Recently Seen Movies - 11 - Page 114

Godzilla (2014)

I decided to revisit Godzilla in preparation for Godzilla: King of Monsters next week. Rather than a film review, this is more of a cultural review.

Godzilla is a beloved monster franchise out of Japan. First portrayed in 1954, Godzilla is the byproduct of the atomic bomb. Japan is the only country in the world that has been attacked by a nuclear bomb, that too twice. Nuclear fallout is ingrained in Japanese culture, especially in the '50s. Culturally, Godzilla is a metaphor for nuclear weapons and the United States. The destructive nuclear mutation monster represents the fear of being attacked again. His destruction of cities evokes the destruction by nuclear arms.

Over time the image of Godzilla has softened. He has gone from villain to heroic. There are many monsters in his universe now. While sometimes he is still villainous, he mostly protects the world from the other monsters. Can there be any more perfect metaphor? The monster universe of nuclear monster could encompass the growing nuclear world. At the center is Godzilla, the first, the king, the USA. Just like the USA, even at his benevolent best, Godzilla is still an indiscriminately destructive monster.

The 1998 Godzilla movie failed because it tried to make a monster movie. By making Godzilla as the singular villain, it completely missed the socio-cultural nuances of Godzilla. The narrative lacked nuance.

The 2014 reboot in the monsterverse pitted Godzilla against MUTOs. Initially feared as a villain he protects humans against MUTO. He is celebrated as a liberator of cities. However, he almost decimates San Francisco in the process. It is a much sharper depiction of human folly and its outcomes. Godzilla is a hero, but a monster too. I'm curious of the upcoming movies in the Monsterverse. Because at the same time they are worldbuilding.

Mard ko dard sth sth

Absolutely crap. I really thought it would be good given how some people raved 😒 Couldn’t finish it.

movie review---India's most wanted

This movie is based on the capture of terrorist Yasin Bhatkal , who was involved in bomb blasts in cities like Pune , Hyderabad , Ahmedabad and Delhi . It shows how real heroes who capture terrorists are ordinary people who are afraid of their wives and mothers , a far cry from the slick chiselled bodied heroes who fight terrorists in films . The film is an attempt to give these unsung patriots their due . Yasin is referred to as Yusuf in the movie , played by Sudev Nair .

The movie opens with a powerful blast in German bakery in the city of Pune . And the whole movie is interspersed with blasts like this . This is an under rated film . Not bad competition to the film on PM Narendra Modi .that has been released simultaneously .

The hero of the movie is IB ( Intelligence bureau ) operative Prabhat Kapoor , who comes in contact with a source in Nepal . That source is a guy who is taking a grave risk to give lead to Yusuf's whereabouts in Nepal . Prabhat patches together a team to go and capture Yusuf , but the permission to capture him does not come from the high command nor does any money . Never mind , the team decides to disregard orders and nab the terrorist anyway , and they pool in their own money to go get him . If they fail , their careers could be in the line for disobeying orders to not go . Is this madness ? Some would call it patriotism .

While they are on the move , we get to see some breathtaking photography of Nepal . Winding rivers among green tree topped mountains and roads winding along the rivers crossing a river or two give chance for some superb cinematography . There are no stunts or action scenes or big chases . That is what real life nabbing of terrorists is all about . As realistic as it gets . But when it comes to co operation from Nepalese officers , there is disappointment . Some of them form an obstacle to the task , raising guns on the Indian team instead .

There are also the Pakistani operatives of it's intelligence agency ISI active in Nepal , and they come to know through their sources that the Indian team has come to nab Yusuf . And the Pakistanis are much better armed than the pistols that the Indian carry . They carry automatic rifles . Also they have complete permission from their higher ups to prevent Yusuf's capture by use of violence and murder if necessary . On the other hand the Nepalese raise hell with Indian higher ups and Indian higher authorities explode in fury and try to force the team to abort the mission . But a India sympathetic Nepalese officer blocks the Pakistani team , and the confrontation between the Indians and Pakistanis does not explode into violence---all realism here and no unnecessary thrills .

Yusuf Played by Sudev Nair is a mysterious figure throughout much of the movie and only his light eyes are seen though the mask hiding his face . When captured , he knows his fate and does not resist much ; this is no action movie . But smiles and talks menacingly . He uses the pseudonym Shah Rukh many times , leading to the frisking and searching of Indian film star Shah Rukh Khan on US airports many times . Arjun Kapoor looks overweight but his acting is decent . Colours and background music and songs are decent . It is clear about it's patriotism . Vande Mataram rings loud and clear as the movie ends .

Verdict---Very decent .

Three stars out of five .

Blackish S5

I love Blackish. But with shows like The Good Place, Brooklyn 99 and Superstore really pushing the envelope in terms of humor and content, Blackish seems ordinary and lackluster.

S5 is definitely not as fresh as the first few seasons of this show. Nonetheless, it still is a fun and entertaining show to watch. It does often touch on social issues and make you think. I liked their take on colorism, the complex relationship black people have with the police - especially the conflict amidst wealthy black people, and the struggle to capture black contributions in Black History Month.

Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota

It is not everyone's cup of tea. The tale is bizarre, quirky, and off the beaten path. The plotline is absurd and silly. The hero and heroine are definitely unconventional. It reminded me a little bit of Super and Kick-Ass while being absolutely original and unique on its own.

The plot revolves around Surya a man with congenital insensitivity to pain. He is an unreliable narrator telling us the story of his life and the scrapes he gets into. It works because of the quirky humor and homage to classic action flicks of multiple genres. It doesn't take itself seriously and gleefully plays tribute to old flicks.

I really enjoyed the meaty role the girl Supri has. She's not the cliched damsel in distress. She gets beaten up almost as much as the guy. Plus she's the one who takes charge in the relationship and initiates sex. Its refreshingly bold. The scene where she casually takes an i-pill and water is subtly revolutionary.

Abhimanyu Dasani is adorably earnest as Surya. Radhika Madan is a firecracker as Supri. Mahesh Manjrekar is a delight as Surya's ajoba. And Gulshan Deviah once again proves his range as Karate Mani and Jimmy.

I wish Bhavesh Joshi and Surya were part of the same universe. One a gritty, brooding, dark and depressive vigilante like Batman. The other a sillier quirkier Shazam-like manchild. We Indians could have our own crime fighter universe within Bombay.

Patriot Act: Volume 1

Hasan Minhaj drops his humorous hot takes on society, politics, culture, and all issues under the sun. It's fun and refreshing. It is actually thoughtful and well-researched. I found the episode on hype culture particularly fascinating. I don't understand the desire to drop thousands of dollars on sneakers you will never wear.

Patriot Act: Volume 2

The ballsy second season opens with Chinese censorship, gets dirty with student loans and then concludes with the Indian elections. The most fascinating episode was definitely the hip hop one. It was fascinating to watch how hip hop is a protest medium around the world and how authoritarian leaders are trying to co-opt into it.

Robot 2.0

My goodness ... they could have worked on the story and screenplay as much as they seem to have on vfx. Terribly pathetic painful to watch.

Damn.. And here I thought Mard Ko dard was bad. 🤦🏼‍♀️

What were the makers high on to make such a movie? 😒

Me Before You (2016)

Romantic tragedy. One of the best romantic tragedies i have ever seen. Of course like almost everyone, i have some problems with the ending. Isn't it empowering to have a choice in life? Does this apply to a vulnerable person specially when a vulnerable person wants to end his/her own life?

I liked the writers' version though and i have loved everything. The music was incredible. If the ending wasn't tragic, it would be one of the best heartwarming movies ever. I really wanted the ending to delay so badly. I felt more Louisa and Will scenes should be there before it ended. The story telling, character development was so amazing. I love movies where they show how two people slowly falls in love. I have seen this movie few days ago and i can't get over it.

I really want a TV series on this novel so badly with an alternative ending. I want to read the sequels as well. I do not want to rate the movie.

Sam Claflin is such an amazing performer. His expression and dialogues were the best part imo. He has a great chemistry with Emilia too. I have "Me Before You" soundtrack on loop since last few days ❤️

I saw Aladdin. Mass entertainer for sure. Will Smith & all of them rocked it. 8/10 🥳

Godzilla: King of The Monsters

I don't understand why the critics are panning this movie. True, the plot is a bit thin and the characters aren't well etched. However, the plot is sufficient to set the stage for Godzilla and the pantheon of Titans/Kaiju that this movie introduces. It has everything you would want in a kaiju movie.

The imagination and rendering of the kaiju are awe-inspiring. It is a completely immersive treat to watch them on screen. Each one has a unique look, feel, and sound of their own. Mothra emerging from her cocoon and unfurling her iridescent wings to me is worth every penny in ticket cost.

I think the big mistake most critics are doing is trying to connect to humans in the plot. The movie is called Godzilla for crying out loud. Godzilla is the central antagonist/protagonist in these stories. The humans are just the foil for him. And let me tell you I connected with these kaiju. I cheered when Mothra arrived to support Godzilla. My body tensed up when Ghidorah coiled around Godzilla. There was a buzz of energy in the theater whenever Godzilla let out a roar.

It is an absolutely and utterly delightful thrill ride.

LONG LIVE THE KING!

PS: Mark my words there will be Zhang Ziyi is going to be Mothra's shobijin down the line.

I Hate Love Storys

This is such a guilty pleasure film of mine 😆 Sonam looked so beautiful in this film and Imran looked hot. They had good chemistry.

Originally posted by: ZackKnightRocks

I Hate Love Storys

This is such a guilty pleasure film of mine 😆 Sonam looked so beautiful in this film and Imran looked hot. They had good chemistry.

Songs used to be my favorite ❤️ Sonam has such a cute chemistry with most of her costars be it Imran, Abhay, Fawad, Dhanush, Shahid..