Two Line Reviews - #474

Movie: Epic (2013)

Plot: Leaf people are tiny people (not easily visible to human eye) residing in the forests. A researcher tells his daughter, his findings on their existence. His disinterested daughter gets entangled and gets dwarfed and becomes the protector of the forest's future when the dying queen hands her the pod that needs to be protected and given to the next queen. The pod which takes its own sweet time to give life back to the forest is being targeted by the opposition of the leaf people. The girl & the valiant protectors of the leaf people fight it out and help from the girl's father comes at an appropriate time giving life back to the tiny creatures!

What Works?

• This was my first experience of watching an Animated film in the theatre and it was a pretty decent experience. The film, though kiddish at times, had its moments.
• The expressive reactions of the tiny creatures, their forms and the beauty of the forest shows the creativity that goes into making such animes and credits to the makers!
• The film is quite positive and the tiny creatures end up winning our hearts for fighting it out with their mighty dark rivals!
• It was funny to listen Christoph Waltz's voice being mouthed by some weird creature!

What Doesn't?

• Things get a tad too repetitive and the outline having a close resemblance to the LoTR story doesn't help things!

Not even close to being an 'Epic'; Nevertheless, a decent watch.

Two Line Reviews - #450

Movie: Django Unchained (2012)

Plot: A bounty hunter joins forces with a slave he rescues for the identification of the Brittle brothers for a seemingly rich bounty. He returns the slave the favour by trying to help him out in his mission to rescue his lost lover, who is a slave in the plantation of a ruthless master!

What Works?

• Simple.Quentin Tarantino works. His choice of story works. His choice of soundtracks work. His presentation & casting work. So does his cameo at the end!
• The 3 main characters all have their own spaces to prove their mettle. Christoph Waltz takes the first hour, DiCaprio's dining-room skull scene is a screamer & the massive climax belongs to Jamie Foxx!
• The camera-work and location remind us of the old west cult movies & the sountrack (among others, it has a hip-hop number that suits the west theme as well) is audaciously brilliant!
• Samuel Lee Jackson is given a nice little role and some of the dialogues are quot-ably ruthless ("I like the way you die boy" for example!)

Imagination Unchained! Another Enticing Revenge Saga from the QT stable!