Topic: Dave's DVD/Blu-ray Reviews

[Tom]

Great! 

[dfmorgan]

Are you planning to submit new cover scans for these two?
I will do it, if the next time I am making scans none are submitted yet. But my scans are usually not that good. I don't have a good scanner and I don't bother much with retouching it.

I was planning to get up to date with my submissions this weekend but didn't get as much done as I originally planned, however I will get something sorted within the next couple of days for these though.

OK a total of 8 submissions yesterday and today with 3 of them being initial. You've seen the one for Summer Wars I have also now done an intial profile for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and that has been approved so should be available tomorrow.

[Tom]

OK a total of 8 submissions yesterday and today with 3 of them being initial. You've seen the one for Summer Wars I have also now done an intial profile for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and that has been approved so should be available tomorrow.

Great! Thanks! 

[dfmorgan]

Karthik calling Karthik

Year: 2010
Director: Vijay Lalwani
Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone
Overview: MEET KARTHIK: an introvert by nature and shy by choice. Karthik suffers with huge confidence issues and is miserable at his less than average job. His boss treats him like dirt. Shonali, his colleague who he secretly loves doesn't even know he exists. Karthik is a loser, knows it, and accepts it.

And then one day the phone rings. Karthik speaks to someone who also claims to be Karthik, and promises to change his life.

Soon begins the thrilling and soulful journey of this lovable loser's victory against all odds with the help of his mysterious friend.

Watched: 9th Apr. 2011
My Thoughts: I quite enjoyed this film for the first hour and three-quarters where initially it showed the loser character Karthik (Farhan Akhtar) who then changes once he starts to get the 'phone calls from Karthik. The film then progressed through Karthik gaining and exuding confidence in the office and with the woman he loved Shonali (Deepika Padukone) then to the fateful day he disobeyed the 'phone Karthik's orders whereupon he loses all. We next see Karthik commence to rebuild his life again but then in the last 25/30 minutes of the film we are rushed through to a conclusion which to me seemed to be a bit of a cop-out.

My Rating: A 3 for me but would have been 4 with a better handled ending

[dfmorgan]

Monsters

Year: 2010
Director: Gareth Edwards
Cast: Scoot McNairy, Whitney Able
Overview: Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear and grow. In an effort to stem the destruction that resulted, half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain the massive creatures...
 
A jaded US journalist (McNairy) begrudgingly agrees to find his boss' daughter, a shaken American tourist (Able) and escort her through the infected zone to the safety of the US border.

Watched: 16th Apr. 2011
My Thoughts: A disappointing bore-fest. I guess I should have read more reviews before purchasing as I expected more science-fiction rather than just a couple rambling.

My Rating: 

[Najemikon]

 

Sorry, I shouldn't laugh! I liked it. I thought as a drama, it was quite brilliant. I think Gareth Edwards surprised himself with a natural ability for film-making, when all he set out to do was set-up a story about actual monsters. He kind of forgot about them in the end.

[dfmorgan]

Sorry, I shouldn't laugh!

No problemo

I liked it. I thought as a drama, it was quite brilliant. I think Gareth Edwards surprised himself with a natural ability for film-making, when all he set out to do was set-up a story about actual monsters. He kind of forgot about them in the end.

Yep I saw that as I read your review after I had written mine. I watched some of the making of and that aspect came over as well as his guerilla filming technique but even with that I still couldn't find a redeeming feature for me. I  wasn't aware of this but apparently Gareth Edwards two leads were the only actors in the film, all other characters were real people and in the majority of cases were performing their day-to-day jobs which he then filmed with the interaction required by the leads as laid down by Gareth. Also there was no script as such just a series of outlines to give guidance.

[dfmorgan]

Koi... Mil Gaya

Year: 2003
Director: Rakesh Roshan
Cast: Rekha, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta
Overview: Rakesh Roshan’s Koi Mil Gaya is the story of Rohit Mehra (Hrithik Roshan) who shows the world that friendship is truly universal. Sanjay Mehra (Rakesh Roshan) is a scientist obsessed with establishing contact with extraterrestrial life. He invents many innovative gadgets till he finally succeeds in creating a computer that can transmit messages to space.

His foresight becomes reality when as a response to his signals, a spaceship is sighted in the sky. But before Sanjay can enjoy his success, his wife Sonia (Rekha) and he meet with a horrific accident where Sonia survives but Sanjay loses his life.

Sanjay’s son Rohit is born, a mentally challenged child who faces ridicule in every phase of his life. His lone companion is Nisha (Preity Zinta) whose compassion draws her towards Rohit.

One day Rohit discovers his father’s old computer and calls Nisha to help him use it. Both of them are completely fascinated by the images and instructions that appear on the screen and relentlessly experiment with the gadget, not realizing the impact this would have.

The whole town witnesses a blackout and a bizarre phenomenon… in an incandescent glowing sky… a colossal spaceship is sighted. However, more strange findings were in store for Rohit’s town – a pair of footprints not belonging to man or animal is found. What do Rohit and Nisha find out? Is danger lurking somewhere close? A nation holds its breath…

'Kol Mil Gaya' is the first sci-fi film made in Hindi, with the finest special effects ever created in Indian cinema. With 'Kol Mil Gaya', Rakesh Roshan has once again created history after the phenomenal success of 'Kaho Naa … Pyaar Hai', which catapulted Hrithik Roshan to dizzying heights.

Watched: 23rd Apr 2011
My Thoughts: Overall I enjoyed this. The first half detailed the mentally challenged Rohit's (Hrithik Roshan) trials and tribulations leading to a close friendship with Nisha (Preity Zinta), a visitor from out-of-town. However the second half is a version of E.T., there were some differences between the two but overall was very similar to the original. Even with this though I still found it enjoyable.

My Rating: An enjoyable 3

[dfmorgan]

Krrish

Year: 2006
Director: Rakesh Roshan
Cast: Rekha, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra
Overview: A young boy called Krishna is born with magical powers, a legacy from his father, Rohit Mehra. Hidden from the prying eyes of the world by his grandmother Sonia Mehra, he grows up one with nature...faster than the wind, stronger than the mountains, purer than the rushing rivers. Into this sylvan, serene world, drops down a pretty girl - Priya - literally from the skies! Krishna is entranced by her, she's amazed at his unusual speed and strength. When she returns to Singapore, Krishna follows...

In Singapore, unknown to Krishna, Priya and her friend have hatched a plot to use Krishna's powers for personal gain. In Singapore, unknown to Krishna, Dr Siddhant Arya, whose dream of making a super specialized computer died 20 years ago with Rohit Mehra, is on the verge of a break through. Will Krishna nip Priya's plans to manipulate his powers?

Will Krishna foil Dr Arya's evil intentions to transform himself into a demi God?

Or will Krrish do for him?

Watched: 25th. Apr 2011
My Thoughts: I'm glad I waited until I had seen the earlier film Koi... Mil Gaya, as per Tom's advice, to me this was more enjoyable purely as a superhero film without attempting to copy an existing film.

My Rating: A very enjoyable 3+ +

[Tom]

This one was my very first Bollywood movie that I have ever seen (so it started it all for me). I bought it after I stumbled across it when looking for Asian superhero movies. It was also one of the movies where I enjoyed all of the songs (there are only four though). I especially enjoyed the last one.



My second favourite from this movie is this one:

[dfmorgan]

This one was my very first Bollywood movie that I have ever seen (so it started it all for me). I bought it after I stumbled across it when looking for Asian superhero movies. It was also one of the movies where I enjoyed all of the songs (there are only four though). I especially enjoyed the last one.

I'll admit that I was surprised that the first song didn't start until after 45 mins had passed, as they usually are much earlier than that, and that in the end, as you say, there were only 4 and yes these two were the better songs of the 4.

[dfmorgan]

Woochi: The Demon Slayer

Year: 2009
Director: Choi Dong-hun
Cast: Gang Dong-won, Kim Yoon-suk, Lim Soo-jung
Overview: Discover the movie that delivered the biggest box-office opening in Korean Cinema history and experience breathtaking hi-octane thrills from the celebrated action-director of 'The Good, The Bad and The Weird' and 'Brotherhood'.

When a dark lord obtains the secret to unimaginable power, an elite army of shape-shifting goblins threatens to destroy the world, as we know it. However, just when all seems to be lost, a great warrior-wizard, named Woochi, travels through time to fight for the future of all mankind... Crammed with "plenty of action and excitement (Beyond Hollywood)", Woochi the Demon Slayer is a "romping fun-packed fantasy adventure (Twitch)" that will thoroughly entertain you from start to finish!

Watched: 29th Apr. 2011
My Thoughts: Quite an enjoyable fun romp. A couple of switches between the past and the present early on to set the stage. Then the telling of the protagonists past encounters leading to a 500 year banishment. Then the jump to the present so they can meet and resolve their differences. Generally a good actioner with plenty of wire-work and a degree of CGI.

My Rating: An overall fun film for a 3

[Tom]

Thanks for the review. But I am still not sure if I would enjoy it 

[dfmorgan]

Thanks for the review. But I am still not sure if I would enjoy it 

It is very light-hearted fun, a lot of it seemed to be played for laughs especially the supporting characters of three Taoist Gods and Woochi's assistant, but I did enjoy it and I am not disappointed that I bought it. It may well be worth waiting for it to enter the bargain prices.

[dfmorgan]

The Green Hornet

Year: 2011
Director: Michel Gondry
Cast: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz
Overview: Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is a slacker by day, party animal by night... until he finds a serious career that's seriously cool: crime-fighting action hero. As the Green Hornet, he teams up with gadget wiz and martial arts master Kato (Jay Chou) to take down LA's underworld. Even Britt's assistant Lenore (Cameron Diaz), doesn't suspect this mismatched pair as the masked duo busting the city's toughest thugs led by Chudnofsky (Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz, 2009, Supporting Actor, Inglourious Basterds). With style, swagger and an arsenal of awesome gear, the Green Hornet and Kato are doing justice their way, making every mission a mix of over-the-top action and outrageous comedy.

Watched: 30th Apr. 2011
My Thoughts: I know nothing about the mythology of The Green Hornet so cannot compare this film to that. However I did get cheesed off with Seth Rogen's whiny rich brat Britt Reid but found Jay Chou's Kato fun and enjoyed Cameron Diaz as Lenore. Overall the action sequences were good but the comedy provided by Seth Rogen grated.

My Rating: A ho-hum film for a 2