Up.

If it’s Toy Story that defined animation in its colorful spirit, if it’s Finding Nemo that told us underwater experience is much bigger than what Disney movies had shown us, if it’s Ratatouille that made animation pictures one of the most loved genres, it’s now Up that redefines and breaks the conventional protocol of movie-making. With Toy Story began an era of two dimensional animation pictures and the world wanted more and more of just one thing – PIXAR.

Easily, they could have hit the top notch of commercialism by remaking a number of old classics. However, Pixar refreshingly and healthily stuck to making original and beautiful stories. Sitting in a Pixar movie, one can’t help wondering if there could have been a nobler story told in a nobler way. It’s also tough to debate what made the movie beautiful, the story or the presentation! But I think, if you ask Pixar, they would trust the former. Why would we otherwise not mind watching a Pixar movie more than once and still find ourselves in tears and laughter and a light warmth in our heart?

Up, in one word is ‘beautiful’. But this has always been the only word I have used to describe any Pixar movie. The most beautiful part is the almost-silent relationship shared between Carl and Ellie and one spontaneously feels the loss after Ellie leaves. Their photo album would leave anyone craving for a few more seconds to have a good look at the pictures. Every picture in that album of Carl & Ellie’s is simply a piece of art.

While Up may not be as deliciously cooked as Ratatouille or as fast paced as Cars, it is definitely another hydrogen balloon Pixar can proudly fly under. It’s a cakewalk to review their movies since the word ‘bad’ seems unheard of by Pixar. The simplicity, the goodness, the beauty and the soul Pixar movies carry is something world cinema, animated or not, definitely requires. With every movie, one can’t wait longing for the next one.

Pixar is a genre, an era, a brand synonymous with the word and the world of animation.

Dasavatharam...

After almost 2 years of hyping the expectation levels in people, I was nearly sure this is one movie I would catch up with in a theatre, just to treat myself to the sound and visual effects in full force. I went to see the so-called magnum opus of Kamal on the 3rd day of its release and returned with a lot of questions racing thru’ mind. First of all, I flatly deny the tag hanging on to the movie - this is NOT anywhere closer to be called a Magnum Opus of an actor who excels in quality equally with world cinema. So what if he takes 10 different avatars? That does not qualify the movie to a safe place in the critique’s court. The plot is strongly purposeful; a biological warfare which loops in world class scientists, CIA-turned terrorists, FBI and even US president George Bush. I took a while to make some sense out of the flow of the plot from a 12th century diversification between the vaishnavites and the Shaivaites where Kamal plays the steadfast Vaishnavite who leaves his family behind and dares to die because he does not want to say ‘Om Namah Shivay’. The only link this thread has with the movie is the point that the massive sculpture of Lord Vishnu which Kamal is tied with and dropped into Ocean is thrown back to the shore by the Tsunami waves, about 8 centuries later.

The movie is an entertainer, sure, from start to finish. But that's just the least that has saved it from hitting the below-average mark. It's a visual kickshaw, no doubt. But when the flavor goes high with ingredients like the genius in Kamal Hassan, there'sn't much that satisfies his intelligent fans apart from the magnitude of hardwork that has gone into it from the editing and the visualization part. For me who has grown up admiring the brilliance in Kamal's movies, the word 'Classic' just fades away from the plate that carries his master pieces on serious subjects like Kuruthipunal or Mahandi or Nayagan or a delicacy of humor like in Micheal Madana Kama Rajan or Sathileelavathi ....the quality these movies carried in every respect of Cinema is just adorable. What is more incredible is the point that the beauty of this was achieved when we did not have super eminent technicians like Ravi Varman or PC Shriram doing the work behind the cameras. PC Shriram was part of Kuruthipunal, though, I believe When it is a magnum of a few intelligent minds making a movie, people do not expect anything less than an Opus and only when the product of the combined work strikes out all the records it has set in the hearts of movie goers, I would call it a Magnum Opus. I believe I have seen more in Kamal and that's my solid base to expect more from him. If you attempt to take viswaroop with 10 different avatars, it's just another slot in the Guiness Records for you, alright and Congratulations for that but sorry that hasn't helped me stand up and give a standing ovation at the end of it like I wished it did. Kamal, good job but Dasavatharam is definitely not a splendor that any Kamal Hassan-lover was expecting it to be.

Taare Zameen Par

Did I just sign off with the best movies of the year after watching Chak De and Jab We Met ?Yes I did and looks like I was far too much in haste while doing so or that was just a superstition, sarcastically drawing a line on Indian Cinema. But I had to hold my breath and gasp in adoration because I just saw one of the most wonderful movies I have ever seen !!! Taare Zameen Par is something every one, in a child's life MUST see. The little nuances that mould a child, the tool a teacher has in making a great human being, the most sensitive and emotional bondings a kid develops with his family and a lot more that goes into the wonderful experience of growing up, the movie has captured it all in a way that must be seen to feel. A gem and a clear product of the genius in Aamir Khan, Taare Zameen Par has proved good cinema does not really require to follow a conventional formula, it just needs to reach the heart of a simple viewer, by way of a fantastic story, life takes us through.

Movie Reviews for the week.

Jab We Met

I really had this smile on through out the movie. Amidst all the movies that have come out recently on confused and confusing boy-girl relationships, Jab We Met was like licking a melting cone ice cream. Simple and sleek, romantic and beautiful. Though with the obvious shadows of DDLJ in some parts, Jab we Met is the best one I could catch in 2007, absolutely. And yea, I never thought I would love Kareena in a movie until this one.

13 going on 30.

Jennifer Garner doesn’t look juvenile enough to me to do romantic comedies. But 13 going on 30 was the pick for her. It’s completely imaginary. I mean, having a 13th birthday someday and the next morning you find yourself to be a 30 year old and successful and thriving and rocking??? Ridiculous isn’t it ? But that’s what she goes through and I liked the adventure. A pick for one of those Saturday evenings when you don’t really feel like going out.

Ice Princess

A fantastic theme! Do what you really want to do with life. But the whole story as such did not really keep me to it, probably because they couldn’t add more fun to the seriousness of the theme. And the characters, I felt lacked a little strength, especially Casy’s (the female protagonist’s) coach. And yea, the story is by Meg Cabot? You know the author of the Princess Diaries series. Well, perhaps not all books look good when translated into movies, I say.