vibha101

PK is by far one of the best Bollywood films I have watched in a very long time. It was a refreshing and welcoming change to usual Bollywood cinema, and a path I think more filmmakers should consider venturing on. I did not expect Indian cinema to focus on concepts of religion and faith to this degree, but I have nothing but positive opinions of the manner in which this film was made.

This film is funny, heart warming and eye opening. PK's naivety and innocence is a strong attempt in restoring faith in humanity more than ever. It questions the man made boundaries of religion and faith and leaves the viewers wondering about humanity, religion and other aspects touched upon in the film. Although the film is filled with humorous moment, the deeper significance is as bold as ever. I loved this film for Aamir's acting and the concepts it experimented with. Actually, all the major roles were quite well performed. With the humor and distinct Bolly-ness of the film, it caters to the audience that looks for a good laugh and at the same time the film also caters to those looking for substance and meaning. I would definitely consider it to be a bold move in Indian cinema, one that sets the bar very high. My top 5 films of the year for sure!

The Imitation Game is a powerful film, which encompasses both, an exceptional story and great acting. Based on real life events, it was gracefully transitioned into a film that told a significant story but also had all the factors of a great film. The film was filled with all sorts of emotions including Alan Turing's (Benedict Cumberbatch) witty humor and the heartfelt tragic nature of his story.

I went into the film not knowing the sequence of events in depth that this story was based on. I was intrigued from the minute it started and left in awe when it ended. To me, it provided a whole new perspective to World War 2; a perspective that I did not know existed. The fact that this film is based on true events makes it even more gripping. Additionally, it adds a new dynamic and a very fresh way of viewing historical events and key heroes such as Alan Turing. The fact that his story was kept a secret for 50 years, leads me to question the extent to which our interpretation of historical events is accurate.

The nature in which the film moves back and forth in time to slowly reveal Turing's past and his persona, is phenomenal and a key feature that allows the audience to be further indulged in his story. Throughout his life, Turing battled with various different struggles both internally and externally, which in a way ultimately determined his tragic fate. The most touching aspect of the film, was truly Turing's character. It was his genius personality in a world that did not necessarily accept him. In my opinion, the film revealed the most important aspects of Turing's life in a very cohesive and effective manner. His personality and life prior to Enigma was key in his achievements during the war. The story and Turing's achievements were truly monumental and although I truly wish Turing's eventual fate was different, the film was one of the most significant War films I have seen. Cumberbatch was a great choice for this character, and it will certainly be one that will be remembered for a very long time. The other characters added a strong backbone to the film and story as well. Overall, a must see film, one that I certainly think is Oscar worthy.

As most of my favorite films, Interstellar left me with many questions and with a need to reflect on the ideas that were embedded in it. The film touches upon various topics such as knowledge of the world beyond what we know, human survival, the relativity of time and an intangible bond that connects individuals and humanity as a whole. Interstellar is a sci-fi journey to go beyond what is known in order to save humanity, but it is also a story about human relationships, sacrifices, making difficult choices and most importantly love. The concept that the bond between humans remains intact despite distance, space or time was beautifully portrayed in the film and felt most intensely in every heart-wrenching scene between father and daughter and even between the explorers as they journeyed across space. It tells a story of the survival of humanity weaved with intense emotions and the search of knowledge of the unknown. I found the storyline to be intriguing and immersed with challenges faced by humanity whether it was in terms of man vs man, man vs self or even man vs society. These challenges faced by the characters allowed them to seem relatable.

The soundtrack immersed you into every scene and the visuals were spectacular, indulging you to beautifully imagine an unknown idea. The tight frames during scenes between Conner and his daughter made you feel the intensity of that moment while at the same time the open frames in space were reflective of the vast unknown world. The visuals were breathtaking and on par with the emotion depicted in every scene whether it was the overwhelming vast and dark universe or the striking imagery as they ventured into new worlds. Concepts like black holes, universes with more dimensions and life on other planets created a thought provoking foundation for the film. I thought these concepts were well intertwined in the plot and although they may not have answered questions about humanity or the universe, they certainly left you wondering; any great film does exactly this. The acting is phenomenal, particularly that of Matthew McConaughey, Mackenzie Foy and Jessica Chastain as the driving emotion throughout the film was mainly felt through the relationship between these characters. Overall, at its core I think Interstellar is about the bond between individuals, humanity as a whole and the challenges one must face at the brink of fighting for the survival of mankind. It realistically depicts values of humanity, as they must find the emotional balance in order to come to terms with decisions made for "the greater good". It is an emotional but ambitious journey about exploring the unknown, understanding the limitations of our knowledge and the power of knowing more. This is one of the best movies I have seen in a while, a must watch.

I went into the movie with high expectations after having read the book in high school. I absolutely loved the book and always imagined it to be a certain way. While some aspects of the film met my expectations in terms of visual delivery and execution of the novel, a lot of it did not. There were many scenes that I would have loved to see but were not included.

As a film on its own, I found some of the acting to be lacking in emotions and conviction. I did enjoy Meryl Streep and the Giver, but the rest were very average. Some parts of the film felt slightly rushed, missing out on the true essence and meaning it could have conveyed. I did not feel as indulged in the film as I was in the book. Perhaps this was because I loved the book very much, but I feel it was also because the film lacked passion and depth. The overall message and meaning behind the story was not adequately conveyed as important scenes were not emphasized on and were rushed. Jonas's character development happened too quickly and we could not create a connection with any of the characters in the film.

Overall, I found the film to be average. Those that have read the book will find it to be below expectations whereas others may enjoy it for the concept and meaning it attempts to convey.

After quite a few avid suggestions I finally got myself to watch all 5 seasons of Breaking Bad. My opinion of the show was not always consistent through out. Initially I found the first season a bit difficult to get into and did not completely reach up to the hype that had been generated by everyone that suggested it to me. However, once I continued watching and reached season 3, I was hooked in ways that I have not been before. I found the character development to be extremely different than most of the other shows I have watched. Yes, I did find the plot and action thrilling, but the way in which the characters constantly battled the seduction of the darkness within them was most interesting. I am always used to finding some level of sympathy for characters, always looking for a rationalization to their actions good or bad. In the instance of Dexter, I began to accept who he was and his constant battle with himself and trying to find as balanced a morality as he could, allowed me to accept him. In the case of Walter White, after season 3 when he showed no sign of remorse for the child that had been murdered on the bike I was no longer able to find any justification for his actions. I was no longer able to sympathize with him, instead found him undeserving of any redemption or love for that matter. Being sucked into his own evil to that extent, and being at peace with it even at the last moment is no quality we look for in a hero. Although, as a viewer I was unable to love his character like a lot of other main characters, his story is one that will stand out. His character demonstrates the level at which circumstances can cause you to make a wrong choice. Initially, this choice was justifiable to a certain extent, but after a point it wasn't just about creating a better world for his family, it resulted in the surfacing of his inner evil and greed for power. Jesse on the other hand, was a character I could sympathize with. His constant struggle to right his wrong reflected some level of morality. There were some wrongs that were not justifiable and he was capable of acknowledging that unlike Walter, who would go to any limits to get what he wanted. Overall, Breaking Bad is definitely a show worth watching. It maintains a high degree of reality, keeps you on your edge with great acting; all of which are worthy of appreciation.

Saving Mr. Banks is extraordinary and impeccably "Disney". It is charmingly funny, heart touching and a beautiful story giving insights into the creation of Mary Poppins. I was not expecting to like this movie to this extent, but as it progressed I was immersed and completely awe struck. The weaving of the past and present was beautifully executed and brought authenticity to the story also justifying the hardened exterior of Mrs. Travers in the film. As for the characters, Tom Hanks, Collin Farrell and Emma Thompson were marvelous. If anyone could bring Walt Disney's personality to life, it was definitely Tom Hanks in saving Mr. Banks. Although we did not see as much of his personality as we saw Mrs.Travers', I found him to impersonate the role rather well. Even though Mrs. Travers is portrayed to be difficult and unable to be pleased, we continue to love and sympathize with her. We understand her need to project her father positively despite his setbacks. Mrs. Travers loves her father endlessly and in many ways wants so desperately for her real life to have had an alternate ending. When Walt Disney provides this to her through the film, she is relieved and finally pleased. For the first time at the end of the film we see her be able to peacefully come to terms with her past without feeling like she has disappointed her father. At the end of the film we see Mrs. Travers empowered by her emotions as she has finally seen a portrayal of her father in a way that she had always desired and imagined, but in many ways had also been the way she saw him despite his flaws that we see during her troubled childhood. She did not see her father as a cruel man and wanted to conserve her image of him in every way she could. Walt Disney provided her with an alternate and more hopeful ending to her troubles and reality. As a storyteller he attempted to "restore order with imagination, instilling hope again and again" (slightly paraphrased). I have not mentioned Mary Poppins at all, as this is the story of how the film came to life. The main focus in this film is mainly on the relationship between Mrs. Travers and her father, between Walt and Mrs. Travers and between Mrs. Travers and the ever so personal and imaginative world created through her book. Mary Poppins is in essence a savior and an idea of hope, a hope that Mrs. Travers/Helen had as a child of saving her father and the very hopefulness that was regained through Disney's film, Mary Poppins. Overall, I absolutely loved this film because of the characters, the story being told and everything about it. I love that the film is about hope and attaining it through imaginative and creative ways. I would definitely recommend this film to everyone!

I wasn't sure what to expect prior to watching Inside Llewyn Davis, but I was definitely impressed afterwards. Inside Llewyn Davis is one of those films with many grey areas and a lot of depth and sincerity to it. Llewyn Davis's character was extremely soulful and through his music he constantly conveyed a variety of different emotions ranging from sorrow, hope, defeat and compassion. One thing I found very striking in this film was its cyclical nature. The movie began and ended with extremely similar scenes with very minute differences in each. This shows us the difficulties that he had to face over and over as a struggling musician during the 1960s. This cinematic element reminded me of the film "Before the Rain" that began and ended the same way, where the characters were unable to escape their circumstances. Similarly, Llewyn Davis cannot escape the harshness of the current world he lives in where it is extremely difficult for a struggling musician to survive. It leaves you with a sense of ambiguity but also shows more about the character of Llewyn Davis and how true he is to his music. Unlike other characters in his film, he does not succumb to music or ways that are not a representative of his soul and who he is. Llewyn Davis expresses various emotions through his music regarding some of his life events such as his partners suicide and the birth of a child he had no idea about. This is what makes his character and his music heart wrenching and soulful. I think this film is more about Llewyn Davis rather than his life events. Overall my expectations for this film had been surpassed and I am extremely glad I went to watch it. It was thoughtful, filled with emotion and beautifully executed.

The Wolf of Wall Street is one of the best recent Scorsese movies I have seen. It is entertaining, well directed and phenomenally executed. It is a roller coaster of a film that engulfs you from start to end. The acting is excellent, perhaps one of Di Caprio's best; and not to forget Jonah Hill's brilliant performance that allows him to display his sense of humor while staying true to the stock broker character that he plays. It is almost as if we as the audience are on the same adrenaline rush that the characters are throughout the film. With the fast paced and thrilling nature of the Wall Street setting of the film, there was absolutely no moment to even realize that it was three hours long. The essence of wall street trying to be presented, was thoroughly depicted not only through the dialogue and screen play, but was also brought to life through the visual imagery of the film. The chaos, corruption and greed associated with wall street was effectively conveyed throughout the scenes, ranging from the carnival like atmosphere of the office to the excessive and lavish sets. I am uncertain of how accurately this film depicts the real life events it is based on, but the film definitely conveys what it is set out to in terms of the wild, overly consuming and greed infused nature of wall street.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has made quality films that range from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam to Devdas to Black. Ramleela as beautiful a movie as it was, did not compare to his previous exceptional works. The set and the execution of the film itself were colorful, vibrant and visually stunning. This movie had the potential to be ranked along with his previous works, however an unnecessary level of drama was added simply to appeal to the masses and raise box office numbers. His previous works have been lengthy, but was not realized as much as it was in this film. Although the story was based on Romeo and Juliet, a story so heart wrenching and beautiful, the additional and unnecessary elements took away from the purity and beauty of the story. The directive style did not seem to be consistent throughout as there were scenes that seemed to be out of place with the overall spirit of the film. The film could have been much shorter and more impacting had some of the scenes been eliminated. Most of the dialogue was well written, however some parts were rather meaningless. The acting in the film however does deserve credit, particularly Deepika, Ranvir and especially Supriya Pathak. Supriya was extremely convincing in her role and played it amazingly well. Ranvir and Deepika were well paired and rather brilliant in executing their roles. I do feel that the roles could have been slightly refined in their nature, but for what the roles were the audience will definitely be able to feel the emotions they convey. Although the film did not live up to Shakespeare's epic Romeo and Juliet story, as the audience we are definitely able to feel overwhelming emotion throughout, which I think is one of its successful attributes. Overall, the film is well made, entertaining for the most part, heart felt because of the acting and beautiful at its core after the elimination of various extra "filmy" attributes.