Winter in Wartime (2008, Dutch - Oorlogswinter)

Director: Martin Koolhoven

Set toward the fag end of WWII, this film is a visual treat with its breathtaking scenery and snow clad Dutch landscapes.

Holland is still under Nazi control and there are secretly active resistance networks all across the country. Dutch youngsters, obviously, hate the Germans and create trouble for them at every opportune moment. Film revolves around one such Dutch boy, Michiel (Martijn Lakemeier).

Some scenes, like the one where a German soldier rescues a drowning Dutch boy while the natives just stand-by and watch, are simply top notch. Highlight of this particular scene is the befuddled expression on the face of young boy who always believed all the Germans to be devils.  

No spoilers ahead just mentioning a sort of twist. Apart from the last half an hour of the movie--where an unnecessary twist ruins it a little--I would say it could very well have been a classic. The entire movie dealt with a higher cause and was striding toward greatness, and all of a sudden there is this bolt from the blue and films concludes in a clichéd manner, with focus on ‘just a man.’

Overall it seemed like a highly evolved and creative piece of film-making, other than the ending, that seemed rather immature/underdeveloped.

Decent screenplay, good acting--especially Michiel's. Climax somewhat ruing what it could have been.

7/10

Justice League: Doom (2012)

Genre: Animation

Based on ‘Tower of Babel’ arc, this is one movie many DC fans were/are eagerly awaiting.

DC has been making some very good animated films off-late and a good script for big-screen adaptation has been one reason of their success in the genre. Doom, however, seems a little compress-scripted with too many characters and too little time. In the end, you are left with a want for more--especially if you are a DC nerd.

The film also deviates from the original comicbook. Some notable changes are:

•          Vandal Savage is the main villain instead of Ra’s al Ghul
•          No Aquaman or Plastic Man
•          Hal Jordan is the Green Lantern instead of Kyle Rayner
•          Superman is rendered powerless with a green kryptonite in place of red and he doesn’t become transparent

Even with all these modifications, film is a decent watch but should have been more detailed and definitely lengthier.

7/10

War Horse (2011)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Not enjoying a Spielberg movie is a tough ask and this one is no exception. 

Visually grand and entertainment-wise sating, it does (somewhat) misses out on sentiments a little. Not that it isn’t 'emotional enough' but when your plot focuses on animals—dog, horse, dolphin, etc.—you expect the film to leave you either overjoyed or heart wrenched. It does both, albeit, only to a certain extent. 

Come to think of it, some animal-films that managed to wow the audience sans the Spielberg-esque budget are ‘Spirit of the Stallion’, ‘Red Dog’, ‘Hachiko’, ‘Free Willy’ etc.  

Spielberg also introduces Celine Buckens as young Emilie. We may be seeing more of her in future—reminds you of other young actors in Spielberg’s movies like Haley Joel Osment or Dakota Fanning.

A good 3d movie too and indeed worth a theater watch—in fact most of the film industry stalwarts are doing a fine job with 3d now. I only await the release of ‘The Hobbit’ which is supposed to take the movie watching experience to level-next.  

Warhorse is a good mix of comedy, sentiments, action—a sure-shot commercial success formula.

Joey the horse is obviously best part of the movie.

7/10

John Carter (2012)

Director: Andrew Stanton

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Willam Dafoe, Mark Strong

Plot: John Carter is "telegraphed" from Earth to Mars.

With so many larger-than-life movies slated for release in coming months, John Carter commences 2012 in a grand style! It is worth all your money and is entertaining enough.

Stanton, the storyteller, has ensured John Carter (the character) will stay with us for long and we will want more of him soon.

The special effects are state of the art. Alien landscapes filmed at Big Water, Utah are brilliantly captured--take you to the heady days of original 'Planet of the Apes'.

Film also moves at a good pace, at the same time there is a definite feel of stability in the script. It is a larger-than-life, action-adventure epic that not necessarily needs to make room for display of emotions, yet these have been subtly interwoven amongst all the chaos. 

There is nothing new in the movie itself, however, it does give you the feel of "Star Wars" and some fight sequences (especially the chase outside Goddess's abode) and their settings also remind you of old west scenes from "Back to the Future".

I haven't read much work of Edgar Rice Burroughs but was aware of the character John Carter as it has appeared a few times in both Marvel and DC. If you are not familiar with the Burroughs' writings then initially it could be little troubling to decipher what is going on much of the time but that is also something which keeps you glued-on and by the time movie ends everything is crystal clear.

There are a few things I feel should have been included and some scenes should have been cut short as it is a 2 hours+ movie:

• Display of excessive emotions by Princess of Mars 'Dejah' was unnecessary and seemed bogus, instead, some overall character development would have fared better for the movie. 
• 3D was decent but again unnecessary, would have done equally well--or probably better--in 2D.
• Action sequences (apart from Carter's legendary high jump) are good but nothing outstanding. 
• Stanton looked more focused in creating a fantastic world with state of the art sets and lags behind a bit in direction part. 
• You expect much and more from the storyteller who gave us the likes of Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Wall-E. Clearly, directing a live action for the first time has slightly affected Stanton's actual strength.

At last, no spoilers ahead, what an ending! Perfect climax makes up for anything that was lacking and makes you crave for a sequel.

7.5/10

P.S., you'll fall in love with Wulla (Calot): a 'frog-dog'-like creature!

Joyeux Noel (2005, French)

Director: Christian Carion

Cast: Diane Kruger, Benno Fürmann

Genre: History, War

Christmas ceases the fire!

Based on some real events/stories of WWI, Joyeux Noel simply leaves you speechless with its in-depth and immaculate screenplay. Music plays a vital role all through the movie, especially the heartwarming Scottish bagpiper and soul-stirring German opera.

Film starts with an appalling scene of French, German, and Scottish youngsters being made to recite their anti-enemy lines in cold blood. You witness this horrendous murder of innocence (nothing graphic, it is all sheer vibes) and tone is set for the remaining movie.

The next scene features the dreaded WWI Trenches and starts-off bloodily somewhat like “Paths of Glory” but from there onwards the film takes a completely different turn.

Now, the film revolves around the German, French, and Scottish standoff at no man’s land and this standoff remains in the back drop throughout the movie. Christmas is around the corner and the soldiers on all sides—at the Western Front—want this cursed war to end.

A posse of beautifully etched-from-reality characters move the film forward. There is a French Lieutenant who left behind his pregnant wife in occupied France to attend the war-call, Lieutenant’s helper/assistant who misses his mother and her coffee, a Scottish priest who—untouched by politics of faith—actually preaches about humanity, two Scottish brothers, and two deeply in love German opera singers separated by war—Anna, Sprink.  These and few others form the core of the movie. Their stories are interwoven—not literally—at an emotional level and by Christmas Eve combined feelings of all three sides reach the threshold of something spectacular. What happens now completely defies the purpose/need of war and, to this day, remains a lesson in morality for us all.

All three warring sides call a truce and make merry together. This merry making isn’t just about having fun, you get to feel some of the most complex human emotions captured elaborately on-screen.

Some sequences leave you spell-bound, e.g., Sprink coming out singing from German trenches—ignoring orders and a probable enemy bullets—and being chorused by the bagpipe, Father Palmer sermon delivered in a  language (Latin) not understood by most, Anna’s soul full song that leaves everyone too moved to applause, Jonathan writing to his mother on-behalf of his dead brother, etc.

There are some genuine fun moments too, like, the football match, the exchange of chocolates and wines, the alarm clock that mysteriously rings at a particular time, and to top them all there is a cat (Felix/Nestor) who is addressed by different names among all the sides.

A piece from movie:

“General Audebert: You and your men will rejoin the Verdun sector. You're right about one thing. I don't understand this war. My corps was the cavalry. You should have made a career of it, like I said. Today, I'm asked to fight a way where the shovel outweighs the rifle. In which people swap addresses with the enemy to meet when it's all over. Plus the cat we found with a note from the Germans, "Good luck, comrades!" I was ordered to arrest the cat for high treason... until further notice.”

  

Of course, the personnel involved in this fraternization were ultimately punished--perhaps glorified too!

And if all this wasn’t enough—Diane Kruger, beautiful as ever, emits Donna Reedesque charm! 

Indeed a must watch.

8/10