Directed by Jonathan Demme, this psychological horror/thriller movie was released in 1991. This movie is based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris.

Young FBI cadet, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is assigned to find a missing woman (a US Senator’s daughter). Starling has only one detail in her case – that girl is kidnapped by a serial killer known as “Buffalo Bill”. So she seeks help from Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant psychiatrist-turned-cannibalistic serial killer.

And Starling has also her own tragedy in her childhood. During the conversation with Lecter, she tells him that how she was orphaned, after that stayed with a relative, discovered a lamb slaughter place and failed in an attempt to rescue one of the lambs. This has always been the nightmare since then.

To simply say, how Agent Starling finds that serial killer “Buffalo Bill” with the help of Dr. Hannibal Lecter and getting herself relieved from her nightmare since her childhood forms the crux of the story.

Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins have given one of the best performances in their career ever. As a young FBI cadet, Jodie Foster shows the enthusiasm, nervous, boldness etc. And especially if you watch it closely, Hopkins’ screen presence is not more than 30 minutes. But his performance makes us to think like he is always there.

After It Happened One Night (1934) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), The Silence of the Lambs is the third movie to win the five main Academy Awards.

Best Actress – Jodie Foster

Best Actor – Anthony Hopkins

Best Director – Jonathan Demme

Best Picture – Kenneth Utt/Edward Saxon/Ron Bozman

Best Adapted Screenplay – Ted Tally

Dr. Hannibal Lecter’s famous quote in this movie : “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."

comments

Ray and Rachel looking at the clouds...

Hiding in the basement...

Directed by Steven Spielberg – I think this is the main reason why I like this movie. Produced by DreamWorks and Cruise/Wagner, this movie was released on June 2005. This movie is an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel of the same name, but the screenplay written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp.

Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise), a dock worker lives alone in New Jersey. He is estranged from his wife and children. So Mary Ann (Miranda Otto) allows her kids to live with their father for a few days. At that time, alien tripod machines started to kill people in New Jersey. Estranged but an affectionate father tries to save his family. He is not a super man, he is just a common man. Yet, he wants to protect his daughter and hand her over to her mom who is in Boston. How does he succeed, what happened to tripods then, shows us in “War of the Worlds”.

If anyone asks me what you don’t like in this movie, it would be one of the toughest questions I have ever faced. From start to end, this is a treat to watch. Particularly I like the camera work when Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) explains to his kids about the things happening while driving the car. This is really a fantastic scene.

And through all over the film, suspense and thrilling continues till the end. ‘What’ll happen next, how they’re going to survive…these kind of questions always in mind when you watch this movie.

Graphics work in this movie is something wonderful. And the kid who played as Ray’s daughter Rachel Ferrier (Dakota Fanning) has done a tremendous job. In many scenes, fear has been shown only through her eyes and expressions. A great movie from Steven Spielberg indeed!

comments

There!

Directed by Oren Peli, “Paranormal Activity” released on October 2009. This is a must-watch for those who like horror movies.

Katie (Katie Featherston) believes that she has been haunted by some ghostly thing since her youth and “it” is in their home. So Micah (Micah Sloat) buys a video camera to capture the ghost activity….umm….I feel this is enough to tell about this movie. I don’t want to go elaborately and break the suspense. So watch it!

How Steven Spielberg got connected to this movie?

(Thanks: Wikipedia)

In 2008, the DVD of this movie ended up at DreamWorks and was viewed by Production Executive Ashley Brooks. Brooks was so impressed by the movie that she "pestered" her boss, Production Chief Adam Goodman, every day to see the film until he eventually saw it. Goodman, in turn, brought it to his boss, Studio Chief Stacey Snider. They were impressed by the film as well and handed the DVD to Steven Spielberg, who took it home to watch.

Spielberg allegedly returned to DreamWorks the next day with the DVD in a "garbage bag" because he thought the DVD was "haunted". According to Spielberg, minutes after he viewed the film, his bedroom doors "locked by themselves" and he could not get out without calling in a locksmith. Despite this, Spielberg loved the movie and helped to greenlight a remake to be produced by Jason Blum and directed by Oren Peli again. Paramount acquired the domestic rights to the film, and international rights to potential sequels, for $300,000!

comments

Burnett contacts Admiral Reigart...

This is a 20th Century Fox movie, directed by John Moore and released on November 2001.

Being not involved in any war, Naval Flight Officer Lt. Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson) feels that he is not doing what he wanted to do. So he put his resignation letter to USN Rear Admiral Leslie Reigart (Gene Hackman). Disappointed with his attitude, Admiral Reigart just hold on his resignation right then and tell him when they back home he would be relieved.

But Admiral Reigart assigned Naval Aviator Lt. Jeremy Stackhouse (Gabriel Macht) and Chris Burnett a reconnaissance mission on Christmas day.

While flying in F/A-18F Super Hornet, Naval Aviator Lt. Jeremy Stackhouse (Gabriel Macht) and Naval Flight Officer Lt. Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson) crossed their allotted area, decides to fly in no-fly zone because they find some suspicious things over Bosnia. But Serbian forces target them and shot down the plane.

Burnett and Stackhouse eject from their plane and land in Serb-held territory. Stackhouse got injured from the ejection and Burnett attempts to contact Reigart for help. Meanwhile a Serb patrol finds Stackhouse, Burnett observes as they interrogate and execute him.

Now the lone survivor contacts Admiral Reigart and Reigart got caught himself with the order of his Commanding Officer’s order and the search-and-rescue mission (to save Burnett). Because the Officer feels that the mission would trouble the peace process. What can Admiral Reigart do now? Can Burnett be able to escape from Serb forces? That’s the story….

comments

Angels ready for action!!!

My Favorite Angel ;)

So another picture of her as bonus :)

Girls can do action movies? If you underestimate them, well, this movie is the perfect answer for this question. Directed by McG (Joseph McGinty Nichol), “Charlie’s Angels” surprised us in October, 2000.

Angels are Cameron Diaz (Natalie), Drew Barrymore (Dylan) and Lucy Liu (Alex). They are working for Charlie, who they’ve never seen. They hear only his voice through phone and he assigned them a job. Eric Knox, owner of Knox Technologies, whose voice-recognition software has been stolen, is looking out for Charlie’s help. So the angels help him.

But very soon after they finish their task, they find that their home is destroyed. And also they come to know that Charlie’s life is in danger. Can we able to protect someone we've never seen in our life? And how did angels bring back the smile into their face by protecting Charlie is the rest of the story.

The Success of this move made the producers to make a sequel “Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle” and it was released in June 2003.

I think Drew Barrymore stands top among the three angels. May be the reason is, she’s one of the producers ;) I didn't know who was Drew Barrymore before "Charlie's Angels". I have not seen a movie of Drew Barrymore after “Charlie’s Angels” series till now. But I like her action, smile, acting etc. That’s why there’s a bonus picture of her ;)

comments

Bourne enters the city...

Climax...

“I can walk, I can talk, I can add, I can subtract, I can laugh, I can kick, I can do this, I can do that…... but I don’t know who am I”. This is the situation Jason Bourne faces in “The Bourne Identity”.

Based on Robert Ludlum’s novel, this movie was released in 2002 as the first part of the series. In this movie, Jason Bourne tries to find his true identity, at the same time, CIA wants to track him down. Reason? Bourne is an assassin and he failed in an assassination which was assigned to him. Could he able to know who he was? Did he escape from CIA's attempt? That’s what “The Bourne Identity” shows us. A wonderful spy thriller indeed.

Matt Damon played as Jason Bourne is a perfect fit for this character. In this movie, Damon didn’t use body-double, instead, he has done so many stunts himself including climbing the safe house walls scene and hand-to-hand combat etc.

Since “The Bourne Identity” tasted success in 2002, two other sequels made, “The Bourne Supremacy” in 2004 and “The Bourne Ultimatum” in 2007. I really couldn’t rate which one is better. I like all the 3 movies.

“The Bourne Ultimatum” got nominated in 80th Academy Awards and won all the three, Best Film Editing, Best Sound and Best Sound Editing.

And apart from Matt Damon, I feel the good performance comes from Joan Allen who played as Pamela Landy in “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum”.

And to the surprise, another movie of Jason Bourne is going to be released in 2010 or 2011, that is, “The Bourne Legacy”. I can’t wait to watch this movie!

comments