Latest DVD buys

1. The Billy Wilder DVD Collection
The Apartment
Avanti
The Fortune Cookie
Irma la Douce
Kiss Me Stupid
One Two Three
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Some Like It Hot
Witness for the Prosecution




II) The Ingmar Bergman Special Edition DVD Collection
Persona
Shame
Hour of the Wolf
The Passion of Anna
The Serpent's Egg

Both for $83.97 from deep discount DVDs.

Latest movie watched

Wife vs. Secretary (1936)

Nice movie which was entertaining with some great acting and writing & nice insights into human nature

Derailed (2005) Movie Review

Starring: Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston
Directed by:Mikael Hafstrom

----Spoilers included-------

Movie begins with quick introduction of Charles family, played by Clive Owen, who was a loving father, devoted husband and over-worked & stressed businessman. One fine day, suddenly, when he gets on the train he realizes that he doesn't have money for a ticket and then walks in the mysterious Lucinda, played by Jennifer Anniston, character who pays for his ticket. Days later, the two, having had lunch, dinner, gone to a bar, decides to have an affair, goes to a hotel & they were attacked & later blackmail & finally we will we will come to know that everything was preplanned. Since I watched so many other Derailed movies, this movie was not effective. Only good thing is Clive Owen's good performance and I felt Jennifer Aniston was a miss fit for the role. If you are a fan of Clive Owen, then you can watch it once or if you never watched earlier Derailed movies, then it is Ok watch else you can ignore this movie.

Latest DVD buys

1) The Bruce Lee Ultimate Collection

>>>
This collection of titles featuring the master of martial arts, Bruce Lee, includes THE BIG BOSS,
FIST OF FURY,
WAY OF THE DRAGON,
GAME OF DEATH, and
GAME OF DEATH II.
>>
I watched THE BIG BOSS, FIST OF FURY (10 years back.)





2) The Sidney Poitier DVD Collection
Actor/Actress: Sidney Poitier

Watched & enjoyed few other movies by Sidney Poitier
>>>
This special DVD collection contains five films starring one of Hollywood's most elegant actors, Sidney Poitier.
Includes:
FOR LOVE OF IVY,
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT,
LILIES OF THE FIELD,
THE ORGANIZATION, and
THEY CALL ME MISTER TIBBS!.
>>>>

Deep discount was running a promotion ( i.e. buy1 get 1 free)
Use "BOGOFOXMGM" at the checkout time to get the other set free.
Both sets for $34.97

3:10 to Yuma (2007) movie review

Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol
Directed by James Mangold

----Spoilers included-------

I am not a huge fan of Westerns &I have never seen the original version of this film. So no comparison w.r.t. old one.
Coming to movie, the story is about two exactly opposite men, the first of whom is Dan Evans, played by Christian Bale, a handicapped former whose ranch is being strangled by local business men. The second one is an arrogant ruthless outlaw leader Ben Wade, played by Russell Crowe. Movie begins with Wade leading an attack on a heavily armed stagecoach & killing almost all of them & robbing the money & Evan watches the whole thing. Very soon reckless Wade is easily captured & a plan is to move him to a nearby railroad town and send him to Yuma against Wade's gang. Evans offers his help to move Wade to the nearby railroad town for much need cash. Rest of the movie revolves around whether wade was sent to Yuma or not. Solid premise for complex cowboy movie & great performance by Christian Bale and Russell Crowe & good dialogs, score and excellent job by cinematographer & costume designer. Ending was pretty complex & satisfactory. I have couple questions on ending theories. Whatever it is solid picture with “Do the right thing” message. I am hoping that this movie will get couple of Oscar nominations.

Enfant, L' (The Child) Movie Review

Starring: Jeremie Renier, Deborah Francois
Directed by: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne
----Spoilers included-------

Movie starts with a young mother Sonia, played by Déborah François, with a new-born baby searching on the streets for her boy friend Bruno, played by Jérémie Renier, the father of her child. As plot thickens, we will see the day to day life of Brunos, a low-level thief, panhandler, and slacker who refuse to work & believe in steeling & begging but not working & support his girlfriend by illegal means. Right from the first meeting, Bruno, never shows any kind of interest in the baby or in the fatherhood. In a confused & without any conscience, he sells the baby in the black market. After knowing that Sonia reacts with shock & violently & rejects him completely. Bruno bring the baby back to Sonia but he losses many things & we will see his slow transformation. It is kind of movie where it is highly impossible for the audience to accept & love the characters. Both Bruno & Sonia were energetic & did amazing job & acting was very natural. Movie was very realistic & thoughtful & heavy without any soundtrack and interesting cinematography. This is my first Dardenne Brothers film and I enjoyed it. I missed their earlier movie “Rosetta”. I simply returned the DVD to netflix after keeping four weeks because of busy schedules. Now again I will put it back in to my queue. The DVD comes with very good & in-depth interview with movie directors& their thoughts on movie & how this movie idea was born etc. Must for serious moviegoers.

Last weekend movies

Enfant, L' (The child) {8.5/10} A complex & realistic movie about an incredibly irresponsible young father & confused young mother. Only for serious film lovers.

3:10 to Yuma {8/10} A complicated cowboy flick & intellectually acceptable & but no sticking power.

Derailed (2005) {7/10} Same old good basic premise & Ok movie & good performance by Clive Owen's.

Watched few more movies. I will update this post later.

Black Friday online shopping so far

So far brought the following from circuit city.
Missed Seagate 500GB external drive from CC.

1) SanDisk 2GB SD Card
2) Kingston 2GB DataTraveler
3) Targus Portable DVD Player Carrying Case

4) Dynex - 9" 16:9 Widescreen Portable DVD Player from Best Buy online
Few DVD's like Syriana & Just friends etc.

Black Friday plans

Last five years I used to do lots of shopping at Best Buy & Circuit City & few other stores. Always used to purchase lot of movie DVDs. This time, I decided not go for it. Few days back I got e-mail from Amazon saying they are offering hourly deals on Black Friday. May be I will stick to computer & I will do all the shopping online. If you don’t know the link for the Amazon black Friday, click the following link.

Black Friday 2007 at Amazon.com

Last weekend movies

Detour (1945) {9.5/10} A clever, cheap film noir is filled with suspense, horror, tension, sense of being caught up in a nightmare etc.

The Rules of the Game (1939) {9.5/10} Another Masterpiece movie.

Snakes on Plane. (2006) (2ed time) {7/10} Ordinary thriller with occasional fun movements & Jackson delivers his brand mark famous line again. (Watched it to give company.)

Clean (2004) movie review

Starring: Maggie Cheung, Nick Nolte
Directed by: Olivier Assayas
Movie opens with Emily, played by Maggie Cheung, breakup fight with her rock star husband & later drug overdose & death of her husband & she goes to jail for drug possession & later her attempts to unite with her son & her attempts to over come her drug addition (she never cared about the son before her husband’s death.) Movie pace was slow & story changes many places i.e. from Canada, Paris, London to San Francisco but over all very well directed & Cheung's convincing performance as a drug addict draw viewers complete attention. Very realistic melodrama with message of people do change & emphasis on unity. If you looking for good drama, this movie fits your bill.

Worst lines from movies

• I watched so many good classic to awful movies. Following are few worst movie lines from those.
  
  1) Gene Hackman says "I need food...I have to eat" Enemy of state
  2) 'I'm....so.........cold.' Pearl Harbor
  3) "Go spidey go!" Spider man
  4) We've been waiting for an hour He's peed three times ...Mr Pink from Fargo
  5) "You did this to become immortal...why?"
  "To live forever!" -House of the Dead
  6) "This is bad." –Titanic
  7) "Today we celebrate our Independence Day." - President Bill Pullman ID
  8) ARE YOU A MEXICAN OR A MEXICAN'T? Once Upon a Time in Mexico
  9) Kill them all, let God sort them out Doom
  10) "What killed the dinosaurs?... The ice age!!" Batman and Robin.
  

The Weather Man (2005) movie review

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Hope Davis, Michael Caine
Directed by: Gore Verbinski

This movie about a normal man David Spritz, played by Nicolas Cage, is a Chicago weather man whose marriage has failed & his wife hates him, whose children are troubled and unhappy, whose father is disappointed in him, and whose self-esteem lies in ruins. In an effort to be a good father he tries to bond with his daughter, but ends up making things worse. Same case with his wife. Movie pacing was slow and builds up to nothing & ends in a downbeat note. The Weatherman isn't a film for everyone. i.e. if you like depressing & downbeat movies, then you may like this one.

Few dialogs:

Easy doesn't enter into grown-up life.

I remember once imagining what my life would be like, what I'd be like. I pictured having all these qualities, strong positive qualities that people could pick up on from across the room. But as time passed, few ever became any qualities that I actually had. And all the possibilities I faced and the sorts of people I could be, all of them got reduced every year to fewer and fewer. Until finally they got reduced to one, to who I am. And that's who I am, the weather man.

Last weekend movies

The Weather Man (2005) : {8/10} A serious, easy to sit through & downbeat movie.

Clean (2004) : {7/10} A subtle, realistic portrayal of a drug addicted, rock star widow who tries to change her life to unite with her kid. Very good performance by Maggie Cheung.

The Break-up (2006) : {7/10} It was funny in some scenes but overall more serious downbeat movie. {Marketed as comedy? Dead wrong.}

Swimming Pool (2003) movie review

Starring: Charlotte Rampling, Ludivine Sagnier,

Directed by: Francois Ozon

It is a blind pick from library. Movie start with a tired successful crime fiction British writer, Charlotte Rampling as Sarah Morton , going off to sunny France , it is an her close publisher's offer, to try and work on the new novel. However after reaching there, she gets a surprise by an insolent, sexually wild young girl, Julie, show up unannounced (the daughter of her publisher) and the two of them try to share the same space while the Sarah tries to work on her new novel. Movie has all great premises however for various reasons, it will not engage you. One big reason is it movie runs with very slow pace. A surprise ending causes you to reexamine, rewind parts of movie scenes. My big concern is she was famous a writer & at the end she comes with a her best plot?? Pretty average erotic thriller with good ending.

The Odd Couple (1968) movie review

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau

Directed by: Gene Saks

Movie opens with Jack Lemmon, plays as Felix Ungar, is trying to kill himself after his recent split from his wife. Walter Matthau, plays Oscar, his friend & long time poker pal, fun loving slob, an unreliable sports-reporter who lives in divorce from his ex-wife in a bachelor apartment. He offers his distressed friend Felix, an ultra neat guy, a new home in his apartment. Rest of the movie revolves around how two such contrary characters can't share eight room apartment. The premise becomes little tiresome with little room to grow. As far as living together is concerned, it is doomed right from the start. However coming to Comedy, this movie really delivers & totally hilarious. The chemistry between Lemmon and Matthau is simply great. You will see lot’s of great scenes when both men invite their two female neighbors for supper, Flex call to Oscar about dinner plans, asking Oscar about 7’c clock time etc.
If you've never seen this movie you owe it to yourself. So rent it as soon as possible.

Last weekend movies

The odd couple (1968): [9/10] Superb comedy. Totally hilarious.

Closer (2004): [7/10] {Yet another movie about love, jealousy and betrayal. This movie is not for everyone. Some of the performances were good but you may not like the characters.)

Swimming pool(2003): [7/10] Another erotic thriller with open ending. Ending left to viewer imagination.

When Harry Met Sally (1989) movie review

I watched "When Harry Met Sally..." nearly a decade back. Last weekend, I got a chance to watch it again. Just picked the DVD from library. Brief plot is about the friendship between a man and a woman. As story kicks in, we will see Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) move from their college years into their early thirties. They are good friends; however, the question is whether or not a man and woman can be friends. As story goes on both fall in love and the two are often left in the dust looking at each other. Perfect comedy timing & good chemistry between Billy and Meg & fine dialogs keeps viewer attention till the end. Not in-depth but movie offers cute insights in to men and women relationships. Very enjoyable romantic comedy and well made.

Few good one liner dialogs

When a woman is not attractive, you always say she has a great personality.

A man can never be friends with a woman whom he finds attractive. The sex part always gets on the way.

The Painted Veil (2006) movie review

Starring & produced by : Naomi Watts, Edward Norton
Directed by: John Curran

The Painted Veil is directed by John Curran (We Don't Live Here Anymore) based on W. Somerset Maugham's novel. This is simply a great love story set in China during its colonial period with a cholera epidemic as a backdrop. Brief plot is a Shanghai based English Doctor Walter (Norton), who marries a lovely Kitty (Watts) in the 1920s, before shortly returning to Shanghai. ( it is kind of arranged marriage. i.e. they both don’t each other until the marriage.) During this time Watts, develops an affair with another person. After knowing this Walter volunteers to a remote village suffering from a severe Cholera epidemic. In fact he threaten Kitty either take divorce on the grounds of adultery or come with him. With no other options, Kitty go to remote village. Rest of the movie revolves around how these two disappointed married individuals’ couple comes together under dangerous environment. Film ends with upbeat note but leaves bitter sadness behind. The whole atmosphere of the film is very haunting and realistic. Beautiful locations and brilliant cinematography, amazing score, fantastic character development, and outstanding acting. The Painted Veil is easily one of the top ten movies for year 2006. May be it is time to update my top ten 2006 list?

Last weekend movies

The painted veil (8.5/10) {another interesting love story of a disconnected married couple.}

When Harry Met Sally... (8/10) {after 10 years second time I watched this movie.
One of the best romantic comedies ever made.}
Snakes on a Plane(7/10) {start fine but falls a part. Another formula based Hollywood thriller}

Mission Impossible 3 {7/10} {so so movie after one & two. Entertains bit & pieces but over all simple action story. }

I will write my review(‘s) later this week.