The Dark Knight Rises - The legend lives!

With great difficulty and only a really few slips, I had maintained a media blackout for this movie, avoiding advertisements, articles, descriptions, even unsubscribing the friends who post anything about The Dark Knight Rises on facebook.. so I wouldn't know what to expect.


(I am going to type some garbage about what all went through me before watching the movie.. so if you dont give a shit - scroll down and look for a red line.. - continue from there)


However, I watched Batman Begins, a month ago, in preparation to refresh myself on the story and get to the mood to watch the final installment from Nolan. It struck me why we all love Nolan's Batman.. it is because he kept it simple! Then waited almost a week to watch Dark Knight; and just then I heard the news - about three back to back shows starting with Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and ending with The Dark knight Rises - and all in IMAX! 


How can I miss this? :) But is this even a normal behavious? Is it even possible to sit inside an auditorium watching three back to back incredible movies!? Wont we get tired? Will I endure?! I'll have to wait and see.. on July 19th.


So yesterday it happened! Me and my friend (Varun) went to the theaters, waited in que for more than 4 hours, rushed to grab the center seat of the hall.. and then it happened! 9 hours of Batman-ia!
It started with Begins ..3 hours later - came The Dark knight - the movie which I deeply regretted for not having watched in IMAX. It was happening right there in front of me. And as I watched, I was struck once again by how utterly mesmerizing Heath Ledger is as the Joker. I've seen The Dark Knight dozens of times, but every time I see it, I find something deliciously unnerving  to admire about the performance that gives the film its twisted soul..


After having watched over 6 hours now, I had all this expectations on how the last three hours are going to be.. more than expectations - I had questions.


Heath Ledger's character creates a major obstacle for Rises -- being compared to one of the greatest films ever while lacking one of the greatest performances ever.  Will Bane atleast equal Joker? If not in performance, at least in challenging Batman? What will happen to Batman after having taken the blame for Harvey Dent's crime? Is he going to die?! Is his legacy going to live? Is there going to be another Batman?


The second movie in the history of trilogies is easier for a creator to make. Because they dont have to introduce a character.. and they don't have to wrap things up. The characters get to be all the delicious cream filling! Will Nolan wrap things up properly?


And finally, Nolan has proved himself to be one of the very best directors of his generation, especially since his last two films, The Dark Knight and Inception, are universally-acclaimed masterpieces. That only means that to avoid disappointing his fans, Nolan has to outdo himself and somehow top not one, but two of the greatest movies ever made.


Well, all I had to do was wait...for another 20 minutes.
------------------------------------------------------------

First things first:


Thanks Nolan for
-  The greatest and the most sensible comic-book-super-hero trilogy ever, yet.
-  The Joker
-  The Batman
-  The fact that you resisted the urge to jump on the 3D bandwagon for the caped crusader’s swansong and more than an hour long IMAX footage! Certainly the action sequences, including the spectacular opening, would draw bigger gasps in the format.

Synopsis:

The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years after The Dark Knight. Harvey Dent, the crusading district attorney whose transformation into the villain Two Face was kept secret from the public, has been made into a hero and martyr, and a law named in his honor has helped clean up Gotham's streets, Dent Act, which apparently locked up almost all the criminals.  No longer needed, Batman has disappeared after taking the blame for murders Dent committed, and Bruce Wayne (played by Christian Bale) has become a recluse. Wayne Industries is going down meanwhile.. and its all left to a single savior Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard)

But when a masked villain named Bane (Tom Hardy) , to complete Ra's Al Gul's goal, appears in Gotham with a band of mercenaries with plans to take over the city, Batman is forced out of retirement to confront him with the help of new acquaintances - a driven young cop named John Blake (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and an unlikely ally in the form of a burglar, named Selena Kyle (played by Anne Hathaway) and the old ones - Alfred (Michael Caine), Gordom (Gary Oldman) and  Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman).

I will stop here and wont go to details of twists and turns in the script. 


What Worked:


- Everything!


This script demands Batman to share space with a lot of characters mentioned above, including Bruce Wayne. And each character has its own role to play. The plot mentioned in the synopsis is just the central story of an increasingly tangled 3 sub plots: a slinky, burgling Catwoman,  a square-jawed beat cop and lots of confusing financial shenanigans with the shareholders of Wayne Enterprises. - and it all ends with the Dark Knight rising in a final crescendo.


The scope of The Dark Knight Rises is much larger than its predecessors, with hundreds of extras, big chases and battles through city streets, and some new Batman hardware. In fact I have never seen in a movie, a city getting destroyed brick by brick, like this one before! Everything goes down - form subway trains to flights - from tunnels to bridges - from sky scrapers to football stadiums - all with stunning visual effects!


- The fury and speed of Bane
Bane is physically fast and powerful than Batman: first of his kind to appear in Nolan's trilogy. He takes down Batman in their first duel like cracking nuts!
The fury with which he takes down the stock market - shatters the city's basement, is just too overwhelming. All these dastardly plot unfolds but Bruce is physically and mentally unable to stop gangs of mercenaries.


- The new comers to the series 
While newcomers Blake and Tate are  functional to the story, only  Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman), adds some zest to the film. Elegantly sexy and dangerous with a twinkly-eyed smirk at the ready, Hathaway plays the slick thief with just enough restrained humor to almost get a smile out of the glum Wayne.

-  Emotions

    Michael Caine - the only character who thinks and talks like us - plays a really emotional role in this movie of madness. That one scene where he confronts Wayne - just stood out - and was cut above all the special effects in the movie.

-  Hans Zimmer 

   Do I even have to mention why?

-   Nolan 
     Of course. For everything - especially for his writing. I will never get tired of his one liners!!

What did not work?

- Everything...that loses when compared to Dark Knight..or  rather Joker!

I think the biggest problem with The Dark Knight Rises is the bar set by its predecessor, The Dark Knight, and particularly, the ghost of Heath Ledger and his groundbreaking, Oscar-winning performance as the Joker. Bane simply isn't as interesting, menacing, unnerving and magnetic as the Joker, and, to be honest, the effect put on Bane's voice most of the times makes him hard to understand. Ledger's brilliant performance embodies the perfect counterpoint to the psychology of Bruce Wayne, where trauma drives one man to an obsession with chaos and the other with justice.

The social commentary in the Joker's message about how little it takes to drive a civilization to barbarity is also much more thought-provoking than Bane's claim of wanting to save Gotham from inequality and corruption. Bane is menace.. I agree.. But Joker is madness, mayhem and an enigma!

- Zimmer


Zimmer, for the most part of the movie, he has done the same commendable job. But between, Bale's batman voice, Hardy's Bane voice and Zimmer's BGM - We literally look at the screen without even able to hear a single word at times.


- Seriously, Nolan?!
The movie involves a bomb with a flashing LED display :) 


- Gotham City


In Batman Begins - if you notice closely, you cannot identify any known city when they are showing Gotham. Its very much its own city. It doesnt look like anything else. In Dark Knight - Gotham is an amalgum of few known cities - Chicago - Pittsburgh - Toronto etc..But in this movie - Its just New York in plain sight! We lose touch with Gotham which our super hero is trying to save. 

----

Nolan had a HUGE burden on his shoulders to deliver a movie at least on par with Dark Knight. And with him directing, it was seemingly possible. But with too many characters sharing the screen and less impressive Bane, all these characters and Batman lose to just Batman Vs Joker from DK. 

Having thought about it, he could not have made a stronger villain, better than Joker. Its not like he can't make one. But I think he refused to do so, because, this film should leave us with Batman's impact. The impact that reminds us of Batman when we think about the movie.. of the need for the Batman.

I obviously see Nolan's intentions in making the apt ending for his trilogy - for the legend to live on (remember the wrap up problem in a trilogy?). For this, the story line had to bloated - it had to do too many things too quickly which dilutes the grit in the screenplay. But 164 minute movie moves at a bullet speed nevertheless!

Keeping all that apart - as you might expect from the creator of Inception and Memento, there are surprises both in the story and in the storytelling. But the biggest surprise may just be how satisfying Nolan has made his farewell to the Dark Knight trilogy that many fans will wish he'd extend to a 10-part series, at least. 

I am a slave to Nolan's imagination. And this movie proves me once again, its ok to be that slave. I should not forget about the production value of DKR - Camera, costumes, sets, production design and the rest are superior than any of his previous films.

Rises is certainly an epic, ambitious, dazzling, and provides a satisfying end to Nolan's trilogy. And to be honest, I sort of feel like this review is premature since, like most Nolan films, I really feel like I need to see it again to look for nuances and story points I might've missed. Dark Knight Rises is very impressive and definitely worth seeing, but without a once-in-a-lifetime performance like Ledger's Joker to provide the pulse, we'll have to be content with a final chapter that certainly delivers, but in a trilogy that peaked in the middle.

Having said these, all that  I am thinking about right now  is - 

What next Nolan?! :)

25 things I learnt in 25 years

So here I am starting my manhood without the world noticing (July 15th saw me turn twenty five). Yet another 25-something person who goes to work, pays rent on time (most of the time),loves watching movies, doubts the existence of god, open to almost everything, listens, recently lost interest in wearing watches and grown interest in tub-baths.


Having lived all these years and being touched by so many lives, I have learnt few things.Few trivial bits of learning that made me. Some of these took me 3 minutes to learn while most of them took from 2-24 years!


As every fervent blogger does, Im jotting down all those little things which I have learnt through life. Few of this could be preachy, few dumb and few others, really really dumb. But all is said with good heart. I dont know if I should number it. But still I did, just to keep count. If you want to rank it that way, it won't make much sense I tell you.


If the word ‘you’ ever appears in this list of learning, please rest assured that I am referring to myself.  I’m still learning… you, surely, are good as gold. 

1. No one can really hold a secret! NEVER EVER! So if you want to confide in a person, please know so that your little secret is out and you might find it in a piece of paper that you use to squeeze out the oil in bajji in the roadside stalls. And if they do keep a secret, they are crazy. Please don't be friends with them!


2. Having said that, please have a person to whom you can confide to. It is not necessary that you will have to confide everything to the same person. They have their own lives to take care. Pick and choose your friends,family to confide. This will keep you sane!


3.The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers. 


4. Nobody is normal. 


5. A person who is nice to you and rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.


6. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously. You can most likely ignore them.


7. If you are 25 and have not lived atleast a year outside your home, without your parents, your life is screwed! Big time!


8. You are not inherently patient. Its always a work in progress!


9.It’s okay to fall apart for a little while.  You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well.  You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears.  The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again. And if you find yourself uninspired, watch a TED talk. It helps tremendously!

Example:  Brené Brown's TED Talk on The power of vulnerability
             
                 





10. The happiest people I know keep an open mind to new ideas and ventures, love good music, good books, good pictures, good company and good conversation.  And oftentimes they are also the cause of happiness in others – me in particular. Don’t become too tied to a type.  Visit a plethora of places, read different genres of books, interact with a variety of people, listen to music you think you might hate.  What you will learn will enrich your life, even if you didn’t enjoy the experience.


11. You are always judged, there is no escape!


12. Apologize sincerely. You will always be forgiven. People are good. But... don't be too late! They expect you to be good too.


13. Those little things in life, there's nothing bigger.  Sometimes the moment that mean the most to you are not the big planned events, but the small things that happen when you least expect it.  Take care to not miss those. Like how my room mate cut a little cheesecake for my birthday. It was just me and him.. But it was happiness nevertheless!


14. There can't be a better gangster movie than 'The Godfather'. And please watch Inception as many times as possible! :)


                        


15. Negative people can not make you happy.  If you cannot help them turn their attitude around they will probably turn you.


16. You most likely never end up doing what you want... but realize its always too early to give up on your dreams.


17. Saving money is a pain in the ass! When you have money, your car eventually breaks down!


18. If you make a choice, don't regret after having made the choice! Believe me, that has kept me sane for all these years!


19. A guy and a girl can never be just friends, unless one of them is already committed..  Two girls can just never be friends.. unless they are equally jealous of each other - or equally dumb! 7 guys can live cordially in a two bedroom apartment, not matter what!


20. If there is a beginning, there is an end. And at the end, you are left with nothing but memories. Make good memories!


21. Pain is good, suffering is optional and change is inevitable!


22. Nobody accepts you, as you are, except your parents.

23. If electrical/electronics appliances are not working, turning it off then on again is a good way to fix it. Especially if its an Apple product!


24. If a person wants to be a part of your life they will make an obvious effort to do so.  Don’t bother reserving a space in your heart for people who do not make an effort to stay. Simply put - Your friends will be there and love you anyways.


25. Nothing really matters!

...... well, I do have lot more to share.. but this is enough I guess. Thanks for your wishes guys. It was a very humble birthday that I had yesterday. Thanks again.


PS: Sorry if I had not picked up your call. My cell phone is messed up!

iMovies - 1

I know you have listologies, IMDBs to recommend you with movies. This is my own list of movies that I like and what I liked in them. I might add in few movies which I totally detest too.. And the list is of no particular order. It's just as random as my thoughts right now.. and why do I want to create this? - I have no idea!


1. Its a Wonderful Life  - Who are you really?

Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like It's A Wonderful Life. 

Does it take me back to that place in my heart, that makes me long for everything that once was great and it could be again? Does it remind me of my childhood, my home? No. Maybe it's just simply what I always wanted from life and every man I want to be. 

Everything about this film is well, for lack of better words, perfect. No question to it any longer, the best performance by an actor I have ever seen. It's more than just beautiful, timeless or fair. All of Stewart is revealed. Everything coming together for Capra. 

Sometimes I think there is a reason why somethings happen. And I'm pretty sure there is some magical reason why this film was made. I was 21 years old and saw it for the first time, when I was going through the roughest patch in my life, during Christmas time of the year 2007, when I searched for the best feel good christmas movie. Every website which google could crawl pointed at this one. I've watched it 3 times since. The only movie to ever make me feel my presence. I probably wouldn't have all the answers for you, if you asked me why. I'm still trying to figure Stewart out and just how beautiful was Reed.

What can I say? This movie is a life changing experience. I have recommended this movie to all my friends and this made one of my best friend cry, after a really, really, long time. :)

Makes me feel good to be alive. What a wonderful little world it is. And if I waited my entire life, it would not be a waste of time.

Don't miss this movie. Just don't.

2. Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (or just Amelie) - How on earth could she smile like she did?

Through out the years of cinematic history there are pivotal stories of romance that will stand the test of time. There is Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, From Here to Eternity, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Annie Hall…and then there is Amelie. 

The film follows the story of Amelie, a Parisian waitress who journeys through life on a whimsical cloud of dreams in love and passion while improving the lives of others around her. Amelie is quirky, eccentric, uplifting, and will reduce you to tears through the beauty of finding love in the most unique way.

It has some of the most gorgeous cinematography and sound track I've ever seen/heard in a movie. The editing, camera angles and shots are outstanding in this drama. Amelie often has flashbacks or visions and the direction is breathtaking. Sometimes the film is sped up extraordinarily fast to capture a fast shocking scene where as some scenes are slowed right down to capture the different moods of the characters. There is one particular shot I found outstanding which was when Amelie was standing alone at a train station. The camera is in a bird's eye view position and is looking at length towards the central protagonist which gives such a deep meaningful sense of loneliness, a fantastic moment in the film.

Audrey Tatou is perfection as the title character. Pleasing, enchanting and sweet!

A human comedy, about love, of course. A slice of heaven right here on earth, "Amelie" is a joy to behold.

3. Memento - Nolan's Magic!

Christopher Nolan is one of the best director/screenwriter in contemporary cinema. No doubt. I loved Prestige, Dark Knight and Inception. Still I consider Memento to be his best film. Sure Inception had my brain buzzing, Dark Knight gave us Joker, and Prestige was a delightfully dark, still I think Memento is his best film. Its darker than Prestige. Mightier than Inception. The greatest mind screw ever!

Memento has two time-lines, one in black and white and one in color, and they are alternated throughout the film. In no other movie has use of time-lines or alternating visual themes have been more justified. Even when I saw the movie for the first time, mu brain was working overtime, but after watching the movie I was aware that I had watched a really amazing film. But it was the second time around that I was able to connect all the dots and grasp the genius behind the movie.

Many critics criticize Nolan's movies saying that his movies don't have an emotional core. I think that is totally wrong. Maybe they are criticizing just because it is their job to find faults. Nolan is one the finest directors and he chooses the finest actors. Actors like DiCaprio, Cotillard, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Edward Norton etc are the finest actors around and they wouldn't have starred in his movies if they though they would not be allowed to show their skills to full extent. Besides the twisting plots Nolan's movies have strong emotional core, whether it is a bewildered Leonard Shelby of Memento or Cobb of Inception we can see them fighting the world and fighting themselves at the same time. They are distant but we can stil connect with them. As a matter of fact, I find the crux of Nolan's movies emotional and philosophical.

What I loved the most about the movie was that everything was not cut and clear, even after you have seen it twice a certain uncertainty remains which is deliberate on part of Nolan as we are sharing that uncertainty with the movie's protagonist Leonard Shelby.

One of my top movies any day!  A dark journey through a lost nightmare.

[I dont know why I cant talk about any Nolan movie, without talking about other movies of his. Are they someway related which only Cobb or Leonard would know? Have you ever felt it that way?]

4. Hey Ram! - Wait.. Is Saketh Ram real?!

There are really very few movies that make us proud. And if Hey Ram is not one among those few, I judge you. I really do! I think less of you :) May be I am arrogant - and I have every right to be! 

I have seen this movie at least fifteen times. Not once, I could find any flaw in the movie. Be it direction, screenplay, acting, music, sets, cinematography, costume design or dialogues!


"என் தாத்தாவுக்கு எல்லாமே first person singular தான் தெரியுமோ? ஒரு ஊர்ல ஒரு  ராஜா   இருந்தார்னு சொல்ல மாட்டார். நான் இருந்த ஊர்ல ஒரு  ராஜா   இருந்தார்னு சொல்லுவார்"  - ஒரு சோறு.


Can a movie be so simple and complex at the same time? Well, Hey Ram is! The plot is very simple. What if a common man turns assassin to kill Gandhi? Yet the journey it takes you through is mind blowing. It can bring a quirky smile to your face, it can astonish you, make you feel insecure, terrified, arrogant, angry, humane, violent, inspired, warm, responsible, patriotic, empathetic, lonely, enlightened, confused, guilty, friendly, dark, compassionate and every emotion humanly possible - all in just 3 hours! 


If you haven't seen the movie, there is no way you are going to believe what I just said. I can see Krishna and Nikhil (if he is reading this) beam with smile right now! This is supposed to be Kamal's directorial venture. Considering that, just as a fact, he is probably the best debut director in the entire movie fraternity around the globe, across time! :) Well, that's how well the film is made. 


People who really know and understands the true Hindu philosophy, consider this as celluloid baghavat gita. For those who just know the lines from  "Geetha Charam" hung to your wardrobe doors or fridge or framed as a portrait where the charioteer Krishna preaches Arjuna, try to relate those verses to the movie... you will be amazed! 


Hey Ram! demands multiple viewing to appreciate the amount of hard work and preparation gone into the production. Raja's sound track is just right – you don't even notice it, but it draws you in – especially Aparna's theme and the way the lavani marathi folk number turns into a semi-western classical piece. Raja captures the mood of the film without resorting to heroics. Excellent, restrained effort from Raja.


Over the years, Tamil cinema has continually numbed its critics and audience to blindly accept the usual and the predictable, all in the name of art. So much, that people are yet to learn the difference between 'good' & 'bad' cinema. Hey Ram! enters the scene as an art form forcing the masses and the critics to feel, to think deeply, and to question almost everything that we have accepted as the 'truth' for so long.


Having said that, I have had this question ever since I saw the movie. Naseeruddin shah, utters "Hey Ram!" as Gandhi's last words. What if thats not what actually Gandhi said. What if he had said "Ya Allah!"..What if Gotse was a non-Hindu? Would these have changed the history or our perspective? Unfortunately, the answers to these questions will continue to elude us for a long time to come.


Be glad if you are able to appreciate this masterpiece!


[I have been waiting to pour down my feelings towards Hey Ram. All these thoughts/feelings were digged from memory. One more watch of Hey Ram might give me one more sleepless night and a long post for you guys to read :).. So I guess I'll stop here.]

..will be continued... iMovies - 2...