Stranger things is indeed a strange TV show. Yet, it is extremely interesting. It is the type of show that you can geek out on: it has all the elements: monsters, an alternate universe, a secret laboratory tied to the government, and missing children.
The acting (especially Winona Ryder) if delivered in a lighter plot would be almost comedic, but it works well for the setting and dynamics of the show which is suspenseful and a bit dark.
It does have some whimsy to it though, and that comes with the group of main children characters: Mike, Lucas and Dustin. When their beloved friend Will, disappears in Mirkwood, a woodsy dark area, they try to re-trace his steps and wind upon a strange, and interesting young girl named Eleven. El takes a temporary abode in Mike's basement, and speaks in single words. Soon enough, the boys realize that El has supernatural powers. She can teleport objects with her mind, and perform telekinesis to channel sound waves to hear Will who it turns out, is in another dimension.
Mike's sister, Nancy gets involved when her friend disappears into this dimension in a similar manner, and Will's brother Jonathan, won't stand to give up the search for his younger brother. Nancy and Jonathan form an alliance, and so do Jody, Will's mom (Wynona Ryder) and the Chief Town Police officer (Jim) after Jim shows much empathy remembering the loss of his own daughter a few years earlier.
I won't give away how they try to access this alternate dimension and deal with what awaits them, but if you have read the second sentence of this review and were curious, then yes. There are monsters.
What ironically sets Stranger Things apart from your typical bunch of sci-fi dramas, is the way you grow to care for the main characters, within the very first episode. It's as though you know them, and you can feel their pain and loss. Will feels like your very own brother.
My major conclusion though is if you enjoyed E.T., Signs, and Arrival, then you will most certainly enjoy Stranger Things. It's sci-fi, drama and adventure all packed into one.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Joy Luck Club
The Joy Luck Club is a powerful film. As an Indian immigrant to the country, I related a lot to the struggle all main characters had with reconciling their Asian identity/traditions with their Western ideals. Having the movie focus on the main characters relationships with their mothers, and then showing not only their own but their mothers' perspectives and their backstories is what sets this movie apart.
It's one thing to say, this is how I feel about some of the strange beliefs, paranoias and desires that my mom has, but another thing to then show how your mom came upon those traditions.
The movie spans three strong Asian American parents and how they ended up in US, and the hopes and dreams they carried with them. Their daughters have at some point struggled to relate to their parents' perspective. One daughter Waverly, always performed well in chess, but is turned off by how her mom shows off her ability to all her friends. She gets into an argument with her mom, and says that she never wants to play chess again. Her mom does not budge from her stance, and lets her make the independent decision. When Waverly decides she wants to play again, her mom remarks that it is not so easy to play once practice is lost. Waverly loses confidence from that point, and her mom's intentions, although always good, really hold a high regard in decisions she makes for better or worse. Her mom's back story *** SPOILER ALERT *** is that she built that toughness through being in an unfortunate situation in her youth where she was arranged to marry a pre-pubescent boy. She used superstitions and dramatics to convince her mother in law that the match was cursed and it would be fatal for her husband to get out of the situation. From that point she left China to build a better life for herself and her future child. When hearing that, you can admit that there is a reason she is tough on her daughter to understand how lucky she is to have the opportunity to practice such an art.
This is an example of the type of stories that the movie covers. It's an intriguing film that examines that there is often a why before a how, and how the lives of your parents can often affect your own.
Friday, October 20, 2017
Indian Movie
I have somewhat of an issue with the premise of this movie.
SPOILERS BELOW.
It seems to me that the assaulter in this movie is ironically more of the victim, and the people at fault had gotten away with a crime that nobody feels happy about (including them).
Long story short, the movie is about a man whose daughter gets harassed by one of her classmates, who threatens to post a video of her changing on youtube. What will it take to stop him, her having intercourse with him.
He leads her to a point where she is vulnerable, and she tells her mom about the situation. Her mom's reaction is where the movie becomes over-dramatic. The mom, instead of calling the cops, or even his parents, proceeds to sob and is almost close to yielding to his desire. Meanwhile the daughter finds a club, and in an attempt to smash his phone with the video, ends up clubbing his head instead. The kid dies, and now the family has to cover up this murder scene.
The father steps in, covers all tracks and creates a story that implies the family was traveling during the time of the murder. They are still suspects in the eyes of a couple of cops. The first is one who literally sees the father drive the boy's yellow sports car and the second is the mom of the boy, who is also the head of Police of the state. The family is abused to speak the truth, but no one lets up.
When the youngest girl of the family agrees to show the buried body, they find a dog's instead. The father really covers up the tracks.
The hindi movie element here is that the father learns all of these murder tracking skills through watching movies.
At the end, the father intelligently calls upon the media during unveiling of the dead dog's body to reveal the family's unwarranted abuse by the police department. The Police of the state is suspended, and the cops are all fired.
Eventually the father meets with the ex-Police of state and her husband to not so indiscreetly admit that his family did commit the murder. There could have been a recording there! But alas, this is a Hindi movie.
That's the story. Think what you will, but it is decent in terms of suspense and flawed in terms of premise.
That's my verdict.
SPOILERS BELOW.
It seems to me that the assaulter in this movie is ironically more of the victim, and the people at fault had gotten away with a crime that nobody feels happy about (including them).
Long story short, the movie is about a man whose daughter gets harassed by one of her classmates, who threatens to post a video of her changing on youtube. What will it take to stop him, her having intercourse with him.
He leads her to a point where she is vulnerable, and she tells her mom about the situation. Her mom's reaction is where the movie becomes over-dramatic. The mom, instead of calling the cops, or even his parents, proceeds to sob and is almost close to yielding to his desire. Meanwhile the daughter finds a club, and in an attempt to smash his phone with the video, ends up clubbing his head instead. The kid dies, and now the family has to cover up this murder scene.
The father steps in, covers all tracks and creates a story that implies the family was traveling during the time of the murder. They are still suspects in the eyes of a couple of cops. The first is one who literally sees the father drive the boy's yellow sports car and the second is the mom of the boy, who is also the head of Police of the state. The family is abused to speak the truth, but no one lets up.
When the youngest girl of the family agrees to show the buried body, they find a dog's instead. The father really covers up the tracks.
The hindi movie element here is that the father learns all of these murder tracking skills through watching movies.
At the end, the father intelligently calls upon the media during unveiling of the dead dog's body to reveal the family's unwarranted abuse by the police department. The Police of the state is suspended, and the cops are all fired.
Eventually the father meets with the ex-Police of state and her husband to not so indiscreetly admit that his family did commit the murder. There could have been a recording there! But alas, this is a Hindi movie.
That's the story. Think what you will, but it is decent in terms of suspense and flawed in terms of premise.
That's my verdict.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Wonder Woman (2017)
Wonder woman blew me away. It was amazing. Every single part of it was crafted to perfection. From the main character, to the story, to the complexity, to pretty much every single detail.
The story takes place during World War II. But when the movie opens, we are introduced to the Amazonian people, all of whom are women warriors. Diana, who is the Warrior Queen's daughter has an appetite for fighting from a young age, and although her mother tries to protect her from it, Diana relents. The Queen's sister sees this, and trains Diana to be strong.
I wouldn't exactly say the story is unpredictable or that it does not have the checklist which a typical action movie would have: action, explosions and some serious kicking butt, but what sets this movie apart is its heart, and the pure goodness of Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman can be seen as a symbol of our time, with women rights being in the forefront of today's top social issues. Also, the fact that she fights better than all the men. She raises the beacon of hope and shines, gaining the support of the truly good around her.
She also brings out the best in CIA agent Steve, who falls in love with her and becomes inspired to be even more proactive in the war.
Here is an amazing story: inspiring, entertaining and maybe with a social/political message?
You can gain respect from those around you, and you can make a difference even if you're an outlier or minority. Only question is: can you be as strong as wonder woman?
The story takes place during World War II. But when the movie opens, we are introduced to the Amazonian people, all of whom are women warriors. Diana, who is the Warrior Queen's daughter has an appetite for fighting from a young age, and although her mother tries to protect her from it, Diana relents. The Queen's sister sees this, and trains Diana to be strong.
I wouldn't exactly say the story is unpredictable or that it does not have the checklist which a typical action movie would have: action, explosions and some serious kicking butt, but what sets this movie apart is its heart, and the pure goodness of Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman can be seen as a symbol of our time, with women rights being in the forefront of today's top social issues. Also, the fact that she fights better than all the men. She raises the beacon of hope and shines, gaining the support of the truly good around her.
She also brings out the best in CIA agent Steve, who falls in love with her and becomes inspired to be even more proactive in the war.
Here is an amazing story: inspiring, entertaining and maybe with a social/political message?
You can gain respect from those around you, and you can make a difference even if you're an outlier or minority. Only question is: can you be as strong as wonder woman?
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Spartacus
Spartacus is extremely graphic -- blood, and intercourse throughout the entire series. It is entertaining, but more so has a sense of underlying themes:
1. Men going to full lengths to protect their women (and seek vengeance for them).
2. Roman empire feasting on power, with every senator acting to further his own ambitions and not doing what is best for the republic
3. Spartacus's one notable comment, "every man, woman and a child has a right to freedom" -- a concept way beyond his time, yet that which makes his character not just a visceral vengeance-seeking gladiator, but a visionary for his time and people.
The characters in Spartacus are pretty flat, but there is plenty of political intrigue and war depicted to make up for that. The best part of the series is quite literally the cool references to roman culture and mythology. Also the code of ethics for battle, and maybe a glimpse into the sad but clamored lifestyle of a gladiator.
If you thoroughly enjoyed 300 and Troy, Spartacus might be worth a watch.
It could definitely be better television - with dynamic characters, and more emphasis on the plot than gore and violence, but it can definitely satisfy guilty pleasure needs.
1. Men going to full lengths to protect their women (and seek vengeance for them).
2. Roman empire feasting on power, with every senator acting to further his own ambitions and not doing what is best for the republic
3. Spartacus's one notable comment, "every man, woman and a child has a right to freedom" -- a concept way beyond his time, yet that which makes his character not just a visceral vengeance-seeking gladiator, but a visionary for his time and people.
The characters in Spartacus are pretty flat, but there is plenty of political intrigue and war depicted to make up for that. The best part of the series is quite literally the cool references to roman culture and mythology. Also the code of ethics for battle, and maybe a glimpse into the sad but clamored lifestyle of a gladiator.
If you thoroughly enjoyed 300 and Troy, Spartacus might be worth a watch.
It could definitely be better television - with dynamic characters, and more emphasis on the plot than gore and violence, but it can definitely satisfy guilty pleasure needs.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Moonlight (2016)
Moonlight is a profound film.
It is a real work of art. It is the only movie I have seen so far in which the main character could be a metaphor to your own self, and your journey.
Little is a gay black kid growing up in Florida a few decades ago. The crack scene is high, even his mother has caught on to it. The one inspiration he looks up to is the neighborhood crack dealer (played by Marsharsha Ali) who takes the kid as his own and looks after him.
It is hard to personify Little, other than to say, he could be all of us in hard situations. He is extremely self-withdrawn and unconfident.
The situation doesn't improve as his mom's addiction becomes a lifestyle, and he is more and more bullied at school. He finds comfort in talking to his friend, Kevin, who is more outgoing.
Kevin offers Little, now Black his first sexual experience in high school, and although in a better life, this is too young and a bad decision, Black finds true happiness in discovering who he really is in that scene.
As an adult, Black evolves into a drug dealer, and decides to face his past, to remedy his present and future...
This movie is really a character study. It is worthy to note a couple of things:
1. The character's real name is not what he is often referred to, showing the transition of identity, but the difficulty in pealing layers to reveal one's true nature.
2. It is hard to kick bad habits, but easy to lose the ones we love.
It is a real work of art. It is the only movie I have seen so far in which the main character could be a metaphor to your own self, and your journey.
Little is a gay black kid growing up in Florida a few decades ago. The crack scene is high, even his mother has caught on to it. The one inspiration he looks up to is the neighborhood crack dealer (played by Marsharsha Ali) who takes the kid as his own and looks after him.
It is hard to personify Little, other than to say, he could be all of us in hard situations. He is extremely self-withdrawn and unconfident.
The situation doesn't improve as his mom's addiction becomes a lifestyle, and he is more and more bullied at school. He finds comfort in talking to his friend, Kevin, who is more outgoing.
Kevin offers Little, now Black his first sexual experience in high school, and although in a better life, this is too young and a bad decision, Black finds true happiness in discovering who he really is in that scene.
As an adult, Black evolves into a drug dealer, and decides to face his past, to remedy his present and future...
This movie is really a character study. It is worthy to note a couple of things:
1. The character's real name is not what he is often referred to, showing the transition of identity, but the difficulty in pealing layers to reveal one's true nature.
2. It is hard to kick bad habits, but easy to lose the ones we love.
Lion (2016)
Here is a beautiful movie about self-identity and the struggle to address your past.
The main character Sar-oo (as he is called in the beginning) is a young boy living in the slums of Calcutta. He is close to his family, and one day gets lost. He finds himself, through a myriad of situations, eventually being adopted by an Australian couple and growing up there, having glimmers and nostalgia regarding his past.
His past is heavy and wrought with emotional sadness, but the one comfort Saroo finds is in the love he feels from his birth brother and mother during his childhood.
Nicole Kidman plays his adoptive mother, with a sense of real compassion and caring, sometimes so much so that it could destroy her.
Dev Patel plays the 25 year old Saroo beautifully, as a strong, empathetic person who feels it is right to connect with his birth mother and brother to let them know he is okay.
Rooney Mara plays his supportive girlfriend.
Overall this movie will make you cry. It won't leave you empty though.
It is a beautiful journey of a young man growing to find himself through reaching within to the depth of his past, and willing to face it in the future.
The main character Sar-oo (as he is called in the beginning) is a young boy living in the slums of Calcutta. He is close to his family, and one day gets lost. He finds himself, through a myriad of situations, eventually being adopted by an Australian couple and growing up there, having glimmers and nostalgia regarding his past.
His past is heavy and wrought with emotional sadness, but the one comfort Saroo finds is in the love he feels from his birth brother and mother during his childhood.
Nicole Kidman plays his adoptive mother, with a sense of real compassion and caring, sometimes so much so that it could destroy her.
Dev Patel plays the 25 year old Saroo beautifully, as a strong, empathetic person who feels it is right to connect with his birth mother and brother to let them know he is okay.
Rooney Mara plays his supportive girlfriend.
Overall this movie will make you cry. It won't leave you empty though.
It is a beautiful journey of a young man growing to find himself through reaching within to the depth of his past, and willing to face it in the future.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Downton Abbey (2016)
Here is a very entertaining, elegant and rather decent television show about a rich family owning an estate "Downton Abbey" in the early 20th century.
It is interesting how the family operates on the estate -- busying themselves with family connections -- alliances, business and maintenance, and even more intriguing -- their servants, who operate dutifully on serving.
The servants make up quite a bit of the story and seem to be bound by duty to serve their host family.
There is no question of bootstrapping to the top, or aiming for a life of greater recognition. It is all based on inheritance, it seems.
But Downton Abbey has charm, and warmth, and a sense of overall happiness looming, where you know that things will turn out happily at the end.
The characters are decent as people, and most of the problems are misunderstandings. Watching the show, is like watching our grandparents, and I often marvel at how much stronger their family value system is.
I would highly recommend this to people who would enjoy family dramas and anglophiles.
It is also glamorous -- the sets are beautiful, the music is beautiful. It is definitely worth a watch!
It is interesting how the family operates on the estate -- busying themselves with family connections -- alliances, business and maintenance, and even more intriguing -- their servants, who operate dutifully on serving.
The servants make up quite a bit of the story and seem to be bound by duty to serve their host family.
There is no question of bootstrapping to the top, or aiming for a life of greater recognition. It is all based on inheritance, it seems.
But Downton Abbey has charm, and warmth, and a sense of overall happiness looming, where you know that things will turn out happily at the end.
The characters are decent as people, and most of the problems are misunderstandings. Watching the show, is like watching our grandparents, and I often marvel at how much stronger their family value system is.
I would highly recommend this to people who would enjoy family dramas and anglophiles.
It is also glamorous -- the sets are beautiful, the music is beautiful. It is definitely worth a watch!
Monday, April 24, 2017
The Little Prince (2016)
The Little Prince is a charming, but rather odd netflix original about a girl caught up in a society where everyone lives to "grow up" and once they grow up, they forget to live.
Her mother, a genuinely concerned parent, tries to carve out her life and her path to success. It seems that while you are a child you are already put through a bootcamp to reach the Academy, where you officially convert to a grown-up.
The little girl's life is consumed with regimen and discipline, but there are pockets of time, when she looks at her snow globes, or stare out at the sky, that you see she is aware that there is more out there.
In comes in her eccentric next door neighbor: an old, eccentric type that shoots her paper airplanes of stories about "A Little Prince".
That is where the movie becomes somewhat abstract and strange. As the little girl reads on about the Little Prince, she becomes closer to her neighbor, and soon they become good friends.
***SPOILER ALERT FROM HERE ON OUT***
The Little Prince as a character seems to be rather existential and profound for his size. There could be a lot of takeaways here: are children taken less seriously as they should? In The Little Prince it seems as all children are taught to forget about childhood.
Also, the Little Prince seems to take value in relationships, but also understands the meaning of love beyond the physical body, which is fantastic and deep, but also maybe a bit too deep for a children's movie. He falls in love with a Rose too -- with the Rose clamoring attention on to herself, the little Prince leaves, but never lets go of his love for her. There's talk of the Rose being his rose, and there's none other like it. That is a bit too metaphysical too.
I understand where the movie is going, and ultimately it's great. However, it's more suited for an adult audience.
The fantastic part of the movie is really coming to grips with the fact that the Little Prince may never have really existed. Maybe he did, and the little girl does seemingly encounter him. But did she?
She does go through an epiphany which leads her to understand the deepness of "seeing with your heart."
This is an interesting movie. It is deeper than most children movies out there, and is visually beautiful. Would I recommend it? If you enjoyed movies like In & Out and Finding Dory, you might find some value in this film.
Her mother, a genuinely concerned parent, tries to carve out her life and her path to success. It seems that while you are a child you are already put through a bootcamp to reach the Academy, where you officially convert to a grown-up.
The little girl's life is consumed with regimen and discipline, but there are pockets of time, when she looks at her snow globes, or stare out at the sky, that you see she is aware that there is more out there.
In comes in her eccentric next door neighbor: an old, eccentric type that shoots her paper airplanes of stories about "A Little Prince".
That is where the movie becomes somewhat abstract and strange. As the little girl reads on about the Little Prince, she becomes closer to her neighbor, and soon they become good friends.
***SPOILER ALERT FROM HERE ON OUT***
The Little Prince as a character seems to be rather existential and profound for his size. There could be a lot of takeaways here: are children taken less seriously as they should? In The Little Prince it seems as all children are taught to forget about childhood.
Also, the Little Prince seems to take value in relationships, but also understands the meaning of love beyond the physical body, which is fantastic and deep, but also maybe a bit too deep for a children's movie. He falls in love with a Rose too -- with the Rose clamoring attention on to herself, the little Prince leaves, but never lets go of his love for her. There's talk of the Rose being his rose, and there's none other like it. That is a bit too metaphysical too.
I understand where the movie is going, and ultimately it's great. However, it's more suited for an adult audience.
The fantastic part of the movie is really coming to grips with the fact that the Little Prince may never have really existed. Maybe he did, and the little girl does seemingly encounter him. But did she?
She does go through an epiphany which leads her to understand the deepness of "seeing with your heart."
This is an interesting movie. It is deeper than most children movies out there, and is visually beautiful. Would I recommend it? If you enjoyed movies like In & Out and Finding Dory, you might find some value in this film.
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Zootopia (2016)
Here is a fun, cute and relevant disney movie drawing parallels between the prejudice and racial tensions existing in society today.
The movie stars an ambitious young rabbit, Judy Hopper, whose dream is to be a cop -- a non-traditional career bath for "cute little rabbits", and make a difference in zootopia, a metropolitan city where all animals of all shapes and sizes dwell together.
Little as Judy expects, Zootopia isn't perfect, and she has to deal with biases on all corners, from her assignment to be on ticket maid when there is a top case she could handle, to even her own biases when she leans on a fox Nick (who is stereotyped as "sly" and "untrustworthy") to help her solve a case.
Here is a great story about how it feels to be an underdog, and also stereotyped based on societal prejudices. In the movie, the big divide is between predators who are "biologically tuned to be savage" and prey who "can never go savage". Both comments are based on societal decisions with no backed basis, and yet their analogies to the workings of racial division in our society cannot be ignored.
Here is a wonderful movie, and highly deserving of its academy award win! I would highly recommend it to everybody!
The movie stars an ambitious young rabbit, Judy Hopper, whose dream is to be a cop -- a non-traditional career bath for "cute little rabbits", and make a difference in zootopia, a metropolitan city where all animals of all shapes and sizes dwell together.
Little as Judy expects, Zootopia isn't perfect, and she has to deal with biases on all corners, from her assignment to be on ticket maid when there is a top case she could handle, to even her own biases when she leans on a fox Nick (who is stereotyped as "sly" and "untrustworthy") to help her solve a case.
Here is a great story about how it feels to be an underdog, and also stereotyped based on societal prejudices. In the movie, the big divide is between predators who are "biologically tuned to be savage" and prey who "can never go savage". Both comments are based on societal decisions with no backed basis, and yet their analogies to the workings of racial division in our society cannot be ignored.
Here is a wonderful movie, and highly deserving of its academy award win! I would highly recommend it to everybody!
Lady Jane (1986)
With my trend of watching old movies, I decided to re-watch Lady Jane. A 1986 historical drama about Lady Jane (Helena Bonham Carter) and her nine day reign with her beloved husband Guilford (Cary Elwes).
It is taken like a 1980s movie, and there is quite a lot of great acting, kind of like a play. The costumes are representative of the 1500s and the language seems to mimic formal english of the past.
In essence, the movie however, is not really about Lady Jane. It does depict her as a young, pure and feisty girl who is trapped in a rotten political quagmire driven by religious differences between her parents and the threat to the throne (Queen Mary).
In an effort to bring back Protestantism as England's primary faith, John Dudley, Duke of Nothumberland manipulates the ailing young King to sign a will that would bequeath the throne to Lady Jane. He establishes a holy matrimony between Lady Jane (who is so young - sixteen) and his youngest son Guilford. The movie catapults on this relationship.
A more appropriate title for this film should be "Lady Jane and Guilford". The majority of the movie evolves their relationship which at the start was cold, into them being kindred spirits. They have conversations about justice, poverty, the worth of a shilling, and religion. One thing that was not clear to me in the movie was whether Guilford shared Jane's faith in God. Maybe he did, but it seemed that he was more championed towards civil rights and hated priests and the corrupt church.
When Lady Jane hears she's queen, she reluctantly takes the crown at Guilford's urging, and they both try to pass many of the policies they believe in. It is enchanting how they are so young, yet revolutionary in their thinking and ahead of their time.
Eventually the movie ends ****SPOILER ALERT*** in tragedy, but with a poignancy that leaves you wondering how many talented, and inspired minds were shut down and undervalued in a time when bigotry and royalty reigned.
This is a great movie. It could be better titled, but it definitely is worth a watch if you enjoy historical dramas and want to re-visit them.
It is taken like a 1980s movie, and there is quite a lot of great acting, kind of like a play. The costumes are representative of the 1500s and the language seems to mimic formal english of the past.
In essence, the movie however, is not really about Lady Jane. It does depict her as a young, pure and feisty girl who is trapped in a rotten political quagmire driven by religious differences between her parents and the threat to the throne (Queen Mary).
In an effort to bring back Protestantism as England's primary faith, John Dudley, Duke of Nothumberland manipulates the ailing young King to sign a will that would bequeath the throne to Lady Jane. He establishes a holy matrimony between Lady Jane (who is so young - sixteen) and his youngest son Guilford. The movie catapults on this relationship.
A more appropriate title for this film should be "Lady Jane and Guilford". The majority of the movie evolves their relationship which at the start was cold, into them being kindred spirits. They have conversations about justice, poverty, the worth of a shilling, and religion. One thing that was not clear to me in the movie was whether Guilford shared Jane's faith in God. Maybe he did, but it seemed that he was more championed towards civil rights and hated priests and the corrupt church.
When Lady Jane hears she's queen, she reluctantly takes the crown at Guilford's urging, and they both try to pass many of the policies they believe in. It is enchanting how they are so young, yet revolutionary in their thinking and ahead of their time.
Eventually the movie ends ****SPOILER ALERT*** in tragedy, but with a poignancy that leaves you wondering how many talented, and inspired minds were shut down and undervalued in a time when bigotry and royalty reigned.
This is a great movie. It could be better titled, but it definitely is worth a watch if you enjoy historical dramas and want to re-visit them.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Avatar (2009)
I decided to re-visit this movie because it is as deep as it is animated and visually phenomenal. This is really the type of film that was made for 3D and VR.
What is so spectacular about this film also lies deep in its story. The usual story we have heard about in history is that an outsider comes in to a land of plenty of resources, greedy to snatch all of it for its already depleted ones. The outsiders use divide and conquer among the indigenous people and manipulate their communities to turn against each other and fall prey to the weapons and control of the outsiders. Soon the resources and community that once kept the natives at peace and gave life to their beliefs are all shattered, and they are enslaved or forced to evacuate. Sounds familiar? Think of the colonies from Europe and the native americans. Better yet the Europeans and African nations.
It is all sad. But Avatar gives it a twist.
What if the outsider infiltrates a land out of Earth, with species called the Navi who are so spiritually and physically evolved, that they are inspiring?
That is what unfolds in Avatar. With Sam Worthington playing an ex-marine Jack Tully, who takes over his dead scientist brother's role as impersonating a Navi avatar to infiltrate the Navis and convince them to negotiate a trade deal. The trade deal is to leave their home (which is apparently a hotbed for some expensive metal) for their lives. The people behind this scummy operation are human beings: corporate (big company) and even the military is psyched to be involved. The lab behind this entire avatar operation are on the side of the Navi however, and want to help them escape, and understand them.
This is a beautiful rendition of a Pocahantas like tale, with Natiri, a local Navi showing Jack the ways of her people, and opening up her world to him.
Their tree of life, and connectivity is one of the most inspiring creations in cinematography. Its roots flowing through everything. Jack also speaking about the way Natiri talks, how she says that energy is borrowed, and after using it, you must give it back -- is beyond our own small minded day to day thinking.
It is clear that the war on the Navis is definitely a metaphor for our war on the environment. Our polluting of the environment, our refusal to recycle, our mistreatment of animals and nature and worst of all, our greed.
This is a beautiful movie. I would highly recommend it to everyone.
What is so spectacular about this film also lies deep in its story. The usual story we have heard about in history is that an outsider comes in to a land of plenty of resources, greedy to snatch all of it for its already depleted ones. The outsiders use divide and conquer among the indigenous people and manipulate their communities to turn against each other and fall prey to the weapons and control of the outsiders. Soon the resources and community that once kept the natives at peace and gave life to their beliefs are all shattered, and they are enslaved or forced to evacuate. Sounds familiar? Think of the colonies from Europe and the native americans. Better yet the Europeans and African nations.
It is all sad. But Avatar gives it a twist.
What if the outsider infiltrates a land out of Earth, with species called the Navi who are so spiritually and physically evolved, that they are inspiring?
That is what unfolds in Avatar. With Sam Worthington playing an ex-marine Jack Tully, who takes over his dead scientist brother's role as impersonating a Navi avatar to infiltrate the Navis and convince them to negotiate a trade deal. The trade deal is to leave their home (which is apparently a hotbed for some expensive metal) for their lives. The people behind this scummy operation are human beings: corporate (big company) and even the military is psyched to be involved. The lab behind this entire avatar operation are on the side of the Navi however, and want to help them escape, and understand them.
This is a beautiful rendition of a Pocahantas like tale, with Natiri, a local Navi showing Jack the ways of her people, and opening up her world to him.
Their tree of life, and connectivity is one of the most inspiring creations in cinematography. Its roots flowing through everything. Jack also speaking about the way Natiri talks, how she says that energy is borrowed, and after using it, you must give it back -- is beyond our own small minded day to day thinking.
It is clear that the war on the Navis is definitely a metaphor for our war on the environment. Our polluting of the environment, our refusal to recycle, our mistreatment of animals and nature and worst of all, our greed.
This is a beautiful movie. I would highly recommend it to everyone.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
La La Land (2016)
La La Land is one of my favorite movies of 2016. It's romantic, relatable (especially to millennials) and has a lot of heart. It stars Emma Stone as an aspiring actress Mia, and Ryan Gosling as a jazz musician (and jazz snob), Sebastian. Both of them cross roads when Mia walks into one of Sebastian's solo jazz pieces and is struck by his performance. Although they get off to a slightly wrong foot, they soon enough become career confidantes, and encourage each other to pursue their passions... and fall in love.
What I love about La La Land is that the conversations people have in the movie are real ones. They have the same tones as the conversations we have when we talk about things we're passionate about. They reflect our best and most cherished relationships, and they give us hope to keep dreaming!
La La Land is phenomenal because it doesn't only capture the happiness of success and happy endings, but also the happiness in the very spirit of dreams and aspirations. This movie is especially needed in our time where careers in music and art are considered "too risky".
It is extremely profound, and I would highly recommend it!!
What I love about La La Land is that the conversations people have in the movie are real ones. They have the same tones as the conversations we have when we talk about things we're passionate about. They reflect our best and most cherished relationships, and they give us hope to keep dreaming!
La La Land is phenomenal because it doesn't only capture the happiness of success and happy endings, but also the happiness in the very spirit of dreams and aspirations. This movie is especially needed in our time where careers in music and art are considered "too risky".
It is extremely profound, and I would highly recommend it!!
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