Movie Review: How To Train Your Dragon: A 3D delight

Finally, here is a movie that utilizes 3D elements cleverly, resulting in ample breathtaking moments and slick humour in its modest running time of 90-odd minutes.

The new Dreamworks animation film - How To Train Your Dragon (3D) is set in the land of Vikings where dragons wreck havoc and carry off livestock, apart from endangering the clan. In a family born to fight and kill dragons, things turn on their head when the chieftain's son, Hiccup ends up capturing an elusive dragon - Night Fury, and discovers that the creatures are not that murderous after all. Moreover, the dragons seem to be acting more on compulsion and fear of a mysterious power. It is up to Hiccup to figure out things with the help of his fire-breathing friend.

A roller coaster of a ride, with effective, spot-on voice-overs of the characters, high-quality animation and excellent storytelling - this one is highly-recommended for all cinema lovers.

Go for it! For the first time, we can say -  we didn't mind shelling extra for the 3D! Otherwise, post Avatar, the subsequent 3D wannabes have been looking like con jobs.

Film Review: Leaving Home: A band called INDIAN OCEAN

Asheem - Tabla, other percussions and vocals, he passed away in Decenber 2009, three months before the release of the film. The film is dedicated to him.    

Susmit - on the guitar, he started it all with Asheem  

Leaving Home: The Life and Music of Indian Ocean

There is more to this non-fiction movie that the narration, interviews, anecdotes and the music of this path-breaking band. The four free men who make up the band are a revelation. It is a call to live our lives as we want to. After playing for a week at theatres all across India, you may be lucky to catch this one still on 70mm. A DVD is worth waiting for.

Amit - drums, percussion and vocals. The youngest member of the band, the irony is that he always wanted to be a guitarist.  

Rahul - bass guitar and vocals. Completes the creative cascade that the band is... 

poster seller

Street walk: god lady

flower man

(click image for large size view)

blind man waiting

Movie Review: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Andy, a quiet young bank vice-president gets two life terms for killing his wife and her lover. Only, Andy (Tim Robbins) is innocent.

He is transported to Shawshank Prison, a place ruled by a greedy and cruel warden, filled with perverted homosexuals who prey on him and also people like Red (Morgan Freeman) who can smuggle him odds and ends like film posters, cigarettes, and a small tiny rock hammer. Over the course of the next two decades, the two form a strong bond. Finally one evening, as Red puts it, "Everyone has his breaking point," Andy indicates that this may be his last day at Shawshank, "You get busy living or you get busy dying," are his last words to Red. The next morning, at the roll call, Andy doesn't emerge from his cell. The exasperated guards rush to reprimand him...

The Shawshank Redemption is a celebration of the human spirit, and for those who have not yet seen it, grab a DVD of this gem, and enjoy the experience of one of the best movies made, ever. No kidding.