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.

My Top Ten movies of 2005

I am working on compiling my top 10 movies for year 2005.
Still I have to watch few important foreign movies.
Right now following are top lists

1) Crash
2) Capote
3) Cinderella Man
4) Brokeback Mountain
5) A history of violence
6) Broken flowers
7) V for Vendetta
8) Munich
9) Batman Begins
10) King Kong

Honorable Mentions:

Walk the Line

Brick Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Grizzly Man

Hwal aka The Bow by Ki-duk Kim

Lady in the Water (2006) movie review

After lot of warnings, low meter ratings, I watched Lady in the Water few days back. I don't understand why this movie got such hostility from all. I see problems in the movie that people could object to, but people are calling this the worst movie in years is completely out of proportion. Brief plot is, an apartment complex filled with eccentric people, each with a slight oddity that sets them apart from the rest of the world. Cleveland Heep (Giamatti) is the apartment superintendent. One day Heep discovers a woman named Story swimming in the complex's swimming pool after 10P.M. & Cleveland soon learns that she is a "Narf," a Chinese fairytale, who comes from the other world and has a message for humanity. {One problem is since Narf from a Chinese fairytale, people are expecting Chinese surroundings?) As Heep tries to help her & discovers, each person in the apartment complex becomes an important player in this fairy tale that unfolds. While people have claimed the story is slow, I thought it was well paced. The acting was very good in particular Giamatti performance was awesome. James Newton Howard's score for this movie is truly amazing & camera work also great.

Following are few problems with the picture
Shaymalan in the major role {future’s intellectual savior?)
One minute animation at the beginning {too much story?}
Asian girl & mom were annoying {few times}

Despite with above the problems, one can watch this solid movie. If you are Shyamalan fan then it is must. My rating 7/10.

My top Ten 70's movies

Still I am watching many 70’s movies. As of today, following are my top 10 movies from 1970’s.

1. Taxi Driver
2. The Godfather II
3. Annie Hall
4. Killer of sheep
5. A Clockwork Orange
6. Apocalypse Now
7. Chinatown
8. Jaws
9. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
10. Aguirre, the Wrath of God

Few honorable movies

The Elephant Man
Network
Star Wars
Enter the Dragon
Drunken Master
& Rocky

If I find some time, I will add my small reviews for above movie.
I watched most of them on DVD except "Killer of sheep". I watched it on screen during the recent re-release.

My small review of Two for the Money (2005) movie

Movie opens with background narration by Brandon (Matthew McConaughey), a little kid showing lots of interest for sports & in the initial scenes, he gets injured in the collage football game. After his knee injury, he becomes Vegas odds maker & still trying to get in to shape & in to NFL sport. Al Pacino plays Walter, who runs a sports betting hotline & identifies the talent of Brandon & imports him to New York, to work for hotline & show. Brandon’s initial picks were great success (i.e. at some point he beats with 12-0 wins.) As story goes further, we will see Brandon’s & Walter fallout & heart felt ending. Al Pacino's performance is simply marvelous & Matthew McConaughey & Rene Russo also wonderful too. Movie was very engaging in its understanding what gambling is, how it works and how pervasive it is in America. (Matter of fact it is pervasive across the globe) Plot mainly focuses on the lives people involved in it & its consequences. Plot runs little slow at times & but over all it is OK movie. Don’t watch with great expectations & if you are Al Pacino fan, then it is must for his performance & very few Hollywood movies deals with this rare subject of sports betting.

My small review of Sleuth (1972) movie

"Sleuth" proves that a great screenplay & good action is sufficient to make good thriller with minim cost. This entire movie was made in an old mansion & plot consists of only three characters & yet engages the viewer for whole two plus hours.

Cast: Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine
Directed by: Joseph Mankiewicz
Written by: Anthony Shaffer

Brief plot is about a rich detective novelist named Andrew Wyke (Olivier), who invites Milo Tindle (Caine) an owner of a chain of hair salons to his country side home to discuss Milo's affair with Wyke's wife. As they start talking, they quickly earths a robbery scheme which beneficial to the both i.e. jewelry money to Tindle & insurance money to Wyke. Rest of the plot revolve around these two strangeness does not stop with robbery but two men each have personal motives and the twists and turns. The dialogue were terrific & action by both lead cast was very commendable. {However I never felt Mr.Caine character acting as simple working class man.}
Except few minor problem's movie really rocks. Twists & turns are good.
If you have even slight interest towards mind game thrillers, then this film fits in you bill.

Last weekend movies

The Shawshank Redemption
{An innocent man convicted of life in prison but He never gives up the idea of freedom & hope)
{9.5/10}

Sleuth
{An intelligent psychological mind game thriller. I will write my short review later}
{8.5/10}


Two for the Money (2005)
{A little lengthy drama about what gambling is how it works, its pervasive it is in America Matter of fact, and it was pervasive across the globe. This movie focuses gambling around NLF games.)
{7/10}

Rear Window (1954)
Recent Disturbia original. A wheel chaired bound photo grapher starts spying on neighbor across the building & its consequences.
{9/10}

My small review of Double Indemnity (1944) movie

Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck

"Double Indemnity" is one of my favorite Film Noir classic.

Brief plot: A married cunning women, Dietrichson(Barbara Stanwyck), plans to murder her husband for insurance money. Plot looks plain simple however she pulls the insurance guy, Neff (Fred MacMurray), who sold the policy in to her plan. There are some great scenes between Dietrichson and Neff & he explains that working for an insurance company inevitably gives him ideas about scamming the company. They both plans & commits a perfect murder until one of Neff's fellow employees, an insurance investigator, Edward G. Robinson, starts to unravel this seemingly perfect murder. Action by lead cast is quiet perfect for this murder mystery. If you have even slight interest towards classic film noir movies, then this film should be on the top of your list.
My rating 9/10

Favorite scene: The observation deck on the slow running train.
Theme: Greed kills you faster than a bullet.