The Thirteenth Floor (R) 7.5

The Thirteenth Floor (1999): Computer scientist Hannon Fuller has discovered something extremely important. He's about to tell the discovery to his colleague, Douglas Hall, but knowing someone is after him, the old man leaves a letter in his computer generated parallel world that's just like the 30's with seemingly real people with real emotions. (6.8)

Director: Josef Rusnak
Writers: Daniel F. Galouye (book), Josef Rusnak (screenplay)
Stars: Craig Bierko, Gretchen Mol and Armin Mueller-Stahl

I was going to say that this is a Matrix clone, but the two movies are contemporaries. Influences for this one lie elsewhere (read its Wikipedia entry) Also, this resembles, in a lot of ways, some of the stuff coming from today's theoretical physics (see my rant about being trapped in the matrix). In that sense, this movie, IMHO, accomplishes a lot more with the wonderfully done 30's period scenes than the Matrix does with blood, gore and bullets. Considering this came out in 1999, the computer-related scenes haven't aged that much in 12 years. Good acting. And, the fact that the leading characters are eye candy doesn't hurt either. Highly recommend it. My Rating: 7.5

Curse of the Golden Flower (R) 7.5

Curse of the Golden Flower (2006): During China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself. (7.0)

Director: Yimou Zhang
Stars: Yun-Fat Chow, Li Gong and Jay Chou
Languages: Mandarin or English (w/ English Subtitles)

This is an epic movie about an emperor, an empress, the absolute power, forbidden love and tragic consequences. The scenes are wonderful, the use of colors, again, by the director is really nice. Li Gong can deliver a thousand lines with a single facial expression and she lives the character. Some critics, apparently, didn't like the fact that this is over-the-top melodrama. Well, it is a story about an extravagant emperor and his convoluted family in the ancient china, so what do you expect. I think, the over-the-top in everything (the palace, the fight scenes, festivals, etc.) is a part of the deal. It is not today's real life. I liked it. I also really liked the "Chrysanthemum Terrace" (Juhua Tai) song (Jay Chou is a singer also, who knew) at the end of the movie. (This YouTube version, I think has the translations done line by line, but the translation in the movie makes more sense.) My Rating: 7.5

Prince of Persia: Sands of... (PG) 6.5

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010): A young fugitive prince and princess must stop a villain who unknowingly threatens to destroy the world with a special dagger that enables the magic sand inside to reverse time. (6.7)

Director: Mike Newell
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley

This is a sequel; an action adventure; a movie based on a video game (?); and it has elements of time distortions? Um ... okay, for the sake of the action adventure part, a good story ("we have no weapons of mass destruction", "war on false pretense", etc. :-)) and some really good CGI and live action integration, I'm going to ignore the time-travel holes I always see in this type of movies. Besides, Gemma Arterton's character is portrayed with power and grace and she looks nice too. Sword fighting, knife throwing, etc are un-real, but hey, coming from a video game, what do you expect. Cheap thrills and not an entirely bad story either. My Rating: 6.5

Reign Over Me (R) 7.5

Reign Over Me (2007): A man who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate. Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears able to help the man recover from his grief. (7.7)

Director: Mike Binder
Stars: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle and Jada Pinkett Smith

Going in, I knew this was going to be a movie about loss and heart break. Still, the way the writer/director decided to portray the story touches you. Adam Sandler is good in a serious role. Don Cheadle is superb, as usual. I suppose, if you watch it with a crowd, it does have laugh out loud funny moments, but to me it was quite a serious movie throughout. Half way through, I knew the story should have an open ending and it was. My Rating: 7.5

The Man from Earth (PG) 8.0

The Man from Earth (2007): An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he is an immortal who has walked the earth for 14,000 years. (8.0)

Director: Richard Schenkman
Writer: Jerome Bixby
Stars: David Lee Smith, Tony Todd and John Billingsley

Watching this movie the second time in five months didn't give me any more insights into the storyline. However, I'd forgotten how much the second half revolves around Christianity. More than what I said the first time around, what I think now is that the story could have put more emphasis on the emergence of morality or the sense of right-and-wrong among various civilizations and a bit less on religion. Then again, it is what the writer decided to focus on and still makes you think about the possibilities, even after the second viewing. My Rating: 8.0

5ive Days to Midnight (TV MA) 6.5

5ive Days to Midnight (2004): When college professor J.T. Neumeyer discovers a police file that outlines the details of his murder - which is to take place five days in the future - he wastes no time trying to save his own life. ( 6.6)

Director: Michael W. Watkins
Stars: Timothy Hutton, Randy Quaid and Kari Matchett

This is a "time travel" type of movie w/o people actually doing to time travel part. When you know a future event in full detail, the days and events leading up to it becomes sort of a time travel situation. There's a basic flaw in the story. If details were sent back in time to change the future events, then you eliminate the motivation to send the details in the future. If, in the future the details stay the same, then that's proof positive that information sent back wasn't useful and the events weren't changed. This can be explained away with a parallel universe theory, but that would simply mean there's at least one universe where the murder takes place. It is all nice for the people in the fixed up parallel universe, but that other one is still the pits. Discounting that, the story was pretty strong and acting was nice. (4 episodes; watched over two nights) My Rating: 6.5

Ju Dou (PG-13) 8.0

Ju Dou (1990): A woman married to the brutal and infertile owner of a dye mill in rural China conceives a boy with her husband's nephew but is forced to raise her son as her husband's heir without revealing his parentage in this circular tragedy. Filmed in glowing technicolour, this tale of romantic and familial love in the face of unbreakable tradition is more universal than its setting. (7.7)

Directors: Fengliang Yang, Yimou Zhang
Stars: Li Gong, Wei Li and Baotian Li
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

Beautiful cinematography, great use of the settings (dye mill and mountains) and the colors they present, nice use of light as a painting tool in a lot of the scenes, bright colors and high contrasts. Artsy! Li Gong is best when delivering powerful lines in roles of powerful women; perhaps, not in this one (one of her earlier films). A tragic and emotional story. Life is complicated by the need to adhere to traditions. Painful ending. Loved all of it, the whole movie. My Rating: 8.0

Amistad (TV-MA) 7.5

Amistad (1997): About a 1839 mutiny aboard a slave ship that is traveling towards the northeastern coast of America. Much of the story involves a court-room drama about the free man who led the revolt. (7.1)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey and Anthony Hopkins

I'd seen this as a mini-series on TV long time back. I remembered a lot of the scenes, but I'd forgotten that Matthew McConaughey played a major role. Just as well, because, he did play it so well that I remembered the character not the actor. This powerful story questions who we are as a people and what civilization means. What compelled the Europeans to call the Africans savages, what made them make the Africans slaves. Being neither white nor black should have made me a mere observer of the powerful story but the strong emotions and the teas welling in the eyes say this is a human story. Well made movie; good acting; good period scenes, costumes and sets. My Rating: 7.5

The Secret in Their Eyes (R) 8.0

The Secret in Their Eyes (2009): A retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases and for his unreciprocated love with his superior - both of which still haunt him decades later. (8.3)

Director: Juan José Campanella
Stars: Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil and Pablo Rago
Language: Spanish (w/ English Subtitles)

Very thought provoking in several levels: lost love and opportunity; lost conviction to a man who played the system; the faults of friends and bureaucracy; crime and punishment; the value (or rather the lack of) death penalty; what would you do in each of the roles; etc. This is very powerful story. A sign of a good story/movie is its ability to make you think about it during and afterwards. The acting is superb. My Rating: 8.0

The King's Speech (R) 7.5

The King's Speech (2010): The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it. (8.3)

Director: Tom Hooper
Stars: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter

Forgetting the fact that the whole notion of a monarchy is a pretty silly concept in this day and age, this movie tells a remarkable story. The more well known story is that of Edward (known as David in the family/movie) and his abdication of the crown to marry an American divorcee. This is a more personal story. The movie is done quite well without much of the fanfare of a palace, which is nice. I think, the Aussie needed a little bit more Australian-ness or something and probably should have put the pommies in their place ... then again, what do I know. Really good acting. My Rating: 7.5

Exam (R) 7.0

Exam (2009): Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation. Entering a windowless room, an Invigilator gives them eighty minutes to answer one simple question. (6.8)

Director: Stuart Hazeldine
Stars: Adar Beck, Gemma Chan and Nathalie Cox

A psychological thriller that makes you wonder what would you do in a situation like that. The movie is suspenseful and intelligent. It makes you question various aspects after watching it. Good story and well acted. My Rating: 7.0

Ten Inch Hero (R) 2.5

Ten Inch Hero (2007): Piper moves to Santa Cruz to go to the Institute of Art. When she was 15 she gave birth to a daughter ...

Director: David Mackay
Stars: Elisabeth Harnois, Clea DuVall and Sean Patrick Flanery

Cheesy. Predictable. 102 minutes I'm never going to get back. Seriously, I don't see what those who think this movie is worth 7.3/10 (IMDB) or 3.8/5 (Netflix) saw in it that they couldn't have seen coming all along. My Rating: 2.5

Rashomon (PG) 7.5

Rashomon (1950): A heinous crime and its aftermath are recalled from differing points of view. (8.4)

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Machiko Kyô and Masayuki Mori
Language: Japanese (w/ English subtitles)

I've seen bits and pieces of this movie before, but this is the first time I saw the entire thing. For its time, that is said to be quite a different type of a movie. The story is not what happens on the screen, but the telling of it, both in story-teller's perspective and also in cinematography. As in Seven Samurai, there are open leads to this story that go nowhere. In Seven Samurai, all the samurai are killed in a certain way. In this movie, the crime is committed by the story-teller, except perhaps, the (last) observer. My Rating: 7.5

All Good Things (R) 6.5

All Good Things (2010): A love story and murder mystery based on the most notorious unsolved murder case in New York history. The original screenplay uses newly discovered facts, court records and speculation as the foundation for a story of family, obsession, love and loss. (6.3)

Director: Andrew Jarecki
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst and Frank Langella

The moral of the story is that people with money and connections can get away with anything. Good acting and kind of a frustrating story. Not a "movie" ending, then again, RL is never all wrapped up and tied with a bow at the end. My Rating: 6.5

Pink Floyd The Wall (R) 8.0

Pink Floyd The Wall (1982): A troubled rock star descends into madness in the midst of his physical and social isolation from everyone. (7.8)

Director: Alan Parker
Writers: Roger Waters (album "The Wall"), Roger Waters (screenplay)
Stars: Bob Geldof, Christine Hargreaves and James Laurenson

As the Wikipedia article says, this is a very symbolic and metaphorical movie, and much has been written about the movie and the group. So, this here are my memories... I saw this movie for the first time when I was a freshman at USC. Being an FOB, I wasn't crazy about it the first time. (I didn't get it.) However, along with Brazil and The Graduate, this got repeated almost every semester at USC on Friday nights, so I got another chance to see it the following year. Loved the Another Brick In The Wall ever since, specially the "We don't need no education ... no dark sarcasm in the classroom" part. Of course, at 'SC there was a building where lots of our Engineering classes were held called Olin Hall. Our inside joke was to call it "Olin Hall--another brick in the wall." My Rating: 8.0

Cashback (R) 6.5

Cashback (2006): After a painful breakup, Ben develops insomnia. To kill time, he starts working the late night shift at the local supermarket, where his artistic imagination runs wild. (7.4)

Director: Sean Ellis
Stars: Sean Biggerstaff, Emilia Fox and Michelle Ryan

I liked the story. I liked the way the move was constructed. Still, the sexy pictures get in the way of a good storytelling. Yeah, definitely a European film ... can't get away with that sort of images in the US mass market. My Rating: 6.5

Futurama: Bender's Big Score (PG) 6.0

Futurama: Bender's Big Score (Video 2007): Planet Express sees a hostile takeover and Bender falls into the hands of criminals where he is used to fulfill their schemes. (7.6)

Director: Dwayne Carey-Hill
Writers: Matt Groening (creator), Matt Groening (developer)
Stars: Billy West, Katey Sagal and John Di Maggio

Okay, I'm not that much into Futurama cartoons. Watched this because someone recommended this for a good time-travel movie. Um, okay, I get that they thought about all the time-travel related stuff and even got the various spoofs into the movie and all ... still, left me thinking, "meh, not enough." I think, for someone who likes Futurama, this is probably a very good movie (or rather a longer episode). My Rating: 6.0

Minority Report (PG-13) 7.5

Minority Report (2002): In the future, criminals are caught before the crimes they commit, but one of the officers in the special unit is accused of one such crime and sets out to prove his innocence. (7.7)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Philip K. Dick (short story)
Stars: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton

Very intriguing premise: if you are caught before the crime is committed, are you still guilty? Of what?? Makes you think ... I want to read the short story and I'd bet it is much more nuanced than the movie. The movie is a very fast paced action thriller and it is well done. My Rating: 7.5

Never Let Me Go (R) 8.5

Never Let Me Go (2010): As children, Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them. (7.3)

Director: Mark Romanek
Writers: Kazuo Ishiguro (novel), Alex Garland (screenplay)
Stars: Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield

Heartbreaking, yet wonderful. "We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time." My Rating: 8.5

Happy Accidents (R) 7.5

Happy Accidents (2000): Ruby Weaver has man trouble: she tries to fix them, so she's stuck herself with a string of losers. Her current lover, Sam Deed, seems different ... (7.3)

Director: Brad Anderson
Stars: Marisa Tomei, Vincent D'Onofrio and Marty Davey

This certainly is a different kind of a movie. As someone says on the IMDB site, this is Science Fiction for the adults. It is definitely cerebral. I'm still going "um ... really? Is it, uh, maybe." And, I've been a fan of Marisa Tomei since since her role in My Cousin Vinny. Great acting. Nice movie. My Rating: 7.5

Confederate States of America (R) 6.5

C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2004): Through the eyes of a british "documentary", this film takes a satirically humorous, and sometimes frightening, look at the history of an America where the South won the Civil War. (6.4)

Director: Kevin Willmott
Stars: Greg Kirsch, Renee Patrick and Molly Graham

This is satire (mocumentary) at its best. The attention to detail is what keeps it entertaining and the movie premise going for 90 minutes. At times, you can't help but wonder if the actors delivering the lines were splitting up in laughter or crying at the irony of it all right after the scene was filmed. What brings a bit of scare into the satire are the grains of truth listed at the end of the movie. Yeah, just ask Aunt Jemimah and Uncle Ben. My Rating: 6.5