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)

Tekken - Thoughts

I don’t remember any promo activity for this movie, at least not in my region. Having been slightly familiar with the combat video game Tekken, when I came across something about this movie online, I decided to read up on it. Being someone who’d watched the Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and Fatal Fury movies and cartoons, it should come as no surprise that I decided to source and watch this movie. In Tekken, a young boy living in the slums of the new corporate world, witnesses the shooting of his mother, and decides to use an annual tournament for professional warriors as a means to seek vengeance on the corrupt corporation that was responsible for her death.


While the plot is simplistic, and leaves very little to imagination, the fight sequences are pretty impressive. Considering that Tekken is about the fighting, I guess it succeeds. My knowledge of the games’ story is limited, and thus it’s hard to say if the movie is in keeping with the original game storyline. The twist regarding the lead characters lineage is interesting, but not all together shocking. The runtime is short and the overall pace is quick, with just a few acceptable slower moments. The character mix is well suited for a movie of this sort, and brings the action together well. Though the lead character has a girlfriend and also seemingly hits it off well with a fellow female combatant, there is no real romantic piece to the plot; be warned if you’re expecting one. If you’re a videogame fan looking for a martial arts movie remake, you’ll love the action and enjoy Tekken. On the other hand if you don’t really care for such amateur low to medium budget action productions, you will be bored.

Most of the cast in Tekken is amateur, with the only readily recognizable face being that of Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who plays Heihachi Mishima, the head of the Tekken organization. Incidentally he played Shang Tsung in the legendary Mortal Kombat movie from 1995. He did well in his role in Tekken, coming across as the dominant head of the organization, being both commanding, and authoritative. The lead role of Jin Kazama is played by Jon Foo, who was admirable in his portrayal of the bold young teenager. Blended well was his representation of the rash and passionate adolescent out to seek vengeance, yet having good moral values and learning quickly from his well-wishers. His friend and fellow participant whom he had a noticeable connection with was Christie Monteiro, played by Kelly Overton; a young woman who was smart, sassy, and very capable of kicking ass. She did justice to her role, coming across as dependable and loyal. Overall an amateur cast with pretty decent performances all round.

As sourcing the movie was relatively difficult, I ended up watching a downloaded DVD5 version of the movie. While picture and the overall presentation were far superior to a lossy DivX, I do believe that some transcoding might have been done that marginally degraded quality. Video was clear and pixel free for most part, but wasn’t flawless. Definition was pretty much acceptable all through. Most of the scenes in the movie are at night or indoors in artificial light. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround audio track. It complemented the fight sequences well, and made the action enjoyable. Surround stage usage was quite minimal overall.

My Recommendation: Watch It – (A must watch for those who enjoy video game movies)