War And Peace (Film) III - IV End, Catcher In The Rye

The last two sections of War And Peace were really trying my patience. The only scenes I like were Petya's last hours. I'm happy that the film is over. I don't really like leaving films unwatched but I can't avoid it sometimes. I'm glad I resisted this time though because I wouldn't return to it (probably never!)

I have started Catcher In The Rye written by J.D Salinger. It is very good so far.

War And Peace (The Film) II, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest - End

The second film was a bit better since it dealt not with war but with romance (of Natasha and Andrei) and how that romance ended. I even cried at one scene, very nicely film post hunt dinner with Natasha's uncle. A scene I loved in the novel.
It looks like the third film will be focused on Napoleon's attemt to invade Russia and battle of Borodino which is bad news since I really don't like war films.

I have finished The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest last night (and stayed up until past 03:30 a:m against my better judgement) It was good to the last drop. So sorry that we will not be able to read another Millenium novel. Maybe someone else will write one but it will not taste the same.

War And Peace (The Film) I

War And Peace (1967) Directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, written by Sergei Bondarchuk and Vasili Solovyov, adapted from Leo Tolstoy's novel with the same title.

I didn't like the parts I have watched so far. The print is washed out, the actors look old and they don't really act that good and it has none of the vibrancy of the novel. So far I only liked Papa Bolkonsky and Princess Maria. One of my favorite literary heroes Andrei Bolkonsky is not well represented. Anyhow I plan to finish it purely for the story. The war scenes were not that bad but they are not that good either and I felt sorry for the horses (some of them died during filming if the dvd excerpt should be believed) The songs were the only things I really liked.

Thank God for The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest since it is going really well.

Dostana, Pyar Ke Side Effects

Dostana (2008) Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, written by Anvita Dutt Guptan and Tarun Mansukhani
This film is eye candy and served its purpose in this second viewing.

Pyar Ke Side Effects (2006) Directed by Saket Chaudhary, written by Saket Chaudhary, Pratibha Acharya and Vijay Krishna Acharya.
I liked this make pov rom com and was entertained but it is not that good.

Love Actually, Vallavan, Murder by Numbers, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Time Traveler's Wife

Love Actually (2003) Directed and written by Richard Curtis

I like it everytime I watch it and can't help but cry. Good rom com excellent cast.

Vallavan (2006) Directed by T.R Silambarasan, written by Balakumaran and T.R Silambarasan

I guess I was not really in the right mood for this film. I was totally bored despite all the action in it. The lead star was cute but I didn't like him (tried to but to no avail)

Murder by Numbers (2002) Directed by Barbet Schoreder, written by Tony Gayton

It was good despite it being a second viewing. Sandra Bullock is a nice actor and fit great for the role. I can't help but like Ryan Gosling since Fracture.

Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) Directed by Siddarth Anand, written by Devika Bhagat, Anvita Dutt Guptan, story by Aditya Chopra (very big name so he is credited in the opening even)

I liked this more than I thought I would. It was entertaining despite Deepika being totally freaky, especially in the song.

Time Traveller's Wife (2009) Directed by Robert Schwentke, written by Bruce Joel Rubin adapted from the book of the same title written by Audrey Niffeneger.

Didn't like the book and didn't really care for the film either. Yes I cried but it was mostly due to good acting by Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.

My mother broke her arm and I took two days off from work (combined with a bank holiday) so have time to watch films but I don't really want to read The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest, it is a good book and I don't want to finish it so soon.

Shocker

Shocker (1989) Directed and written by Wes Craven.
This is a film I have been meaning to watch for years. Somehow I was never able to. My sister saw this in the bargain bin the other day and thought of me. I watched it last night and it was not very scary (I fell asleep towards the end and had to rewatch the last ten minutes) but I liked it maybe due to the back story of the purchase. The soundtrack was not bad though.

Meanwhile I'm loving The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest. I feel sad that this is the last book in the series and the novelist has passed away...

Haeundae, Joe Versus The Volcano

Haeundae (2009) Directed and written by Yun Jae Gyun.
It is a disaster film and the special effects were good. Koreans have a knack for melodrama (at least as far as I'm concerned) I planned on being entertained by the over melodramatic scenes (disaster films are not really faves of mine) but I have found myself crying towards the end (I blame Sol Kung Gu, a good actor even when in a not so age appropriate role)

Joe Versus The Volcano (1990) Directed and written by John Patrick Shanley.
I remember liking this film way back and I enjoyed it again at this second viewing. I understand why the box office was not very good though (despite the lead actors being Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan).
I also watched a big chunk of Kate and Leopold which I didn't like when I first saw it but felt more at ease with it this time around (Meg Ryan's lip job was obvious and not in a good way though) and I never think Hugh Jackman is a good romantic lead (good in a film like Australia but again not as a romantic lead).

Rock On! Ali ile Ramazan - End, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest

Rock On! (2008) Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, written by Farhan Akthar, Pubali Chaudhuri Abhishek Kapoor.
I liked it more than I thought I would. Even shed tears during some scenes. Decent film.

I have finished Ali ile Ramazan and very glad that I did, do not plan on checking that one out again soon.

And finally the last of the Salander series (as I call them), The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest. It is sad to know that the writer is dead since the first two novels were of my own heart and I'm really into the third one which starts right where the second one ended.

Closer, Six Suspects - End, Ali ile Ramazan

Closer (2004) Directed by Mike Nicholls, written by Patrik Marber (from his own play).
I don't know how many times I have seen this film but I like it just the same each time. It is not hard to wonder why though since I love Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts, think Clive Owen a brilliant actor and both he and Jude Law are very easy on the eyes.
Lots of close up shots of the actors, everyone looking really natural (no botox or such enhancements) it is a good film about relationships and breakups.

I have finished Six Suspects, enjoyed it very much and started Ali ile Ramazan (can be translated as 'Ali with Ramazan' I suppose) It tells the story of two men who grew up at an orphanage (one of them sexually abused by the director, the other witnessed his mother killing his father and then commit suicide). Written by one of my favorite novelists Perihan Magden, this novel is good but certainly not a very enjoyable read. And not because of the profanity or the sex scenes but because it is so sad. Our pov is Ramazan who is a whore but he loves his boyfriend very much and tries a way out. Ali is more damaged, addicted to paint thinner and whatever pill he can get his hands on, he is slowly giving up hanging on to life despite the fact that he loves Ramazan just as much. It is a very sad tale and I know that it will not end well since this is fiction based on real life. Ms. Magden read the story on page three of the newspaper and decided to write a novel.

Bend It Like Beckham

Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Directed by Gurinder Chadha, written by Gurinder Chadha, Guljit Bindra, Paul Mayeda Berges

I remember loving this film the first time I saw it but I didn't like it as much in this viewing. It is still a nice film but didn't leave that emotional impact.

De Dana Dan, Sliding Doors and still Six Suspects

De Dana Dan (2009) Directed by Priyadarshan and written by Rajasenan
I thought I wouldn't like this one but the second half won me over. I love farce and this was done very good. The lead actors Akshay and Sunil were old for the parts.

Sliding Doors (1998) Directed and written by Peter Howitt.
I liked it a bit less at this second viewing but still it is a nice rom-dram.

Six Suspects is good and entertaining and sometimes brilliant but I'm not in love with it.

Avatar, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall-End, Six Suspects

Last night I watched
Avatar (2009) Directed and written by James Cameron.
I liked it very very much. James Cameron tells good stories and it was visually amazing too (again Mr.Cameron knows how to do things right)

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall has ended and it was good to the last drop. Maybe I like it more than I would have because it is a religious book and I'm a religious person. I don't know. It was good though.

Now I started Six Suspects written by Vikas Swarup (whose Slumdog Millionaire was a good read) and it started very well, I hope it keeps that way :)

IRIS - End, Vengeance and still The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (I'm enjoying it a lot)

I have finished IRIS and it was strange that I was distanced from the drama as it went forward in story. It ended predictably and the only time I shed tears was when N.Korean assassin confessed her love for our hero - to her superior.
It was not an emotional drama and the action scenes ended up being the only good things in it. And I do think that secondary guy is more handsome than our hero.

Vengeance (2009) Directed by Johnnie To, written by Wai Ka Fai .
I love this due and I did enjoy the film despite the fact that I had seen all before. Johnnie To is a master. The opening scene I knew that the bullet will come out of the key hole and blew his brains out but I was startled none the less. Go To!