300 - Battle for Freedom

300 is movie that tells the story of freedom and liberty, struggle for pride and dignity. Set in the era of 480 B.C., 300 narrates the story of the 300 Spartan warriors led by their King Leonidas (played by Gerald Butler) who stand up against a million Persian army awaiting to conquer Sparta.

The movie begins with the arrival of Persian messenger trying to persuade King Leonidas to surrender without war. King kills him. According to Spartan rules, he has to go to evil god to consult on war because no Spartan Kings had begun war without consulting the evil god. But already bought by Persian Empire, they predict that going to war means destruction and END of Sparta. So Sparta refuses King Leonidas's request of war against Persia. So King Leonidas supported by his 300 warriors went to defend Sparta against nearly million Persian armies.

Then the battle begins which is a technically accomplished series of fight scenes. The visuals themselves, even when not involving bloodshed or carnage, are a sight to behold. Much like the previous Miller adaptation Sin City, 300 was made with generous help from all digital environments. At last 300 people kills as many Persians as anyone can think beyond. King Leonidas and his 300 warriors are perished by Persian army but the war makes Spartans realize the beauty of freedom and dignity. So Sparta goes to war and the movie ends.

There’s plenty of blood and body parts being chopped off and some of the best choreographed fight scenes on film, but it’s all stylized. Use of stop-motion to capture specific moments during battle helps the film achieve a painting come to life tone. The steamy scene of King Leonidas and Queen Gorgo acts as balance for the violence (though was for few seconds or Cinema Hall cut it dunno). Movie has shown many mythical character that might not exist at all (like man who is more like creature or creature with blades as arms etc.). It has also shown use of gun powder by Persian Army even (though I don't know whether use of gun powder dates back to that period?). Despite all these, movie is excellent.

Acting wise, everyone has delivered superb performance of bringing ancient history alive onscreen. As King Leonidas, Gerald Butler has delivered real leadership. Butler makes Leonidas into a fully fleshed out character and not just a fighting machine. Lena Headey’s equally terrific as the tough Queen Gorgo. She's sensual as lover and tough as Queen. Director Zack Snyder has created a movie that works on many different levels. Mesmerizing and breathtaking, 300 is surely No. 1 Action Movie of this year. Overall 300 is a must see movie.

Photo: Agencies

Salaam-E-Ishq: Too many Starcast, too long too

Six love stories, Twelve characters and 3.30 hrs of length, this is the Salaam-E-Ishq. Directed by talented Nikhil Advani (Kal Ho Na Ho) and produced by MAD pictures and Orion, this movie beautifully tells the story of six different couples in very interesting way.

Story 1:

Tehzeeb [Vidya Balan] her romantic husband Ashu [John Abraham] are happily married for two years. Things take a nasty turn when her train derails and meets with accident. She loses memory!

 

Story 2:

Raju [Govinda], a cabbie, dreams about his dream girl and one day he meets his dream girl Stephanie [Shanon Esra], who's come looking for Rohit [Kushal Punjabi], her boyfriend, in India. He doesn't understand English much, so in confusion he drives her to Taj Mahal instead of Hotel Taj. Now it becomes hard for Stephaine to find Rohit and Raju helps her. Slowly she falls in love with him.

 

Story 3:

Vinay [Anil Kapoor] leads a perfect life with perfect job. He has a happy family life with Seema [Juhi Chawla] and two kids. But things change when he bumps into Anjali [Anjana Sukhani]. Anjali comes from a world that Vinay only dreams of. Vinay's life undergoes a tumultuous change.

 

Story 4:

Kamini [Priyanka Chopra], an item girl in Bollywood, aspires for the coveted heroine's role in a Karan Johar film. She devises a plot to change her image by announcing that she's into a serious relationship with a fictitious character Rahul. Suddenly, Rahul [Salman Khan] enters the scene from nowhere and her whole world turns upside down.

 

Story 5:

Shiven [Akshaye Khanna] is engaged to get married in the next 10 days with his fiancé Gia (Ayesha Takia). But he develops cold feet and wants to break off the engagement. And he does so by hurting his fiance Gia in the bargain. Gradually, he begins to realize that he is incomplete without Gia.

 

Story 6:

Ramdayal [Sohail Khan] is a middle class Haryanvi, married to Phoolwati [Isha Koppikar]. On their wedding night, in excitement they set ablaze the whole house and their desire remains unfulfilled. No matter how and where Ramdayal tries to fulfill that burning desire, something goes wrong.

 

These are the six stories and five of them get inter-connected. Among them, story of John and Vidya Balan is superb so is of Govinda and Shanon Esra. John and Vidya together look so wonderful and their chemistry is too close to heart that we might have to think about John and Bipasha. Sohail Khan and isha Koppikar's story has no relation with the rest story though it tried to make film light. Priyanka and Salman's story is full of confusions and they both look so fake. Juhi and Anil shares another good story and they both looks very realistic. Akshya and Ayesha's story also leave some marks.

In acting wise, Akshya is superb and Govinda also suits the role. Juhi and Anil shares quality acting but Priyanka and Salman, a Big No to their overacting or under-acting??? Vidya has shown why she's left mark in her previous films, a wonderful performance. john is good and Shanon (may be her first performace in bollywwod, I dunno) has done good job too.

Music is pleasant and some tracks are quiet good. Director Nikhil Advani has handles some scenes so wonderfully but may be movie was too long, so he has slipped many times. Some background scores remind us of Kal Ho Na Ho, may be because director and music directors are same so. People find it hard to remain stick to their chairs for 3.3 hrs and movie is unnecessarily lengthy at last moments. Overall huge star cast may help Salaam-E-Eshq to gain profit but long length and confusing six stories might be drawbacks.

Casino Royale : Rejuvenating BOND

The Bond is back and he's back with the bang. Casino Royale was certainly one of the most awaited movies of 2006 and it doesn't leave you disappointed. Although released on November 17, 2006 worldwide, it managed to enter Nepal only on December 1, 2006. CASINO ROYALE is based on Ian Fleming's novel of the same name. Published in 1953, it was the first book in his 'James Bond' series. EON Productions' CASINO ROYALE produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli will mark the introduction of Daniel Craig (Munich/Layer Cake) as legendary secret agent, 007. Martin Campbell (GoldenEye/The Legend Of Zorro) is directing this film, the 21st in the 44 year franchise.

Synopsis:
CASINO ROYALE introduces JAMES BOND before he holds his license to kill. But Bond is no less dangerous, and with two professional assassinations in quick succession, he is elevated to "00" status. Bond's first 007 mission takes him to Madagascar, where he is to spy on a terrorist, MOLLAKA (Sebastien Foucan). Not everything goes to plan and Bond decides to investigate, independently of MI6, in order to track down the rest of the terrorist cell. Following a lead to the Bahamas, he encounters DIMITRIOS (Simon Abkarian) and his girlfriend, SOLANGE (Caterina Murino). He learns that Dimitrios is involved with LE CHIFFRE (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world's terrorist organizations. Secret Service intelligence reveals that Le Chiffre is planning to raise money in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro at Le Casino Royale. MI6 assigns 007 to play against him, knowing that if Le Chiffre loses, it will destroy his organization. 'M' (Judi Dench) places Bond under the watchful eye of the beguiling VESPER LYND (Eva Green). At first skeptical of what value Vesper can provide, Bond's interest in her deepens as they brave danger together and even torture at the hands of Le Chiffre. In Montenegro, Bond allies himself with MATHIS (Giancarlo Giannini), MI6's local field agent, and FELIX LEITER (Jeffrey Wright), who is representing the interests of the CIA. The marathon game proceeds with dirty tricks and violence, raising the stakes beyond blood money and reaching a terrifying climax.

For once, there is truth in advertising: The credits proclaim Daniel Craig as "Ian Fleming's James Bond 007," and Craig comes closer to the author's original conception of this exceptionally long-lived male fantasy figure than anyone since early Sean Connery. "Casino Royale" sees Bond recharged with fresh toughness and arrogance, along with balancing hints of sadism and humanity, just as the fabled series is reinvigorated by going back to basics. Craig as Bond is shown as a real human than those robotic looking bonds who can do whatever he wants. He is cruel, ruthless killer when he intends to kill and warm lover when he falls in love. He's egoist, arrogant and yet times funny.

All in all, Craig is hands down the best Bond since Sean Connery originated the role back in 1962’s Dr. No. There was initially controversy over the casting of Craig. Craig was criticized for being too short (at 5’ 11” he is the shortest Bond), and for being blond and blue-eyed (it should be noted though that Fleming describes Bond as having grey-blue eyes in the books). But Craig should take comfort in the fact that when Connery was originally cast, he was criticized by Fleming and fans of the books for being too working class and for being Scottish. But after one outing as 007, Connery won over Fleming (who actually gave his literary character Scottish heritage after seeing Connery’s performance) and fans. Craig too is likely to win over fans after they see the film. The actor delivers a hard-edged Bond who can be a cold-blooded killer, a cool, calculating gambler and a matter-of-fact seducer of women. But he also knows that killing can sometimes be messy, and emotions can sometimes cloud judgment.

Shrewd and smart as well as gorgeous, Vesper Lynd (Played by Eva Green) is hardly the typical Bond girl (she never even appears in a bathing suit), and Green makes her an ideal match for Craig's Bond. Danish star Mikkelsen (as LE CHIFFRE) proves a fine heavy, an imposing man with the memorable flaw of an injured eye that sometimes produces tears of blood. Giancarlo Giannini has a few understated scenes as a friendly contact in Montenegro, and while Jeffrey Wright has little to do as CIA man Felix Leiter, he does get off a couple of the film's best lines, and one can hope he may figure more prominently in forthcoming installments. Sebastien Foucan (in the beginning of the movie) does some eyebrow-raising "free running" stunts in the African chase.

Casino Royal is not full of gadgets and techno though it heavily promotes Sony's products like cell phones, laptops, cameras. Blond Bond does his magic and he's perfect to be 007 agent. Casino Royale is the best Bond film in decades and it moves the franchise in an exciting new direction. The movie goes to various breathtaking parts of the world from Venice to Montenegro, from Madagascar to Miami, also to Uganda, Madagascar, Prague, Bahamas and Switzerland. And the movie ends with style, typical style of Bond with – "The name is Bond, James Bond".

Photos: movies.msn.com