The List of Life

I've always hated what the Germans did to God's chosen people. Well, to be more precise - I. Despise. Adolf Hitler. Ugh.

 

Well, if you're a sucker for films about The Holocaust or the Jew massacre in the 1940's, then I'm pretty sure that the movie Schindler's List would fit the bill of your musings.

 

It is a film that can be sum up to three words only: A PURE MASTERPIECE.

 

(c) Google Images



Given the fact that it's a real account based on the life of Oskar Schindler made the film more awe-inspiring.

 

The story set its focus on how Schindler was able to outwit Hitler and the rest of the Nazi Party's Schutzstaffel (SS) or Protective Squadron.

How did he do it, you ask?

Long story short, he gave up all  his life's fortune in order to buy the Jews out of the ghetto from the SS and sometimes bribe the officials just to get them out from gas chambers. Those Jews that he bought were then listed as the Schindler Jews or Schindlerjuden.

Thus, they are not slaves of the Nazi Party anymore but 'skilled' workers in Schindler's factory.

You see, not only does this black and white movie encompass the premises of the Holocaust and genocide but also embrace themes of redemption and liberty that will make you cry and grit your teeth in anger and frustration at the same time!

With the direction of  Steven Spielberg, he made the film a major box office hit winning 7 Academy Awards and many more. Despite the 3 hours and 15 minutes running time, Spielberg somehow managed to keep the viewers glued to their seats until the end of the screening.

Furthermore, the movie stars Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, Ben Kingsley as accountant Itzhak Stern, and Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth who were all phenomenal in their performances. It's no wonder why it's considered as Spielberg's greatest film ever.

Overall, the movie is a living legacy of a man who once thought that he was just a con man, a womanizer, and a good-for-nothing businessman who can do nothing but eat, drink, and be merry; but then he turned out be a selfless man who's the reason why lineages of Jews are still existing today - raw, real, and alive. Indeed, whoever saves one life, saves the world entire. Long live, Schindler! 9/10.
 

(c) oskarschindler.com

PS. According to oskarschindler.com, Schindler died penniless. But, he earned the everlasting gratitude of the Schindler-Jews. Today his name is known as a household word for courage in a world of brutality - a hero who saved hundreds of Jews from Hitler's gas chambers. Schindler died in Hildesheim in Germany October 9, 1974. He wanted to be buried in Jerusalem. As he said: My children are here...

 

Cusp of Time



(c) Google Images

Perhaps the first question that would come into one's mind upon seeing the movie Babel is that - WHY IS THE TITLE OF THE MOVIE BABEL, BABEL?

 

If you're up for a movie that encompasses both time juxtapositions and series of unfortunate events slash misadventures, then this movie is a must-watch for you! The kind of movie that you'll have to watch twice to fully savor the taste of its story.

 

Released on the year 2006, BABEL weaves FOUR stories in THREE countries. It is told in a non-linear way showcasing a ripple of events caused by a single action.

 

TWO young boys playing with a Winchester rifle whilst daring each other who among them can shoot better. A bickering American couple who's still grieving over the loss of a child as they experience a sudden crisis on a bus tour in Morocco. A Mexican woman wanting to attend the wedding of her son but is torn between her needs and wants leading her to make hasty decisions. A Japanese schoolgirl who's desperate to lose her virginity after feeling like a reject because of her disabilities.

Upon viewing the film, it's for sure that you'll formulate many questions of connections and speculations; all the while waiting for the big revelation to come.

You see, the multi-narrative presentation of the movie sets Babel unique from all the other films released on the same year.

Despite its here-and-there plot stitching, still the message of the movie was effectively put across. In short, the drama of the juxtaposition served the plot and story well.

Since the film presented 4 languages: English, Arabic, Japanese, and the sign language, the message of the movie presses miscommunication and confusion like that of the Bible account: The Tower Of Babel; and since the movie evidently showed one problem building after another, it apparently symbolizes the tower, per se.

 

Minus the minimal touch of sex & violence and plot implausibilities, Director Alejandro González Iñárritu did a pretty good job in this one - in fact he won best director at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. 

With the seamless intercutting of its multifaceted story and the remarkable acting performances of the leads, it definitely is ONE heck of an impressive movie! 8/10

 

 

PS. IMDb rating = 7.5/10 ; Rotten Tomatoes = 6.7/10

 

Of Royalty and Obscurity

THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (c) Google Images

One word to describe this movie: WEIRD.

Well, you really can't expect a Wes Anderson movie to be the other way around though. So, here comes another atypical film of Anderson that's about the journey of a dysfunctional family of child prodigies and of obscure parents.
 

Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Luke Wilson played the parts of the Tenenbaum whiz kids: Chas, Margot, and Richie respectively. While Gene Hackman as Royal Tenenbaum, the father, and Anjelica Huston portrayed mother Etheline Tenenbaum.
 

You see - despite it being a star-studded film, you might label The Royal Tenenbaums as a movie you'll probably watch just for once; but might also consider it as a stroke of genius with a touch of quirkiness and uniqueness.
 

Not only does it take brains to appreciate this movie but also an eccentric taste in film. Story-wise, the movie is more focused on good character development than building the plot. The character development demands patience from the viewers though; give it 30 minutes tops, and the movie will have you immersed in its story. It's weird but it worked!

THE CASTS. (c) Google Images

Now, let us analyze the Tenenbaums one by one.

Royal. Despite him being an accomplished lawyer, he is an insensitive patriarch (if not a bastardly father to his children). Hackman managed to put a spark of interest in his character proving to the viewers that he's a great choice for the role.
 

Etheline. An archaeologist and the devoted mother of the Tenenbaums, her top priority is her children's education. Well, you can somehow charged the brilliance of the three whiz kids to her. She's an epitome of a loving mother and a caring wife, which obviously was not fully recognized by Royal. Regardless of everything that has happened between her and Royal, she was still able to forgive him. I, for one, thought that she and Royal would be back together in the end but apparently did not because she found love with Henry Sherman (Danny Glover), her accountant. Tsk.

Chas. The eldest son and the financial genius. He has insights on deciphering pitfalls in the money system but has a mental age like that of a 10 year old. Also, he grew up not to be so genius at all (in fact all of the Tenenbaum kids did) and when his wife died in a plane crash, he became overprotective of his 2 sons that he was paranoid over their safety. I think Ben Stiller was not fit for the role but somehow he succeeded in bringing out the neurotic character of Chas even just by an inch.

Margot. An adopted daughter and a award-inning playwright. She has a troubled and indifferent spirit that's tainted with vices. She's always depressed and sulks over an unsatisfying marriage. Gwyneth Paltrow portrayed the character of Margot well.

Richie. The youngest, the tennis pro, and the Papa's boy. He's the closest to Royal because of his outgoing and loving personality. However, he's been harboring his secret love for Margot for years and becomes suicidal over such matters. He lost his career because he was devastated when she married Raleigh St. Clair (Bill Murray). Just for a little spoiler - he and Margot did paired off in the end. Yaaay!

 

Moreover, in the movie the women are deemed to be the weaker vessel and the emotional species. Take Margot in all her angsty cigarette-ed glory and melancholic blunt side, she is by all means an ideal Anderson gal. While the men are the ones who make hasty decisions that they regretted later and have inner psychopathic problems.

Certainly, there were parts of the movie that were boring and tedious to watch; but overall, The Royal Tenenbaums delivered a message that gave hope to the messy world of life, mistakes, and relationships. You'll either hate it or love it. As for me, I never knew dysfunction could be so entertaining. 7/10 :)

PS. The movie made its way to be ranked as the 159th greatest film ever made in a poll made by Empire in 2008.

HUMAN CENTIPEDE

Shame

this is what you get

for trying too hard to attain fame

Lame

You wasted my time

On your trashy film sublime

There’s nothing you can do

to undo everything now

Too bad

You have to accept the fact

that what you produced,

Directed and acted;

Isn’t good enough

to even receive just

“The worst movie award”

Here comes the W.A.R. (Warrior Against Racism)

(c) google images

The image of him standing on a deserted highway with a sign board that reads 'Repair almost anything' is true to the soul of this one of its kind tale of a man. -Karan Johar, My Name is Khan director.

Have you ever been so enthused about a movie that when you see its trailer, you get the feeling that it's a must movie to watch?

If you haven't, then try viewing the 2010 Bollywood movie My Name is Khan. It is a heartwarming story of an ordinary man who went through an extraordinary journey for love. The film is made with sincerity and compassion; it grapples with the most urgent and fraught issue that has always faced humanity - religious differences.

The story revolves around Rizvan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), a Muslim with Asperger's syndrome, a milder form of autism which impairs the protagonist's social communication skills and gives him some odd behavior patterns. He can't stand loud sounds abd hates the color yellow. He can't also tell a lie and can barely bring himself to hug someone. Despite his oddity, he finds love and a family with a Hindu woman, MAndira Rathos (Kajol Mukherjee) and her son Sameer (Yuvaan Makar).

Unfortunately, the wheels of fate suddenly turned, and the happy home falls apart due to racism in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. After Sameer becomes a victim of an anti-Muslim attack, Mandira throws Rizvan out, and he takes her command literally. Driven by deep love for his wife, Rizvan parts with the promise not to return until he meets the U.S. President and tells him one thing: "My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist."

The film is brimming over with scenes that will encourage you and relentlessly move you to tears, not because they are uplifting, inspiring and heart-rending. My name is Khan is somewhat comparable with the award-winning Hollywood film Forrest Gump which starred famous actor Tom Hanks. Although both movies are often compared in most reviews, My name is Khan could never surpass the smooth yet creative flow of the American film because this Bollywood movie's delicate rhythm wobbles in some scenes where it jumps from one setting to another. Despite this, the contrast of cultures is a reminder that Bollywood is indeed different form Hollywood.

Still, My Name is Khan is a total character piece. Shah Rukh Khan was stupendous as he portrayed his role as an endlessly fascinating person. He never once lost grip in his character despite the mannerisms, the awkward body language, and the distinct speech style. Kajol Mukherjee was commendable as well, as she pitches in such a restrained yet dramatic act in one of the most difficult scenes of the film which will simply blow you away. Other casts like Yuvaan Makar, Zarina Wahab (Rizvan's mother), and Jimmy Shergill (Rizvan's brother) also bolted brilliant portrayals of their seemingly unnoticeable but essential roles.

More to these, the direction of Karan Johar comes of age. He tells a complex story with sparkling simplicity, without forgetting that the cinema is primarily meant to entertain. The story, music, and cinematography are expansive, brimming over with soulful, uplifting tracks creating a dreamy San Francisco canvas where the Mumbai concept remains so real, so downtown, and so back-alley.

Overall, it's a tale of triumph of this indomitable spirit of Rizvan Khan that touches you, moves you, makes you cry and enlightens you with its delightful message that no matter whom your God is, what your religion is, and where you put your faith and trust, the path of God is of love and acceptance, not of hatred and war. No human race is superior, no religion or faith is inferior. Everyone has the right to be treated fair.

The film is a total thumbs-up for it gives you the odd enthusiastic feeling that urges you for a second viewing. Oh! Before I forget, his name is Khan, from the epiglottis (read deep, inner recesses), not 'kaan' from the any-which-way upper surface but Kha-khan -- the man who repairs almost anything.


PS. This movie review is published on the FORWARD Magazine, the official student publication of the University of San Jose - Recoletos. All rights reserved. No part of this article shall be used for any purpose without prior explicit permission from the writer or from FORWARD Publications.

A Family Like None Other

(c) google images

"Once upon a time there was a beautiful tiger who lived in a cave with the rest of her family. Her father and mother told her, 'You can go anywhere you want but never go near the cliff, for you’d fall.' But when no one was looking, she’d go near the cliff. For the closer she came to the edge, the more she could hear, the more she could see, and the more she could feel. Finally, when she stood at the very edge, she saw a light. She leaned out to touch it and then flew to tomorrow."

Here comes a movie that surely encompasses the perks of being a caveman and the struggles of being one while in the quest for survival. Another adventure comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox, THE CROODS sets in a fictional prehistoric Pliocene era known as ‘The Croodaceous’ and tells the story of a family of cave dwellers who embarked on an adventure into the dangerous but exotic land full of fantastical creatures in search of a new home.

The spice of the plot kicked off with the destruction of the family cave they had lived in for ages. Followed with the constant disobedience of the stone Age teen protagonist, Eep, on over-protective father, Grug and his long list of rules – anything new is bad, curiosity is bad, going out from the cave at night is bad, basically, everything is bad.

Just like how Merida in BRAVE defies her mother’s wishes and Hiccup in HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON sneaks behind his father’s back, the movie is just the same old dispute – a curious teenager with his/her fascination for the new and unknown while the parents refuse to let go or grant their kids’ wishes.

However, if you would ask me why this movie is a must-see despite same old characterization then, I commend its great set of jokes that will keep you chuckling and glued to your seat plus its touching story of a loving father who will do anything for the safety and survival of his family. He would sacrifice breakfast … or his life.

For years, Grug had kept the family safe. He is the man of brute force – he had the strength and courage to lead his loved ones to survival but when he loses the cave and is forced to push through unfamiliar territory, he is a little lost. His rules do not work anymore. His skills seem worthless.

But with the help of the new guy, Guy, the Croods conquered their fear of the outside world and discovered that they have exactly what it takes to survive – each other. He is the man of ideas – he has a fertile and creative brain, knows how to deal with fire, and can handle on how to get around fearsome creatures.

While Grug resists change, Guy embraces it. Naturally, the two do not always get along but Grug comes to trust Guy's ideas and Guy submits to Grug's leadership. It is a great example of how people of different stripes can complement one another.

Beyond just Grug and Guy, the rest of the Croods are all made up of unique, sometimes prickly individuals who, when it really matters, show how much they love and care for one another.

Zany, zippy, meaningful and sweet, there is never a single dull moment in The Croods.  Furthermore, the voices have also been well chosen and you are likely to enjoy the entertaining squabbles between Nicolas Cage as Grug, Emma Stone as Eep, and Ryan Reynolds as Guy.

Also features the voices of Catherine Keener as Ugga, the kind and understanding mother, Clark Duke as Thunk, the dim-witted chubby son, Randy Thom as Sandy, the hyper and hungry baby and Cloris Leachman as Gran, the quirky mother-in-law.

The Croods received generally positive reviews, and proved to be a box office success, earning more than $582 million on a budget of $135 million and launching a new franchise, with a sequel and TV series already put in development.

As for its ratings, well Rotten Tomatoes gave a rate of 6.5 over 10 and IMDB gave a 7.4 over 10! Decent scores, eh? Overall, the movie is a two thumbs up! Indeed, there is no place like home. Even if it's a cave.

P.S. The movie made me cry. Awwe. <3