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)

The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966) (7/10)

A light hearted movie with some serious stuff. Fairly innocuous and yet deep. About human apprehension, fears, faith and basic humanity. Order in chaos and vice versa. Courage in the face of adversity and foolhardy almost daredo in the face of almost certain death. Can not fail to make you laugh, and that is the main point. You do not have to be serious to convey serious stuff.

The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966) (7/10)

Letyat zhuravli aka The Cranes Are Flying (1957) (5/10)

This movie is about war, yet not too much of the gory war is explicitely shown. About waiting, and endurance during the wait. Human condition during the war, any war. Some philosophising about how a war is bad even when it is won. A sort-of advice to also learn in rejoicing with the others. The Crane metaphor, if taken literally is however breaking down as not just war but even peacetime impacts on the environment are ensuring that those and many other species are suffering leaving less things for us to rejoice in, war or no war.

Letyat zhuravli aka The Cranes Are Flying (1957) (5/10)

Le Déclin de l'empire américain aka The Decline of the American Empire (1986) (7/10)

This Canadian French movie is interesting. It is a very dialogue driven movie about sex or liberation through sex, or at least that feeling from before the time when people did not consider themselves liberated (do they now?). It almost gets boring in the first half. The second picks itself well, and though there is no explicit philosophising, it is clear that larger aspects of life are clearly linked. An obsessedness and yet a kind of detachedness, definition of an odd kind of continuity as stability or even love. It is intelligent rather than meaningless banter. My favourite part was the Woddy Alleny dance.

Le Déclin de l'empire américain aka The Decline of the American Empire (1986) (7/10)

Cuentos de hadas para dormir cocodrilos aka Bedtime fairy tale for crocodiles (2002) (4/10)

Looking in to the eyes of a Coyote makes a brother loose his sleep and the curse continues for a few generations. The Spanish movie can't exactly be called supernatural, nor is it natural. I guess I may have missed some of the contextual references, but overall I do not think I missed much. Nothing seems to stand out much.

Cuentos de hadas para dormir cocodrilos aka Bedtime fairy tale for crocodiles (2002) (4/10)

Rashômon (1950) (6/10)

Set in the woods, this Japanese movie is supposed to bring out the raw emotions in human beings - how temptations and situations affect them and cause them to do things they may not have considered themselves capable of. Different perspectives of possibly the same story bring that out. Very good performances, good handling of a not-too-easy subject matter. My personal concern is that often you understand these things and then you do not have to be preached about it, and often you do not understand them and hence can not be convinced about them. It is a bit too life like.

Rashômon (1950) (6/10)

À nous la liberté aka Liberty for us (1931) (6/10)

Two prisoners plan to escape. Can they survive in the treacherous world outside? Yes, at least until no one knows they have run away. Some parts are a bit stretched, and not in the same way cartoons are when they discover gravity. That kind of farfetchedness is natural. Not enterpreunership. The good parts involve an early exposure and farsightedness in terms of assembly line technology as well as the possible pitfalls. The end is rather vague and does not seem to take you anywhere.

À nous la liberté aka Liberty for us (1931) (6/10)

Jigureul jikyeora! aka Save the Green Planet! (2003) (6/10)

A good Korean movie with many uncanny twists and crazy turns. Would have been much better if they had kept the explicit voilent parts out. The acting is good, and though I can't say that the twists keep you glued, you sure want to do that if you want to follow what is happening. The detective connections seem to fit in well. The acting is good and genuine. It has to be when you, or someone around you believes that strange creatures from Andromeda are going to destroy Earth, that they have already arrived, and you are in charge of Earth, practically. You may even want to wish that you had listened to what your mother said when you were small (about watching such movies). Not for the faint-hearted. Beware, the Andromeda prince is here!

Jigureul jikyeora! aka Save the Green Planet! (2003) (6/10)

Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro aka Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro (1979) (8/10)

This is an excellent animation film for anyone who likes good frames, good music and may be good action. Characters are built far better than real life movies even though only a basic set of actions are used for the caharacters. The damsel in distress is how it begins, but does not proceed like a typical story, not does it end like one. There are a few exaggerations, but they add to the wonderfulness rather than subtract from it. The inspector Zenigata-Lupin rivalry would rival that of Anandrao and Zunjaar. The way Zenigata leads to the bills is classic. The mystery and its unravelling as well as what it unravels is beautifully done. An adventure you should not miss.

Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro aka Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro (1979) (8/10)

Cool runnings (1993) (8/10)

A refresing movie by any standards. Kinda improbable, but well handled by setting the improbability right by combining it with the moral high ground of completing a mission, no matter what. The will to suceed, the difficulties, the politics, the deceit and the good will are all there. Very economic dialogue and action. Coach-player and father-son relationships are also depcited beautifully. All in all, a nice balence of almost everything. Worth watching and rewatching. Senior brother of Jo Jita Wohi Sikander and Iqbal, if you HAVE to compare.

Cool runnings (1993) (8/10)

Journal d'un curé de campagne aka Diary of a country priest (1951) (5/10)

The movie starts off very promising and has some excellent performances, but unfortunately gets lost in its own melancholy tune. The sad priest does look sad and the townsmen do look menacing without appearing so. Indifferent. Nothing much seems to happen. If anything, its a version of a series of unfortunate events. The finale is the moment when the priest finally realises the ultimate truth. But then it is a bit late for him, and the others won't get enlightenment until they themselves experience it. A sad story of the entire history of humanity.

Journal d'un curé de campagne aka Diary of a country priest (1951) (5/10)

Das Kabinett des Doktor Caligari aka The cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919) (7/10)

Extra credit needs to be given to the movie since it is almost 100 years old. The suspense is well maintained about a series of murders unleashed through a fair. The atmosphere is well maintained. One of course has to read the words rather than hear them. Especially the graphic is very good, the lines inside the asymlum being an excellent example. however, in the end, it seems to live for the punchline. I wish less movies put so much of their worth in the last minute or two.

Das Kabinett des Doktor Caligari aka The cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919) (7/10)