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Reviews

Kamli
(2022)

A Cinematic Masterpiece: Delving into Sarmad Khoosat's "Kamli"
As a seasoned film enthusiast, I have witnessed the evolution of Pakistani cinema, from its humble beginnings to its recent surge of critical acclaim and international recognition. Sarmad Khoosat, a visionary director with a penchant for poignant storytelling, has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in this transformation. While I initially harbored reservations about his work, particularly his film "Joyland," which I found to be trash.

The opportunity to witness "Kamli" at the Islamabad Literature Festival 2023 proved to be a transformative experience. The film's opening sequence, set amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Soon Valley, Pakistan, immediately captivated me, transporting me to a world of pristine beauty and captivating mystique. The narrative, centered on three women navigating the complexities of their lives, resonated deeply with me, stirring a symphony of emotions within my being.

In the realm of Pakistani cinema, Sarmad Khoosat stands as a visionary director, a master storyteller, and a painter with light. His films are not mere entertainment; they are journeys into the depths of the human psyche, explorations of societal norms, and celebrations of cultural heritage. His 2022 masterpiece, "Kamli," is a testament to his artistic genius, a film that transcends the boundaries of language and culture to resonate with audiences worldwide.

A Tapestry of Human Emotions

"Kamli" is a poignant tale of three women, each grappling with their own desires, dreams, and unfulfilled aspirations. Saba Qamar, the epitome of grace and vulnerability, portrays Shano, a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, yearning for the freedom to embrace her true self. Sania Saeed delivers a powerful performance as Samira, a woman burdened by societal expectations, struggling to find her voice amidst the suffocating silence. And Nimra Bucha, with her captivating intensity, breathes life into Amaltas, a woman trapped in a web of familial obligations, longing for a taste of independence.

Khoosat's masterful direction delicately weaves together the stories of these three women, creating a tapestry of human emotions that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. He delves into the complexities of female desire, societal constraints, and the yearning for self-discovery, all while maintaining a delicate balance between realism and poetic lyricism.

A Symphony of Visual Poetry

Khoosat's visual storytelling is nothing short of breathtaking. He transforms the pristine landscapes of Soon Valley, Pakistan, into a canvas on which he paints a symphony of emotions. The turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon mirror the depths of the characters' souls, while the lush greenery of the valley reflects their inner turmoil and resilience.

The cinematography is a masterful blend of wide shots that capture the grandeur of nature and intimate close-ups that reveal the subtlest of emotions on the actors' faces. Khoosat's use of light is particularly captivating, as he employs it to illuminate the characters' inner journeys and to create a sense of both beauty and mystery.

A Soundtrack that Speaks to the Soul

The soundtrack of "Kamli" is an integral part of its storytelling, seamlessly weaving its way into the narrative to amplify the emotional impact of each scene. The haunting melodies and soulful lyrics, composed by Khoosat himself, perfectly complement the film's themes of love, loss, and longing.

The standout track, "Naina," is a cinematic masterpiece in itself. The choreography, the camerawork, and the music harmonize perfectly to create a scene of breathtaking beauty and emotional resonance. It is a testament to Khoosat's ability to blend art forms to create a truly immersive cinematic experience.

A Magnum Opus that Redefines Pakistani Cinema

"Kamli" is not just a film; it is a work of art, a cinematic symphony that resonates with the human experience. It is a love letter to Pakistan's rich cultural heritage, a celebration of female strength, and a testament to the power of storytelling. Khoosat has once again raised the bar for Pakistani cinema, proving that our films can transcend borders and connect with audiences worldwide.

"Kamli" deserves to be taught in film and art schools, not just for its technical brilliance but for its ability to evoke profound emotions and provoke thought-provoking discussions. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll, leaving an indelible mark on your soul.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
(2022)

Purely Nostalgic
I've been a fan of Puss in Boots ever since I saw the first movie in 2011. I love his charm, his wit, and his badassery. So when I heard that there was going to be a new Puss in Boots movie, I was beyond excited.

Ah, Puss in Boots, the last wish movie - a nostalgic journey that whisked me back to a time when my biggest concern was deciding between chocolate or vanilla ice cream. With its witty charm and swashbuckling feline hero, this film felt like a warm hug from my childhood, complete with a sprinkle of grown-up humor.

As the screen came alive with the mischievous adventures of Puss, I couldn't help but chuckle at his charismatic swagger. That confident strut and those pleading eyes - I must admit, I almost believed I could pull off wearing a hat like that without looking utterly ridiculous. Almost.

The tale unfolds with all the whimsy of a fairy tale, complete with a daring quest and an oh-so-noble motive - the last wish. Now, I've never met a talking cat in real life (although I've had my suspicions about Mr. Whiskers next door), but Puss's banter with his furry and cute companions had me in stitches. It's like the Avengers, but with furballs. Genius.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish did not disappoint. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. The animation was beautiful, the story was engaging, and the humor was on point. But what really made the movie for me was the heart.

This movie is a love letter to Puss in Boots and his fans. It's a story about a cat who is coming to terms with his mortality. It's a story about friendship, love, and finding your purpose in life. And it's a story that will stay with me long after I've seen it.

I'm not going to lie, there were a few moments when I teared up. But it was the good kind of tears. The kind of tears that come from being deeply moved by a story.

If you're a fan of Puss in Boots, then you need to see this movie. It's a must-see for any fan of animation, adventure, or heartwarming stories.

Don't Look Up
(2021)

What was that?
Poor Direction, Poor Acting, Pathetic Production, doesn't make the headline of this movie. Poor Acting of Leo doesn't make a highlight of this movie but the headlines is the pathetic script. The movie totally ignored the existence of NASA. I am not a fan of NASA but the movie would have been totally different if role of NASA was involved. Jenifer Lawrence didn't even tried justify her role. She was Ph. D. Student but her character was more like a geeky teenager. Overall, the movie was painful to watch. Disappointed.

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts
(2022)

Underwhelming
If this reunion was done at the end of the 8 movies, it would have been mind blowing but time has passed, you cant just throw documentary about how you done that move, It was amazing, no doubt. But we have friends reunion to compare it with, which makes it a terrible reunion. Much of the cast was missing. They could have done so much more, it would have been thrilling. As a potterhead, we were dying for more. Something to cling on to, like the cast, we have grown as well, we needed some connection, maybe some scenes that could have been redone or a bond of potters and dursleys. There wasnt even complete weasleys.

Tom and Jerry: The Movie
(1992)

The best Tom and Jerry film ever made
I am watching this film since i was a kid and now after 20 years i have first watched this film, i still love it. It has great musicals and the story is just great. The humor is of class and both the kids and the adults get amused by it. There are so many twists and angle in this movie that make it remarkable. The father-daughter song, "I Miss You" remains to be my utmost favorite.

Call of Duty: United Offensive
(2004)

Underrated yet Awesome
This is one of the most underrated game of COD. It is not only one of the best, it is my favorite part. Especially when you want to play multiplayer, this game offers much more than its successors. We can use jeeps and even tanks which makes the Multiplayer game very interesting. The levels are very cool and it has a decent graphics. The single player is old school WWII stuff but covers great stories. Games like these are the reason i cant adapt to Black Ops or its successors because the class this game offered was no doubt the best.

Max Payne 3
(2012)

Disappointment
To begin, It was a good game and has a good story but it is a disappointment because the game was titled Max Payne. This sequel was nothing like the previous parts which I love, to date. It was like the spirit of Max Payne was lost. It was like any other game, the concept of Max Payne, the slow mo's, the newyork city background, infact everything that made the game special wasn't there. Although it was a good game but it hurts to play it as Max Payne.

Max Payne
(2008)

The Game, The Movie...Its Awesome
I have been a fan of the Max Payne Game and have played part 1 and 2 multiple times. When this movie came out i was really excited. It was difficult to understand the movie at first because it was slightly different from the game but after watching few times, i understood the story. What i absolutely love was the way this movie was filmed. The best thing about this movie is Mark Wahlberg. It was his best acting ever however it remains for some reasons underrated. But for me it was Mark's best acting ever. I have loved this movie when it came out and I love this movie today.

Siyaah..
(2013)

Great Movie
It is a great drama film which i got the honor to watch in Cinema. The best thing about this movie is that it is kept simple. It focuses on the basic aspect of black magic and the story has great twist. It is one of the very few Pakistani movies with actually a plot. There are hardly any GFX used which is the beauty of this movie. The movie rely heavily on its plot and the acting of the couple which was great. Three of the main actors did a great job. The movie is also made in Islamabad which adds to its beauty. For me the best line of this film was "Kia ap Shaitan par yaaken rekhte han? kyunke woh ap p yakeen karta ha" Hats off for the whole team.

Ordeal in the Arctic
(1993)

Great movie of its time
I can't recommend anyone to watch this movie now as the GFX are outdated. But i am here to write a review of this movie because back in 1999 it was a blockbuster movie for me. I used to watch it almost every week and I used to show it to every guest that came to my house. It was a great movie. The ordeal was pretty real and at that time, the effects seems great too. Even though i cant stand the GFX and the set now but at that time it was a special movie and holds a special place in my heart.

The Edge
(1997)

Sentimental Love
This was the first and the only movie we got when we bought a VCR in 1998. It was beautiful. Before that time, i have watched other movies too but this was really special. The actors did a great job and the Bear, Oh MY GOD, was it scary. I even remember its face expression even today. The best part was the way this film was picturized. It was beautiful and made me fell in love with Alaska. It is to date among my top favorite movies. It is worth watching and is good for kids because i was 7 years old when i watched it and fell in love.

Demon in the Bottle
(1996)

Mind Blown
I got this movie when i was a kid. Since then, i have watched this movie around hundred times by now. A great story with great acting. It is the kind of movie that makes you want to watch it again and again and oh boy as a kid, was it scary. If i have to make a list of my top ten favorite movies of all time, this movie will be among the list.

The Donkey King
(2018)

Exceptionally Awesome
Oh My Gawd! Who was expecting a superb, International standard movie. When i say International Standard, i am talking about movies like Ice age and Monsters and Angry Bird. It has that class. The makers of this movie just nailed it. After the great success of Commander Safeguard which is also by Mr. Jindani, the movie is a great national hit. I haven't seen this much hype ever created for a movie in Pakistan. It was like back when Khuda kay liay was gonna come and everyone was excited but this time the movie was great. Talk about any angle, the animation, the characters, the cast and most importantly the script was too good. The sarcasm was too damn good. It was kind of a movie that made u laugh on another level. Really impressed by the work. It was not only a funny movie but one with a great message and the makers proved their point when they said its for all ages, because it was. I have seen the cinema full even on like 8th day of the release. Its not a spoiler i guess but the dancing cow was the most hilarious part. After the great impression of Jan Rambo on our generation, he did it again on this younger generation but this time as Jan Mangu, the washing machine. Brrrrrrrr

Inferno
(2016)

From an Epic Story to a Stupid Movie
One thing i don't understand is that how hard it is for film producers to follow the story lines. I get it that sometimes there are technical reasons for which they need to alter the story line but in this case there was nothing technical and the edit was like this bad that turned this super classical movie into a stupid nonsense movie. The took away the gist of the whole plot. It was painful to watch the movie and see how they messed with the novel. It was this bad that it should be declared as a crime. There was nothing good about the movie, even the characters were changed like seriously? If you have read the book, you'll feel terrible to watch the movie. I guess Dan Brown should have sued the film producer for the mess they caused. If you haven't read the book, it will still be a bad movie with no understanding of what actually happened.

The Notebook
(2004)

Disappointment for book readers
After reading the book, the movie was a disappointment. In movies, usually the things that are changed are scenes and little twists but in this film they have changed the behavior of the characters, from awesome gentle people to social idiots. The way they have changed the behavior of the characters was a huge disappointment. The movie wasn't even close to what the book was portraying, the main theme to ending, everything is changed. The movie had no depth and it seems like a B- class romcom.

Interstellar
(2014)

A Sci-Fi futuristic program on Discovery
Interstellar is one hell of an over-rated movie. The movie is based on theoretical physics and is like watching a prolong show on discovery channel. The Filming was really awesome but the plot sucks at various level. I don't get it that why everyone is so obsessed with showing a devastated world, numerous of movies/dramas of this era are showing that earth will be destroyed in their own ways, and all have pathetic plots from Automata to Cargo to Interstellar. However the scenes, the filming was epic one of the best of Christopher Nolan and damn you can never have enough of best effects from Nolan but still we have seen better than this one. A total time of waste it was for me.

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