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)