Life of Pi

Director: Ang Lee

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irfan Khan, Ayush Tandon, Adil Hussain, Tabu, Rafe Spall, Gérard Depardieu

Distributed By: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: November/December 2012

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This is quite simply one of the most moving and beautiful stories I have ever read and it is lovingly translated onto the big screen with the utmost respect of the source material.
Ang Lee infuses Yann Martel's fascinating and intriguing story with absolute care and attention to detail.
The whole thing looks gorgeous, even the opening scenes in the Zoo are exquisite!
Irfan Khan is brilliant as the adult Pi and I really like that we get to see him retelling his amazing story to Rafe Spall's writer and their scenes together are subtle yet meaningful.
The first section of the story is set in the vibrant and bustling Indian town of Pondicherry and you really get a sense of Pi's life as he deals with an unfortunate version of his name at school and his quest to find his purpose in life.
Ayush Tandon's portrayal of Pi is a joy to watch as he displays the makings of a smart and confident boy. I also really like Adil Hussain and Tabu as Pi's parents.
The religious themes in the book are full of warmth and this too is translated really well, as Pi ponders the meaning of spirituality.
The first proper scene with Richard Parker is just what I was waiting for; a wonderful and powerful scene that is quickly dealt with, but lingers in the mind.
As Pi's parents decide to move to pastures new, I felt a pang of emotion for what Pi is leaving behind and this is one of the achievements of the film; every scene is filled with emotion, every character is clearly defined and grabs hold of your own emotions.
I saw this in 3D and it is truly mesmerising! The sea comes to life as storms rage and the Tsimtsum sinks and Pi's life is forever changed.
Each scene on the Pacific is truly breathtaking and as Pi gets accustomed to living on a lifeboat many of his scenes are quite heartbreaking!
Four dangerous animals on a lifeboat is an amazing concept and the book goes into quite horrific and accurate detail of just how they define the social hierarchy and I'm quite glad that these scenes are swift and mostly gore-free so as not to spoil the magical tone of this beautiful visual experience.
Suraj Sharma is absolutely amazing as the sixteen year old Pi, who is faced with sharing a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger and this is the true heart of the film.
Whether you're an animal lover or not, Richard Parker comes to life majestically and is so well done that I totally forgot that this is CGI work! Richard Parker simply becomes real and his and Pi's relationship and dependence on each other is a beautiful and inspiring thing to watch. So many scenes moved me to tears and I particularly love that this is exactly how Irfan Khan reacts as Pi remembers how he and Richard Parker part ways.
The second story is a scene of much contention in the book, but I'm glad they used it here; it makes the whole thing more intriguing.
For me, when watching this, I am on that boat with Pi and Richard Parker and Ang Lee, along with his cast and crew do it justice.
It's so satisfying when a book you love becomes a visual experience that fills your heart.
Mychael Danna's score is also hauntingly beautiful!
Life of Pi is a truly amazing and uplifting story in all sorts of ways; watch it and experience the wonder!!
~~Nikki~~

Trailers, Teasers & Talent...

I'm currently addicted to the following movie related goodness...

Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts look set to stir powerful emotions in The Impossible...

Anthony Hopkins is ready to thrill in Hitchcock with Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson...

April 2013 is bringing dark days for Tony Stark in Iron Man 3...

And Star Trek Into Darkness is definitely teasing me...

I also can't wait to fall into the world of Oz: The Great and Powerful...

Moments in between movies...
~~Nikki~~

Time Is Relative...

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

- Gandalf - The Fellowship of the Ring: The Lord of the Rings

I don’t generally mind how critics review movies, this is after all, a country that has free speech but some things really baffle me!!

 

 

I have heard many people say over the years that too many characters and scenes were left out of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy despite its tremendous running time, even with the knowledge that Peter Jackson still had to edit and cut his final versions because cinema goers would not sit through more than 3 hours!
There's also the so-called multiple endings argument; despite the fact that the movie exactly follows how The Return of the King ends in the book and in my opinion these characters definitely deserve a fond farewell.

As everyone is now aware The Hobbit has become 3 films and is truly faithful to the book and is probably how Tolkien himself would have envisioned this movie adaptation and yet people are still not satisfied...

I truly believe if you love movies and view them in the way the directors, writers and actors intended them to be filmed why constantly go on and on about the running length?
Is there really something else you’d rather be doing with your time?

 

For me cinema is an escape from our often discouraging world where we get to immerse ourselves in the fantastical and magical world of entertainment and directors like Peter Jackson are pushing the boundaries of our cinematic experience.

Life is too short to be cynical and constantly underwhelmed and I for one intend to enjoy every cinematic moment the world has to offer me.

There will be, of course, some movies that I might not enjoy as much as others and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but in this country it's almost as if it's more appropriate for people to be negative, like it isn’t a big deal for a big shot director to spend months doing something he/she really cares about only to have it ripped apart by every critic because it’s 'their job' to be cynical?!

My opinions count for very little in the grand scheme of things but if I ever had the opportunity to let Peter Jackson know what his movies mean to me, I would tell him how his versions of Tolkien's wonderful stories has changed me and has given me such hope and enjoyment and that every minute he spent in the world of Middle Earth is a moment that I cherish!

We are living in one of the best times for cinematic achievement, lets enjoy these moments and be thankful for the people that have the courage and vision to give us movies that change our world!
~~Nikki~~

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchette, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Sylvester McCoy, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Lee Pace, Richard Armitage, Graham McTavish, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner, Dean O'Gorman, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Peter Hambleton,William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Barry Humphries, Manu Bennett

Distributed By: Warner Bros. Pictures

Release Date: December 2012

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It's hard to believe that 11 years have passed since The Lord of the Rings first graced our screens and one of the things I love most about this film is that it's a seamless transition back into the world of Middle Earth.
Peter Jackson shows us once again that his vision from page to screen is crafted with absolute love and care and I love that he links up to The Fellowship of the Ring by revisiting Ian Holm's Bilbo and Elijah Wood's Frodo and both actors are a joy to watch.
Ian McKellen simply is Gandalf and it feels like watching an old friend on the screen as he brings kind authority to this wonderful character.
Martin Freeman is the perfect choice for Bilbo and does a great job conveying a range of emotions as he suddenly deals with a noisy and hungry group of Dwarves in his home and considering there are so many characters in one place these scenes are very well shot and well performed by all.
The group of Dwarves are a mixture of wonderful and colourful characters and I particularly like James Nesbitt as Bofur, Ken Stott as Balin, Aidan Turner as Kili and Dean O'Gorman as Fili, whilst Richard Armitage brings a brilliant moody and serious tone to Thorin.
Lee Pace looks wonderful as the Elvenking Thranduil and I am looking forward to much more with him and the Elves of Mirkwood.
I am so very happy that the character Radagast is given an extended role and Sylvester McCoy perfectly captures his eccentricities with a wonderful performance and all the scenes with him and his forest friends are enchanting.
Galadriel is also given extended scenes and beautiful Cate Blanchette makes her elegant and wise, bringing a charmingly subtle performance to light up the screen.
It's also lovely to see the return of Hugo Weaving as Elrond and Christopher Lee as Saruman. The Rivendell sets are particularly beautiful and I love Bilbo's wonder as he sees it for the first time.
Gollum is one of my favourite characters and Andy Serkis is paramount in making his scenes so memorable and enjoyable and as 'Riddles in the Dark' is my favourite chapter in the book I was eagerly waiting for this scene on film and it doesn't disappoint.
Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis are both wonderful as they try to outsmart each other and the use of motion capture for Gollum is once again breathtaking as his emotions flit from childlike innocence to that of a snarling creature in the blink of an eye and I especially love that we get to see Bilbo's pity for Gollum as mentioned by Gandalf way back in The Fellowship of the Ring.
The many Orcs throughout are impressive; especially Azog who is very menacing and quite creepy as he pursues Thorin and the brief glimpses of Smaug the Dragon are intriguing and I can't wait to see him in greater detail!!
Every scene is enjoyable and this movie brings back the feelings of wonder that I felt when seeing The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time!
The scenery, sets, and music are all integral pieces that help to make this movie look and feel beautifully epic and I am so looking forward to the next two instalments!
Wonderful and inspiring; I will happily lose myself in the world of Middle Earth and feel the magic and wonder of it all again and again!
~~Nikki~~

Tron Legacy

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen, James Frain, Beau Garrett

Distributed By: Walt Disney Pictures

Release Date: December 2010

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Having never seen the original Tron movie, I didn't really know what to expect with this and I was really surprised by how much I like it.
This movie sees Sam Flynn as a wayward teenager rebelling against life, ignoring the company that his Father Kevin helped create due to the worldwide success of his arcade game Tron.
As Sam discovers what actually happened to his Father all those years ago he has to fight for both their lives and help Quorra escape the evil clutches of Clu and visually this is beautiful to watch.
Once Sam is in the game, everything takes on intense vibrant tones. The suits that all of the characters wear are strikingly beautiful and the actual battles are pure enjoyment.
I think it's really clever that they used a digital image for Clu as a younger version of Jeff Bridges and I like that you get to see how he was created.
Garrett Hedlund is brilliant as Sam who is literally thrown into this world and barely has time to take a breath and I really like Jeff Bridges  as Kevin Flynn and I love that he's trying to remove himself by becoming Zen-like. His home is also visually stunning with the antique furniture that counteracts the pure futuristic look of the world he inhabits.
Olivia Wilde's Quorra is my favourite character and she brings an effortless charm to her scenes as she helps Sam understand what her world is like.
Michael Sheen also gives a larger than life performance as Zues that is guaranteed to be remembered and the musical score performed by Daft Punk is beautifully rousing and matches the visuals.
Creative, stylish and clever, I'm definitely up for more of this!
~~Nikki~~

The Amazing Spider-Man

Director: Marc Webb

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan

Distributed By: Columbia Pictures

Release Date: June/July 2012

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This new take on the life of Peter Parker and his alter-ego Spider-Man sees Andrew Garfield play the shy, intelligent teenager who gets bitten.
I'm a big fan of the original movies and Tobey Maguire's performance but this is also very enjoyable and has a more dramatic tone and it's nice to get some back story on what happened to Peter's parents and I really like Sally Field and Martin Sheen as his Aunt and Uncle.
I did miss the amount of humour that I had come to expect with these movies, but there are some really funny scenes notably when Peter displays some spider-like qualities on the train and as long-time cameo star Stan Lee is oblivious to the battle going on behind him in the library!!
Andrew Garfield is very good as he deals with being the favourite target of school bully Flash Thompson and his first few scenes with Emma Stone's Gwen Stacey are brilliantly awkward as he tries to get a date.
Emma Stone gives a lovely performance as Gwen and I like that she finds out about Peter's secret identity and is totally cool with it almost instantly.
Denis Leary is also great as Gwen's Father and their family dinner is a particularly enjoyable scene and he really shows his courage in the final battle.
Rhys Ifans brings likable and sympathetic qualities to Curt Connors and I can't help feeling sorry for him as he becomes a victim of his own scientific experiments.
There are plenty of great action scenes and it's quite touching when the construction workers decide to lend Spider-Man a helping hand.
I also love the final scene between Peter and Gwen and the teaser that hints at more to come.
Spider-Man is back!
~~Nikki~~

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

Director: Bill Condon

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Ashley Green, Jackson Rathbone, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Billy Burke, Mackenzie Foy, Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning, Cameron Bright, Mía Maestro, Casey LaBow, Lee Pace, Judith Shekoni, Jamie Campbell Bower, Christopher Heyerdahl, Maggie Grace

Distributed By: Summit Entertainment

Release Date: November 2012

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The Twilight Saga comes to a fitting close as Bella finally becomes the Vampire that she's longed to be and it's filled with some really cool moments as Bella proves she's now a force to be reckoned with.
There are many humorous moments throughout; particularly between Kristen Stewart's Bella and Taylor Lautner's Jacob who have a very different relationship now and it's nice to see the mutual respect that is growing between Jacob and Robert Pattinson's Edward.
The cast list for this instalment is impressive and almost makes me miss the intimate familiarity of Bella, Edward, Jacob and the rest of the Cullen's but with so many new Vampires on the scene, this movie does well at giving time to each group as they decide which side they are going to be on and I particularly like Casey LaBow as Kate, Lee Pace as Garrett & Judith Shekoni as Zafrina.
I love the fact that Renesmee grows so quickly and young actress Mackenzie Foy portrays her really well and I really like Kristen Stewart's scenes with her.
Billy Burke gives a lovely performance as Charlie, although I would've liked him to have more screen time and the scene as Jacob reveals his true nature to Charlie has to be one of the Saga's funniest moments!
It's great seeing Michael Sheen's Aro back again as he delights in tormenting the Cullen's in his quest to control them and gives a memorable performance.
The battle is brilliantly filmed and has some shocking moments for long-time fans that keeps the suspense going right till the end and once again I love all the CGI scenes with the Wolves.
One of the most beautiful scenes is Bella sharing her memories with Edward which shows just how far these films have come.
The ending is slightly teasing, but for me this film wraps up a compelling journey about teenage love with a supernatural twist in a small sleepy town called Forks.
~~Nikki~~