Sanctum (2011)

Director: Alister Grierson

Cast: Rhys Wakefield , Richard Roxburgh, Ioan Gruffudd, Dan Wyllie

Genre: Adventure

Plot: A group of explorers trapped  underneath an unpredictable cave system must find a way out.

Visually spectacular and adventurously enticing--these are the only high points of the movie!

 

The canvas shot of Esa'ala Cave (cave-mouth shown in the movie is actually Cave of Swallows, Mexico) leaves you literally spellbound. All the underwater scenes are shot so immaculately that one can’t believe they were filmed in a studio!

Sanctum is partly based on real life events where a team of explorers face life-threatening circumstances in an underwater cave diving expedition. Their aim is to find an unmapped route from within the cave system to the sea.

The script is poor and acting is mostly mediocre.

I personally enjoy exploring caves but still didn’t find Sanctum as appealing as “The Descent,” even though former had better visuals.  

6.2/10                                              

I Am Number Four (2011)

Director: D.J. Caruso.

Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Dianna Agron, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer

Genre: Sci-Fi

Plot: Some aliens are fighting and Earth is the battleground.

John Smith (Pettyfer) along with eight others escaped from his home planet Lorien as a child.

Lorien is under attack by Mogadorians. On Earth he has to keep a low profile as suggested by his guardian Henri. John has to keep moving and eventually comes to a Paradise, Ohio where he meets Sarah (Dianna) and falls in love. John now inherits his parents abilities and with the help of number 6 (Teresa Palmer, who is trying to look hot) eradicates the pursuing Mogadorians.

    

Sounds familiar? No wonders. Michael Bay is the producer of film!

 

The obvious SFX are there, as always in a Bay production.

There is nothing worthwhile in the movie, acting is terrible and direction even worse.

Timothy Olyphant as Henri is beyond irritating and definitely deserves a Razzie!

Still some teenagers, growing on a staple diet of uncreative computer-generated visuals and completely unoriginal science fiction stories, might moderately enjoy it.

Oh yes! The pre-credits brief soundtrack by Kings of Leon is somewhat hummable. The only respite in almost 1hr 40 minutes!

5.5/10

Der Untergang (2004, German)

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel

Cast: Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara and Ulrich Matthes

Genre: History, Biography

Plot: 'The Downfall' is a peek at Hitler's last ten days through the eyes of his young secretary.

This is the best portrayal of a paranoid Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) that you will ever see onscreen. The war at Berlin is backdrop of the movie and it focuses on life and affected psyche of the Nazis.

Such is the solidity of Bruno Ganz's performance that halfway through the movie,\ you actually feel for Hitler and curse the traitor Generals, SS etc.

Hitler is delusional in his optimism and is moving now non-existent armies to save the third Reich. His leaders are saving their own lives but some are still standing by his side--especially women and young children who are still fighting and dying as heroes for their Fuhrer.

Even though doubtful of his leadership, senior leader and adviser Speer is faithful and a friend to Hitler. He himself disobeyed Fuhrer’s direct controversial orders for the love of German citizen and Hitler's own good. Devout mothers are willing to sacrifice their children realizing that the future Germany won't be Hitler's dreamt, "Germania."

Der Untergang is a detailed study of those final days at the Third Reich. It captures the horror and confusion of people involved that could only be felt by watching this masterpiece.

8.5/10

Donnie Darko (2001)

Director: Richard Kelly

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Holmes Osborne, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Genre: Sci-fi, Mystery

Plot: Donnie Darko sacrifices himself to save his family and love without their ever knowing it. And how it all happens? One can always miss a trick in figuring that out!

Indeed one of the most complicated movies ever!

Without spoiling any plot details what you need to know is: there is a mysterious man-grown Bunny who makes a boy named Donnie do some strange things. This Bunny might be a hallucination or a time-traveler from future or Donnie might be caught in a time loop, or traveling back from a tangent universe! If you are into hocus-pocus then add a ‘Magic’ angle to it!

The director’s cut, including scenes about a book "The Philosophy of Time Travel" written by a character in the movie Grandma Death, makes it comparatively easier to understand. Otherwise, the varied explanations of the movie...to each his own!

Possibilities are infinite with this mind boggling piece of cinema! Try one yourself and ponder over it :)

8.5/10

Thor (2011)

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston,

Genre: Action, Adventure

Plot: The Norse God has been banished from Asgard to Earth.

Thor (Hemsworth) is a carefree and vivacious Norse god of lighting and thunder whose recklessness - combined with his younger half-brother Loki’s treachery - force high father Odin to exile him from Asgard.

He is devoured of his powers and his hammer Mjölnir has been separated from him till the time he proves himself worthy again.

On earth he falls for archaeologist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman - yes not a nurse/doctor of comic!).

Back in Asgard an illness has put Odin to sleep and Loki proclaims himself ruler of Asgard.  

Thor’s friends in Asgard decide to help him but Loki realizes this and wrecks havoc on Earth.

Thor finally gets back his hammer and defeats Loki. While doing this Thor has to destroy the across-realm portal, hence he is stuck in now peaceful Asgard and his heart is left with Jane Foster on Earth.

It is a complete popcorn entertainment and actors deliver as expected. Kat Dennings is pretty to look at but has nothing much to do in the movie! Anthony Hopkins, as always, makes his presence felt in a short role.  

Story is nothing ground breaking just the usual stuff but execution and casting is fantastic, more like perfect. And Asgard does look like a realm of Gods!

Thor would have been far superior if it was made like Hulk, with plenty of time devoted to character development. Especially more focus on background details of Thor and his hammer Mjölnir would have been ideal.

Present movie seems more like a hurried introduction of Thor to the non marvel-comic aware audience, so that when Avengers is out nobody is asking ‘who is he’!!

Graphics and Sfx are good but they don’t require glasses! I didn’t even use mine.

In fact 3-D ruins some scenes like the Canvas shot of Asgard.

Realm of Asgard is all gold and it always has a emanating orangish tinge – especially at sunrise and sunset. But 3-D renders it a bit darker in tone.

Those who enjoy their Marvel comics religiously and watch the movies diligently – the post credits especially – will know something grand is just around the corner!

The trend that started with Hulk and Iron-Man movies continues with Thor, if anything it has become lengthier!

We have already been hinted on an Iron Man – Hulk showdown as well as Captain America’s comeback (Captain America is out in July 2011). Avengers are definitely gearing up for the big showdown, with S.H.I.E.L.D agents and Nick Fury prancing around all over. Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson) has also been introduced. And Norse God is here too!

Now only scenario that looks fit enough to feature all the Avengers, including Iron Man and Thor, will be “Banishment of Hulk” from Earth. The way things are going with Avengers 2012 release it will be the likely plot.

 But that will possibly leave our pretty lass Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) out of the fray or with a petty role! And right now the way things are going for our petite goddess that’s highly improbable!

So another scenario, following on the heels of Avengers that will have plenty for Jane Foster, could be “Defiance of infamous Superhero Registration act” where all these forces combine again. Green Lantern (June 2011) is out as well which makes for inclusion of a tempting JLA angel as well!

But there is a third scenario as well!

The Paramount and Marvel Entertainment bosses might have just thrown the ball in the audiences’ court to see their response. And they still have not finalized the plot that will culminate together all these superhero franchises including Green Lantern currently held by Warner Bros. Anyways who would want cut open a Golden goose!

Back to Thor! Even though it's not a grand epic - that I expected will welcome a legendary God - it is worth all your money with some mind boggling action sequences.

 7.5/10                                                             Source: http://www.worldcinemareviews.co.cc/