More than 'Pirates of the Carribean' series, I personally like Johnny Depp's performance in Robert Rodriguez's "Once upon a time in Mexico". Ever since, I started to take notice whenever a film of his get released.

I guess my memory stays good. So I still remember when did I get a first look of this movie. I was in a showroom looking out for digital camera. They have had LCD TVs too. When I was looking at it in between, a trailer of this movie started. I was just looking at the TV. Digital Camera? Let's see later...first let me have a look at this movie.

When I came to know that this is a real story, I decided that I shouldn't miss this movie.

This story starts in 1930s. John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) is a notorious bank robber. He has a set of friends who always accompanies him during robbery. After the completion of a job, John meets Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard) in a restaurant. At first, he introduces himself as Jack. But very soon he wanted to be true to her. So he reveals his identity. After a bit of hesitation, Billie falls for John.

Meanwhile, the FBI announces John as the Public Enemy No.1. Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) has been assigned to capture John Dillinger. Having belief in scientific methods, Melvin is so confident of putting John behind the bar. Truly, he does so. But still John manages to break the prison. Then what? Watch the movie...I don't want to spoil the suspense.

For the first one hour, I have had a little interest. As the movie progresses, it becomes so interested. But still, only if you have patience, you can enjoy this movie. This is not a kinda boom-boom-dush-dush action movie.

Just look at Johnny Depp's reaction while his girl friend being arrested by police. Fantastic performance! What more can you say?


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Tagline: The true story of a real fake

Another movie from my most favorite director! After dropping out of Big Fish and Memoirs of a Geisha, Spielberg (initially involved as a producer) decided to direct this movie, a true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. Filming took place from February to May 2002 and released in December 2002.

The film begins in 1969, with FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) arriving at a French prison to meet the sick Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio). The movie then started from Frank as 16 years old, who lives happily with the family.

But after some financial and personal issues within the family, Frank’s parents are decided to split. Frank cannot tolerate this and he leaves home only with the checkbook, which was given as a birthday gift from his father. Slowly he starts to do check forgery and enjoy the life.

And later he successfully conned millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor and Louisiana attorney and parish prosecutor. During these whole things happen, Carl on a run to catch Frank.

It is very hard to believe to everyone, all these stuff done before his 19th birthday. And finally, since his primary crime was check forgery, becoming so skillful that the FBI eventually turned to him for help in catching other check forgers.

It was really surprising Leonardo acted as a 16 years old, because we all know his age. During the filming, his age was almost double what he portrays in movie. But he toned his body very well and make us believe he is really a 16 years old kid. And no need to tell about such a great actor Tom Hanks, he shows the disappointment in his eyes whenever he miss Frank.

Absolutely wonderful movie to watch two great performances!

‘Real’ Frank Abagnale’s reaction to the film: “I know that Hollywood has made a number of changes to the story, but I am honored that Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks participated in the making of the movie inspired by my life. It is important to understand that it is just a movie, not a biographical documentary”

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Directed by James Cameron, this movie was released on December 18, 2009. I really don’t know any director other than James Cameron who has 12 years period between the current movie and the last one. While watching this movie, you can realize that he just put his full effort and made these 12 years a worth.

In 2154, Pandora is inhabited by Na’vi. Humans cannot able to breathe in Pandora. So Dr. Grace Augustine ( Sigourney Weaver) create the Avatar program, genetically engineering human-Na'vi hybrids. A human who shares genetic material with an avatar is mentally linked to it, allowing them to control it while their own body sleeps.

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) a former US Marine who was paralyzed below the waist in combat on Earth. Since his twin brother Thomas was killed, who was working in Avatar program, Jake got the opportunity to become an Avatar.

While the process is going, Jake is ordered by Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) to obtain the trust of the Na'vi and is given three months to convince them to abandon their Hometree. But after few days, Jake realized that this is not at all possible. So Colonel Quaritch attacks Na’vi. And this makes Jake to decide to join Na’vi and protect them. How can he able to make it success? Watch this wonderful movie!

If you hear this story from someone, you may feel that it is nothing new, it’s just usual. But when you watch it, you would just forget the storyline. Brilliant Direction and Special Effects! I feel James Cameron should make his team ready for another Academy Awards night for this movie, especially Special Effects.

A – A treat of
V – Visual
A – And
T – Technology…
A – Again

R – Rocking by James Cameron

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Tagline: Rules are made to be broken

Directed by Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen, this movie was released on October 2002. Responding to the success of “The Transporter”, two more sequels are made, Transporter 2 (Sep 2005) & Transporter 3 (Nov 2008).

Frank Martin (Jason Statham) is hired to deliver a package to a gangster who is known only as “Wall Street” in his BMW 735i. Frank has his own rules while delivering a package to the destination.

But at some point of time, he has to open that package in middle of the way. After opened that package he realized that the package is nothing but a tied young woman by the name of Lai (Shu Qi). By seeing a young woman who is in the situation to be protected by someone, what Frank will do? And why Lai was tied up and sent as a package to somewhere? Watch the movie!

If you expect some great story, this is not a movie you would like to watch. But it has wonderful action scenes backed by a good screenplay and cinematogrpahy. Only if you like action genre, you would love to watch this movie. And it’s really worth to watch!

Frank Martin’s Rules:

Rule One: A deal's a deal...Never change the deal.

Rule Two: No names - Frank doesn't want to know for whom he's working, or what he's transporting. Likewise, he wishes to remain anonymous to his clients.

Rule Three: Never look in the package.

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Tagline: Your life is on the line

Is it possible a movie shot in just only one location can keep audience at the edge of their seat for 75-odd minutes? "No" is the answer until you watch "Phone Booth".

Directed by Joel Schumacher, this movie was released on April 2003. It stars Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Radha Mitchell and Katie Holmes.

From a phone booth, Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell), a publicist, calls Pamela McFadden (Katie Holmes), a young actress. Though he is married to Kelly (Radha Mitchell) he wants to hide it so that he can have a relationship with Pam.

Captain Ed Raminey negotiates with Stu...

When he talks to Pam, a pizza delivery man tries to deliver a pizza to Stu. But Stu refuses and talks to that person in very rude manner. After he finished talking to Pam, when he tries to leave, the phone is ringing. Stu answers it. The Caller says that Stu should have accepted the pizza as it would have kept his strength up for what comes next.

Kelly tries to talk...

Here, the story starts. Stu is warned not to leave the booth. The Caller let Stu know that he holds a rifle and can shoot him at anytime he wants to. What does the caller want? Simple. Stu must confess that he is cheating both Kelly and Pam.

Pam shocked over Stu's words...

Can Stu able to come out alive from that phone booth? Did he accept that he lied to Kelly and Pam? I don’t want to break the suspense by telling more. Just watch this scintillating thriller!

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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."

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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!

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