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Lalon is Tavir Mokammel's attempt to portray the life story and philosophy of mystic baul poet of Bengal, Fakir Lalon Shah. 80% of the movie revolves around beautiful baul songs, although the songs are selected meticulously to fit the progression of the movie. Raisul Islam Asad portrayed the character of Lalon with perfection. Tanvir Mokammel also tries to touch in detail the philosophy of Lalon Shah in this movie. We come the know from the movie that one of the main goals of Lalon Shah in his life was to find the answer of purpose of creation of life in this world. His thoughts were influenced by Hinduism, Muslim and Buddha's teachings, although he kind of created his own way of explaining the mysterious nature of GOD, the reason of creating mankind and the relationship of GOD and mankind. The cinematography is exquisite. Acting of other performers is also good. A good movie to learn about this mystic philosopher's thoughts.

Although the idea was good, most of the scenes was so shaky and unstable that it turned out to be a great deal of torture on my eyes and brain. It took several hours to calm down my neurons after I came out of the theater. I was surprised not to see any direct scene of the true witch in the entire length of the movie. I would give it a 5 out of 100.

The final work by great Kubrick is really a fascinating work. Strong screenplay, strong cast, marvelous sequences and extra-ordinary background music. Basically slow in pace, but you never feel bored. It is proved that, KUBRICK can never make a bad movie.

A least seen movie of Satyajit. Satyajit is one of the very few great directors who worked outside Hollywood circle and gave a lot to the film history. He is mostly know to the movie lovers as the creator of great APU TRILOGY. I feel that Ray's works are severely under-represented in USA, although most of his works are masterpiece or near-masterpiece. Thanks to Ishmael Marchent for arranging a retrospective on Ray's works at USA in 1996, I guess. But again in that retrospective, I didn't see the names of some of his great works, like NAYAK, KUNCHENJUNGHA, SEEMABADHYA, ARANYER DIN RATRI or SONAR KELLA. Names of the films that I always see in a Satyajit Festival are the APU TRILOGY, JALSHAGHAR, CHARULATA, GHARE-BAIRE ... etc. No doubt that all of those are great works of Ray, but indeed one cannot know the power of his filmmaking unless he sees some of his other less known works (some of which I mentioned).

Nayak is a simple story of the most popular Film Actor of India, acted with all perfection by great Indian Actor Uttam Kumar, who goes to the capital city Delhi to receive an award of his achievement via a train. On the train he meets Shormila Tagore (Another favorite actress of Satyajit whom he casted in several other movies like, Apur Sansar, Devi, Aranyer Din Ratri, Seemabadhya ... etc.) and some other characters of the story. The story progresses when Uttam discusses with different aspects of his life and career with others (especially with Shormila). In depth thoughts and feelings of UTTAM sprung out as time goes by and Shormila discovers the very lonely man in Uttam hidden behind his day to day charismatic lifestyle.

On my judgement, NAYAK is the greatest creation of RAY. UTTAM's acting can challenge anyone in the motion picture history. The high abstratness and philosophical bent of the movie is comparable to that of CITIZEN KANE (according to me, better than CITIZEN KANE) and the mutual conversations among the characters or the screenplay in other words, can beat those of MINDWALK, VANYA ON 42nD STREET, RED or CASABLANCA. A must see film for all great movie lovers. A 10+ out of 10.

In my opinion this is Hitchcock's best. For sure there are a number of movies by Hitchcock which are almost equal in appeal, mystery and thrill, but, if I'm given the chance to select a best I would refer to this movie w/o any doubt. The other Hitchcock movies that I liked are (accordingly) North by Northwest, Vertigo, Notorious, Spellbound, Rear Window, Psycho, Birds and Suspicion. Yet to see some other good Hitchcock movies like, Strangers on a Train, The Rope, Lifeboat, Shadow of a Doubt, Foreign Correspondence and Dial M for Murder.

Hitchcock never won an Oscar as best director. But this was the only Hitchcock movie to ever win the Best Picture. Joan Fontain gave her best shot as a confused housewife tormented by the memories of Rebecca. One of the best acting in the film history in the role of a leading female character. I was surprised to know that Fontaine didn't win the Oscar. She won it a year later in another Hitchcock movie, Suspicion. But whoever will see both the movies, must admit that Fontaine was hundred times better in Rebecca than in Suspicion.

Performance of Bogart is a real landmark in the role of a leading character. The other roles I can think of that might go very close to what Bogart gave in The African Queen are as follows:

1. William Hurt in Kiss of the Spider Woman 2. Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs 3. Dustin Hoffman in Rainman 4. Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca 5. Uttam Kumar in Nayak

Throughly enchanting and entertaining. Kate is also brilliant in her own way.

Good movie in all respects. Good acting by Raisul Islam Asad, Champa and Rupa Gangooly. Adaptation of great BENGALI novel "Padma Nadir Majhi" by Manik Gangooly in film areana has been done with perfection.

This movie is Ray's first

1. Colored movie 2. Movie whose script is written by Ray himself 3. Movie whose story duration is only one day.

After Kanchenjungha Ray made a number of B/W movies until 1973 when he made second colored movie "The Distant Thunder." In most of his career Ray used to make movies out of novels and stories written by famous BENGALI writers. E.g. his best known works of APU TRILOGY (Pather Panchali, Aparajito and Apur Sansar) are actually movie version of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's novels. In the same way he made movies out of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's stories and novels (e.g. Three Daughters, Charulata and Ghare-Baire). But this is one of the three movies whose writing credits fully goes to Ray himself (other 2 are Nayak and Agantuk). In all these three movies he in someway tries to speak about his own thoughts and philosophies of life via the characters of these movies. And of course all of these 3 movies are great works of Ray.

Indranath Choudhury (Chhabi Bishwas) along with his whole family goes to the beautiful hilly city of Darjeeling to spend vacation. Members of his family and some other characters of the movie start reacting differently influenced by the immense beauty and power of Kanchenjungha (Highest pick of India, also it is one peak of the mighty Himalayas). Anima (daughter of Indranath) confesses her secret love affair to her husband and assures him to amend the relationship for the betterment of Tuklu (their daughter). Labyanya Roy Choudhury (w/o Indranath) becomes worried for her husband's plan of giving their daughter Monisha's marriage to a more materialistic guy (Banarjee). Ashok, a tormented poor young man also refuses to accept any job offer from Indranath. In fact the mesmerizing effect of Kanchenjungha on the characters of this film is done with incredible perfection. On my judgement, Kanchenjungha along with Nayak are the best movies made by Ray. I also rate those films as two great movies ever made in film history.