K-PAX (2001) (7/10)

A very crafty movie. Gentle too. And effective. No ultimate suspense, yet keeps you guessing. An alien from K-PAX? Well, that is not what the doctors think, medical or otherwise. But ask the patients! They know. They who you think are just furballs. In the end however, the mystery is not unfolded completely for everyone. You have to put pieces together to make it make sense. And it does.

Some scientific liberties taken, but then some science is explained well e.g. soap- and celestial-spheres. And the humane touch never fails to raise the masses. The cynical me asks though if that is really how it is.

K-PAX (2001) (7/10)

Pi (1998) (6/10)

An interesting premise rather wasted by trying to combine too many abstract concepts making it into an abstraction. Is incompleteness applicable to humans is a question many have pondered (without there being a well understood connection). The absurd fascination for a 216 digit number and the bad health of the hero makes it worse. But by bringing in the Go connection and the Tora, some interest is retained. At times it is just like the 9 billion names of God, and at times its very Lem (in concept anyway), not to mention Indiana Jones. Pi is clearly a misnomer, and phi won't be correct either. Omega perhaps?

Pi (1998) (6/10)

The Lathe of Heaven (1980) (7/10)

Based on Ursula Le Guin's novel, this movie is about reality-changing dreams. And what can happen when dreams are forced. Since not all dreams are shown, the storyline seems a bit jumpy, but manages to sustain attention. George Orr's question about the possibility of there being others who could have such dreams is interesting. Unfortunately he couldn't control his dreams. In a way he was like Wowbagger - since he was not born with the ability, he could not cope with it.


The Lathe of Heaven (1980) (7/10)

One, Two, Three (1961) (7/10)

Billy Wilder's non-stop chattering and lashing out at socialism in a satirical manner. East Berlin, umlaut and coca-cola. Leave out some excessive talkativeness in the middle its a movie with some good twists.

One, Two, Three (1961) (7/10)

Life and Debt (2001) (7/10)

This Jamaican documentary explores the effect of globalisation on Jamaica. IMF restrictions, US bullying form the axis of evil for them. US companies use cheap labour through free zones, do not pay taxes, proper wages, and try to stop Europe from buying their bananas by complaining to WTO. Related issues are explored very well in the documentary and teach a lot about complex world affairs in a very straightforward manner. It does not provide any possible solutions though. May be it is left to the viewers to see how they can help. What long-term effects will globalisation have on a country like India?

Life and Debt (2001) (7/10)

Little Miss Sunshine (2006) (6/10)

Good performances, good flow, no (very) unnecessary elements - at least in order to show a rather (too?) mixed family all pulling in different directions. There were kinks rather than turns or twists through which the family pulled through together, often at breakneck speed. But there did not seem to be anything worth going back to. Perhaps barring the innocence of sunshine.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006) (6/10)

Blazing Saddles (1974) (6/10)

Mel Brooks has created this spoofy Western in his rather unimitable colorful style. Being a spoof the exaggerations have to be excused, but some of those are pretty good. Nothing stands out in the end though, which itself is bizarre as is to be expected.

Blazing Saddles (1974) (6/10)

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004) (8/10)

A documentary which rightly got a "truer than fiction" award, it is about how children who would otherwise be potentially stuck in a vicious cycle are enabled by learning to use a camera to make way for their talents, creativity and explore aspects of life that would not otherwise have been possible. Siding the nurture aspect of upbringing, it also is a triumph of a well planned project taken to a logical conclusion. At least up to the limits external help can take one. Then of course it is up to the horse. What other parallel things can individuals do?

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004) (8/10)

Mononoke-hime aka Princess Mononoke (1997) (6/10)

This animation has some good action. But without the technology, or the magic, it does not live up to a Stars-wars reputation. On the otherhand, it is no animal farm either. Well, there is some magic, and the usual thing that cartoons do - not exactly forgetting about gravity, but forgetting basic principles about impact velocities etc. Since what you do not know can not hurt you, they don't get hurt in this epic battle of animals to rid the earth of humans and vice versa. Why bother the Elk if the prince travels faster? The blind nightwalker was interesting, but not convincing.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119698/ (1997) (6/10)