Cloud Atlas (2012)

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Genre: Drama/Mystery/ Sci-fi

 Starring:  Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Bae Doona, Ben Whishaw, James D'Arcy, Zhou Xun, Keith David, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant

Directed by: Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, Tom Tykwer

Rated: US: R, UK: 15, India: A

Movie Review:

Lengthy, confusing yet intriguing plot that will get you involved in the movie all the time. And if you cannot grasp all the six stories moving in different timelines, you will certainly be lost in it, which may give you the feeling that it is getting boring. But if you do grasp them, this certainly is a fresh, interesting and thought provoking film that should be appreciated for the efforts the directors and actors have put in it.

Cloud Atlas is adapted from 2004 novel (of the same name) written by David Mitchell. And the Watchowski Brothers (of The Matrix Trilogy fame) along with Tom Tykwer have tried their best to convert this bestseller into a film. This film has some strong Vfx, applausable cinematography and nicely laid plots which will get you involved in the film.

The only drawback is, it is so haphazard that sometimes it confuses the viewer as many of the characters have been repeated in different stories. Well maybe it was necessary (due to budget most probably) so one should keep in mind that the they does not have to relate the character's repetition to be having some link between the stories. The only links are what has been shown. All characters are unique in their own stories.

See, if making you understand is so complicated, you can imagine the complications of the stories...lol. Tom Hanks has been brilliant throughout the film and cast ensemble is good.

The film is intriguing and it won't let you guess what it has in the next scene. Well sometimes you can, but most of the time, you just would like to see what it has in the next scene rather than guessing (unless you have read the book of course). 

But I felt that the movie lacked in making understand its motive properly (which was suppose to be reincarnation and relation between every story).

My Recommendation: It has some brilliant Vfx. I will recommend to Rent it only when you have heart to watch such films that are more than just entertainment. I mean, this movie needs lot of brains to be poured in it (you also may need to rewind the film to grasp what you saw or heard at that moment). So if you are ready to watch some difficult sci-fi

Why Should I See?: for its freshness, brilliant plot, vfx, good acting

Why Should I Not?: Lengthy, confusing at times (only if you do not get yourself involve with the story)

Rating: 6.5/10

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*Courtesy VISO Trailers

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

*Poster Courtesy (www.impawards.com)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Genre: Adventure/Fantasy

Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Manu Bennett, Andy Serkis

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Rated: US: PG-13, UK: 12A, India: U/A

Movie Review:
Being a true LOTR (Lord Of The Rings) fan, this film did not go up to my expectations. I did not fall in love with this film as I thought I would, because I had this misunderstanding that this movie is going to be on the level where LOTR stands.

The first part of The Hobbit Trilogy, and the prequel to the LOTR, this J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga has been mishandled at many aspects. Its slow pace (especially in the beginning) gets boring, (I think the idea of making it a trilogy made him to make a slow slithering plot. If only he would have thought to complete the book in two parts, this movie would have been far far better than it is.) Jackson's attempt to connect this film to LOTR again and again without any necessity has made him to add on scenes which were not required at all.

Beside its slow paced plot, major drawbacks had been, the overwhelming (and at few places - inept)  CGI (it was too much to digest sometimes), non - humor screenplay and comparably not to the extent of LOTR cinematography, plus an expected ending which just promises that the second part will be better and if that's the story, I would love to write all the good about it (after all I am an LOTR fan remember?), but not this time.

 But there was one impeccable scene that has been made with extreme care (an eye candy for sure), and that would be the conversation between 'Bilbo' and 'Gollum'. And yes, the mind blowing background score by Howard Shore. He did some really good job there.

All in all, this movie is okay on its own level but it is shallow if compared to LOTR. Hope Peter Jackson comes up with a blast in 'The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug'.

My Recommendation: Well, the second part looks promising, so you have to get yourself equipped by watching this one. And if you are an LOTR fan, you cannot miss it no matter how shallow it is if compared with its predecessors. So, anyhow, watch it, just for the sake of it.

Why Should I See?: To get yourself acquainted with the plot as the second part looks promising, some high end background scores and high - end CGI at some places.

Why Should I Not?: Slow paced plot, non-humor as compared to its predecessors

Rating: 6/10

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*Courtesy Viso Trailers

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