Saturday 29 September 2012

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1 (2011 movie)



Directed by: Bill Condon
Released: 2011
Country: United States

Cast: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Peter Facinelli,  Elizabeth Reaser, Billy Burke, Kellen Lutz, Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone

Genre: Romantic, Drama, Fantasy, Adventure

Rating: 2 out of 5

Review

The book ''Breaking Dawn'' has been split into two films: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1 (released in 2011) and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 2 (upcoming movie).

I finished watching The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1 a few hours ago. This is the fourth film in the Twilight Saga.

I haven't reviewed any other Twilight films, so let me tell something about my opinion about the saga. I liked Twilight and felt it was sweet. I hated New Moon and felt it was horrible.The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was better than New Moon, but still, horrible. And now, today I watched The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1. Watching this movie wasn't a waste of time; it's ok, but it wasn't worth watching either.

So very well, let me continue, most of the actors and actresses reprise their roles.


The first few scenes deal with wedding preparation of the human Bella (played by Kristen Stewart) and the vampire Edward Cullen (played by Robert Pattinson). The wedding scene is very long. Jacob (played by Taylor Lautner) confronts Bella and is shocked to learn that she and Edward would be having a ''real honeymoon''!

At their honeymoon, Bella and Edward make love. When Bella wakes up, she is astonished to find that the bed is damaged and Edward has accidentally bruised her arms and shoulders. Well, soon, Bella finds that she is pregnant, and though everyone wants her to have an abortion, Bella protests and is supported by Rosalie.

Well, now Sam Uley, the Alpha of the werewolf pack, decide to kill Bella and her child, but Jacob, Seth and Leah decide to protect Bella, and leave the pack.

Over the next scenes, we see how Bella is being given protection and the family tries to take care of Bella. There are a few fights between the vampires and the werewolves. And then there is the most intense scene of the film, the childbirth scene.

 And, though I'm not revealing anything, the ending is excellent!

Kristen Stewart gave an excellent performance in the film. Really, her performance wasn't very good in the previous films, but in this film, she was truly excellent! Her acting has improved a lot,  really!  Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson also gave good performances. 

Well, I have heard lots of negative comments about this film. But, according to my opinion, this movie isn't that bad! At some of the scenes, it is even sweet and moving. There are almost no touching materials in New Moon or Eclipse, but in Breaking Dawn- Part 1, there is! (the scene where Edward says that he can read the child's mind and tells Bella that the child loves her is the scene which I had found very touching). According to my opinion, Breaking Dawn- Part 1 is better than both New Moon and Eclipse.

But however, everything in this movie- almost everything- deal with mainly the same kind of matters matters: Bella's future child, plans to destroy the child, plans to kill Bella, giving protection to Bella, etc., etc., etc., which made the story a bit boring.

I  actually enjoyed this film a bit, but didn't feel that it was very good. It is sweet and enjoyable, but absolutely NOT a very good movie. Overall, watching this movie wasn't a waste of time; it's ok, but it wasn't worth watching either.

2 out of 5.

War of the Worlds (2005 movie)



Directed by: Steven Speilberg
Released: 2005 
Country: United States

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Thriller, Drama

Cast: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review

Strangely, the last four movies that I've seen are all sci-fi movies. And all of them are Sci-Fi action films. But, however strange that is, let me start reviewing the film War of the Worlds, loosely based on the novel The War of the Worlds, and directed by the famous film director Steven Speilberg.

This is just another disaster film. And it's story is about an alien invasion. Let's tell the basic story in a short way: these aliens have prepared for many, many years, to attack and invade the Earth, and now they've finally started attacking, driving a very strange-looking machine named walker. Explosions after explosions, lightnings after lightnings, deaths after deaths are being caused by these aliens.

Now, Ray (played by Tom Cruise), in the midst of these disasters, has to take his two children, Rachel (played by Dakota Fanning) and Robbie (played by Justin Chatwin) to Boston, where their mother, Mary Ann (Miranda Otto) is living.

Of course, you realize that they have to face lots of dangers, and troubles on their way. That's natural in disaster movies. 

The two children, Rachel and Robbie are both very interesting characters. Robbie, the older child, is a young teenagers and is ambitious to fight against the aliens. Rachel, the younger girl, is claustrophobic and gets frightened and starts screaming terrifyingly. They are played excellently by Justin Chatwin and Dakota Fanning.

Ray, played by Tom Cruise, is initially a careless character, but later gets very heroic to protect his two children. Cruise gives quite excellent performance. Tim Robbins is okay in his supporting role as Harlan Ogilvy, who initially helps Ray and Rachel but later suffers from a mental breakdown.

Well, the visual effects were excellent. The story was presented in a good way. I wasn't touched by the movie, and only the last scenes made me smile a bit, but I didn't find this film touching. However, the story was okay.

Overall, this film was entertaining to watch, but not touching. It is worth watching for it's good story, excellent cast, and visual effects. Everyone should see this film. But overall, it was just an entertaining movie to watch and I didn't think it was something great.

3 out of 5.


Friday 28 September 2012

The Hunger Games (2012 movie)





Directed by: Gary Ross
Released: 2012
Country: United States

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Amandla Stenberg, Alexander Ludwig

Genres: Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

Well, I was a bit unsure if this film will be enjoyable or not, since I'm not a science fiction fan, but however, I've to admit that this film is truly remarkable: it is very moving and a very good science fiction movie, and everyone should see this movie.

Set in the future, years after today... There are 12 districts, and each year, the Hunger Game, a violent competition, requires a young man and a young woman, from the ages of 12 to 18, from each districts, to represent their particular districts in that Game. But when young Primrose is selected as the girl to represent the district, Primrose's younger sister Katniss decides to volunteer for the Game.

This is the basic story of The Hunger Games. Well, the young man Peeta Mellark is also selected from the district, and together Katniss and Peeta represent the district in the violent competition. But will they be able to survive, or something? What will they have to face, and learn, to survive?

I make sure that my reviews do not contain spoilers, so I won't reveal much of the story either.

Though I'm not a science fiction fan, I loved The Hunger Games! In fact, this is a very, very much moving and wonderful science fiction movie. And when it ended, I was smiling: it is such a movie which can deeply touch your emotions.

Katniss, the protagonist, is played by Jennifer Lawrence. Jennifer Lawrence plays Katniss wonderfully, excellent, brilliantly. Her character, Katniss, is truly likeable. Katniss is a sisterly and motherly character. How she sacrificed for Primrose, and her feelings for Rue were one of the most moving and emotional parts of the film. 

Josh Hutcherson is also quite good in his role as Peeta Mellark. Others, such as Amandla Stlenberg, Alexander Ludwig, and Liam Hemsworth, and all others of course, was quite good as well.

The film was presented in a wonderful way, it was fast, clear and quite interesting. The cinematography was okay. The background musics were also quite good.

Overall, The Hunger Games is an excellent film: the story is interesting and presented nicely. And of course, excellent performance by Jennifer Lawrence. 

4 out of 5.




Thursday 27 September 2012

The Avengers (2012 movie)




Directed by: Joss Whedon
Released: 2012
Country: United States

Genres: Sci-Fi, Action

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston  

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review

Iron Man, Hawkeye, the Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor,- all these names are quite familiar to us. Personally, I'd not seen a Marvel movie before The Avengers. As a result, the characters were quite new to me. 

Well, the movie shows how the above-mentioned superheros unite and try to save the world after Loki, a brother of Thor, plans to invade the Earth. Loki is the antagonist of the film.

Well, for those who are a fan of these characters, the movie must have been quite a lot exciting to them, as all of the characters can be seen in the film. But as I was completely unfamiliar with the characters (I just knew their names!), I personally found the movie a little bit confusing, but however, the confusion soon disappeared and everything was quite clear to me very soon.

The Avengers has lots of actions in it. For those who like action films, this movie will obviously be very good.

Let's first describe the things which I liked about this film. The story is presented in a fine way; there are lots of humor and jokes throughout. One of the scenes which made me laugh out loud was a scene featuring the Hulk. I just loved the part when everyone thinks the Iron Man is dead, and the Hulk gives out a scream and Iron Man wakes up. Excellent scene! Also, when Thor mentions that Loki was adopted was quite funny. There are lots of humorous and likeable elements within the film.

The acting was excellent. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Hiddleston, and all others, of course, gave wonderful and excellent performances. The character of the Hulk was the most amusing.

The action scenes are mostly meaningful and interesting. 

And now coming to the points which I disliked about this movie. It's too long (2 hours and 23 minutes) and the action scenes, though meaningful and interesting, were a bit too long. Really, the film could have been much shorter. It'd have made the film so much better if it just had been a little bit shorter. Also, though the story is wonderfully presented, and is very likeable, sometimes it becomes a little confusing. But, however, at most of the times, the story is clear and, obviously, it's enjoyable.

Therefore, this is an action-packed superhero film and those who love action movies should seriously see this film. I, personally, didn't dislike the film, but didn't find it excellent as well. The film could have been so much better if it was a bit shorter.

3 out of 5.

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Megamind (2010 movie)




Directed by: Tom McGrath
Released: 2010
Country: United States

Cast: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross

Genres: Action comedy

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review

I hadn't watched an animated film for a while, so I decided to watch Megamind. I don't usually like action films that much, but Megamind is a very different action movie: filled with humorous elements, and has a different story.

It is about supervillain Megamind, always ignored. When he defeats the superhero Metro Man, he falls disappointed as there is nothing to do. Then he creates a superhero, Titan, who then turns out evil. Only Megamind can save the people now from the hands of Titan...

As I mentioned, the story was quite interesting, and I found it rather sweet and felt pity for Megamind from the beginning of the movie. Poor boy, always being ignored by classmates and teachers! When he turned evil, I felt really angry at him, but when he gloriously defeated the evil villain Titan, I felt so happy!

I am not a fan of action movies, or superhero films. But Megamind is actually completely different! There is much use of action, yes, but the actions are not excessive or lengthy. They are presented, often, with humor.In fact, I think that Megamind is more a comedy than an action. Some scenes are extremely funny. Some scenes are deeply moving. 

Overall, though a superhero film, Megamind has a good story and presented in a quite remarkable way with humorous elements. A very good family movie, enjoyable,  and one of the action movies which I've found truly engrossing and enjoyable.

3 out of 5.


Friday 21 September 2012

Water for Elephants (2011 movie)





Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Released: 2011
Country: United States

Genre: Romantic, drama

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz 

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review

I was thinking about a good romantic movie to watch. Then I thought about Water for Elephants. I have had the DVD of this film for quite a long time, but couldn't watch it. So, I thought about this film, starring one of my most favorite actresses, Reese Witherspoon.

The film is told in a flashback: an old man tells about his involvement in the circus during the 1930s to the proprietor of a traveling circus. Robert Pattinson, whom we had earlier seen in Harry Potter and Twilight films, is quite excellent in this film. He plays Jacob, the male protagonist. Indeed! His performance as the charming, handsome, and intelligent Jacob is quite mentionable. Anyways, let's return to the topic. So, Jacob, who is of the Polish origin, is to give his final exam, but as he is giving his exam, he is interrupted and told that parents are dead in a car accident. Since his father had debts, Jacob loses the home, and does not go back to school, and, wandering, jumps onto a train. The train is actually that of the circus Benzini Brothers. Hearing that he is a veterinary surgeon, the circus owner, August (played by Christoph Waltz) employs him. Then we see Marlena (earlier there were two short scenes the circus with Marlena with her horse, but let's not go into details). Marlena is August's pretty wife, star of the circus, and when, because her horse is very ill, Jacob puts the horse down, an elephant named Rosie replaces the horse. Slowly, the relationship between Marlena and Jacob deepens, they fall in love, and Jacob understands that all he had understood was wrong: Marlena and August have a really troubled relationship,  Marlena is almost controlled by August, and that Marlena deserves a much better life...

Reese Witherspoon played the beautiful Marlena. Earlier, we had seen her playing memorable characters like Elle Woods, Melanie Carmichael, Becky Sharp, Elizabeth Masterson, and (though I haven't seen Walk the Line yet) June Carter Cash, among other characters, and similarly, in this film, Witherspoon plays the role of the beautiful, intelligent, neverthless controlled woman Marlena. Her performance was really awesome: it deserves praises, indeed. Her performance makes us realize the condition of Marlena, and I started feeling really sad for Marlena.

And now, coming to the topic of Christoph Waltz: he is truly excellent in the role of the antagonist. And I, though first taking a bit of liking in the character because he treated Jacob sympathetically,  started hating the character of August. I mean, August is really a bad person: cruel to both humans and animals. The scene where he beats Rosie (though we are not shown anything much directly) made me shocked and sad. The performances by them, and of course, all of the supporting cast, made the story more believable.

And of course, the production design is highly notable: the circus scenes were very notable.

Most of the film is told in flashback, in the 1930s, during the time of the Great Depression. And, though I will not be revealing anything, I must say that the ending is a bit intense and violent.

The film is highly recommended: it was worth watching. I found it highly entertaining. Not a single moment was boring. It was really good! Though neither an excellent nor a masterpiece movie, this movie is worth watching.

3 out of 5.






Rashomon (1950 movie)


Directed by: Akira Kurosawa
Released: 1950
Country: Japan

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Drama 

CastToshirô Mifune, Machiko Kyô, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura, Minoru Chiaki, Kichijirô Ueda, Noriko Honma

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Famous director Akira Kurosawa brilliantly directs this excellent movie, with a very unique presentation. The movie centers around a crime told through four different points of views. With the use of flashbacks, the movie is presented in a wonderful way.

The film centers around the rape of a woman and murder of her husband, but it is told from the points of view of four people: the woman, the bandit who raped the woman, the victim of the murder (through a medium) and a woodcutter. But in each case, the incidents are told differently, the identity of the murderer is different in some of the cases. And I'm not revealing anymore of the story.

The story is quite simple, but it is made very engrossing because of the differing points of views. All the different points of views make the storyline very complicated, and we start to think, ''What is it, indeed? Who actually committed the murder?'' and lots of other questions come to mind.

Rashomon had introduced Kurosawa and the Japanese cinema to the world. Yes, it is a very memorable movie in the history of cinema. This film has received lots of awards, including the Academy Honorary Award at the 24th Academy Awards. It also won a Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival. The acting is quite impressive. Toshiro Mifune plays the villainous Tajōmaru excellently. Other actors also give memorable performances.

4.5 out of 5.

It Happened One Night (1934 movie)


Directed by: Frank Capra
Released: 1934
Country: United States


Genres: Comedy, Romantic

Cast: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly, Jameson Thomas, Charles C. Wilson

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

This great comedy-romantic movie is directed by Frank Cabra and stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. It won five Oscars, including Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claudette Colbert), Best Director (Frank Cabra), Best Picture, and Best Writing Adaptation.

There is truly something great about this sweet movie. The movie starts in a funny way, as the lead character, Ellie Andrews (played by Claudette Colbert), jumps into the water and runs away from her father, in order to go back to her husband in New York. (the marriage had been annuled by her father, a wealthy and well-known man). On the way, she meets Peter Warne (played by Clark Gable), who proceeds to help her throughout the journey. Though initially taking a distaste upon Peter, she slowly falls in love with Peter. Peter is a man from the newspaper, and promises to help her if she would give him an exclusive on her story. Meanwhile, Ellie's father declares reward on the person who can find Ellie...

I won't mention any more of the story; I won't like to spoil it. The characters are all very entertaining: Ellie, Peter, Andrews, even Gordon: all of their actions and dialogues make you laugh throughout the movie. The scene where the detective came to look for Ellie, and Ellie pretends, to be Mrs Warne, is very funny. Laughter is present even when it shouldn't be. For example, when Ellie emotionally tells her father that she fell in love with a person on her way, her father jokingly asks her if she had fallen in love with a bus driver. 

The film also shows some hardships and poverty.  A boy's mother spending all money to go to New York and getting ill because of not having the money to buy something to eat.  Peter shows Ellie how poverty can be: he shows her to sleep upon hay and eat raw carrots, and is always calling her a ''brat''.

But however, at most of the scenes, the film is told is beautiful and funny way. And I think it deserved all of the five Oscars which it won. A great movie, very recommended, indeed! 

4.5 out of 5.

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Mystic Pizza (1988 movie)



Directed by: Donald Petrie
Released: 1988
Country: United States

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Plot synopsis

The film tells the story of three young women: sister Kat and Daisy and their best friend Jojo, who work in the famous pizzeria named Mystic Pizza. Jojo loves her boyfriend but shies away from marriage. Kat falls in love with a married older man whom she babysits for. And Daisy also falls in love with a handsome young man. A coming-of-age romantic comedy film.

Cast

Julia Roberts as Daisy Arujo 
Annabeth Gish as Kat Arujo
Lili Taylor as Josephine (Jojo) Barboza
Vincent D'Onofrio as Bill
William R. Moses as Tim Travers
Adam Storke as Charles Gordon Windsor
Conchata Ferrell as Leona

My Opinion

A sweet coming-of-age romantic movie, and for this movie Julia Roberts first achieved critical acclaim. Great acting by Annabeth Gish and Lili Taylor, and others as well. With a good story, presented in a nice way, this movie is quite likeable. Not a masterpiece, to tell the truth, however, this movie will not disappoint you. It is a good, quite enjoyable, and sweet movie.
 2.5 out of 5.




Friday 14 September 2012

Atonement (2007 movie)




Directed by: Joe Wright
Released: 2007
Country: United Kingdom

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Plot synopsis

In the 1930s, 13-year-old Briony Tallis accuses the housekeeper's son, Robbie Turner, of a crime he didn't commit. This consequences of this lie spans over decades and this lie changes the lives of several people, including that of Robbie, Briony's sister (and Robbie's lover) Cecilia Tallis, and that of Briony herself.

Based on the novel by Ian McEwan. 

Cast

Keira Knightley as Cecilia Tallis
James McAvoy as Robbie Turner
Saoirse Ronan as Briony Tallis (age 13)
Romola Garai as Briony Tallis (age 18)

Vanessa Redgrave as Briony Tallis (age 77)
Brenda Blethyn as Grace Turner
Benedict Cumberbatch as Paul Marshall
Juno Temple as Lola Quincey
Harriet Walter as Emily Tallis
Michelle Duncan as Fiona Maguire
Daniel Mays as Tommy Nettle
Alfie Allen as Danny Hardman

Achievements

Atonement was nominated for seven Oscars, and won one for Best Original Score. It also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan) and Best Adapted Screenplay, among others. Saoirse Ronan is one of the youngest Oscar-nominated people. It also received fourteen BAFTA Award nominations, and won BAFTA Awards for Best Film and Best Production Design.It also won two Golden Globe awards (including Best Motion Picture- Drama), among numerous other awards and nominations.

My Opinion

Atonement is, in my opinion, the best movie of 2007. And it's one of my favorite movies of all time.

Atonement is a deeply moving movie. It's story is very emotional and is told beautifully. A very touching romantic movie with great performances by Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai and Saoirse Ronan. The performance by the 13-year-old Saoirse Ronan is highly remarkable: her performance as the confused, strange teenager Briony Tallis was excellent. 

Among Joe Wright's other movies, Pride & Prejudice, was excellent as well, and Hanna was also quite good, but none of them are as moving, as excellent as Atonement. It's a beautifully told movie with a great cast, great music, and a deeply moving story.

4.5 out of 5.






Thursday 13 September 2012

Kahaani (2012 movie)





Directed by: Sujoy Ghosh
Released
: 2012
Country
: India

Rating: 4.5 out of 5


Plot synopsis

A pregnant woman comes to Kolkata to search for her missing husband, but is shocked to find that everyone denies about her husband; they deny meeting him, they deny that her husband ever worked here, and they deny that her husband lived here. What is the truth, in fact? Are they all lying, or is there something else behind all these...?

Cast

Vidya Balan as Vidya Bagchi
Parambrata Chatterjee as Inspector Satyaki Sinha/ Rana
Indraneil Sengupta as Arnab Bagchi/ Milan Damji


My opinion

I do not usually watch Hindi movies, but it cannot be denied that ''Kahaani'' is in fact a great movie! I first started watching this movie just for passing time, but as the movie started, I couldn't help commenting it's a very engrossing and interesting movie. It's full of suspense, mysteries, and... and you can never imagine the fact. It kept me looking into the screen until the movie ended! Indeed, a very different movie, great movie, in fact, with great performances by all the actors, most notably Vidya Balan and Parambrata Chatterjee. 

4.5 out of 5.

The Lovely Bones (2009 movie)





Directed by: Peter Jackson
Released: 2009
Country: United States

Plot synopsis
 
In 1973, a young teenaged girl is murdered by a neighbor. From the ''in-between'', that is neither heaven nor earth, she watches her family, and her murderer, and sees how they are passing their lives. Years pass, her mother leaves her father, and her father is still searching for her murderer...

Based on the novel by Alice Sebold.

 


Cast
 
Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon
Mark Wahlberg as Jack Salmon
Rachel Weisz as Abigail Salmon
Susan Sarandon as Grandma Lyn
Rose Mclver as Lindsey Salmon
Reece Ritchie as Ray Singh
Stanley Tucci as George Harvey
Michael Imperioli as Detective Len Fenerman
Amanda Michalka as Clarissa
Jake Abel as Brian Nelson

 
Achievements

Though receiving mostly mixed reviews, the film was praised for it's acting. Stanley Tucci received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, Oscar nomination,  BAFTA nomination and a Golden Globe nomination, for Best Supporting Actor. Saoirse Ronan won an IFTA Award and was also nominated for a BAFTA Award.

My Opinion

A sad movie that truly touched me: The Lovely Bones is a very nice movie: it's beautiful, colorful, and truly lovely.  


 3.5 out of 5.

Volver (2006 movie)




Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar
Released
: 2006
Country: Spain

 
Plot synopsis

The film is set in Madrid. In Madrid, Raimunda, her sister Soledad, and Raimunda's daughter Paula live. One day, Paula's father, Paco, tries to molest her, telling her repeatedly that he is not his real father, and Paula, in order to protect herself, stabs him with a knife and he dies. While Raimunda is busy hiding Paco's body, she comes to know that her Aunt, also named Paula, is dead. Raimunda tells Soledad to go to the funeral alone. Soledad, after going to the funeral, encounters her mother, who died several years ago in a fire. Village people claim that  they have seen ''ghosts'' of Soledad and Raimunda's mother, and that the ghost had taken care of Aunt Paula in her last days. Then, a number of events occur which make the story more mysterious: Why has the ghost returned? What is her aim? What relation did Agustina's mother had with Raimunda and Soledad's parents? Who is, in fact, Paula's real father? What are the inter-connections of all these?


Cast
 
Penélope Cruz as Raimunda
Carmen Maura as Irene
Lola Dueñas as Soledad
Blanca Portillo as Agustina
Yohana Cobo as Paula
Chus Lampreave as Tía Paula
Antonio de la Torre as Paco
Carlos Blanco as Emilio




Achievements

''Volver'' was a very successful movie. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress (Penélope Cruz), making Penélope Cruz the second Spanish actress to be nominated in this category.  It also received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations, among other awards and nominations.


My Opinion


I saw this movie in August 2012 on DVD. I was quite interested about this film since most critics praised it. And I indeed found it wonderful! Truly, a masterpiece. I liked it so much that I watched it for a second time last week.  

Truly an impressive movie which almost brought tears to my eyes! This is such a film which has a story full of mysteries and emotions. The music, the acting, and the story- EVERYTHING are good. A movie told in a beautiful way, a movie with a moving story. 

5 out of 5.

 

Pather Panchali (1955 movie)




Directed by: Satyajit Ray
Released: 1955
Country: India

 
Plot synopsis
 
The film is about the family of Harihar Roy, a poor priest. The family consists of Harihar's wife, Sarbajaya, a daughter, Durga, and a son, Apu, and also Indir Thakrun, Apu and Durga's elderly aunt. Neighbors are always complaining that Durga steals fruits from their gardens.


The film tells the story of the family's struggling life. 

Based on the novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay.


Cast



Kanu Banerjee as Harihar Roy
Karuna Banerjee as Sarbajaya Roy
Subir Banerjee as Apu Roy
Uma Dasgupta as Durga Roy
Chunibala Devi as Indir Thakrun


Achievements

Pather Panchali was a critically acclaimed film and won both national and international awards. It is often considered one of the greatest films ever made.

My Opinion

Pather Panchali is a great movie- it is emotional, interesting, and has a touching story. Especially remarkable are the acting- Subir Banerjee, Uma Dasgupta, give excellent performances. Chunibala Devi, at the old age of 80, gave an excellent performance in the movie. 


 4 out of 5.





Brother Bear (2003 movie)




Directed by: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Released: 2003
Country: United States

 

Plot synopsis

When Kenai kills a bear, he is transformed into a bear. In order to be transformed back into his human body, he is told to go to the Northern Lights, the place where the ''lights touch the earth''. On the way, he meets a talkative younger bear, Koda, who has to find his way home. After knowing that Koda's house is next to the place where the lights touch the earth, Kenai takes Koda with him, and together they travel...

Cast
 
Joaquin Phoenix as Kenai (voice)
Jeremy Suarez as Koda (voice)
Jason Raize as Denahi (voice)
D. B. Sweeney as Sitka (voice)
Joan Copeland as Tanana (voice)


Achievements

The film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, among other awards and nominations.

My Opinion

A perfectly wonderful film! Quite a touching movie. It is truly enjoyable, nice, and interesting. Some parts of the story are quite emotional, but others are completely enjoyable! 

4 out of 5
 

The King's Speech (2010 movie)



 
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Released: 2010
Country: United Kingdom
 

Plot synopsis
 
 
The film tells the story of the man who became George VI of the United Kingdom. Known as ''Bertie'' by his family, he had a stammer, but his wife was able to find a speech therapist, Lionel Logue. The film tells the story of how, with the help of Lionel Logue, George VI was able to find his voice and became a worthy King.
 
 
Cast
 
 
Colin Firth as King George VI
Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth
Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue
Michael Gambon as King George V
Claire Bloom as Queen Mary
Guy Pearce as King Edward VIII
Eve Best as Wallis Simpson
Darek Jacobi as Archbishop Cosmo Lang
Jennifer Ehle as Myrtle Logue
Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill

 
 
Achievements
 
 
The movie won a number of awards. It won 4 Oscars, including Best Actor (Colin Firth) and Best Picture. Also, it won a number of BAFTA Awards, including Outstanding British Film, Best Leading Actor (Colin Firth), Best Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter) and Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush). It also received numerous other awards and received many other nominations.
 
 
 
My opinion
 
The film is great! I really liked this film. It's a very touching movie about King George VI.  All the actors give excellent performances. 

4.5 out of 5.