The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - Thoughts

A few months ago I noticed an HD trailer for The Adventures of Tintin become available, and was instantly thrilled that Tintin was making a revival. The trailer was fun and between then and now, I patiently waited for the release of the movie. Having been a fan of the books, and having read every single one, the appreciation and anticipation was a given. In this episode, The Secret of the Unicorn, Tintin comes into possession of a model ship, and what begins there innocently enough involves Tintin in an adventure to find the sunken ship. During his pursuit of the story behind the model, Tintin and Snowy meet captain Haddock for the first time.

There are very few remakes and revivals that live up to the hype or stay true to the original. The Adventures of Tintin will have to be one of the few exceptions to that generalization. Not only was it great to be able to see all the old characters in a motion picture, but the mystery/humor element of the books had also been successfully transitioned to the big screen. Pace was just right, being a perfect balance between slightly slower mystery situations, and ultra fast paced adventure chase sequences. In terms of audience appeal, The Adventures of Tintin will pretty much work for all ages, with an exception of very young children perhaps. Those who have read the books will instantly relate to it, and those who are seeing it for the first time will be introduced to something that they can love and look forward o more of. In short, you just cannot go wrong with The Adventures of Tintin.

All of the characters are CGI, and the character models are pretty impressive and true to the books. Thanks to impressive motion capture techniques, all the characters look and feel very real; expressions being outstanding. Needless to say, Tintin is the lead character and the driving force in the plot. His pursuit to push on is what keeps the narrative running. I personally felt that Captain Haddock had more personality in the books, but I may have concluded that based on reading several books and not just one. So to be fair, for just the first episode, this is possibly an accurate portrayal. For large part, in The Secret of the Unicorn, Haddocks role is mostly comic, providing constant humor to the ongoing narrative. The Inspectors Thompson and Thompson are truly a treat. The first scene that I saw them brought a big smile to my face, filled with memories of the books.

Considering I wasn’t willing to wait for the DVD release, I watched The Adventures of Tintin in the theatre in 3D. The colors and visual were wonderfully done, with each of the scene seeming like it were out of the comic. Video remained clear, and even the usual dark tone associated to 3D movies was very minimal if at all noticeable. The use of 3D was good; with all the scenes having a good sense of depth and perspective. Worth mention were the funny opening credits which themselves were in 3D.  Sound was presented by means of a 5.1 surround soundtrack. Dialog was clear, and sounds effects were decent. Surround stage usage was minimal, but sufficient. 

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Bringing the book to life; Tintin better than ever!)

Surrogates - Thoughts

I saw the trailer for Surrogates and figured that it should be a decent blockbuster action flick, with a nice futuristic sci-fi premise. Though I wasn’t in a rush to see it, it was on my list of movies to watch. I finally got around to renting the DVD and watching the movie a couple of weeks ago. Surrogates proposes a future where human beings live in the safety of their homes, while they interact with the outside world by means of android surrogates. A police officer is forced to leave the comfort of his home and the security of his surrogate to investigate the mysterious murder of other surrogates. 

After a short run time of under an hour and a half, Surrogates left me with a feeling of being superficial and weak. While the narrative does indeed present a superficial plastic world, where the real people live indoors, and out of circulation, this plasticy presence transcends the plot, making the overall presentation feel wafer thin. Several of the scenes and the androids themselves reminded me of iRobot, but that similarity aside, the narratives were quite different. While there was a crime/mystery to be solved, and the process did involve some action, the potency of the plot was far from rewarding. Surrogates is worth checking out if you either absolutely love Sci-fi or Bruce Willis movies. That said, even for sci-fi action fans, I do believe that expectations are higher, especially with the bar being set as high by other movies.

Bruce Willis plays the lead role of Tom Greer, who is the police officer investigating the Surrogate murders. He suits the role well, as his age and personality come through, once his surrogate is out of the way, exposing his human flawed self. His pursuit and drive to solve the mystery is similar to that of his roles in other action crime dramas. Radha Mitchell plays his associate Peters, who for the bulk of the movie is visible to the audience only through her surrogate. While I’ve seen her in much more complex roles, her role here as Peters was quite forgettable. Rosamund Pike plays Tom Greer’s wife, Maggie Greer. Her performance is pretty good, showing us the stylish well made up surrogate face most of the time, while still exuding sufficient emotion.

The DVD I was sampling was a Region 1 US DVD release. Video was clear and favored warm tones for most part; yellows and brown tones being obviously noticeable.  To complement the premise of the movie, the visuals look plasticy and superficial; possibly by means of post-production filters.  Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack. Dialog delivery was sufficient, and so were sound effects and general ambience. Surround stage usage was minimal but sufficient.

My Recommendation: Dicey (A shallow portrayal of a fake future) 

Immortals - Thoughts

I do believe that I saw the trailer for this movie recently, but amidst all the new releases it didn’t make my priority watch list. It surfaced again when a friend watched the movie and told me that it was pretty average and not worth the watch. In Immortals, the merciless king Hyperion, driven by rage embarks on a journey to recover a mythological Greek weapon of immense power. Using this weapon, he hoped to free the Titans who had been banished by the gods several centuries ago, prior to their ascension to power and dominion over mankind. The only obstacle in his path was a mere mortal man named Theseus, who knew no fear and was mankind’s only hope.

I went into Immortals with little expectations, others opinions being questionable and the trailer forgettable. But I was in for a pleasant surprise. From the get go, Immortals was relatively engaging. Though the pace wasn’t break-neck, it was sufficient, leading audiences into elements of discovery. As the plot unraveled, strong Greek Mythological essentials packaged with gratuitous quantities of hard hitting action ensured flourishing narrative and entertainment respectively. Be warned that blood and carnage are the cornerstones of every confrontation, so if ultra-violent isn’t your sorta thing, then this flick may not be best suited for you. While 3D has quite become the norm nowadays, its use in Immortals was noteworthy, adding a level of depth and realism to some of the most normal scenes. 3D being emphasized in action sequences is quite passé, but its elaborate use and the attention to detail in the very run of the mill scenes was a nice touch. If you’re in the mood for an epic period extravaganza, where the action is stylized to the point where every blood splatter is possibly choreographed like in 300, then look no further as Immortals certainly fits the bill.

Henry Cavill plays the lead role of Theseus; his character being young, fit and able, well taught in the arts of wielding a weapon, knowing no fear, and having little faith in the gods. From the early scenes, he is shown as someone who is courageous and valiant, who fights for the people, and stands for what is right. For the most part he looks and plays the role well; nothing exceedingly special though. Freida Pinto plays Phaedra, a virgin Oracle with the gift of visions of the future. Her role is not very well defined, but takes shape as the movie progresses. Worth mentioning is her neutral accent, better than those before her, including Aishwarya Rai and other Indian actresses in Hollywood movies. Mickey Rourke played King Hyperion and did so astoundingly. He was ruthless, evil and with an agenda that questioned sanity. His rugged physique and scarred visage gave a suitably grim image to his selfish cause and the plot.

Unusually (for me), I sampled this one in the theatre as part of a division wide movie outing from my organization. Video was clear with the usual darkness and dual composition of images common with 3D presentations. Picture favored deep rich reds and browns, with most daylight shots favoring warm tones; with sands being the bulk of the outdoor shots. Sound was presented by means of a 6 channel 5.1 surround soundtrack. Surround stage usage was good and especially notable in the 3D fight sequences.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Exchanging blows, Greek style, in 3D)

Twilight - Thoughts

Twilight is perhaps one movie that requires little introduction, having become today’s icon of pop culture, not to mention having brought vampires to the forefront of conversation again. The movie is based on the vampire themed fantasy romance novels written by  Stephenie Meyer; Twilight being the first, finding its way onto the big screen in 2008. The premise being very simple, a teenage girl’s discovery and love for a vampire, and the events that ensue.

After a rather slow 2 hours and 2 minutes, you will realize that there is very little to the plot above and beyond what the synopsis indicates. What makes Twilight special is the detail with which its content is portrayed. Though set in a small town, with key characters being very few, the sincerity of the narrative coupled with the beautiful photography adds value to the otherwise dragged out runtime. Some scenes are particularly simple, yet take up a good deal of screen time, as the camera pans and rotates and does its thing. What most audiences will relate to is the pursuit for that which is unique and different, but yet in our everyday, and by means of Bella’s narrative, will feel one with her in her pursuit. That said, the most obvious success of Twilight being its hopelessly romantic and needless to say obviously lop-sided perspective of life, which will perhaps only work in a movie. If you are impatient and are looking for more, Twilight will most probably leave you feeling shortchanged, otherwise if teenage romance sounds like your sorta thing, give it a whirl. Personally I don’t see myself watching any of the follow-up Twilight movies.

The success of Twilight beyond its buzz I would say largely rests on the brilliance of Kristen Stewart’s extremely believable portrayal of Bella. The narrative starts out strong but is carried through in large part thanks to Bella’s drive of adolescent discovery, fuelled by curiosity that inevitably grows into love. Never confused or deterred in her journey, by fear and surrounding circumstances. This is perhaps the movies strongest success, which most female teenagers will be able to readily relate to. Robert Pattinson plays Edward Cullen, the dreamy Vampire boy, who is initially strange, and later likable. He does a good job of seeming extremely awkward, and developing with the course of the movie into the warm and caring lover.

The DVD I was sampling was a US Region 1 Release. Picture was clear, and image remained exceptional, never getting too dark or shadowy. There were several outdoor shots and the Greens of the forests looking lush, providing a wonderful sense of nature in the quiet town of Forks. The overall color palette favored cool colors, and visibility remained strong throughout. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack. Dialogue delivery was perfect, and was key considering a large part of the movie is narrated from Bella’s perspective. Ambience was pretty decent, and set the tone for the little town of Forks well. Surround usage and positional sound was limited but noticeable, fitting in well with the plot as necessary.

My Recommendation: Watch It – (A very simplistic teenage vampire romance) 

White Collar: Season 1 - Thoughts

I’d read about White Collar a couple of times, and to be fair it sounded interesting, but didn’t come across as the kinda show that I had to watch as soon as I could. In the months that followed a couple of friends mentioned it and said it was worth checking out. As part of my effort to try out new shows and not just watch follow-up seasons of existing shows I finally decided to give it a watch. In White Collar, a convicted white collar criminal Neal Caffrey, comes up with a plan to work with the FBI, and more particularly the agent responsible for his capture,  in exchange for the use of his abilities in apprehending other white collar criminals. 

While the premise sounds pretty straight forward, what makes White Collar special is the emphasis on ‘White Collar Crime’. Look up your TV guide and you’ll see a barrage of crime-drama TV serials. Amidst the existing onslaught, White Collar manages to come out seeming fresh, thanks in large part to Neal Caffrey’s energy. Add to that the standout performance of the remaining cast, and the new to television white collar crime aspect; lo and behold we have a winner! From the very first episode of Season 1, White Collar is engaging, and never does the pace slow down so much that it gets boring. Even the sub-lying family dynamic aspects are crafted well and executed to perfection, tying in fittingly into the overall plot, and the long running continuity and character development of the show. Focus is managed well, balancing the weekly plots with the long term story line. Unlike some other crime dram’s that are hard hitting, White Collar is light and largely entertaining, thus making it suitable for a larger audience spectrum, not just the serious and hardcore few. If you’re on the lookout for a fresh, fun drama, with a touch of intrigue and crime, look no further, as White Collar will certainly impress.

Matthew Bomer plays the pivotal role of Neal Caffrey, and after watching a season of the show, I can’t think of anyone else who could replace him. Giving it some thought, it’s not just the mere acting performance that makes Neal Caffrey, but the entire ensemble of the blue eyes, the way he wears his hat, the way he dresses, carries himself, and manages to think out of the box, finding slick solutions to talk through any situation with flamboyance and panache. As much as he’s a smooth operator, and while that comes with some diplomacy, there is a genuine and trustable side to his character. It would be hard for the audience to resent or dislike him. Tim DeKay plays FBI Agent Peter Burke, and does so phenomenally. Though all the talk thus far has been about Neal Caffrey, White Collar would fall flat without the Neal – Peter dynamic. Peter is truly the embodiment of everything good, and is smart and well accomplished in his own way. As brilliant as Caffrey is, Agent Burke is never overshadowed, giving White Collar and interesting dual lead formula. Tiffani Thiessen plays Elizabeth Burke, Agent Peter Burke’s wife. Tiffani Thiessen is perhaps better known for her several smaller appearances in movies from the 90’s, and a few leading roles in TV movies also from the 90’s. She has appeared in a good deal of TV serials, in supporting roles, and was the female lead in Fastlane in 2002-2003. After several years of seeing her play the hot young thing, it was nice to see her play an older character, and a loving wife no less. Frankly speaking, Elizabeth Burke is perhaps the best I’ve ever seen Tiffani Thiessen, and leads me to believe that she is a wonderfully capable actress. She is fun in a mature evolved way, and supporting and warm with just the right amount of emotional depth. Needless to say a perfect fit into the Neal – Peter dynamic, facilitating the duo to work even better. Without running through the entire cast list, it’s easy to realize that the success of the show rests solely on the brilliant performances of the cast, making the plot almost seem incidental.

The content I was sampling was an HD DivX, probably ripped from HD TV telecast. Though I’m not a fan of any form of lossy content, the high resolution helped keep away pixilation for most part, though color vibrancy was just below ideal. Video was good overall and was formatted for a 16:9 widescreen television set. Audio was presented by means of a 5.1, 6 channel surround. Dialog was thus very clear, and ambience was always right on the money. While there might have been some surround stage usage, it wasn’t really noticeable.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A fresh fun entrant to an otherwise crime drama saturated television lineup)

Wild Things: Foursome - Thoughts

If you’ve been following the movie industry long enough, you probably know that certain movie franchises keep going at it, on and on and on, up until there’s no more money to make marketing the same formula. The Wild Things franchise is a perfect example of one such theme that has been mostly replicated substituting different characters/actors, in more or less similar situations. Key elements being twisted scheming plans to squander money, and sultry hot women, set in a sub-urban towns. In this installment of Wild Things, it starts with the mysterious death of a racing legend and tycoon, following which the sole heir his son, his girlfriend, and friends come under suspicion.


While some rehashes are quite enjoyable, like the Fast and Furious franchise, some others tend to deteriorate with every additional installment. The original Wild Things from 1998 was a pretty decent movie, employing a proficient cast and what was at the time a relatively intriguing plot. Sadly Wild Things: Foursome a good 12 years later, is far less noteworthy. Though the twists in the plot far outweigh the original, and up the ante, at some point it all becomes very predictable. To add to this, the amateur cast accompanied with weak portrayals of stereotype characters tend to result in a borderline cheesy movie. As all of this comes together in an almost laughable fashion, the movie fails to grip and hold audience attention. Being a made for TV movie, rest assured that if you switched channels while watching this movie, you wouldn’t miss too much. If you’re looking for something random to watch to pass the evening, or appreciate the Wild Things franchise and are looking forward to more of the same, then Wild Things: Foursome maybe worth your time; otherwise be warned that there is a lot better to watch available.

If blame was to be shared, it would be a combination of the somewhat questionable silly plot, and the extremely sub-par performances. The bulk of the cast was made up of amateurs, who were often overacting, to try and portray their extremely stereotype characters. Ashley Parker who played Carson Wheetly the male lead,  put on an extremely fake performance. The only point worth mentioning being that his character was a silly rich boy who did not really have any substance to his character. So maybe that somehow worked. His girlfriend Rachel Thomas played by Marnette Patterson rode solely on her hot body, which needless to say worked only for a few scenes. The rest of the time it feel flat and her performance seemed largely disconnected. Jillian Murray who played Brandi Cox was relatively better, but was by no means great. She managed to come of convincingly in a few scenes, and was relatively acceptable. John Schneider who played Detective Frank Walker was perhaps the one exception to the cast, who seemed on point for most part. Again, nothing stellar but sufficient per se.

The DVD I sampled was a region 1 US DVD; that said video quality was still just okay. Considering this was a 2010 release it was surprising, as nowadays most video releases are stunningly crisp and clear. While there was no pixilation or obvious issues, the video was dull and slightly lacked vibrancy. Warm tones such as skin colors and sunsets were favored, but again just slightly. Being a TV movie, picture was formatted to perfectly fit a 16:9 widescreen home television set with no letterboxing. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack, which resulted in good dialog delivery from the center channel. Surround stage usage was pretty average, but scene ambience was decent. 

My Recommendation: Dicey (Younger women, putting on poorer performances, in a sillier plot!)

Fast Five - Thoughts

After 4 Fast & Furious movies, it’s safe to say that anyone who loves fast cars and action will love the franchise. While some have complained over the years of lackluster storylines, general audiences worldwide have enjoyed everything the franchise has thrown at them so far. Fast Five premiered in Brazil on April 15th, 2011, and subsequently released in theatres worldwide. Starting-off exactly where the 4th movie ended, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are again on the run from the law. While in hiding in Rio, a seemingly simple job goes wrong, and they need to get back into action to thwart a drug lord named Reyes, while evading federal agent and tracker played by Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock).


Being a fan of the franchise and having seen the trailer, I was pretty sure that I was gonna enjoy Fast Five. To that end, Fast Five not only managed to impress, but to be fair took it up a few notches and outshined the 4th installment from 2009. In true Fast & Furious fashion, there was action and impressive car stunt sequences from the get go. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and the rest of the team kept things entertaining, and fun. Though there were a few slower story/drama moments, never was there a dull moment. The Rock proved to be a very welcome addition to the plot; his clash with Vin Diesel’s character Dominic Toretto being iconic. In Fast Five there was very little focus on street racing, with the plot and its serious elements being at the core. The action sequences were hard hitting and intense, and enjoyed with the right theatre surround sound setup, it was amazing. While the overall narrative was in keeping with the usual design of Fast & Furious plots, it didn’t come across as boring or repetitive. If you love fast cars and action (aka the Fast & Furious franchise), you’ll probably love Fast Five. Only avoid it if action movies are totally not your thing.

While Paul Walker has been in more Fast & Furious movies than Vin Diesel, his character Brian O'Conner is at best an evolved sidekick of Dominic Toretto. Vin Diesel is perfectly at home in his anti-hero role as Dominic Toretto. Owing to his larger than life presence, it’s not surprising that Paul Walker is easily overshadowed. For the first time there is a seemingly challenging adversary in Luke Hobbs played by Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock). The Rock performs admirably as the massive Hobbs. His relentless nature added to his solid brick wall sorta image makes him a perfect fit in Fast Five. Jordana Brewster plays Mia Toretto, who is a little less hardcore in this installment. With the exception of the first few minutes wherein she gets her hands dirty, she mostly acts as a coordinator/control station. This works well in keeping with the plot.

Owing to various circumstances I never got to see this movie in the theatre, though I’d originally planned to. So I patiently waited for the original DVD to be released, and then sampled it. As always it was a Region 1 US DVD, which has just under 8 GB of data including extras and trailers. Video was clear and favored warm tones; having a dark yellowish color to it. Due to this, the color vibrancy of primary colors were subdued. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack and was amazing. The cars roared as they passed by, and there were resonating thuds during the high impact action sequences. Surround sound stage usage was ample, and the positional audio added to the realism of Fast Five. Anyone who either succumbed to watching a poor DivX rip, or watched this movie with a stereo soundtrack on an old school TV or portable media device, certainly missed out on the best parts of Fast Five.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Turning on the cool in Rio de Janeiro)

Modern Family: Season 1 - Thoughts

Modern Family is one of those shows I hadn’t heard of up until recently when a friend brought it to my attention. Over time, and repeated suggestions from my friend to check it out, I finally decided to. From what I was told it looked to be a drama comedy; my limited reading online indicated that the story revolved around 3 couples, 1 being gay, 1 being straight with 3 children, and 1 senior remarried man and his hot younger Latino wife.


Frankly, it’s hard to make a fresh start and impress when it comes to television entertainment; especially with the barrage of new entrants, most of them being lackluster, and the many impressive long running shows. To make matters worse, details on Modern Family seemed sketchy and not overly compelling. To be fair I had hardly any expectations going into it. Just a mere 1 episode later, my opinion was greatly altered. Not only was the show entertaining and funny, but it wasn’t overly casual and superficial like several other sitcoms. It had a gripping sense to it that made me want to watch every single episode in the season. All the characters added something to the mix, and though some were stereotypes, it all worked together wonderfully. The constant family values theme looming atop was pleasant, and put everything in a very positive light. As simple and straight forward as Modern Family seems, I will go out on a limb and say it’s different, as it stands out and does come across as a unique show. Unless drama and comedy is something of a bore, it’s hard not to appreciate Modern Family and its brilliant easy nature.

One of the big pros for me was Julie Bowen’s addition to the cast of Modern Family. Episode 1 of season 1 opened with a scene with Ms. Bowen, and aided in the shows instant appeal. In Modern Family she plays Claire Dunphy, bringing to her role the upbeat vivacity that was noticeable, only in a different form in her role in Seasons 3 and 4 of Boston Legal. Ty Burrell plays Phil Dunphy, her husband and father of 3 kids. He plays the stereotype “I’m the coolest dad” sorts, in a lame and laughable fashion that adds immense comedy to the show. His character in many ways is similar to that of Michael Scott from The Office. Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet play the characters of Mitchell Pritchett and Cameron Tucker, who are introduced as the gay couple who have just adopted a baby. They manage to portray the gay couple dynamic in a humorous and affirmative light, giving a very constructive outlook to modern families today. They both have their feminine traits, while one is overly dramatic and the other is a somewhat stuck-up sissy. The last couple is Jay Pritchett and Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, played by Ed O'Neill and Sofia Vergara. Jay is the older rich well settled man, with a comfortable life. He is a hardcore American at heart, and that makes things interesting, as his wife Gloria is an attractive younger lady of Hispanic descent. What makes Modern Family most enjoyable is how all these differences come together and form the tight family unit. Overall, Modern Family succeeds thanks to its efficient and optimistic exploitation of stereotypes.

The content I was sampling was a regular DivX of standard DVD/TV rip quality. As with all lossy content, there was mild pixilation and rich color vibrancy was lost. That said, picture was acceptable, and color tones seemed regular and unmodified in post production. Sound was presented by means of a 2.0 stereo mp3 soundtrack. Since ambience was minimal and the bulk of the sound was dialog, it was acceptable even without a dedicated Center channel for voice.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Family values at its entertaining best)

Shrek 4D (The Universal Studios Experience) - Thoughts

I’ve watched the first two Shrek movies from 2001 and 2004, though I haven’t seen the more recent 3rd and 4th installments. While it was fun and I quite enjoyed them, with so many new movies vying for limited free time, the Shrek movies have taken a back seat over the years. In Shrek 4D, audiences are treated to content and presentation that is custom and specific to Universal Studios theme parks. The story continues where the first movie ended, and is independent of the following movies with no bearing on them. Lord Farquaad who was successfully defeated makes a return as a ghost, and tries to capture Princess Fiona yet again. Shrek along with the witty Donkey are left with the task of saving Fiona and foiling Farquaad’s plans.


Being a special attraction at a theme park the runtime of the movie was quite short. The initial 10 minute introduction summarized the first Shrek movie from 2001. The presentation was a combination of video, animatronics, and voice acting. The main feature was a 15 to 20 minutes 4D presentation on the big screen. In addition to having to wear the 3D glasses, the 4th dimension of realism is brought about by mean of audience interactive effects such as water sprays, wobbling seats, and various such tactile effects. The plot is built keeping in mind the 4th dimension, and is short, funny, and crisp. Getting sprayed when Donkey sneezes and feeling creepy crawlies in the scene with spiders, creates for an immersive entertainment experience second to none. Thanks to the intro provided and the easy nature of the Shrek franchise, newcomers will not have a problem getting sucked into the presentation. Anyone who loves Shrek and enjoys a good laugh will love Shrek 4D. Add to that the novelty of the 4D experience and what you have is a sure winner.

Being an expansion of the original Shrek, the key characters of Shrek 4D are Shrek, Donkey, Lord Farquaad, Princess Fiona and Thelonious (Lord Farquaad’s henchman). Voice acting is provided by the same cast of the original Shrek movie, and I was able to quickly relate to the characters. While Mike Myers and the rest of the cast are enjoyable, the star of Shrek is and has always been Eddie Murphy who provides the voice of Donkey. Donkey’s wit alone has been the USP of the Shrek franchise for me.

Shrek 4D is unique to the Universal Studios theme parks and cannot be viewed on DVD. The video is similar to most 3D presentations that require 3D glasses; video is not very sharp and clear, but this is needed for the 3D effect. Colors tend to be a little darker with more shadows than normal. Sound was pretty impressive, with the surround stage being used very actively. The 4th dimension of realism was very impressive, and served the comedic theme of Shrek well. With no other reference point it’s hard to make a comparison, but it’s safe to say that it was a solid well rounded experience.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A one of a kind Shrek experience)

Hall Pass - Thoughts

My first memory of Hall Pass was from my routine HD trailer review; but subsequently I recall plenty of commercials on the radio. Both the HD trailer as well as the radio commercials seemed super funny, and thus Hall Pass came to be on my ‘to watch’ list. Starring Owen Wilson as the married man who is given a one week Hall Pass, which is a one week ticket from having to deal with the responsibilities that come with being married; he gets the opportunity to experience life as a bachelor again.


First off, this movie like several others suffers from the trailer misrepresenting it. The trailer makes it seem like a hilarious thrill ride, more along the lines of The Hangover, while in reality the movie is a lot more tame. That said, the movie is by no means bad; go into it with the right expectations and you’ll find it quite enjoyable. Aside from the obvious comedy theme, there is a surprisingly hefty importance given to the romantic couple relationship element. Values and wants in everyday scenarios are tested and rediscovered. There are several slower moments, and pace is mostly calm. The plot is largely predictable and stereotype, but there are a few bits which are unexpected and pleasant. While the trailer makes it seem like a ‘fun for the boys’ sorta movie, female audiences will be able to relate to it as well, owing to the strong romantic sentiment. If you’re looking to get drunk with the boys and watch an animated comedy flick, Hall Pass isn’t the best suited, but on most other counts you’ll find it to be entertaining and fun.

Owen Wilson plays Rick, the lead character in Hall Pass. Expect his performance to be in keeping with similar performances from his past romantic comedy efforts. It’s safe to say that his roles are more or less repetitive. Thankfully, though repetitive it’s pretty decent and entertaining. Jenna Fischer (of The Office US fame) plays his wife Maggie. While her contribution to the comedy is limited, she brings in the serious binding aspects of a relationship to the movie. Her performance was pretty impressive, and it’s nice to see her get into mainstream movies. Jason Sudeikis plays Fred, Rick’s wingman. His character is pretty extreme and crazy, and brings the maximum humor to the table, in a totally laughable lame fashion. Finally, Christina Applegate plays Grace, Fred’s wife and Maggie’s friend. She comes across as a little more assertive and edgy as compared to Maggie’s character. It’s also possibly the first time I’m seeing her in a slightly older role, having seen her mostly in young single roles. All 4 characters and performances do justice to the script and make the cumulative blend work together very well.

I was watching Hall Pass as part of in-flight entertainment while flying with Jet Airways. The video was a lossy DivX presented on an average quality LCD screen with a limited viewing angle. Color vibrancy was poor as with most DivX, but picture remained acceptably clear. I’d expect for the DVD to be pretty decent, and colors to be favoring warm. Sound was presented by means of a 2.0 stereo soundtrack. While it served the purpose, it left a lot to be desired for the discerning audiophile. Being a recent release it’s safe to assume that both video and audio should be pretty good. Lastly, it seemed as if certain sections of the movie were edited/chopped, in keeping with restrictive mass audience viewing compliance norms. Owing to this I’d expect that my viewing was devoid of any moderately risqué content

My Recommendation: Watch It (A comedy at heart that leans towards the romantic side)

The X Files: I Want To Believe - Thoughts

The thought of the opportunity to experience agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully back together investigating the paranormal was simply awesome. Having been a huge fan of the TV serial, and enjoying the horror sci-fi elements of the show, hearing of another X Files movie made me a happy camper. Since the first theatrical movie in 1998 titled The X Files: Fight The Future, it’s been a 10 long year wait for The X Files: I Want To Believe. In this installment, retired agents Mulder and Scully are asked for assistance when a priest claims of visions to do with a missing FBI agent. Oddly enough there was very little promo activity and hype around I Want To Believe.


After Californication, which is relatively fresh in my head, it was interesting to see David Duchovny as Agent Fox Mulder again. The most noticeable observation being that the show and its characters have aged very well. There has been considerable character development, and this is presented to the audience in a faultless ’10 years later’ sorta fashion. The relationship between Mulder and Scully has evolved substantially, and it’s nice to see this side of things, especially for those who wondered, what after?. In keeping with the roots of the show, the plot has unexplainable elements to it, in the form of the psychic priest. On the flip side, grounded scientific reasons exist for all his actions and predictions. The movie is slow, and dark; though the runtime is a mere 108 minutes, it feels like a lot more. Being a standalone plot, new comers to the franchise don’t need to worry about backstory, while existing fans will love to see the changes, and reappearance of old characters. Compared to the first movie, there’s a lot less action, and a lot more emotion; so be warned if you were hoping for aliens and exploding buildings. Chris Carter has certainly taken it down a few notches. If you love The X Files as I do, and grew up enjoying it, you’ll probably rate this quite high, but even otherwise it’s definitely worth the watch.

It wouldn’t be The X Files without Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully played by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Thankfully neither one of them has lost their touch; he seeming just as out there and believing, and she coming across just as grounded and stable. Both characters have aged, and are yet just as wonderful, if not better in a mature sorta way. An interesting addition to the case was Agent Dakota Whitney, played by Amanda Peet. While I was skeptical at first, owing to her comic nature, I was pleased to see her execute the suited FBI agent role with ease. While the only glimpse of humor on her part was from the gag/outtake reel, she brought to the table her usual energy which fit in well. If you’ve ever wanted to see rapper Xzibit in a suit, here’s your chance; he plays Agent Mosley Drummy, and does a good job of being the stereotype skeptic.

The DVD I was watching was a Region 1 US DVD. It featured both a theatrical and extended version; I sampled the later. Video was good, but had a dark undertone to it. While this was probably intentional, it did take away from the flawlessly sharp crystal clear video we’ve all come to get used to. That said, it did look a lot like the old show, and that’s probably what the desired output was anyways. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. There was ample usage of the surround stage, with a lot of ambient effects coming from the rear channels. This set the mood, and really made it feel like The X Files.

My Recommendation: Watch It (The X Files, a decade later)

Hung: Season 1 - Thoughts

I’d heard of Hung in passing several months ago, but never really took the time to read about it. Recently, as part of my initiative to not just watch follow-up seasons, but try new stuff out, I did some online research and figured I should check out Hung. It sounded interesting, and having liked most of Thomas Jane’s past work, I figured I should give it a shot. In Hung, a once star athlete with much promise now realizes that he’s a middle aged history professor making too little money to support himself and his kids. With a failed marriage, and several other unexpected mishaps, a not so ordinary solution needs to be found as a source of a second income.


The first season was pretty short with just 10 episodes. The show for most part is a drama, with tiny bits of humor, most of them being dark. The pace is slow, and while there is a looming sense of hardship, the show is crafted well, and the lead character Ray’s optimism helps keep the show comfortably pleasant. Considering I watched all 10 episodes in one go, back to back, it’s probably safe to say that the show is not boring. To be fair, it’s hard not to draw a parallel between Hung and the Showtime series Weeds. Instead of a single mother with several responsibilities, children to take care of, and an extremely tight financial situation, here we have a male lead who plays the dad in a similar situation; the solutions in both cases being unorthodox. Season 1 sets the stage well, with a good sense of background, setup, and scope for further development. Like most TV shows nowadays, expect situations and circumstances to be gripping and intense, with seemingly real situations, and intense hardship. Needless to say, the show is not aimed at young audiences, as the theme alone is inappropriate; added to that theres a good deal of abusive language and nudity thrown in. If you’re in the mood for a serious drama, with some dark humor, you’ll find Hung – Season 1 to be quite worth your time.

Thomas Jane plays the lead role of Ray Drecker; a basketball coach and history teacher in a public school. Considering that the last I’d seen him was in The Punisher, it was interesting to see him in a non-action role. That said, even in The Punisher, he was a passionate man, driven to seek vengeance, and fight against corruption. Thomas Jane brings the same level of passion to his character in Hung, portraying well the myriad of emotions that Ray Drecker experiences, thanks to the turbulent circumstances that surround him. Jane Adams plays Tanya, a poet; an artist at heart, stuck in a relatively dreary desk job. While her character isn’t as likable as Ray’s, her performance as Tanya is incredible. I remember Jane from smaller roles in past movies and shows, but nothing that really stood out. As Tanya, she’s troubled on the inside, breaks down easily, and comes across as a soft weak person, with a lot of bottled up emotions. Her performance will without doubt have the audience’s sympathy in a flash. A rather chubby older Anne Heche plays Jessica Haxon, Ray’s ex-wife, now remarried, and still a bit of a scatter brain. After seeing her in some intense movies over the past decade, it was fun to see her in a relaxed random role here. Rebecca Creskoff plays Lenore, a loud, extrovert, socialite, who interestingly fits into the character mosaic of Hung, as Elizabeth Perkins character Celia Hodes did in Weeds.

The content I was watching was a lossy HD 720p DivX. Thanks to the HD resolution, the content was pretty good, keeping in mind expected loss in vibrancy owing to the DivX format. Picture was pretty good for most part, and sound was good as well. Thanks to a 5.1 soundtrack, the narration style story exposition and other regular character dialog was very clear. Scene ambience was also good, with no areas for complaint. The aspect ratio perfectly fit a 16:9 home widescreen TV, with no letterboxing.

My Recommendation: Watch It (HBO’s masculine version of Showtime’s Weeds)

Transformers 3 - Thoughts

Deciding to watch Transformers 3 was a no-brainer; being a fan of the franchise and someone who loves big budget blockbuster action flicks. I recall seeing the first teaser trailer several months ago, and more recently the 3rd trailer with considerably more content. In Transformers 3, the mission to put man on the moon is tied into the war between the Decepticons and the Autobots. The battle that ensues after is colossal, and in line with the Decepticons intent to colonize earth and enslave mankind.


In true Michael Bay fashion, the scale of the action was mammoth; presenting a seemingly larger than life perspective to the audience. If you felt the first two installments in the series were big in terms of action and scale, take it up several notches, and you’ll have Transformers 3. The plot is by no means lacking in creativity, tying several historical events into the storyline, from as far back as 1964. Since the first 2 movies some character development is imminent; this works well, adding a sense of realism by means of the progression of time. While 2 of my friends whined excessively about the flaws of Transformers 3, particularly commenting on inaccuracies when compared to the original storyline, and the imperfections of the plot and execution, I will have to differ and say that the movie was pretty good. At the end of the day the aim is to please the general public, and make money. Most general audiences enjoyed the movie, and financially it has been an incredible success, with the worldwide gross being in excess of 4 times the production budget in just the first month of release. At the end of the day, if you love action, special effects, and Transformers you’ll enjoy Transformers 3. Keep in mind though that the plot is unassuming and keeps it simple, fun and light.

Shia LaBeouf plays Sam Witwicky, the lead character who has now finished college and is looking for a job. This transition is portrayed very believably, and he does his bit in an expectedly humorous manner. Though the previous female lead had quite a prominent role in the plot of the first 2 movies, her stepping out and being replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley played by Carly Spencer was packaged and delivered seamlessly. While her role is not as hardcore or intense as that of Megan Fox, she does add a new dimension of British exoticness to the blend. John Turturro plays Simmons, now a retired rich man, adding without any depreciation his comedic antics. Other returning cast members include Lennox played by Josh Duhamel, and Epps played by Tyrese Gibson. New and a pretty impressive addition to the cast is Frances McDormand who plays Mearing. Her character has assumed command of security in relation to the Autobots and their peace keeping initiatives. As Mearing has only taken control recently, post the initial incidents with the Decepticons, her role is that of the stereotype government agent who needs to be convinced all over again. As for having to play a tough cookie, she is just brilliant.

Being one of the few movies that I was unwilling to wait for the DVD, I ran to the theatre to catch it. Additionally, it was presented in 3D, which compounded the reason. The use of 3D was effective, and added more punch to the already solid action sequences. The highway car sequence being quite standout; such as memorable predecessors from Matrix Reloaded and Bad Boys 2. On a general note though, with several 3D movie out nowadays, 3D per se has certainly lost the charm it once had, back when Avatar was released. Owing to the 3D it’s hard to comment on the clarity of the video, but colors were vibrant, reds and blues looking gorgeous. Sound was on point, with the surround stage fittingly supporting the action.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Get ready to experience 3x Transformers mayhem)

Clash of the Titans - Thoughts

I first saw a trailer of Clash of the Titans while doing my routine HD trailer follow-up. What was very obvious was that the movie was a special effects extravaganza, thus making it a must watch. Going by the trailer the movie had to do with the Greek gods, and the fight between man and god. Doing a little more online research indicated that Clash of the Titans was about the half mortal son of Zeus, who had to battle the underworld and Hades, to save earth and the heavens, set on the backdrop of man’s rebellion against the gods.


What will stand out the most if you see the trailer and then the movie is that the trailer makes the movie seem like a non-stop action roller-coaster, whereas the movie is a lot slower in pace. The movie by itself is pretty decent, based on a relatively unique plot. The backstory to the gods and the titans, as well as the current day earth and gods theme works well. Action sequences and special effects are impressive, making for a good 106 minutes of entertainment. The plot is pretty straight forward, so don’t expect to have to invest too much thought into it. If anything were to be faulted, it would probably be the trailer, for creating some unrealistic expectations; you’ll need to be patient to enjoy this one, as there are several slower storyline related moments. If casual Greek mythology combined with plain entertainment oriented action are not your thing, give this one a miss.

Sam Worthington of Terminator Salvation fame plays Perseus, the son of Zeus, and the lead role in Clash of the Titans. He portrays his earthly origin, his quest for answers, and the rise to a hero convincingly. To those who have seen Terminator Salvation, similarities in character specific to the sense of internal questions and discovery will be noticeable. Liam Neeson as Zeus is perfect, seemingly godlike in presence, and loving and caring in his outlook towards mankind. It’s interesting to see Ralph Fiennes as Hades, especially considering were more accustomed to seeing him as the hopeless romantic. His success as the dark, grim Hades, god of the dead and king of the underworld goes to show his remarkable range as an actor.

As in most cases, the DVD I was sampling was a Region 1 US release. Picture was clear, though colors were intentionally not very vibrant; greys, silvers and other fantasy shades being emphasized. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack, and was effective; dialogue being clear and through the center channel, while the mammoth action sequences came alive with the use of the surround stage. The desert action sequences reminded me of the opening battle in the first Transformers movie.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Casual action entertainment, courtesy Greek gods and special effects)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - Thoughts

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was one of those movies that I knew I’d get around to seeing, only not in a rush or at the theatre. It released in May 2010 and was relatively well received for most part by audiences worldwide. While I had played the original Prince of Persia game from the late 80’s, I had not played the newer 3D release from 2003. My guess would be that The Sands of Time movie is perhaps somewhat based on The Sands of Time game from 2003. In the movie the prince along with the princess of Alamut are fugitives, who need to uncover a sinister family plot to use the magical dagger and its power to turn back time and change history.


After my viewing experience it’s safe to that the movie was quite a mixed bag for me. Owing to being a Walt Disney movie, with a PG-13 rating, the movie was certainly crafted keeping in mind the younger audience group, which I believe to a great extent took away the edge from the movie. While I’m sure it was intentional, to the discerning moviegoer, I felt that it took away some. This one aspect aside, the movie was quite enjoyable. The recreation of the period and the setting was flawless, and many of the scenes visually splendorous. There was a fun element present throughout, which was not obviously comedic. Pace was a mix of slow moments, and faster suspense and action sequences. I personally felt that the slow moments were a little draggy. Overall, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a fun adventure movie, that’s probably great for family viewing, and for young teenage children. For the hardcore moviegoer it may fall a little short.

The cast was pretty impressive, and performances were fitting. Jake Gyllenhaal played prince Dastan, the lead character in The Sands of Time. He was able to successfully represent a blend of rough and smooth, which was key to his character. There was a need for constant energy, and that was an area in which he was able to consistently deliver. Gemma Arterton was fitting as the princess of Alamut; her exotic look adding a mystical Far East tone to her character. In stereotypical fashion she was short-tempered, not someone who would trust easily, and a serious double-crosser. Ben Kingsley played Nizam, Dastan’s uncle, the king’s brother. Needless to say he played the role with strength and noticeable experience of age. Toby Kebbell and Richard Coyle played Dastan’s brothers, Garsiv and Tus. Their performances were apt; seemingly questionable at times, and loyal at others.

The DVD I was watching was a Region 1 US release. Video was good, and color favored warm tones, such as the sandy desert, the run down towns, and the brown skinned cast. Night scenes were a little dark but not an issue. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack. Ambience was on point, dialogues clear, and surround stage usage was sufficient. What was standout was perhaps the photography in the movie, as several of the long shots were very scenic.

My Recommendation: Watch It – (A light adventure flick, well suited for family viewing)

Paranormal Activity - Thoughts

I recall watching the trailer for Paranormal Activity late in 2009. Online research indicates that there was a limited release of this movie in 2007, but the regular worldwide release was only in 2009. The trailer had a very real, almost documentary sorta feel to it. More than being scary, it seemed different and thus interesting. Post its release I remember reading and hearing some mixed feelings; some spoke of it being intense, while others had very lackluster things to say about it. In Paranormal Activity the audience experience a demonic presence in the home of a couple by means of a home video.


After a relatively quick 86 minutes, I will have to admit that Paranormal Activity was different as expected and had its fair share of chills. The amateur camera work and home video sorta presentation gave a very real and everyday look and feel to the movie. This coupled with the seemingly plain cast members and their extremely believable performances contributed fittingly to the script. Without giving away too much, Paranormal Activity is more about perceived and smartly indicated horror, than implicitly obvious visuals or effects. Be warned though that to enjoy the director’s brilliant creation it is important to watch the movie on suitably well-endowed audio and video equipment. Also key is to remain focused and pay attention to the narrative process as it slowly unfolds and picks up pace. If you’re distracted or multitasking while watching Paranormal Activity, you’ll find it to be slow, draggy, and unimpressive. If you plan to watch it on a small screen, with the lights on and the volume turned down, you’re probably better of skipping this flick all together. Watch it seriously, the way it was meant to be watched, and rest assured you will remember its scares for some time to come.

Katie Featherston plays Katie, the lead character in Paranormal Activity. Micah Sloat plays Micah, her boyfriend whom she is living with. Both of them perform very convincingly in what is perhaps their everyday normal life. So realistic are their portrayals that’s its questionable as to whether they were acting at all, or letting their normal routines just unfold and be caught on camera. Though there were some stereotypes, such as Micah’s limited faith in the paranormal psychic, his feeling that being the man in the relationship he was capable of handling the situation on his own, and Katie’s fear mixed with expected female emotion, it was never to a point of being questionable. Needless to say the success of Paranormal Activity rests largely on their 2 performances as it does on the shrewd narrative process of the director.

The DVD that I sampled was a Region 1 US release. Video was good, especially considering it was mostly shot on home video format. Paramount probably worked with the content during post processing to ensure the best possible quality while guaranteeing realism. I expected for more blacks and dark scenes with poor visibility, but was happy to notice that it was kept to a minimum if at all present. The video aspect ratio was a perfect fit on a widescreen home television with no letterboxing. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack that was very fitting in this case. The 3D positional audio was key in the competence of the movie, adding an additional level of depth to the realism.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Watch it the right way and you will be scared!)

Bangkok Dangerous - Thoughts

I came across Bangkok Dangerous first while checking out HD trailers off the Apple website. The movie looked like a pretty straight forward international assassin sorta flick starring Nicholas Cage. It didn’t figure in my ‘must watch as soon as possible list’, and thus I only got around to checking out the DVD recently. In Bangkok Dangerous, Nicholas Cage plays a low profile, under the radar assassin, who while in Bangkok experiences a change; though he has spent the bulk of his life alone, he feels driven to build relationships. He begins to re-question some of his life rules, and things start getting complicated.


Directed by the Pang brothers, Bangkok Dangerous is an interesting blend of East Asian style movie making with a touch of Hollywood. Camera angles, lighting, and other technical movie making elements were noticeably different from what I’d grown used to. That said, most techniques were used well to complement the narrative process; exposing the story very efficiently. The most basic and simple human emotions were captured and presented strikingly. The characters feelings came across as real and intense. Though the plot was pretty straight forward, it was executed very well. The pace is decent, and even with the romantic element, and the friendship element, it doesn’t take away too much from the action theme, and never loses focus. Set in Bangkok, the movie showcased the sights and sounds of Bangkok reasonably well. If viewer expectations are very high, Bangkok Dangerous may disappoint, but otherwise I’d say that its quite an impressive movie. Keep in mind that the plot is direct and simple; don’t expect to have to put too much thought into it.

Nicholas Cage played the role of Joe, the assassin for hire, who had been successful thus far in staying out of the laws wanted list. Cage’s portrayal of the character Joe was pretty good, coming across as focused, very methodical, serious and unattached. As the story progressed, the change that he was experiencing was again portrayed significantly; a sense of an internal conflict, and feelings that were new to him, being very evident. Shahkrit Yamnarm played Kong, his local hired help in Bangkok, who later grew to become his student. While I haven’t seen any of his past work, his efforts in Bangkok Dangerous were pretty good. He came across as a kid with a good heart, out to make a quick buck and survive in a city. Charlie Yeung played the role of Fon, a deaf mute who worked in a pharmacy and made an impact on Joe during their first meeting. She performed admirably, as the pleasant, sweet girl; that coupled with her disabilities made it hard to not like her character. Her ability to win the hearts of the audience being testimony to her fine performance.

As in most cases, the DVD I was watching was a Region 1 US release. Video was good for most part, and scene lighting was reminiscent of a Hong Kong movie. Picture dimensions were formatted to fit a widescreen home theatre television set perfectly, with no letterboxing. Sound was good, and surround stage usage was noticeable from the opening sequences. While the transitions of ambient sounds between environments was not as smooth as expected with most Hollywood movies, it wasn’t necessarily a concern, and would probably go unnoticed by most people watching this movie. Sound was presented my means of a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack

My Recommendation: Watch It (A simple yet well-made action movie from the Pang brothers)

Beyond Borders - Thoughts

I’ve possibly heard of this movie around its release in 2003, but just never watched it, as it didn’t figure on my ‘must watch as soon as possible’ list. Having come across it recently during my routine movie research, I decided to give it a watch. In Beyond Borders, Angelina Jolie plays an American living in London married to a wealthy British man. One night at a charity ball she meets Nick Callahan who crashes the party to make a moving plea for funding for refugees in Ethiopia. Deeply moved by this, she leaves her comfort zone and family to embark upon a journey to the distressed relief zone. Little does she know that this would spark a change in her that would transform the rest of her life


Weighing in at a little over 2 hours, Beyond Borders is comparatively long by regular movie standards. Add to that the overall slow mood of the movie, and what you have is a serious unhurried plot that takes its time at portraying the harsh realities of poverty and civil unrest in the world. While that may not work for many light moviegoers, for the discerning few, Beyond Borders will be quite epic….the horrors and intensity of human hardship being very in the face of the audience. Also efficient is the evolution of the plot, over the movies’ 12 year timeframe; character development and world events coming across realistically as the movie runs its course. The audience gets a unique opportunity to witness Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Chechnya. Photography in many of the long shots in the distress zones is magnificent. Casual moviegoers will probably find Beyond Borders to be a drag, but if you have the patience, and if relief work in hot zones interest you, you’ll quite enjoy it.

Angelina Jolie’s performance as Sarah Jordan is remarkable; most notable being her characters evolution between 1984 and 1995. Initially she comes across as an American girl from a sheltered background, mostly concerned with stereotype thoughts of love, marriage and family. Unplanned events slowly change her, helping her discover her true passion, in a coming of age sorta way. Her portrayal being a beautiful blend of courage, with that of the tender love of a mother. Clive Owen as Nick Callahan is the brash rebel doctor, who plays a hardened man, very driven and passionate about his beliefs. While his character is slightly over the top, the representation is pretty good.

As in most cases I was watching a Region 1 US release DVD. Video was quite good, with some particular scenes being extremely sharp and clear. Color tone for most part favored warm colors, with orangish sandy brown highlights being very notable. As mentioned before, aerial mounted camera work is quite breathtaking in various shots. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack. Being a serious movie, dialog was key, and this was presented well from the center channel. Ambient sounds were very good, immersing the audience into the various hot zones. Channel separation and surround stage usage was noticeable in several of the conflict scenes, and added a level of realism and intensity to the scenes.

My Recommendation: Watch It (A gripping and intense narrative of humanity and hardship)

127 Hours - Thoughts

There's been a lot of buzz around this movie, and with the 6 Oscar nominations, the hype has only increased. I watched the trailer a couple of months ago, and wasn't necessarily bowled over. It seemed like a decent watch, but not one to be enamored by. It subsequently released in the theaters, and a friend of mine was keen on checking it out. 127 Hours is the retelling of a true story wherein a lone mountaineer gets trapped during one of his treks and is forced to spend 127 hours stuck; looking back on his life, and perhaps coming to terms with his end.


To be fair, my expectations were very realistic going into the movie. I was aware that the bulk of the movie would be just 1 actor/character, and his struggle; that in some way reminded me of Castaway, which was quite slow overall. The movie was very in keeping with this limited potential, and did what it could quite well. The love for mountaineering, trekking, and the wild outdoors has been captured very effectively. Audience with similar interests will be able to relate to this well. Aspects of a man knowing that he is near his end, reminiscing about past events and the years gone by are portrayed effectively. With an exception of the opening 10 minutes, the bulk of the movie is slow, but pace is managed relatively well. Be warned that there are some gruesome moments of extreme physical endurance; but that should be anticipated with such a theme. The overall level of appeal here will probably vary greatly; casual movie goers will probably find this to be a bit much. Those looking for something different will enjoy it. Trekkers and amateur adventurers could love or hate this one. As for professional adventurers; I don’t really think they care about movies!

The success of 127 Hours rides primarily on the performance of James Franco who plays Aron Ralston. Thankfully James does a wonderful job, portraying an enthusiastic, vibrant and energetic Aron Ralston. While I wasn't overly analyzing, for most part it's fair to say that it’s hard to fault his performance. Kate Mara, and Amber Tamblyn who play Kristi and Megan, fellow trekkers that Aron meets during his expedition add value to the overall story. Though their roles are limited, their performances are apt, and in keeping with the fun theme of mountaineering.

I watched this movie in the theater and found the video to be quite good. Colors were realistic, with very little or no post production color tone addition. Picture was clear, and even the dark scenes had sufficient definition. Dream sequences used minimal visual effects, which worked acceptably. Sound was good, but nothing ground breaking. Minimal surround stage usage was noticeable during the movie.

My Recommendation: Watch It – (Different and intense; not a casual watch though)

Black Swan - Thoughts

I came across the trailer for Black Swan a couple of months ago; it caught my attention thanks to Natalie Portman’s involvement in it. I wasn't overly enamored by it though, as I didn't see a ballet themed movie gripping my interest. It caught my attention again after the 2011 Oscar’s, wherein it won the award for best actress, not to mention several other nominations. In Black Swan Natalie Portman is a ballerina who has a dream of playing the Swan Queen in a ballet theatre production; her journey there being troubled, as she battles her inner self and is on the verge of losing her mind.


Going into it I knew that the Black Swan would have a lot of ballet and theatre; I was also aware that it was billed as a thriller, which was indeed promising. Right from the opening sequences Black Swan is dark; the entire movie is viewed from the perspective of Natalie Portman, and comes across as disturbed. Camera angles, lighting, and editing are perfect, and every minute of this psychological thriller comes across as troubled; as is Portman’s perspective of life. The pace consistently maintains the suspense, leaving the audience constantly questioning reality, paranoia and the outcome. Overall Darren Aronofsky has achieved near perfection in the Black Swan; leaving no doubt as to why it has had as many nominations. Besides its artistic value, commercially too Black Swan has been extremely successful, grossing over 8 times its production budget by the beginning of March 2011, in the United States alone. If you enjoy thrillers, ballet, theatre or Natalie Portman, the Black Swan should be numero uno on your must watch list. Give it a miss if dark and mildly disturbing movies are not your thing. Don't be mistaken… there's no casual entertainment value here!

Natalie Portman plays Nina, the lead role in the Black Swan. After watching the movie, there's no doubt as to why she was awarded the Oscar. The myriad of emotions that her character experiences during the course of the movie are embodied astoundingly; be it confusion, euphoria, sadness, or self-doubt. Mila Kunis plays Lily, whose personality is a perfect contrast to Nina’s. She's bold, outgoing, and comes across like a gal who knows how to have a good time. Watch her for a bit and you'll be left with a feeling of wanting to have her as a friend. Vincent Cassel plays Thomas Leroy, the master tutor and head of the theatre production team; a passionate and intense Frenchman. One of Black Swan’s key strengths is its strong performances.

I watched this one in the theatre, and the video had a noticeably dark mood to it. Lighting was always just enough, with no overly bright moments. Colors again were never too vivid; in keeping with the dark theme of the movie. Some of the scenes were noticeably grainy, but I'm guessing that this was also intentional. Sound was good, and dialog was clear throughout. Surround separation was noticeable, and used appropriately to enhance the suspense element.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A gripping murky psychological thriller; prepare to be swept away by Natalie Portman!)

CSI: Season 7 - Thoughts

CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) is a show that needs no introduction. Since the airing of the very first episode in Oct 2000, the show was recognized as a smash hit. In the months and years that followed, CSI was arguably the most watched TV show in the world. The show was created by Anthony E Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer; worldwide audience was estimated to be in excess of 73 million in 2009. While I had personally watched Season 1 of both the newer CSI shows, Miami and New York first, I decided I should sample the original CSI, a.k.a. CSI: Las Vegas. Having started way before, Season 1 was hard to source, and thus my decision to start with Season 7, which was readily available. The series follows crime scene forensic experts who use evidence and modern technology to solve gruesome and unimaginable murders.


It’s fair to say that after 2 full seasons of CSI (CSI Miami – Season 1, and CSI NY – Season 1), that I was amazed by the show and had grown to know what to expect. That said, Season 7 of CSI Las Vegas, just blew me away. The show was flawlessly planned, keeping in mind the short term, and the long term. As most are probably aware, plots are usually solved within the 40 to 45 minute weekly episode timeframe. While there were episode specific plots with subsequent solutions, there was also the slow but intense buildup for the long running and unsolved ‘Miniature Killer’ case. This ensured that people would stay tuned till the end of the season and perhaps longer to figure stuff out. Character development again was well crafted, with no obvious bits that warranted dwelling upon, but worked out well in the scheme of things, adding value to future episodes. Viewers don’t watch CSI for the inter-office character drama, and this is thankfully kept to a minimum, while having just enough to keep it gripping in the long term. Shows like CSI that have a weekly format with the solution being made available at the end of the weekly viewing experience, usually struggle when it comes to sustained interest and continued viewership through the season. Thanks to considerable effort made in view of the long term, CSI Season 7 succeeds where very few have been able to. The plots themselves are interesting and are guaranteed to hold viewer attention. Pace is balanced well, with slower intellectually stimulating moments of science and analysis, and faster law enforcement related action sequences. Overall, CSI Season 7 will not disappoint; unless you don’t have the stomach for blood and murder, this one’s sure to be blow your mind

One of the successes of the CSI series is the excellently well cast actors, and their unassuming yet perfect performances. All the characters come off as very everyday, while not seeming boring; each having their unique virtues, which play into their overall characters skills and strengths. William Petersen as Gil Grissom is the head of the team, and brings wisdom and composure to the group. While not too obvious, he takes on a sorta father figure role to the unit. Marg Helgenberger succeeds in seeming credible and senior, while being a single mom. Jorja Fox who plays the role of Sara Sidle seems rather plain at first but will grow onto viewers before the end of the season; to the point of making the show feel somewhat incomplete without her. Other portrayals are also notable, but the list being extensive I will curtail myself at this juncture

The content I was watching was a regular lossy DivX; the sorts that are shared online quite popularly. All of the episodes weighed in at about 350MB each, and video quality was acceptable. Pixilation with stretching was apparent, but not too much to the point of being bothersome. Colors were good, but there was degradation owing to the DivX compression. I’m guessing that the DVD should be quite good. No post production color tone addition was noticeable. All the episodes were accompanied by 2.0 Stereo soundtracks. Dialogs were sufficiently clear, but nowhere near 5.1 separation standards. Similarly action sequences and other effects were aided by the sound track and seemed sufficient. Surround wasn’t tested owing to content limitations.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (Television entertainment at its very best)

Jumper - Thoughts

Released in 2008, Jumper had minimal promo activity, and thus wasn’t widely hyped. Post release, public response was mostly lackluster. Outside of Hayden Christensen’s female fan following, reactions were mostly uninspiring. Having seen the trailer, which had some decent special effects, and explored a new sci-fi concept of instant teleportation, I was moderately enamored. In Jumper, Hayden Christensen plays a boy with a genetic ability to instantly teleport anywhere across the world. Also eminent is a hunt for people of his kind.


The movie is relatively short, weighing in at 88 minutes. The plot and back story are similarly bare and minimalistic. While there is a little more insight into the pursuit for the gifted few, there is no additional background provided to the two factions, and their past. The way the plot was setup, I believe that there was room for additional narrative development, to perhaps have made the movie a little more complex and gripping. That said, the special effects were good, and the sci-fi teleportation piece was original. If you’re looking for a fun, entertaining, extremely light movie, Jumper will certainly not disappoint. Also thrown into the plot mix was his reconnecting with his crush from school, and their romantic development. That added positively to the overall effort.

Performances were good, with Rachel Bilson’s portrayal of Millie being noteworthy. This was one of her first movies I’m seeing and I think her spontaneity and personality came through really well. What was outstanding was that most of her scenes seemed extremely natural and genuine. Hayden Christensen did an adequate job, his portrayal of David Rice being believable while not over the top. The fact that he was portraying a conscientious jumper did seem justified. Samuel L Jackson with his rather intense hair style played bad guy Roland convincingly. Diane Lane’s role was very minimal, but was on the mark; expression and emotion was apt.

The DVD I was watching was a regular Region 1 US DVD. Video was good for most part, and picture was clear. Most scenes has a gold-ish sun-ray sorta glow/tone to it. I’m guessing this was intentionally done during post production. Sound was by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, which served the movie and its effects well. Dialog was clear, and teleportation sequences sounded good with the supporting sound effects.

My Recommendation: Watch It - (A Simple Superficial Sci-Fi Entertainer!)

Crank 2: High Voltage - Thoughts

The first I heard of the Crank series was from a friend in London, who was telling me that if I liked Jason Statham action movies I should check-out Crank sometime. While I made a mental note to, I never really got around to it. During a recent long distance luxury cab ride, we decided to watch a movie while in transit and it so happened that the pick of the lot was Crank 2: High Voltage. In the sequel Statham falls out of a plane, survives, and then proceeds to hunts down gang members who harvested his organs while he was delirious. All of this off course is while he is using a temp artificial heart that needs electric recharging periodically to keep him going.


A frantic 96 minutes later, I had some mixed feelings about Crank 2. First off, its paced in a non-stop action sorta way, with no real break or slowdown. It’s certainly for a mature audience, as there’s plenty of violence, loads of abusive language, and a good measure of nudity. While not obvious, there is a humor element which adds to the mix well, and helps balance things out. Crank 2 succeeds at being entertaining, and turns a deaf year to reality. Though there are references to the first movie, and reappearing characters, entering the Crank franchise directly at part 2, a.k.a. High Voltage is quite fine. If you’re in the mood for almost mindless entertainment, with very little realism Crank 2 is worth the watch, but if you’re looking to be gripped with an intense plot and something that will make you think, rest assured Crank 2 will be disappointing.

Jason Statham plays Chev Chelios, a very charged and aggressive anti-hero style protagonist. He comes across as driven with very little concerns for the world around him. I’m guessing that shoot first, think later was how the character was written out to be, and Statham succeeds at that. Amy Smart plays Eve Lydon, Chev Chelios’s stripper girlfriend. She too comes off as crazy and edgy, and a convincing partner to Chelios. Having only seen her in Road Trip previously, where she plays a very typical teenager, Amy Smart shows good range in the kind of characters she can play. Art Hsu plays one of the nut-job villains Johnny Vang; while not the most intimidating, he does make for a moderately worthy adversary. Besides, he is only 1 of many villains. Efren Ramirez plays Venus, a questionable and somewhat feminine man. Suffering from Tourette’s, he too is extreme in his portrayal. Pretty much all the characters in Crank 2 are over the top and bordering crazy.

I watched Crank 2 on a mini LCD display while travelling in a luxury cab. Thus the test medium wasn’t great, but that said picture quality seemed pretty decent. The DVD was a copy made from an original Asian Multi Region DVD. There was no pixilation or obvious deterioration in video. As expected with Multi Region DVD’s, there was very minimal loss in color vibrancy. The sound system in use was a standard stereo speaker setup. The audio experience was excessively limited, and the soundtrack could not be analyzed much. For most part dialogue was clear, and the action sequences were complemented with good supporting sound effects.

My Recommendation: Dicey (You may enjoy it, or be left with the feeling of wanting to throw your television out the window)