Album Kanmani
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Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Four favorite movies
I am not a film critic. I am a film maker. I love the medium. Obviously I have some favorites.
Here are some movies that I watch over and over again. They feel new each time. Let me list 4 of those here. Technically its 6 movies because the first one is actually a trilogy.
1. Lord of the Rings
I read the books after I saw the first movie. When I watched it the second time, it was different. I was hooked. I couldn't wait until next year to see the next installment. I bought the extended edition, watched it many times with and with out the filmmakers' narration. I was impressed at the dedication. There are very few movies that made me cry. I still tear up when I watch the ending of ROTK. My friends make fun of me that they cried too because the movie was so long. To me it wasn't enough. Lord of the Rings Trilogy symbolizes dedication to the craft.
2. Contact
Have you noticed that movies made from books seems to have more substance? Contact was based on a book by Carl Segan. The lines spoken and questions raised in this movie is tood good. Zemeckis is one of my favorite directors. This is another guy thats passionate. He has vision. He is not just getting a team together and praying that everything would be right.
This is one of Jodie Foster's early movies. She does a great job. (Her later movies has repetitions of her acting.. Especially, that tensed, silence-of-the-lambs look. She is a phenomenal actor. I hope she gets roles that brings out her range more.)
Ellie: Dad, do you think there's people on other planets?
Dad: I don't know, Sparks. But I guess I'd say if it is just us... seems like an awful waste of space.
What a nice way to convey that.. we're not alone.
3. Exorcist
Before you frown, watch the movie. If you're the faint-hearted type, skip this section. I haven't seen that many good horror movies. If you have to watch one horror movie, watch Exorcist. If you HAVE to watch two, watch "The Ring".
Exorcist shows how you can root horror in reality. (Its based on a book based on a supposedly true story) Made 35 years ago, it still is the best horror movie ever made.
4. Shawshank Redemption
Stephen King is my all time favorite story teller. Shawshank is based on one of his short stories. This movie has the best payoff that any movie has ever had and it is executed brilliantly.
Here are some movies that I watch over and over again. They feel new each time. Let me list 4 of those here. Technically its 6 movies because the first one is actually a trilogy.
1. Lord of the Rings
I read the books after I saw the first movie. When I watched it the second time, it was different. I was hooked. I couldn't wait until next year to see the next installment. I bought the extended edition, watched it many times with and with out the filmmakers' narration. I was impressed at the dedication. There are very few movies that made me cry. I still tear up when I watch the ending of ROTK. My friends make fun of me that they cried too because the movie was so long. To me it wasn't enough. Lord of the Rings Trilogy symbolizes dedication to the craft.
2. Contact
Have you noticed that movies made from books seems to have more substance? Contact was based on a book by Carl Segan. The lines spoken and questions raised in this movie is tood good. Zemeckis is one of my favorite directors. This is another guy thats passionate. He has vision. He is not just getting a team together and praying that everything would be right.
This is one of Jodie Foster's early movies. She does a great job. (Her later movies has repetitions of her acting.. Especially, that tensed, silence-of-the-lambs look. She is a phenomenal actor. I hope she gets roles that brings out her range more.)
Ellie: Dad, do you think there's people on other planets?
Dad: I don't know, Sparks. But I guess I'd say if it is just us... seems like an awful waste of space.
What a nice way to convey that.. we're not alone.
3. Exorcist
Before you frown, watch the movie. If you're the faint-hearted type, skip this section. I haven't seen that many good horror movies. If you have to watch one horror movie, watch Exorcist. If you HAVE to watch two, watch "The Ring".
Exorcist shows how you can root horror in reality. (Its based on a book based on a supposedly true story) Made 35 years ago, it still is the best horror movie ever made.
4. Shawshank Redemption
Stephen King is my all time favorite story teller. Shawshank is based on one of his short stories. This movie has the best payoff that any movie has ever had and it is executed brilliantly.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Cliches galore
I love movies. One thing I admire in Hollywood movies is how much they are rooted in realism. The acting, period accuracy, the research that goes in the pre production, etc, etc..
But Hollywood also produced a load of cliches. My disbelief springs back from suspension immediately when I see cliches in movies.. Hollywood, Bollywood whichever. One of the most evident ones are computers.. I am in IT and I know how computers behave.
If my desktop beeped and brayed at every action I took it would drive me and everyone around me nuts. The only sound in a typical work environment is the keyboard taps, phone rings and indistinct chatter.
While I enjoyed the pacing of Die Hard Live Free, I couldn't stand the cybernetics part of the movie. It was plain STUPID. Had they placed the movie 20 years from now, I could have believed some of it.. but man, it needed a real stretch of imagination.
Check this article out.
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article09-127
The biggest annoyance is how the monitor would project the scrren to the operator's face.. Even in Matrix 1 ! Well, at least it is the matrix. Its not real.
Oh and how about passwords? So easy huh? The brilliant hero only has to take 2 or 3 guesses. I have a hard time keeping up with my own passwords.
Coming to sounds.. How many times has a cat meowed when you saw one? Not often huh? Well, for Hollywood, its different. Check this out.
http://filmsound.org/cliche/
While I love the deep space rumble in outer space movies, some of the cliches are really a turn off.
And have you ever asked why the streets are always wet in the night? (Check any car ad for that matter) Its more aesthetically pleasing I know. But doesn't that defy realism?
But Hollywood also produced a load of cliches. My disbelief springs back from suspension immediately when I see cliches in movies.. Hollywood, Bollywood whichever. One of the most evident ones are computers.. I am in IT and I know how computers behave.
If my desktop beeped and brayed at every action I took it would drive me and everyone around me nuts. The only sound in a typical work environment is the keyboard taps, phone rings and indistinct chatter.
While I enjoyed the pacing of Die Hard Live Free, I couldn't stand the cybernetics part of the movie. It was plain STUPID. Had they placed the movie 20 years from now, I could have believed some of it.. but man, it needed a real stretch of imagination.
Check this article out.
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article09-127
The biggest annoyance is how the monitor would project the scrren to the operator's face.. Even in Matrix 1 ! Well, at least it is the matrix. Its not real.
Oh and how about passwords? So easy huh? The brilliant hero only has to take 2 or 3 guesses. I have a hard time keeping up with my own passwords.
Coming to sounds.. How many times has a cat meowed when you saw one? Not often huh? Well, for Hollywood, its different. Check this out.
http://filmsound.org/cliche/
While I love the deep space rumble in outer space movies, some of the cliches are really a turn off.
And have you ever asked why the streets are always wet in the night? (Check any car ad for that matter) Its more aesthetically pleasing I know. But doesn't that defy realism?
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Irony
This is one of those photos that you are kind of confused on how to react. Its funny yet morbid.
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