain question arise and they are answered beautifully. How we get in a relationship with someone who is so different from us culturally and in every way, is it just the avaibality or something more ? Human mind is such an intriguing place to understand. Why we take certain steps always remains a question. Just like the character of chid. Who is running away from world yet is attached to it.