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sudipregmi
Reviews
Testament: The Story of Moses (2024)
Nice portrayal of a beginning of a cult
When I first read Exodus, I made a rational picture, remaining as neutral as possible to both sides. The Hebrew people in Egypt at that time seem to have been mostly labours, despite living there since 4 centuries they have remained saperate without assimilating with locals. At same time the Hebrew population had grown so big that Royals had begun feeling the heat of possible revolt. The King seeing them not assimilating with local population had even begun controlling population growth. The Hebrews were not particularly assimilating kind, similar to Muslims in present times, they don't believe in assimilation with host population, they do not readily accept or honor local values.
Moses being a Hebrew, which he seems to have realized since childhood, as he was breast fed by his Hebrew mother, even though he lived a privileged life as he was adopted by Royal family. It is natural for him to grow sympathy towards his Hebrew community. He murdered a Royal staff who was beating a Hebrew. Moses than ran away from Egypt to skip punishment. Soon he settled with a desert tribe, married, had children there. After running away he seems to have realized that life is possible outside of Egypt as well, leading him to think about ways to free Hebrews. When his father-in-law talked about his tribe's gods, he seems to have devised a plan of using "God" as his tool for connecting with Hebrews in revolt against the Royal family. He made a custom version of god for Hebrews. He made a story that their God wants to set them free, and gave them their own land, ie. "The promised land".
He had strategic benefit of knowing the Royal family inside out. He successfully led the revolution and established himself as a man of God. Using power of successful revolution they even looted the local population when they were leaving. Using God's name Moses was able to unite people against the state and be successful in gaing freedom, however now creating the promised land was not as easy as creating invisible God. So, he was able to liberate his people but was never able to deliver the promised land in his lifetime.
Miracles that he is said to have done seems to have been added later to glorify their liberator/hero. Economic difficulties, natural disasters, diseases that helped revolution are told as miracles of Moses. But power of miracle vanishes when time comes for delivery of the promised land. Infact power of miracle works only when power of mob could deliver the same result. Moses went to Mount Sinai but he only got commandments not instructions to get the promised land. Instructions to go to the promised land couldn't be created but writing up commandments was possible, so he seems to have done just that. There are hints of growing discontentment among people maybe because he was not able to deliver the promised land. People had begun to go back to pagan way of praying, eg. Bull statue creation in the documentary. So the creation of commandments was necessary to rule the people who had begun feeling abandoned or cheated.
Pathaan (2023)
Tees Maar Khan returns qualitywise
What happened to Siddhartha Anand or secretly this movie is also directed by Farah Khan? Went to watch it with friends as hype was too big. Every next minute teasers, and songs were on TV. Story is same overdone time and again, some villains create a deadly virus, and now hero has to save the world. Comically world is saved by chocolaty hero and heroin who appear self obsessed, and singing through the way they finally saved the world. How do repeatedly similar movies keep on coming? Can nobody come up with suitable stories for the cast they are coming up with? Even if they couldn't come up with something original, a revenge story like Taken would have better suited for Mr. Khan (but his overacting should still be toned down).
Laal Singh Chaddha (2022)
Horrible experience
Yesterday I watched Forest Gump again before going for Laal Singh Chaddha today. Today I realized it was not a very good idea, fresh memory of impressive work of Tom Hanks completely overshadowed Amir's acting (or overacting). Amir Khan was never an overacter like Sharukh Khan till now. But maybe age factor is not so kind on some than others. Amir has rediculed the role, and subtle wow factors, and goosebump raising moments of Forest Gump are missing.
The Unforgivable (2021)
Just wow!
I went for it without much expectations, but was truly amazed by acting, story. Sandra's face alone seems to give away the hell of emotional trauma she has been through. I could feel her pain, being away from loved one and not knowing what they are going through. Her performance justified her role.
The Lift Boy (2019)
A Christian missionary movie
Movie is watchable. It is however a movie made with sole motive to paint a good picture of christian. Not at all a bad thing to invest and promote one's own religion but missionary works has mostly played dirty role in India. Also same missionaries have been investing heavily in demonizing our most peaceful, nature friendly and oldest religion. So this movie as a part of same missionaries fighting for same mission I cannot endorse it.
Chippa (2019)
Did movie team rated the movie themselves?
Watched the movie thinking it was rated good here but turns out it was a lie. A mediocre movie, with boring story, and even worse direction. I can tell actors are not at fault here, it is director who failed to get decent performance out of his actors. We've all seen same actors doing different quality of works when working on/with different movies/directors. Horrible way to kill some time.
Tottaa Pataaka Item Maal (2019)
Awful execution
It was great concept to work on, when you had money and team to make a movie about burning topic of horrible injustice towards woman happening everyday. It was great concept and opportunity to trigger thoughts on careless people as well as to take credit of making a great movie. But the execution was so poor that you will leave screen without any thought on the subject rather you will feel how horribly it was executed. Actors are not at all convincing that they are actually angry enough to take such an action against injustice, and do not show convincing rebellious attitude at all. Also what they are commuting the crime they doesn't even seem to be scared to be found out in mid way. Keep a man shouting and banging flimsy metal door of a cupboard in a big building for days, what could go wrong. They are so calm as if people will support them in their bigger cause even if found out. The taxi service owner girl is not yet convinced and three carry out an elaborate plan so sure that she will help or not talk to police about. Seems all those who rated/reviewed the movie till now are movie team itself.
Shahid (2012)
It's fiction!
A fake biography exaggerated to prove the subject was a saint. He could be good or bad, I am not saying he was not a good guy. But this story is fictitious. And using fiction to paint somebody's image calling it biography is wrong. Most people come out of the theater thinking it was completely true as it is tried to portray. And absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, what he did to win his cases only he knows. But if his image was to be portrayed it shouldn't have been mixed with fiction. Or it should have been claimed to be completely fictional story. Director even mixes his life's story to make the story more dramatic. I would have rated it 10/10 if it was not connected to a real person (with controversial life). He acquitted 17 people in a short period can also mean he was just a brilliant lawyer and nothing to do with innocence of people he defended. Even Dr Naik would make a brilliant lawyer but only faithful to people of his faith. Also there is no mention of how many cases he lost because he couldn't win while defending a real terrorist. So yes there can be shortcoming in Indian law enforcement but that doesn't warrant painting a lawyer (with unknown/unproved intent) as saint using fiction.
Amal (2007)
Different sides of coin tries to meet.
Fate of a billionaire and that of a poor rickshaw driver both in love of humanity tries to meet and help each other in their bid to keep humanity alive. But destiny has some other plans which results in them lost in translation i.e. a letter that Amal can't read.
Fringe (2008)
Horribly cheesy, baseless assumptions
Horribly cheesy, baseless assumptions, may get better from mid season 1 as others say but is very painful to bare it even till then. I watched till episode 8, and no story buildup just random sci-fi stunts thrown here and there, lead actress has same facial expression all the time. Doesn't suit her to act serious at all. Just feels like they are trying to act as if they are important but are actually failing miserably in doing so. Peter is just uselessly thrown in. He should have rather been introduced when he had some important role to deliver later if he ever has one. Then it would give some weight to the character. Little is done to convince the viewers on agreeable/assumable grounds on which a science fiction fact is created.
Dhoom:3 (2013)
Disappointed
I wanted to watch first day first show of biggest movie of the year that too Aamir khan. Thinking he surely is going to bring a gem of a movie as he is best actor in Indian cinema, everything he does has always been perfect. I literally ran in footpath as if I was chasing a purse snatcher. I ran 5-7 min distance of bus stop to theater in about 1-2 min. Earlier I was about to call my friend to join me for movie but thinking it will be easy to get single seat than to get two seats as it was sure to be houseful. And it was in fact houseful and I was right too only scattered single seats were available. Multiplex was crowed and all hall in it were showing Dhoom 3 only. I was one lucky guy I got ticket without much trouble as they broke one long queue into two as another ticket booking window was just opened which was closed earlier and I was first in that window as the line was split right from where I was standing. Ran to the theater and waited eagerly for the move to start. Move started about 20 minutes late than given time after playing lots of advertisements and trailers.
God, movie was such a disappointment! If SRK was in movie I would consider it a great movie despite of SRK's presence. But definitely not something one would expect when Aamir is in the movie. Not something you would call genius, not something that you would call perfect. When falling vertically with body horizontal using a rope at back as support no one can even act as running. Certainly not something to expect from perfectionist. Not a convincing reason is given on why a father would hide once child for ever from world. Just because he is slurry or weak or something?...really? At least could say something convincing
whatever like "it is some kind of valuable gift to have two kids with same face in a family who operate circus and show magic tricks". Or some other reason related to their past
anything like crime maybe that father did to have to hide a child etc. And auto rickshaw running in roofs and breaking walls?.. Really? One of the most weak vehicle, that has very bad balance in slightest speed or wind doing those stunts? and that too so low quality graphics tires and passenger inside the rickshaw are undisturbed, no inertia, no up and down, no nothing, just laughing and running even when jumping from roof or running up and down, seems like it is running in smooth surface and is placed above roof using computer (which I know is reality but what about convincing part?). They went so easy way by making double role of Aamir when it would have been fun to watch trouble Aamir would have been through if he was only after everything. It would have been something amazing to watch if they came up with some genius looking convincing way to conceal bullet hole or even dealt with the situation with action and "catch me if you can" kind of situation between Aamir and police. Lots of time he could easily be shot by police but wasn't shot because it would ruin the weak plot. Definitely not something I expected from Aamir as Aamir's big fan. Amir must be not so serious for the movie or was working with something else at same time with more devotion or had no say in making movie sensible enough to be fit for him. I was so much looking to give this movie 10/10.
Chhodo Kal Ki Baatein (2012)
Copy of groundhog day but still OK!
Within first 10 minutes I understood it was a indirect copy of movie groundhog day, where absolutely brilliant concept was executed in a equally brilliant way by brilliant actor Bill Murray. This movie though not brilliantly executed, is still a good entertainer and translation of the concept to make it digestible by Bollywood viewers is appreciable. Original movie groundhog day uses execution, sequences etc to convey messages while in this movie dialog serves as a means to make people understand messages that story wants it's viewers to get. I have been fan of Sachin's acting and have always liked and enjoyed movies with him in lead or a major role. And I enjoyed this movie too, I would have rated this movie at least 7/10 if the concept was original. Here due to the presence of Sachin I am rating not below 6. Seeing Anupam Kher's acting though I was very tempted to rate it around 2 or 3 out of 10
Ra.One (2011)
Worst movie of the year!
What a awful waste of money. 2+ hours wasted in worst way possible. No quality, no story, loose script, over acting, completely senseless and cheap humor. It would have been better even if the lead role was of Arjun Ram Pal. Save your money or you will regret. I was said by a friend to leave sense at home before going for the movie. But I think even leaving sense behind is not enough. Effect are used in unnecessary places while lots of places where special effects could have strengthened the plot were missing. A childish movie that even sensible kids will not like. I wish if the same money, and man power was invested in movie with lead role by any of these actors:- Aamir Khan, Hritik Roshan, Irfan Khan would have been a great milestone in such movies in Indian cinema or even Ajaya Devgan, Salman Khan, Imran Khan, Akshaya Kumar etc were used then it would have been decent and entertaining.
Love Breakups Zindagi (2011)
Everything good except male lead
Movie was above average in story of such kind. Could be said good enough, and entertaining. Sometimes acting got a bit weak, and unnecessary plots and missed some necessary points to convince the actions further to the viewers and strengthen the plot. Male lead's acting was the weakest among others. He is quite an amateur actor even though he is from a family of actors. Showing SRK was completely unnecessary stunt except for TV publicity obviously, was a quite a awkward scene or script could have been tweaked and director could have done a better homework on presenting SRK, to make his appearance special, but not only for the shake of "special appearance".
Since the main lead of movie, i.e. Zayed Khan's acting was too weak to give anything more than 2/10