I am Legend - A Review

Having read the novel already, I didn't know how the film will shape up coz the novels ends very grimly as Dr. Robert Neville (Will Smith in the movie) is being captured by the Nightwalkers and he accepts his failure and moves on. Also, the 'Legend' name in the novel came frm the fact that Neville was immune to the infection caused frm the Virus (to be precise the Nightwalkers' bites). So, the Nightwalkers themselves looked upon to Neville as a Legend.

So, when I started to watch the movie, I was quite amused to see that they have changed the plot considerably. But, on a brighter side, it actually made the film better in a way that it had "hope" which lacked in the novel. Definitely a better idea for a feature film.

Coming back to reviewing it, first things first. The opening sequence is the best opening sequence for me this year. Hands Down. Manhattan never looked so lifeless, so lonely, and so devastating.

Note 1# Hands down one of the best Production Design of the year...

I will not delve to much into the plot to spoil it. I will discuss more on the technical aspect of the film which I actually understand more than the writing process

Note 2# Will Smith proves once again he is the biggest salable actor on earth....77.4M opening..phew!!

Note 2.1# Will Smith can act..and act pretty well...!!! Bravo...

Very few films actually portrayed the last man standing on earth so well. There was actually 2 more films made on this topic. The more popular among the 2 is 'The Omega Man' (1978 probably) and I have seen it. It wasn't a good film.

I must admit that for the first half of the movie, 2 things stand out...and stand out in a big way.

#1 The painful, inhuman loneliness of Will Smith.

#2 The Human-Animal bonding. Few films have actually captured the Man-Dog bonding as it is done in here. The plot helps as Sam (the dog) is the only other living character for the first half of the movie. Still, very impressive.

The rest of the movie is fight against the Nightwalkers and some twist and turns which I won't reveal.

But, there are 3-4 really well made shock (horror) scenes. Very neatly done.

Now, the flaw...

I found only one. The CGI of the Nightwalkers could and should have been better. They look almost staright out from the Computer Games

A little more flesh was the need of the hour

Overall:

I really liked the movie and whole heartedly recommend this to everyone. It a little change from the usual Hollywood/Bollywood movies also. And, it does raise a few questions which mutate in our minds long after the film is over.

300 - Movie Review

I have seen many movies. And, by many I really mean many. But, I have never ever got a sadistic pleasure in my entire life watching limbs getting chopped, people getting hacked. It is so fucking kool...!!! Watching people die never gave me such a high. Its like watching the best ever video game on celluloid.

Where shall I start? First and foremost I think, I must mention about the surrealistic world we are treated to. Its like a dream with stunning images which I thought only existed in paintings.

The film combines elements of the actual battle from 480 B.C. with other clashes between the mighty Spartans and the overwhelming forces of the Persian "god-king" Xerxes but the essence of the legend is intact.

Xerxes, at one point tried to rule all over the world. But, Leonidas, the King of Sparta and his handful (well...actually not) of 300 brave men fought to death to preserve the freedom for Sparta. Their effort provided inspiration for all Spartan soldiers to reunite and fight again.

On one hand, it is about the war of the Spartan against the Persians, on the other it is also how the Queen of Sparta, Gorgo, tries to make all the politicians in the Sparta Assembly understand that the action of Leonidas is just. To prove this, she even agrees to adultery with the traitor Theron who plots against Leonidas.

Gerard Butler as Leonidas, the King of Sparta is awesome. There isn't much of a scope of displaying histrionics here, but still he manages to impress.

One more thing. People might tend to think this is a GUY MOVIE. I beg to differ. Sure barring Gorgo, there isn't a single female character of importance, but Gorgo is the most powerful role after Leonidas. And the ever so pretty Lena Headey plays it gracefully. To make your presence felt in a movie like this is an impressive feat.

Rodrigo Santoro as Xerxes was however a little disappointing. With all his piercings, he looked more funny than menacing.

The love making scenes between Leonadis and Gorgo are like poetry. Shot so awesomely. The only love making scene so brilliantly shot, which I can remember, is in Fight Club.

The background music is simply out of the world. However, I personally would have liked heavy metal tracks played in background while the battle scenes are on. I don't know what the results would have been. But, I would have liked it for sure.

The cinematography and the special effects are so freaking awesome, that its better not to use an adjective to define them. When you watch the war scenes, the only sentence you say is "What the fuck?". Trust me, this time it means in a really good way ;)

To sum up, I think its a merge of Gladiator and Sin City. Well, the best parts of those two movies together will make 300.

Do yourself a favor. Go and watch 300. Your idea about films will definitely change.

disc review: iron maiden | a matter of life and death |

I do not know why I missed this. It released in September 2006 and I heard it yesterday. What has happened to me? I should be ashamed of myself. I missed an Iron Maiden album…fuck…!!!

Anyways, I guess I will get enough time to screw myself. So, lets start with the album review.

I always get nervous before hearing a new album from a band I like. So many questions arise: Will it be good? Will it be something original? Will it get old? Well, after hearing Iron Maiden's new album, I can finally exhale. After many listens, it's safe to say this is surely one of Maiden's best releases. "A Matter Of Life And Death" is one of the most exhilarating albums of Maiden's legacy.

A Matter of Life and Death is easily Iron Maiden's best album since 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. It's no storming of the ramparts, though—it’s more of a post-battle body count.

The album begins with "Different World" and "These Colors Don't Run," two strong, memorable anthems. Then the album settles into a darker, more contemplative groove. The specter of war hangs heavy here. "The Longest Day" vividly describes D-Day; "Lord of Light" bemoans "the slaughter of the brotherhood of man"; "Brighter than a Thousand Suns" calls nuclear armament "a race to suicide." Even a rocker like "The Pilgrim" has moody flatted seconds. Atmospheric clean tones abound, like on the heavy, mid-paced "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg." At over seven minutes long, the song is an odd choice for a single, but it's an epic in the grand Iron Maiden tradition. The songwriting throughout is assured, with confident transitions between often disparate riffs. Dickinson's operatic voice is in fine form, and Steve Harris' bass lines are as fluid as ever.

I was completely blown away with "A Matter Of Life And Death." Out of the three Iron Maiden albums released since Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith came back into the band, "A Matter Of Life And Death" is defiantly the best one. If you enjoy metal in general, I highly recommend you get this.

Girlfriend

I always sit in the valley
I spend time there
I try to talk with the nature
It's the only friend I have here

I look up at the clear blue sky
With small clouds here and there
And the valley is lush green
I never knew blue and green makes such a great combination – until I saw it here

I always sit under the same tree
I do not know what tree it is
Or perhaps it's actually good that I do not know her identity
She brings me more peace than my own blood relatives

She's the only girl friend I have
I talk to her all day long
Sometimes she listens to me, sometimes not
But the story goes on…

I think she's very pretty
She's firm, wide and tall
Her branches are like her long hairs
Exactly like what I want in my girl

She looks even better when the wind blows
Her branches move and fall over me
I feel that as a symbol of acceptance
That she wants me to see

Then the rain starts
She becomes soaking wet
Water drops through her branches upon me
I remember, "this is how we first met'

Slowly, everything stops
The sun sets, rain stops, darkness falls, birds go home
I understand it's time up for me now
I have to head for home

I feel sad, as I have to leave
Life back there is full of sorrow
My girl bends down and asks me, 'when will you be back again?'
I say, 'don't worry baby, I'll back again tomorrow'

Lonely

I sit and watch the sun set

Nobody beside me

I look around, searching for someone

Because I am lonely

I remember the days when I was young

I used to watch sunsets

There used to be a lot of friends then

Now, nobody's with me

I remember when I grew up

I continued watching sunsets

I had my girl with me then

She's not here now; only thing left is her memory

The sun sets, darkness falls

I feel my life's going the same way

There's darkness all over

Because I am lonely