Borat movie review

If you want to role off your chair because you are laughing so hard then this film is for review. Obviously, as I suggested while reviewing The Da Vinci Code, you should have a sense of humor and be able to distinguish fact from fiction. You should also not be offended by toilet humor or jokes that are simply not appropriate for anyone other than a fictional character called Borat.

The film (the full name is Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan) is in some ways a satire of American life (it is hard to say if any of the things about Kazakhstan are true) but in many other ways just a great way to laugh on ourselves.

The movie proceeds as the adventures in the United States of Borat (supposedly a journalist, but in reality those of British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, who in real life speaks with a perfect British accent) who along with a colleague is exploring America and is recording the adventure for a documentary.

The movie is essentially about Borat Sagdiyev but Pamela Anderson has an important role playing herself -- she was the inspiration (he saw her in a Baywatch photo book) for him to drive all the way to California so that he could marry her and bring her back to Kazakhstan.

Strongly recommended for comedy fans. Most people loved the movie but people who lack a sense of humor were apparently outraged.

The Da Vinci Code movie review

Warning: If you are one of those morons who have a hard time distinguishing fact from fiction, do not read this review and definitely movies are not for you -- go pull some weeds in your backyard.

And if you are still reading, you are probably a smart person who has the knowledge and intelligence to enjoy fiction while continuing to use facts in your life for their useful purpose.

If you know Dan Brown (I like his books to read on the beach or on a long flight), you will know that he is a master of fiction writing. He uses real institutions (like NASA or the National Security Agency) and combines real and imaginary events to create a book that is very engaging.

That is exactly what happens in The Da Vinci Code. While I am no Catholic or even Christian, I do have enormous respect for Jesus Christ and The Pope, and as even a 4-year old will tell you, there is nothing real about a movie other than moving images and background sounds.

The Plot is very complicated and will give you great insights into Christianity and its many stories (the Holy Grail, Opus Dei, Templar Knights, Mary Magdalene, etc.). In summary, Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) try to track down several mysterious people who are all trying to hide many secrets. It is one story that will keep you glued to your seat till the end. Strongly recommended for anyone who enjoys mysteries.

Jumanji movie review

We love the idea of watching movies as a family but it is rather sad that so many family movies have way too much violence. I wonder if these movies can actually be made in two versions: one for adults and then an edited version for the kids. While this is a great movie, we thought that parts of the movie could be scary for young kids - so I suggest that the parents watch it first and then decide how to prepare their kids for it and how to watch with them. They will love it but some of the horror is rather unexpected.

Alan Parrish (played by Robin Williams) finds a board game (Jumanji) and decides to play it with a friend Sarah Whittle without really knowing what it was. Very soon unexpected things happen and without warning Alan disappears into thin air and Sarah is chased out of the house by scary looking bats. 26 years later, two other kids in the same house (Judy Shepherd played by Kirsten Dunst and her brother Peter played by Bradley Pierce) play the same game after they find it in the attic while their aunt is not home (their parents died in an accident).

They are able to return Alan Parrish to a normal life after he disappeared into the game and in order to finish the game, they also track down Sarah Whittle but in order for everything to return to normal, they must play till the end. It ain't easy on anyone, including people not playing the game. Life in this tiny town is turned upside down and wild animals are roaming on Main Street.

It is an excellent fantasy/action moview and perfect for not only kids but even adults who like fantasy and action - for example, Pirate of the Caribbean Dead Men's Chest. Unfortunately parts of it border on horror (in a fun way, though, and nothing like the violence and horror you see in video games) but still strongly recommended.

Boca a Boca movie review

I became a fan of Aitana Sanchez Gijon after watching her in Femme de Chambre du Titanic and that was the sole reason I chose to watch Boca a Boca (Mouth to Mouth). It stars Javier Bardem (who plays the role of Victor Ventura, a struggling actor) who takes a job as a phone sex operator to pay his bills before he appears for a casting call for a Hollywood movie. He ends up answering a phone call from a plastic surgeon (Bill or Ricardo played by Josep Maria Flotats) who is a down-low man (people like Ted Haggard who are supposedly happily married to a woman but are secretly gay) and in his desperate attempt to make as much money as possible, he makes Bill think that they are in love. But Victor is actually in love with Bill's wife Amanda (played by Aitana Sanchez Gijon) who sleeps with him to take revenge on her husband.

The plot gets complicated after that and I will not give you any more details but you have to wait till the end to figure out who was trying to kill who for what reason. All I can say is that it is not what you think. Despite what I have described above, the movie is fairly clean, but be warned that it is rated R due to the nature of the theme. In my opinion it is a beautiful comedy that would remind you of movies like Beverly Hills Cops. Strongly recommended.

December Boys review

It seems it is time for Daniel Radcliffe to move beyond Harry Potter and December Boys is a beautiful movie for him to show his talent as an actor. It is the story for children in an Australian orphan who are not lucky enough to be adopted. Then they get a chance to make a trip to the ocean and a lot more happens than they ever imagined.

Sydney White review

Life is good for Sydney White; I mean Amanda Bynes. After launching her clothing line Dear, she now stars in Sydney White, along with Matthew Long and Sara Paxton, to give a rip roaring performance. You will traces of Gossip Girl, a little bit of drama like any other teenage movie, and it all ends on a happy note.

Angels in the Dust movie

It seems that there is so much to do in Africa. And we have to do it. Even if it is something small. Many of these people in Africa need help. It isn't always money that they need. Sometimes just what you know and share can help them get out of their misery. Here is the story of one family that left behind everything to make life better in a remote part of South Africa.

The Bourne Ultimatum Review

We live in a world in which it seems that the war with terrorists will never end. It is understandable why governments all over the world will keep fighting the bad guys and sometimes they will need to kill them. Of course, specialists are needed who can kill the troublemakers but also have the skill and patience needed to fight with those who are merciless, fanatics, and do no appreciate the value of life.

Jason Bourne (played by Matt Damon) is a US government killer chasing the bad guys and is supported by Julia Stiles. Here is a video about the film which includes clips from the movie and interview with both Matt Damon and co-star Julia Stiles.

The Simpsons movie review

A movie is a great way to tell a long, complicated story in a brief period of time. There is a downside, though. If the viewer already knows the story too well (Harry Potter is a classic example) and is really familiar with the characters, it may be difficult to keep the viewer engaged unless there is something really new. Indeed, there are hardcore fans of anime, manga, and comics, but despite the racial jokes controversy, "The Simpsons" doesn't appear to be as funny as the television episodes are (and they are free to watch). Here is a review by Christy Lemire.

Live Free Or Die Hard Movie

I did a review of the movie Live Free or Die Hard but if you want to get a second opinion, here is an excellent review by Greg Moody of CBS. Overall, he likes it as I do, though he does make more fun of Bruce Willis for his mature age and the fact that someone that old should not be in an action flick. Aha. In my opinion, age shouldn't matter. Young people can be bad actors and old people can be great actors. The review also includes some action packed clips from the film.

Goldfinger movie review

Several months ago I had watched a documentary on the The United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky. By interviewing a few ex-employees and with the use of very limited publicly available information, the producers had tried to put together a story about the operations and the security there. However, I am sure that like the movie Air Force One, they must have gotten it only partly right. No visitors are permitted in the building. The documentary said that only once did a few members of Congress and media personnel were allowed to go in. No one from this movie team ever stepped inside Fort Knox or even its vicinity (actually that part of the film was not even shot in the US).

Of course, one of the things that I remember from the documentary was the narrator saying that apart from being part of the plots in books and movies, the most remarkable movie that was based on penetrating the Fort Knox security was the "Goldfinger." So when the opportunity came to watch the movie - of course I am a 007 fan (Casino Royale) - I grabbed it. The movie is old and you can see all the attributes of a retro movie.

The plot is simple. The Chinese Government wants to destabilize the American economy by destroying the gold that is stored there (according to US Mint, some 150 million ounces of gold is held there and is valued at $6 billion). The person they use for their plot - Operation Grand Slam - is Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe). He is a gold smuggler and surmises that when the US will not be able to use its gold, the value of his gold will skyrocket. Of course, in typical James Bond (played by Sean Connery) fashion, the plot is foiled. Very entertaining movie. Strongly recommended. You may also enjoy the soundtrack - it has been a big hit.

Ginger and Cinnamon movie review

If you are a parent of a teenager, please do watch "Dillo con parole mie" (marketed as "Ginger and Cinnamon" to English speakers). We know that virginity pledge or not, most Americans will lose their virginity in their teens. We might as well help them do it responsibly and safely. But no, the movie is not just about a teenager's desperate attempts to do it just for the heck of it. There is a more complex plot involving her aunt Stefania.

Stefania (played by Stefania Montorsi) has just broken up with her boyfriend Andrea (played by Giampaolo Morelli) when her teenager niece Megghy (Martina Merlino) shows up after lying to her classmates and family about where she was going. She suggests that they both take a trip to the "Isle of Love" in Greece. Among all the cute boys crawling on the planet looking for the same thing, Megghy ends up with Andrea, who also is taking a trip after the breakup to concentrate on his hobby of drawing.

Megghy gets some good lessons in relationships and romance and so does Stefania, who discovers that her real persona is hiding somewhere and must come out.

It ain't a very profound movie (we loved it for its pure entertainment value) but if you love foreign language films and want to learn more about what goes on at the beautiful Greek island of Ios in summer, you will like it. Plus there is some great music on the soundtrack too.

Heaven movie review

When I watched Wisdom (Starring Emilio Estevez and Demi Moore, it is the story of a modern-day Robin Hood who robs banks to help poor Americans), I remember how the two main characters are being chased by cops as they are about to cross into Canada. While you know that they are criminals and broke the law, you also know that they helped a lot of people. You almost wish that they will not be caught. Sadly enough, they do get caught and killed.

In "Heaven" though, the two actors are not caught and do manage to escape. The movie "Heaven" reminds one of "Spanglish" in some ways because the characters speak two languages (English and Italian), which to me is a far better alternative than the ridiculous manner in which the characters in "Memoirs of Geisha" speak.

The movie begins with Philippa Paccard (played by the always-brilliant Cate Blanchett), an English teacher in Italy, who plants a bomb to kill a drug lord. Unfortunately, four innocent people (including two kids) are killed instead. She is arrested and interrogated by the police under the suspicion that she is part of a terrorist group.

One of the cops, who is acting as an interpreter, Filippo (played by Giovanni Ribisi) is instantly attracted to her, particularly when he finds out that she is also the teacher of his kid brother, who always spoke very highly of her. Putting himself at considerable risk, he helps her escape from police custody and they both arrive in Tuscany. For those of us who remember the scenes from "Under The Tuscan Sun," the visuals are memorable.

I was not convinced of the plot in the sense that the two fell in love almost instantly and while she is genuinely sorrow for her act, she does not get any punishment for it. Other than that, it is a beautifully done film with some excellent acting by Blanchett.

Reconstruction movie review

I had never seen a Danish movie before and it took me a while to figure out where the movie was based since the characters talk (in Danish and Swedish) so much about going to Rome. But that was just a small thing. The whole movie is even more intriguing and incomprehensible at times.

"Reconstruction" is a psychological drama involving a mature woman, adultery, and mind-bending events. The plot is simple: A married woman (Aimee, played by Maria Bonnevie) in a sexless marriage to an always-busy writer August (played Krister Henriksson) gets attracted to a younger, passionate man (Alex, played by Nikolaj Lie Kaas) who sees great chemistry in her and has no hesitation in leaving her girlfriend (Simone, also played by Maria Bonnevie). But not everything is so simple and straightforward.

Director Christoffer Boe has made a movie in which if you feel dizzy, consider that normal. It is hard to figure out what is real and what is just the imagination of the characters. For all we know, even some of the charactes may exist only in the mind of the others (August, who is an author, may very well be creating a plot for his new book). The movie is painfully slow and if you don't have the patience of watching the whole thing, better stop sooner rather than later (though if that happens you will probably watch it till the end).

You might even wonder what is the whole point of the movie, but that is not what the director had in mind. In and by itself, almost every minute of the movie is beautifully done and that itself is enough reason to watch. Many reviewers on the web recommend that you watch the movie several times to appreciate all the complexities, but I think if you realize that imaginative people can create a parallel universe and live in it, you will get it. As one reviewer says, "If you like artsy films or films with deep meanings then this may be a good film for you. If you don't really like vague and confusing endings (at first) and are more of a person to watch happy-ending films then this definitely isn't the film for you. And if you aren't open-minded artistically you probably won't like this film either as you will spend most of your time trying to analyze the theme of love in the film while it covers much deeper issues than that."

Spanglish movie review

If you have always "hated" Adam Sandler, I would have called you a friend prior to watching "Spanglish." Any time I got to watch him, I found him so juvenile, almost someone acting like an imbecile. This movie may not make you fall in love with him, but you will agree that a good actor becomes what the story and director wants him to be. In this movie, I have seen him act like an adult for the first time. I just hope that he gets to act in a few more good movies.

"Spanglish" has a special meaning for me because, despite being with Lorena for over 10 years, my Spanish langauge abilities are dismal. While I do get by with my Spanglish, to have a meaningful conversation, I need someone to translate for me.

In this film, however, Adam Sandler (John) and his wife Tea Leoni (Deborah) do pretty good managing a maid Flor Moreno (played by Paz Vega, who for some reasons, kept reminding me of Penelope Cruz), who does not speak English at all.

In no time, she and her charming daughter Cristina become part of a very WASP family. Of course, that means they also become too integrated into the family, something that is not always good to do, because not only the two belong to two different cultures, their social classes are so far apart. It is a great movie to watch as a family, especially if you have language issues within the family.

Memoirs of a Geisha movie review

I have never understood the rationale for paying someone to chitchat with you. If I feel like talking to new people, there are so many avenues for doing so without spending a penny (except maybe paying for a drink or meal). My experience living in Japan, however, tells me that it is the norm in Japan. I have visited so many bars in Tokyo and Osaka with my ex-colleagues and friends where not only did you pay for your drinks, you also spent a fortune on a companion who does nothing more than pour drinks, giggle at your stupid jokes, and try to make you feel important. While geisha is supposedly an artist (neither a hostess nor a prostitute, though she can become a mistress in some cases), her more important role is to make a man feel what he aspires to be and what his wife may not find credible.

For these reasons and to understand the world of geishas in Japan, the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" is a must watch. It might seem like a documentary on the life of a geisha, but as you watch the movie, you will find that it is actually a beautiful love story - that of Sayuri (childhood name: Chiyo Sakamoto played by Zhang Ziyi) and the Chairman (played by Ken Watanabe). There are twists and turns in the story, including the backdrop of the Second World War, but what starts off as a very tragic tale of a little girl sold by her parents, actually ends on a very happy note.

What we didn't like?

You might be disappointed to know that most of the movie was not shot in Kyoto, but in a studio in California. We also did not like how all the Japanese characters spoke English - it is heavily accented English (neither now nor during the time of the movie do Japanese people speak to each other in any other language than Japanese) and simply difficult to understand, despite the fact that almost all of my Japanese friends talk like that. In my opinion, the characters should have simply spoken plain American English, or even better, in Japanese (subtitles would have worked just fine).

Otherwise, strongly recommended, especially if you are a Japan lover like me.

Ladder 49 movie review

So often we take what others do for us for granted. While impolite, it is not so bad. What is really bad when we take for granted even when others risk their lives for us. Yes, police officers, firefighters, and women and men in the armed forces, risk their lives every day so that we can be safe. If you are one of those people who just think of firemen when there is a fire in your house, we strongly suggest that you watch Ladder 49.

This is a very depressing movie; so don't plan on being entertained. In fact if it were not for its movie stars, it could very well be categorized as a documentary about the life of Jack Morrison (played by Joaquin Phoenix) as a firefighter. After starting his career as a firefighter, Morrison takes on the job of search rescue because he wants it, despite being warned about its dangers by his boss and mentor Mike Kennedy (John Travolta) and his wife, Linda (Jacinda Barrett).

The film traces Morrison's life in flashbacks as he lies unconscious after being trapped insided a building while performing a rescue. When his colleagues go to rescue him, he radios back to Kennedy telling him to pull them out since his case is hopeless and he does not want anyone else hurt.

Scent of a Woman movie review

Can you imagine a movie called "Scent of a Woman" with no women? Indeed, there is a pivotal sequence in the movie in which Al Pacino takes beautiful Gabrielle Anwar to the dance floor at the Waldorf Astoria for an impromptu tango performance, but other than that it is a movie about men. I enjoyed watching this movie even more because it reminded me so much of my days at the Birla Public School in Pilani.

Retired (and blind) Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (played by Al Pacino for which he got the Oscar) is a man with a very complex and powerful personality. When his daughter hires Charlie Simms (played by Chris O'Donnell, who is a student from a poor family at a prep school in New Hampshire) to take care of him over the Thanksgiving weekend, he is in for a roller-coaster ride. Within moments of the daughter leaving for a family reunion, Slade and Simms are on a plane to New York City. Slade's plan: stay at the Waldorf Astoria, eat at the Oak Room, dance and make love to a beautiful woman, and then kill himself. Simms has to simply help Slade do all of this.

Simms is facing some of his own challenges at school. He has been asked to attend a disciplinary hearing in which he is expected to confirm the identity of three pranksters.

The duo has a lot of adventures in the City and Slade does not kill himself. In fact, he comes back and defends Simms at the discliplinary hearing. His powerful speech was instrumental in Simms being acquitted.

It is indeed a beautiful movie and Al Pacino is at his very best. If you like good acting, or have attended a boarding school, this is one movie you shouldn't miss.

Marcus movie review

Horror is a genre that I tend to explore occasionally (and mostly alone) and I have enjoyed some good movies during recent months (Vampyros Lesbos, Night of the Living Dead, etc.). But when I received the press kit for Marcus, I had no idea what the movie was about. It didn't take me long to find out. Within seconds, it was obvious that it was a horror film.

In my opinion, there are two types of horror movies. The first category includes movies with monsters and ghosts - these don't scare me because I know that they are unreal and more often than not include just computer-generated characters. The second category includes sick human beings (or animals) - these do manage to scare me because they are depictions of real people and without our knowing it, they might be around us.

Marcus belongs to the second category. You would not dream of any monsters or imagine that there are ghosts in your bedroom, but the image of this heartless killer will stay in your mind.

Here is the plot in brief. Brooke has invited her brother Roger for a Christmas meal and he has decided to bring along his fiancee Gwen to surprise his sister that he hasn't seen in several years. When they arrive at her door, they first meet his estranged friend Charles, who is now dating Roger's ex-girlfriend Kate. Not a great start. When they walk into the house, Brooke is nowhere to be found but Marcus, a man that no one knows, shows up claiming to be the man Brooke is dating. While the guests are not aware of this, but we see that Brooke is counting her last moments in the bathtub.

No one in the movie is comfortable with each other and they are all waiting for Brooke to come back home (Marcus informs them that she had a minor car accident and is on her way home). It turns out that Marcus is a scary psycho and pretty much kills everyone by the end of the movie without losing the mean smile on his face. You are left wondering that how a man who looks like a professional can be so brutal!

What makes this movie interesting and powerful is that with just a $35,000 budget, it manages to elicit superb acting from Ross Kurt, Marc Rose, Frankie Ingrassia, Jade Dornfeld, and Samantha Shelton, and has some excellent music that provides a contrast to Christmas carols that also play throughout the movie.

Strongly recommended.

America's Sweethearts movie review

Lorena was disappointed from the get-go that "America's Sweethearts" was not the movie she expected - that there was no humor so typical of Billy Crystal. On the contrary, this is a very light comedy that reminded so much of what Woody Allen (Shadows and Fog, Casino Royale) comes up with. There are some comic moments, but at no point are you falling off the couch, or as is typical of Woody Allen movies, smiling at the cleverness of the joke or the subtlety of the dialogue.

The plot is essentially a satire on Hollywood relationships. Estranged couple Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie (John Cusack) have no choice but to come together to promote their latest movie (which is otherwise and may not do much to lift the sagging career of Gwen), and only some drama at the press junket at a luxury resort in the Nevada desert can get good reviews from the media.

Billy Crystal, who is an experienced publicist, takes charge and produces situations that will delight fans of Shakespeare's plays. Like all of us, the press too is obessed with the drama of relationships of Brad Pitt-Jennifer Aniston, Britney Spears-Kevin Federline, or Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes. That is exactly what Billy Crystal is able to do and the critics lap it all up.

Overall, a movie that you won't rememember the rest of your life, but is worth watching over a glass of wine after dinner. And by the way, Julia Roberts has a small, but impressive part, as Gwen's assistant/sister "Kiki."

I, Robot movie review

Whether it is Pinky or androids or Stepford Wives or robonauts, we will soon see robots the way we look at pets: friendly, helpful, and part of the family. Will that be in 2035? That is the premise of the movie I, Robot, which like The Day After Tomorrow is a visual masterpiece full of special effects.

In Chicago of the future, robots are everywhere and definitely that is good news for US Robotics, the company that manufactures them. If the robots were simply to follow our orders and make life easy for us, everything would be great, but what if robots could evolve or even have emotions? Even worse, what if robots could also try to protect us from ourselves, which is not inconceivable considering that by not fighting global warming, we are deliberately destroying the chances for survival of the human race?

If you are a fan of science fiction movies and get excited by robotics, this is an excellent movie to watch. Will Smith delivers a remarkable performance but we thought that Sonny (the robot) was even better. Like ET, it is easy to fall in love with Sonny. While some of the issues raised in the movie are somewhat premature, but considering that we all spend more time with machines than humans now, it is not a bad idea to ponder some of the ethical and social implications of bringing robots into our daily lives.

The Day After Tomorrow movie review

Global warming is a hot topic