Time after time (1979) (7/10)

A fun thriller. Barring the obvious unscientific license needed for most any time machine mechanism and associated gizmos, its a well made movie. The standard gimmicks of futuristic newspapers are there and at times it seems a bit slow (but does not drag). No attempt is made to reconcile a single timeline to avoid paradoxes and hence the director could stick to making it more of a story. The contrast between two cultures is brought out well, and it is clear that we are evolving only in terms of external implements. As Jack-the-Ripper said, the innards are getting rawer.

Time after time (1979) (7/10)

Onibaba aka Demon Women (1964) (4/10)

Onibaba is a Japanese classic based on the disturbing times in Japan a few centuries ago. My mistake was to start watching it as a horror movie and anticipating something like Jim Carrey's mask. Well, there were elements of that, but this was so different. This was and was not supernatural at the same time. It was more about primal instincts - those of food and sex. Very well mixed with religion and some good shots of Susuki grass. But much of the suspense, or mystery did not seem to matter much to me and as a result I was left rather unimpressed.

Onibaba aka Demon Women (1964) (4/10)

Secret Honor (1984) (4/10)

I do not think there was anything intrinsically wrong about this movie. It just did not get me going. perhaps it was just the monologue nature of it. I wanted to learn more about the subject, about Nixon's feelings, so it was not as if I started viewing expecting some dancedrama. In the end I did not finish watching, so I am not fully justified in giving it a 4. But thats the closest integer that came to my mind.

Secret Honor (1984) (4/10)

Champagne for Caesar (1950) (7/10)

The movie captures well the heralding of the idiot box as well as mindless quizes taking over people's brains. A cute movie with a few interesting turn of events keep you guessing. Vincent Price is inimitable and it seems he could have very well impressed some of the later day kumars to take on his style.

Champagne for Caesar (1950) (7/10)

Lakposhtha hâm parvaz mikonand aka Turtles can fly (2004) (7/10)

Turtles can fly does not fail to move you. A border town torn by war with the biggest drawback of lack of information. what is the war for, who is really waging it, what is in it for them. All this is shown with children in the foreground living a parallel hell, maturing beyond age while retaining the values that make life so full for many. But then there are those who can not cope with it and all have to coexist. Rather the rational and irrational wish to go together. The niche is well treated, but is unfortunately
not generalisable to wars around the globe. A joint Iran-Iraq venture.

Lakposhtha hâm parvaz mikonand aka Turtles can fly (2004) (7/10)

omkara (2006) (6/10)

A rendition of Othello in Hindi in Indian estyle. Well made, but slow and in the end seems a bit pointless. Saifalikhan has carried on with great naturalness that seems to come naturally to him. Shots involving the last wedding seem a bit uncoherent. While the cellphone has become part of the village life, it sticks out as the only piece of technology wildly made use of in the movie. Last shot seem to defy certain principles of physics.

Omkara (2006) (6/10)

lage raho Munnabhai (2006) (8/10)

lage raho is not a sequeal of an earlier movie (munnabhai MBBS) and hence it is okay for it to be good which it is. Taking the way of humor, the much needed anti-violent stance is very well elucidated. Arshad Varsi plays the perfect sidekick. Bomman Irani and Vidya Balan have also done an excellent job. Well developed story with a twist or two in the second half and very well paced.

Bande me tha dum
Vande mataram

lage raho munnabhai (2006) (8/10)

Signs (2002) (4/10)

I started watching this movie with some expectations but it turned out to be rather drab. It turns out to be a cheap science fantasy combined with weird ideas about faith and incoherent flashbacks. Theoretical suspense is what Jay called it. The book on aliens was fun though.

Signs (2002) (4/10)

Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisie aka The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) (7/10)

This discreetly charming French movie is about meals, or perhaps non-meals. Or may be it is about dreams of meals. Or perhaps dreams of non-meals. Whichever way you see it, it is not run of the meal. Six simple lives complicated by all those concerns that come with bourgeoisness and the need to be discreet. Some may find it a bit non-sensical, but try to look for a higher order sense and make a meal of it. Do enjoy the dreams.

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) (7/10)

Rajio no Jican aka Welcome back, Mr. McDonald (1997) (7/10)

A wonderful Japanese movie. On the one hand it seems pure slapstick, but it brings in elements of various cultures, generations as well as different shades of emotions beautifully. Will keep you laughing to the end. I am happy they kept LA out of it. A live radio show and the ego of an actress starts it off. Will she also be able to finish it? Given the number of twists, its a mundane question. highly recommended.

Rajio no Jican aka Welcome back, Mr. McDonald (1997) (7/10)

jhankar beats (2003) (7/10)

This is a good movie. work/passion competion, different stages of meeting/separating, wins/losses. Slow at times, revolves around songs without the songs themselves being the centerpiece. Many hilarious moments. Caution: RD fans may become nostalgic. If they do, that is their own fault.

I wonder why the competition is titled 2002 when the movie is from 2003.

jhankar beats (2003) (7/10)

The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) (7/10)

A delightful English comedy, the stuff that classic Hindi movies are made of. The usual misunderstandings and naming confusions and lost babies and all that. Recommended. Sicily is so original in her diary! And The Lady's questions to decide her daughter's suitors!!

The Importance of Being Earnest(2002) (7/10)

daranaa zaroorI hai (2006) (5/10)

Getting frightened was not really necessary. There were a few starts, but thats it. On the plus side, it was not ugly as some English movies of this genre tent to be, nor were there unnecessary sequences as Bollywood movies tend to have.

There were two main themes used repeatedly except in the last piece. The glue itself was no very, err, holding. A movie one can survive through.

But then seroiusly what horror elements can directors bring in that have not already been tried? Perhaps some sci-fi, or even sci-fan. Cloning? Extra-terrestrials? These too have been used, but they have many more dimensions that are still unexplored.

daranaa zaroorI hai (2006) (5/10)

S1M0NE (2002) (6/10)

The movie makes a good start, stutters a bit, and then things are okay again. Victor could have dealt with S1M0NE a bit differently, but oh well. The procedures seem too simplistic as shown, old love predictably or unpredictably resurfaces and you can love complex systems in no time. All people can be fooled all the time. If you like sci-fi, you may like this. if you like sci-fi with some emotions, you will love this. If you love emotional movies but hate sci-fi, you MAY (or may not) like this.

S1M0NE (2002) (6/10)