Independence Day: Resurgence - Snapshot

The return of the Independence Day franchise to the big screen, made for easily my most anticipated movie of the year. After all, the original Independence Day from 1996, was one of my all-time best sci-fi action blockbusters.  I'd watched all the trailers as they became available, and also the customary preparatory re-watch of the original, a day before my weekend at the theatre. My expectations were high, but I was fairly certain I'd enjoy it. It's been 20 years, both for me and in terms of the plot, and the ruthless aliens were back to exact vengeance on the human race…. 

As the movie got underway, what stood out most was the very different pace. Things were a lot more relaxed and audiences were eased into past familiarities. Almost everyone from the original cast were back, to drive the narrative; albeit in older or grown-up avatars. The only exception being the Jake Morrison character played by Liam Hemsworth, who was a new addition. While he did an okay job, for me it was Jeff Goldblum in his David Levinson role that remained to be the most interesting; closely followed by Bill Pullman as President Whitmore. The plot expanded on the original, adding all the usual elements of sequels; be it bigger alien space ships, more advanced tech, larger scale chaos, and such. The movie retains the same brand of humor woven into the narrative, being very much in line with the original. The level of detail into the aliens is increased, making for better understanding, while also satisfying the sci-fi aficionados. It also helped develop the scope for an ongoing franchise versus a single standalone movie; heck, who wouldn’t wanna see more ID4. As expected of Rolland Emmerich, Independence Day: Resurgence is an all-out special effects extravaganza; the effects look superb, and the scale of destructive chaos is truly mammoth. If you're a fan of the original, or love big budget, sci-fi action movies, you can't not enjoy this sequel. While it fails to wow audiences the way the original did 2 decades ago, Its very entertaining, and totally worth its 2 hour runtime.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A long awaited sequel to the beloved 90's sci-fi blockbuster ID4)

Independence Day - Snapshot

Roland Emmerich's Independence Day is easily one of the most memorable sci-fi alien action blockbusters of all time. I remember seeing it at the time of its release in 1996 in the theatre, with a classmate from high-school.  I recall that both of us where amazed by the movie, and kept talking about it for several days after. With the sequel upon us, it was about time to re-visit the original. Firing it up, I was quickly drawn in, and in familiar territory. The movie's pacing is just brilliant. From the opening sequence, it's incredibly engaging, and literally non-stop. Viewers can expect to be gripped and thrilled, all the way through to the 1 hour 15 minute mark, which is quite a feat. Its only after that, that the plot slows down a little. That said, even post there are a good deal of fast paced action scenes. Easily it's one of the most well planned narratives ever; 2 and half hour of entertainment, visual effects, and fun. From the get go there is some humor in the scenes and dialog, helping keep things light, in the face of looming disaster. The movie has a gripping orchestral soundtrack that reminded me of Spielberg movies such as Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. Though I'd expect that most people have probably seen the movie, in an effort to avoid spoilers, let's just say that the alien energy weapon and its weakness is very reminiscent of the logic explained for the weapon of mass destruction in the recent Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie.  Effects do look noticeably dated, but that aside, it's still an awesome sci-fi blockbuster. Great performances all round, from Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Vivica Fox, and Margaret Colin. The characters are interesting, and though a tad stereotype, they're likable. Independency Day is undoubtedly one of Roland Emmerich's best movies. There were some obvious goofs, and some poor acting from extras, but outside of that, there's little to complain about. Sound effects are really impressive, even the opening titles have some neat use of 5.1 surround. The content I was sampling was a Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 4 gig Bluray rip. While I usually prefer higher bitrate, it wasn’t bad. Even 2 decades later, Independence Day made for a solid watch. It's Incredibly entertaining, features some really good action, and is set in an intriguing sci-fi premise.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (An all-time great sci-fi action blockbuster)

Earthfall - Snapshot

I came across Earthfall as part of my movie research on IMDB. From the plot it looked like a TV movie, based on elements from disaster movies such as 2012, and Armageddon. Notwithstanding its low rating, I decided to get my hands on it and check out it. As someone who loves sci-fi movies, I was hopeful; budget constraints may hamper a star cast and expensive special effects, but could still yield a refreshing sci-fi flick.

Boy was I let down! Earthfall ended up being a very draggy, low budget TV movie, with poor special effects, and even the scientific rationale provided in dialog, made no sense. The narrative was disconnected, and though under 1 and a half hours long, it felt slow, long, and I found myself nodding off on multiple occasions. In terms of the characterization, there are obvious stereotypes; some immature teenage kids, some bad elements, a funny side kick to the lead, a family with little time for each other, owing to busy demanding work life's. As with bigger disaster movies, there is a government defense initiative, but how the planned solution was to work, was not clear. Overall, Earthfall was very un-engaging. The copy I sampled was a 3 gig HD rip, from a Digital Web source. Video was good, with picture being clear with good definition. The sound-mix was a Dolby Digital AC3 6 channel track, though there was no memorable use of surround or positional sound.

My Recommendation: Skip It (A disastrous, poorly thought through low budget disaster movie)

X-Men: Apocalypse - Snapshot

I was looking forward to X-Men: Apocalypse, and in usual tradition I set out to re-watch all 7 previous movies in the franchise, in preparation. Fresh with the knowledge of the entire X-Men movie timeline, I proceeded for the IMAX experience of Apocalypse. The opening credits sequence is true to the X-Men movie style, now with a little Egyptian Pyramid flavor, keeping in context with the theme. The 3D presentation of these opening credits are well worth the 3D moniker, truly drawing in the audience; on IMAX it was amazing. The narrative sets things up well, and plays out beautifully. One of the major successes of the franchise is keeping the timeline under control, aiding in the various movies seamlessly working with each other. While there are some questions if you really analyze things, they are miniscule at most. This may not seem like a big deal, but there have been past sci-fi entertainment efforts that have totally blown it in this department, the original Heroes TV series being a classic example. Beyond the first season it became pointless, owing to poorly managed time travel powers, making everything fairly pointless and irrelevant. Director Bryan Singer and writer Simon Kinberg deserve to be applauded, as the X-Men movies magically maintain the past, present, future, including various changes and iterations. What started with X-Men: First Class, in the sense of origins and backstories, continues with this movie. More new characters are introduced, and work their way closer to a future audiences are familiar with. The feeling of being able to relate, is truly rewarding for the viewer. The scale of the destruction is massive, in line with the absolute power that is the new Apocalypse character. As with old movies, Magneto has a key role; though it would have been nice to see the plot not have to rely on him as much. We welcome back Quicksilver, who contributes to perhaps the most standout scene is the movie. Supported by the music of Eurythmic's Sweet Dreams, the slow-motion montage combines memorable elements, including special effects, an effective story board, and narrative humor. Where the movie slightly disappoints is the action sequences; there are hardly any notable ones.  Mid-movie there is a nice little character appearance, without which perhaps the movie would have been incomplete as an X-Men movie. Being the 8th installment, its easily one of the longest running movie series, and kudos to the studio for managing to successfully sell another X-Men movie. In conclusion, while X-Men: Apocalypse failed to wow me, it was a great watch, and a great action flick.

My Recommendation: Watch It+ (16 years and going strong, with more X-Men to be Xpected)

Last Vegas - Snapshot

Last Vegas came highly recommended from a friend, so I decided to check it out recently and was blown away by how awesome it was. It replicates the Hangover formula, but rather than being a cheesy rip-off, it’s a classy comedy act. It retains the dynamic of the group of guy friends going to Vegas for a bachelor party, but swaps out the 30 something guys for an ensemble of legends in their 70's. The cast includes Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline. In true Vegas fashion, there are crazy parties, hot women, and celebrity cameo's including 50 Cent and LMFAO. In addition to the humor, the movie also has its share of deeper elements, including good core values, a positive depiction of senior citizens, friendship, love, and life's realities and complexities. The age thread is woven into the narrative well, in a sense that enhances the humor and the plot. It goes without saying that the 4 leads performances are superb, resulting in perhaps what was a true gold-class, comedy experience. The content I sampled was a high bitrate 1080p Bluray rip, with a DTS soundtrack. Video was clear and bright, and had a similar vibrant presentation to the Hangover movies. Sound was peppy, as expected with such movies, with loud bass and dance music during the scene transitions, ensuring a lively viewer experience.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (A Hangover rehash that plays the age card with quality)

The Purge - Snapshot

I came across The Purge as part of my regular movie research. It caught my attention, easily standing out for being conceptually different, and being some very serious fiction. The plot though practical, also sinks to new levels of human depravity. In terms of entertainment presentation, it has elements of a dark slasher thriller, like say the Wrong Turn, focusing on the survival effort. Also emphasized is the family unit dynamic. The main crux being the struggle of humanity versus efficiency. It depicts human beings in different states of acceptance... The young boy, naïve and innocent; clearly seeing humanity over all. The father torn between providing for his family which comes with some compromise, and his humanitarian values; faltering at moments. The mother being strong about her morals, and serving as a guiding force. Performances from Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey are superb, being totally believable. There are some predictable plot twists, and there is a looming sense of helplessness, which is presented well. As a negative, the narrative has some annoying moments. Overall, top grade acting from the leads, and a unique yet unpleasant premise. The audio was presented by means of a DTS soundtrack, which featured noticeable use of positional sound.

My Recommendation: Watch It (A fictional future that places logic over humanity)

The Broken - Snapshot

The Broken is a British movie from writer and director Sean Ellis, that explores a mysterious chain of events, and its effect on the McVey family. Gina McVey played by Lena Headey is the first to notice things being off, and the narrative follow's her investigation to get to the bottom of it. The movie is slow, and dark. There is very little dialog, with some sequences having no verbal exchanges at all; thus putting a greater emphasis on the acting and scenes for context, which is done effectively. The movie is also billed as a horror flick, which is partially accurate; though there are no obvious ghosts, gore, or sudden scares, it's about how the mood is built, and there is a tremendous sense of eeriness.  Ellis does a great job of creating a haunting experience, while Headey puts in a powerful performance; the combination making for a great movie experience, filled with intense suspense. While I don’t want to give too much away, the plot bares resemblance to an episode of the Twilight Zone with Bruce Willis, from 1985. What's really impressive is that as you watch the movie, the premise and setting are fairly obvious, and though nothing is explained, its laid out for the audience very plainly. There's no spoon feeding, but it results in a rewarding experience. 

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A slow, eerie, dark thriller that truly impresses)

The Fantastic 4 - Snapshot

Though the 2015 reboot of The Fantastic 4 received largely negative feedback, as someone who pays little attention to others opinions, I watched the movie recently, and found it pretty decent.  One of the most obvious differences is the younger cast, especially Reed Richards; which was quite a departure from the first movies and the cartoon. As the plot evolves, the super powers of the characters and the science behind it is presented to the audiences in a more plausible manner. It's an origins movie of sorts, rather than being a fight the big bad villain; so there are no waves of battles and action. The special abilities and special effects to depict it are seamless and look natural. One of the standout scenes is the black hole sucking in trees and cars from the highway; when you see it, you'll know. The movie does have a few slower moments, but pace is okay. The friendship of Ben and Reed is somewhat explored, but character development is otherwise limited and weak. The teams connect and rapport with Sue is especially limited.  This iteration of The Fantastic 4 really serves as a starter, with perhaps room for considerable development in following movies. But with its lackluster showing, the push from the studio for future sequels is questionable. If you like The Fantastic 4, action movies, or comic adaptations, it's worth the watch. But if you have very set expectations, of what the movie should be like, it may not be for you.

My Recommendation: Watch It (A new look at The Fantastic 4, that veers away from the usual formula).

Captain America: Civil War - Snapshot

As part of what is now a long ongoing superhero saga, Captain America: Civil War continues a little after the events of AntMan; that said, since it involves a lot of the other characters, in a sense it feels like a more complete follow-up to the Avengers: Age of Ultron. With the exception of Thor and Hulk, who are MIA as expected, the rest of the gang is back, now with additional entrants. It's fair to say that Marvel sticks to its usual formula, and successfully gives the audiences what they've come to expect and want. Though not overly complex, the plot remains interesting, and gripping for its long 2-and-a-half-hour runtime. The action sequences are really nice, especially the opening battle, which is quick, yet with a solid sense of impact. Similarly, there are other memorable fights through the course of the movie; the sequence wherein Captain America is holding down the helicopter which is attempting to take off being one of them. If you're wondering what separates this from the Avengers movies, I guess the crazy super villains with global domination are saved for epic Avenger grade plots, while lesser villains, with twisted Hydra-esque sinister plots are more reminiscent of Captain America movies. Staying true to its title, there is a political aspect to the movie, which forms the crux of the struggle. It also succeeds Captain America: The Winter Soldier well, bridging several pieces of the long developing plot, while also connecting the characters. I saw this one in the theatre and enjoyed the crisp bright digital transfer. Sound was nice, fitting the action perfectly; the score was triumphant and grand in Marvel movie style.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (The final Captain America titled movie in the Marvel lineup)

The Danish Girl - Snapshot

Billed as a biography, The Danish Girl is based on the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Over its 2-hour runtime, the movie explores their romance, and Lili’s discovery and transformation, into what was the first ever transgender. Owing to its queer theme, getting into it I was perplexed with regard to what could be expected. Thankfully director Tom Hooper did an extraordinary job, transforming a dramatic theme into a movie with an artsy feel. From the get go, the movie is beautiful. The opening sequences are picturesque, and that same beauty remains as the movie plays out. Every shot, even the most basic ones are stunning. The framing and setting is outstanding, contributing towards a powerful and memorable visual experience. The sets and recreation of Copenhagen in the 1920's is breathtaking, adding to the visual splendor. Video detail is also incredible, with skin textures, pores, and fabric weaves, being quite noticeable. The plot is slow, and shows the struggle and gradual transition of Einar to Lili. The movie is serious, and coupled with the intensity of the plot, and deep performances, it's not well suited for casual entertainment. Performances are stellar both from Alicia Vikander who plays Gerda, and Eddie Redmayne who plays Lily/Einar. Gerda’s character has a natural confidence and energy, which later transitions to a serious struggle, finally culminating in a realization of love. It’s a performance that will leave you with little doubt as to why she won the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role, in 2016. With Einar’s character it’s his soft gentle feminine ways, which over the course of the narrative manifest in a self-discovery of inner feelings and desires. Again there is some sense of struggle, at times making an effort to suppress, though clearly being torn. As much as the movie is about the transformation of Einar to the lady Lily, it is also the transformation of a difficult theme to what could be seen as art and beauty; kudos to Tom Hooper on achieving that. The accompanying musical score is deep and perfectly fitting, adding to the overall mood of the movie. One of the keys to the narrative is that the story is told more from the perspective of Gerda, versus that of Lily, placing their romance at the core.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A visually beautiful narrative, exploring the pioneer transgender)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Snapshot

For those who follow movie news, you'd know that most charts listed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as the most anticipated movie of 2016. It released in theaters in March 2016, interestingly to some mixed reviews. Neither were people saying it was awesome, nor were people saying it was terrible. In terms of box office stats, people were watching it, and the movie was making money. I finally got around to seeing it late in April, and found it to be a worthwhile watch. For starters it's a follow-up to 2013's Man of Steel. While not imperative, having watched the former helps in a sense of continuity. The movie is dark, and therein does justice to both the comic adaptation, as well as it being a Batman movie. Though the pace is gradual, there is more emotive depth to the narrative, adding contextual buildup. It is unlike the fast paced action movies in the Marvel lineup. Perhaps a lot of the mass market disappointment was because audiences expected a wall to wall action flick very similar to the Avengers. To be fair, if that was the expectation, then the viewers should have watched a Marvel movie instead. You can't fault Dawn of Justice for being different, dark, and original. While the similarities are limited, there is one theme that is clearly similar to Captain America: Civil War, that being the possible need for human political oversight, of these super beings. Henry Cavill continues as Superman, and Ben Affleck takes on the role of the caped crusader, Batman. There was much concern as to whether Affleck could pull it off, and he did surprisingly well, surpassing several past performances. Overall Zack Snyder does an impressive job, continuing a plot that started with Man of Steel, covering a good deal of comic stories, creating a movie that does feel like its roots are in a comic book, and building the base for future DC heroes movies. Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL require special mention for the awesome musical score in Dawn of Justice, adding in large part to the dark and deep mood.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A comic adaptation from the DC Universe that dares to be different)

Man of Steel - Thoughts

Superman is possibly the first superhero I was introduced to, and I recall watching my first ever Superman movie, the 1983 release Superman III, when I was a little kid on VHS. In the recent years I watched the 2006 release Superman Returns, but didn’t really enjoy it owing largely to a poor viewing experience, resulting from a badly scratched DVD.  When I heard of the 2013 release, Man of Steel, I wasn’t in a rush to see it, and thus gave it a miss in the theatres. In this reboot the earth is threatened by an alien race, and Clark Kent is forced to come out of living in the shadows, and save the world as Superman.

I don’t recall any rave reviews from my friends who saw the movie, and I remember mixed comments from critics. Many people were posting comments on Facebook about a lot of smashing, and stuff being thrown around. After my rather long 143-minute experience with the movie, I would like to remind audiences that we are indeed watching Superman, not a human being in a metal suit with a big ego, or a rich billionaire who has taken up the fight against crime. The magnitude of the action is nothing short of gargantuan, and it also explains the crazy 225 million dollar production budget.  The story unfolds brilliantly, with a good deal of Clark’s origin and Krypton’s past being explained. His human family, the values they instill, and his struggle to stay beneath the radar, is very nicely done. Lois Lane’s introduction to Clark’s existence, and the relationship that develops between them is also presented seamlessly. The entire backstory, plot, and character development is exposed to the audience in a calm and natural manner. The overall narrative process is brilliant, and director Zack Snyder’s work is very commendable. The reboot truly feels wholesome, not missing the mark on any particular requirement. It would be hard not to feel sufficiently satisfied after watching Man of Steel.

Irrespective of his limited filmography, Henry Cavil who plays Clark Kent does exceptionally well. Being an origin story, the character is a lot more complex, and there is a dark side prior to his ascension to the iconic Superman character that the world learns to accept. Something that stood out both in terms of narrative brilliance and character execution was the Superman character, who stands for all that is good and right, is a gentleman, can hold his peace, and most importantly embodies hope, that we can all look up to. Amy Adams plays Lois Lane, who I initially found unimpressive, but with the development of the plot, I felt was a perfect fit. In her case as well, it was how she evolved into the character and its requisites. On a trivial note, at some point I confused her with Jenna Fischer of The Office fame.

I watched Man of Steel on Bluray, on an India release disc. Picture quality was excellent as expected with Bluray, and the initial scenes in Kryton were stylized having a goldish beige tint. The special effects were awesome, but as much as I loved the presentation on Bluray and a big screen home theatre TV, I do believe that seeing this movie in the theatre would have been better; the scale of the action would have been superb.  Sound was competently presented by means of a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track, played on my 5.1 speaker setup. It complemented the action sequences beautifully, the positional sound being very evident from the opening sequences in Krypton, with the air-ships whizzing around.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (Nothing short of Super!)

How To Get Away With Murder: Season 1 - Snapshot

I downloaded Season 1 of How To Get Away With Murder a while ago, and finally got around to watching it recently. Though the name of the show is quite explanatory, I got into it with unclear expectations as to how things would be presented. Running with the murder element, the show tries to maintain a dark look, especially with a lot of the scenes in the dimly lit Keating residence. There is a law element, a group of graduating classmates, and a murder twist at play, as the narrative progresses. The main murder plot runs the course of the season, with other individual cases forming the sub-plot for each of the episodes. While the shows tries to be a little different, it ends up trying its hand at many things, sadly succeeding at none. As a law show its poor, with the court room litigation being okay, but weak compared to other comparable serials. The classmates come off as silly and juvenile, with none of the characters being really likable. Viola Davis who plays Annalise Keating is pretty hardcore, and does a good job, but her character is annoying at times, thus making her hardly likable. Personally, the only characters I found moderately interesting were Frank and Laurel. At some points it reminded me of the MTV murder mystery show Eyecandy, but at least that presented itself as a teen pop-culture show, with a techie hacking crime element. How To Get Away With Murder on the other hand masquerades as a complex show, which in reality it isn't. Another very average show it shared similarities with was Scandal; with a lady at the helm driving a team to work on individual pieces to achieve a final desired outcome. That show too failed to impress, as does this one. In conclusion, though the show came highly recommended, it's just about an okay watch. I wouldn’t waste my time on Season 2. 

My Recommendation: Watch It – (Law students learning the loop holes of the legal system, to get away with murder).

Pryda 10 Vol. III - Snapshot

I got my hands on Pryda 10 Vol. III shortly after its release in Nov 2015, knowing that Eric Prydz’s work wouldn’t disappoint. A couple of days later I fired it up, and I was instantly impressed. I wasn’t even 30 seconds into the first track, but I knew it was gonna be amazing. The melody built up, and when the deep bass kicked in at the 1 minute 15 seconds mark, what was great just became easily the best Progressive House I’ve heard in a while. If you have a nice sound system, with a sub-woofer, you will not be disappointed by the audio experience. As the opening track, One Day, drew to a close, expectations were high, and in keeping with those expectations, track 2 - SOL, continued to impress. It makes you wait a little longer, with the haunting beats kicking in at around the 2-minute mark. 

As the album played out, I was wondering if the quality would remain consistent, and to be fair it was good. Most tracks are nice, and there are several memorable tracks in the set, including INOX, Crossings, and Arpe. I was just listening to it on a relaxed Saturday at home, but I can totally see myself playing it in the car while going on a long drive. For that matter, it would probably work in a club setting too. If you enjoy good Electronic music, you just can’t go wrong with Pryda 10 Vol. III. It’s so good that I’m annoyed at myself for not listening to it the moment I got it.

My Recommendation: An Aural Extravaganza (Progressive House that’s amazing from the get-go!)

The Lost World - Snapshot

Sequels always make an effort to up the ante, but usually pale in comparison to the original, as the shock value is greatly diminished. If my memory serves me right, this was the case with the 1997 sequel to Jurassic Park, titled The Lost World. With a little background to get things going, events quickly unfold to bring a new set of explorers to the Dino island, with only Ian Malcolm and John Hammond, played by Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough respectively, making a return. As expected with the sequel, there are more dinosaur visuals and special effects, while the plot too takes it up a notch, now toying with the idea of bringing dinosaurs to San Diego. In true Jurassic Park style, things initially are controlled, and then as expected the humans lose control, and it becomes a routine survival game after. Goldblum’s character has some witty dialogs which further indicate this, and also periodically contribute to the comic elements in the movie. Julianne Moore who plays Sarah Harding is a wonderful addition to the cast, and possibly one of the best acts; expressing her free spirited love for adventure and exploration impeccably, while later doing magnificently in her portrayal of fear. Arliss Howard plays Peter Ludlow, who nails the role of the stereotype business executive who is clearly out of his element, and is driven just by his lofty ideas and the possible big bucks to be made. Watching the Lost World over 18 years after its release, it still made for a good watch. It has its memorable moments, one being the raptor charge sequence in the field at night, which was visually impressive. My personal favorite, which has lasted in my mind since my original viewing experience back in 1997, is the customized Mercedes truck struggling for traction in the slush, while trying to tow up the bus. If you’re looking for something remarkable and new, The Lost World has little to offer, but if you enjoy dino-mayhem, and would like to see more of the Jurassic Park franchise unfold, this second installment is worth your time. 

My Recommendation: Watch It (Man vs. Dinosaur… the survival game continues, now on Site B)

Jurassic Park - Snapshot

As part of the run up to the release of Jurassic World, I decided to re-watch all the Jurassic Park movies. First up, was the original 1993 release, which kicked off the franchise; which at this point I would go as far as call a classic, cause heck, were talking dinosaurs, in a true to life form. I remember watching it in the theatre, and then years later on cable when I was in college; but revisiting it today, it was without doubt well worth my two hours, even 23 years after its release. While I was a little prepared for some sense of degradation, owing to the time lapse, the movie remained surprisingly solid. The plot rolled out well, the performances were impressive, the visuals were breathtaking, and overall it made for an excellent watch. Being older, I could better appreciate the characterization, with Richard Attenborough as John Hammond standing out for his portrayal as the sweet old man with a dream; his performance was truly brilliant. Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum also turned in good performances, with their initial expressions seeing dinosaurs for the first time being amazing. To say awe and astonishment would be putting it lightly. It was interesting to see Samuel L. Jackson as Ray Arnold, in a fairly boring and unimportant role, far from his current power roles such as Nick Fury in Marvel’s Avengers. The sequences wherein suspense builds are superb, including the tremors in the water, and the shaking spoon of green jelly. In most cases you can’t complain about the special effects, but there was the occasional instance when I was wondering if the dinosaurs could be made to look better with today’s CGI capabilities. Overall Steven Spielberg has done a fine job with Jurassic Park, so much so that it holds its own very well, even after all these years. John Williams deserves special credit for the soundtrack and specifically the Jurassic Park theme song, which is just fabulous. There were at least 5 instances when I got goosebumps during the movie, the first and most intense being early on, when the theme song played for the first time, as Hammond and his crew approached the private island that houses the park. A phenomenal movie pretty much, and if I were watching it today for the first time, I’d say Kick Ass for sure.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A modern day classic, bringing Dinosaurs to life)

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - Thoughts

The Star Wars franchise is perhaps the most popular and beloved franchise ever; like the Coca Cola of soda and Ferrari of sports cars. Releasing a decade after the completion of the previous trilogy, it's been a long wait for fans, and not something that was necessarily expected. To add to the anticipation, was the sale of the Star Wars franchise to Disney in 2012; which left fans with questions as to how Disney would choose to handle what was previously George Lucas's brainchild.

 

 

If commercial success is anything to go by, Star Wars - The Force Awakens has already made big strides. It eclipsed Avatar in the US in 2015 to take the no.1 spot, for all-time highest box office gross. Globally it sits at no.3, just behind Titanic, with predictions saying it'll make it to the no.2 spot eventually. So with all the success, what was The Force Awakens really like? In short, it's more of the same, and though some were left wanting more, for the masses, J.J. Abrams delivers a repeat of the original formula that works. The new narrative seems plausible, especially considering Episode VI ended with a sense of closure to the series. In terms of look and feel, it's more like the original trilogy versus the shiny and new Episodes 1, 2 and 3. The setting, pace, characters, factions and overall plot is in line with the original trilogy. The Death Star even has a bigger brother now! Most of the favorite character’s return, albeit in a much older avatar. Hans Solo steals the show; his performance being seamlessly in line with the original trilogy that ended in 1983. Exhibiting the same spirit of adventure, sarcasm and fun, only that now it seems comfortably legendary. The new characters are interesting enough, though Kylo Ren played by Adam Driver was a bit disappointing. While perhaps doing justice to his young conflicted side, his sense of menacing was poor. Hopefully this will better develop in the following movies. Speaking of which, there are a lot of open questions, so as audiences wait for the next movie in the series to be released later this year, the franchise has scope to intrigue and entertain.

 

If you're a Star Wars fun, you can't help but go watch The Force Awakens. It's only the most talked about movie in recent times, and the quickest to earn a billion dollars, in a record 12 days. As an old school Star Wars fan, you can also seek comfort in the fact that though Disney owns the franchise, it still stays true to its roots, and feels like George Lucas's epic space saga. For the discerning sci-fi viewer, it fails to amaze, as its not sufficiently awe inspiring. BB8, the new droid to join the ensemble is easily the cutest droid ever; who for most part is like an adorable puppy dog.

I was able to experience Star Wars - The Force Awaken in IMAX, and what an amazing experience it was. The positional sound was excellent, and the intensity also stood out. Visual effects were in line with what you'd expect from the Star Wars movies; the 3D being nice as well.

 

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Star Wars…. more of the same, in every sense)

Vampires Suck - Snapshot

I remember watching a trailer for Vampires Suck a little before its release, and thought that it was crazy funny like most spoofs are. 2010 went by, so did the release of this movie, and I figured it wasn’t really popular, as no one spoke of it. I’d made a mental note to watch it, so I finally downloaded an HD rip, which sat on my hard drive for several months, till I finally got around to seeing it today.

As expected with the genre, there are some really silly moments, and some obviously ridiculous humor. But after the first 15 minutes it also starts feeling a little lifeless, and fails to keep audience enthusiasm at a boil. Though the runtime is short, just 82 minutes, it drags, and feels like an effort. I would say that it’s still possible to have casual fun with it, if you’re familiar with the Twilight movie, and are also into the parody genre. Keep in mind that at no point is it more than a totally random movie to watch, to kill a little over an hour. Jenn Proske who plays the lead role of Becca Crane is actually quite good, and is easily the best part of the movie. Incidentally this is her debut performance, and compared to the rest of the cast and their lackluster amateur performances, she is a class apart. The only other familiar face, worth mention was Diedrich Bader of Office Space fame, who plays the role of her dad, Frank Crane. The content I was sampling was a 4.37 gig, 720p rip from a BluRay source. The visuals were nice, and though I was forced to watch the content on a small 23” TN LCD screen, some of the outdoor visuals should look really nice on a big screen TV. I must admit that the setting and locales are in line with the Twilight movie. Sound was presented be means of a 5.1 soundtrack, but was largely forgettable. I noticed the volume on the center channel fluctuate, which was annoying; I had to keep throttling the volume control from time to time, to hear the dialogue properly.   

My Recommendation: Dicey (If you feel like ridiculing the Twilight saga, and are up for a parody)

Inside Out - Snapshot

There was quite a buzz around Inside Out, around the time of its release, and most critics had good things to say. I personally didn’t pay much attention to it, up until recently when reviewing the IMDB top 10 movies of 2015 list, where Inside Out was the highest rated, taking the no.1 slot. I decided I should watch it and got my hands on an HD copy. In short, I was blown away! Conceptually it is easily one of the most amazing animated movies I've seen. The idea of emotions, and the smart use of them to better understand their contribution to the various aspects of everyday life is great. The crux of the movie and the build-up to the finale is also based on this, towards better understanding how life and emotions work. The movie manages to mesh entertainment and fiction with reality and life-lessons wonderfully. The pace is perfect, and there are some truly hilarious moments, especially the equivalents of emotions in parents’ minds. The look and feel of Inside Out is lovely; the animation, and colors bringing imagination in its truest sense to life. As much as it’s a very entertaining and fun movie, the movie has some truly deep and moving moments; expect to feel them. There is no doubt that this movie is superb; its easily one of the best movies of the year.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (Creativity at its best, depicted in an animated movie for all ages)

Django Unchained - Snapshot

Though I didn’t know much about the premise of Django Unchained getting into it, I was fairly certain it was gonna be impressive, the 2 Oscars it won aside, Tarantino's work seldom disappoints. Set in the mid-18th century, when slave trade was prevalent, the movie showcases the inhuman treatment of Afro-American slaves, and the depravity of the period. In keeping with Tarantino's style, intensity is evident in every scene, every shot, every expression, and every dialog exchange. The production design by Michael J Riva was stunning, with set design and the atmosphere being immaculate. Django Unchained is smart, with the bulk of its strength being the performances of Jamie Foxx and Christopher Waltz, who play the lead roles of Django and Dr. Schultz. In fact, the narrative keeps the action to a minimum, until the latter part of the movie which has a classic Tarantino action scene, set in the 'Big House'; expect it to be graphic, gritty, and splattered with blood. The use of positional sound in the scene is excellent, with the Dolby Digital AC3 soundtrack doing complete justice. In line with Tarantino's focus on strong visual elements, the movie has several memorable moments, including the kissing shadows, and the walking shadows. While there is no customary Tarantino Trunk Shot, probably cause modern day motor cars hadn't been invented yet, there is a similarly interesting shot from within the prison cage on a carriage. Though the movie is long, with a runtime a little shy of the 3-hour mark, it makes from a great watch. It is fairly serious though, so be prepared to pay attention to the dialog.  The music from the movie was also really good, and worked with the scenes well. I intend to get my hands on it soon. 

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A western themed outing by Tarantino)

The Gates: Season 1 - Thoughts

I downloaded The Gates a few years ago, as it seemed like a fairly interesting show. The plot follows the Monohan family, which moves into the Gates community; the move serving as an opportunity for a new start, particularly for the protagonist, Nick Monohan. Leaving behind controversy and taking on a new job in the Gates, as head of security. Though on the surface the community comes across as very normal, there are secrets that unravel over the course of the season, that’s quite intriguing. It's safe to say that the residents of the Gates are not your average neighbors. The show combines family drama elements, as Nick and his wife Sarah make friends and learn more about the residents, while their teenage son falls in love with one of his classmates. At the same time, there's a crime-drama element to it, as every episode follows the exploits of Nick as he leads and solves various cases. Not to mention the mystery that unfolds, by means of the slow unraveling of the supernatural secrets that lay within the Gates. The show succeeds at balancing these different elements, while remaining intriguing. The season ends with some sense of closure to the ongoing plot, while also setting in motion new problems, as a cliffhanger per se for Season 2. Sadly, the show was not renewed for another season, so audiences probably need to make do with Season 1.

Notable stars include Rhona Mitra, of Underworld: Rise of the Lycans and The Last Ship fame, and Marisol Nichols of Vegas Vacation and Felon fame. Their performances, as well as Frank Grillo's, who plays Nick Monohan are quite good. You may remember Frank Grillo from his tough, bad-guy, role as Brock Rumlow in Captain America - The Winter Soldier. Interestingly in The Gates, he shows a lot more emotional depth and capability as an actor. Nick's character is challenged to adapt to his new surroundings and run with it; especially as certain truths become evident to him. Initially he struggles, constantly considering other straight forward options. Rhona Mitra plays Claire Radcliff, one of the Monohan's odd neighbors. Its interestingly a different role for her; not the usual powerful ones she plays. Fairly more emotional for her as well, being torn between her carnal desires, and her want for a peaceful family life. Often being stuck in hard situations, and clearly struggling. As for Sarah Monohan, played by Marisol Nichols, she plays her usual pleasant self, which works well with the rest of the character mix for the show. Kudos to the casting efforts for picking the right people for the job.

The content I was sampling was a rather unimpressive 480p rip from an HDTV source. Video tone looked a little dull, which I imagine was intentional; but that the overall presentation wasn’t as crisp or clear as I'd have liked. Sound was provided by means of a 2.0 Stereo track. It was about okay to understand the show, but a far cry from a 5.1 soundtrack with a dedicated center for dialog.

My Recommendation: Watch It (A well balanced Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Thriller)