Change Your Image
abhilash-1
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers (2021)
An episode of the Chosen pretending to be a movie
How do you pretend that an episode is an entire movie? Play a lot of vocals at the beginning that does not help move the plot. I had loved the Chosen series, the multi-threaded plot lines, backstories for the characters, a really wholesome experience. You would anticipate that concept taken to a whole new level in a movie version. Instead you get an hour and 15 mins of Gospel singers, lip singing to their own videos and then a 30 mins episode in the TV series. Does not meet the expectation that it created.
Bombshell (2019)
Compelling story but bends the knee to the prejudices of our time
Compelling story but bends the knee to the prejudices of our time. A good movie should inform us about reality while keeping us entertained. While this movie has done a good job in that respect, it caters too much to deeply held prejudices of our day. Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly are the only ones who supposedly broke the law, but the movie might lead one to believe that this climate of harassment is unique to Fox News. It does not explicitly say that of course, but that is how the movie bends to the prejudice of the liberal audience.
And then of course there is the whole attempt to tie President Trump to this through a guild by association technique. And the general mockery of Fox's popular anchors like Neil Cavuto and Sean Hannity, the comical portrayal of Rudi Gulliani, 'the women are to be believed no matter what' undertone, the idea that men will put up a defense only because they are guilty. All that are hinted at and given voice.
Just a simple story might prove to be too boring, I suppose. The facts have to be used to anchor and promote a certain political agenda. Gives the impression that Fox News is an outlier, perhaps CNN, ABC or NBC might be safer for women. Except that is not true - Amy Robach on the hot mic; George Stephanopoulos covering up for the Clintons and Matt Lauer's behavior tells us that there is more systemic issue here. Smearing Fox is a good opportunity to make money while not addressing the issue. But still, it is a step in the right direction. So go ahead and see it. Don't make a news channel your false idol for worship.
Victim of the Brain (1988)
Thought provoking
9/10 because some of the scientific possibilities envisioned seemed a bit outdated as is to be expected, this was made in 1988, 20 years ago. I would have give 9.5/10 if I could have though, because the philosophical underpinning of this movie is extremely sound and well backed up. It seems to convey the message rather well that intelligence originates from a non-intelligent process.
The focus of the movie is more on Douglas Hofstadter rather than Daniel Dennett. Dennett in fact plays a rather comical role in this movie, a man whose brain was removed as part of a top secret project and the repercussions that arise from it. I would have liked it if they gave some more screen time for Dennett.
All in all it touches subjects most dear to us - consciousness, emotions, free-will, morality and intelligence, giving all of it an origin in mechanical parts which by itself does not possess any of these characteristics and in doing so leaves us in somewhat of a moral quandary. And yet at the end of watching it, I felt contentment, satisfaction, a sense of reassurance and a renewed appreciation of the way nature works.
Infinity (1996)
If you are a Feynman fan, you will enjoy this movie
I give this movie 9/10, the one mark is deducted because this movie is not the best introduction to Feynman's life and does not do enough justice to his great personality. To fully enjoy the movie you must first read Feynman's two books, "What do you care what other people think?' and 'Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!' The first is essential, the second is optional. Both are light reading type of books with loads of jokes but they have their sensitive side as well. On the whole well balance.
Now if you read the book, you will get a good insight into Feynman's personality. Then the movie will be like the frosting on top of your Feynman cake. I wish the director had done a better job, it would have introduced so many more people to the life and works of Richard P. Feynman.