Iron Man 2 - Thoughts

After the rage that was Iron Man in 2008, the sequel Iron Man 2 was released in April 2010. I’d seen the trailers for Iron Man 2, and Micky Rourke as Whiplash was simply menacing. Needless to say, Iron Man 2 was a must watch. In this sequel, billionaire inventor Tony Stark has to deal with pressure from the US government, competition from Hammer Industries, and the Russian super villain, Whiplash.


Iron Man 2 had a relatively long runtime of 124 minutes. The viewers can expect to see all that they’re familiar with from the Iron Man movie franchise, including intense action sequences with excessive levels of destruction, impressive special effects throughout, and Tony Stark’s completely over the edge and full of himself personality. New additions include additional characters from the Iron Man DC universe, minimal back-story into Tony Stark’s family, and limited to negligible character development. Whiplash is severe and ominous, and the action has been taken up a few notches, but that’s about it. If you’re looking for entertainment and action, Iron Man 2 does very well. Iron Man 2 has a simple plot, is suitable for children, and is pretty much an extension of the elements from the first Iron Man movie, with very little that is really new. The movie remains light all through, and has casual comic elements to it. After the first half the movie did tend to drag a little, with the scenes being slow and stretched.

For those who have watched the first Iron Man movie from 2008, I’m sure it comes as no surprise that Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark is perfection personified. He’s obsessive, compulsive, witty, insufferably narcissistic, somewhat eccentric, and unnecessarily extreme. It’s safe to say at this point the Robert Downey has solidified his position as Iron Man to the point that future sequels will be impossible without him. Mickey Rourke, a new addition to the Iron Man franchise was again simply flawless. He came across as passionate, driven, vengeful, and ruthless. The intensity with which he brought Whiplash’s character to life was perhaps one of the highlights of the movie. Don Cheadle as Lt. Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes played the voice of reason, bringing a sense of seriousness to the movie. Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts did a good job of seeming up to her neck in Iron Man drama clean-up; an adequate performance overall. Jon Favreau who stars as Happy Hogan, Tony Stark’s chauffeur, added comic relief in a silly bumbling sorta way. Incidentally Favreau is also the director of both the Iron Man movies.

I’d considered watching this one in the theatre, but owing to schedule conflicts was forced to catch the DVD. As in most cases, being a Region 1 US DVD, video and color were bright and clear for most part, with Red and Gold tones being a little over emphasized; that being intentional off course. There were some dark scenes though where definition was average. Sound was spot on, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack accompanied the action sequences perfectly.

My Recommendation: Watch It (A must for those who can’t get enough of Iron Man)

Eight Legged Freaks - Thoughts

With no exposure to any promo activities I was unaware of this movie at the time of its release, way back in 2002. Recently enough as part of my regular movie research, I was looking at the movies that Roland Emmerich was involved with, and strangely enough this one popped up. Most of the others were hugely popular blockbusters like Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012. Eight Legged Freaks looked to be a joint effort, and possibly B grade in nature. The cast was relatively familiar, and I figured this one was worth checking out. In terms of the plot its very straight forward; a collection of unique and exotic spiders get exposed to toxic waste and thus end up growing geometrically. These giant spiders terrorize a small town and its inhabitants.


As expected with B grade movies, the plot is one-dimensional and is extremely predictable. While there is almost no character development, there are some small parallel running character driven sub-plots. Being as limited, this movie is a great candidate for multi-tasking situations wherein you need to get other stuff done, but can watch a movie while you’re at it. The special effects were surprisingly good for a movie as small and possibly low budget. I’d expect that this has to do with Roland Emmerich’s involvement in the movie, and probably other related crew members as well. While having its thrilling moments, the movie also has a casual silliness that helps keep things light. Even while faced with the growing death count and seemingly no-win situation there is a relaxed feel to the movie. In terms of a genre, the movie is officially billed as a Horror Comedy flick. It’s not really scary, though I’d admit to the presence of a few thrilling scenes. There is a comedy track, and I guess it does have a light mood to it.

Kari Wuhrer as Sheriff Samantha Parker was pretty decent. Her portrayal of a small town law official, and a caring mother of two was sufficiently adequate. If you have been following her career, this is probably one of her more mainstream and less risqué roles. David Arquette as Chris McCormick was noticeably amateur, but acceptable. Through his character he added some humor to the plot that worked okay. Scarlett Johansson is probably one of the better known cast members. In Eight Legged Freaks her role is more that of a child-actress/teenager, playing the role of Ashley Parker, the sheriff Sam Parkers daughter. Interestingly, this was just prior to her award winning performance in Lost in Translation, released in 2003. To the unacquainted, she won a ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role’ at the BAFTA awards. Lost in Translation was her sorta coming of age performance that put her on the map. In Eight Legged Freaks though her role was very limited, but her portrayal of a teenager was pretty good. What was interesting was that she actually resembled Kari Wuhrer, who plays her mom in the movie.

This movie was pretty hard to source, and thus I had to settle for a high bitrate DivX rip (Ripped from DVD). Owing to the high bitrate the video quality was good, without any overly noticeable pixilation. Color vibrancy as always was lacking being a DivX rip. No specific post production color tones were used. I’d expect the DVD release to be pretty good; clear with natural colors. Special effects / CGI were good, and all the action / thrill sequences were visually realistic. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 soundtrack. Dialog was clear all through, and sound was ample. Surround stage usage was minimal, but noticeable and present during certain scenes. The music score was orchestral with a high level of interactivity based on the mood of the specific scene.

My Recommendation: Dicey (Good special effects, a very simplistic plot, and mediocre performances)

10000 BC - Thoughts

Released in 2008, 10000 BC is one of Roland Emmerich’s less successful blockbuster efforts. While it was initially hyped during the promotional stage, once aired the critics as well as the public spoke of innumerable historical inaccuracies. I remember seeing the trailers in High Def, and subsequently turning a deaf ear to the media chatter; as I always do. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about movies, never rely on public opinion or even that of your friends. In 10000 BC, the story follows D’Leh; a young hunter who travels great distances leading his tribesmen and those of several adjoining tribes, to secure a safe and sustainable future for the people, while rescuing his woman, Evolet.


The plot is very simple and straightforward; there are no unexpected twists or in-depth analysis required to figure out 10000 BC. Keeping in mind that this is a depiction of life in 10000 BC, I think it’s only fair that the conflict be based on simple elements like food, the lack of it, oppression of the people, and the treachery and deceit in the name of the gods. That said the movie is fairly interesting, and worth the watch. As expected of Emmerich and his crew, when it comes to visual effects 10000 BC does not disappoint. The Saber-tooth tiger and mighty Mammoth are so real and lifelike that you’ll believe that you’re seeing them in person at perhaps the zoo. It takes a while before you realize, wait these are extinct animals, this is not normal. Watch it for the special effects and the simple yet practical story 10000 BC sets out to be, and you’ll enjoy it.

Performances were average, with most of the cast being amateur. D’Leh was played by Steven Strait, and though his performance lacked some, it made sense from the perspective of him being a crude barbaric man, with expression not necessarily being his forte. Camilla Belle as Evolet had a sorta pretty girl in the tribe charm that worked well. She had the required dreaminess while being rough around the edges. Cliff Curtis as Tic’Tic, the lead warrior of the tribe, executed his role quite well, and was one of the stronger performances. He came across convincingly as experienced, and wise; taking on a somewhat father figure for D’Leh. Finally, Affif Ben Badra, the warlord sent out to steal and plunder from the villages had a cunning to him that worked well. He was harsh and cruel, while being smart enough to further his own agenda.

The DVD I was watching was a regular Region 1 US DVD. Video was good throughout, with visibility remaining consistently clear. Some of the night shots were dark and dusty, but I believe this was intentional. Many of the long shots were scenic and beautiful. CGI was flawless, and sets and creatures were more real than ever. Sound was decent, and was by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Ambient desert sounds set the pace well, and dialog was sharp and clear through the center channel.

My Recommendation: Watch It (When Discovery Channel meets HBO)

Resident Evil: Afterlife - Thoughts

Afterlife at last, is what I said to myself when Resident Evil: Afterlife opened in theatres in Chennai. It is the 4th installment in the Resident Evil franchise, and a hugely anticipated movie for all Resident Evil fans, including myself. For me to say that Resident Evil: Afterlife is perhaps my most anticipated movie of 2010, would not be a stretch, as such is my love for Resident Evil. In Afterlife, we follow Alice in her battle against the evil Umbrella Corporation. This time she takes the fight to them, attacking their HQ in Tokyo. What follows is her pursuit for the safe haven only known as Arcadia, with a group of unexpected survivors. To those unfamiliar with Resident Evil, the Umbrella Corporation developed a deadly T-virus in one of their high-tech facilities called The Hive. Following an accident, the virus spread rapidly, affecting first The Hive’s occupants, then Raccoon city, and eventually spreading to the rest of the world. The first movie covered the events in The Hive, the second the infection of Racoon city, and the third set a few years later, in an all but ravaged desolate earth. Returning in Afterlife is director Paul W.S. Anderson from the very first Resident Evil movie.


Going into Afterlife, I’m sure most Resident Evil fans would have had a fair idea of what to expect; zombies, carnage, intense action sequences, impressive special effects, high tech Umbrella Corp. facilities, extreme sci-fi concepts, and plenty of Alice. In terms of the plot, the closing minutes of Resident Evil: Extinction, set the stage for the events to follow in the 4th part. So all this said, just a mere rehash would probably have been lackluster, and sticking to the plots expectation though safe, would have been limited and lacking in ingenuity. The one new element thrown in the mix was the addition of 3D, which seems to be the in thing now. 97 minutes of intense 3D action later, I’d have to say that Afterlife didn’t disappoint. What it did very successfully, was take several loved Resident Evil elements, combine it with a plot that managed to intrigue, and add a new level of action appeal by means of unique 3D use. What viewers might have expected for the plot to be, was wrapped up in the first 10 minutes, in a satisfying hardcore action sequence sorta way. What followed was fresh, yet realistically melded narrative elements. The pace of the movie was a mix of slower scenes that help add to the desolate end of humanity theme, and faster extreme action sequences. I only had one gripe, which had to do with a poorly introduced character, who’s presence, origin, and context till the end never got explained. Special mention must be made of the excellent use of 3D in Afterlife. The riveting stop motion action scenes, coupled with the clever use of 3D was simply mind-blowing. In short, Resident Evil: Afterlife makes the legendary Matrix’s special effects look paltry at best. Horror elements are pretty much absent, and sudden scares are limited compared to its predecessors. In a nut shell, Resident Evil: Afterlife is very impressive, a must watch for Resident Evil fans, and action lovers alike.

Project Alice, as the Umbrella Corp. refers to her, played by Milla Jovovich is the centerpiece to Resident Evil. So integral is her role in the narrative, that it would be hard to imagine continuity of the franchise in her absence. Considering that Milla has been perfect 3 times already, saying that she fit the bill of Alice well, would be stating the obvious. The only difference this time was the slightly more human side to her character, which she seemed to be able to portray well, while kicking zombie behind, and obviously shining as a hardened action veteran. Several of her stunt sequences reminded me of the athletic prowess of Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider. Cliare Redfiled, making a reprise in Afterlife was increasingly impressive. Some of her character Claire Redfield’s action sequences put her on par with Alice, and without a doubt solidified her characters role as Alice’s trusty counterpart. New additions were Ventworth Miller as Chris Redfield of Prison Break fame, and Boris Kodjoe as Luther. Their performances were pretty decent and sufficient bearing in mind their role in the plot. Shawn Roberts played the role of Albert Wesker, the ultra-cool super villain in Afterlife, who reminded me of Val Kilmer from Tom Gun. Shawn was brilliant as the cold, emotion less, almost impervious to pain and unstoppable antagonist; a fitting rival indeed.

Needless to say, I watched this one in the theatre; alas the wait since Resident Evil: Extinction was hard enough. There was no way I was going to wait till the original DVD was released. Owing to the 3D glasses, picture seemed a little dark and dull throughout. It’s my belief that the intentional dark tone of Resident Evil coupled with the 3D glasses was the cause for this. Rest assured this doesn’t in anyway take away from the overall video viewing experience. The DVD should be clear, while retaining post production dark overtones to emphasize the Resident Evil mood. Sound was quite impressive, and while no specific element stood it, it was woven with the action sequences masterfully to create simply incredible action movie moments. The musical score was perfect, and helped push the action a notch higher, while in keeping with the Resident Evil theme. 3D visual effects were used extensively, and perhaps the most that I have seen in any movie to date. While movies like Avatar used 3D to present simple nature and environments well, Afterlife took it to a whole new level. Every action sequence was built from ground up keeping in mind the 3D element, and its impact on the audience. Every swinging blade and flying bullet is calculated, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself making sudden embarrassing movements in the theatre to avoid flying debris.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Possibly cooler than your own afterlife)

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope - Thoughts

Released way back in 1977, Star Wars is now nothing short of legendary and iconic. Episode IV – A New Hope is the first in a trilogy that spanned from 1977 to 1983. Created and directed by George Lucas, Star Wars is known for its pioneering use of special effects, sci-fi storytelling, and non-conventional editing. Commercially it became the no.1 highest grossing movie of all time, and also went on to become the most influential movie of all time. In 1997, the Star Wars trilogy was digitally remastered and re-released to theatres in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Subsequently DVDs were also released. George Lucas completed his Star Wars saga with a follow up the original trilogy with a prequel trilogy set 32 years before Episode IV - A New Hope. As implied by the name, in A New Hope, the rebellion forces take on the mighty and evil Galactic Empire, in the hope of restoring peace in the galaxy. Luke Skywalker is introduced as a simple farm boy, who is in some way connected to all the turmoil in the galaxy. As he gets drawn into the plot, his strong connection with the force is revealed.


It’s been a while since I’ve seen Star Wars, but it was an absolute pleasure seeing it again. Another interesting point to note is that it was the first time I was seeing Episode IV after the prequel trilogy of Episodes I, II, and III. Owing to the added backstory from the prequels, a lot of the scenes in Episode IV - A New Hope had new and added value. The narrative process was strong, and the plot irrespective of its high dependency on sci-fi elements and special effects, remained interesting. Though I’ve seen all the Star Wars movies before, at the end of Episode IV I was in one of those, can’t wait to see Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back now moods. Pacing was good, and slow and fast elements/scenes were blended well. Being a new universe with new characters, new themes, and new twists, care was taken to gradually initiate the audience into the overall saga; ensuring that way that the viewers wouldn’t feel lost halfway into the movie. For most part concepts were kept simple, that way not losing out on the not so hardcore sci-fi junkies. To substantiate my point, I watched Episode IV with a newbie to the franchise who had only heard of Star Wars; comments after were that it was entertaining and made for a fun watch. That said, I guess it’s safe to say that Star Wars has universal appeal; including the uninitiated and non sci-fi folk. For the legions of Star Wars fans, this movie will undoubtedly be amazing and deserves a rating of Kick Ass by all means. Personally I got goose bumps nearly 10 times at various points, often supported by the brilliant Star Wars theme score.

Mark Hamill stars in the lead role as Luke Skywalker. He does a fine job of playing a teenager, bored with the mundane chores of being a farmer, and is eager to travel and explore the galaxy. Presented well was the awe in his eyes and expressions, for what the galaxy and his life had in store for him, outside of his home planet of Tatooine. Harisson Ford, who looks incredibly young, plays the role of Han Solo, a young hotshot spaceship captain. Though his methods are rash, and possibly bad boy hero like, he means well. Ford does a good job of portraying those varied characteristics, while adding some humor and spontaneity to the plot. Carrie Fisher plays princess Leia, a prominent leader of the rebellion forces, a member of the imperial senate, and a part of the royal family of Alderaan. Again an impressive performance; clearly imminent is her royal background and upbringing. Also noticeable is that her character is very capable and not sacred of getting her hands dirty based on the need of the hour. When it comes to characters, Star Wars is like an ocean, so I will hold off at this point. C-3PO and R2-D2 though just droids, with limited to no expression are vital components of Star Wars. Needless to say Star Wars is a beautifully crafted work of art. As expected with all movies employing vast extras and un-credited cast members, there are several amateurs who have limited screen time with mediocre performances; but it’s no bigge and doesn’t take away from the splendor of Star Wars in anyway.

The DVD I was watching was a Region 1 US release of the 2004 digitally remastered version of Star Wars – Episode IV. Picture quality was good throughout, and except for a few slightly darker scenes were definition was reduced, things were good for most part. The digital restoration process was obviously very successful. The audio was simply remarkable, with sounds effects being sharp and dialog being clear. Surround usage was perhaps one of the best I’ve ever come across, with 3D positional sound being very noticeable in several scenes. The surround mix was far superior to that of most action movies released nowadays. The soundtrack I was listening to was a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The score again was brilliant; kudos to John Williams for the theme and sound of Star Wars. Most older movies come off cheesy when revisited, but that isn’t the case with Star Wars. While some of the scenes looked a little dated, overall it was amazing to see a movie from 1977 look and sound so good.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Flip to the word legendary in the dictionary, and you’ll find a picture of Star Wars)

Predators - Thoughts

When I first heard that a Predator movie was in the making, I knew it was a must watch; irrespective of media opinion. The first Predator movie was released way back in 1987, starring Schwarzenegger in the lead. A sequel with Danny Glover was released in 1990. The Predator character made a return in the 2004/2007 Alien versus Predator movies. Though most of the above mentioned movies were more or less commercially successful, hardcore fans of the first movie didn’t like the evolution of the Predator franchise. In an attempt to set things right, a Predators movie was announced in April 2009. The intent was that the movie would be set directly after the events of the first Predator movie, altogether ignoring all the subsequent sequels. This time a group of warriors, specialized in their individual combat styles from various geographies are brought together, and then hunted by a clan of Predators.


An action filled 107 minutes later, I was left feeling sufficiently entertained and satisfied. Right from the very opening sequences you will notice that the jungle setting of the movie is beautiful. The plantation is thick, green and lush. The overall scenic splendor of the movie is worth mention. One of the most gripping and awe inspiring scenes is about 25 minutes into the movie when the unlikely group reach the edge of the ravine and get a full view of the horizon for the first time. Besides picturesque value, that specific scene had an immense impact on the plot. The mood and feel of Predators reminded me of the original Predator from 1987, and the more recent The Condemned movie from 2007. (The Condemned had a similar bunch of convicts of varied origin pit against each other in a battle to death on a remote island). While some parts of the narrative process and dialog were predictable, it wasn’t to the point of being laughable. The action elements of the movie were gripping and realistic; violence and gore were present throughout. There was a constant thrill element, with numerous surprises at every turn. The plot leaves very little room for anything new, and traverses in the now stereotype ‘eliminate the characters, one at a time’ formula. For Predator franchise fans and sci-fi enthusiasts, this movie will be entertaining. The same goes for action lovers. Character development is limited, though present. Predators is not suitable for children and those expecting deep intricate plots.

Adrien Brody plays Royce, the possibly ex-special forces, American mercenary, who stereotypically becomes the brains and unofficial leader of the group. His performance was very good; not only was he very convincing in the action role, but he portrayed the character elements of a mercenary with questionable human values very well. Alice Braga as Isabelle did a decent job; being the only female cast member, she managed to play with the boys, while still showing some emotion. Topher Grace of That 70’s Show (TV Serial) fame played Edwin, adding nominal comic relief to the otherwise action ensemble of characters. Mahershalalhashbaz Ali of The 4400 (TV Serial) fame played Mombasa, an elite African combatant. His role was limited but adequate. Oleg Taktarov as Nikolai came across as hardcore, yet a good man; a minimal yet successful representation.

I didn’t want to have to wait too much, so I checked this one out in the theatre. Video was sharp and the digital transfer was crisp and clear; this stood out at various points during the runtime of the movie. Colors were natural, and no obvious postproduction tones were noticeable. I’d expect the DVD transfer to be impeccable. Sound was good, and surround usage was ample; while nothing stood out, the action sequences and jungle ambience was perfect. Without too much analysis and dissecting, overall technical elements were very efficient and faultless.

My Recommendation: Watch It (An entertaining action sci-fi flick)

Shinedown: Sound Of Madness - Thoughts

I hadn’t heard of Shinedown up until early 2009, when I heard one of their songs, Second Chance in the Billboard US Top 40. Considering I really liked it, I decided to follow-up on the artist. The first step was to get their album that had Second Chance on it, and give it a listen. That’s how I got around to acquiring and hearing Sound of Madness. From my subsequent online research I learned that Shinedown was a relatively new band from Jacksonville, Florida that came together in 2001. Sound of Madness was their third studio album released in 2008.


• Artist: Shinedown
• Album: Sound Of Madness
• Release Date: Jun 24, 2008
• Genre: Rock

Key Credits:
• Brent Smith – vocals
• Barry Kerch – drums
• Zach Myers – guitar
• Eric Bass – bass

After having heard the album several times over in these pasts months, it’s safe to say that its quite amazing. It’s a nice blend of hard hitting fast rock, and power ballads with emotion; a few tracks even have a alternative rock sound to it. Some tracks appealed to me from the get go, while others grew onto me with repeated hearing. Frankly speaking it’s hard to fault a single track; they’re all quite remarkable. Sound of Madness has to be one of my all time favorite albums, with excessively high repeat hearing value.

- The opening track Devour sounds intense and charged. While having a noticeably swift pace, it’s not unnecessarily hard or putting off. Devour has featured in the Final Destination soundtrack and has been used in multiple WWE events and video games including Madden NFL 09.

- Second Chance is the bands most popular track to date, reaching #7 in the Billboard Top 100 in June 2009. Its slower and has a nice pleasing sound to it; proving that Shinedown is not afraid of taking a risk with different styles.

- The Crow & the Butterfly has a melodious flow to it, while maintaining a sense of power and passion. Listen carefully and you’ll hear the sound of violins; which works really well here. This track is one of my personal favorites.

- Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide is probably the fastest song on the album. It just whizzes past while ensuring to sound great throughout.

- Call Me is a ballad, with very minimal string use, relying heavily on the piano. Brent Smith expertly shows deep passion and emotion in this song. It’s a perfect closing for the album, and another one of my favorites.

While I haven’t gone into details of all the tracks, every single one has something noticeably nice to it. The version I was sampling was the Fan Club Limited Edition. It had 3 additional bonus tracks (I Own You, Energy, and Son Of Sam) which were also quite good. Considering that I was listening to this in 2009, after several weeks of repeated hearing I decided to give it a break, and sample some newer music. A few days ago though, the sound of Shinedown started playing in my head and I was compelled to fire it up again.

My Recommendation: An Aural Extravaganza (The Sound of Madness is the sound of awesomeness)

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li - Thoughts

To the unfamiliar, Street Fighter is a popular Capcom videogame that was released in 1987. Over the years it has gone through several iterations, and is in fact still around. It was at its height in the 90’s, and has a rich storyline, with considerable detail to each characters back-story, and fighting style. There have been several animated movies, 1 animated TV serial, and 1 feature film that was released in 1994. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li is the second feature film, released 15 years after the first Street Fighter movie. It is not sequel, but more a back-story of Chun-Li. It follows the character from her younger years, when her father is taken away by a mysterious organization. It showcases her growing up, her quest for her father, her fight for justice, and her inevitable clash with Shadaloo (the same organization that kidnapped her father several years before).


While the first Street Fighter movie set the stage for the Street Fighter universe, and was quite in keeping with the core plot of Street Fighter, The Legend of Chun-Li is a lot more realistic and can be easily related to the real world. Though it never comes up, I’m assuming that this is a few years prior to the events of the Street Fighter movie from 1994. I noticed some of the camera work to be amateurish, but otherwise for most part the movie was pretty good. There were some high impact actions scenes, and key Street Fighter characters including M.Bison, Balrog, Vega, Gen and Rose made an appearance. The plot had the usual crime syndicate piece by means of Shadaloo’s agenda, the master apprentice routine with Gen and Chun-Li, and also a unique father daughter relationship. Although I wouldn’t rate it as being intensely gripping, the pacing was acceptable and the movie was entertaining throughout. If you’re a Street Fighter fan then this is a must watch for you. You’ll find that Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li is comparable and possibly better than most run of the mill Hong Kong action movies.

The most prominent role was that of Chun-Li played by Kristin Kreuk. I found it a little odd that the 5 year old version of Chun-Li had such strong Asian features, but later grew to look like Kristin Kreuk who looks barely Asian. That aside, I think Kristin’s performance was excellent. Her acting was good, and so were her martial arts. Her portrayal of the loving daughter driven by anger to find her kidnapped father, as well as a pure hearted human being who by nature stood up for the weak and poor was commendable. If you’re a fan of Kristin Kreuk, then this is probably a must see movie. Neal McDonough as Bison was perfect; cold, conscienceless, ruthless and powerful. While a little smaller than what I’d have expected Bison to be, Neal McDonough is brilliant as a villain. Chris Klein plays the role of Charlie Nash, an Interpol operative on the hells of Bison and Shadaloo for over 3 years now. I found his role to be a little silly and comical. Perhaps his was the comic element in the plot. While working in Bangkok, he partners with Det. Maya Sunee, played by Moon Bloodgood. While I’m not very familiar with her past work, she has worked on a few notable projects. In Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li she plays a hot sassy police detective that means business and doesn’t mind getting her hand dirty. She played the part well, and kept things lively. Robin Shou’s portrayal of Gen, the wise mentor of Chun-Li was pretty decent. What I found extremely ironic was that he played the part of Liu Kang in the Mortal Kombat motion picture, which incidentally is also based on a videogame, and perhaps the primary competing arcade fighter against Street Fighter. Lastly, Michael Clarke Duncan as Balrog was brilliant. He looked and felt the part more than ever. His performance was flawless, and he brought to the screen solid presence as the top dog of Bison.

As in most cases, the DVD I was watching was a Region 1 US DVD. Video was bright, clear and quite good all through. No color filters or tones were applied, and colors were quite vibrant; especially during the daytime shots. Though not very large scale, the special effect were decent and not noticeable cheesy. The soundtrack that was presented by means of Dolby Digital 5.1 surround was ample. It added a lot of impact to the martial arts fight sequences. Surround usage was present but nothing overly noteworthy.

My Recommendation: Watch It – (A must see for Street Fighter fans, but average/passable for those unfamiliar to Street Fighter)

Before The Devil Knows Your Dead - Thoughts

I saw the trailer of this movie sometime in 2007, and while it didn’t come across as spectacular, the movie seemed decently interesting. It had been a while since I’d seen any of Ethan Hawke or Marisa Tomei’s work, which made it more attractive. Being in no real rush to see it, I finally saw it towards the end of June in 2010. In Before The Devil Knows Your Dead, two brothers plan to rob their parents jewelry store; their plan seemingly harmless and something that would result in a win win situation. Things unfortunately go terribly wrong, and everything starts spiraling out of control. The implications haunting the brothers in the weeks after and taking its toll on the entire family.


When the script for Before The Devil Knows Your Dead was written, it was intended to be a Thriller. The director Sidney Lumet on the other hand felt that it was more a melodrama; I’d have to agree with the director. The movie is slow, and tragically intense. Performances are brilliant all round, and the emotion in the various scenes are gripping. Though I was unfamiliar with Sidney Lumet’s past work, reading up on him led me to realize that he has been involved with some masterpieces of cinema in the past. He is known for his technical prowess and bringing out the best in his cast; which is very evident here. The movie has a unique presentation style to it, with the same events being presented from various individual points of view. This added emphasis to the perspectives of different characters involved. Before The Devil Knows Your Dead has a dark tone to it, in keeping with the realities, ironies and hardships of life. If you have the patience for something unhurried, and can handle the grim truth of life, give this one a try, and you’ll find it to be quite brilliant in achieving its storytelling goal.

Ethan Hawke who played Hank Hanson, one of the two brother was exceptional in his character portrayal. He seemed constantly overwhelmed, and always had a look of being a little lost and confused. Andy Hanson, his elder brother played by Philip Seymour Hoffman came across as a complex, with perhaps years of bottled up internal conflicts. Gina Hanson, Andy’s wife played by Marisa Tomie was perfect in her role. Her expressions were incredible, right from the first scene in the movie where she’s upset and starts crying in the hotel room in Rio. The scene in the car between Andy and Gina is perhaps one of the most powerful in the entire movie. Albert Finney as Charles Hanson, the loving husband who is deeply hurt by the things happening around him, and is annoyed by the way the world is treating him like an old man, is remarkable. Without a doubt, performances were something that really stood out in Before The Devil Knows Your Dead.

As in most cases, I was watching a Region 1 US DVD. Video was impressive, remaining sharp and clear throughout. Colors were rich, though dull and not vibrant. The entire movie had a dark dull feel to it, which is probably intentional in keeping with the story/theme of the movie. Being set in the late 80’s/early 90’s, the intention may have also been to make it look dated. The rich colors were more noticeable in the outdoor daylight scenes. The aspect ratio was obviously reformatted to fit a home theatre; the fit on my widescreen plasma was exact and it made for an immersive viewing experience. The Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack was good, with dialog being clear. Surround usage was barely noticeable, except for occasional ambient sounds.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Shinning performances, and beautifully crafted narrative; the plot and drama may not appeal to all though)

Lost: Season 5 - Thoughts

If anyone reading this believes that they need introduction to Lost; I really think they should get a life. Without going to much into its origins, Lost is perhaps the most noteworthy and groundbreaking of television experiences this decade. It set the bar for what can be expected from TV, and treaded in areas strictly reserved for big budget Hollywood movies. When Lost first aired it brought to TV a sense of mystery, intrigue and edge of the seat sorta intensity that is to date unparalleled. In the months and years that have followed, I’ve had friends tell me, ohh you like Lost, check out Heroes (and so on). Well I did, and as nice as they have all been, it pales in comparison to Lost. At any given point of time, there are a handful of successful and popular TV shows; but it’s safe to says that Lost transcends it all. Lost follows the story of the survivors of Oceanic flight 815, which crashed on a mysterious island which possibly has a life of its own. To say more would be to give too much away, but with Lost its fare to expect the unexpected.


Season 4 was perhaps one of the weakest seasons. Having come to expect so much from Lost, season 4 was a bit of a drag and left me not really dying to get my hands on season 5. I remember having season 5 for almost 6 months before getting started on it. That said, I think the makers of the show were aware of this, and did their best to give back to Lost what it seemed to be lacking. Season 5 was awesome, and few long pending questions were finally answered. Needless to say, in true Lost fashion so much was left unanswered and hanging. Some new characters and story elements were introduced in season 5. Expect more flashbacks and some actual time travel in play this time around. Overall a wonderful season that will leave you begging for more. Season 6, here we come.

If you’ve been watching Lost for a while you know what to expect of the actors and their character portrayals. Matthew Fox as Dr. Jack Shephard has shown considerable range, in changing and evolving with the show. In seasons 1, 2 and 3 he was the selfless hero, and unofficial leader of the group. In the seasons after his more human and flawed side showed. The transition is very believable and natural. Josh Holloway as Sawyer, and Evangeline Lilly as Kate play considerably complex roles. Just 1 or 2 seasons are insufficient to understand them completely. Their performances are undoubtedly committed and deep, wherein long following viewers get to understand them better over an extended period of time, similar to that of a real life friend/relationship. Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet is still dreamy and nice, but has a stronger and influential role in season 5. Serving as the voice of reason and direction in Sawyer’s life. Nestor Carbonell as Richard Alpert, the somewhat face of the island has a prominent role in season 5. He comes across as a no nonsense yet straight forward and good man.

The content I was watching was an HD DivX rip, recorded from TV at 720p. Video was good for most part and skin textures were accurate. As with DivX, colors were a little less vibrant, but the high resolution source and mastering made for a good experience. Sound was presented in Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 surround. While surround stage usage was minimal, it was perfect for ambient sounds; especially the ocean. Dialogue was clear and the center channel made a big difference here.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (If you don’t like Lost and haven’t been following it I’d suggest a rating of Watch It +)

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

This looked like a fun movie when I first heard of it, and I subsequently downloaded the high-def trailer, watched it and was convinced I should see it when it was out. The Morgan’s are a married but separated couple living in New York. Professionally they are both very successful and the movie starts out with Meryl Morgan being in the midst of a whole lot of media coverage. A few months after their separation, on Paul’s request they go out for a dinner, and on their way after witness a murder. The murderer notices them, and they are forced into the witness protection program. As part of this they are required to relocate together temporarily to a quiet town in Wyoming. The killer is on their trail, and life in Wyoming takes some getting used to. The question is, what impact will this have on their failing marriage?


From seeing the trailer, what made this romantic comedy (RoCo) different for the several others of its kind, was its seemingly different setting, and its few additional twists to the usual RoCo formula. Having watched the movie, I’ll have to admit that the trailer was true to the movie. While some components of Did You Hear About the Morgans? was in keeping with the usual RoCo method, some of it presented a slight change. Taking the core of the story out of a busy town and putting in Wyoming, added both a nice change as well as a leisurely pace to the movie. That said, if you’re looking to be rolling on the ground, laughing hysterically all through, you’ll probably find Did You Hear About the Morgans? a little laid back. Though the happy ending and predictable silly murderer seemed a tad cliché, at the end of the day it was a RoCo and things were light, funny and entertaining. Give this one a whirl and you’ll find it pleasantly refreshing.

Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker were perfect, and the entire movie pretty much depended on their performances. Considering the movie turned out pretty good, it’s obvious that they did a fine job. There were a lot of other supporting characters, especially the town folk of Cody, Wyoming, who helped set the pace/mood and keep it real. Hugh Grant as Paul Morgan was brilliant in his usual not so obvious yet comical way. The completely natural way in which he presents his humor is probably what makes him one of the most unique and impressive RoCo actors. Over the years, irrespective of the success of the individual movies, I’d have to say that it’s been hard to ever fault Hugh Grant’s performance. While I wouldn’t quite put them in the same league, Sarah Jessica Parker was also wonderful as Meryl Morgan. Her character had some situational wackiness that she pulled off very well. Additionally she balanced the romantic yet quarrelsome component of her character’s personality very well. Overall, both of their performances were splendid.

I watched this movie as part of the in-flight entertainment on Qatar airways. The quality seemed equivalent to that of a commercial DivX (ripped from DVD). Giving it some thought, from a practicality stand point, that made sense for airline entertainment. While the video was good for most part, it suffered from the usual reduced color vibrancy, that can be associated with DivX rips. Additionally, the individual LCD screens seemed average at best, with extreme impact caused by minimal adjustment in viewing angle. Being a new movie, I’d expect the DVD release to be clear and flawless, with natural colors. The aural experience was obviously limited to 2 channel stereo. The head phones provided were average, though adequate for non audiophiles. Again, I’d expect the DVD soundtrack to be good, and there’s room for impressive ambience owing to the unique setting of the movie.

My Recommendation: Watch It (A cut above the regular RoCo barrage)

The Spirit - Thoughts

When I first heard of this movie and that Frank Miller was directing it, I knew that I had to see it. Subsequently I watched the trailer and it reminded me of Sin City immediately. The Spirit is based on a comic by Will Eisner. Denny Colt is a rookie cop who comes back from the dead as the Spirit; his mission being to rid central city off the vermin that plague it. Though The Spirit follows a similar style to Sin City it's not to be confused with Sin City 2; that's a project that Frank Miller is working on independently.


After having watched the movie I have some mixed feelings. Frank Miller's film noir style, emphasized with high contrast black-and-white and a single prominent color was incredible as always. Accompanied with powerful narration and a solid soundtrack the movie came alive scene by scene like the comic strip. In terms of presentation The Spirit was simply brilliant. While Sin City was serious all through, The Spirit had a humor component to it which I guess is accurate considering that Will Eisner’s comic strip did have a comedy element to it. That said, the plot in itself was a little weaker than what I would've expected; while it was good, it wasn't great. Don't watch this one when you're tired, or when you’ve left your brain at work. It takes some focused watching to understand properly. It could be just me, but I did get the feeling that the movie was a little all over the place from time to time. If you're one for highly stylized movies, then this one is surely for you; but even otherwise I'd still say it's worth the watch.

Gabriel Macht plays the role of Denny Colt / The Spirit. I was looking through some of his past work and nothing really stood out. I'm guessing that The Spirit was one of his first leading roles. His performance here was pretty decent, but no awards to be handed out just yet. Coupled with the heavily stylized filmmaking, and the dark setting, the emphasis on his performance wasn’t as high as would have normally been. Samuel L Jackson as The Octopus, the nemesis of The Spirit, was convincing as a crazy psycho villain overwhelmed with world domination. Eva Mendes was spot on in her depiction of Sand Saref. She was hot, seductive, obsessive, in-control, and portrayed the required levels of emotion. Lastly, Scarlett Johansson plays Silken Floss, who works closely with The Octopus, supporting his diabolic needs. Silken Floss is an emotionless, cold, and robotic character, who is seemingly very intelligent. Scarlett’s portrayal was faultless.

The DVD I was watching was a Region 1 US DVD. The picture was flawless, and video quality was excellent. The dark scenes were good, and the definition in black and white was very good. Especially for a movie such as this, that so immensely depended on its stylized presentation, I’d emphasize the importance of watching a superior quality transfer. Watching a DivX or a pirated DVD would be pointless. Sound as in most cases nowadays was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack. Audio again had a very important role in the overall scheme of things, emphasizing specific scenes in the movie. The use of narration throughout added to the comic book feel, and made understanding clear thanks to center channel delivery. Surround usage was noticeable and ample. Overall the soundtrack was sharp and powerful, working very well for The Spirit.

My Recommendation: Watch It (incredibly stylized and presented brilliantly)

War - Thoughts

I remember seeing the trailer for this one way back in 2007. Sadly looking back now, I must say the trailer lacked sufficient appeal. So many good movies come out every month, and they all vie for our time. If the trailer fails to make an impression, it’s very likely the movie will get missed. Though I subsequently saw the DVD at the video store, I always put this one off for later. I always thought of it as just another Jet Li martial arts action movie. In War, 2 FBI agents Crawford and Tom are in the midst of an Asian crime spree between the Chang’s of the Triads and the legendary Yakuza. Their involvement leads to the brutal death of Tom and his family. Crawford consumed by this makes it his personal vendetta to find and kill the assassin Rogue, hired to kill his partner and family. This obsession takes him over 2 years and costs him his marriage.


When I finally got around to seeing it about a month ago, my initial reasons for appeal were more to do with the format I was watching the movie on, and the tech elements of the home theatre. Needless to say my expectations of the movie were limited. That said, I was surprisingly intrigued and impressed by War. The plot and story were not as seemingly straight forward as I’d imagined. Similarly I found it gripping, and interesting right until the end, though the pace of the movie slowed down at various points. If you’re looking for a mindless over the top action movie, this isn’t for you. Invest some time and thought, and you’ll find that War is pleasantly interesting, and comparatively different. It’s a decently well thought out plot, with a good mix of elements. Overall a pretty good movie.

If you like Jason Statham and Jet Li, you’ll appreciate this one more. Statham plays Jack Crawford, the lead role in War. His portrayal of an FBI agent is good, and his character and personality are comparable to that of his other action movies. He has a routine formula that he works with, and you’ll find that its similar in pretty much all the action roles he plays. It’s not bad, but lacks in creative diversity. Jet Li starring as Rogue, the super assassin for hire is convincingly cold and efficient. Again a role that Jet Li is good at, and has employed successfully several times before. Devon Aoki of Tokyo Drift fame is also worth mention. Though initially skeptical I’ll have to admit that she manages to successfully pull of the role of the daughter of the Yakuza boss Shiro. Don’t go into War expecting stellar character development and moving performances, and you won’t be disappointed. Let’s keep in mind that such is not the focus of a movie like War.

This was my first ever Blueray experience. The TV I was watching it on was an exceptionally high-rated Samsung 46” LCD. Needless to say the full 1080p HD experience was exquisite. Video was beyond flawless, dark definition was exceptional, and even the simplest of living room scenes were clear and sharp. The sound was presented in Dolby HD 7.1; the home-theatre being a 5.1, there was a down mix applied. Sound again was remarkable. The 3D positional audio was excellent, and all the action sequences sounded great. Even at a medium volume sound was crisp and dialog was audible. Technically speaking Blueray coupled with good full HD supporting equipment makes for a wonderful and pleasurable movie watching experience; invest in it and you will not be disappointed!

My Recommendation: Watch It (A good plot, sufficiently intriguing with believable action)

The Love Guru - Thoughts

Released in 2008 I recall some hilarious trailers and wonder why I waited as long to see it. Based on the guru / learned Indian holy man stereotype, Love Guru entails the pursuits of Guru Pitka to solve the relationship issues of the star player of a hockey team and in turn help the professional and commercial needs of his solicitors. But what comes as a surprise to the guru himself are the life’s lessons he learns and the possible self conflicts to do with love.


I just got done watching the Love Guru; pretty fun movie. Except for one rather gross scene (the stink mop challenge), most of it was quite light and funny. It’s what you could typically expect from a Mike Myers movie. It’s probably the first I’m seeing since the Austin Powers series, so I’d say it’s quite in the same parallel. Surely worth the watch, especially with all the Indian parodies.

The movie was pretty much about Guru Pitka (played by Mike Myers), and all the other characters got very little screen time. Justin Timberlake played the antagonist, and did a decently fun job. I’ve only seen him in one movie before, Black Snake Moan, and I personally feel he fits the comedy bill better. Jessica Alba’s role was limited, and she did her usual romantic comedy stereotype routine. Meagan Good as Prudence the hot Afro-American women... was, well, hot!

Technically the quality was excellent. The colors were vivid and lively on the Plasma, and the aspect ratio was quite convenient. Though it didn’t exactly fit the screen, not too much was lost in terms of widescreen letterboxing. What stood out was the soundtrack; I was listening to the English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and it came alive. The center channel was crisp, clear and set the mood, while effect and ambient sound was well captured on the surround channels. Thanks to the sound the various environments in the different scenes had a lot of pep. FYI – I was watching the Region 1 US release version of the DVD.

My Recommendation: Watch It (if you love Mike Myers, this is a given)


(This was the very first movie I shared my thoughts on. This version on the blog has been partially edited subsequently.)

Terminator Salvation - Thoughts

Considering Terminator 2 – The Judgment Day is probably my all time favorite movie, it’s no surprise that Terminator Salvation was probably the movie I most wanted to check out this Summer. Though the 3rd installation in the Terminator franchise wasn’t very well received, with mixed thoughts, I quite enjoyed it. The trailers of Salvation I’ve seen over the past months have been nothing short of amazing, and I was quite looking forward to the movie.


The first thing that stood out about the movie was the feel of desolation and vast nothingness. Unlike the vivid color of the Terminator 3 – Rise Of The Machines, Terminator Salvation had a feeling of dry, and barren lands. The feeling of an almost lost war, and the near extinction of the human race, came through well. There were no neon lights or bright colors, just the beige of the desert and dust. While the movie had its slower deeper moments, it maintained a constant pulse that was gripping and kept all keenly focused. The action sequences were excellent, but not overdone or unbelievable. The plot and narrative deep and solid (certainly not a movie built around the action and effects). Seeing that the franchise seemed complete with the previous installation, it was a beautifully woven story that fit in well, and answered many questions of the overall Terminator timeline; a sequel and a prequel all in one. In short an excellent addition to the Terminator franchise.

Though Christian Bale played the lead role as John Conner, Sam Worthington as Marcus Wright had a stronger and more binding role. The female co-stars had very passable lackluster parts to play; needless to say the story was strong enough to carry itself without hot skimpily clad women. Bryce Dallas Howard as Kate Conner was well cast in the sense that she did seem like an older version of Claire Danes who played Kate in T3. Michael Ironside as General Ashdown reminded me of his similar role in Starship Troopers. If anything, id have probably liked to see Skynet portrayed more menacingly, but perhaps the completely autopilot mode is what truly best signifies a machine world of the future. For those who love bikes and slick intense bike action, the Moto-Terminators will satisfy in a dreamy unreal sorta way.

From a technical elements standpoint, this is gonna be a little different as I watched this movie in the theatre and not on DVD. The presentation was in the form of digital data from HDD, projected via digital video projector. Video quality was very good, with detail being consistently sharp. There were a lot of daytime scenes, and thus shadows were kept to a minimum. As mentioned, colors were not vibrant, but this was intentional. The ambience was well created, with the sense of despondency being so imminent. Sound was also impressive, with the 3D space being used well, but not overdone. The elements all came together well, creating the post apocalyptic earth of 2018 well.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (For anyone who loves Terminator as much as me, this was a given even before they started work on the movie)

Edit (Added in July 2015): After recently watching this movie again, its worth adding that what makes the Terminator Salvation narrative work so well, is the unique new plot/story that's added to the existing Terminator saga.  The Marcus character, his background, and his role is central to the overall premise, and makes for an interesting new dimension to the otherwise ongoing humanity-Skynet battle.

Air Force One - Thoughts

I’m not quite sure why I missed out on watching this movie sooner. It was quite popular at the time of release, was quite well received by the general public, and certainly is my kinda movie. So all that said I’m puzzled. Anyways, it’s one of the movies I picked up when I went to the video store recently. I was looking forward to seeing it as it promised to be a good action flick, and also featured a DTS soundtrack. What’s the big deal about DTS you might ask? Well, most commercially released DVD’s almost always have a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, but DTS 5.1 is less common. DTS in comparison to Dolby is usually of a higher bitrate, and thus should theoretically mean better quality (though usually not discernable). Lastly, and this is something most who have watched DTS soundtracks will be able to verify, the overall volume levels are significantly higher than Dolby.


It’s no surprise that the movie was quite good; the plot was impressive, the acting was excellent, and the action well planned and showcased. While the story was pretty straight forward and didn’t leave much to ponder, it was pretty good in all. Almost the entire 2 hours were gripping, with very few slow moments. The plot twists were realistic and not farfetched. Special effects were good for most part, though there were a few obviously dated effects (the scene where the plane crashed into the sea).

Harrison Ford as always put in an exceptional performance, satisfying all needs, including that of the president of the United States, and that of the loving father. His role was such that it would be hard not to like him. A man focused on doing the right thing, placing ideals in front of personal benefit, a loving family man, with a warm fun personality, and the honor & courage of a soldier. Gary Oldman as the leader of the terrorist group came across convincingly as a terrorist extremist. Glen Close was the perfect fit for the power role of Vice President. William H Macy was also worth mentioning.

Video quality was good, but didn’t have the vibrance of more recent films. Considering the movie was made in 1997, perhaps that’s excusable. Acceptable overall, but nothing over the top. The base colors were warm tones of red and brown. Certain scenes had considerable shadows, but nothing to complain about. Video was presented in 16:9 widescreen, and was a better fit to widescreen home TV sets that most theatrical presentations (minimal widescreen letterboxing was present). Sound was quite good and it fit the requirements of the movie well. While the use of 3 dimensional space was limited, when required it was used well. The scene where the F-15 fighter jets were flying around Air Force One was captured in surround very well. The DVD I was watching was a standard region 1 US DVD.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (I would assume that replay value is pretty good)

Transporter 2 - Thoughts

I stopped by the video store a couple of days ago and told myself as I walked in, no more comedy, time for some action or thriller flicks. Transporter 2, though not recent, wasn’t something I’d seen as of yet. I only saw Transporter 1 recently, and having quite enjoyed it, Transporter 2 made sense. Action and cars, what’s not to like?


The plot was average, and without much thought it was obvious that the story was built around the action and not the other way around. But keeping in mind that the action was the focus, the movie was pretty solid. Both the car action sequences, and Franks action sequences were well depicted. Special Effect were average, and in some scenes did look dated or low budget; the police chopper being blown up was one of them. What didn’t work were a few of the action sequences in the car that were obviously unrealistic and exaggerated. This is probably where the first succeeded better, as most of what was depicted came across as on the edge yet believable.

Jason Statham played his regular ‘don’t mess with the suit, and I won’t smile’ role. While it was predictable, it was what most people expected and wanted, so there wasn’t much to complain about. Amber Valletta (What Lies Beneath) did a very good job, and honestly I was pleasantly surprised. While my expectation of her portrayal of the kidnapped boy’s mother wasn’t very high, she far surpassed it, and that too quite convincingly for a mainstream American model. Alessandro Gassman played the stereotype rich Latin American drug lord sorts; nothing to write home about though. Kate Nauta was his lead henchman, lover who had a sense of cold ruthlessness to her that was very convincing. François Berléand who was also in the first part served as the comic relief.

Video quality was pretty good, and the black Audi glistened brilliantly throughout. Yellow seemed to be slightly overemphasized, especially in skin tones. Sound was good, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 English soundtrack did perfect justice to the movie. The movie was presented in 16:9 widescreen. Though unable to decipher the exact region code, it’s safe to say that the DVD was meant for APAC (Asia Pacific) circulation, and could have probably been region free or multi-region compatible.

My Recommendation: Watch It – (if you haven’t already and love a good action flick; replay value is questionable though)

Going Overboard - Thoughts

Considering I’ve been watching relatively newer movies these past weeks, I figured let’s try something a little older. The movie of choice was Going Overboard, from 1989 with Adam Sandler. I expected for it to be in keeping with comedies from the 80’s, like Ski School and Miracle Beach. While it had a lot of the same elements, including an interesting location (that being a cruise ship), beauty pageant contestants on board, and plenty of bikini clad women, it seemed to fail where others have succeeded.


Interestingly this movie was Adam Sandler’s first ever feature appearance. Noticeably younger, it became imminent that his humor had a long way to go, as often times it came off as annoying and not necessarily funny. What succeeded were the crazy and unexpected that things would happen from time to time, which seems to have over the years become expected of spoofs. If handled better, it could have saved the movie. I’d attribute the movies overall insignificance to the weak plot, and similarly weak characters. Sandler’s role as an aspiring comedian alone was insufficient to keep the movie afloat, and over a duration of 99 minutes it just felt like a drag.

Considering the age of the movie and the low budget it’s understandable that the quality overall was lackluster. Though I was watching a Region 1 US release, the video lacked color vibrancy. That said the picture quality was surely acceptable. Sound was presented in 2.0 Dolby Stereo, and was sufficient to hear and understand dialog properly. The aspect ratio was 4:3 standard/fullscreen Pan and Scan. Since I was watching it on a widescreen TV, there was letterboxing on the sides (left/right)

My Recommendation: Skip It

Beowulf - Thoughts

I saw the trailer of Beowulf a while ago, and was moderately interested. I rented the DVD about 6 months later when I saw the DVD at the video store. Since then it’s been lying around and I’ve been putting off watching it. For some reason I wasn’t dying to. I finally got around to it a couple of nights ago, and was pleasantly surprised. I’m not usually into medieval tales, and magic to me often feels synonymous to silliness.


Though I’d expected the movie to be boring in a monsters and demons, period sorta way, to the contrary it was quite gripping. I’d go a step further and say that it’s certainly not for the faint hearted. The story is intense, and the characters are deep. Some of the action sequences are violent, but in a necessary sorta way. What requires big mention is the fact that the movie is entirely CG. The CG is simply amazing, with enormous depth; it’s interesting to imagine the number of texture layers that would have been required for such a look and feel. For the unaware, the story of Beowulf is based on myth recorded between the 8th and 11th century.

Though all the characters were CG, the accurate motion capture and recreation along with the strong dialog made the performances stand-out. Ray Winstone as Beowulf was obviously the centerpiece, with Anthony Hopkins role as king being quite pivotal as well. Robin Wright Penn as Queen Wealthow was well cast and fitting, as was Angelina Jolie playing the role of the Grendel’s Mother and the key character of the plot. The feeling of years gone by, and the cold lifeless in the later years were well portrayed by King Beowulf and Queen Wealthow in the latter part of the movie.

As mentioned the CG was brilliant, and arguably the best to date. The DVD mastering was good, and video quality was impressive. A lot of the movie was at night, and while that contributed beneficially to the dark element of the narrative process, it also meant a lot of shadows and dull sequences. But I do believe that it was more important to have it this way, than sacrifice it lieu of daylight shots. The soundtrack was perfect for the movie, with the strong dialogues really standing out. The use of surround was limited, but nothing to complain about. I was listening to the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, and the aspect ratio was widescreen 16:9, with the regular widescreen letterboxing. The DVD was a Region 1 US release DVD.

My Recommendation: Watch It (If you’re into the sorta thing, and the likes appeal to you)

Aliens vs Predator Requiem - Thoughts

It all started in 1979, with Sigourney Weaver in the very first Alien movie. Almost a decade later came Predator, with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1994 both these iconic sci-fi characters were brought together and made to pit it out against each other in the first Alien versus Predator Super Nintendo video game. In 1999 a first person shooter variant of the game came to the PC; followed 2 years later by a sequel with vastly improved graphics - Aliens versus Predator 2. Finally in 2004 the first Alien vs. Predator movie was released; though critics complained of cardboard characters and weak dialogues, the movie was financially successful grossing over $172 million against its $60 million production budget. The film's success led to a sequel in 2007 titled Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (AVPR).


The Alien is certainly a primitive race, parasitic in nature; they’re only focus being reproduction and procreation of the species. The Predator on the other hand is a highly evolved warrior race. Exhibiting traits of Valor, Sportsmanship, Judgment, Ownership, and the likes. In the first movie the 2 races battled as part of a regular ‘coming of age’ sort of periodic ritual. In Requiem a rogue alien infestation aboard a Predator vessel calls for a ‘hunt and clean-up’ sort of response from a monitoring Predator. The action sequences are pretty decent, and the mood and ambience of a small town in over its head is quite apparent. The sheer helplessness of the human race is depicted well. Also effective is the intent in the thoughts and actions of the Predator without any form of subtitles, narration, or reference to it by human characters.

AVPR is obviously a very niche sci-fi film, appealing to AVP franchise lovers, Sci-Fi fanatics, and perhaps hardcore action and special effects freaks. Don’t expect intense character development, or a plot with a great deal of depth. In fact, the human race, and the associated characters are merely collateral who are caught in the cross fire. It just so happens that the Alien and Predator are battling on Earth. The secret to enjoying this movie is going in with the right expectations. While there were some scenes which were obvious and stereotype in nature, overall it was a decent action flick.

Video quality was good, but quite dark in keeping with the mood of the movie. Skin tones were average and not extremely clear. Sound was brilliant, possibly thanks to the DTS 5.1 soundtrack. Dialogue between characters was crystal clear, echoes in the sewer resonating with realism, and all ambient everyday sounds reproduced remarkably. Surround stage usage was minimal but sufficient. The score was well matched to the action, aiding in maintaining the pulse and tempo of the movie. The DVD I was watching was a Region 1 US release, which was presented in regular 16:9 widescreen; being the Unrated edition, it had some additional content as compared to the theatrical release.

My Recommendation: Watch It - (For those of you who either love Sci-Fi, or the AVP franchise)

Max Payne - Thoughts

I remember playing Max Payne in 2001 – 2002. As a game it was outstanding; the story line was intensely gripping, and far superior to most game narratives. Bullet Time was something that Max Payne introduced to gaming. For the unaware, Bullet Time was the ability to slow down time, and play in a sorta slow motion; similar to the special effect from Matrix, where Keanu Reaves would avoid bullets flying at him. From having seen several movies based on games, some good and some average, it was questionable as to how satisfying Max Payne would end up.


The initial titles had an interesting game n’ guns kinda feel to it; at first I thought it a tad cheesy, but it grew on to me. Along with the positional sound mix, it was actually quite cool. A few scenes into the movie it was easy to tell that the movie was staying true to the game. The cold winter in New York was accurately recreated; watching the snow and the dimly lit city that was almost dormant, so reminded me of the game. It was almost like walking around the chilly winter streets as Max Payne in the game. Similarly further into the movie, the locations, including the warehouses, the club (Ragnarock), the docks, and the Aesir building with its helipad on the top, were brilliantly recreated. The trippy hallucinatory sequences were also done impressively, with the effects of the mystery drug translating well onto the big screen. Needless to say, if you’re someone who’s played the game you’ll undoubtedly enjoy the movie. I found myself relating the various scenes and elements to the game.

Mark Whalberg as Max Payne did a decent job, though I believe someone a little older and more serious would have done a better job; perhaps a Ted Danson. Mila Kunis has come a long way since her piece in that 70’s show. Again, I believe an older lighter skinned actress would have fit the bill of Mona Sax better. It was surprising that Chris O'Donnell would take on a small insignificant role as Jason Colvin; perhaps the recession has hit him hard. While I can think of better fits, the characters and their portrayal was pretty decent; no issues per se. The story was modified a little, with the cult twist being taken out all together, but id believe that it was necessary to keep it real enough for a feature film. There was a slight cliffhanger ending, I guess making room for a sequel. Considering the movie did okay financially, grossing 5 million over and above its production budget domestically in the US, id think the possibility of a sequel may not be a stretch.

I saw this movie just last night in the theatre; yes for some strange reason this movie’s release in Chennai was delayed. The theatrical presentation was pretty good; my only complaint being the obvious editing/cutting of portions of scenes. The movie was a tad violent, but I don’t think that was the reason for the cuts. Perhaps I should rent the Unrated DVD and check it out when time permits. The snow was a constant, and most of the movie transpired at night; the video and colors were good and just sufficient. Ambient sounds and the atmosphere again were just right. The only possible way for intensifying the feeling of snow and cold would have been to turn up the air-conditioning in the theatre! The sound and effects were key in the creation of the hallucination sequences; the intensity was gripping.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Especially if you’ve played the game and enjoy the Max Payne franchise)

The Number 23 - Thoughts

During the random course of my routine movie research I came across this movie which had Jim Carrey in a rather different role. For once he wasn’t the funny man, and the thought of him playing the lead in a suspense thriller intrigued me enough to give the movie a whirl.


Approximately 100 minutes after popping the DVD into the player, I was left quite satisfied, and for some reason a little surprised. Perhaps my expectations were lesser, considering the movie isn’t very popular, but The Number 23 turned out to be quite gripping. While not fast paced, there was never a slow moment. The life of a seemingly average man takes an interesting turn, and descends into turmoil with every additional minute he spends reading the book he received as a birthday gift. As his obsession for the number 23 grows and slowly drives him over the edge, his wife Agatha helps keep him grounded and sane. Impressive editing techniques coupled with visual lighting effects helped add to the overall feel of paranoia. For those not looking for a somewhat mind-bending experience, I suggest you give this one a miss.

Jim Carrey though not in his usual comedy element, was able to bring the character of Walter Sparrow to life with the level a passion that is usually expected of him. Virginia Madsen as his wife Agatha Sparrow was smart, sensible, and fit perfectly as the strong force in his life that helped keep him rooted. Perhaps with an exception of Logan Lerman his son Robin Sparrow, most other characters have limited roles. Rhona Mitra though mentioned prominently both on the DVD cover and other movie promotional content, had very limited screen time.

The DVD I was watching was a standard US Region 1 DVD. Video and Picture were nearly flawless, and colors were clear and vivid. The movie was a little dark, but this could be corrected by upping the brightness on the TV set. Video was presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Being a New Line Home Entertainment DVD, it had Infinifilm enhancements, which means that if you watch the film with this option on a symbol will pop up during the film and lead you to extra features while you’re watching the film. I didn’t bother with this though. The DVD had both the Unrated and Theatrical versions; I opted to watch the Unrated version which had about 4 minutes of additional content. Sound was good , fitting the mood and thrilling as necessary. The soundtrack was a Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround track.

My Recommendation: Watch It (If Suspense Thrillers that keep you intently watching till the last minute when things finally fall into place are you’re sorta thing)

Quick Gun Murugan - Thoughts

I wasn’t really aware of this movie up until it was released and one of my friends told me that it was a must see. I was still somewhat skeptical and not bowled over. I hadn’t seen any promo material and thus wasn’t sure of what to expect. I just got back from the theatre a few minutes ago post watching it, and I must affirm that without doubt it is certainly a must watch for all spoof lovers.


Though most Indian movies, with the exception of a rare few, end up seeming like comical rip offs of Hollywood counterparts, there aren’t any spoofs worth mentioning. Quick Gun Murugan is an interesting spin on a well known Indian comic-hero; a desi Clint Eastwood per se. Think completely casual, think no holds barred, and think downright silly, and that’s Quick Gun Murugan for you. What made it brilliant was its truly wide reaching appeal with the inclusion of several Indian languages (English off course being primary), and the use of various Indian regional stars. The corny yet catchy dialogues were classic, and amplified costume and color is guaranteed to leave you in splits. What brought the entire comedy routine to life was the over-exaggerated sounds effects; with that it sealed the deal. Probably one of the best all time Indian spoofs. Pay attention (not too much required though) and you will find some remarkable Hollywood-eske moments; Thank you ‘The Terminator, The Matrix, and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ for your valuable contributions to the world of cinema.

The key element that ensured that actors were in perfect sync with their on-screen characters was the obvious use of exaggerated dramatization, with a good measure of stereo-typing. Dr. Rajendra Prasad playing the lead character couldn’t have been better; a ludicrously funny man dressed in a combination of Pink, Green, and Yellow, though completely unaware of his obnoxious demeanor. Nasser as the bad man through the ages, a simply unblemished portrayal. Raju Sundaram as Rowdy MBA, ideal as the henchman of a now senior and aged corporate villain. Rambha, playing Mango Dolly, the love interest of QG, also the keep of the super villain, and the chubby glam queen…. Again, a role written for her.

The theatrical presentation was good; colors were vivid and picture was clear. I’d expect the DVD version to be similar. Sound being very key in the overall charm of the movie was outstanding. Don’t have the volume turned down while watching this movie; consider yourself warned. The score was hilarious, especially the Rowdy MBA piece. Effects were cheap and corny, and was exactly what was required to make this movie a blast.

My Recommendation: Watch It (If you enjoy Spoofs, are in the mood for entertainment n’ laughs, and can enjoy desi style humor. Mind It!)

G.I.Joe - Thoughts

Late in 08 when I was looking at the list of blockbuster releases targeted for the summer of 09, the one that left me the sense of, ‘I can’t wait’ was G.I.Joe. As someone who’s staged countless battles in my garden with my collection of action figures, and watched all the cartoons, its appeal is obvious. Needless to say I’m not unique in any sense here, as there must be legions of children who have grown up with G.I.Joe. So the fact that the movie had its audience cut out was a given; its appeal to the remainder of the world was the question.


After sitting through 2 hours of extremely face paced action, I was left with a feeling of ‘When can I watch this again’. The mood was light, the plot pretty straight forward, and the action sequences were fun and entertaining. When I said fast paced I meant fast paced; you’ll need to stay focused to keep track of what’s happening, as some sequences are extremely quick, though comprising a certain level of complexity to the action elements therewith. The way events unfold and the terrorist organization that is Cobra takes form is interesting. While there were few deviations from the cartoon and the original storyline, I’d assume that they were necessary to keep things real. In that sense I’d have to say that the director Stephen Sommer was successful in pleasing the fans while not alienating the general public. A friend of mine who watched the movie with me, quite enjoyed it, though she had no prior knowledge of anything G.I.Joe.

The characterization was perhaps the most vital piece of G.I.Joe’s success. While costume and effects would help connect the dots, fitting personalities were required to complete the circle. Christopher Eccleston who played the role of James McCullen, the head of M.A.R.S. industries, and also the eventual source of direction at Cobra fit the role well. While his cartoon counterpart seemed more capable of physical combat, he did a fine job in seeming focused, tactically adept, well thought out, and very believing in his own ways. Sienna Miller as the Baroness looked great in black and portrayed the head of a specialized unit well; cold and deadly indeed. Dennis Quaid as General Hawk was brilliant; the senior war veteran acting as the head of ops, and liaising with the NATO as the voice of G.I.Joe. Channing Tatum and Marlon Wayans as Duke and Ripcord respectively were the main characters in the movie; with the events being tracked mostly focusing on them. Marlon Wayans contributed to the comic element, and helped keep things light. Rachel Nichols playing the redhead scarlet was fitting; true to her cartoon counterpart she was tough, went toe to toe with the men, and had a sarcastic sense of humor. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje of Lost fame (Mr. Eko), fit the bill of Heavy Duty; the big beefy afro American. But his role was limited for most part. I’ll stop here as there are way too many characters to go over.

This movie has been in the theatres in Chennai for a few weeks now. I only finally managed to see it this week. Color tone was rich and natural; bright red’s, blue’s and greens. No specific filter was applied. I’d expect the DVD to be similar. Sound was good, and there was ample use of the 3D sound stage. That said, with transitions being as quick, it’s hard to mention anything specifically, but nothing seemed off. Expect long action sequences and special effects galore.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (A fun, action, blockbuster – possibly the best movie out this year)

The Hangover - Thoughts

As part of my usual routine I downloaded and watched the High-Def trailer of The Hangover a couple of months ago. It seemed like quite a fun movie, with all the usual comic elements. I finally went for the movie late in July and found it to be refreshingly impressive.


While a lot of the elements were a rehash of similar movies in the recent years (as most comedies usually are), it was handled overall a lot more efficiently. As a base concept it was like The Bachelor Party movies, and the total obliviousness of the previous nights events, and the hunt to meet people and retrace their steps reminded me of Dude Where’s My Car. It had the best elements of those before it, but wasn’t as lame as Dude Where’s My Car, or as lackluster as The Bachelor Party. FYI – Lame isn’t bad, it’s just a different funny that I can still respect and enjoy.

The characters had enough depth, and development of the story was just right. It didn’t focus on any particular piece too much, wherein the pace slowed down; nor was it extremely superficial, resulting in a random casual entertainment sorta movie. The 4 core characters with their unique personalities were a perfect mix to keep the story alive. Heather Graham not being the stereotype escort was a pleasant change; and Mike Tyson being a little paranoid seemed to sit well with the general audience. The happy ending and the various additions to each person’s life for the better was predictable, but presented well to create a nice sense of well being.

Technically speaking the movie was quite good; there was no special tone applied and pictures remained clear consistently. I would expect the DVD transfer to stay true to the theatrical release. The Soundtrack was good, and was in keeping with what you’d expect from a comedy movie; scene transitions being handled well with the sound setting the mood and pace for the new scene being brought in. Sound didn’t leave much to complain about, but certainly did nothing over the top worth mentioning.

My Recommendation: Watch It (An entertaining comedy, a cut above the rest)