Aeon Flux
The following review has been rated R for strong violence, nudity, blood and gore. Viewer discretion is advised
Monday, April 03 2006 - 1237 hours - present
“Excuse me … coming through …”
Three 20 something guys rushed up the stairs, bumping into people as they went along …
“Hey! Watch it!” someone yelled …
“Sorry …”
The three of them made their way up the stairs, into the strategically placed college library on the third floor of the building.
As they barged into the library, a few people looked up from the books they were reading - completely interupted … until what had been a lazy monday morning.
The three scanned for the newspaper stands and rushed in that direction.
“I’ll cover Express …” one of them yelled .. trying to keep his voice as low as possible.
“I’ll take times”, “and I’ll check out Herald” the other two pipped back .. as they made their way to the Newspaper stand.
Monday, April 03 2006 - 1235 hours - 2 minutes ago
“Ma’am … would you be seeing our project today?” said one of them to their project guide.
“Hmm … is it okay if I see it tomorrow? I am not feeling that well now” came the reply.
Monday, April 03 2006 - 1238 hours - present
“Oye … V for Vendetta was at 10:30 … next is at 6:30 … wanna go ?” asked one.
“Negative … we need to work in the evening … it has to be now …” came the reply
“How about Aeon Flux? Its at 12:45 at Adlabs …”
“Hmm … hows the movie?”
“Supposed to be good. Its got Charlize Theron man … supposed to be a sci fi super hero kind of movie”
“Hey .. I read a review today. She’s supposed to be an assasin. Though the newspaper review wasn’t that great”
“Hey … we need to take a decision in 1 minute. Either we go now or then tomorrow”
“Ok .. lets do it …”
“I think we’ll take 10 mins to reach Adlabs if we take it via KP … what say?”
“Done …”
“Okay cool … lets do this”
I’d like to bring to your attention here, that this is how bad decisions are made. I was unfortunate to be one of the “three”
The Review, Finally
So in the next 10 minutes (if you’re still here), we were at Adlabs … comfortably seated.
The movie had just started - and all we had missed was the National Anthem and the opening two minutes.
Aeon Flux the movie, is a pretty much waste of time and money.
The movie, as the posters will blatantly read out … is all Charlize Theron.
So, from the first shot to the end, its Charlize all the way …
One shot of her close up, then a wider angle, then her eyes, then her telepathic vision, then she kicking butt, then she flying then she …. etc etc …
You might be wondering, but it’s Charlize you idiot ! Whats wrong with that?
I had thought the same thing too, but by the end of the film, with 100 bucks down (out of which 50 bucks was for a freakin coke !!!), I realised that even that wasn’t worth it.
Okay, back to the movie
The movie tries to be very slick (it being set 400 years in the future … so it has to be)
The movie is a mixture of (all the bad things) of all the previous Sci fi movies …
In the end, there is no “sci” in the “sci - fi”
You’ll find traces of “The Island” (a lot of it), “I, Robot”, “Minority Report”, etc etc.
The Script … and the thing you call editing
Unfortunately, the movie does not have any of it.
Its like they hired Charlize Theron, got her an acrobatics trainer, gave her a tight suit and asked her to jump around while they shot her.
The editing is non existent, with shots following one another which have no connection between them …
Most of the plot is very masala hindi movie-ish … and with pretty ordinary acting, turns out to be very corny.
Till the end, every shot is very predictable … and you’re left wishing for something wacky to happen (like Charlize being the main mastermind villain or something) so that you could say .. “Woah .. never saw that coming” and probably losing 100 bucks wouldn’t sting that much …
But guess what? No such thing happens and by the end of the movie, when you step out of the theatre, you’re left wondering whether a law should be passed which jails good actors for acting in crappy movies.
The background score was not noticeable … it had more or less the qualities a sci fi movie should have.
The two best parts of the movie were no doubt the interval and the end credits.
Please don’t go and watch the movie if your life depended on it.
Maybe if someone kidnapped a loved one and threatened to kill them if I didn’t watch it, then maybe I would consider going for it …
4/29/2006
Cinderella Man
Ron Howard has a knack of making brilliant movies …
If you loved a Beautiful Mind for the lovely Princeton settings and Russel Crowe acting, you are in for a treat.
The movie is based on the life of James Braddock - a boxer from the late 1920s to the earlier 1930s who was named ‘’Cinderella Man'’ for his fairytale rise to fame from a local boxer to the heavyweight champion of the world.
The movie wastes no time as it puts you up with Braddock in a local match. It is still the pre depression era and people are well to do, Braddock is winning matches and is pretty doing well himself.
You notice, at once - the authentic 1920s setting which makes the movie such a treat to the eyes. It has the buildings, the cars, the works.
Not to mention, the camera has that sepia kind of tone to add to the overall experience.
The movie soon fast forwards to the depression era, where Braddock isn’t doing as well as he was (his license gets revoked) … and this is the setting the rest of the movie is based on.
The settings again, reflect the era and the viewer is drawn into empathizing with the people of the time.
The movie also highlights, Braddocks lowest moments of this time - and the scene in which he removes his cap and puts in front of the people he once worked with, begging for some 18 dollars, so that he can pay his electricity bill and bring back his children, is very heart wrenching.
Throughout the movie, Russell Crowe has acted beautifully, both in the ring and out of it. Renée Zellweger who plays his wife, supports him very well.
Paul Giamatti who plays his agent and friend (nominated for Best Supporting Actor) is another great addition to the already existing pool of talent to the movie.
The boxing bouts throughout the movie are very excellently done, especially the last one, and you’ll find yourself being pushed to the edge of your seat every time.
This is not just another boxing movie …
But though the movie about the man - James Braddock - and what he stood for, you can also watch the movie for the boxing bouts (for the ones who are more into the action bit of it). The commentary, setting and the adrenaline are what makes it worth watching more than once.
The background scores and the music are very well done and complement the movie nicely.
All in all, a very good watch. One of the best movies of 2005, one of my favourite movies of all time - and time very well spent.
