The Fall

The Fall
USA (2006)
Starring:  Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru, Justine Waddell
Awards: 2007 Best Film - Sitges Catalonian Int'l. Film Festival; 2007 Crystal Bear Special Mention - Berlin Int'l. Film Festival; 2008 Best Cinematography - Austin Film Critics Association

This movie dubbed a fantasy and adventure begins in a hospital.  In this hospital there are two characters thrust together by chance.  A stunt man with a shattered heart and broken leg and a girl who fell and broke her arm.

Roy befriends Alexandria and begins telling her a story of six heroes who each desire to kill the same man.  As the story carries on Roy cons this young child into acquiring medicine for him for his pain.  As the story unfolds the viewer begins to understand that medicine will not cure Roy's particular situation.

I decided to watch this movie because I wanted to continue a recent run on fantasy movies.  This was far from anything upbeat and was truly sad the way the story unfolds.  For those of you who are looking for a fantasy adventure I would look on - the lack of action throughout and the morbid twists will leaving you wishing you picked another movie.  For those of you interested in fantasy movie with a dark/depressing motive well you can find it on Netflix.

Wu ji - The Promise

Wu ji - The Promise
China (2005)
Starring:  Cecilia Cheung, Dong-gun Jang, Hiroyuki Sanda
Awards:  Orient Express Section Special Jury Award (Fantasporto 2007)

I looked for this movie because I came across an old review from the LA Times I think that called it one of the most beautiful films imaginable.  The Promise was without a doubt visually striking.  It was worth getting the blu-ray version of it.  From the costumes to the scenes to the story itself this movie was cool all the way through.  It truly is a beautiful story.

In a world where men and gods live side by side a slave from the Land of the Snow and beggar turned princess pick their destiny.  Cheung was promised by a goddess a life of riches, but without love.  Jang was born a more noble human from the Land of the Snow and forced into slavery.  Their paths cross in a complex turn of events and the rest is the story that is worth watching.

This movie was awesome.  Just when I thought that I'd exhausted nearly every major cinematic release from the past decade I found a movie that made me wonder how I had missed it!

Quote:  Destiny can be changed, time sometimes does flow backwards, snow can fall in the spring, and even a frozen heart can come back to life.

Aashayein

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.

Goemon

Goemon
Japan (2009)
Starring:  Yosuke Eguchi, Takao Ohsawa, Ryoko Hirosue

I'm just going to open this up with the fact most of Goemon was visually stunning.  Between the scene settings whose detail was amazing to match the period, the fight scenes, and some pretty good CGI this movie was one of the most impressive that I've seen in a while.  With that said there were some periods of the movie where I caught myself thinking, "just get on with it."  All in all though it was phenomenal.

The story itself is based off of a mythic legend from the 1500's in Japan.  Goemon was somewhere between a simple thief, a runaway ninja, or the son of a samurai family.  The story of Goemon is mirrors that of Robin Hood.  He was a man who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.  His fighting skills have grown to nearly super-legendary levels over the past few hundred years.  In truth little is really known about hit, but that doesn't change the fact that his legend lives on.  Today a round cauldron like bathtub is still named after him Japan.

Lang zai ji - The Warrior and the Wolf

Lang zai ji - The Warrior and the Wolf
China (2009)
Starring:  Maggie Q, Jo Odagiri, Chung Hua Tou

I was hoping for a Chinese version of Dances with Wolves... That didn't happen.

I will have to say the scenery was cool in this movie, but that's about where it ended.  The dialog lacked as much as the recently reviewed Valhalla Rising and it was not nearly so easy for me to glean a story from this film.  I fell asleep about half way through and can't find it in me to start it again from that point.  Someone will probably tell me that I missed one of the most monumental endings a film has ever had....and I'd probably be okay not watching it still.

The Experiment

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.

Delhi 6

Delhi-6
India (2009)
Starring:  Waheeda Rehman, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor

Roshan was born to a Muslim mother and a Hindi father.  He was raised in America and when his grandmother takes ill he is the only one that is willing to travel back to the city the family came from.  He willingly thrusts himself into a world where he placed between two major religions, a culture unlike any he has ever dreamed of, beliefs and customs that people are willing to die to defend, and a black monkey.  As he discovers the roots of his family, meets his parents old friends, and his family's oldest supporters Roshan's life completely changes the more he is immersed in his new world.

This movie depicts culture shock in a wonderful light.  It partially shows the edges of the boundaries that different religions, castes, races, and cultures create simply by being.  It's full of good humor, song, dance, and of course a Bollywood love story - but, it also has a bit of racial and religious clashing.  In the arena of Bollywood movies I found Delhi-6 a good one; finally a movie where I didn't feel like I wasted my time for the first time in a week!

Loong Boonmee raleuk chat - Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

 

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.  

Guru

Guru aka Gurukant
India (2007)
Starring:  Mithun Chakraborty, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai

Guru is a movie that has sat in my collection for months, once again I should have watched it sooner.

This movie is about a villager who left his family and went to Turkey to work at a young age.  His father never accepted that he would become anything.  When he was to receive a promotion he saw little sense in continuing to work for someone else while remaining poor and quit working to go back home and follow a dream.  From that point forward the story unfolds.  Unlike many Bollywood movies that go on and on and on while playing out the plot with nothing new being introduced, Guru was constantly brining new issues or causes into the movie all the way through.  Also unlike many Bollywood movies, Guru is not a sappy love story all the way through; granted the love story does play a main part in the movie, but it is not the focus.  There are a few cute dance scenes which of course I love just because they involve the beautiful Aishwarya Rai.

This movie was about overcoming obstacles.  It depicted how much having the right person at your side can make all of the difference while enforcing that without determination you will never reach your goals.

All in all I have to say I really enjoyed this movie.  Partially because of the messages the movie contains and partially because of it's uniqueness as a Bollywood flick.

Quote:  If you're with me I can beat the whole world.
              If law can be made in a day, it can be changed in a day.
              Think big, think ahead, and think fast.

Zhan gu - The Drummer

Zhan gu - The Drummer
Hong Kong/Taiwan (2007)
Starring:  Jaycee Chan, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Angelica Lee, Josie Ho, and Kenneth Tsang
Awards:  Golden Horse Award - Best supporting Actor (2007), Wine Country Film Festival - Best Feature Film & Best Actor (2009)

The son of a powerful triad gang leader through his own decisions turns his and his family's lives upside down.  After sleeping with the girlfriend of a powerful gang leader Sid is forced into seclusion as an alternative to losing his hands or his live.  Having been the drummer in a band he is drawn to the sounds of drumming echoing through the mountains in his exile.  The discovery of the Zen Drummers changes his life forever.

This movie was interesting.  There is a mix of some action with inspirational concepts buried in the story around the Zen Drummers.  It doesn't go so far as to be a spaghetti style Hong Kong triad movie and has a bit more action then your typical Buddhist inspired movie.  Such a balance is a difficult one to maintain in a movie and the did a decent job walking that fine line in this movie.

Listen to Your Heart

Listen to Your Heart
USA
2010
Starring;  Alexia Rasmussen, Kent Moran, and Cybill Sheperd

The movie concept of a deaf person and a musician falling in love seems to be a recurring theme, though fewer and further between most of today's theme recurrences.  This one was done fairly well, but mostly because of the deep love and life lessons that it presents.  Listen to Your Heart was an awesome movie that was well worth it's time.  It's a good drama, love, life, loss, and inspirationally eye opening movie.  It seems like the budget might have been a little low, but then that makes part of a movie.  

Danny and Ariana meet at the restaurant where Danny, the struggling musician, works.  Though he captured Ariana's attention he does not at all impress her mother.  Where they end up is another place altogether.  Falling deeply in love is where this story begins.  Living through some of life's hard trials and tragedies is the journey that Listen to Your Heart takes the viewers on.

All in all I was anticipating a sappy love story and it proved to be so much more then that; sure there is a sappy love story, but there is also the beauty and inspiration of a love painted tragedy and a story that will make us all think about enjoying the time that we have.  Danny and Ariana are amazing characters for so many reasons. I really enjoyed this movie; I'll warn you though it could possibly have you both laughing and crying.

Quote:  What's one thing you could always use more of?  "Love" -Danny

Travelers and Magicians

 

Travelers and Magicians
Bhutan
2003
Starring:  Tshewang Dendup, Sonam Lhamo, and Lhakpa Dorji

When I saw this movie I watched it mainly because I wanted to visually explore Bhutan as much as this movie would allow.  It certainly satisfied some of my curiosity with some gorgeous scenery, but I know there are many spectacular wonders the cinematography in this film didn't touch.  With that said, being the first movie from Bhutan that I've watched I had to see what type of story it conveyed.   I found the beginning a little strange and almost annoying, but it was worth sticking out the first 20 minutes as the movie changed drastically.

From the beginning this movie is a story of travelers.  Dondup travels the mountain roads for days so that he can get to the capital and move to the United States.  Along the way as he rides buses and hitchhikes as he is forced to travel with a growing group of people.  One person whose path was crossed in this journey was a monk with a story to tell.  His story of a dreamland is mystical and certainly has its own meaning amongst choices the travelers will one day have to make.

Quote:  "A peach blossom is beautiful,  But you see, a blossom is only beautiful because it is temporary."

"You should be careful with dreamlands because when you wake up, it may not be very pleasant."

Strigoi

Strigoi
UK
2009
Starring: Constantin Barbulescu, camelia Maxim, and Catalin Paraschiv

I have to give it up for originality.  I was expecting something that didn't wow me too much, something that wasn't really exceptional, and that is exactly what I got.  I actually thought it was a Romanian movie till I did the research on it.  With that said, it is a vampire movie and maybe it's vampire lore somewhere that they behave in the manner depicted in the movie.  If not then these vampires are completely different then those I've grown old with on film.  There is some humor in this movie that's kinda funny.  There are also a lot of things that just don't seem to connect properly, but hey I still gave it the length of the movie.  It was enjoyable on some level, and probably what I'd recommend as a stormy Sunday afternoon flick.

Faana

Fanaa
India (Bollywood)
2006
Starring:  Aamir Khan, Kajol, Tabu, and Rishi Kapoor

You know how most Bollywood movies have an intermission because they are so long?  The second part of this movie was nothing like the first, it was truly like a second movie.  There aren't many times that I am caught off guard by the turn of events in a movie, usually I find movies predictable... this one was all but predictable.  From drama, to romance, to action, and some adventure this movie evokes many different sentiments.  The cinematography in the movie is absolutely stunning full of amazing sweeping views of gorgeous countrysides and scenery and Delhi as well.  The music is interesting in this movie.  A portion of the same tune is used in about 90% of the musical sequences.  How it changed to fit the different songs is through the whole movie and was still recognizable is unique.  The brave attempts at poetry through the whole first half was cool also; I'm quite sure this would have been a more enjoyable experience if I could understand the native audio - poetry always looses some of its constructive points in translation.

Zooni, a young blind woman who's lived a sheltered life.  She leaves the most important thing in her life, her family, and travels to Dehli in a grand adventure with her father's reluctant permission.  Through most of the movie she is recounting quotes of her father's wisdom, which I found quite enjoyable and personally reminded me of someone I used to know.   Rehan, "God's greatest gift" in his own words, is a tourguide.  Destiny brings them together and what follows if the story of a lifetime.  The path of their relationship takes the most unforeseen twists as Zooni makes a decision to undergo a corrective surgery to restore her sight.  Fanaa is quite cheesy in an enjoyable way through the first half.

Seeing a Bollywood movie with a blind woman as the leading character was interesting to me.  Kajol did a great job in keeping her eyes from reacting to visual stimuli during filming.

In all if you're a fan of Bollywood I have to recommend this movie it wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't bad either.  It's a awesome love story and has the wft? factor going through quite a bit of it.  I'm glad I gave it the chance.

Quote:  The choice isn't between good and evil.  That's easy.  The real choices of life are choosing between the lesser of two evils, or the greater of two goods.

Saawariya

Saawariya
India (Bollywood)
2007
Starring:  Ranbir Kapoor, Soman Kapoor, and Salman Khan

Saawariya didn't contain anything new for me, but it was still a beautiful movie. The movie was a cross between Pretty Woman and Moulan Rogue, with a little more innocence then either; not saying it directly pulls from the plots, but the Sawwariya reminds me of both.  With that said the scenes are absolutely beautiful; the filming mirrors that statement as well.  They did a great job creating romantic mysticism with dimly lit foggy scenes.  The town itself reminds me of Venice in general appearance and feel, but has a vibrant look to it in the dark that I don't recall of Venice; all of that with a traditional Indian overlay and some custom neon and coloring to finish it off.  If for nothing else then the sheer romanticism created by the sets alone I would watch this movie again.  The scenery in short is poetic.

The acting was good.  Sonam like many Bollywood actresses is just absolutely gorgeous and plays her part well.  Ranbir allso put on a stellar performance.  One of them a hopeless drifter who sings his way through bars and the other a woman awaiting a love who promised to come back to her the following Eid; they meet on a bridge and the stars can tell the rest of the story.  Together they made a movie that reminds you when love is hopeless life will go on.

I did have to take and download a different subtitle file then the one that came on the DVD and play the movie through an alternate viewer that would let me force overlay subtitles.  The one that came with the movie didn't seem to match the spoken dialog; seemed like a lot more talking was going on then I was reading.  With a different subtitle file I got a much better translation I think and translations of the songs (which are half the reason why I watch Bollywood movies anyway).  If anyone else finds they have the same ailment and need help with the subs let me know, it's a simple process.

My Name is Khan

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."

Het Leven Uit Een Dag - Life in One Day

Het Leven Uit Een Dag - Life in One Day
Netherlands
2009
Starring:  Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen, Lois de Jong, and Tygo Gernandt
Awards:  Nominated for Best Cinematography at Camerimage and for the Dutch Film Critics Award at the Netherlands Film Festival

Life in One Day is a unique movie.  At first I thought that it might have followed the storyline of a movie called Wristcutters, though it did show a small resemblance the movie was far from what I anticipated.

This independent film from the Netherlands explores love and relationships through experiences that take place in two parallel worlds.  One world is nearly the same as the other with a couple major differences; if one were to pick at some of the possibilities of the "alternate" world there are some fundamental issues that could be addressed, but the fact of the matter is that movies are a vehicle, a image if you will, from someone's mind as it imagines the possibilities and impossibilities in life and creates stories.  Het Leven Uit Een Dag is no exception.  This movie started out a little twisted, but surprised me as it continued.  The plot flows smoothly throughout the movie.  I am most positive I would thoroughly enjoy the movie in its native language.

The plot is that of two lovers who desire the impossible and strive towards it; this impossible being eternal love.  The story flows along this line all the way through.  There is quite a bit of eroticism, nudity, and sex through the movie - go Europeans.  How can one have an eternal love without considering sex and nudity in the relationship?  Through the exploration of life and satisfaction this movie journeys through situations ironically humorous and sad at the same time.

Het Leven Uit Een Dag, Life in One Day, was worth seeing once.  I enjoyed the movie enough that I came back and finished watching it; dread the movies that I can not do that with.

Quote:  In the world where I was born, life lasts one day.   One day in which you experience everything only once.

MirrorMask

MirrorMask
2005
Canada
Starring:  Stephanie Leonidas, Jason Barry, and Rob Brydon

MirrorMask falls into many different categories.  It is an adventure, a drama, a family movie, a fantasy, and is full of carnies all the way through.

I think Jim Henson had a run in with some bad acid from the 60s when he wrote this.  This movie was a visual trip all the way through.  I can only imagine the people who created it.  It is done by the creators of Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

With that said, if you can deal with the trippieness of it all it is quite an imaginative adventure.

The story begins in a carnival where one of the stars of the show is fighting with her daughter.  After those often exchanged words between the rebellious teenager and parents watching out for them.  Soon she finds herself in a world where everyone mysteriously wears masks..



Quote:  If I told you something wierd, would you think I'm crazy?

Ye yan - The Banquet

Ye yan - The Banquet
2006
China
Starring:  Ziyi Zhang, You Ge, and Daniel Wu

Ye yan, is credited with being an adaptation of Hamlet from China.  Ye yan
is about a prince who has turned his back on being a future ruler of his kingdom; he would prefer to study the arts then to take the crown and play aristocrat.

The Banquet is complete with back stabbing, forbidden love, poison, family struggles within the government, assassins, and a few good ass kicking scenes.  Wu Luan, the crown prince, has the cards stacked against him from the beginning.

This movie has some spectacular martial arts scenes.  If it is available in HD it would be worth the acquisition. For the lovers of martial arts movies and Chinese period flicks this is a must watch.  If you enjoyed Crouching  Tiger Hidden Dragon for the art and martial arts then you will most certainly enjoy this movie.

Quote:  "Why do you wear a mask when you perform?"
"It transports an actor to the highest state of his art.  Without a mask, happiness, anger, sorrow and joy are simply written on his face.  But, with a mask a great artist can convey to the audience the most complex and hidden emotions."

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Jadesoturi - Jade Warrior

Jadesoturi - Jade Warrior
2009
Finland
Starring:  Tommi Eronen, Markku Peltola, and Jingchu Zhang

Is a fusion of an epic Finnish poem called The Kalevala and Chinese feudal wuxia this movie is the first from Finland to make it into Chinese cinemas.

Kai, the main character in this movie, remembers his past when he was a master blacksmith in China.  His blacksmith past from another life is riddled with mystery, love, sacrifice, and challenge.

I rated this movie a 3 on netflix because I liked it, but I didn't love it.  This movie wasn't overly spectacular and I was watching a subtitled version, but it did have some cool concepts.  A blacksmith must save the world for his love of lifetimes ago to be his again; can he rise to the occasion?  For the story alone I would rate it a 4 or 5, but I personally have a hard time with most movies from Scandinavia; sad, yet true and I cannot say why.  Even with all that said I would recommend this movie.  The action and intrigue come in irregular intervals and just in time to pull your attention back to the story.  Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.  In cases like this one I am more than happy to pay for the rental just to do the little I can to encourage the cross cultural collaboration.

Quote:  "That kind of oath should not have been sworn alone.  It becomes a curse."

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