SAMTHEBESTEST Reviews

Animal Farm (1954)

A sweet little animal satirical fantasy that explores human-life political problems.

[7/10 · 15 May 2024]

Animal Farm (1954) : Brief Review -

A sweet little animal satirical fantasy that explores human-life political problems. Joy Batchelor and Joy Halas direct a well-known adaptation of the satirical novel with human-driven conflicts. Political ambitions, tyranny, and greed have been human-society issues forever, but have you ever thought about them making waves in the animal world? Let's step into Animal Farm's world, then. Animals at Animal Manor are oppressed by a human owner, and one night they decide to fight against it. They take charge of the place and name it "Animal Farm," where the eternal slogan is "All animals are equal." While one of the pigs is thinking about the future and trying to feed other animals with education, the other jealous one takes over the farm and starts his dictatorship. All the animals work more and eat less, except for pigs. The pig leader expands his business and becomes rich, leaving other animals working under him as poor slaves. This is a simple plot, which again follows the same old method of mutiny. We have seen it in hundreds of films, but they were led by humans. Here, it's the animal world. It makes things allegorical by adding human conflicts to their fantasy world and making us believe in the consequences of greed and selfishness. While doing so, it hardly takes 70 minutes, but the narrative still looks a bit stretched. Why were those animals tolerating the Pig Napoleon's orders for years? It should have been a few days, or maybe months, not years. The screenplay lost some of its credibility there, while the rest of the show was highly convincing. Joy Batchelor and Joy Halas' film could have been motivational and easily added some social speeches to leave kids with good thoughts. Instead, it decided to remain a cute and sweet little entertainer without any heavy rocks. You'll notice and enjoy many adorable scenes here, just like you'd imagine while reading storybooks in childhood. This one is like a childhood fascination, if nothing more.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Artists and Models (1955)

What Fukrey attempted in 2013, Martin and Lewis had done 6 decades ago, and so much better.

[7/10 · 15 May 2024]

Artists and Models (1955) : Brief Review -

What Fukrey attempted in 2013, Martin and Lewis had done 6 decades ago, and so much better. Remember that silly dream coming to reality idea? What they called it, "Deja Vu," or "Deja Chu," in Fukrey, was somehow born here in 1955 with Artists and Models. The rest of the script differs, though. One more thing: Fukrey attempts childish humor through a grown-up character who is accompanied by a much smarter and more mature character. See, even that was born here, maybe. Forget the comparison because we are talking about a film that was made 7 decades ago and had a much better impact on contemporary audiences. Artists and Models is the 14th film of the Martin and Lewis duo, and they both are on a roll here. They were slightly late for that duo or team tag that time since the likes of Marx Bros, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, and a few others were already making waves all over. Coming back to this film, I feel this one has remained underrated due to its highly generous and colorful humor. Eugene sees highly unimaginative dreams, and Rick is fed up with his childish behavior. Eugene meets a bat lady and falls in love, not knowing her real identity, or rather, not being mature enough to understand it. The bat lady's roommate and Rick begin a sweet romance, and they are all linked to each other in some way or another, but mainly because of their jobs as artists. Rick uses Eugene's dreams to make money, but shockingly, all those turn out to be true and become a scientific threat to the nation's security. Will Rick be able to save Eugene when the enemies are on the hunt? Basically, it's a totally crazy film. It's what they used to call it, "Madcap." The dialogues, songs and characters are all funny, visually beautiful, and sexy. Frank Tashlin's Vista Vision musical comedy is crazy enough to be called one of the finest madcap and riotous comedies from the 1950s, if you ever really cared about real gems from the genre or ever understood them. Watch it, and you won't regret some mad fun.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Babes in Arms (1939)

Child artists rule the show in a sensible drama based on Vaudeville against roaring talkies.

[7/10 · 14 May 2024]

Babes in Arms (1939) : Brief Review -

Child artists rule the show in a sensible drama based on Vaudeville against roaring talkies. Mickey Rooney has been a part of some great movies as a child artist, but as a performer, this one is one of his best roles ever. He has shown that talent does not limit itself to age. The entire film rides on his shoulders, and he has done an amazing job. That scene when he mimics Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore shows what high-level acting skills he has. Simply phenomenal and unbelievable for an actor of that age. Judy Garland was on the verge of becoming a star, and 1939 has to be the greatest year of her career. The iconic The Wizard of Oz came in the same year, and Judy stole the limelight from many experienced actresses. Show them Babes in Arms. How good she is here-not as a confused child but as a teenage lover and yet so mature. The film deals with several issues, and some of them were so relatable and real. Troupers really had a bad time after the arrival of Talkie-Sensation, and they were out of business. Well, income and business were one thing, but they were out of the only thing they were good at in their lives. Their kids, who thought that they belonged to the entertainment business and had enough talent to survive, had to go to academic society and give up their passions. It was a burden for one generation that they didn't want the next generation to carry, and this argument created indifferences between them. It wasn't easy for parents and for the children, but they both had to go along with it. This film manages to put all those things in a mild format, adding some romantic comedy touch and a Ziegfeld kind of grandeur in the end. Such a beautiful film on such a beautiful topic, and yet it has remained underrated for years. Maybe they didn't know the magic and importance of Vaudeville. Sad.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

May I put my best cop comedy ever on the table? It beats The Pink Panther and Beverly Hills Cop

[7/10 · 14 May 2024]

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988) : Brief Review -

May I put my best cop comedy ever on the table? It beats The Pink Panther and Beverly Hills Cop. It's one of those films where we say, Those were the days. Those were the days when they used to serve comedy in an absurd manner but still left us in splits. The Naked Gun (1988) is one such film that should be ranked amongst the best comedies. It also has that screwball romance from the old Hollywood days. The film is about a funny officer, Frank, who destroys almost all things and even people with his every action, yet he is the best cop in the business. He is taken on the job for the safety of Queen Elizabeth, who is coming on a tour in his city, while a mastermind killer is all prepped with his super-tech weapon. During the investigation, Frank Drebin meets a beautiful lady, Jane, and they get intimate. Despite his affection for her, Frank suspects her of a conspiracy because, for him, the nation and duty are always first. "Women and cops don't mix," he says. Will he be able to find the killer and save the queen? So, it's a decent script, boosted by a brilliant screenplay. The film is a little over 80 minutes and makes sure that 60 minutes out of that go into keeping you gaggling. It succeeds in doing so, and I think 60 minutes of continuous laughter is more than enough for any human. It's actually more or quite the same amount as your favourite cult comedies. But yes, let me warn you that it is a very vulgar film, and I have no problem if you call it an adult comedy. There are many scenes that talk about or display private organs and private activities, but all in very funny manners. Leslie Nielsen rocks the show single-handedly, and I'm sure he will make you forget Jacque Clousue and Axel Foley. Priscilla Presley looks damn attractive, while the supporting cast is entertaining. David Zucker has made perhaps the best cop comedy of all time. Do not miss.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Blues Brothers (1980)

John Landis strikes again. Drop everything, and LET'S ROCK!

[7/10 · 14 May 2024]

The Blues Brothers (1980) : Brief Review -

John Landis strikes again. Drop everything, and LET'S ROCK! In the first 20 minutes, I was getting bored of The Blues Brothers and couldn't make out what was going on. Two brothers (one out of jail) want to restart their band to help poor children. Ok, so what's so much in that? There is nothing in that storyline or particular thought, but see how messy the characters are and how funny they look being imperfect. The Blues Brothers is a rock-n-roll type of film from the early 80s that also has some silent-era comedy motions. Those walks and several punches reminded me of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton's silent comedies. It's a fun film, alright, but it's somewhat slow too. Those slow moments are covered by several other funny moments, especially the entire chase sequence in the climax, followed by a musical number. The pre-interval block, too, has a fantastic musical number that forces you to tap your feet. The rock-n-roll generation was definitely served right there, and the adults also had something to look at as a family comedy. There is no vulgarity like in other Landis movies; no abusive words; no sex scenes or affairs. The only affair we see is driven by revenge. Cute Carrie Fisher plays a peculiar but dangerous girl who is trying to kill Elwood right from the first scene. In the end, we know why, and then there is a cute little fun banter between Dan and Carrie. Dan Aykroyd has done the unimaginable. I couldn't expect a guy to be so cool, calm, composed, and a musical powerhouse. What energy he has shown in the Palace Hotel number scene! You will vibe to his numbers, for sure. John Belushi is a rock star, truly. This film mostly belongs to him, and no one can deny that. The supporting cast has done a notable job. Animal House, The Blues Brothers, and An American Werewolf in London-three back-to-back memorable comedies. What did you eat Landis dear?

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Bad Boys II (2003)

The budget increased, not the quality. Yet, fairly good.

[6/10 · 13 May 2024]

Bad Boys 2 (2003) : Brief Review -

Bad Boys 2 got almost 6x the budget of its prequel, Bad Boys (1995), and was a longer film too, but the quality? Oh, don't ask that. We can cut that shiit and get back to entertainment. Yes, BB 2 has some crazy car action sequences and witless banter between Marcus and Mike, but it isn't funny enough compared to the first film. Mike and Marcus are off to bust a drug racket, but the opponent leader has quite a strong record against the cops. He has fooled them many times before, so all they need is strong evidence against him. While Mike and Marcus are planning to bust into his house and get the evidence, Marcus' cop sister is doing her part as an undercover agent turned the leader's girlfriend. As expected, M & M get what they want, but the sister, who also happens to be Mike's girlfriend, is in the bad guy's custody. Meanwhile, Marcus had made plans to part ways with his partner, Mike, who still believes in "We ride together. We die together. Bad boys for life." The entire department turns into their aides, and we have a long and big action sequence in the climax. As mentioned earlier, the comedy is weak, mostly because the banter between two buddies lacks humour and wit. Bad Boys 1 ended with Julie and Mike getting handcuffed together, so I wonder what happened to Julie. There was no mention of her in this film. It just started off like a fresh film altogether. The scripting is fine, but the film is 15 minutes longer. That doesn't mean it's boring. It's a tight shiit alright. Lawrence and Smith save the day, and thankfully they get the maximum screen space. Jordi Mollà, as the new baddie, is decent, while Gabrielle Union, as a female cop, was okayish. Michael saved the bay with enough light from his signature explosion scenes and terrific action. Overall, a good flick but a step down from the predecessor.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Aavesham (2024)

Fahadh Faasil runs riot in the new-age gangster comedy of the season

[7/10 · 13 May 2024]

Aavesham (2024) : Brief Review -

Fahadh Faasil runs riot in the new-age gangster comedy of the season. I don't understand Malayalam, but as one of the lines in the ending credit song goes, I'd say: Fahadh Faasil proved that he can be as hot as the sun and as cool as the moon in the same character. What a phenomenal actor he is. He deserves characters like this, Ranga, to be written for him where he can go all out and wild. Aavesham is a gangster comedy that also explores the sensitive side of the main character. Looking at his back, we all know him as a dangerous and violent man, but do we know what's happening to him from the front? That's a metaphor, actually. Gangsters could be soft from the backside, which nobody ever sees, or rather, the gangsters don't want to show that side to keep their reputation. All we see is his anger and negative side, showcased on his face. With positive characters, it's the other way around. Fahadh Faasil plays Ranga, a dangerous and rich gangster who befriends 3 college boys at the bar. The boys need his help to stop getting bullied by the seniors' gang, and Ranga does what they want. However, after a while, the boys realise that friendship and spending time with Ranga are affecting their studies and image in society. Will they be able to get away from him after using him for their benefit? Faasil is in riot mode here, and a special mention goes to the consume designer, the writer who wrote this character and background score, which elevated his screen presence. The screenplay is extremely engaging, as situational songs carry the story forward with those pacy raps and all. The comedy factor helps it to keep us entertained, and then there is an emotional quotient in the ending portion, which reflects two different sides of human nature. Jithu Madhavan has shown the Malayalam cinema, or to be more precise, the Indian cinema, how to make a new-age gangster comedy with the right context. I just don't believe you can miss it.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Big Fish (2003)

A Tim Burton Human Fantasy CLASSIC that you'd want to recommend to children and grandchildren

[8/10 · 12 May 2024]

Big Fish (2003) : Brief Review -

A Tim Burton Human Fantasy CLASSIC that you'd want to recommend to children and grandchildren. It happens rarely, but I really crave those moments when I write movie reviews with tears in my eyes. Big Fish is giving me that honor right this minute. I guess that sums up everything for you all who are reading it, so don't waste time reading it further and go, find this movie on the internet or anywhere you can, and just sit tight for 2 hours. I must thank Tim Burton for making this one. There are some films or some characters that leave you with a question or a wish: What if I could live such a life? Is it possible in reality? The answer should be no, but I am angry at myself. Why not?! "A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories." True that. Big Fish don't need your brain, but your heart. The big difference between metascore (58/100) and IMDb user ratings (8.0/10) will tell you why. If you try to find logic in it, then you'll be burned. If you just go with the flow and believe in this fantasy, it will teach you a lot about real life. The film is about a father and son who have a feud over the father's habit of telling adventurous stories. The son likes them all in childhood but starts hating them all and his father too in his young days. When he returns to see his dying father, he begins to know him better through stories he has been telling for years. I tell you, they are all full of metaphors that can't be described in words because the capacity of understanding will be different for every single viewer. For instance, I personally liked that scene when he sees his death in the witch's eye. Logically, it should have made him sad, but metaphorically, it kills the fear of death in him. You just have to understand every single thing like this, no matter how fantastic, weird, and unimaginable it is. Burton had made a film that would transit a message from one generation to another and then the next one.. FOREVER.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Thunderball (1965)

James Bond goes underwater in the biggest 007 Hit of all time

[6/10 · 12 May 2024]

Thunderball (1965) : Brief Review -

James Bond goes underwater in the biggest 007 Hit of all time. Terence Young returns to the director's chair after missing out on the previous blockbuster of the Bond films, Goldfinger, only to smash its records. But does he smash the film quality? My answer is no (you might differ). Thunderball is longer compared to the previous Bond films, and that's why it seemed a bit slow. Bond is on a difficult mission again, but this time the crime was done underwater, keeping others clueless. We have a lady from the opponent's group helping him again, and we have one female enemy too. For a change, she is more dangerous and beautiful than all those previous female villains in this series. In one scene, James and she have a conversation about having sex, and Bond tells her that it was not for pleasure but for the country. "Any woman he wants, he would have her," reads one of the lines in the beginning credits song, and Bond proves why. "You don't waste time, do you?" She asks Bond. We have been through all this again and again, but every time we have a different chick (and all are sexy), Thunderball keeps the basic value intact to avoid the downfall of the Bond franchise, but fails to match the predecessors. Those underwater action sequences take too long, and that's what lengthens the film's runtime. Connery works as a saving grace and also increases sex appeal by going in shorts often. The bikini girl is played by Claudine Auger, even though she had a lot to do in that character, but the writer decided to get the skin show done more than anything else. Adolfo Celi is number 2, aka one-eyed villain, and it was a fair buildup from his side. As a whole, it's a complete Bond film by Terence Young, but not great. The box office numbers will tell you otherwise, but believe me. I don't get a penny out of that.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Goldfinger (1964)

Sexy, Spicy, Sassy, and perhaps the most technologically advanced Bond film at the time.

[7/10 · 11 May 2024]

Goldfinger (1964) : Brief Review -

Sexy, Spicy, Sassy, and perhaps the most technologically advanced Bond film at the time. Goldfinger, the third film in Sean Connery's James Bond franchise, was a box office smash globally. Let me finish the technology part first because I believe that was the most groundbreaking segment in the entire film, and I have also heard about the kind of rage it created in the mid-60s. People were crazy for Aston, and it was alright, but wanting that kind of mechanically and technologically advanced car like Bond was not alright. It was beyond a dream. The idea is fascinating, but watching Bond use those buttons-from oil to fog to ejecting the seat-was all a phenomenon back then. Secondly, Bond's structural development. We all know he is the Bond, so he can't be defeated; yes, he can be fooled or betrayed once or twice, but he comes back stronger. Similar cliches, or, better say, formulas, have been used here, and they are all modern. Having 3-4 sexy chicks around Bond was quite normal for audiences. At one moment, he is introducing himself to those sexy girls, and the next moment he is either kissing them or in bed with them. That's what Bond's charm was on celluloid. This is how you engineer his persona on the big screen. By the way, how many films used to be titled after the Antagonist back then? Goldfinger is titled after the villain; see. That's another good way to present a Bond movie. The film is fast-paced, well executed, and has some brilliant action sequences and immense glam appeal. Connery betters himself, and Honor Blackman, who suffers from low screen space, shares some good scenes with him. Overall, it's blockbuster entertainment, even for today's audience. Guy Hamilton has really thought of modern cinema of that time as well as future cinema.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Westerner (1940)

Remarkably unlike any western from the early days with Walter Brennan's iconic role and record-setting Oscar win

[7/10 · 11 May 2024]

The Westerner (1940) : Brief Review -

Remarkably unlike any western from the early days with Walter Brennan's iconic role and record-setting Oscar win. Don't think any Western flick from the early days has gotten so serious and generous with its writing while exploring a character based on true events and a bit of a fictionalised history of Texas. The place, which later became the biggest... Well, the kiss stopped Cooper right there, but we know the sentence he was going to say. Walter Brennan played Justice Bean, a character from history whose tyrannical judgements destroyed many people's houses and made them lose their lands and crops. What he has done needs no further description, but just one. He deserved every single moment of that record-setting third Oscar win as the best supporting actor. This film is slightly eccentric in that way. The topic is serious, but the film is quite funny. That serious nature is hardly there for the 10 minutes in the ending. Those funny banters between Cole and Bean were cute. Whenever they spoke about Lillie Langtry, the moment was sealed in your heart. Especially that moment when Cole gives him that hair lock and he is desperately moving his fingers. That eagerness was so adorable. Brennan has done a wonderful job here, and so has Gary Cooper. It was one of his early main roles in a significant western, right? Well, he surely made me fall for him. Those lovely expressions by Doris Davenport during the cute romantic scenes with Gary took my heart away. William Miller had many great movies by that time, but making a great western was a different task altogether. The master knew it, and he gave full justice to his own and the genre's standards by reflecting on a major revolution in history through a mainstream entertainer.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

From Russia with Love (1963)

James Bond and his suitcase beat the enemies, while enough spice and glamour add to the good follow-up.

[7/10 · 11 May 2024]

From Russia With Love (1963) : Brief Review -

James Bond and his suitcase beat the enemies, while enough spice and glamour add to the good follow-up. One good thing about James Bond movies is that he was never hooked on a single woman. Many spy movies-the Mission Impossible series, for instance-have been terribly boring with that one woman or losing that one woman freakish thing, but Bond was having a different table full of various spicy dishes in every film. In the previous film, Dr. No, the last frame had him kissing Honey Ryder, and in this film, we have no trace or even a mention of her. One girl from the previous film has one kissing scene with Bond, but he leaves quickly after having "food." We have a new setup of SPECTRE, a new leader, and a new girl in Bond's mission. Tania is given the task of being with Bond and providing him with lies in the form of truth. I wonder how she got to his room, and he didn't have any suspicions at that time. Anyways, the romance is sexy and stimulating, but it was all looking like a temporary dame or one-week-stand kind of stuff, and suddenly Tania said, "I love you. I love you. That's true," and I was like, "Why? How? And when did it happen?" Well, it usually happens in every Sean Connery's Bond movie, so I wouldn't waste my time finding logic. I'll just cut half a star from the rating and move forward. From Russia With Love has all trademark Bond segments, but this time we have a "suitcase." A unique weapon for sure, and the way it excels against an enemy when Bond is helpless truly defines the purpose of it. The screenplay is good, but the story lacks a good finale. I don't think that "Number 3" made any sort of powerful antagonist against Bond. She was mild and even generous enough to mention him as "The Bond" in front of her boss. All said and done, Terence Young serves another fine outing in the early James Bond series, and not to forget the text in the ending: "It's definitely not the end." He didn't direct Goldfinger (1965), but his confidence made it a better flick and a better sequel.

RATING - 6.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Dr. No (1962)

Not thrilling, but too HOT to handle as the first James Bond film on silver screen

[6/10 · 10 May 2024]

Dr. No (1962) : Brief Review -

Not thrilling, but too HOT to handle as the first James Bond film on silver screen. 9 years after the British novel, James Bond came to the silver screen to wow the audience. To start with, it's not a thrilling or extraordinary affair by any means, but it's definitely too hot for a Bond film. People didn't know what kind of sex appeal James Bond's persona would have because they had only read him on paper and not seen him on the screen. It must have been quite a shock to see such high sex and glam appeal in the early 1960s film (2 decades before movie code changed) and what a lavish affair it was. If I were a young boy in the 1960s and saw Dr. No in the cinema hall, then I would have hated Bond for destroying the male and that studboy ego of the entire generation. Every 15 minutes, he has a new dame beside him, and all were super hot chicks. His first conversation with them would be an intro, or just hi, or him trying to seduce them, and then the next moment they were both either half naked or entangled in an intimate moment. Surprisingly, it had more surprises with dames than with the with the villain and his tasks. Somehow, that kept the stimulation on, and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. The way Honey Ryder asked him, "Do you have women of your own?" I tell you, I had my sultry moment there, even though they didn't do any such thing on the screen at that moment. Honey and James' first kiss took place in the last frame of the film, but the sexual tension was built very nicely until that moment. Dr. No lacks trademark Bond thrill moments and plays with an overprotective nature, losing its repeat value. Yet, it was an entertaining affair as a whole for the first film in the world-famous James Bond series, followed by even better scripts. Terence Young gave Sean Connery a stamp never to be erased from our memories.

RATING - 6.5/10*

By - samthebestest.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)

Great love torn between a queen's duties and a man's pride

[7/10 · 10 May 2024]

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) : Brief Review -

Great love torn between a queen's duties and a man's pride. This may be a fictionalised account of Elizabeth and Essex's lives, but master Michael Curtiz has made sure that you can't hate it. It's portrayed as a great love story and a tragic love story, and you can feel both of them, truly and from the bottom of your heart. Bette Davis plays Queen Elizabeth, who truly loves Essex (played by Errol Flynn), the man with pride and courage. Everyone in the kingdom and the court knows that Elizabeth fancies Essex, and that's why she has to be harsh on him. Well, it hurts the man's ego, and they quarrel frequently. The other desperate people in the court try to take advantage of the queen's love and the man's pride to keep them apart, and they even plan some conspiracies that make the quarrel even more serious. Essex and Elizabeth both know that their duties are above their love, and had it not been for the posts they wear, they would have made a great couple. Curtiz keeps you hooked with this engaging love story, which is trying to tackle and play with every trick and conflict. Moreover, the conversations between them escalate your interest in the film. Bette Davis plays an unconventional queen with that odd makeup and all, but dare anyone speak of her acting? She is phenomenal here. Curtiz brought his favourite Olivia De Havilland, but Davis overshadowed her despite that "I am old" concern. Errol has done a fab job in the leading role. He is the man I bow down to. No silly notions about love, just the simple pride that you cannot hate. The supporting cast, including most of the negative characters, looked fine. Michael Curtiz has made me fall in love with the film, which belongs to a genre that I hate the most: romance. How? You see for yourself. Don't miss it.

RATING - 7/10*

By - samthebestest.

Casino Royale (2006)

The return of the Classic Bond after a decade!

[7/10 · 8 May 2024]

Casino Royale (2006) : Brief Review -

The return of the Classic Bond after a decade. Daniel Craig has been part of all those billion-dollar James Bond movies, which convinced the entire world that Bond was, is, and will be the classiest spy on the silver screen. The most popular and most acclaimed Bond movies before this were Sean Connery movies from the 1960s, such as Dr. No, Goldfinger, and Thunderball, followed by Brosnan's Golden Eye in the 90s. For over a decade, there was no classy or highly acclaimed Bond movie, and then came Craig's Casino Royale, directed by Martin Campbell. I remember watching this movie on television in pieces, so surprises were fewer. However, the scale and the intensity felt much better in one-go viewing. Casino Royale totally convinced me that it could be argued to be the best 007 movie ever, only to slip a little in the climax. So, Bond wins the money, the villain is killed, and there are still 20-24 minutes left in the film's runtime. Even a kid can guess that the lady-love is going to play a femme fatale here. Like M says, "You should have picked on it," and I was scratching my head much before she said it. I mean, come on, a world-class spy like Bond can't be that typical. It's just unacceptable, and that also drags the entire anti-climax portion for a while. Rest, no complaints. It's a classy show, all the way. From sexy looks, hot chicks, bikini babes, dashing Bond, smashing action set pieces, fantastic background score, to thrilling narrative-you name it, and Casino Royale has it. Craig has redefined Bond's charisma-not that I am ever going to forget Conner, but in his own way, he has done a commendable job. Eva Green was born to play such sexy roles. Mads Mikkelsen has come a long way from playing Bond's villain to what he is now, but people do and will remember his part in this movie. Dench had a small role, but it was an apt choice. Martin's direction shows a new vision for Bond movies and how big they can be. All the next films in the franchise are even bigger, but this has its own magic of being the first in its category.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Hayao Miyazaki's fascinating world of war, love, sorcery, and curse. I enjoyed it more than his other works.

[7/10 · 7 May 2024]

Howl's Moving Castle (2004) : Brief Review -

Hayao Miyazaki's fascinating world of war, love, sorcery, and curse. I enjoyed it more than his other works. Miyazaki needs no further introduction; he is a world-famous director for his animated films that have been hailed as universal classics (not that I agree). I personally didn't like those films-that is, as classics. That doesn't mean they were bad. That's one of the reasons that kept me away from Howl's Moving Castle, because I failed to understand the hype around his other films that I watched with high expectations but didn't reach that certain level. I get it; it's some kind of phenomenon in Japanese cinema and animation cinema, and rightfully so, but that isn't enough to get such high ratings. Anyways, I still made my way to watch Howl's Moving Castle, and thankfully, this one did not disappoint. Out of all the Miyazaki films I have seen, I enjoyed this one the most. It's fascinating, it's mystical, it's magical, and despite having all those theories of sorcery, demons, witches, curses, love, kisses, and time travel, Howl's story has something of its own. Maybe, heart. I am not being technical here, but logically, the story had a heart and moving drama in the right amount. The visual effects were great. That castle thing was really nice to see. Not just that, but those battleships, Queen's crystal globe, Howl's bird version, and Calcifer-we have a lot of things to cherish. The screenplay has a grip, despite some slow portions in the middle, and then there is an action-packed finale to enthral us with its cinematic appeal. The characters have been structured smartly. Sophie has three looks, sometimes mixed, and that's what we call the entanglement of multiple personalities in one character. The same goes for Howl's character. When you have so many things well established and constructed, it's too much for an animated flick, I guess. Miyazaki believed in the same.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Perfect Strangers (2016)

7 Friends, 7 Strangers, Multiple Facts, Several Lies, Yet Pointless.

[5/10 · 7 May 2024]

Perfetti Sconosciuti / Perfect Strangers (2016) : Brief Review -

7 Friends, 7 Strangers, Multiple Facts, Several Lies, Yet Pointless. Back in time, Hollywood attempted a similar idea in 1933 with "Dinner at Eight," but it was mostly occupied by the pre-dinner segments and social activities. "12 Angry Men" (1957) brought several men together for a roundtable and discussed different perspectives. The Italian flick Perfetti sconosciuti has the same set-up but a completely different story and screenplay. The idea is typical but really intriguing. You get 7 friends together on a dinner table (3 couples and 1 single guy) and play a weird game of keeping your mobile phone open for all. Mobile phones have updated our lifestyle, but they have destroyed our lives and the way we used to share things with our loved ones. You might have heard one or two dialogues, or even a monologue, on the same in many movies, but Perfect Strangers uses this point to define its entire narrative. Did that stop people from using mobiles, or even the characters in the film? No. Then faak it. Your point is useless. It happens with many socially important things, so that's okay. However, Perfect Strangers is not entirely about mobile phones, but about human nature and its insights. These 7 people think that they are friends and have nothing to hide from each other, but by the end, everyone is exposed, and to a very shameful level. It doesn't change anything, though. They are back to their lives with a lot of lies, so again, the point of the film is at fault here. Moreover, it's an extremely vulgar movie. They openly talk about booobs, sexual affairs, cheating, and whatnot. All the private discussion becomes open for a while, and the game turns into a serious reality. Now that's only until the climax, when they go back to their previous versions, as if nothing happened. That doesn't make sense from one point of view, but the other side of it makes good sense, as they all understand how cheap and bad they are. Overall, unique but pointless.

RATING - 5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)

Even the best detective in the business had to prove his worth to his father

[7/10 · 6 May 2024]

The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) : Brief Review -

Even the best detective in the business had to prove his worth to his father. This is a very common issue in families: a successful son has to showcase his skills to his father. Sometimes they don't understand, or rather, don't know, what their son has achieved. That cold war between what the father wanted his son to become and what the son wanted himself to become lasts for years, and that's why even the great success of the son becomes invisible. The Thin Man Goes Home shows that story again, applied to Nick Charles. His father wanted him to become a doctor and help him with his hospital, but Nick ran away and became the best detective in the business. Mr. And Mrs. Charles travel to Nick's hometown for a vacation, and there you have it. As the doctor says, "Every place he goes, he finds dead bodies." Yeah, we all agree. Hasn't it been the same for every Thin Man movie? However, this time Nick has to prove it to his father, even if he doesn't show that nervousness out. Nora is more concerned about it-verbally, I mean. Junior Charles and Lt. Abrams were missing, and I missed them a lot. Although the case is tricky and there are a lot of angles to it, Nick solves it alright. The one thing that he wanted the most in his life was that pat on his back from his father. Well, he gets it. Nora, as expected, stands for him, and you know her chatterbox nature when it comes to praising her handsome and intelligent husband. William Powell has done well once again, and he didn't get tired of it. The entire supporting cast was a good surprise, while Asta has very little to do again. A man knocks on the door, begins to talk, and is shot dead. Nick just looks at Asta, and that fury detective runs right outside the house to catch the killer. That's some understanding of the characters themselves. Writers had a sense, I believe. Richard Thorpe served as the first director to direct The Thin Man film after Duke's demise, and this was a humble tribute, I would say.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

Had I seen it as a child, this would have been a nostalgic and fascinating adventure for a lifetime.

[7/10 · 6 May 2024]

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) : Brief Review -

Had I seen it as a child, this would have been a nostalgic and fascinating adventure for a lifetime. I remember hearing such fascinating fantasy stories from Granny in childhood, but I was born in the 90s. So, things like Aladdin and The Lion King are my nostalgia, even though the stories date back a long time. The same way, Sinbad's stories have fascinated those generations, and this Nathan H. Juran's fantasy adventure is a live presentation of the same on the silver screen. What a visual treat it is! Can't say pathbreaking since the likes of The Lost World (1925), King Kong (1933), and The Shrinking Man (1956) had already achieved those groundbreaking visual effects, but this was surely visually phenomenal. The giant monster, the little genie, the colossal two-headed bird, the dragon, and whatnot. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad is a complete fantasy adventure course in itself. The same effects may look cartoonish today, but for 1958, they were simply gorgeous. The film lasts for 88 minutes and gives you no moment to get up and have a drink, even if it is water. Sinbad must go to Colossa Island to make his shrink princess normal again, but magician Sokurah has an agenda. It was expected to see Sokurah turning into a villain; otherwise, the narrative would have been pointless. Kerwin Mathews plays the iconic Sinbad, a brave, generous, courageous, and handsome swordman and captain. The gorgeous princess Parisa is portrayed by Kathryn Grant, and she looks cute all the time. Torin Thatcher's Sokurah was fine. He had that scary look and eyes that could make children fear him. Not to forget the cute little Genie played by Richard Eyer. This was a surprise for me. I never expected a little boy to play the genie, but here he was, proving me wrong all the way. Juran's vision was truly magnificent for a film made with a budget lower than $1 million at the time. It's just too good considering that, and it does have a nostalgic feel, and how strong.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Another Thin Man (1939)

Another multiple murder hunch, and this time Charles himself was suspected of one.

[7/10 · 6 May 2024]

Another Thin Man (1939) : Brief Review -

Another multiple murder hunch, and this time Charles himself was suspected of one. WS Van Dyke, William Powell, and Myrna Loy's trio join hands for the third film in The Thin Man series, "Another Thin Man." This time they were accompanied by junior Charles, who also played an important role in the climax, if not throughout the film. Mr. And Mrs. Charles are invited to spend a weekend on an island where an old fella is murdered. The first theory is, of course, his property and will, but amidst the primary investigation, there is another murder. We don't have that old lieutenant Abrams, who is a friend of Charles and therefore wouldn't suspect him, so these two new investigating officers do make the mistake of suspecting Charles for the murder. Nick Charles wants to leave and go back to New York, but as always, his wife, Nora, keeps him there. The case takes longer than expected because there are no visible clues-not because Nick finds them anyway, but because it's all about tricks. Having a gun shot at a man and seeing things all over the floor gives a basic idea of struggle, but what if there was no struggle? Nick proves it at the end, and that too, with the help of science and electricity. The murderer is unpredictable here, for sure. In murder mysteries and detective movies, the actual fun is to see who the killer is and how the detective got to him or her. Another Thin Man lacks some of those trademark comedy scenes, even with Asta, and that's why the narrative does not look funny. However, the murder and trick parts are there and very nicely filmed too. Powell and Loy's chemistry works again, and the Jr. Was cute too. W. S. Van Dyke cooks another fine detective comedy with a new bunch, and having a female killer somehow adds something extra. You know what I mean.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

John Surges makes a solid Western remake of Kurosawa's Japanese classic "Seven Samurai."

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

The Magnificent Seven (1960) : Brief Review -

John Surges makes a solid Western remake of Kurosawa's Japanese classic "Seven Samurai." Sturges had made several Western flicks before remaking Akira Kurosawa's cult classic, which particularly helped him to get the Western nuances right with this difficult story. Seven Samurai was almost 3 hours long, and Sturges' remake is a little over 2 hours. That was a good trick. He knew that people had already seen the Japanese flick, so let's not make a long film again. People are aware of the story and the climax, so let's give them entertainment without taking much of their time. The Magnificent Seve ln does not have long action sequences like the original Japanese film. It has only 2 or 3 action scenes, exactly the ones that are needed, so somehow it shrinks the impact you have in mind. It does have some classic Western segments, though. Kurosawa's film literally took the entire last hour to define the war scenario between the villagers and samurais, but here, Sturges managed all that within 10 or 15 minutes. The seven cowboys were pretty tough and rough. The narrative didn't give them enough time to form a bond of friendship or brotherhood, and that's why the emotional touch in the ending didn't feel very impactful. Yet, the idea of "victory belonging to someone else" has been captured very well here too. Instead of peasants, the word is farmers. Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Horst Buchholz, James Coburn, and Brad Dexter-what a fantastic selection of cast members! Not to forget Eli Wallach as Calvera, the main antagonist, and Vladimir Sokoloff as the old man in the village. Some of the dialogues give that kick the audience has been expecting, and the cinematography is excellent. This isn't John Sturges' best work, but surely amongst the top 10, or maybe the top 5. The awkward silence and acceptance of the pyrrhic victory are captured beautifully by the remake too.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Japanese Cinama's tribute to the 1998 Godzilla with the powerful conflict of World War II.

[6/10 · 5 May 2024]

Godzilla Minus One (2023) : Brief Review -

Japanese Cinama's tribute to the 1998 Godzilla with the powerful conflict of World War II. I don't know how many of you are fans of "Godzilla" (1998), but I always look at that film as a complete Godzilla film. We have a monster destroying the city, and the rescue teams finally manage to kill him. The recent Godzilla films have kept him alive and brought about some kind of peace treaty. I personally don't find it as fascinating as the 1998 flick. In my opinion, the Japanese monster flick Godzilla Minus One is like a tribute to that original 1998 flick. The same formula: We have a monster constantly attacking cities, and the rescue team kills it. What amplifies the narrative is the powerful conflict of World War II and how it made some humans become losers in their own eyes. "The war is not over yet," he says, because the Japanese had lost World War II after the atomic attack and had lost hope of a better and brighter future. This film is set in the 1940s, so it breaks all the contacts with mordern technologies and weapons, unlike the recent monster flicks. Having a disturbed and enraged protagonist who is seeking revenge after being a coward all his life is what gives it an emotional human touch. The film, however, lacks stupendous explosions and action scenes and somewhere feels dragged in the second half before coming to the finale fight. Also, it is hard to believe Godzilla having such destructive powers/rays back in the 1940s. I mean, the world had just met the atomic bomb then, so it was like an overly catastrophic thing to imagine. Nonetheless, the idea of an unbeatable monster is convincing, and that's all that matters in such films. The performances were pretty good, the cinematography and visuals were okay, and the direction was fairly good. Thanks to Takashi Yamazaki for going back to roots, and this is just the beginning. Remember? The 1998 flick left us with eggs, and this one's sort of on the same lines. Lips sealed.

RATING - 6.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Manjummel Boys (2024)

A much-needed survival and rescue thriller for youth.

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

Manjummel Boys (2024) : Brief Review -

A much-needed survival and rescue thriller for youth. Malayalam cinema has become a brand for content-driven cinema, and in the last 7-8 years, it hasn't been matched by any other cinema industry in India. Survival and rescue thrillers have been made for years in Hollywood, French, and German cinema, some of which include jailbreak thrillers too. Manjummel Boys comes as a new kind of thriller because it is made for the youth and is made from the youth. No unnecessary life trouble drama, no romance, no middle-class issues or blasphemy-just a pure rescue thriller with no other masala elements locked beside it. Recently, Akshay Kumar's "The Great India Rescue" (2023) came and met with a disastrous fate. Why? Because it was stuck to decade-old theories of human drama and impure social conscience. Manjummel Boys does not bother about any such things and gets straight to the point, and that is what's needed from those boys' lives. 40 minutes into the picture, and we still don't know what this film is about. After that, there is the first conflict, and then the entire narrative revolves around only and only that conflict. That's a simple and plain formula for sticking to the main point. Yet, the film takes 15 minutes more than what was needed, and maybe a few songs are responsible for that. To counter that, I believe those songs were needed to set the vibes going for youth, as they are all about friendship. So, maybe some 10 minutes of those haunting frames, dark score, and top views of mountains, caves, and gorges could have been trimmed. Also, the comedy factor, which was making the film very entertaining in the beginning, dies soon after that. That rope sequence was smartly designed. The boys aren't good at it from the start, but when it comes to saving one of them, the same lost-game category suddenly becomes their best weapon. Overall, a nice survival thriller for youth. Half a star extra for the top-class cinematography and nostalgic feel.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Khamoshi the Musical (1996)

Silences more than half of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's filmography.

[7/10 · 4 May 2024]

Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) : Movie Review -

Silences more than half of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's filmography. SLB's career will always be divided into two categories: content-driven cinema and larger-than-life spectacles. The content category will have Khamoshi, Black, and Guzaarish, while the likes of HDDCS, Devdas, Bajirao Mastani, and Padmaavat will lie in the second category. Khamoshi has to be his most close-to-tragedy conflict coming from a human angle because I feel that situations like Black, and Guzaarish are quite rare to find (that's what makes them better, actually). The metaphor in Khamoshi is pretty clear to everyone who's watching it, but SLB didn't present it verbally. "Beyond Silence" too suffered from the same problem, I guess. Having a normal child is the happiest thing for deaf and mute parents, but that can be the saddest thing too, because it separates her/him from their problematic world. So, sometimes it is better to have a disabled child because he/she can at least be with you forever, and they can carry on with life with the same problems. Khamoshi uses music and love/marriage to highlight the same issue, just like Beyond Silence; otherwise, it's a totally different and much more diverse movie than the OG German film. Indian films should always be superior because the use of songs gives them an edge. For instance, Hollywood and Bollywood can both make visual grandeurs. Let's say Hollywood has Ben-Hur (1959) and we have "Mughal-e-Azam" (1960). Both are huge, but MEA has evergreen music and video songs that Ben-Hur didn't have. That's one thing where we are ahead. With the right use of it, we can overtake any original film with a remake. Beyond Silence could use nudity, and Khamoshi couldn't. That's not my issue, anyway. The problem is that a film like Khamoshi, a story, which is set in a small village/beach/house, shouldn't go big with its scale. Now, that vision of SLB spoils the generalism and reliability of Khamoshi. The best scenes in the film don't have any big scales or sets. The musical touch boosts the metaphor further because it's a very sensitive human conflict perfectly matched with parental issues. The daughter wants to make a career in music because she is normal, but sadly, her parents can never hear her music. The idea of romance is quite different in Khamoshi than what we saw in Beyond Silence. This one's pure and slightly misjudged romance, and that too because we have such dramatic situations. Whatever flaws it has are covered by the emotional segments in the film-there are four major emotionally engaging scenes in this film, and that Nana's speech in the church in the climax surpasses them all. It's a genius idea to have the speech verbally delivered by another man. It can never create the same emotional impact when the character himself narrates it. What's overdone is the pregnancy routine of the girl, which has been too dated for Hindi movies. "Mujhse galti ho gayi.. Bachcha gira do." I mean, that stuff has been pushed even before Bhansali was born. Nana Patekar gives another striking performance. Nothing much challenging was left for him after the kind of films and roles he had done before Khamoshi, but still, he discovered a new soft side of him as an actor. Koirala is superb in those emotionally challenging scenes, while Seema Biswas did make me believe that she was deaf and mute. Salman looked young and handsome in a typical chocolate boy role, but somehow he got that one of the most important emotional scenes at the end of the film. SLB should work with talents like Nana, Seema, and Raghubir again instead of working with today's mediocre bunch of supporting actors, and he should also go back into that content-cinema zone again, even though his last three such films didn't do well at the box office. That's sheer bad luck, man. Let him earn money with big-scale movies with mediocre content so that he can save money to spend them on such high quality projects. I am always there, silently waiting for him to come back.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The Human Comedy (1943)

Another Clarence Brown trademark beauty! Childhood, teenagehood, manhood, and old age-4 steps of human life amidst war presented in a heartwarming manner.

[7/10 · 3 May 2024]

The Human Comedy (1943) : Brief Review -

Another Clarence Brown trademark beauty! Childhood, teenagehood, manhood, and old age-4 steps of human life amidst war presented in a heartwarming manner. Brown has to be the king of human drama and coming-of-age dramas for some people, and you can count me among those "some." I was expecting The Human Comedy to be a comedy drama because of its title, but it came out as a moving human drama. This was a shock, but a pleasant one. Brown has given me another human drama to remember. Another human that I can relate to in 4 different age groups of my own life. Therefore, it's a film that can be watched by 3 different generations together in one family, and even in that last generation, you can see two categories, like teenage and childhood. The Human Comedy has a teenage boy taking on the responsibility of the family after his elder brother has left for war. Hia younger brother is living his childhood, and then we have a spirit of their father taking to us about life and how he is still alive even after his demise. The schooltime lesson is there. That small but life-changing conversation between the student and his teacher, who encourages him to be civilised and never forget him, touched me. The 5-year-old boy going to steal at a garden and that old man teasing them from the window/house brought tears of joy to my eyes. I could feel my childhood (past) and old-age days (future) in that one moment. The little one asking his mother about death and war and the way she answered him took me back to my childhood days when I used to ask a lot of questions to my mother, and she used to teach me many good things with her answers. Those young soldiers going to a movie with beautiful girls in the rain and then happily saying good-bye, without looking back and enjoying their own time, was a perfect way to celebrate youth. That's not all. There's more in the film. Just watch and feel it. I can't go on because I am in tears at the moment.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.