Paranormal Activity

Hollywood movie Paranormal Activity is a supernatural thriller and has been made with a budget of $15,000. It has been getting rave reviews from many critics. Earlier, the movie had failed to get a distribution deal after screening at the Slamdance Festival in 2007. Now the word of mouth has encouraged the makers to promote it again.

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Paranormal Activity reminds us of the film The Blair Witch Project. Both the horror films deal with the supernatural and have been shot in a realistic documentary style. Paranormal Activity is far better than the other. The Blair Witch Project relied on gimmicks for scares whereas Paranormal Activity is based more on a primal fear that exists within us all.

Paranormal Activity is an underground sensation that has been taking the country by storm. This homemade horror movie makes the eyeballs of audiences have heart attacks. Director/writer Oren Peli sets his story in a plain, ordinary suburban house, but it gradually becomes a hellhole and pulls the rug out from under the notion of a safe haven. The movie has also a few humorous moments to break the awkwardness in it.

Once in awhile, Katie (Katie Featherston) has been haunted by a presence since her childhood days. When the movie begins she stays with her boyfriend Micah (Micah Sloat) in old-fashioned horror house for 21 days and night. The visitations have come more frequently. Katie is scared while Micah is more excited and amused. He purchases a video camera in hopes of capturing the unexplainable. He gets more than he bargained for.

The night scenes and creaking doors are incredibly creepy. The movie has also lots of light humor, with the occasional intimation of weirdness. Featherston has given wonderful performance. And Katie also lends a few funny moments to the movie. The movie has rich production values that provide some special effects very convincingly.

The movie has a few drawbacks - there are a few scenes where they were obviously trying to explain what was going on, but it felt forced and dumbed down. The final scene is scary but it seems as though they run out of ideas and started scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Overall, Paranormal Activity is intelligent, realistic and genuinely hair-raising horror movie. It’s worth watching movie.

This Is It

It is seldom that biographies or back stage shots make into a great movie but in this case it is King of Pop Michael Jackson or just 'MJ' to his fans. His comeback concerts will surely go down as one of the greatest spectacles never seen. This Is It is named after the series of concerts that Michael left unfinished and it gives the viewers a chance to glance at what King of Pop was preparing for his 'Final Curtain Call'.

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Kenny Ortega who was also the director of Michael's concert shows for a moment makes us forget that the greatest popstar of his generation isn't alive. Come four months after his death it was made with such care that it doesn't like a quick montage of shots. The rehearsal footage is spectacular with some mesmerising songs and exuberant dancing. Perhaps, Michael in his sixth sense wanted to give his best before denying the world 50 comeback concerts.

The film opens with a short text introduction stating the purpose of the footage and its intent. After short dialogues from various dancers, Kenny talks the original concert opening sequence involving a body suit made from screens which display fast clips and images with bright intensity from which Jackson emerges on stage. Immediately after this, Jackson begins 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' first solo, and then half way in is joined by dancers.

It gets emotional when MJ sings 'I'll Be There' part of a medley of Jackson 5 songs. His 'Heal the World' shows the human side of the man who was at times demonised by tabloids. There is some high-tech stuff too especially when we come to Thriller where some green-screen visual effects that were created for the concert tour are showcased including a new 3-D collection of the Thriller. The presentation of 'Smooth Criminal' is even better.

Jackson looks a little frail just weeks before his death yet he keep up with dancers half his age. He is seen trying to perfect his moves which made him the greatest ever popstar he was. Kenny gives some funny moments to the movie attempting Michael's dance moves. The sweetest moment in the film comes when Jackson gives a genuine smile when he and his dancers perfect a dance step.

Although That Is It has a 112 minutes runtime it seems short as it is the last opportunity to watch the pop icon's last brush with music. This is It does have some genuinely touching moments. The audio of the movie is awesome and the movie is a winner in all technical aspects. The movie has a G rating and require parental guidance for nothing else but MJ's dance moves.

The movie works because Kenny also doesn't try to play with the sentiments of the viewers by making them cry over MJ's death. Nor does he cut any song in between to make it look like a documentary. That Is It doesn't try to deify Jackson or explain him it tries to celebrate the life of a man who entertained millions in his life time. The movie doesn't make any great revelations about the moments for which he became infamous. It is more like a live performance by MJ than a tribute to him.

The Twilight Saga

Let's get first things first New Moon is no match to its predecessor Twilight. But that doesn't make Chris Weitz directed movie bad. Robert Pattinson who has mesmerised his fans rises from the grave again to feast on blood and set teenage pulses racing in The Twilight Saga New Moon. The movie based on Stephenie Meyer's book comes with a stiff challenge to live up to the expectations after its Twilight had grossed more than $350 million at the Box Office.

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On her 18th birthday Isabella Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is on top of the moon when Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) the vampire she falls in love with and his family throw her a birthday party. While unwrapping a gift, she gets a paper cut, which causes Edward's adopted brother, Jasper (Jackson Rathbone), to be overwhelmed by the smell of her blood and attempt to kill Bella. To protect her, Edward decides to end their relationship, and the Cullens move away from Forks. This leaves Bella heart-broken and depressed.

In the months that follow, Bella learns that thrill-seeking activities,= such as motorcycle riding. This allows her to hear Edward's voice in her head. She also seeks comfort in her deepening friendship with Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a cheerful companion who eases her pain over losing Edward. Bella later discovers that Jacob is a werewolf. He and his fellow werewolves protect Bella from the vampires Laurent (Edi Gathegi) and Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre), the latter of whom seeks revenge for her dead mate, James, whom the Cullens killed in Twilight.

Communication gap leads Edward to believe that Bella has killed herself. Edward flees to Italy to provoke the Volturi, vampire royalty who are capable of killing him. Alice (Ashley Greene) and Bella rush to Italy to save Edward, arriving just in time to stop him. Before leaving Italy, the Volturi tell Edward that Bella, a human who knows that vampires exist, must either be killed or transformed into a vampire. Edward tells Bella that he has always loved her and left her only to protect her. She forgives him, and the Cullens vote in favour of Bella being transformed into a vampire. Edward gives Bella a choice to either change herself after her graduation he will change her himself.

New Moon effortlessly sweeps you along in a swirl of intoxicating passion. New Moon has one major flaw, being a supernatural adventure it seems to be packed with too much of romance. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart carry great performance from Twilight. The screenplay at times seems weak but can surely make patient characters stick to their seats.

The movie won't disappoint the majority of its teenage fans. But it is a let down for many Twilight fans who felt that Catherine Hardwicke who had directed the first flick had improved upon Stephenie Meyer's novel. New Moon doesn't seem to justify why Chris Weitz was chosen over Catherine Hardwicke. At 112 minutes of runtime New Moon seems ideal for a romantic tale of this sort. Although no comparison to Twilight, New Moon is certainly a movie worth spending a few bucks on.

2012 Review

Apocalyptic doom and cataclysmic disaster has been a favourite genre with Hollywood and the latest in the line is 2012. The movie Roland Emmerich directed movie is inspired by the idea of a global doomsday event coinciding with the end of the Mayan Long Count Calendar's current cycle on or around December 21, 2012. The sub-plot of the movie is that amidst this environmental catastrophes all over the world, wiping out major cities and killing large portions of the population a broken family reunites.

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Roland Emmerich is no stranger to imagination and sci-fi after having made Independence Day, Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow. He seems to enjoy nothing more than seeing the most famous monuments toppled. Emmerich is a professional when it comes to showing massive destruction but he seems to have gone overboard with the destruction theory and destroyed his movie 2012. The initial devastation seems impressive but two hours of monotonous scenes seems unbearable.

Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) is a divorced father while his ex-wife Kate Curtis (Amanda Peet) and children live together with her new boyfriend, Gordon (Thomas McCarthy). At the Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala, the victims of a mass suicide seem to adhere to the Mayan calendar, which predicts the end of the world will coincide with a Galactic Alignment, which is to occur on December 21 of 2012, the date of the northern hemisphere's winter solstice.

The IHC (Institute for Human Continuity), a secret organization, has realized the situation and begins constructing vast arks beneath the Himalayan mountains designed to withstand most natural disasters in order to save both humanity, significant species, and the greatest treasures of mankind for when doomsday finally happens. There are arguments however about how and when the governments of the world will alert their fellow citizens and even discussions about how the remaining survivors will be selected to survive Armageddon.

The special effects have always been highlight of Emmerich's movies and 2012 isn't any exception. But the movie lacks a good screenplay and that is what separates it from blockbusters like Independence day and The Day After Tomorrow. Acting seems ordinary as the poor script takes away everything from the stars. John Cusack seems to be the only star who shines in the movie by delivering a brilliant performance.

The movie runtime of 158 minutes seems to be a shade longer for a movie which just is a montage of special effects. In the end 2012 is seems less interested in talking about the Mayan truth and more about its Box Office success. The hype that the movie has created around itself with the Mayan doomsday prediction is sure give it a huge opening. Roland Emmerich should have waited till 2012 and made a better movie or else should have waited till 2012 and spared the world from a headache.

The Road

John Hillcoat directed The Road is based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy. The plot of the movie revolves around a father and his son in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. It is perhaps no irony that the movie hits the theatres just two weeks after the Roland Emmerich directed 2012 which talked about annihilation of the entire world. The Road talks about a world post nuclear annihilation scene taking us back to the days of the Cold War.

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John Hillcoat says a lot about the story in the opening shot with images of greenery, of flowers, of sunny days but all these are in the dreams of the Man. When he wakes up he finds reality too hard to believe. John Hillcoat portrays the human race in a post nuclear annihilation through the character of the Man. The introduction of the Boy is perhaps the most interesting and symbol of hope to mankind. The Boy brings in the optimism in the otherwise pitiful world.

An unnamed father (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) walk alone through burned America. They struggle to survive after an unspecified apocalypse and make their way toward the coast for possible food, shelter, safety, or to potentially find other survivors of the cataclysmic events. It is cold enough to crack stones, and, when the snow falls it is gray. They have just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless cannibalistic bands that stalk the road

Along the way, they encounter grave struggles and hardships across the barren landscapes, with scarce shelter and resources available to them, and having to avoid bands of cannibals and other desperate gangs looking to pillage valuables and food. Various flashback sequences occur where the Man remembers events prior to the catastrophe, many involving his deceased wife (Charlize Theron), who has a much more expanded role in the film than in the original book.

Viggo Mortensen amd Kodi Smit-McPhee deliver outstanding performance, Charlize Theron is good in her limited appearance in the movie. The Road can easily claim to be the grayest and brownest movie ever made. The movie is not overboard with VFX and John Hillcoat makes sure that the movies doesn't have too many loose ends. Hillcoat has certainly made worthy use of the $30 million incurred on The Road.

The Road is an awesome piece of cinema and truly great in every sense of the word. It is not outlandish like 2012 but tells the story in a more realistic way. It is not a pleasant movie but it surely makes the audience think. There is brutality in the movie but it is though provoking. The movie perhaps is a winner because it does not go the 2012 way and is a treat to watch. Its a must for all those who choose a good movie over expensive VFX.

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani” turned out almost like I thought it would, although I had expected better. Majorly slapstick-y with a very, very loose story-line, is how I’d describe it. The regular rules on describing character development and depth don’t apply here because, and I’ll say it flat out, there is none. Character development that is. This film, while being physically situated in a hill-station like small town, appears to play out in fantasy land. Hence, to sit through this film, you are required to suspend your disbelief and knowledge of physics, gravity and all that tiresome logic.
The film, as the title proclaims, is about Prem Chopra (Ranbir Kapoor) who is a 9th standard fail, good-for-nothing wastrel (where have I seen that before?). Prem is all about being President of a “Happy Club” – he does nothing else. The Happy Club and it’s members, who are all Prem’s equally good-for-nothing friends, have lofty goals in mind, but run around not amounting to much.
Prem who lives with and is supported by his parents, wants to “grow up” once he sights and falls in love with the beautiful Jennifer (Katrina Kaif). However Jenny is being forced by her foster parents to marry an odious chap, and she actually loves Rahul (Upen Patel). Prem, by virtue of being her friend, and very classically hero-like in being unable to tell her of his love, finds himself kidnapping her from her very own wedding so she can be with her true love. Things of course do not go as planned, but does Prem get what he deserves?
While the film makes it very clear that there is no realism in the story, and the viewer should expect no connections (remote or otherwise) to coherence, it is also not an out-an-out gag fest. There is an attempt to create a film full of buffoonery, tomfoolery and abject slapstick, but Santoshi cannot keep up the momentum.
Thus while there are some scenes which are comedic, there were gaps in the film where I was plain bored. Add to that, the fact that this film pretty much conducts itself at a level suited for a teeny-bopper flick, and you get the picture.

Santoshi who has delivered meaningful films like “Damini” in the past, also managed to turn out half-decent 'comedies' like “Andaz Apna Apna”. This time he tries to be fluffier than usual and as far as I’m concerned does not get it right. APKGK has a pretty light-weight script, and is unencumbered by traditional filmi elements such as a believable story or screenplay.
Even given that, this film fails to leave a mark, chiefly because I care not a whit about the card-board-ish lead-pair, Prem and Jenny, both of whom share two common characteristics. Firstly they both stammer when upset, and the second (which the director may not have intended) that although full-grown adults, they appear to only possess child-sized brains.
This film might descend into stupidity, but its stars are quite another matter. Luminous Katrina, and the youngish Ranbir, ooze beauty and charm in every frame. Even though they have no help from the script, they manage to salvage the film to make it an average entertainer. There are other factors which help, like the absolutely marvelous Govind Namdeo, who breathes life into his 10 minute role. Also Darshan Jariwala, playing Prem’s restaurant-owner father, and Smita Jaykar, playing his loving, indulgent mother lend their able support. The songs, which are quite melodious are picturised beautifully and with a sophistication not seen in the film itself.
The best thing about this film, if I had to name one, is that it did not have any double-meaning jokes, vulgarity, sexual innuendoes or the Johnny Lever style facial contortions that currently pass for humor. Although there were minor irritants like showing a woman’s sari being “unintentionally” unwrapped (only in Bollywood!), this film was relatively kid-friendly, and I have to say that my kids enjoyed it a whole lot more than I did.
APKGK (long names anyone?) is a slap-stick entertainer and will probably do quite well at the box-office. If you go in there expecting a low-brow, loud, in-your-face comedy sans logic you will get your money’s worth. However if your funny bone is not tickled by random people falling off staircases, or a bunch of half-wits running around for no apparent reason, please consider spending your hard-earned money elsewhere.

Main Aurr Mrs Khanna

If you watch films solely on the basis of who’s in them, then Main Aurr Mrs. Khanna, by novice director Prem Soni - might be your choice this Diwali. Touted as a romantic comedy, it is neither romantic nor particularly comedic - a grab-bag of high points thrown up in the air then assembled any-old-how. I’ve watched enough Bollywood comedies and masala films to know that they don’t always require a sequential, logical narrative flow. Their prime purpose is to entertain but to do so they must be quite outrageous, over-the-top and fun. The problem is that Main Aurr Mrs. Khanna is painfully earnest through its entire first half, moving into some light comedy far too late. The laughs are few and the fun element - the feeling of being entertained - is sorely missing. When we first see him in flashback Samir Khanna (Salman Khan) looks like an elderly guy clinging to his youth or a caricature where parody wasn’t intended. Haggard face, bags under his eyes, sallow complexion suggestive of far too many tequila sunrises and an eccentric hairstyle to hide loss of hair - are features that should have been airbrushed away. But no - we are expected to believe that the innocent straight-out-of an orphanage Raina (Kareena Kapoor) would instantly fall for the guy just because he has been hanging around a church. Hadn’t she been taught not to talk to strange men? The far-fetchedness of their lightning courtship is bizarre enough when zap - they are married and living in Melbourne, Australia. Samir has morphed into a businessman who is reeling from the effects of the global economic crisis and their marriage is on the rocks because of it. Melt-downs ensue with lots of soulful staring out of the windows at bleak urban vistas.
We move tiresomely but purposefully towards the airport - stock symbol of meetings and partings - renewal and loss. One can almost hear the filmmakers saying - ‘Let’s have a decisive scene at an airport but we won’t go down the usual track - the touching reunion- climax - instead we’ll insert our more original airport scene early in the film and surprise viewers with its outcome.’ Yep. The outcome is mildly surprising but mainly for its weirdness and incongruity (to say more would be to spoil).
The high points of the film stand out like the dots on a puzzle for children while the spaces in between are inconsequential - a mindless, joyless slog. It presents as laborious plotting without the understanding of how to craft a proper, cohesive screenplay.
It’s probably unwise for first-time writers-directors to shoot off-shore because of the difficulty posed by costs, logistics and stringent timing. Bollywood stars are usually heavily booked up and time frames become squeezed. This film appears to have suffered set-backs in its infancy - a change of female lead from Lara Dutta to Kareena Kapoor and reduction in the impact of its item number from the originally desired inclusion of Shah Rukh Khan to the reality of featuring Pretty Zinta. I can only guess that re-writes were necessary but Soni wasn’t able to do them effectively as well as direct.
The biggest mistake in the construction of this screenplay appears to be that Soni has chosen to tell the story from Mrs. Khanna’s perspective when really - the character he most enjoyed creating was Aakash (Sohail Khan) - Mrs. Khanna’s confidante and companion. Aakash owns a café at Melbourne Airport where he meets Mrs. Khanna on that life-altering day. Sohail Khan adds value to Mr. Nice Guy and viewers readily warm to his goofiness, total ease and innate timing. The morning after a drunken club scene we see him in hang-over mode - defensive, funny, interesting unlike the moribund characters of Samir and Raina.
In a less than engaging film, one has time to ponder the settings, costumes and make-up in much the same way as one is often forced to read ads when waiting for a train. So I noticed how painfully thin Kareena was and how bones were accentuated in her back by some of the more revealing frocks. I observed a line of what looked like adhesive on one of Salman’s sideburns and studied the zits on Kareena’s face with some interest. There was make-up caked onto the faces of several peripheral female characters which was so thick that it seemed to have been applied with a palette knife. In terms of settings - the homes in some of the Melbourne settings looked unconvincingly bare as if no one could be living in them while others gave the impression of being hotel rooms. In better Bollywood films scenes are set up with a lovely eye for detail and aesthetics. Unfortunately this film appeared hasty and tacky in the visual department.
Both Kareena Kapoor and Salman Khan are great dancers but there wasn’t much comment-worthy choreography. While the songs by Sajid-Wajid are pleasant listening, picturisation did nothing to enhance them with more bare rooms and people staring into the distance and an overly dark ‘Kajra Re’ wannabe item number in ‘Happening’ . The song ‘Mrs. Khanna’ with some silliness from Sohail, Kareena and a Bappi Lahiri (in cameo) is a bit more flamboyant and interesting.
With a first half that takes itself too seriously and a mismatched second half that doesn’t seem to know where it’s going Main Aurr Mrs. Khanna is neither drama nor a ‘roller coaster romp‘. Watch an old favourite this Diwali - chances are you will be more entertained.