The Never Ending Story (German, 1984)

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Cast: Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: A young, introvert boy divulges into the mysterious world of 'Fantasia' through the medium of a magical book.

Based on the famous fantasy novel by same name, it is a definite must watch for fantasy lovers. Keeping in mind it was made in the early 80s, special effects are quite commendable and story is well told. Compared to this, sequel made in 90s (starring Jack Black) is loaded with some horrid SFX! 

Only drawback: Movie is primarily focused at a preteen audience unlike some of today’s fantasy giants. But Petersen can’t be blamed for that, as back then probably viewership base for fantasy movies was quite age restrictive and the fantasy genre itself wasn’t so grand in world of cinema.    

 

6.8/10

The Big Lebowski (1998)

Director: Joel Coen

Cast: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, David Huddleston, Steve Buscemi

Genre: Comedy

Plot: A carefree dude is mistaken to be a millionaire and has his rug ruined. Now he is out to seek compensation for his rug!

Director/writer has done a marvelous job in scripting out an everyday man’s life with some added spice of confusion, chaos, kidnapping, violence, greed (read money) and Bowling! 

The entire movie revolves around “The Dude” (Jeff Bridges) who is onscreen all through the movie apart from one or two scenes. The Dude is a dude hanging out with other dudes (John Goodman, Steve Buscemi) until locking horns with “Big Lebowski” (David Huddleston).

It’s a farcical comedy with chases and collisions and practical jokes. Try and count the number of times F-word is used in the movie!

 

Lesson learnt from the movie:

You must always fight for a cause even if it’s worth a rug.

Okay that was only a jest! Don’t try to find any meaning in this blatantly rib tickling movie.

Only, take home with you the following fact:

“Once a dude always a dude and a dude ultimately abide!”

8/10

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Director: Isao Takahata

Cast: J. Robert Spencer, Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi

Genre: Animation

Plot: Beautiful animated feature, about a brother-sister and their lost family, set toward the end of WWII when Japan is under constant air raids.

The story has been told in a flashback by Seita’s (brother) spirit. The essence of the movie forbids war and it basically shows how a society pays for a war, how innocence (read young Sutsiko) suffers.

One might argue technically movie is not as accomplished as some of today’s animated features but that would be a folly as there is a unique liveliness in the 80’s animation and the background music compliments it perfectly – rendering it extraordinarily moving.

8/10

Bicycle Thieves (Italian, 1948)

Director: Vittorio De Sica

Cast: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell

Genre: Drama

Plot: In the times of great depression--post WWII--a poor man searches for his stolen bicycle without which he won't be able to retain his new job.

It is an economically unstable time and an average family is barely scraping a living. The movie focuses on one such family–husband, wife, their son, and an infant daughter.

The father-son duo take the movie forward. Their interactions and simple day-to-day things have been brought on screen very aesthetically. There are obviously no wide-angle or high-flying shots or anything grand in terms of camera work, the strong point of this classic is showing life onscreen as it is in reality.
   

Everybody is leading a life hardships, and has accepted poverty as being a way of life. Knowing all too well, even in want there is hope, there is love, and family bonding strong as ever.  

No scenes have been pictured with “glumness” as such, but watching these scenes the melancholy that surrounds you is a testimony to director's class.

It is not a movie with fairy tale ending rather a perfect ending. In the end, the protagonist resorts to desperate measures and repents, leaving us all with a sad thought, a bit of pondering and harsh realities.

8.3/10

Once Upon A Time In The West (Italian, 1968)

Director: Sergio Leone

Cast: Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale,  Jason Robards

Genre: Western

Plot: A newly widowed is trapped between three men - First one is trying to kill her, second one is a suspect murderer of her husband and the third is a mystery!

Another classic by the King of Westerns!

Mother of all movies in terms of innovative backgrounds score and cinematography!

Some notable high-points of the movie:

•         Masterful use of ultra-widescreen cinematography
•         Detailed long shots which have certain tranquility about them
•        First negative role for Henry Fonda.
•         State of art sets.

Enough to make a cinema fanatic desire it!

There is so much depth in each and every frame that mere words can’t explain. It is an experience to be had.

An avant-garde masterpiece yet to be bettered!

8.9/10