Why So Serious???

When you normally go to the theater to watch a superhero film you normally expect something that very campy (read Batman and Robin) with over the top villains (read Dr. Freeze and Poison Ivy), elaborate sets and visual effects and weird costume (remember the bat suit with nipples) and mostly bad characterization (Daredevil, Electra, anyone???). Well this all changed withe release of Ironman (and please I'm not even taken into account Spiderman, even though it has earned millions). A great character that's quite believable and not over-the-top, and so were the villains, these were real. A great story with great supporting character. And you sang your Halleuah and thought that a superhero movie couldn't get better than this. But then enter Dark Knight and all this has to be rewritten.

For a movie on a superhero, the Dark Knight is literally a pretty dark movie. Watching this movie only one word came to my mind "Bloody Brilliant" (OK so that's more than one word). Never thought that a superhero movie can be this interesting and yes DARK. For two and half hour the movie is pretty long by Hollywood standards, but there is enough action, enough of stories, enough of everything to grab on to you from the very beginning and never let you go till the very end.

What makes this fair so interesting is surprisingly the character called the Joker, and yes not Batman. I never thought anyone would top Jack Nicholson's performance of the same character and was pretty pessimistic when they announced that Heath Ledger would be playing the character. But I must say he takes the Joker to a whole new level. He's pure evil who knows no bounds. Pretty maniacal as well as diabolical, who falls no rule and believes in chaos and anarchy. Brilliant portrayal of the character that makes you want to see more of him than even the hero. You real believe he's freak and not queer like some of the other villains. A evil genius behind the clown make up. Someone who can easily send chills up your spine.

Even though the Joker overshadows everyone in the film that doesn't mean that the others are not good. Each character is portrayed brilliantly. Whether it's Christian Bale portraying the Batman, Gary Oldman as Commisioner Gordon, Aaron Eckhart as DA Harvey Dent (and yes later as the Two-Face), Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox and the brilliant Michael Caine as Alfred. And yes Maggie Gyllenhall is a definite improvement over the wooden Katie Holm, as Rachel Dawes. Each of these people make their character credible and believable and good. But then at the end of the day it's all about the Joker.

But then at the end of the day the credit must go to Christopher Nolan for creating something that nothing short of a masterpiece. Making everything real and not campy. One movie that I definitely enjoyed and wouldn't mind watching again or owning on VCD.

So let's say "Why So Serious????"

Sarkar Raj: My View of the Film

There is often a huge hype riding a particular movie. A few deliver and a huge chunk disappoint. You could say Sarkar Raj is riding this hype. It not only stars the Bacchan family (well almost, discounting Jaya Bacchan from it), acting together in a movie (not caounting any sort of item number). After the dismal movie Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, the director Ram Gopal Varma had a lot stake riding on this movie.

So does the movie deliver? In my view I would say it didn't. Hey I am no expert at critiquing an film and secondly no big fan of the Bachan clan or even Ash (I don't like her though). Plus I've not seen the earlier movie, Sarkar, to which the movie is a sequel. But then after taking this is the same dirctor who gave us the gritty movies like Satya, Company and yes the entertaining masala Rangeela, this movie doesn't seem to deliver.

The Big B takes the back seat in the movie with the spotlight is on the Baby B and his real wife. Abhishek seems to be sullen and grim throughout the movie (and doesn't shave throughout the movie), seems like he's already sulking the impending death of his wife, thought we told that he is sulking for having to kill his elder bro. Mrs. Ash is supposed to be a business woman, an NRI, but then surprisingly she doesn't feel like either. Except for the beginning where she shows some of the edginess of a business woman but after the initial scene her character is given emmotion that shouldn't have been the case. Her character should have the icy bitchiness (which would have come naturally to her), her character should have been cool and calculating, that would required of a business woman. She seems to be crying a lot. Plus the stage seems to be set a romance between the real life couple. That means killing off the poor Tanisha halfway through the film (she anyway didn't have anything to do).

On the whole the movie doesn't seem to have anything new to offer. Scheming politicians, betrayed henchman, a negative Muslim character, name them you have them in the film. Business giving a contract to kill character. Henchman feeling bad because he was left out. Nothing that you haven't seen in other film. The background is kind of jarring and the character tends to scream a lot. Still nursing that headache from the movie. Even the mad camera angles seems to make you feel kind off giddy. And glaring fact when Tanisha is bumped off the car is a total mangled wreck but the house is unharmed and Abhishek just some minor bruises.

It is left to the Big B to save the day in the climax, which he does with a coldness that I would expect of the character. The end when he ties up all the knot is quite interesting. But even the plot doesn't seem quite plausible because the character in question is never shown with the other negative character.

So on the whole the movie disappointing. The only positive point I can take from this viewing experience was that the theater was really good. And the other thing was watching the movie with someone special that made watching the movie worth it.

Indiana Jone and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull marks the return of the legendary Dr. Henry Jones Jr. along bwith his fedora hat and whip, after a hiatus of nearly 19 years. The movie has the usual thrills and chases and adventures, evil bad guys (in this case, bad gal) , some mysterious artifact, something that we have come to expect from every Indy flick.

The current flick revolves around the mysterious crystal skull and the powers that it possesses. You are re-introduced to Indy's ex-flame Marion Ravenwood, from the Raiders of the Lost Ark. You are also introduced to Mutt Williams, who happens to be Marion and Indy's son. The action this time around, takes place mostly in South America where Indy along with Mutt must retrieve the crystal skull from an eerie cemetery and then along with Dr. Oxely and Marion and Mac find the City of Gods to restore the skull in it's rightful place before the Russian, led my Irina Spalko, can get their hands on it.

The movie has it set of snazzy fight sequence, especially the sequence where you have the fight for the skull taking place on multiple vehicle, which is something that is remnant of ally Indy flicks. The cemetery sequence was bit eerie and well shot, especially the guys in the cemetery who kept giving you the thrills. Not forgetting the chase sequence in the university campus. The movie was well paced and mostly entertaining. And as you may have guessed by now, involves Aliens and UFO, which is quite a departure since two of the Indy flicks were based on religious artifacts.

This is just the second Indy movie that I've watched in the theater. Previously watched the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, along with my dad and grandad. Somehow with the advent of films like The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, that movie didn't seem all that novel. Somehow left you wanting a bit more, something new. But then on the whole watching the movie was a good cinematic experience.