Change Your Image
jenniness
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Lion (2016)
Sunny Pawar is the true star of this movie. Spoilers.
I am slightly annoyed here. Don't get me wrong, I loved this movie to the core. I am very happy that Garth Davis, Creig Fraser and Luke Davies recognized the importance of this story being told. It got me running back home to start donating to Magic Bus & Childline India, which by the way, the LIONMOVIE.COM promotion site does NOT facilitate the actual links to the aforementioned organizations (why? are you really helping then?!).
I cried throughout the movie, from the moment little Saroo and his beloved brother Guddhu were introduced. You could feel the chemistry between these two actors, solidifying the wonderful bond of the brothers.
What made this movie great, is the first half of the movie. It's the moment Sunny Pawar stepped into the train and you know his life will never be the same. It's when he hopefully starts to look for Guddhu, to find out that his brother is nowhere to be found. What follows is a horrifying journey, where we can see through the eyes of this (luckily) street smart kid, who managed to outsmart the dangers and horrors of his life as orphaned child. The emotional punch is delivered here and echoed throughout the movie.
I respect Dev Patel, but his delivery was flat, bored and blasé. Did he really wanted to be in the movie? I miss the emotional burden the real Saroo Brierley carried in the six years he was trying to find back his family home. All Dev delivered was a flat, one- dimensional, tired spoiled brat with messy hair and a beard. Is that how you convey an emotional burden that has haunted you your whole life?
I do think Nicole Kidman and David Wenham (the Tasmanian parents) delivered a wonderful performance - so gentle, so loving. After this horrendous turmoil in Calcutta all I needed (excuse, Saroo) was a warm blanket to spoil me and to never let me go.
Rooney Mara. Why? Beautiful actress, the supporting girlfriend, all good, but was it necessary to have her in the movie?
So, in my opinion, things got mixed up here. While I cheer that Dev Patel endorses this movie, I really feel that Sunny Pawar and Abhishek Bharate are the true heroes of the story. It's their bond captures you, leading you to follow Dev's grown up finding-back- home-journey.
It's only fair that they are credited equally on the movie posters. Not only the big known names. Don't mess up your good intentions, producers!
Living on One Dollar (2013)
If you judge the project for what it is, it's a great piece.
It's very seductive to judge this documentary, based on what we think a 'moral documentary' should be look like.
During the film I found myself to be distracted, and having trouble to sympathize AT ALL with the guys. There was no sense of emergency at all, it was an adventurous experiment within a time frame that was fixed, so no matter how much they would screw it, there was clearly a safe exit waiting for them after the two months.
The moments that the film does reach its peaks is when they talk, interact with the people from the village. Those were the highlights of the film, able to pull me back into the film. The stories from Anthony, Rosa and Chino were eyeopening and humbling. They showed a community of generous people who you wish well and triggered an urge in me to help.
I could not care more or less about the 4 students, because I know they will be fine, and after their adventurous experiment, they'll get back to their lavish lifestyles, and probably get an honorable remark for their work (which they did), get a good job and live a good life.
So if you would judge it as a moral documentary, it has major flaws, evoking little sympathy, with a shallow plot. I also kept on wondering - will they donate some money after they have finished their project?
But if you would judge it as it is, a student project, initiated by four college boys, who, I assume are no filmmakers, with the premise to 'live their hypothesis' as part of a school research, then I would take my hat off for their effort.
Mou gaan dou (2002)
More than just a crime thriller
This movie came out 9 years ago, and stunned the Hong Kong cinema with its great cinematography, overwhelmingly great performances, ashtonishing soundtrack, and just a CLEVER and intelligent story to tell.
9 years ago I watched the movie, and now today, 9 years later I watched the movie again, and the movie surprised me again with new inventive clues, twists, and even more dept in the characters.
From start to end, every scene is as breathtaking - compare the use, the expertise with colors and the colourpalet with Zhang Yimou's Hero, or Wong Kar Wai's repertoire - every scenery is truly an artwork - look at the long shots, look at the styling.
So why do I love this movie - to start with the intensity of the actors. Tony Leung, as always has the quality to render every possible emotion with credibility and intensity. Andy Lau speaks his eyes, and strong and sharp gestures. The scene is the audio shop is a true classic as we see our protagonist and antagonist (however.. this is the discutable part - who is the true good guy and bad guy;) meeting in an ambiance with no offence - SHARING on the surface their passion for music (and as we shall discover, they even share more roles then they could imagine). I would say that this scene is as classical as the openingsscene of Inglourious Bastards where we would meet the superb Christoph Walz creating this suspense you want to bite your nails off.
How to determine whether you are watching a great movie is to 'watch' the pace of the movie - as I can say; the pace of the movie is fast - the story unfolds smoothly and gives you an indept insight into human nature.
Are there any minor points- there are: the roles of Kelly Chen of Sammi Cheng are slightly redundant, as they - particularly Kelly not so effective - play the love interests of the main characters. Where as I do appreciate Sammi as a singer, she doesn't seem to be able to deliver versatile performances.
The soundtrack is literally sublime as it manages to transcribe the aimed emotions. Recall scene in the audio store, as Inspector Wong hit the car and when Tony is shot in the head.
I definitely would rate this movie a 10, as you can list this movie along with Wong Kar Wais Chung King Express - Zhang Yi Mou's Hero - as it is both an important piece of art, insight into human psychology, the ever intriguing balance and quest of evil and bad, and reference to Hong Kong culture.
Chun gwong ja sit (1997)
Wonderful touching movie
I think this movie is wonderful. Before I started to watch the movie, I already saw some comments the movie would be depressing and sad to watch. And yes that's true. The whole ambiance makes you silent, yet the main characters are so appealing. Appealing in their vulnerability, their loneliness, and the alienations in a foreign country. I love the way how Tony Leung portrayed portrayed a sensitive and responsible guy, as the opposite, Leslie Cheung portrayed an unpredictable yet vulnerable guy. I was really hoping Fai en Chang would meet in the end, because there was a strong companionship between them. The soundtrack in the end is a typical WKW-thing; it places you in the melancholical mood, wanting more and more of this moving art.
Great!!
Love Tony Leung, and even love Leslie Cheung more.