May you find exposure to movies here that that you would not have otherwise and the inspiration to watch one or two of them. Feel free to comment, subscribe, or help educate the Invisible Children through the social vibe link on the right.
Samurai Ayothaya - The Samurai of Ayothaya
Thailand (2010)
Starring: Seigi Ozeki, Kanokkorn Jaicheun, Sorapong Chatree
Awards: 2011 National Film Association Award (Best Score) - Thailand National Film Association Award
Finally months of patience and perseverance have paid off and I was able to acquire a subtitle file for this movie enabling me to watch it and more to the point: write this review.
The Samurai of Ayothaya is an interesting movie to me. It loosely follows part of the life of the historic figure Yamada Nagamasa. In history Yamada became the Govenor of the Nakhori Si Thammarat province. In the movie Yamada became one of the elite warriors from the Ayothaya province.
Betrayed by his countrymen and left for dead Yamada is saved by an enemy tribe and slowly brought back to health. He finds tranquility and identity with his saviors and decides to stay after his recovery.
This movie has some really cool fight scenes. There is this humorous tone to the movie that muay thai is the be all end all of martial arts and is the destroyer of all other forms. What else should I expect from a Thai movie though. I don't think the history portrayed in this movie is close to accurate, but I'm okay with that. The choreography of the martial arts is pretty good in this movie. The scenes are really cool - including the full moon festival. The movie served it's purpose of entertainment. I enjoyed watching it.
Aashayein
India (2010)
Starring: John Abraham, Sonal Sehgal, Anaitha Nair
Aashayein begins by showing a gambler that winning is not what life's all about. Rahul is a compulsive smoking gambler placing everything on one last bet; this wager contained his girlfriend's life savings. Strangely enough he won. He does what any man would do that won a fortune, he throws a party for a few friends to announce his intentions in life and proposes to his girlfriend. There could be no grander stage of happiness that could be built from which someone could fall.
In the moment of his greatest joy Rahul takes ill. Shortly afterward he is diagnosed with lung cancer. Fighting the million ways that his heart and thoughts are tugging his soul fate finds him while in the deepest of his despair. He runs away to a place where those with terminal diseases go to die and somehow blesses them with the most beautiful of gifts - life.
Aashayein is not the most upbeat of movies out there. In truth it has taken me about 4 months to watch it because I've known that. It is, though, a beautiful movie that is touching and thought provoking.
Quote: I don't know what tomorrow will bring. But now, now I have to live.
Red
USA (2010)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman
Red is an acronym in this movie for Retired, Extremely, Dangerous. It fits the title. Frank Moses, a retired CIA agent is beginning to find a peaceful life. From the picture perfect house to decorating for the holidays Frank continues to find new amusements to ease his retirement blues. Included in his daily diversions are long conversations with Sarah. Forced from retirement Frank goes to save Sarah from being the target of the same people who are trying to kill him. From there the comedy in the movie just grows.
Red is about a group of super bad-ass retired CIA agents getting back together for a cause. They come replete with aching backs and a madness driven by boredom. The topic is amusing to me in thought, it's akin to a superheroes rolling in wheelchairs out of a retirement home.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
USA (2010)
Starring: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley
Based on a series of books I haven't read since I was about five, I found this installment of C. S. Lewis's books to be what I expected. The details of the story I had long forgotten so most of the movie was not as familiar as you might expect of someone who had read the book. It seems like there are some occurrences that weren't in the book and of course many that were in the book that weren't in the movie. Still, all in all, I was pleasantly surprised by what I watched. If I was my little brother's age I would have loved this movie, I am sure.
While the classics aren't represented in their entirety I am enjoying the surge of movies written with a classic literature or historic background that have been coming out in the past 10 years. This one especially so. For everyone who can remember being a kid and reading this book by flashlight or candlelight long after you should have been asleep I thoroughly recommend allowing this movie to take you back to the times when magical things were possible in your mind.
The Expirement
USA (2010)
Starring: Adrien Brody, Cam Gigandet, Forest Whitaker
For years I've heard of this story about a sociology experiment where a class was divided and half became prisoners and half became guards. Over the past two or three decades a few have said it was their class and a couple people knew someone who was in the class. Once I heard the story a few times I kind of wrote all first hand recollections off much the way you would if someone told you they witnessed the Roswell incident. None the less I had to watch the movie.
The movie ended up as I would have expected. There weren't very many surprises. Either there really was a sociology experiment and this movie is based off of it or this movie is based off the fictitious legend someone created. All in all there was some action, a shocking scene or two that makes you think about what it really takes to manipulate a person or a group of people.
Loong Boonmee raleuk chat - Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives Thailand (2010) Starring: Thanapat Saisaymar, Jenjira Pongpas, and Sakda Kaewbuadee Awards: 2011 Best Film (Asian Film Awards), 2010 Palme d'Or (Cannes Film Festival), 2010 TFCA Award (Toronto Film Critics Association Awards)
Ok, so generally I see that a movie which carries a generally accepted set of genre tags such as comedy, drama, and fantasy and then the awards that were won along with a few other nominations and I think, "wow that might be a good movie. To get such attention from everyone this one at least has some potential."
I don't know if it was that I couldn't identify the title with the occurrences within this movie or if it was a cross between the ghost, the monkey spirit, the guy who mated with the monkey spirit, or the catfish god having sex with a princess. . . but, this movie didn't really impress me.
Alien vs. Ninja
Japan (2010)
Starring: Mika Hijii, Ben Hiura, and Shuji Kashiwabara
This came around in the San Diego Asian Film Festival last year and I was bummed that I didn't see it. I spent months looking for it and finally Netflix put it on streaming. For all of the time that I spent looking for this movie it wasn't worth the wait. With that said, if you feel like watching a mindless flick with a little gore and some funny but off kilter humor it's worthwhile.
All in all you can make the decision. I watched it once, but I won't watch it twice. Mika herself was more worth watching in the movie then the movie itself. . .
Huang cun gong yu - Curse of the Deserted
Singapore (2010)
Starring: Shawn Yue, Kitty Zhang Yuqi, Zefeng Li
I was kind of hoping and expecting more from Curse of the Deserted. The movie was filmed well and the actors did good, but the story wasn't quite what I was hoping. From all of the trailers I was hoping that this would be scary enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. Sadly it wasn't really scary. The story was okay though. I think the writer and director were going for a psychological thriller that didn't quite pan out the way they expected.
With that said, for a ghost story that isn't super freaky with some slight mind bending story behind it it is worth a couple hours on a boring night.
Ajeossi - The Man from Nowhere Korea (2010) Starring: Bin Won, Sae-ron Kim, Hyo-seo Kim
Ajeossi was unique. It certainly isn't the typical bullet ballad or is it a straight kick ass movie, but it has aspects of both. The beginning is a little slow, but when the action starts to kick in the pace changes completely.
As the movie starts it opens up defining this awkward relationship between a pawn shop owner that shuts most of the world out and a little girl that is without friends or a father. There's speculation due to his seclusion that the pawnshop owner is a sexual predator, but we soon learn that is far from the truth.
From one silent good deed to the next he takes care of the little girl till her mother betrays the wrong group of people and she is kidnapped. From then on this silent pawn shop owner goes up against gangs, villains, organ harvesters, police, and his own past. . . when all the forces at work in the movie come together there's one spectacular bang.
The Man from Nowhere touches on some subjects that we all wish didn't exist. In some very blunt ways it depicts the atrocities committed by organ harvesters, the dark underworld of gangs and drugs, and the violence created by these shady paths of life. This movie is super graphic and will leave you going WTF? a few times. To me it is in a small way a reminder of the acts committed against other humans on a daily basis, we should all be so lucky as to never see this part of life in reality.
With that said, the choreography is done well. The cinematography is also pretty good. Every person in the movie had a foul mouth and the way things were translated gave me a good laugh. It could be the movie was actually written that way and it was designed to interject humor through dialog - I would welcome someone's opinion who can understand it in it's native language. All in all I'm glad I watched it. If you want to see it in English though, I'd go for the subtitled version instead of the dubbed one - the audio on the dubbed version is all kinds of horrible. Quote: He didn't flinch when I shot the gun.
La Herencia Valdemar - The Valdemar Legacy
Spain
2010
Starring: Daniele Liotti, Oscar Jaenada, Silvia Abscal, and Laia Marull
The Valdemar Legacy was a decent horror movie. There's a twist or two that I didn't expect. The dark style Spanish movies are known for is also present, Jose Aleman uses contrast between shadow and light well throughout the movie as a means to help create the scene and convey the story.
La Herencia Valdemar begins with a well respected property appraiser being given the opportunity to appraise an old remote estate, the Valdemar mansion. What she finds there will change her life. When she is out of contact for a few days her boss hires Nicolas to locate her and ensure that she completes her appraisal. Nicolas soon discovers the legend of the Valdemar properties. Through the movie there is a story within a story that is very well placed and played out. There are also appearances by at least two of history's infamously evil figures.
In this movie the cinematography is pretty good, the acting is alright, the plot is somewhat unique, and the flow of the story is well enough to keep you watching. The Valdemar Legacy is just part one of a story. Part two, La Sombra Prohibida, should be releasing on DVD some time in the next few months.
Veer
India (Bollywood)
2010
Starring: Salman Khan, Zarine Khan, Mithun Chakraborty, and Jackie Shroff
As the poster says, it Veer is the epic love story of a warrior. The movie boasts some decent sweeping visual scenes as well as a multicultural tale. Veer is a story of honor, betrayal, and love against the backdrop of a historically epic time in India.
Veer is a Pindari warrior whose father and tribe are betrayed by the British and Madhavgarh's King. Fate one day brings Veer and his warriors to rob a train that will change the course of history for the Pindari.
Veer has extremely mixed reviews on all fronts, still I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some say the final scenes aren't necessary, but I find some cosmic peace in the ending; others say the battles were unnecessary, I'm not sure how else one would portray this warrior without them; and still others yet say it was cheesy, every Bollywood romance has a huge element of that. All in all I'd watch it again. I hope Netflix soon brings it to the USA masses, I'd like to see Zarine Khan boosted into stardom and this first movie of hers referenced as one of her greats in years to come.
Quote: This story belongs to fearless the Pindari whose saga of bravery was not considered as a part of history by the British. But, they could not stop them from becoming a legend.
"What is the Greatest Thing for a Pindari?" - "Courage"
"And greater than courage?" - "Promise"
"And greater than a promise?" . . .
My Name is Khan
India
2010
Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Kanol, and Sheetal Menon
Since the day it was released on Netflix on demand service this movie was in my queue; I left it there for months without watching it for one reason or another and I'm sad that it took me so long to watch it.
My Name is Khan is an amazing movie consisting of a well knit web of difficulties. The movie is centered around the struggles of Muslims and Hindi in America before and after 9/11. The main character, Khan, faces struggles of his own throughout his childhood and adulthood both in India and in the United States. The circles of struggles touch on the relationships between Indian Muslims and Hindis, family, religions, countries, cultures, racism, discrimination, acceptance, love, loss, innocence, and so much more. I don't know that I have ever seen a movie that involved so much that was so well done; I had assumed this movie wouldn't interest me and instead when I started watching it in the middle of the night I couldn't go to sleep until I finished watching it (5am). This is simply a must see.
I will be the first to admit that I do not know much about the Great Divide in India, what caused it, or why it still an issue. I'm not sure if the Great Divide is the same as the Partition of 1947. But, it is sad that there are so many people who struggle to this day with religion and in the case of Khan's homeland the caste system as well. This movie didn't involve the caste system, but was but did depict the struggles from two cultures from the same country while in a foreign land. It also involved the struggles of the Indian Muslim and Hindu population living in the United States and how they also began to divide after 9/11. This movie is simply and amazingly eye opening and moving.
There could not have been more horrible things happening to a man who was simply trying to do his best to live in a world where he was different then everyone else. Khan's struggles with Asperger Syndrome and with his own identity. Even being shunned by society at large and struggling on so many fronts a warmer heart and soul could not have been written into his character any better.
Through the struggles of one man and his actions this movie reminds us that one individual can be a powerful force, no matter who they are.
While I was in the process of due diligence on this movie I found an article that broke my heart. While the article is a compilation of stories and says the actions of those involved had more to do with cricket in India than the religious or cultural differences portrayed in My Name is Khan the actions by religious groups shows otherwise in my mind. It is sad that different cultures struggle for acceptance from each other in their home land and add the struggle of acceptance of a nation to that difficulty when they come here. As borders grow less obscure in the way the world is trending currently hopefully mankind will learn to accept itself at large no matter what culture or background someone comes from. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2010/02/100212_my_name_is_khan_nh_sl.shtml
Quote(s): "My Name is Khan and I'm not a terrorist"
Ammi: "This is you Rizvan. And this is the person who has a stick in his hand. And he is beating you."
Rizvan: "It's bad, beating is bad."
Ammi: "Yes, it's bad. Now this is you again Rizvan and this is the person who has a lollipop. And he gives it to you.
Rizvan: "Lollipop is sweet. It's a good thing."
Ammi: "Good boy. Now tell me which of these is a Hindu and which one a Muslim?" Looking at stick figure drawings.
Rizvan: "Both look alike."
Ammi: "Good. Remember one thing son, there are only two kinds of people in this world. Good people who do good deeds and bad people who do bad. That's the only difference in human beings."
Su Qi-Er - True Legend China 2010 Starring: Man Cheuk Chiu withXun Zhouand guest appearances by Michelle Yeoh and David Carradine
Su Qi-Er is a great fictional movie about the founder of the drunken boxing style.
Do you remember the kung fu flicks of days past? The awesome striking, kicking, blocking, and unique techniques? The awesome moves all the way around with names to match? Have you watched one lately? I find them cheesy now. This movie though, True Legend, is one awesome display of martial arts!
I find when looking at reviews that this movie is under appreciated. True Legend though involves so much that it is one awesome movie. The story begins in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Su Qi-Er opens with one of the best martial arts scenes. The movie incorporates battles of good against evil, of family against the forces seeking to tear it apart, of love against separation, and of devotion and believing.
I dare not tell too much about this movie for fear of spoiling it. This movie though involves daggers and swords. Gods and poison. And amazing scenes. I recommend this movie as a top notch hand to hand martial arts flick, a well choreographed and artistic display of Asian cinema, and as a story worth hearing that has survived a millennium. There is no aspect of this movie that is lacking. From mortals to gods and everything in between it should be seen by martial arts fans around the world. It will get you pumped and keep you there all the way through. Even if just strictly for its martial arts this movie is awesome; watch the firsts 10 minutes and say no to the rest, I dare ya! It is easily one of the best Kung Fu movies I have seen in a decade. The choreography of Woo Ping is at its best in this movie and the scenes are just spectacular. I didn't see this movie nominated for any awards yet, but by the time 2012 hits my assumption is that it will win awards in movie festivals across the world. I rate this movie as a must see!!
Endhiran - Robot (2010) Tamil Starring: Rajnikanth, Aishwarya Rai, and Danny Denzongpa
Robot is reported to be the most expensive Indian film in history. I hope they gross a ton of money for it, their efforts do show!
Every American over the age of about 30 will see a touch of A.I., Terminator, and RoboCop in the background of this movie. Even so I still enjoyed this movie, granted my opinion is biased.. I just think Aishwarya Rai is gorgeous and I love her other films.
Endhiran begins with a man's life achievement about to come to fruition. This achievement is to create an advanced robot. The movie takes a few twists and turns that I did not quote expect; but, the plot was predictable through most of the movie; but it's saving grace was the humor that was incorporated into the movie as well. The end was quite satisfying and the journey through the movie was worth the time. As I personally expect with all movies Bollywood there were a few dance scenes. One of the songs sticks out in mind because it varies greatly from the traditional Bollywood type of music and is more reflective of a poppy trance almost. They were choreographed and coordinated well.
Endhiran has it's bases covered with all the makings of a good sci-fi flick and should do well around the world. While the love story in this movie isn't the typical epic (on a cosmic scale) that I am familiar with from Indian movies, it is still a very cute one. There are also some very stunning CGI in the movie. All in all, I watched it and enjoyed it; I do recommend this movie.
