all the movie things
I could see all the releases in the last eight months as soon as they released. Movies which has to be enjoyed in 3D(eg-Coraline) and IMAX (Monsters vs Aliens) - I could enjoy them as it is supposed to be.
This summer is going to be a spread of 3D movies. I am going to miss them all...
Pixar's Up
Ice Age 3 Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Final Destination: Death Trip 3D
Toy Story and Toy Story Re-release in 3D
I checked the theatres in Bangalore also, there also no 3D movies are playing.
Movies made in IMAX - they are a feast to the eyes. Everything feels more real.
I checked the IMAX theatres in India and the closest one is in Hyderabad. All of them are playing old (by my current standard) movies. We have quite some IMAX movies coming this summer.
Star Trek: The IMAX Experience
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: The IMAX Experience
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The IMAX Experience
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Hmm..I could plan some trips to Mumbai Adlabs IMAX or Hyderabad IMAX!
Being close to Hollywood has some perks. Many independant movies which are good but dont get so much publicity are released only in LA and NYC. And in LA we have a lot of movie houses which cater to these kind of movies.
There are many historic movie houses which routinely have special screenings of classics and blockbusters of yesteryear. You could catch these movies in your 15" laptop, but seeing them on the big screen is an experience you cant match.
Recently there was a movie marathon of Matrix series where they showed all 3 movies in a day. This week, there are screenings of Vertigo (Hitchcock) Casablanca and Reservoir Dogs!
Then there are advance screenings. Movie producers hold advance screenings of upcoming movies in select theatres, to get audience/press feedback. This is totally FREE.
The public libraries here...they have huge collections. of comics and DVDs! Free membership! Original DVDs! I have started a mission to compile a 1TB movie library before i go.
Netflix. I hate their throttling but I have found a way out. And there is no better way to get hold of those rare movies.
Food
Some of the food here... I love them. Pancakes. Barbecue. Tortilla Chips with hot Salsa. Aloe Vera Juice.
Wine
After being in California for 8 months, i have become a wine-file. Do you get Sauvignon Blanc in India? I hope so.
Attributes of American Life
Organization. Cleanliness. Preservation of nature. Internet usefulness. Cool Rental Cars. Open culture where you can express yourself freely. Respect for pedestrian. Respect for traffic laws.
Choti Choti magar Moti batein
Paper towels. Vending machines. Redbox. Powdered coconut. Ready to cook chapati. Fully furnished Studios.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
We want to thank the academy...
In a colorful function in the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, we were presented with the Oscar award for the best couple. :))
In other news Slumdog Millionaire sweeped the Oscars with 7 awards including the Best Film, Best Direction, Screenplay and Music. I was glad to see a Keralite, Resul Pookkutty getting Oscar for best sound mixing for Slumdog Millionaire.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My top 11 Movies of 2008
This list was arrived at using a scientific and psychological method.
1. Check lists of all movies released in 2008 in English, Hindi and Malayalam.
2. As soon as i see one movie i liked, note it down.
3. Tear the paper into slips so i have one movie name on each slip.
4. Wait for sometime. Do some actual work.
5. Comeback to the slips.
6. Take one slip at a time, give the movie a score out of ten.
7. Now list them according to the scores.
Originally i had wanted a top ten list, but by the way the scores appeared, It became a top 11 list.
I learned some things from this excercise.
The top grossing films of 2008 in Bollwood- I havent seen most of them, I was not interested in most of them, and I am truly shocked at some of the entries - Race, Jodha Akbar, Sarkaar Raj, Jannat!
English movies of 2008- Some of them i sadly missed-
Australia by Baz Luhrman (previous film 'Moulin Rouge') with Nicole Kidman,Hugh Jackman.
City of Ember - DVD still sleeps in my laptop. Supposed to be good.
CJ7 - Supposed to be another laughter riot from the team of Shaolin Soccer.
Frost/Nixon, Milk, Gran Torino - Oscar nominated films.Never got around to see them.
Spiderwick Chronicles, Wanted
Some films conspicuous by absence:
The Happening: First time around, i liked it for the PA landscape and frights. (I was supposed to goto PA for onsite). Second time, the silliness of the plot and Mark Wahlberg's unintentionally funny expressions were too much.
Dark Knight: Heralded to be the best film of the year, biggest grosser in history etc.Lest i had missed something, i saw it in IMAX too. I feel the best description for the movie is 'murky'. There were some good things about it. Christian Bale (not his fake batman voice) Heath Ledger's Joker. Bad things were Maggie Gyllenhall, badly choreographed action and the plot.Looking back again, may be the only good thing was the Joker.
Not appearing in the list, but still good: Get Smart, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, Pineapple Express, Semi-Pro, You Don't Mess With The Zohan
Never see: Disaster Movie, Cloverfield, Meet the Spartans, My Best Friend's Girl, One Missed Call,Pathology, Punisher: War Zone, The Strangers
Now to go into the list:
Slumdog Millionaire (7.5)
It may be over-rated, but it has a good story, synthesis of good english filmmaking and feel-good bollywood-ian story. Gains extra points for making an 'Indian' film in the Oscars.
Yes Man (7,5)
May be not as good as Bruce Almighty, Jim Carrey looks a little old, but still the movie cracks me up. Extra points for beautiful/crazy Zooey Deschanel.
Wrestler (7.5)
I dont like to watch Wrestling. But still this film made me watch it (in it).A film that makes you care for its characters. You wish they somehow find redemption. Extra points for the scene where the wrestler and stripper meet outside their 'jobs'.
Kung Fu Panda (8)
Damn Funny. The opening dream sequnce has me hooked. And it has Jack Black. extra points for being a film about a fat person saving the day.
Transsiberian (8)
Taut thriller. Edge-of-seat. I totally abandoned Nithya one evening to see this on DVD.
Bachna Ae Haseeno (8)
I kept wondering-Can Hindi Cinema do this? Yashraj production values bring a movie that is actually enjoyable for once. And i am a little fan of Minisha Lamba.
Vantage Point (8)
Another edge-of-seat movie with lots of twists thrown in. But its not the 'Race'.
The Incredible Hulk (8)
I am a fan of comic-book-hero movies. But i have never read any Hulk books. This film was pure adrenaline thrill. And an appearance from Iron Man? Man oh man.
Bolt (8.5)
Enjoyed it thoroughly. Old-fashioned themes like friendship, courage and faithfulness. Lots of comedy. Great animation. And there is a cat who shows the way.
Definitely, Maybe (8.5)
It achieves the impossible. A chick-flick which can be enjoyed by guys. A great leading man, 3 gorgeous ladies, a story which keeps you guessing.
Iron Man (8.5)
Great Superhero movie in a long, long time. I am a fan of Robert Downey Jr Now. This man can do any role. First he is super hero in this movie. Then he goes and does super comedy in Tropic Thunder. Who is this guy? For extra points this movie has the charming Gwyneth Paltrow.
Honoroble Mentions:
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (7)
Cycle (7)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (7)
Be Kind Rewind (6.5)
Tropic Thunder (6.5)
Kadha Parayumbol (6.5)
21 (6)
Aamir (6)
Twenty Twenty (5.5)
Wall-E (5.5)
1. Check lists of all movies released in 2008 in English, Hindi and Malayalam.
2. As soon as i see one movie i liked, note it down.
3. Tear the paper into slips so i have one movie name on each slip.
4. Wait for sometime. Do some actual work.
5. Comeback to the slips.
6. Take one slip at a time, give the movie a score out of ten.
7. Now list them according to the scores.
Originally i had wanted a top ten list, but by the way the scores appeared, It became a top 11 list.
I learned some things from this excercise.
The top grossing films of 2008 in Bollwood- I havent seen most of them, I was not interested in most of them, and I am truly shocked at some of the entries - Race, Jodha Akbar, Sarkaar Raj, Jannat!
English movies of 2008- Some of them i sadly missed-
Australia by Baz Luhrman (previous film 'Moulin Rouge') with Nicole Kidman,Hugh Jackman.
City of Ember - DVD still sleeps in my laptop. Supposed to be good.
CJ7 - Supposed to be another laughter riot from the team of Shaolin Soccer.
Frost/Nixon, Milk, Gran Torino - Oscar nominated films.Never got around to see them.
Spiderwick Chronicles, Wanted
Some films conspicuous by absence:
The Happening: First time around, i liked it for the PA landscape and frights. (I was supposed to goto PA for onsite). Second time, the silliness of the plot and Mark Wahlberg's unintentionally funny expressions were too much.
Dark Knight: Heralded to be the best film of the year, biggest grosser in history etc.Lest i had missed something, i saw it in IMAX too. I feel the best description for the movie is 'murky'. There were some good things about it. Christian Bale (not his fake batman voice) Heath Ledger's Joker. Bad things were Maggie Gyllenhall, badly choreographed action and the plot.Looking back again, may be the only good thing was the Joker.
Not appearing in the list, but still good: Get Smart, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, Pineapple Express, Semi-Pro, You Don't Mess With The Zohan
Never see: Disaster Movie, Cloverfield, Meet the Spartans, My Best Friend's Girl, One Missed Call,Pathology, Punisher: War Zone, The Strangers
Now to go into the list:
Slumdog Millionaire (7.5)
It may be over-rated, but it has a good story, synthesis of good english filmmaking and feel-good bollywood-ian story. Gains extra points for making an 'Indian' film in the Oscars.
Yes Man (7,5)
May be not as good as Bruce Almighty, Jim Carrey looks a little old, but still the movie cracks me up. Extra points for beautiful/crazy Zooey Deschanel.
Wrestler (7.5)
I dont like to watch Wrestling. But still this film made me watch it (in it).A film that makes you care for its characters. You wish they somehow find redemption. Extra points for the scene where the wrestler and stripper meet outside their 'jobs'.
Kung Fu Panda (8)
Damn Funny. The opening dream sequnce has me hooked. And it has Jack Black. extra points for being a film about a fat person saving the day.
Transsiberian (8)
Taut thriller. Edge-of-seat. I totally abandoned Nithya one evening to see this on DVD.
Bachna Ae Haseeno (8)
I kept wondering-Can Hindi Cinema do this? Yashraj production values bring a movie that is actually enjoyable for once. And i am a little fan of Minisha Lamba.
Vantage Point (8)
Another edge-of-seat movie with lots of twists thrown in. But its not the 'Race'.
The Incredible Hulk (8)
I am a fan of comic-book-hero movies. But i have never read any Hulk books. This film was pure adrenaline thrill. And an appearance from Iron Man? Man oh man.
Bolt (8.5)
Enjoyed it thoroughly. Old-fashioned themes like friendship, courage and faithfulness. Lots of comedy. Great animation. And there is a cat who shows the way.
Definitely, Maybe (8.5)
It achieves the impossible. A chick-flick which can be enjoyed by guys. A great leading man, 3 gorgeous ladies, a story which keeps you guessing.
Iron Man (8.5)
Great Superhero movie in a long, long time. I am a fan of Robert Downey Jr Now. This man can do any role. First he is super hero in this movie. Then he goes and does super comedy in Tropic Thunder. Who is this guy? For extra points this movie has the charming Gwyneth Paltrow.
Honoroble Mentions:
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (7)
Cycle (7)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (7)
Be Kind Rewind (6.5)
Tropic Thunder (6.5)
Kadha Parayumbol (6.5)
21 (6)
Aamir (6)
Twenty Twenty (5.5)
Wall-E (5.5)
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