Sophie Scholl - The Final days

This month is kinda 'No Work Month' in my office, as the clients are delaying their shooting schedules. So, in order to kill time. My boss decided to watch one good movie a day. We purchased many world movies and everyday all of us sits together post lunch and we watch a movie.

Today, we saw this gripping German movie, "Sophie Scholl - The Final Days".  Very compelling story about the final days of Germany's most famous anti-Nazi heroine. The story will keep reminding you the fact that, we are bloody lucky to be not born in Germany during Hitler's time. I am just looking for sentences to fill the blanks of the page, but to be very frank, I am speechless. I don't remember any of the adjectives to praise the film. Movie, has always been my History teacher. And today, I gotta learn about this beautiful and courageous person, Sophie Scholl. 

Truly a must watch film for today's generation. It will make you think, it will make you cry and it will definitely make you realize the depth of the word "Freedom". 

I was just wondering, Let's not think of Germany as the land where Adolf Hilter or his Nazi party lived. Let's try to think of Germany as the land where people like Osker Schilndler, Sophie Scholl lived.

On a very weird note, I say good bye!!!

Thank You for Smoking : Thank you for making ;)

There was a time of crisis in my life, when there was literally no movie left in my hard disk to watch. I was searching each and every folder in my drive to watch any unseen movie, as there was 3 hrs of Sunday afternoon waiting to get utilized. As I was loosing my battle, this movie came into my attention as a life saver. I decided to watch it.

I have heard way too much about this movie from my friends. Having faith in them, I traded my sunday afternoon for this movie. I have to admit, I had a great time watching this movie. A very good movie and a very challenging characterization.

'Thank you for Smoking' is a satirical comedy which revolves around the life of Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), tobacco industry spokesman. He is a part of self appointed M.O.D squad (Merchants of Death), whose main job is to talk. His job is to spin, confuse and trap the opponents and charm their audience. He goes on a television show, verbally battles US Senator, deems the Cancer research Foundation - all the while trying to set an example for his 10 year old son. No work is easy and everything has a price.

To find it, I'd suggest you to get hold of this movie. I have purposefully missed mentioning about other characters of the film, which are unique and very well crafted. I must appreciate the director, Jason Reitman for making this movie.

If you are bored of watching movies with same old genre, then no harm in tryin this movie. Kindly watch this movie and if you like it, then jus a little clap with a smile and a small comment is enough to encourage good cinema. Thank you!

The Conversation

Long time back, when I was simply going through the IMDB wesite. Somewhere in the corner of the page I found this movie name. It was recommended as one of the must see movie. I clicked on the name and as the new page opened, one name caught my eye. The name was, Francis Ford Coppola.

Because of that name my interest towards the movie also increased. I downloaded the movie and kept it safe on my laptop's hard drive and totally forgot about the movie. Few days back, I was talking to one of my friend. He is also a movie lover like me. We were talking about films and out of the blue, he started talking about this movie. He said so much about the movie that made me even more curious. So, finally I saw this movie.

Must admit, well written movie. The performance of Gene Hackman is good. You might not find the story extraordinary, but I am sure as the movie reaches climax, you will have the satisfaction of watching one good movie.

Sorry for not adding any facts about the movie. The Conversation is a slow paced movie with lot of layers in the screenplay. I am sure you won't be disappointed after this movie.

Feel free place your comments.

The Way Back

I remember reading somewhere that every movie is an experience. I believe it is true. The movies that I have mentioned here, will definitely give you a brand new experience in terms of life and people. In this context, I would like to talk about this amazing film called, The Way Back.

Set during World War II, the movie is about few prisoners who escape from Siberia in the quest for freedom. In order to survive, they walk through the woods, through the hot desert, cross himalayan mountain range and reach India marking nearly 4000 miles.

The movie is based on a book, "The Long Walk: The true story of a trek to freedom" . Book lovers can get hold of this book, to know the details of their journey. After watching this movie, One thought passed my mind. I thought that, You and me are lucky to live a life where the word 'survival' is just another word in the dictionary. After watching this movie I felt, after having all the comforts in my life, I still have complaints. People like them knows the value of life.

Guess I have spoken a lot about this film. Do watch this amazing film friends. Everything in the movie is worth appreciating. heartbreaking performance by actors, amazing visuals, slow but truely a good adaptaion. Watch this film and feel free to post your comments.

In the mood for Love

I have written about films of many genre, like Drama, war, Old Classics etc. But I always wanted to write about pure romantic movie. Though I wrote about 'Casablanca', but still a pure romantic movie was missing in this blog. Today, I am going add one more gene to the list, Romance. I am really excited to tell you about this beautiful romantic movie, "In the Mood for Love".
When you read the title and kind of introduction I just gave might increase expectations. You might compare this movie to P.S. I Love You, Sweet November, Kate & Leopold etc. Let me tell you this, you are going to have a different kind of experience all together. So, keep your expectation zero and watch it. I am sure I am confusing you a lot. But after watching this movie, you will understand everything.
In the Mood for Love is a Chinese movie, directed by Kar Wai Wong starring Tony Leunsoand Maggie Cheung. The story is set at 1962 Hong Kong where a man and a woman move in to a neighbouring apartment and forms a very special bond when they suspect an extra marital affair between their spouses. What happens next is a masterpiece.
Cinematographer Christopher Doyle's brilliant images are one of the major reason for the film's success. The background score of the movie is one thing that will definitely win your heart. It adds up perfectly with the visuals. And not to forget the song "Quizas", sung by Nato King Cole. Beautiful composition I must say. I didn't understand the lyrics, but I did learnt that one doesn't have to know the lyrics to enjoy a song. That I guess is the power of music.
Well, lot of thing I have said about this movie. Do watch it, it will show you a new kind of love which is as pure and divine as any other form of love.

Red Cliff

Its been really long since I had seen a war movie with gandeur and perfection. Red Cliff is something which hits my mind when all these adjectives comes together. I had this movie in my laptop, but never thought of watching it. Today I finally decided to watch this movie. After watching this movie I regretted for not watching it before. Lets get a sneak preview of this movie.

Red Cliff is a chinese epic war movie based on the battle of Red Cliff (208-209 AD) and events during the end of Han Dynasty and imediate prior to the beginning of Three kingdoms in ancient China. The film was directed by John Woo, and stars Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-Ling and Zao Wei. Within Asia, Red Cliff was released in two parts. Red Cliff is the most expensive asian film to date and the first part of the film grossed US $124 million in Asia and broke the record previously held by Titanic.

Well, leaving the facts behind, when I think of Red Cliff, four things comes to my mind. They are: Amazing Visuals, Mesmerizing Music, Brilliant Editing and gripping performance. All these leads to one more thing, Perfect direction. If you give a glimpse at what theory says, it says that a movie can be perfectly defined as an expression of emotions presented beautifully with a good score filling the space and a perfect cut. Well, I just have to replace the word "movie" with "Red Cliff" to define this movie, in a statement.

The movie starts with Prime Minister turned General Cao Cao asks permission from the Hans Dynasty to organise a southward bound mission to cush the troublesome warlords who comes in his way Liu Bei and sun Quan. I should better leave you with this little synopsis. Because if you will watch this movie with little information, you will be able to enjoy each and every scene. As later what happens in the movie has changed the face of China forever.

Whenever I see this kind of epic war movies, I look forward for performance and dialogues. Though I saw this movie with subtitles, but I felt the energy in the dialogue. The way everyone performed their character is simply amazing. Tony Leung Chiu Wai has done a splendid job by potraying the role of Zhou Yu. After watching his performance in Infernal Affairs, Heroes, In the mood for Love and Lust Caution, I became his fan. Watcing him in this movie is a treat for the eyes.

Everything in this movie is perfect, locations, sets, vfx, sound mixing everything is 100%. Well, If I can go on and on about this movie. But, too much of words might not be advisable for readers. And moreover instead of me going in details, its better if you watch the movie. Trust me friends, One good movie for a day makes a day perfect. So, watch it and remember this cliched saying, its not just a movie, its an experience.

Nirgendwo in Afrika

I've been watching lot of world cinema to learn different ways of film making. While watching, I came across this german movie called, Nirgendwo in Afrika. This movie is one of those rare movies which has tried to show the consequences of World War II on a common man, without showing any form of gun battle, holoucaust, invasions etc. But, the movie has taken a different way to tell a world war II story. That, I would say is a element that makes this movie special.

The movie goes around a german family who immigrates to Kenya from Leobchutz during 1938 to escape the increase in persecution of Jews. The man in the family(Walter), who was a former lawyer in Germany finds a new job as a farm manager send for his family to come and live with him in Kenya. The wife (Jettel) finds it dificult to stay in the farm with the local villagers. But, their little daughter (Regina) adapts to the environment quickly. She soon forms a close relationship with the farm's cook Owuor.

As the war breaks out, the family experience all sorts of situation untill 1947. The movie flows with the narration of Regina. There are some beautifully drawn scenes, where the white little girl plays with the local black kids and the news of jewish mass murder in Germany affects their family in Kenya. The final scene is the best of all, a very small scene to show what Africa means to the family. That, I'll not reveal it now, as I am sure that you will definitly watch this movie.

This movie is directed by Caroline Link and it is based on a autobiographical novel. This movie has won many awards including best foreign film in 2002. A great movie to watch. So, I hope my small description about this movie will create interest in you to watch this beautiful movie. Do watch it. And feel free to comment. Thank you.