THE KARATE KID (1984)

Well made martial arts films not only show just mindless action but also tends to tell you the lessons worth to learn about self discipline guiding you to overcome your mental and emotional weaknesses. ‘The Karate Kid’ is film belongs to that category teaching that the secret of Karate lies in mind and heart, not in hands.

It’s a simple tale of a teenage boy living with his divorced and working mom, shifted to different town and school. He made crush on girl but soon became constant victim of school’s bully gang that challenged his strength. The cheerful boy loses his confidence in life and love ending up with everyday frustration of inferiority. That’s where an old Japanese neighbor comes to his rescue teaching him lessons with unusual training offering menial tasks to perform. It’s not only about teaching him karate but right attitude to balance his life and fix the problems of his life with self reliance. Don’t expect great action like watching Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan films because it’s an inspirational film for transformation aimed teenage audience.
Though a decent watch for mature kids too.

Ratings-7.5/10

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974)

Based on Agatha Christie’s most famous mystery, the film is a fine screen adaptation by Sidney Lumet. Monsieur Hercule Poirot is one of my favorite detective characters, on screen played by Albert Finney accompanied by ensemble multiple star cast of Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, Anthony Perkins and many other suspicious passengers on the board.

Though Finney seems quite loud and dramatic of Poirot, he finely represents the idiosyncrasies of his characterization with his queer methods of investigation. The denouement of the suspense in presence of all passengers with connection of number 12 is the highlight of the film. Recommended watch for all suspense lovers but don’t expect Hitchcock thrill. Though I strongly believe that reading ‘Queen of Mystery’ is addictive fun than watching any of her adaptation.

Ratings-6.5/10

RAKHT CHARITRA (2010)

Vengeance is back on Indian screen with a baggage of excessive violence. After making one of the worst film of his career, Ramgopal Verma is back with a big bang. He returned to his fort of crime, violence, power, politics and thrill with the original real life story of Andhra criminal cum politician Paritala Ravi. This is his striking and desperate attempt with a punch with all his capable might and madness which either make you hate or just praise him for his daring effort showing you never before unthinkable violence and bloodshed on Indian screen. Though in showing reality of dirty nexus between crime, politics and shifting volatile power and portraying some of his character too diabolic, he crossed the limit of Indian audience and orthodox censor board but while doing it in his limitless frenzy he made another ‘original’ and ‘cult’ film for his fans.

This is the only Indian commercial film shot and made with a length of more than five hours and the reason enough why it has to be released in two parts. The first installment begins with impressive shifting of power that gave birth to revenge and bloodshed with mind-blowing treatment, brilliant ensemble cast and striking performances all with what one can expect from RGV’s diabolic dark mind. The film is saving grace and praiseworthy comeback not only for RGV but also for Vivek Oberoi and he’s the extension of fire what we witnessed in his debut ‘Company’ with the same mentor. Apart of him, the film has fine ensemble and supporting presence of many RGV loyal cast with certain new entries. The prominent among them is Shatrughan Sinha, who has short but impressive presence with his moustache less face as popular film star cum politician Shivaji with dialogues and attitude that suits his aura; this time his ‘Khamosh!’ is replaced with ‘Topic is over’. Abhimanyu Singh who blew our minds in his short but terrific presence as Ransa in ‘Gulaal’ has performed one of the most heinous and violent villain you have ever seen on Indian screen as Bukka. It’s in portraying him as ‘Rakshas’, RGV showed certain objectionable violence crossing all possible barriers. But the intensity of Abhimanyu Singh's act is visible in some of the striking scenes with his bloodthirsty rage in expression and pervert body language. Watch the scene where he continuously slapping the lady cop repeating ‘Touch nahi karna’ or another where he’s showing his temper when his brother comes to meet him in prison. Without a doubt he’s the villain of the year.

Technically film is almost flawless and has gripping editing with few avoidable distractions and a song. Cinematography, background score and production deserved clapping. The only complain is too dark portrayal of characters shedding their part of violence on screen. It would have been better if Ramu had explored multiple dimensions of their charcterization like 'Satya'.
He ended the film on interesting turn with showing you rushes of his second part releasing 19th on next month with the entry of South Indian superstar Suriya to give Vivek enough fire. I’m desperately waiting to see the second part and I’m sure that Ramu won’t fall short of my expectations in making this epic bloodbath of his career.

The film is strictly no, no to family audience and achche ghar ki bahu-betiyan. It’s all loaded for RGV fans who’re as mad enough as him. Watch it at your own risk, it's quite hard to digest for all.

Ratings-7/10

PS- "I am like a hardcore porn dvd. You might hate it, love it, look down upon it or get disgusted by it but if it is in the room you can't resist watching it."
- RGV's interesting comment on his blog.

LEON (1994)

There are two things which make this hitman love story exceptional one. First is French director Luc Besson’s freshness of story telling using all popular ingredients in an engaging way with his unique shot selections of action running with quite unusual pairing between the hitman and teenage girl Matilda who has disturbed childhood. The second is performance of all three players- Jean Reno as Leon, the professional and disciplined hitman clad in John Lennon goggles is really impressive. Gary Oldman is absolutely awesome and he filled the screen with enough tension every time he turns on to screen, it’s surely his one of the career best. But for me the film belongs to the teenage girl Natalie Portman. She brought to screen a disturbed twelve year old girl seeking freedom from her damned family and its low life. She is protected by her next-door neighbor hitman in most critical situation of her life and then onwards having the playful company of the man under whose shadow she breathes as human.
For her Leon is savior, companion, desirable man and religion all in one and she wanted to be like him to get revenge of his younger brother. Portman remains so effortlessly natural and confident in her expressions and act that it’s hard to believe that it’s her debut film. For me she’s even more impressive debut than Jodie Foster in ‘Taxi Driver’.

Bollywood had made poor rip off ‘Bichchu’, starring Bobby and Rani and watching this, it seems so irritating experience.

Ratings-8/10

MACHETE (2010)

Robert Rodriguez who gave us some of the stylistic action flicks like ‘Desperado’ and ‘Once upon a time in Mexico’ returns with no brainer action flick fully loaded with action, violence, bloodshed, macho man and sexy seductresses typifying completely B genre action film. The violence this time is excessive with unimaginable weapons and gross bloodshed and the influence varied from Quentin Tarantino to Takashi Miike films.

Surprisingly the lead of the film is Danny Trejo, the man with criminal background in real life and whom we have seen as the dangerous man with many knives in Rodriguez’s earlier mentioned films. He’s having bad company of Steven Seagal, Robert Deniro with sirens in variety- Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan and Michelle Rodriguez showing their assets. The film pokes fun to Uncle Sam’s land and double face president’s policy towards cross border illegal immigrants confronted with Mexican rebel army of She (read ‘Che’).

The hospital massacre scene showing slaying of intestine and the church shootout sequence with kickass climax are just matchless to resist for action lovers and I’m sure that in a long run it will surely gain ‘cult’ status. I am eagerly waiting for its franchise since Rodriguez promises in the end titles-Machete will return in ‘Machete Kills’ and ‘Machete Kills Again’.

Mindless entertainer with return of violence in all sorts of excess.

Ratings-7/10

JONAH HEX (2010)

Not every comics hero turns out triumphant on screen. Jonah Hex is DC Comics new screen adaptation starring Josh Brolin as half disfigured scar face (freaky make up) western drifter and bounty hunter super hero. He is being hired as the last hope by US military to nab Quentin Turnbull, his old due revenge and now wanted terrorist. Watching its trailer, I was expecting a cool western stuff with company of Brolin and John Malcovich as Turnbull but its all thumbs down crap. Even Megan Fox is utter waste even in her oomph factor. The plot is zilch, action and gunfight is replaced with heavy CGI, score is just cacophony and summing up as B grader trash stuff. Better watch any B grade South Indian flick; it will give you at least some sort of entertainment.

Ratings-4/10

THE BIG HEAT (1953)

The man who made one of the most expensive silent masterpiece and Hitler’s favorite film ‘Metropolis’ and introduced the first chilling face of serial killer to screen in ‘M’, made another brilliant crime drama in film noir format. This is my third Fritz Lang flick and he keeps on impressing me this time too. It begins with a suicide shot of cop. The investigation is lead by cop named Bannion who confirmed the medical reports and widow’s statement that it was suicide but than a strange woman’s call stated that it’s not. As soon as he approached the woman, she got killed. It’s a challenging case for Bannion, who is an obsessed cop to find straight facts no matter it cost him what. This is just a beginning of thrill ride which continue to involve you in the case and drama with murder, scheming, blackmail and revenge.

Lang told crime story straight with tight editing, avoiding any unnecessary distractions. His penchant for investigation and surveillance highlighted in ‘M’ is more personal and individual one in form of cop’s struggle inside and outside the law in a city which is strangled by gun and money power of baddies like Lagana and Vince who kept even the system of Police department in their pockets to keep their syndicate running.

As Sgt. Dave Bannion, Glenn Ford retained complete charge of main lead; surely a reference material for De Palma’s ‘The Untouchables’ to portray Kevin Costner as cop who jeopardize his family with his reluctance to solve the case even when his above officers told him to shut the file and even suspended him for being unexpectedly blunt and adamant on his mission. Gloria Grahame as Debby is impressive and memorable for that splash of hot coffee on face. She’s being the perfect woman for smart Bannion to get things done his way costing many lives including herself. Lang’s expressionism is visible with sets, shadows that reflect character’s personality traits. The only less convincing part is the typical routine ending unlike stimulant one in ‘M’.

Worth watching for all film noir classic fans.

Ratings-8/10