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Reviews
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Apes Rule
I didn't see other Planet of the apes movie. Even though I strongly doubt any of those past movies can top this newest edition to the franchise. For me, script and acting wise Rise of the Planet of the Apes was the best movie of the summer.
While usually a summer movie is expected to be heavy on action and CGI, Rise of the Planet of the Apes's true strength lies on its story telling. (Though the CGI part of the movie was pretty awesome too.) It was well paced, emotional and thought provoking. From the opening sequence I was hooked to the screen and I could hardly turn my head till the movie ends.
James Franco delivered a superb performance as the talented scientist who is hell bend on finding a cure for his mentally disabled father. But the best performance of the movie, just like every one else is saying, is without a doubt the ape named Ceaser acted by mo-cap actor Andy Serkis. This time i believe he has outdone himself from his previous work in Lord of the Rings and King Kong. The character Ceaser was simply phenomenal. The way the makers blend human emotion with wild animal instinct in Ceaser was really amazing. From his birth to moment he assumes the leadership of the league of free apes, audience will be emotionally attached with him every sequence. You will adore him at his infancy, get amazed by his intellect at his young age, be angry when he was treated so cruelly by human and feel the adrenalin rush when he finally breaks free and rises to the top. The way this character Ceaser developed was almost similar to a Disney character.
Rupert Wyatt did one of his best work as director. The CGI, though in my opinion is not the main attraction of the movie, was better than most of the movies of this summer. The apes movement and their facial expressions were spot on. Their wild nature was vivid while in their face you could also read affection, fear, anger, commitment and other such human like emotions in a very realistic way. The score of the movie was very well crafted. It blends well with the sequences and adds a lot in raising emotions.
It is very hard to neat pick a movie as good as this one but there are some very minor short comings in my opinion. while James Franco's character has a very big role at the beginning of the movie, his importance gradually fades away as the story reaches towards its end. I think writer could do a bit more with him. Freida Pinto has contributed virtually nothing to the story except from being the love interest of James Franco. I think she is a talented actress and could do a lot if was given the opportunity. The movie felt a bit rushed at the beginning. I personally wanted to see more of Ceasers childhood. And finally as a summer movie it could use a bit more action. Most of its action is near the end of the movie and i don't know if it is enough to satisfy an edge of the seat, jaw dropping action lover. But considering over all quality of the movie these short comings can easily be ignored.
Now, I shall watch the original Planet of the Apes movie. And for you I cannot recommend a movie more than this one. This is as good as a summer movie can be.
X: First Class (2011)
Could have been better.
Now i know everyone is very excited and mostly happy with the new prequel of the x-men franchise. But i guess i will have to disagree with the general audience. I've just watched this most anticipated prequel of this summer and i've to say while the movie was not bad, it did not live up to the hype.
Before going into the negatives i should say X-Men: First Class had an amazing story and equally well crafted dialog so Kudos to Bryan Singer. Actores are well casted and they all delivered. Especially Michael Fassbender as Magneto was unbelievable. This time we get to see Magneto not as a homicidal sociopath but a vulnerable and emotional human being. So even when he turns on the human race and goes on a killing fringe, still we feel sorry for him. Michael Fassbender took this daunting task and pulled it off with near perfection. James McAvoy as Professor X was incredible as well. Since it got to be hard for the audience to relate with someone who has every thing handed to him, McAvoy have done a wonderful job making the audience fall in love with him. Other actors did not get much screen time and had so little to work with so its not their fault that we don't feel much for them. but among them Jennifer Lawrence was the exception. Her portration of Mystique will change your whole perception of that character. The visual effects and cinematography were state of art. Especially that awesome scene that was seen in the trailer where Magneto lifts that submarine into the air or when he stops hundreds missile with a flick of hand was just breath taking to watch in the big screen.
So, why do i think this movie is not worthy of all these praise? The problem is with direction i guess. when you see the movie you will feel like it is skipping some parts and abruptly jumping from one scene to another. The storytelling was not smooth at all. There was virtually no character development. It was like they assumed everyone knows Professor X is a huge humanitarian and Magneto is a victim of his inner demon so we don't have to waste time to build this characters. And while it was a delight to see the bromance between Eric and Charls, it was also done poorly. It was like one moment Charls and Eric just met in the middle of the sea and in the next scene they are BFF. the gradual development of a strong friendship despite mammoth difference in their perception and end-goal was absent. the film felt rushed and bumpy. The makers were in such a hurry to reach to the final climax that they lost sight of the little things that actually makes a film unforgettable.
So, in the end X-Men: First Class is not as good as X-Men or X2 United was and it had so much possibility and room for being a great film which it was not. But it is still so much better that X-Men: Last Stand and Wolverine and still worth your money and time.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
Find your inner peace!!!
Now let me begin by saying that this may be one of the greatest animated sequels that we have ever seen. It is now totally in the league of Toy Story and Shrek.
I loved how the storyline continued from the last film and matured along the way. This time its a lot more serious and also very emotional. here we get to have a look to the sad past of Po the Panda as he quests to unlock his lost childhood memories, find his true origin and most importantly find the inner peace. The story was fast paced and well crafted, it didn't felt rushed or stuffy even though they have given a lot in less then 90 minutes.
There is way more character development than the previous one. There is a perfect balance of humor and action of and thankfully the humor are less about Po's eating disorder or weight problem and more witty and funny.
The voice talents are great as before. The animation was nice with just enough 3D elements and some 2D flash-back stories.
At the end it is safe to say that Kung Fu Panda 2 was a delight to watch and well worth of your time and money. If you are a animation lover you just cant have this summer without watching Po the Panda.
Guerrilla (2011)
Good in a Different way!!!
There have been a lot of movies lately based on the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. One common feature all of them lacked, including the critically acclaimed Joy Jatra, is an interesting plot with a detailed narrative. In all of these movies the war and the sorrow of the victims were the main focus and it overshadowed the storyline. As if the makers thought "well, this is a war movie. So it really doesn't need a good story. All it needs is some screaming, heartless murder and cool explosion." While this strategy may satisfy the audience for the moment it is sure to fail to leave a deep impression in the minds of thoughtful viewers.
This is where Guerrilla was different. It knew its limitations. It knew it does not have the budget or technology to create a intensified battle sequence. So it invested on the storyline, it invested on the acting and creating some nerve wrecking moments. It didn't try to be overly educative or informative. It tried to be entertaining. And guess what, it succeed beyond expectation.
The plot was fairly new, has enough pace and a few twist here and there to keep you engaged. Its nothing you can't predict before hand but it will still entertain you. It took time to develop the main characters which is a very important aspect that was missing from the recent war movies.
As for the acting, Joya Ahsan did a very good job portraying the wife of the missing engineer. You can see how much committed she was to the character and it payed well.Nothing exceptional from the other actors but they all delivered what was needed.
I felt the makers could do a little more with the Cinematography and editing. Some background music were rather odd and the explosions and gun shots should have been a little more realistic. As any other Bangla movie the dialog is too cheesy but the actors made it work. As a contemporary war movie i expected more of tactical urban guerrilla warfare but... well, guess i just have to wait (why don't the makers consult with a guerrilla fight specialist before writing the screenplay??)
Overall Guerrilla is a nice addition to the summer movies of this year. it is also a step made forward for war movies of Bangladesh.Go watch this movie, you wont be disappointed.