Saturday, September 17, 2011

Movie Review: Warrior..almost kicks ass

This is probably amongst the strangest titles I would’ve given a review post in a long time. I would’ve loved to say that the movie truly kicks ass but that would be over-stating the case. To be fair, the movie does try very hard though

Watch the first half and you feel you are in for a real treat. The build up is so wonderful, the pacing so correct, that you gear up for an enthralling second half. So many conflicts, simmering emotions ever so restrained, a moving storyline in the making - the concoction is served just right. The only hitch is..it doesn’t deliver as much. The climax is probably the most disappointing amidst it all and this, when its not a bad climax per se. In fact, I think the movie falls prey to its own expectations.

There are two things that would have made this movie an absolute knock out..a bit more of the story telling and a better climax. I don’t know who slipped up – the director or the editor but someone definitely did, in this otherwise masterfully presented flick

Other than that, you get treated to some of the best acting from all the leads, that you would have seen in some time now, very good fight scenes, exquisitely shot and presented..it sets the adrenalin flowing, the blood rushing and you don’t want to budge from your seat till the fight is over. The background score also does justice and blends in well with the action.

All in all, Warrior qualifies as a must-watch in this movie season but don’t be surprised if you feel a trifle disappointed by the time the credits roll in. Definitely not cheated…but maybe just a trifle disappointed

So go get a piece of the action and judge for yourself.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Movie Review: Contagion…best not to come in contact with it

Its been a long hiatus from the halls and I was hoping that once it was finally over, the movie I’d have watched would have been worth the wait. Alas, I can’t say that for Contagion, not in the least.

If you are really curious, watch the trailer and leave it at that. When I saw the trailer this one was instantly notched up as one of the ‘must-watch’ movies this season. I wish I could sound less disappointed than I do, because the plot definitely had potential. It could’ve been so much more, with such a ‘killer’ (quite literally) concept and storyline. In fact, it ought to be so compelling that your first instinct, once you come home ought to be that you wash your hands. But, it isn’t..far from it.

I wish I could go, scene by scene on where all it went wrong, but that would give the story away so I'll have to with a generic description: Where there ought to have been a journey from the origin of the ‘problem’ to its rampant spread like wildfire, the slowly increasing tension, the smooth pacing culminating in widespread panic, frenetic public, absolute mayhem etc., what you get is a near-documentary, which just seems dull and tired. Only in the second half do things look more like the grim, desolate and desperate canvas the movie ought to be painted on but by then, you’ve already lost interest and are just waiting for the credits to roll in. The background score is such a misfit that you could be watching another movie altogether for all you know. Don’t go by the impressive cast of characters either. Each and every one of them is thoroughly wasted in the movie, save for maybe Lawrence Fishburne and Jude Law. For the record though, it also has Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard and Gwyneth Paltrow..go figure!!

I wish there was something I could praise about the movie (other than the concept) because I am quite a fan of the Ocean series, brought to us by the same director. But a movie like Contagion just doesn’t seem up his alley. I’d rather this kind of a movie was directed by the kinds of Roland Emmerich who may over-use CGI but at least is able to give a good pacing and direction to such epic disaster movies

So, the drought continues…With movies like Bodyguard, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan being the current offerings…its going to be a long wait to watch a worthwhile movie this season…though I’ve heard good things about Devil’s Double and Bol is seen to have potential. Still, its a poor season for the average cinegoer..

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