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Justice League: Hereafter: Part II (2003)
Teared up watching this
This entire 2 part episode is my favorite from the Justice League. Superman is the leader of Justice League and we have seen him taking the battle away from the team due to his physical strength. But in this episode there is no league, there is no one to save but himself. Superman is without his powers but his character is still of a leader. He found way to fight back vs Wolves and got back to the watchtower where there is surprise waiting.
Only other character from this episode is a man who won't die. So what will we have when an immortal meets a comic book God. Well, actually not much. Savage is not depressed since he spent so much time alone, but the change in his behavior is refreshing. And Superman who is used to being a leader, even devoid of his powers, encourages Savage to get back in time.
When I saw Savage in the middle of the episode, I teared up. The episode hits on a philosophical level. What does a conqueror get if there is nobody else to conquer. In the end he is a lonely human who is going to roam the earth without interacting with a single human. And he is the reason for this so he must punish himself. Wow.
Pathaan (2023)
Tired of this type of movies
Indian Cinema is making waves since Bahubali worldwide. While we are getting new stories and directions, movies like Pathaan are really dragging the industry down. This movie has very generic story done. Action scenes which is main selling point are ridiculous. I am not believing any action scene for even a second. The green screens behind actors is truly observable. And the wirework is obvious. The spoiler was already out before. This movie tried to rely on symbolism but any 15 years or older person will be tired of same old tropes. The spy angle is really weird as well as some of the scenes of theft. This movie is funny but not intentionally. The bad acting, dialogues and action made this a nice movie to watch after a few beers.
Fail Safe (1964)
Shaken to core
This movie has no comedy. Everything felt so real. I can only imagine how Cuban missile crisis would have felt for people living in those time. We want to just live our life thinking there are smarter people and smarter technology there which is keeping the nukes in control. But Failsafe showed everything that goes in a millitary operation. How everything comes down to who is going to survive than who is going to die. There is a character in this movie who is total warmonger and he is in very high position in pentagon. This man is going to be war criminal if left in charge. Everything in this movie is giving nightmare.
I have never seen a movie like this.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Visual Masterpiece
I knew what I was getting into watching this movie. First avatar was transformative. I didn't watch it in theatre. So when watching on small screen it didn't justify the movie.
Avatar 2 is an experience worthy of theatre. Every shot is framed beautifully. There is a big emphasis on family. Since last avatar, there has 13 year gap. Naturally there was a need to introduce entire new generation of characters to keep the franchise going. There are 2 strong characters from new generation.
But you don't go to avatar for story. You want epic worldbuilding and escape into fantasy. Avatar 2 world is even better than avatar 1. Do watch it even if it costs an arm and a leg.
Mahabharat: Abhimanyu Gets Killed (1990)
Height of Indian television.
Before BR Chopra Mahabharat, there were a few and afterwards there were many interpretations. None of them have come close to show the gruesome reality of war like this one. This particular episode is truly epic. The war sequence of the episode starts with war sequence and builds the background for Chakravyuha. But the 2 min sequence at the start of Chakravyuha is truly epic. They showed how the vyuha will be created in intricate details. The pin drop silence before the vyuha which was coming after the deadly war scenes just moments before heightens up the tension to a 100. Young Abhimanyu has great valor which is shown in the acting of Mayur Varma. Ending is gruesome and emotional. In fact the entire sequence from episode 82 to 84 can be converted into a movie.
No Offence (2015)
This series is so real, you can feel serene when it's over
Watched this with very different expectations. The guy and girl meet for arranged marriage. I thought that was the plot of the whole series. Pleasantly surprised. I found myself laughing with these characters at certain point. They all feel real. Lead actors Abhay and Preeti, wow they just carried the show. Abhay's character is both practical when it comes to the world and idealistic when it comes to himself. I think many people including myself can find ourselves in this role. Preeti's role of a girl who is both hardworking and passionate is also something many people can relate to. Supporting cast is great. The USP of this series is the dialogues and direction. You can't stop binging after watching a couple of episodes.
Silver Surfer (1998)
Too boring to watch
Silver Surfer as a character itself is boring. We tolerate him mostly for Galactus who is awe inspiring while Silver Surfer is weepy. In the show itself he is moaning Shala bal every time, and why should we emphasize with him when we have not even seen any backstory at all? The show starts with arrival of Galactus and immidietly this dude becomes a slave to Galactus and leaves home planet. The drama is never explored.
All the characters are truly side characters apart from Thanos and Galactus. Adam Warlock, Skrull and Kree. We have never been introduced to any character properly, their backstories or their superpowers. It's just a jumbled mess. When Fox was giving amazing shows like Spiderman, Robocop and Fantastic fourth not many wanted to watch this weepy character. Self pity is truly unattractive.
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
Very long and filled with unnecessary scenes
This movie is 4 hr long. Most of the movie can be completed in 3 hr. Now I don't mind getting more story, but we don't get more story for an extra hour. Instead we get really really pointless scenes like
1. Martian Manhunter introduction. He didn't help when Zod attacked the world and was literally terraforming the earth or when Doomsday killed Superman. But he comes back to get Lois back on her feet. Again he doesn't help the heroes fighting Steppenwolf but later shows up. Entire scenes should be cut.
2. Epilogue nightmare scene. No need for this at all. Who even understands what is going on in these movies? Only die nerd hard fans can understand this. Cut this out.
Another thing is a lot of scenes drag on, especially in act 3/4.
From act 5 to the end, everywhere the soundtrack is too loud to appreciate any fighting scene. Its like horn blower ringing near our ear.
With all these negatives, there were some good things as well.
Any shot Darkseid was part of was amazing. Even Steppenwolf was great.
Amazon Island attack scene was really well done.
Entire Cyborg family aspect was amazing, and Cyborg as a human were much needed scenes.
Finally everything Wonder Woman did was amazing. But the constant 300 like noise and slow motion shot of Wonder Woman became ridiculous by third hour.
Superman was ok. No change between 2017 and this movie.
Batman was ok.
Flash was much better but his powers are not at all explained. Only nerd fans will understand his scenes. This is not good for a movie.
Overall, a little better than 2017 version but DC blew it from beginning.
Killing Superman in DC's just 2nd movie - Wrong
Bringing Justice League with no setup - Wrong
Bringing Darkseid story so early - Wrong
Making flash reverse time so early - Wrong
There have been so many things already wrong that this universe is doomed.
Marriage Story (2019)
Seems much better in second watch
This movie has a lot of heart. It's not only a divorce story of these two people. It's about their kid, their family and friend circle. Even the lawyers representing both are divorced themselves and have their own view on how life after divorce would be. The movie has a lot of scenes that show how these two characters are suffering but the suffering is mostly self inflicted, especially the Adam Driver character is showed to be very clueless and innocent but he is not clueless. He understand exactly what he is doing but doesn't try to understand what his wife needs.
The things start getting too extreme when lawyers are involved and both main characters realize that it's not worth fighting in the court, and have amicable separation in the end. So yeah the movie is much better in second watch where I could appreciate both characters and didn't think of either character as a villain. These are two individuals who have failed to work things out.
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
Disappointing borefest
Wall street has always been fascinating subject. Everything is excessive. More money, more drugs, more everything. That's why people are attracted to this perverse world from outside.
This movie has none of it. Its a constant borefest. Shia Lebeouf is boring as usual. He bring down the movie in first 30 mins. Michael Douglas was the star of last movie for which he even got an academy award. But for the first 30 mins, he is not even there for more than 30 secs. There is some elaborate explanation for stock market crash and Shia Lebeouf stinks up the opening. Carey Mulligan does nothing to brighten the already dull opening.
After a horrendous opening which turned me off for the rest of the movie, Michael Douglas role increases and the film becomes bearable. But it has no central theme, unlike the last movie. There is no one vs one ideology crash like the last movie. Its just 2 plus hrs of noise. Could have cut almost 40 mins of filler stuff.
Quantum of Solace (2008)
Bond got what he was looking for
And that was some retribution.
This Bond is looking to be less interested in getting intelligence and more interested in hurting someone. He is an assassin on the loose and extremely dangerous. This is not the bond of 80s and 90s with quick puns and sleazy behavior, but he can charm the woman by being this dangerous assassin persona.
The most important thing to understand this movie is to watch Casino Royale first. The characters like Vesper, Mathis and CIA agent Felix Leiter will keep getting mentioned throughout the movie. It's not good that you go to theatre to watch a movie and understanding an entire half is missing.
The action sequences are shot and edited very poorly. All scenes are shot in shaky camera fashion which is never great. Contrary to this in Casino Royale, the action sequences had more going for them.
Apart from these issues, it's solidly made Bond movie. The character evolved more in 2 movies than in 40 years before. This is what DC wanted their Superman to be, a little dark, human. But it's done with typical Bond fashion, where you are not totally distracted by the gruesome scenes.
Final payoff is not the best but definitely good enough. Bond got what we didn't expect for him to get. A quantum of solace.
The Battle of Russia (1943)
Amazing story of Russian resistance
First of all, this is not a history lesson. This is a film made during the wartime to garner public support for war effort and so whatever propaganda people might complain about is acceptable. Enemy of your enemy is your friend and during WW2, Russia became an ally of allied powers.
The movie talks in details about Russia's rich resources and what would happen to the world of Nazi power got control of it. After that they have taken few big events and given real footage of the battle. The scale of the allied support is captured correctly. The movie takes 50 mins to go over entire 2 and a half year of great struggle so instead of going over every important detail, the director decided to go with the human element of the war. It's more appealing because of it. I hope to see many such movies of how allies worked with each other to dethrone largest military force in human history.
The Founder (2016)
Kroc was an ambitious genius
Now I don't know the real story, how much is true and how much added for drama. But the way it's portrayed, Kroc was a genius. He wants to always keep trying new things to build an empire. He is going door to door for the ideas that he believes in, taking huge personal risks. The MacDonald brothers also took huge risk and it payed off when their business worked. But when it became very successful they became satisfied admiring their work.
Kroc was always ready to find new ways to get ahead. He had the shark mentality required to succeed when others won't go an extra mile. Everything about this is covered very well in the movie. How his business impacted his marriage, his friends circle, there are no kids shown in the movie. How his morals are shaky at best, and how his risks pay off.
Pretty recommendable movie for anyone trying to be an entrepreneur.
Night on Earth (2020)
Rarely I am so impressed
This documentary is superb. It would not have been possible a few years back because low light cameras were not this advanced. From the first episode itself, I was hooked. It's like I was introduced to an entire new and scary world, where only those who have higher senses of sight, smell or tactility survive while others are easy pray. How fortunate for us humans that we have taken care of it long back because our heading and migrating ancestors would have been easy pray.
I felt the narrator sound is not bad at all, unlike what most reviewers said. Also it was a nice change of pace hearing a woman narrator when we are so used to David Attenborough. I recommend this series since it is good even on multiple watches.
Muramba (2017)
An interesting movie
I had been avoiding this movie for few years thinking it will be some overly unrealistic art film but it was pleasantly surprising.
Muramba is light hearted dramedy. It handles a very serious issue in entertaining way. The movie is fast paced for it's 2hour length and pacing is fantastic.
Although the film has 4 characters: Indu, Alok and Alok's parents, the crux of the story is about Alok and his relationship with them. Amey Wagh has showed the role with depth and his vulnerabilities are obvious after the story gets going.
The standout performance is from Mithila Palkar. She has protrayed the character of Indu with a lot of grace. Few scenes with her bonding with Amey's parents are especially noteworthy.
A movie with good plot, likeable characters and ending which doesn't feel too moralizing. Good for casual watch 👍
Mahabharat (1965)
Not able to do justice to epic under 3 hours
This old movie in 1965 is 2 hrs 38 mins. The Mahabharata epic has just too many plots which are necessary to show why the Kurukshetra war happened. The movie time can never do justice to it.
Dara Singh as Bheema is perfect casting. He has shined throughout the movie but no other actor impressed in the movie.
Deadpool 2 (2018)
Deadpool and the cast shines
Deadpool is back. He is softy now. He has new members who all have personality and are badass enough so the movie still feels like Deadpool 1. I find second one more fun due to the new members. There are multiple cameos from different X Men which are all great. The first half of the movie kind of lags but second half makes up for it where all the jokes land and its action packed.
I give Deadpool 2 8.5 stars. I think this film has repeat watchability due to all the references that we will miss the first time.
Waiting for deadpool 3 now.
Ant-Man (2015)
Paul Rudd, Micheal Pena make this movie.
Marvel is great at making the actors own the role of the superheroes. Ant Man is just another example. Micheal Douglas makes a great Hank Pym. While Paul Rudd is perfect Scott Lang. Paul Rudd uses his comedic timing to elevate the scenes which are generally cliched at this point. Film does cover his personal life without it overshadowing the movie experience.
Scott has amazing team to work with. Evangeline Lily as hope is badass. She takes the role of mature hero. It would be amazing to get her as Wasp in next movie.
Scott's buddies are resourceful and fun. But the character that steals the show is Luis played by Micheal Pena. He steals every scene he is part of. It would be fun to watch him paired with other superheroes as well.
The movie stands on its own, without going too much in Avengers. This makes the repeat watching possible.
In MCU, I was blown away by Iron Man in 2008. While next films in MCU have all felt a little flat to me. I did enjoy first Thor movie, again due to the characters that made the film. But after watching this movie again, this is my second favorite solo movie after first Iron Man.
Paul Rudd is my boy. I hope he doesn't get lost in the Avengers clutter.
Ti Saddhya Kay Karte (2017)
Unrealastic movie with wrong message
This is one of the crazy new wave of Marathi movies with wrong messages all around.
The acting is good by everyone although 40 year old actors are behaving like teenagers in the movie which will not happen in realistic story.
Just another attempt to cash on youth's naivety. I would like to get my 2 hrs back.
Shame to Shame (1991)
Coherent story, great actors
Shame to shame did not try to appease everyone. If you are not looking for mindless comedy, then this movie isn't for you. But if you like Lakshmikant's brand of comedy, this movie is a gem.
The Flash: Finish Line (2017)
Awesome end to a very uneven season
Flash writers delivered again. Just when people think that they have dug themselves in a hole or they have left too much to explain, they come up with small ways to fix it. They found out Savitar is the future Flash, not the future just 3 weeks back but it did a lot in 3 episodes.
While it seemed like Iris's death will overshadow this episode and probably rest of the season, they explained it in 3 mins, made sense of the HR being on the roof top during Iris's death and completely changed HR into a hero. The writers took their time to make us like him, but he did so much in season 3, training Wally and helping Dr. Brand. When Wally said, thank you for believing me, you get choked up a little.
The whole season was about flashpoint but it didn't seem so for first 15 or so episodes. All the problems in this season were created by BA, and he made ultimate sacrifice for it. Hope he doesn't come back in the first episode of season 4, to see the world without Barry as the flash and also his return would be celebrated. Not sure, if Arrow came in the first episode after his death.
Season 7/10. Last episode 10/10.
New Girl: Five Stars for Beezus (2017)
If its last season, great way to end it.
First of all, I must say that I loved this show as a whole. The characters are too eccentric which I like and the lack of laughter track always feel great. The show never takes itself too seriously which I like. The series finale was very clichéd one seen in all big sitcoms but it felt great to see these misfits feeling happy. New girl lost a lot of audience during season 3,4 and has not got the popularity of season 1. It picked up again since season 5 and finally have let all the characters grow. Nick is my favorite character since season 1 and he grew a lot in season 7. With this season finale, I think there is not much ground left to cover so I would be content if this is the last season. Although, I don't mind getting another season of the whole cast.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
A magnificent conclusion to the trilogy
X men last stand was finale of the x men trilogy, the first one before the convoluted time lines and never ending X men series. Don't go just on the bad reviews which appear because some fans don't like the story told and create negative environment towards it.
I loved this movie. This was finale of X men so it did have bigger stage than first two. The government has found a cure for the mutants. Some mutants want to get the cure, some don't want it and some like Magneto sees this as government declaring war on mutants similar to first 2 movies but with immediate consequence. The main plot is very good.
Then there is dark phoenix saga, which is changed from comics but it works. The phoenix is real Jean while the Jean we see in first 2 movies is artificial creation of Professor X. She does kill Xavier in second act, which is very big plot as Xavier is guide of all X men.
The characters like Scott and Storm are out of place but the movie does add great characters like the beast and angel. Also the evolution of characters like Pyro, Iceman and rogue is great. The stand out acting is again by Magneto, Professor X, Mystique and Wolverine.
The movie has great main plots with some unnecessary plots like death of Cyclops. The action is much better than first 2 movies and it gave decisive finale to X men series which current "CINEMATIC UNIVERSE" lacks. If you are fan of first 2 movies, this is a much needed finale.
Green Lantern (2011)
Feels like animated green lantern movie.
Green Lantern 2011 was an Origin story of most popular lantern, Hal Jordan. The movie delved into origin of Hal which was good but not necessarily great. But it was necessary to make the point the movie wanted to make, by letting Hal learn to overcome his fear so in big picture, the time needed to set the character was well spent. Aside from that, the visuals were good but not best of the time. Although most of the visually superior seen took place in far galaxy so it was so both amazing experience to see different galaxys, aliens but at the same time a bit underwhelming because of lack of good effects the later movie like Guardians of the Galaxy was able to make. The villain was not the best portrayed parallax but it's a comic book movie and most of the movies that came afterwards had similar problem and were unaffected.
Actor Ryan Reynolds did perfect Hal Jordan. He was funny, careless and human in expressing. Rest of the cast did good job. Story was good for the origin movie. I think they did try to make a few bold experiments by making parallax as the villain and making suit complete CGI which I think worked for the movie. If not for the harsh reviews the movie got, it would have been start of new universe. As for me, I was happy to see first live action movie not based on Superman or Batman.
Mahabharat (1988)
Very honest to original Epic + Best TV series I have ever seen.
I have seen many series in my small life, some Indian but mostly foreign. And I must say none of them can compare to BR Chopra's Mahabharata.
I have grown up watching this series as a kid but the memory faded in time. Since then I have read many versions of this epic and been mesmerized by the complexity of each character. And I thought can someone do justice to each of the character.
And I was surprised when year's later I laid my eyes on this gem. The Mahabharata story is epic in itself. But BR Chopra has done justice to every character. Especially, Krishna, Bhishma and Duryodhana seems just like I imagined.
We have 100 episodes of 40 minutes long. But the series doesn't appear to be dragged out at any point compared to other Indian imitations of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The story from the books remains intact without getting extra spices added or omission of any important detail.
Lastly, I was surprised to see epic final battle without use of special effects. I imagine Indian film industry was not well equipped at that time and to create this masterpiece in that era was astonishing work. Hats off to all the cast and crew.
I always thought that Mahabharata deserves very good direction. It will exceed LOTR and GoT movies if done properly. And thanks to BR Chopra, now I don't have to wait for anything. Its already done. 25 years ago. :)