2012 – A Must Watch!

Roland Emmerich is back, and this time he goes big with 2012. With the line of movies in his bag, he can be titled undoubtedly as the ‘master of disaster movies’, and I think 2012 is his best movie till date.

Many believe that a movie is fueled by its ‘story’, which plays a vital role in its critical success. If you’ve got a strong story, a mediocre direction will sail the movie safe into the hearts of millions and also into the banks, of course. Well, if you’re one of those believers, then this is not the one for you, because this doesn’t quite have a story as such.

I think that’s obvious from the title and the marketing the filmmakers have done thus far, but what makes the movie so special is its relentless depiction of the apocalypse with its state-of-the-art special effects and CGI, which no matter however scientifically inaccurate, is bound to blow your mind, and keep you ultra-thrilled at the edge of your seats.

For me it was a movie of a lifetime. I booked for a matinee on a Sunday afternoon when I was in Cochin last week. I was more than surprised to the see the crowd. It was overwhelming, something that you never see in Kerala. There was obvious applauses and whistling during the movie, but the defining moment for me came when the audience (not all, but most of the fraction) gave kind of a standing ovation when the director’s name was splashed in the end credits, which is fascinating because most of the people in Kerala don’t know or rather don’t care who the director is, they just came to see the earthquakes, and the volcanic eruptions, the Tsunami and stuff.

Like many of his movies, 2012 too has a hell lot of destruction, but this time it’s too splendid, most of the time. The story goes by the protagonist, Jack Curtis, played by John Cusack, a divorcee, who is supposed to save his ex-wife and children from the destined wrath of gods. As I said before, 2012 is not really about the story; it’s about the breathtaking scenes that almost visualize how the end of the world is going to be, if there was one.

 

Two Words - "Too Good"

 

 

Although there are a lot negative critics, who say 2012 relies on a lot of CGI and has no substance, but people, this is a disaster movie, and I’d say Mr. Emmerich is successful once again in doing what he does best, ‘making us feel to our hearts that we’re nothing but tiny little helpless creatures, and our fates are decided elsewhere’.

Wolf Creek

After watching the Thai horror flick Shutter, it seems there is no movie that can beat the creep out of me (excluding obviously The Exorcist). I can’t term this one as a full on horror movie, but it does make you sit at the edge of your seats. The whole story is loosely based on the Australian Outback Murders as goes the movie tagline, “Based on true events”.

Story revolves around  three young backpackers in their twenties who return from a hike in Wolf Creek National Park in the Australian Outback to find that their car won’t start. They accept help from a seemingly friendly local bushman. He tows their car to his camp, an abandoned old mine site.

The movie is quite fresh in it’s looks and the effort has to be appreciated. Though the movie lacks any hardcore thrill elements, but it’s worth a watch for movie goers.  Acclaimed film director/writer Quentin Tarantino called it the scariest film he had ever seen. But I personally think the movie can be termed as a well-made low-budget thriller. In Australia Wolf Creek debuted at Number 1 on November 6 making $900,000 AUD.

Wolfe Creek is actually a meteorite impact crater in Western Australia, which is central to the Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater National Park. So guys rent your DVDs out this weekend and enjoy the cheap thrills.

Revolver

null

“Brilliant Guy Ritchie back to his best”, that’s what the Sun had quoted in the promotional poster of the movie. Jason Statham as Jake Green looks fresh with his french beard in the movie and also he is  convincing. He plays a top notch con artist in the movie who after spending seven years in a solitary confinement is back for avenging the death of his sister in law. Ray Liotta plays as Dorothy Macha, a kingpin who is responsible for the death of Green’s sister in law.

 The first half of the movie is a typical stylish Guy Richie movie but with a darker storyline. The second half is a bit dragging but personally I was never bored watching the entire movie. Withing two years of his release Green rises as a hotshot trickster who has supposedly acquired a “Formula” which will lead it’s user to win every game. I don’t think the movie comes with a message. But one strong point the movie comes up with is the games that our mind play to us. The movie has some interesting quotes that you would have to watch if for yourself. But my personal favorite is what Avi says, “the greatest trick that ego ever pulled was making you believe that he is you”.

The movie won’t make you thrill and chill but it’ll definitely make you think. “Human mind is capable of doing anything that it desires, it’s just that we are so busy in our lives to handle our own stuffs that we don’t find the potential hidden in ourselves.” Released in 2005, written and directed by Guy Ritchie, overall the movie is watchable and if you watch it alone, it’ll be a nicer experience. It’s applealing to the people who have a specific tase in life and cinema alike. Enjoy your weekend!