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A failed Anchorman clone
Talladega nights might be a critique of celebrity fame or just a funny movie about racing the world would never be able to figure out. Among the Will Ferrell lineup it certainly is the weakest. John C Reilly and Will Ferrell combo was honestly under utilized and underplayed when compared to Step Brothers which is a much more superior film. Talladega nights almost looked like Anchorman on race tracks. Will Ferrell becomes and remains extremely popular and a winner in all walks of life. Will Ferrell loses the charm. Will Ferrell sulks about. Will Ferrell becomes determined to give it one last shot. Will Ferrell wins. This is basically the plot of both Anchorman. Anchorman while being a great comedy also gave some sort of critique to celebrity culture and worship which was forced in this film to a cliched angle, depicting all celebrity as idiots and shallow. Anchorman also efficiently utilized its side characters giving each one a good chunk of comedy. In this movie the only other big side character was the antagonist was Sacha Baron Cohen who was reduced to an unfunny French caricature much like the film which also is an unfunny Southern American caricature.
614 views
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An insanely gory action fest
A movie that is truly capable of enraging even the faintest, Asura is easily the blood filled action film I have ever watched. A cunning and manipulative politician's plan to change the city turns to be only a PR fest and in reality he fills his pocket with public money. The DA are unable to prove the politician's
guilt who uses the police force as personal toys and to clean away evidence against him. His most trusted officer is caught in a game of cat and mouse between DA and politician as he is blackmailed by both sides to spy on the other. A fast paced thriller the movie beautifully captures the struggle a government worker can face in the games between higher positioned officials. The movie also envisions a hierarchy of corrupt individuals and how they partake in an eternal struggle to trump one another. The climax of the movie is filled with such an extreme degree of violence that American action movies seem like a kid's flick in comparison.
588 views
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Crossing the line between good and evil
A story which could only be expressed by the statement that it was a crossover between Godfather and Departed, the movie is a very slow burn but insanely gripping story of a police man finally embracing the madness of the world to be the gangster. A stylish effort by the director sees great and fast paced action scenes and tons of twists and backstabbing. Featuring an ever reliable Choi Min sik as a foul mouthed police man who mentally tortures an already feeble protagonist and the harshness of the gangsters makes the hero and the audience question the intentions of either side and to what extent a person could go to bring peace. Filled with hardcore violence New World is another gory and exciting crime film in the Korean New wave.
611 views
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A great heroine in a tested territories
In a quest to be something different, the movie becomes a routine superhero flick. Wonder woman is probably the most well received film to come out of DC Universe so far. But for all its praise the only thing it actually did well was to be the first female solo superhero movie to feature a badass heroine. It basically used the standard superhero film template and inserted a heroine into it. No doubt the film has set a precedent with its success and this has surely inspired even Marvel who is now releasing its own female superhero film, Captain Marvel. The film uses a tired three arc structure and does nothing new with the genre. Also, the characters apart from the titular heroine are bland and run using the tried and tested war film mechanics and ambitions. Also, while the film actually hit a bizarre but superb note with Diana realizing that the war is caused by stupidity of humans and not interference of gods, it is soon turned to dust with introduction of Ares. All in all it was on the cusp of trying something truly new and exciting but left it to please causal fans of the genre.
577 views
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The most beautiful noir film ever directed
Carol Reed's masterpiece Third Man stands tallest among all the black and white films I have ever watched. There has never been another movie to use the medium to its fullest. The lighting used in the film to depict a war torn Vienna is absolutely stunning. There have been countless articles and discussion based on the lightning used in this film and how it glories the surroundings and characters and also uses shadows created from it to hide the important. This makes it one of the earliest and possibly one of the best noir film of all times. The black and white, especially the black has been brilliantly used. The villain of the movie is one of the most charming villains to be created. Orson Welles acts so well as the villain and his entry into the movie is easily one of the greatest cinematic movies ever created. Also, the last scene is absolutely cool and has been replicated in many other neo-noir and mystery movies to pay homage. I might be fan boying but this movie is just that good to rave about.
646 views
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A shallow coming of age story
The biggest problem with Tekkonkinkreet is its shallowness. It tries hard to be meaningful film which would have deep and everlasting impact on the audience but by the end the message it strives to put across seems hollow and pretentious. The film moves with an ambition to tell the story through 2 orphans, one who is too clever and brave for his own good and the other who is sensitive like a flower. Their relationship is explored in the background of their town being abducted by what seems like a capitalist propaganda. Various characters ranging from police, to friendly gangs, violent gangs, and downright nasty gangs appear and fight for the control of the city which depict the progression from white to black much like the smarter orphan whose mental stability becomes grimmer with changing city and his relationship with his brother. The unrealized attitude towards personal struggles of the protagonist and cliched nature of the side characters spoil what could have been a much more complex coming of age story.
624 views
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A grounded heist film.
From a director who has primarily directed documentaries, American Animals is a brave effort taking cues from I, Tony to get its story across while adding its own unique twist to the formula. The story is interesting and a very grounded take on heist genre which has been largely dominated with nuanced plans and thrilling scenes. The amount and the value of the books is not a joking matter here in too, yet the idealism of the students and their ridiculous plan has been set up in a fine way. Using the real life conspirators of the crime to actually discuss their personal take during the moment is a gem of an idea and the director's touch for documentaries was apparent therein. This was also the movie's Achilles heel as the story moved with nerve wreaking scenes which were never grand enough to make the viewers break a sweat. The story was told as it was without exaggerating of glorifying it. This took away the tension that makes a heist movie so appealing.
573 views
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A mosiac of mystery, drugs, and people.
I honestly don't know how to feel about this film. The film which features a mosiac of character who often had no purpose. The hero who was never clear of what to chase or the police who couldn't decide which side they were playing for. The mystery and overall story might have been weak but the strong addition of dialogues, cinematography, music, and Joaquin Phoenix were enough to hold my attention. The movie is surely a trippy ride where characters seem to just cut in and out as they please. The movie might be confusing but in the end most plot threads that movie carelessly threw at audience were tied together, albeit the satisfaction regarding the knots is a purely subjective choice. I, for one was sort of satisfied to not hate the film but felt it came short of achieving a status akin to Big Lebowski.
562 views
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If the world could learn how to make a very stylistic philosophical movie about moral decay of society from the Italians it would probably be a better place. Straight from the book of Italian master Federico Fellini, Great Beauty is probably the closest in replicating the brilliance of La Dolce Vita. Split in various chapters the story chronicles the story of an aging writer who meets various people in his job to display the most unique of Italy. Through his journey the director shows the protagonist's own hesitation to finish his book, the decay in moral values of Italian city especially the rich and the alienation of culture between the old and new. A spiritualistic journey which leaves no stone unturned to show what it wants to show and with the addition of great music.
627 views
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Another kick ass addition to the series
Tom Cruise is probably the biggest Hollywood star working today and multi decade career has taught him to play his strengths to the maximum. MI series has come a long way since its inception with the first one being a small scale heist film, where the mission to large extent did not feel impossible. In the sixth edition of the series the stakes are raised the race is to secure plutonium bombs from the bigger terror organisations. The action is fast paced and Tom Cruise knows the exact stunts to woo the audience and he spectacularly delivers them. Unlike the Fast and furious series the story to large extent makes sense and the suspense is well maintained. Some stunts are grounded to deliver a much more realistic action while some are blown way out of proportion to be a respectable part of a superhero franchise. But, respectfully speaking who can deny Ethan Hunt a place in superhero teams.
582 views
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