The legend of 1900 (1998)

Country: Italy / USA

Language: English

Actors: Tim Roth, Puritt Taylor Vince & Peter Vaughan

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore

Music: Ennio Morricone, Amedeo Tommasi

Tornatore’s first English movie, a story told as a series of flashbacks. This technique of using a series of flashbacks is called “Medias in ras” (Latin) or “In the middle of things”. This film is an adaptation of Alessandro Baricco’s theatre monologue Novecento.

This movie is about a musician Danny Boodman T D Lemon 1900 or 1900, a piano prodigy who has never set foot on land. 1900 is abandoned as infant in the ship SS Virginian to be found and taken care of by a coalman. 1900 keeps travelling back and forth the Atlantic and becomes the pianist in the ship’s orchestra.

The movie is the recollection of Max Rooney, a trumpet player and 1900’s friend & band mate. He talks about the exploits of 1900. Needless to say, because the protagonist is a piano player we get to hear some fantastic music. As any other Tornatore movie, this one too is a visual treat.

Tom Roth as 1900 does really well. Another important player in this movie is Puritt Taylor Vince who plays Max Rooney, the guy who tells us the story of 1900. But the hero of the movie is definitely Lajos Koltai’s cinematography and Ennio Morricone’s music.

Like Max Rooney says, “A good story is worth more than an old trumpet”. This one is surely worth much more, highly recommended.

Red Cliff 2 (2009)

Country: China

Language: Mandarin

Actors: Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-Ling & Zhao Wei

Director: John Woo

I saw Red Cliff 1 last month, yet it was fresh in my memory once I started watching the second installment. I would have watched the movie(s) even if it was (were) one part and an hour and a half extra to sit. The production value is mind blowing and one feels that it is monies well spent by the producer.

Tony Leung, what can one tell about his man ? I’ve now become a great fan of his Zhou Yu (the character in this movie), but for how long ?? Tony Leung, for me is like a bottle of wine… You are taught the older the wine is the better it is. Likewise, the more of Tony Leung you watch the more you like him.

Zhang Fengyi does well as the antagonist. The experienced actor he is, he excels as Cao Cao. The ladies in the movie, Lin Chi –Ling & Zhao Wei are brilliant. If we have a winner of a movie then one needs to credit John Woo, the man at the helm,the father of this lovely epic movie.

The battle formation & strategy are practical tips for the gamers among us. The background music is something that needs very special mention. It makes the movie even more impactful.

Part 2 has more action compared to the first installment. For once it is not senseless action, blood & gore. The music, the unmatched visuals and some superb acting take this movie to a completely different level.

The climax is something that WOW’s us. I don’t have words to describe this movie other than very highly recommending this movie.

Amazing movie, a must watch.

Ko (2011)

Country: India

Language: Tamil

Actors: Jiiva, Karthika Nair, Ajmal Ameer, Piaa Bajpai, Prakash Raj & Kota Srinivasa Rao

Director: K V Anand

Story: Suba (D Suresh & A N Balakrishnan) & K V Anand

Cinematography: Richard M Nathan

An action thriller about politics, the role of youngsters in it. The protagonist is a photographer in a local newspaper who becomes the champion of investigative photography thanks to his daredevil photographs of a bank robbery. The field now shifts to another youngster who wants to make his mark in politics, he fights election against two giants. The ruling party and the opposition do what our current central government does best, spoil their own chances by doing the improbable. Taking advantage of this the youngsters come to power and the photo-journalist figures a link between the bank robbery and certain people who are close to the youngster (new) CM.

Is there a real link ? How does the CM respond ? That is the movie

Jiiva and Ajmal Ameer have done exceedingly well. So have Karthika Nair and the rest of the cast. Piaa Bajpai fills in the blank as the mandatory Mumbai export required for a masala, populist Tamil movie to round things off.

As usual my pet theme of the role of songs in Tamil cinema comes to the fore. Though the songs by Harris Jeyaraj sound nice and the picturisation in foreign locations by Richard is amazing we need to question the need for them. I personally feel KO would be a hit even without the songs and foreign locations just on the merit of the story & screenplay.

This movie has all the ingredients to be a super-duper hit it has become. A straight superwatch for the story, screenplay, cinematography, music, acting & direction. Although my prejudice against the unnecessary songs, dance & foreign location would call for a downgrade to a goodwatch.

For once I will go with the popular sentiment and call this a superwatch. Could have been a real knockout but KO wins on points !!

Red Cliff 1 (2008)

Language: Mandarin

Actors: Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-ling & Zhao Wei

Director: John Woo

Any war based movie costs, the costs are even higher especially if that is a period subject. This one is a Period War Movie, it is based on the epic Battle Of Red Cliffs (208 – 209 AD). It chronicles the Han dynasty towards the end of their reign.

Amazing movie in terms of the production value, this is one the most expensive films made in Asia. And this movie grossed more than Titanic in mainland China. Which means the costs didn’t sink.

Due to the length of the story this movie was made in two parts, the second part was released in 2009. The movie has a very talented cast, one of the actors being the most talented Tony Leung. An amazingly multi-talented actor comparable to the best in business – yesterday, today and hopefully tomorrow. And he doesn’t disappoint you.

Overall this is a very good movie, with great background music, superb visuals thanks to the mindboggling production value and to top it all has a greatly talented ensemble cast.

Great watch, the moment I finished Part 1 the reflex wanted Part 2 to start. Such is the interest this movie creates.

I love it.

PS: The reason why I chose to watch this movie is thanks to G V Prakash Kumar and his plagiarized credit title tune from this movie for the rooster fight of Aadukalam.

Well done G V Prakash and Vetri Maaran, I wish you had at least doctored a bar or two of the original track to make this look / sound an original. May be you were short of time !!

Love in the time of Cholera (2007)

Language: English

Actors: Javier Bardem, Benjamin Bratt, Giovanna Mezzogiorno & Fernanda Montenegro

Director: Mike Newell

Cinematography: Affonso Beato

Based on a book by Nobel winner Gabriel García Márquez, At the end of the movie we get all the usual questions we have when a screenplay is adapted from a famed book.

1. Has the director done justice to the amazing book ?

2. Has he overtly tampered the original to get to his screenplay ?

3. Is it good when people make movies out of great books ?

4. What would have been Gabriel García Márquez’s reaction when he saw this movie first ?

5. Will this movie make the people who have not read the book run to the bookstore to get their copy ?

And we know the answers well. Never before have we been satisfied in unanimity with any movie that has been adapted from a book. If that were an overstatement, then I would sweeten it by adding “Most of the times”, if that would satisfy you !!

The same is the case of this movie. Unfortunately I still can’t say 100% that the movie didn’t do justice to the great book. Because I’m only halfway into the book. But till where ever my bookmark has gone, I’m only semi-satisfied.

As any movie, this one has its plus points. In my opinion almost all the actors are fantastic in their roles. Javier Bardem & Fernanda Montenegro (who plays Tránsito Ariza) are just fantastic, not to take away the credit from the other actors. The visuals are pleasing, one should definitely credit Affonso Beato who has manned the camera in this movie. The music is fantastic, it is pretty unfortunate that we know Shakira only for a “Waka Waka”. This movie is one example that there is a musician called Shakira who’s beyond just one anthem.

Overall I personally liked the film although I would have expected that I would love it.

Now, let us continue with our debate on the merits of making a film out of a great book.

PS: Legend has it that Gabriel García Márquez said "Bravo" at the end of the screening of the (unreleased) movie