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SAMTHEBESTEST
Not interested to become a Critic, just want to become a Smart Viewer.
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The Pirate (1948)
Judy Garland and Gene Kelly's underrated romantic musical will hypnotize you with its colorful romance, the pirate, the Caribbean, and enchanting setups
The Pirate (1948) :
Brief Review -
Judy Garland and Gene Kelly's underrated romantic musical will hypnotize you with its colorful romance, the pirate, the Caribbean, and enchanting setups. The Pirate has to be one of those colorful rom-coms that hasn't gotten its due. It did not bother the reputation of Vincente Minnelli since he has many classics to his name, but it's better to receive praise for something that's deserving than what's overhyped. You know it happens sometimes that you are watching a movie and you start predicting what's gonna happen next. Actually, you want those things to happen, and they actually happen in the movie. That satisfaction is something else. The Pirate gave me that satisfaction as a movie viewer. It may be that old formula of rom-coms, Don Juan, and Robinhood stuff, but the writer has tweaked it very nicely. Usually, we see the girl not knowing the real personality of the man she loves, and the man is actually the man of her dreams. That dream-come-true part comes in the ending to make things happy and cheerful, but in this movie, we have a twist to that old but adorable theory. The girl here is fooled by the man of her dreams, but the actual man of her dreams is worse than this man. That's a metaphor too, if you see it in depth. The musical numbers are enchanting, and the comedy factor works too. Garland was a beauty with a voice, and that's why there was no one like her at her age. She was sensational and will forever be. How gorgeous she looked here! Gene Kelly has another great role that's more in the female-friendly zone. Quite similar to some of his memorable roles and movies, but still something different. Vincente Minnelli has created a joyous musical romance that can lift your mood on any off day. The Pirate and the Caribbean were never so lovable with false identities. Sometimes reality is more beautiful than fantasy. The Pirate proved it with a lighthearted show.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Easy Rider (1969)
Hollywood's new wave cinema attempt at communal, druggist, and problematic social change.
Easy Rider (1969) :
Brief Review -
Hollywood's new wave cinema attempt at communal, druggist, and problematic social change. Easy Rider is exactly opposite of what we call an inspiring film. This is devastating. The film compiles several youth problems without a short narrative that takes form through a road trip. Two bikers carry drugs to New Orleans, and they pass through several situations that reflect the social problems of the new era. First, they are joined by a hippie hitchhiker. Hippie was a new counter-cultural phenomenon back then. The women in their town openly move their attention and advances from their men to these new fellas. These two leave the town with LSD and are put behind bars for entering the parade. They meet George, discuss the American Civil Liberties Union, and are freed from jail. Then they go to the brothel and spend time with two hookers. The LSD they were carrying is finally used by these four, and we see one of the most difficult and challenging segments of moviemaking, led by an unorthodox and non-aligned storyline and experimental cinematography. What happens in the last scene shouldn't be revealed here, but I must say the truck passenger didn't really make any sense to me. I've cut 1* from the final rating for that illogical action taken by a truck passenger. Easy Rider is definitely not an easy film for American people who are rooted in their culture and traditions. It's a new look at society, and it's damn painful too. Those devastating facts can't be accepted, but we have to accept their existence since we are part of the same society. The screenplay and cinematography are far from mainstream cinema style. I'd rather call them pathbreaking, even though there was nothing much in the storyline. Dennis Hopper's independent road trip challenges many movie codes in Hollywood, so it's definitely not for regular viewers. It leaves you stunned, for sure.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
A bold statement on racism and the conflict between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Essence-wise, surpasses Robert Wise's "West Side Story."
Do The Right Thing (1989) :
Brief Review -
A bold statement on racism and the conflict between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Essence-wise, surpasses Robert Wise's "West Side Story." The film ends with two text quotes: One is of Malcolm X, in which he talks about killing someone in self-defense, and one is of Martin Luther King, which talks about how an eye for an eye makes everyone blind. Two different mindsets, but that's how society behaves. We meet both kinds of people in our lives who follow either ideology, and Do The Right Thing is about that conflict. Racism has been one of the major issues in America, and we have seen many movies exploring those factual errors of humanity. Here is one more, but this one's effective too. Set in a hot summer, the film explores a Brooklyn neighborhood's simmering racial tension between its African-American residents and the Italian-American owners of a local pizzeria. Even though those black people like the white man's pizzas, some of them are jealous. Those few jealous people cause a tragedy and violence that does not only destroy peace and lives but also leaves us with so many questions about dead humanity. The screenplay is pacy, and the use of rap and music gives it a modern touch. A lot of F words do feel irritating sometimes, but that shouldn't be a problem because this film is only for mature audiences. West Side Story dealt with a similar issue and also had a tragedy in the end, but that was a love story (based on Romeo & Juliet). Do The Right Thing is a powerful social drama with devastating visuals of human activities. The performances were impressive, and so was the camera work. Spike Lee did it again with his favorite theme, "racism." All black people and some white people in America must be grateful to him forever for his work. The money scene in the end is an ugly mirror of society. Don't miss.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Mad Action, But No Max Entertainment
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) Review -
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga marks George Miller's return to the Mad Max franchise as he brings a prequel to his 2015 mad action classic, Mad Max: Fury Road. You can forget the first three Mad Max movies featuring Mel Gibson, and you can even forget Fury Road in case you are worried about the timelines and characters of Furiosa. Fury Road had some breathtaking and magnificent action set pieces and stunts that blew my mind almost a decade ago. Miller made the best Mad Max movie ever without a hard storyline, and he attempts a similar thing with the prequel, only to fall short by miles. Miller and Miles-what a combination I've found there! Furiosa has some brilliant action blocks that leave you in thrills, but we are used to them since Miller served us the same dish in 2015, which was fresh and new back then. Today, it felt repetitive, and again, the writing dried out in the first half only.
A young Furiosa is abducted from her homeland, known as an abundance place, by members of the Horde of the Biker Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). He trades her with Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), the leader of the Citadel, in exchange for food, water, and oil. Years later, Dememtus' people are turned rogue and are on the verge of killing each other due to a shortage of food and oil, and he demands an increase in supply from Joe. Growing up, Furiosa seeks revenge and is trained as a warrior and a soldier by Jack. Will she be able to finish Dementus and save herself from Joe?
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a lengthy revenge saga that feels too stretched in the second half. It was a simple revenge drama, unnecessarily pulled to the point where it became a boring saga. There are flaws. Yes, many of them. One such flaw was Furiosa leaving Dementus hanging on the machine when she could have easily killed him. It takes her the next 30 minutes to repeat a similar attack, and that too without a left hand. That seemed too silly for a revenge drama in 2024. A similar mistake was made in the beginning when young Furiosa returned for her mother as if she were going to save her, abandoning her own mother's orders and plans. Towards the end, we hear about a 40-day war of wasteland, but unfortunately, the screenplay writer and director both did not bother to show us that, which could have been the grandest action sequence in the entire movie. On the positive side, we have terrific action blocks at the pre-climax and pre-interval points that deserve to be seen on a large screen format like IMAX.
Anya Taylor-Joy finally appears in the movie after the first hour is over. That's less screen time compared to what Christ has here, and the funny thing is that the movie is titled after her name, Furiosa. Anyway, she was good in her role. It was unlikely to see her in gorgeous and glamorous avatars, but let me tell you, she did look scary enough with the black rubbing on her forehead. Chris Hemsworth plays an antagonist with humor. His English, his accent, his actions, his decisions-everything is somewhat immature, yet he feels dangerous. The make-up was visible in how they wanted to make him look a little different from the actual Chris. Lachy Hulme as Immorta Joe is the most frightening face in Furiosa, and I wish he had more screen space (which wasn't possible because he played the main villain in the sequel). Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, John Howard, Charlee Fraser, Angus Sampson, Jacob Tomuri, Daniel Webber, and others have done pretty okay in the supporting roles.
Simon Duggan has provided excellent cinematography for Furiosa: A Mad Max. We see some close angles that take your breath away, while those dusty and speedy chase sequences put your eyes at work by not letting your attention move anywhere. The background score goes too loud in some scenes, but the rest of the time it was pretty good. Furiosa follows a similar set design as Mad Max Fury Road, or rather a little dull comparatively, but it looks lavish and grand. The first frame of Charlee Fraser (Mary), when she rides away to save her daughter, and the camera goes wide and backwards to show us the full picturesque design of an abundance place. The same could have been done during the war sequence, but... they missed it. The visual effects are good, and IMAX viewing is mandatory in order to have a close look at those beautiful visuals. George Miller is widely known for the Mad Max franchise, and he has made it popular globally. Moreover, the Mad Max franchise has given him popularity all over the world. None of his other films are that kind of mad action movie, nor do any of his other films have a similar impact as Mad Max 2 and Fury Road. If you see the pattern, he has made one memorable film and then gone down with the next movie. Fury Road was a peak point, and so Furiosa is, what can I say, a step or two lower than the standard he set for himself and us viewers. He could have made it better, much sharper, faster, and more entertaining. If you are expecting the same magic as Fury Road, then you'll be disappointed. If not, you have a decent watch.
RATING - 5/10*
Atlas (2024)
Human intelligence and artificial intelligence sync well in this explosive sci-fi action saga
Atlas (2024) :
Movie Review -
Atlas, starring Jennifer Lopez, brings Brad Peyton back in action. One must realize that Jlo on stage is different, and Jlo on screen is different. The stage one will always be far superior, and the on-screen Jlo may not go well with many cine-viewers. Atlas is Peyton's version of Transformers and Avatar clashing with each other in an AI-driven futuristic universe. The disaster lover Peyton goes dystopian but brings more emotions and explosions alongside his regular mainstream tantrums of entertainment. Jlo fit well in the suit; I don't know how, and I did not even expect it, but it happened, and for our own good. Lopez immerses herself in the character, and despite that "you are looking old" taunt, she manages to look fit and somewhat sexy without any skin exposed. In short, Atlas makes a fairly entertaining watch for action-drama lovers who can digest some holy-smokin theories of a futuristic AI world.
The film begins with Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez) waking up in an AI-driven world and speaking to even more superior software than Alexa. She is a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, which was caused by a painful trauma in her childhood. What's that? We get to know later, of course. Harlan (Simu Liu) is an AI robot who has been planning to wipe out humanity and bring new mankind into this world for years. Colonel Banks (Sterling K. Brown) is off to find him and destroy him, but he needs someone intelligent like Atlas to be with him. Atlas believes that she should be on this mission because she knows Harlan better than anybody else could and that he is smarter than any of them humans. She joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. When plans go awry, her only hope of saving the future of humanity from AI is to trust it and go in for 100% syncing.
In exactly two hours, Atlas hardly has any larger-than-life theory in its storyline. It's simple, and in this case, that helps. You can't get too complicated with AI theories because that's totally fictional and might cause the audience to lose human connect. Atlas keeps things pacy and engaging, so you don't really want to move from your sofa. As expected, it gets a bit dramatic and cliched by the end, but not to the level of a headache. Shepherd's physical and emotional connect with Smith, the AI suit, is typically sorted, but you feel their bonding. The friendship is there, and we, as humans, can't hate that thing ever. It may remind you of Stephen Lang's colonel Miles from Cameron's "Avatar" (2009), with the only difference being that he was an antagonist, and here Shepherd is in the positive role.
Jennifer Lopez has surprised me with her acting skills here. I guess many of you will agree with me when I say that her discography is much better than her filmography. Her singing and dancing skills are better than her acting skills. Despite being a firm believer in these two things, I liked her as an actor in this film. Now you can imagine the impact she has created here. Those emotionally tormenting scenes were too good. The neural sync with Smith was definitely amazing. I didn't fall for her hot figure and face, but her personality and tech-savvy conversations really won me over. Simu Liu made a perfect villain, but his screen space was too low. It happens with many non-human villains; they are deadly, but they can't be like humans. Sterling K. Brown played a fine colonel, and so did Mark Strong. Abraham Popoola's Casca Robo was fairly good, and Lana Parrilla did an excellent job in her small role.
Talking about action, Atlas isn't an upgraded flick or too modern about it, but it definitely has those traditional set pieces that you enjoy on any off day. I think they could have made the futuristic war weapons more dangerous and lethal rather than just using an ION bomb and fire shots. Simu's use of the Rings MCU looked far more futuristic than the sword he used here as a robot in the future world. Also, the film lacks some heavy punchlines. Maybe because there was no male protagonist. The macho stuff was missing; even though Smith added something of its own, it wasn't enough. The explosions were entertaining and pleasant. The production design and background score were okay. Atlas' camerawork doesn't offer anything new since it is set in an AI world; all we have are those same close-ups during fight sequences and top views of forests, robots, and fighter planes. Those who know Brad Peyton for Journey 2, San Andreas, and Rampage will get what they are looking for here. He just changed the world, not his ideas. He may be stuck to them, but that's fairly enough to pass your two hours on Netflix.
RATING - 6/10*
Oopiri (2016)
Vamshi Paidipally's well-attempted copy-paste of the French flick "The Intouchables," despite not being his territory.
Oopiri (2016) :
Brief Review -
Vamshi Paidipally gets out of his territory for a well-attempted copy-paste of the French flick "The Intouchables." Vamshi Paidipally gets out of his territory for a well-attempted copy-paste of the French flick "The Intouchables." Vamshi, known for action and masala movies, entered a different territory with Oopiri/Thozha. He could dare because it was easier to borrow an acclaimed film than make a fresh one. One of the biggest plus points for the French flick was having a white man with a black man, giving it a racism boost to align social notions with humanity. Oopiri couldn't do it. The only thing it could do was have a rich man and a poor man. That was too outdated. Next, the humor wasn't intelligent. Of course, Telugu and Tamil audiences wouldn't understand that. For them, Vamshi's attempt to create a sensible film was a welcome change from his usual masala flicks. Tamannaah was a perfect choice. She looked breathtaking. I mean, gorgeous as hell/heaven (mind the expression). Having Karthi opposite her somehow made things comparable to what The Intouchables did with a black man and a sext secretary. Nagarjuna was the leading man and did fine, but nothing extraordinary. The one change I saw in the film was Anushka Shetty's character. In the original flick (which was inspired by true characters), the man had lost his wife in that accident, so the trauma was even more difficult to forget. Here, we have the same old cliche of a disabled man avoiding a beautiful girl to stop her from doing her injustice. "Love Affair" established that conflict back in 1937-79 years before Vamshi could use it (not to mention so many remakes of that iconic romance). Oopiri borrows enough to make you smile and bring tears to your eyes, so it makes a decent remake, if not great. Since Tamil and Telugu people are not heavily exposed to international cinema, I can understand why they overhyped Oopiri. No complaints; it was better than the other outdated masala stuff they usually overrate.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.
The Tin Star (1957)
Mann's Western teaches about gunfighting beyond "shooting," as the man learns the power of "The Tin Star."
The Tin Star (1957) :
Brief Review -
Mann's Western teaches about gunfighting beyond "shooting," as the man learns the power of "The Tin Star." Anthony Mann's westerns are always driven by machoism, far from temporary effects. The man in his movies is like an idol. Here, we have two for a change. One is experienced, and the other is learning. However, by the end, the learned one learns something from the learning one, while the learning one has learned his lessons. Doesn't that sound amazing to you? Even while writing/reading, it feels so magical, no? So, The Tin Star sees a bounty hunter, Morgan Hickman, arrive in a small town to collect a reward for a man's killing. The town has a newly appointed sheriff with no gun experience or any other skills except morals. The new sheriff, Ben, is saved by Morgan from a hooligan in the town, and then Ben asks him to stay and teach him about gunfighting. "There is more to gun fighting than just gun and shooting," says Morgan, and we men feel so proud of it. If you don't, you ain't a man-a real one, I mean. While Ben is learning his lessons, two Indian shooters kill a couple of the town's men, and then a mob is off to kill them. Ben, being morally obsessed, wants to catch those Indians alive and give them a fair trial. Will it be possible for an inexperienced fella against the mob? Mann's Western is about a man learning about morals and one major thing that comes out of Morgan's mouth: "the job." Where he went, why did he go? We don't get those answers, and it was bleak too, but it doesn't matter much. The point is that Morgan and Ben have both learned something that's beyond guns and shooting. Talk about versatility, and see how Fonda did The Tin Star and 12 Angry Men in the same year. Anthony Perkins was top-notch, and so were the others. The cinematography and screenplay were both great. Mann's direction is superb, even though the last 10 minutes looked rushed.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Rob Reiner's tribute to Woody Allen's theories in a sophisticated manner.
When Harry Met Sally (1989) :
Brief Review -
Rob Reiner's tribute to Woody Allen's theories in a sophisticated manner. I don't know where it came to my mind, but almost every scene of Reiner's When Harry Met Sally reminded me of those Woody Allen's movies that spoke about romance, sex, and relationships. Allen was damn allegorical and brutal about it, whereas Reiner made it sort of sophisticated, that is, with the use of the sex word again and again and in more likely rom-com fashion. The outcome wasn't satisfying, hence the entire narrative and the entire process of those two characters knowing, liking, and avoiding each other went in vain. I mean, a happy ending wasn't something to look out for in the late 80s and definitely not appropriate for such a film, which was talking about relationships in intelligent and weird manners right from the beginning. "A man and a woman can never be friends" was the tagline, or rather, a question. Then why go mainstream and typical to find the answer? You were speaking of Casablanca (1942) having a great ending and the best last line for a movie ever, and you didn't learn anything from it? Did Casablanca have a happy ending? Imagine Ilsa running back to Rick instead of getting on the plane, and then they kiss and live happily ever after. Would that have made Casablanca iconic? A big and capital NO. Then don't tell me When Harry Met Sally is iconic or anywhere close to that. I'd have preferred a negative, or rather an intellectual, ending with Harry and Sally being friends forever and happily married to different partners. Harry was speaking about men, women, sex, bed, and love so frequently and easily, then what made him go dramatic and soft about it all of a sudden? We liked him that way, so don't destroy his image for us. Sally, too, was so smart, then became desperate and jealous of her own ideology. Enough said I guess, WHMS had its own high moments and its own dumb falls, so it's better to call it a decent-to-good watch, especially after watching so much of Allen Cinema.
RATING - 6.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Bull Durham (1988)
A decent baseball sex comedy for a minor-league audience.
Bull Durham (1988) :
Brief Review -
A decent baseball sex comedy for a minor-league audience. Bull Durham is a funny sex comedy that lacks depth in the storytelling and enough substance to be called one of the "AFI's 100 years 100 laughs" list movies, so I'd like to kick an aas of the man who put it there. A movie genius like Kevin Costner was made a sex doll and I don't mind seeing a handsome and sexually appealing man like getting a sexy role, but where is the genuineness? He was halfly paired with Susan Sarandon, a woman, who is even worse than sex doll or a female ascot. I thought, why would a sensible man like Crash (Costner) wait for a woman who is changing sex partners every baseball season? Wouldn't a half-brained man go for a new girl with less bed records? Then, you have to think about the entire movie as a comedy, a sex comedy to be more precise, and then you start enjoying it for a while. Then, you have to forget the whole thing again and get serious about life changing theories, baseball theories, sexual theories and those intellectual quotes that meant nothing to the whole storyline. Wasn't it contradicting the entire plot again? That was the mess this film couldn't get out and it feels more messy with that wannabe intellectual and emotional ending, throwing some bitter life facts on two people who didn't care about it in the first place but are now kneeling down before it. This would make a fine comedy for minor-league audiences who aren't familiar with other cult comedies made over the period of 6 decades before Bull Durham was made. It was for the contemporary cinema lovers, and worked decently according to that. However, i still feel it had a larger potential, which got wasted amidst sex show. Overall, a decent "show" for baseball lovers-not Costner lovers because he has had better films and real classics to his name. Still, it's funny enough to spend 110 minutes.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Hoosiers (1986)
A basketball film with all your favorite cliches that you cannot really miss.
Hoosiers (1986) :
Brief Review -
A basketball film with all your favorite cliches that you cannot really miss. It so happens that I had to watch one of the worst sports films ever and one of the best sports films on the same day, back-to-back. The worst one is Challengers (2024), and the latter is, of course, Hoosiers (1986). It isn't a classic tale for me, but it's a close call. Maybe because the 80s had a classic like Chariots of Fire (1981) that dealt with a sensitive topic. Hoosiers was much lighter and somewhat funny too. Recently, Taika Waititi made "Next Goal Wins" (2023), and now I can say it was so similar to this one. Factually speaking, both are inspired by true events, so my statement does not make any sense. However, the similarities are too close to be overlooked. Anyway, David Anspaugh didn't know that Waititi was going to make a similar film after 37 years, with a higher amount of humor and comedy. That's what's missing here, maybe. Set in the early 1950s, Hoosiers tells the story of basketball coach Norman Dale, who is appointed to coach the local rural team, Hickory, in Indiana. With his techniques and sort of unfriendly gestures, he makes a hell of a team, but it turns everyone against him. He is given another chance, and then he brings never-before-seen glory to Hickory. That's a practical story with an engaging screenplay that has every cliche from the textbook. Rather, I'd say some of them were born here. They keep you on the edge of seats, and you hardly have a moment to get up and walk except in some of those slow moments. That could have been avoided, but that'd be like asking too much of debutant David Anspaugh. He has done very well for a newcomer and has almost made a must-see basketball coaching film for ages to come. The performances were fine, but a few unwanted features like romance, drunken dad, and all that could have been avoided.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Frenzy (1972)
A pure directorial masterclass by Alfred Hitchcock. Watch out for the utterly devastating and sub-divisional climax
Frenzy (1972) :
Brief Review -
A pure directorial masterclass by Alfred Hitchcock. Watch out for the utterly devastating and sub-divisional climax. Frenzy happens to be one of the last outright thrillers directed by Hitchcock, who has had a glorious run in this genre. It wasn't like anything he hadn't done or that suspenseful, but the framework and his directorial skills were much more advanced this time. All the mystery and suspense stuff was done and dusted with almost a decade ago, so he challenged himself as a director to see the same old things in a new way. That new look and those new lenses are what make Frenzy a must-watch thriller for Hitchcock fans. Also, there is a devastating climax, which appears only for half a minute, and then a typical ending, but the gasping and subdivided effect you feel in that one moment are indeed surreal. It was going to be a dark ending, with some noir stuff used by many film noirs in the 40s and 50s. Unlike them, we don't have a devastating or sad ending, which I personally think would have been better, but it might not have done well with the majority of audiences. Frenzy is also a very sexually and psychologically advanced film by Hitchcock's standards. Not because of nudity, since we have seen that in many films, but because of the way he used those disturbing graphics with a dark background score. The film is about a serial killer who rapes women and then kills them with a necktie. With Alfred at his best, we are fooled by a deception with the first character, followed by a revelation that the murderer is a different man. How to prove it is the main theme here, which also resembles "The Wrong Man" theme. The performances are good, the sexual intensity is high, the screenplay is engaging, the camera work is brilliant, the background score is thrilling, and last but not least, the Hitchcock touch. The director really tried something different with the same old story, and you can feel the change in the wind. Do experience it.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
One of the biggest nostalgia for 90s kids in gender-bending comedy! All hail Robin Williams.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) :
Brief Review -
One of the biggest nostalgia for 90s kids in gender-bending comedy! All hail Robin Williams. This man has had classics and better movies than this, and even a few much more character-driven roles than this, but I tell you, whenever we 90s kids speak about nostalgia about a particular character and that too in a gender-bending comedy, Robin Williams will top the list. What he has done here may be a dream, even for Oscar winners. He has done Dead Poet's Society, Good Morning, Vietnam, Jumanji, and also lent his voice to the iconic Genie in Disney's classic Aladdin, but Mrs. Doubtfire beats them all when it comes to a character with a never-ending impact on 90s kids. The character is based on a fantastic metaphor, actually. I don't know how many of you noticed. A man who couldn't make his woman happy made her happy after becoming a woman. Children weren't bothered much, and that's some silly idea too, to make it look like they think it's a "real character," except the 5-year-old. But even with that flaw, the character stood out brilliantly. Again, some jealousy part was childish too, when you think of a character who is mature enough to understand his place and say, "I'll wait outside." The film could have overcome these few mistakes, but who cares when Robin is running riot on the screen and there is so much fun going on? That happy birthday dinner scene alone is enough to call Mrs. Doubtfire a superb comedy. The inspection scene too, and how freaking, madly amazing Williams was in it. The character comes out as a shock, but never scares you. Rather, it feels warm and cute. That's the power of writing and the actor's conviction skills. "Carpe Dentum. Seize the teeth!" Humour crossed all the limits there. Not to forget the use of old Hollywood actors and movies. Wilder's classic "Some Like It Hot" may be the greatest comedy ever made on a gender-bending theme, but the greatest character will always belong to Mrs. Doubtfire. If you DOUBT it, I'll set your aas on FIRE. I mean it!
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
La planète sauvage (1973)
A French-Czech sci-fi animation that captures enough to compare itself with three giants together: "Planet of the Apes" (1968), "Star Wars" (1977), and "Avatar" (2009).
Fantastic Planet (1973) :
Brief Review -
A French-Czech sci-fi animation that captures enough to compare itself with three giants together: "Planet of the Apes" (1968), "Star Wars" (1977), and "Avatar" (2009). By the headline, you must have gotten the idea of what I am talking about. Planet of the Apes is a cult classic that deals with a sci-fi idea set in the future where apes are torturing humans. On the other hand, Star Wars is a sci-fi phenomenon that takes us into alien nations and their flights into space. Believe it or not, Fantastic Planet actually manages to capture enough portions of both films in a single narrative and succeeds in making even a larger picture within 70 minutes. That doesn't mean it's better or even as good as those two Hollywood classics. It's just that the film manages to think about two films at one time and then creates a sensational animation of its own. It's easier to get such things done in animation format since layouts and designs can be of any shape you want. Fantastic Planet's animated characters are somewhat different from other animation films you have seen, be they Disney or others. It's an alien idea, and so it deserves some alien concepts in art design. What you see there is completely unexpected and unseen. Having humans as a play doll for aliens is already an out-of-the-box office thing, and then you see a civil war between them, driven by fictional weapons. It also has that mating session coming out of the box to blow you away. That necklace, remote, mediation, and all that is so creative and so crazy to think about in a sci-fi genre. Then there is a big war, and it's amazing too. René Laloux made his Avatar way before James Cameron could make his. Laloux made an animated feature with a limited scale and vision, while Cameron went larger than life with his magnum opus. As a whole, it's a freaking brilliant and sensational animation film for its time.
RATING - 7.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Robin Hood (1973)
The iconic tale of Robin Hood in Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Robinhood (1973) :
Brief Review -
The iconic tale of Robin Hood in Disney's Animal Kingdom. Having seen Douglas Fairbanks' "Robin Hood" (1922) and Errol Flynn's "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), there was nothing surprising in the story or screenplay for me. Disney's adaptation still has its own magic as it explores the same iconic tale with a midas touch of amusement park. This is set in an animal kingdom, with the leader being a fox. Robin Hood is robbing Prince John, who is making people penniless with his oppressive taxation while King Richard is away, to return it to the poor. The heartless sheriff is after poor people like the devil and wants to catch Robin Hood. Maid Marian is waiting for Robin Hood to come and propose to her for marriage, but it's been far too long since they have met each other. Robin Hood enters a ln arrow competition to win Marian's kiss, unaware of the fact that the competition was John's conspiracy to grab him. Robin Hood escapes and then returns to save others. In 70 minutes, Robinhood gives you drama, romance, adventure, music, and action. That's enough for a one-time meal, and you won't even burp. Disney's Animal Kingdom is visually beautiful and theoretically adorable. The practical sense is missing, but book yes about it when you know you are into Disney's amusing park. It's all fiction and fanaticism, and we love it that way only. Some dialogues work fine, while others are flat. The same goes for the songs, and I think the romance could have been trimmed. John and Robin Hood's battle could have been given more space. The idea is fascinating-to get everything done in a quick time and in such a manner that kids and adults both find it cute. Those who have heard of this story will feel nostalgia, while those who want to know it will get nostalgia for a lifetime.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
The Garfield Movie (2024)
This Cheesy Story of Garfield is As Sweet As Orange Candy
The Garfield Movie (2024) :
Movie Review -
Mark Dindal is here with the orange-flavored, catty-sweety animation flick called The Garfield Movie. Let's see, what are the basics of getting an animated feature right? A good story, enough emotions, some comedy, adorable characters, and beautiful visuals, right? Garfield's family story has it all. Coming in summer makes it a perfect entertainer for children, who don't belong to concept-driven animated flicks. This sweet orange candy has enough spice and cheese to wet your tongue, just like that smart doggie in the film, so you better book a recliner sofa, just like Garfield does in the film, but without a remote, and enjoy this popcorn entertainer in cinemas near you.
The film tells the story of a little cat named Garfield, who is abandoned by his father on a stormy, rainy night. Jon adopts him and takes him home, and they grow close to each other. Jon and Garfield have another pet, Odie, a dim-witted dog who is smarter than you think. After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father, a street cat named Vic, the pet dog Garfield, and his canine friend Odie are forced to perform a high-stakes heist of milk. How can this risky operation go well when this father-son duo is not getting along well with each other? Will some secrets from the past bring them close and make this heist successful?
Based on Jim Davis' Garfield, The Garfield Movie is a fun-filled film right from the beginning. The way Garfield eats, the way he lives, the way he spends his day, and his I-am-the-kimg attitude-everything tickles your funny bones. There are funky vibes to the background score that elevate Garfield's persona, and you start liking him more. The Odie is too sweet already, but Vic makes you fall in love with him by the end, when a lot is discovered from his life. It's that typical Pixar drama, not coming from Pixar. Whatever.. there are more punches, more comedy, and more cuteness in this Monday-hater cat's world.
Chris Pratt and Samuel L. Jackson's hate-me-love-me banter is verbally and expressionally adorable, and you must give credit to them for their perfect voicing. The rest of the voice cast, including Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, Bowen Yang, and Snoop Dogg, were fine with their roles. It's not as much of a voice-over-driven film as you might think because we don't know how cats, an ox, and other animals would sound in a cinematic world. Yet, one has to give them applause for convincing us that those human voices were coming out of creatures.
The Garfield movie has pretty decent visuals, but the 3D viewing isn't necessary. It happens with many animated movies, but with this one, it's clearly visible how unnecessary those specs were. The production design is fantastic and fascinating. You will love those nuances, be it the house, Catflix, Odie's movements in the background, kidnapping, pinecake, cheese factory, deadly but color-changing meow, heist, rescue on the top of a running train, and that blue one-horned Ox and his pink sweetheart. It's tremendously creative for a run-of-the-mill story and the characters it has. Thankfully, the emotional quotient comes to boost the so-so story in the ending, and we literally end up with one or two drops of tears, if not a river like Garfield does in the adoption scene. The film slips a bit down in the middle but covers the loss with an even better conclusion portion in the last quarter. Mark Dindal uses 90 minutes (excluding end credits) to deliver an engaging, adventurous family drama that is worth your time and money. Go, enjoy a piece of cheese pizza along with a piece of cheese-loving cat's sweet tale.
RATING - 6/10*
Silver Lode (1954)
Allan Dwan's underrated and misunderstood western gem
Silver Lode (1954) :
Brief Review -
Allan Dwan's underrated and misunderstood western gem. I wasn't aware that a film with similar effects as "Ox Bow Incident" (1943) was made in the 1950s and almost became a gem of a film. John Payne was no John Wayne, so forget about the lead being impactful, but I am really in love with the script. The film is about Dan, who is arrested on his wedding day (which also happens to be 4th July), and asks for two hours to prove his innocence. The charges against him are murder and theft of $20,000, which is more than enough to hang him. Marshall McCarthy has brought all the papers, and they are in order, but he is more into revenge on his brother than arrest and justice. Between these two hours, the entire town goes against Dan, as several killings are blamed on him. It goes up to the mob-lynching stage, and then Dan has to do some killings to prove his innocence. It's an intelligent film despite its quick-go and far-fetched conflicts that take place one after another during one hour. The only two people who believe in Dan are his soon-to-be wife and a bar dancer who loves him. They help him in the process of getting a message sent to the US marshal, but by that time, it's too late. The climax sees Dan standing in a jam, up against McCarthy and the entire town, which used to respect him an hour ago. That's how the human mindset changes within a few minutes. A moment ago, they used to respect him, and a moment later, they wanted to kill him. The performances and production are quite so-so, while the direction seemed fine. The film deserved better dialogues and a better score. Nevertheless, the story and screenplay themselves make it a MUST WATCH. I can't believe this was called "misfire" by contemporary critics and has remained so underrated for years. I personally liked it very much and would recommend it to others.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
If.... (1968)
Some ridiculous student revolution drama
If (1968) :
Brief Review -
Some ridiculous student revolution drama. If is a somewhat funny, totally radical, and extremely out-of-the box film. The use of black and white frames is understandable as it defines the fantasizing world of that particular character, but how vulgar and absurd it is sometimes. If is a very complex film too. It took me a while to understand the character and what was going on, and then I realized that nothing was actually going on. It was more like a boring and simple plot that only spoke about school bullying and violence. In one scene, the two friends ride on a bike to a cafe, and one of them tries to kiss the girl who owns it. She slaps him, and the next moment she goes to him and says, "I like tigers," and they kiss wild, and the boy fantasizes a naked fight with her. It was totally out of my mind. What would that girl have to do with school bullying and why would she join them in a violent act? I couldn't find any answers to these questions, yet they passed through my eyes on the screen. Was that rebellious behavior really needed? I asked myself and found no logic or answers. If had hooked me, but at a low rate. I was taking my eyes off the screen many times and feeling bored. Those 110 minutes felt like 150 minutes, and there was no entertainment or comedy either. The graphical sexuality and violence were close enough to be compared to other such films from the same time. McDowell himself was in "A Clockwork Orange," which has similar disturbing graphics. Here, he led the show and was involved in almost every scene passionately. Richard Warwick and David Wood were fine. Christine Noonan played the girl with a sexy hairdo. David Sherwin's screenplay was intense but too dark and slow, while Lindsay Anderson's direction was unconvincing, just like the entire film. I don't know what others found good in it. It certainly didn't fit in my book.
RATING - 5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Animal Farm (1954)
A sweet little animal satirical fantasy that explores human-life political problems.
Animal Farm (1954) :
Brief Review -
A sweet little animal satirical fantasy that explores human-life political problems. Joy Batchelor and Joy Halas direct a well-known adaptation of the satirical novel with human-driven conflicts. Political ambitions, tyranny, and greed have been human-society issues forever, but have you ever thought about them making waves in the animal world? Let's step into Animal Farm's world, then. Animals at Animal Manor are oppressed by a human owner, and one night they decide to fight against it. They take charge of the place and name it "Animal Farm," where the eternal slogan is "All animals are equal." While one of the pigs is thinking about the future and trying to feed other animals with education, the other jealous one takes over the farm and starts his dictatorship. All the animals work more and eat less, except for pigs. The pig leader expands his business and becomes rich, leaving other animals working under him as poor slaves. This is a simple plot, which again follows the same old method of mutiny. We have seen it in hundreds of films, but they were led by humans. Here, it's the animal world. It makes things allegorical by adding human conflicts to their fantasy world and making us believe in the consequences of greed and selfishness. While doing so, it hardly takes 70 minutes, but the narrative still looks a bit stretched. Why were those animals tolerating the Pig Napoleon's orders for years? It should have been a few days, or maybe months, not years. The screenplay lost some of its credibility there, while the rest of the show was highly convincing. Joy Batchelor and Joy Halas' film could have been motivational and easily added some social speeches to leave kids with good thoughts. Instead, it decided to remain a cute and sweet little entertainer without any heavy rocks. You'll notice and enjoy many adorable scenes here, just like you'd imagine while reading storybooks in childhood. This one is like a childhood fascination, if nothing more.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Artists and Models (1955)
What Fukrey attempted in 2013, Martin and Lewis had done 6 decades ago, and so much better.
Artists and Models (1955) :
Brief Review -
What Fukrey attempted in 2013, Martin and Lewis had done 6 decades ago, and so much better. Remember that silly dream coming to reality idea? What they called it, "Deja Vu," or "Deja Chu," in Fukrey, was somehow born here in 1955 with Artists and Models. The rest of the script differs, though. One more thing: Fukrey attempts childish humor through a grown-up character who is accompanied by a much smarter and more mature character. See, even that was born here, maybe. Forget the comparison because we are talking about a film that was made 7 decades ago and had a much better impact on contemporary audiences. Artists and Models is the 14th film of the Martin and Lewis duo, and they both are on a roll here. They were slightly late for that duo or team tag that time since the likes of Marx Bros, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, and a few others were already making waves all over. Coming back to this film, I feel this one has remained underrated due to its highly generous and colorful humor. Eugene sees highly unimaginative dreams, and Rick is fed up with his childish behavior. Eugene meets a bat lady and falls in love, not knowing her real identity, or rather, not being mature enough to understand it. The bat lady's roommate and Rick begin a sweet romance, and they are all linked to each other in some way or another, but mainly because of their jobs as artists. Rick uses Eugene's dreams to make money, but shockingly, all those turn out to be true and become a scientific threat to the nation's security. Will Rick be able to save Eugene when the enemies are on the hunt? Basically, it's a totally crazy film. It's what they used to call it, "Madcap." The dialogues, songs and characters are all funny, visually beautiful, and sexy. Frank Tashlin's Vista Vision musical comedy is crazy enough to be called one of the finest madcap and riotous comedies from the 1950s, if you ever really cared about real gems from the genre or ever understood them. Watch it, and you won't regret some mad fun.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Babes in Arms (1939)
Child artists rule the show in a sensible drama based on Vaudeville against roaring talkies.
Babes in Arms (1939) :
Brief Review -
Child artists rule the show in a sensible drama based on Vaudeville against roaring talkies. Mickey Rooney has been a part of some great movies as a child artist, but as a performer, this one is one of his best roles ever. He has shown that talent does not limit itself to age. The entire film rides on his shoulders, and he has done an amazing job. That scene when he mimics Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore shows what high-level acting skills he has. Simply phenomenal and unbelievable for an actor of that age. Judy Garland was on the verge of becoming a star, and 1939 has to be the greatest year of her career. The iconic The Wizard of Oz came in the same year, and Judy stole the limelight from many experienced actresses. Show them Babes in Arms. How good she is here-not as a confused child but as a teenage lover and yet so mature. The film deals with several issues, and some of them were so relatable and real. Troupers really had a bad time after the arrival of Talkie-Sensation, and they were out of business. Well, income and business were one thing, but they were out of the only thing they were good at in their lives. Their kids, who thought that they belonged to the entertainment business and had enough talent to survive, had to go to academic society and give up their passions. It was a burden for one generation that they didn't want the next generation to carry, and this argument created indifferences between them. It wasn't easy for parents and for the children, but they both had to go along with it. This film manages to put all those things in a mild format, adding some romantic comedy touch and a Ziegfeld kind of grandeur in the end. Such a beautiful film on such a beautiful topic, and yet it has remained underrated for years. Maybe they didn't know the magic and importance of Vaudeville. Sad.
RATING - 7.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
May I put my best cop comedy ever on the table? It beats The Pink Panther and Beverly Hills Cop
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988) :
Brief Review -
May I put my best cop comedy ever on the table? It beats The Pink Panther and Beverly Hills Cop. It's one of those films where we say, Those were the days. Those were the days when they used to serve comedy in an absurd manner but still left us in splits. The Naked Gun (1988) is one such film that should be ranked amongst the best comedies. It also has that screwball romance from the old Hollywood days. The film is about a funny officer, Frank, who destroys almost all things and even people with his every action, yet he is the best cop in the business. He is taken on the job for the safety of Queen Elizabeth, who is coming on a tour in his city, while a mastermind killer is all prepped with his super-tech weapon. During the investigation, Frank Drebin meets a beautiful lady, Jane, and they get intimate. Despite his affection for her, Frank suspects her of a conspiracy because, for him, the nation and duty are always first. "Women and cops don't mix," he says. Will he be able to find the killer and save the queen? So, it's a decent script, boosted by a brilliant screenplay. The film is a little over 80 minutes and makes sure that 60 minutes out of that go into keeping you gaggling. It succeeds in doing so, and I think 60 minutes of continuous laughter is more than enough for any human. It's actually more or quite the same amount as your favourite cult comedies. But yes, let me warn you that it is a very vulgar film, and I have no problem if you call it an adult comedy. There are many scenes that talk about or display private organs and private activities, but all in very funny manners. Leslie Nielsen rocks the show single-handedly, and I'm sure he will make you forget Jacque Clousue and Axel Foley. Priscilla Presley looks damn attractive, while the supporting cast is entertaining. David Zucker has made perhaps the best cop comedy of all time. Do not miss.
RATING - 7.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
The Blues Brothers (1980)
John Landis strikes again. Drop everything, and LET'S ROCK!
The Blues Brothers (1980) :
Brief Review -
John Landis strikes again. Drop everything, and LET'S ROCK! In the first 20 minutes, I was getting bored of The Blues Brothers and couldn't make out what was going on. Two brothers (one out of jail) want to restart their band to help poor children. Ok, so what's so much in that? There is nothing in that storyline or particular thought, but see how messy the characters are and how funny they look being imperfect. The Blues Brothers is a rock-n-roll type of film from the early 80s that also has some silent-era comedy motions. Those walks and several punches reminded me of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton's silent comedies. It's a fun film, alright, but it's somewhat slow too. Those slow moments are covered by several other funny moments, especially the entire chase sequence in the climax, followed by a musical number. The pre-interval block, too, has a fantastic musical number that forces you to tap your feet. The rock-n-roll generation was definitely served right there, and the adults also had something to look at as a family comedy. There is no vulgarity like in other Landis movies; no abusive words; no sex scenes or affairs. The only affair we see is driven by revenge. Cute Carrie Fisher plays a peculiar but dangerous girl who is trying to kill Elwood right from the first scene. In the end, we know why, and then there is a cute little fun banter between Dan and Carrie. Dan Aykroyd has done the unimaginable. I couldn't expect a guy to be so cool, calm, composed, and a musical powerhouse. What energy he has shown in the Palace Hotel number scene! You will vibe to his numbers, for sure. John Belushi is a rock star, truly. This film mostly belongs to him, and no one can deny that. The supporting cast has done a notable job. Animal House, The Blues Brothers, and An American Werewolf in London-three back-to-back memorable comedies. What did you eat Landis dear?
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Bad Boys II (2003)
The budget increased, not the quality. Yet, fairly good.
Bad Boys 2 (2003) :
Brief Review -
Bad Boys 2 got almost 6x the budget of its prequel, Bad Boys (1995), and was a longer film too, but the quality? Oh, don't ask that. We can cut that shiit and get back to entertainment. Yes, BB 2 has some crazy car action sequences and witless banter between Marcus and Mike, but it isn't funny enough compared to the first film. Mike and Marcus are off to bust a drug racket, but the opponent leader has quite a strong record against the cops. He has fooled them many times before, so all they need is strong evidence against him. While Mike and Marcus are planning to bust into his house and get the evidence, Marcus' cop sister is doing her part as an undercover agent turned the leader's girlfriend. As expected, M & M get what they want, but the sister, who also happens to be Mike's girlfriend, is in the bad guy's custody. Meanwhile, Marcus had made plans to part ways with his partner, Mike, who still believes in "We ride together. We die together. Bad boys for life." The entire department turns into their aides, and we have a long and big action sequence in the climax. As mentioned earlier, the comedy is weak, mostly because the banter between two buddies lacks humour and wit. Bad Boys 1 ended with Julie and Mike getting handcuffed together, so I wonder what happened to Julie. There was no mention of her in this film. It just started off like a fresh film altogether. The scripting is fine, but the film is 15 minutes longer. That doesn't mean it's boring. It's a tight shiit alright. Lawrence and Smith save the day, and thankfully they get the maximum screen space. Jordi Mollà, as the new baddie, is decent, while Gabrielle Union, as a female cop, was okayish. Michael saved the bay with enough light from his signature explosion scenes and terrific action. Overall, a good flick but a step down from the predecessor.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Aavesham (2024)
Fahadh Faasil runs riot in the new-age gangster comedy of the season
Aavesham (2024) :
Brief Review -
Fahadh Faasil runs riot in the new-age gangster comedy of the season. I don't understand Malayalam, but as one of the lines in the ending credit song goes, I'd say: Fahadh Faasil proved that he can be as hot as the sun and as cool as the moon in the same character. What a phenomenal actor he is. He deserves characters like this, Ranga, to be written for him where he can go all out and wild. Aavesham is a gangster comedy that also explores the sensitive side of the main character. Looking at his back, we all know him as a dangerous and violent man, but do we know what's happening to him from the front? That's a metaphor, actually. Gangsters could be soft from the backside, which nobody ever sees, or rather, the gangsters don't want to show that side to keep their reputation. All we see is his anger and negative side, showcased on his face. With positive characters, it's the other way around. Fahadh Faasil plays Ranga, a dangerous and rich gangster who befriends 3 college boys at the bar. The boys need his help to stop getting bullied by the seniors' gang, and Ranga does what they want. However, after a while, the boys realise that friendship and spending time with Ranga are affecting their studies and image in society. Will they be able to get away from him after using him for their benefit? Faasil is in riot mode here, and a special mention goes to the consume designer, the writer who wrote this character and background score, which elevated his screen presence. The screenplay is extremely engaging, as situational songs carry the story forward with those pacy raps and all. The comedy factor helps it to keep us entertained, and then there is an emotional quotient in the ending portion, which reflects two different sides of human nature. Jithu Madhavan has shown the Malayalam cinema, or to be more precise, the Indian cinema, how to make a new-age gangster comedy with the right context. I just don't believe you can miss it.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Big Fish (2003)
A Tim Burton Human Fantasy CLASSIC that you'd want to recommend to children and grandchildren
Big Fish (2003) :
Brief Review -
A Tim Burton Human Fantasy CLASSIC that you'd want to recommend to children and grandchildren. It happens rarely, but I really crave those moments when I write movie reviews with tears in my eyes. Big Fish is giving me that honor right this minute. I guess that sums up everything for you all who are reading it, so don't waste time reading it further and go, find this movie on the internet or anywhere you can, and just sit tight for 2 hours. I must thank Tim Burton for making this one. There are some films or some characters that leave you with a question or a wish: What if I could live such a life? Is it possible in reality? The answer should be no, but I am angry at myself. Why not?! "A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories." True that. Big Fish don't need your brain, but your heart. The big difference between metascore (58/100) and IMDb user ratings (8.0/10) will tell you why. If you try to find logic in it, then you'll be burned. If you just go with the flow and believe in this fantasy, it will teach you a lot about real life. The film is about a father and son who have a feud over the father's habit of telling adventurous stories. The son likes them all in childhood but starts hating them all and his father too in his young days. When he returns to see his dying father, he begins to know him better through stories he has been telling for years. I tell you, they are all full of metaphors that can't be described in words because the capacity of understanding will be different for every single viewer. For instance, I personally liked that scene when he sees his death in the witch's eye. Logically, it should have made him sad, but metaphorically, it kills the fear of death in him. You just have to understand every single thing like this, no matter how fantastic, weird, and unimaginable it is. Burton had made a film that would transit a message from one generation to another and then the next one.. FOREVER.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest.