My Personal Picks - I

Flightplan (2005) ****
Directed by Robert Schwentke, Written by Peter A Dowling & Billy Ray

Kyle Pratt (played by Jodie Foster), an aircraft engineer, is flying from Berlin to New York with her dead husband's casket and her 6 year-old daughter Julia. Few hours into the flight; after a nap she finds her daughter missing, nobody even admits to have seen her daughter, the crew says the manifest shows no child boarded with her and that her husband took their child just before he died. Kyle strongly believes her child was with her and asks for a thorough check of the aircraft but nobody listens so she takes things in her own hands, finds her daughter and also exposes the sinister plan of the air marshal Carson (Peter Sarsgaard) with the connivance of one of the crew members. Jodie Foster shines in every single frame, she delivers one of her best performances, the camera work is awesome and it zooms in and out; inside the magnificient double-decter aircraft; to those parts of the aircraft which you and I don't get to see. In all, flightplan is an intriguing thriller coupled with brilliant acting from the entire cast

Phone booth (2002) ***1/2

Directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Larry Cohen

Stu Stephard (played by Colin Farell) is a publicist, he walks into a phone booth to call a woman with whom he is having an extra-marital affair, as he hangs up, the phone rings; he picks it, at the other end is a sniper who seems to know everything about Stu, the sniper threatens Stu that if he hangs up, he would shoot him, the sniper is hiding in a building close-by and pointing a gun at Stu, conversation between Stu and the sniper builds up; so does the tempo of the plot, the entire plot unfolds at this phone booth in a street corner, Stu is reluctant to come out of the phone booth fearing his life, tension at the street corner heats up, the police arrive, they realise Stu is in some serious trouble, search the buildings close-by and track down the sniper. Stu apologizes to his wife for cheating on her and the movie ends in a positive note. This movie is a brilliant example of how a powerful script can keep the audience gripped, a simple plot supported by a powerful screenplay

Philadelphia (1993) ****1/2

Directed by Jonathan Demme, Written by Ron Nyswaner

Andrew Beckett (played by Tom Hanks) is a lawyer who is gay and has contracted AIDS, his law firm fires him inexplicably despite Andrew being competent at work. Taking the battle for his job to the court; Andrew sues his employer, he approaches a lawyer, Joe Miller (played by Denzel Washington) to fight his case, Joe is homophobic and reluctant to take up the case, but after studying Andrew's case and sensitizing himself on the subject of AIDS, sheds his homophobia and represents Andrew in the court and goes on to become a crusader of sorts. However Andrew loses his battle over AIDS. Excellent performances from the lead actors and a sensitive portrayal of complicated issues make this; one of the best amongst the very few movies that focussed on the AIDS plague society. The movie has got some brilliant court room drama that keeps the audience intrigued. No wonder why Tom Hanks won an oscar in the category of the best male actor in a leading role

WALL E *****

Wall-E, a lovable robot, is a masterpiece. Movie starts without any dialogue. The story is told visually where Wall-E, the abandoned waste allocation bot, moves around an extremely rendered post-doomed Earth. He goes around compacting trash into cubes and piling them into sky scrappers. Wall-E has more humanity in him.

One day, WALL-E's life is changed by the EVE’s arrival, a robot sent by a spaceship to find life on earth. They get bonded - until EVE unexpectedly shuts down. WALL-E tries to revive her, when that doesn't work; he is satisfied with protecting her until her spaceship returns. Reluctant to lose his new friend, WALL-E tours a ride and learns the fate of those who abandoned Earth so many years ago.

I want people to find out what happens in the end.

It’s definitely an excellent animated movie. Kudos to pixar for such a creative thought. haha 5 stars !

Kung Fu Panda ****

Well, before I start my review I want to tell my reader[s] (that’s you Ezhil and Vijay!) that I saw this movie alone in a movie hall. The reason being my friends not interested in this animated martial arts adventure.

Ok… the review!
A gawky panda is chosen as a kung fu hero to defeat a treacherous enemy (leopard) that spreads pandemonium throughout the countryside. Po (the panda, works for his family’s noodle restaurant) looks like a meek bear, but is marked by a substantial power to protect the village. With time running low and evil snow leopard advancing, the furious five prodigies Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper, Monkey, and their master Shifu, all use their skills to transform Po into the dragon master (leopard wishes to become one but is denied a chance so he turns bad !) . In the end, Po succeeds and becomes a real hero!

The movie gets interesting despite its initial drag! The kung fu fighting by the characters is awesome!

Repeatedly, the movie underlines that one cannot control one’s destiny and quotes there are no true ‘accidents’. We just see the “illusion of control” in our lives. It used Peach tree as an example, you can plant the tree but can never control to grow apples on it. Good!

There isn’t really anything vulgar or negative about the movie. I rate it 4 stars. It is indeed a must-watch with family.