Robot Stories (PG) 6.5

Robot Stories (2003): Winner of over 23 awards, "Robot Stories" is science fiction from the heart, four stories in which utterly human characters struggle to connect in a world of robot babies and android office workers. (6.0)

Director: Greg Pak
Writer: Greg Pak
Stars: Tamlyn Tomita, James Saito and Vin Knight

Written, directed and acted by a largely Asian American cast, this set of stories looks at different aspects of what might be the future of human-machine interactions. The stories try to break the stereotypes of not only what we expect from robots, but also from the characters and actors. I also liked the fact that the stories were short enough to not push til the inevitable feel-good ending for each one. The movie has a somewhat amateurish feel but this isn't a "robots take over the world and humans must fight" story. My Rating: 6.5

Layer Cake (R) 7.5

Layer Cake (2004): A successful cocaine dealer gets two tough assignments from his boss on the eve of his planned early retirement. (7.4)

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writers: J.J. Connolly (screenplay), J.J. Connolly (novel)
Stars: Daniel Craig, Sienna Miller and Michael Gambon

I probably shouldn't have watched Snatch and Layer Cake back to back ... then again, it is good in order to get at least some of the British slang. :-) Two movies are somewhat similar in that they are both dark comedies involving underworld characters from England. Matthew Vaughn produced both, directed this one. Fast paced, somewhat convoluted plot, good acting, good direction, etc. Over all, a well made movie. You have to be in "that" frame of mind to enjoy it, but once you are there, it's just too funny. (Same for Snatch.) My Rating: 7.5

Snatch (R) 8.0

Snatch (2000): Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers, and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond. (8.3)

Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Jason Statham, Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro

Priceless. I meant the movie, the characters, whole silliness of the story. Dark humor at its best. Thank god the DVD included subtitles, otherwise I'd have missed half the conversations. Really liked the way the story sequences were put together and how the jigsaw puzzle finally finished. Good acting even by the minor characters. An all-around great movie. My Rating: 8.0

Unmistaken Child (G) 7.0

Unmistaken Child (2008): In Nepal, a venerable monk, Geshe Lama Konchog, dies and one of his disciples, a youthful monk named Tenzin Zopa, searches for his master's reincarnation. (7.2)

Director: Nati Baratz
Writer: Nati Baratz
Stars: Tenzin Zopa

This movie provides a fascinating glimpse into how Buddhism is being practiced in the Himalaya region. I grew up a Buddhist, but this practice of actively trying to find the reincarnation of a monk is not seen in Sri Lanka. While not the central theme of the movie, you can see the level of devotion of the followers and the accumulation of power and wealth in the religious hierarchies. (Where have we seen that before? In all major religions!) I am ever so skeptical; but the process is certainly interesting. If I'm reincarnated, I definitely want to come back as a peasant in that part of the world where I can see the snow capped mountain ranges every day. Beautiful cinematography. Interesting tale. Not preachy; will not give you insights into Buddhism. My Rating: 7.0

[PS: When I mentioned this movie to someone, he said "oh, these people with reincarnation ...." And, yet he believes in God. I don't know which myth (reincarnation or God) is more stupid. YMMV.]

Renaissance (R) 7.0

Renaissance (2006): In 2054, Paris is a labyrinth where all movement is monitored and recorded. Casting a shadow over everything is the city's largest company, Avalon, which insinuates itself into every aspect of contemporary life to sell its primary export -- youth and beauty. (6.7)

Director: Christian Volckman
Stars: Daniel Craig, Catherine McCormack and Jonathan Pryce

This is a black-and-white animated movie, but the animation isn't anything like I'd seen before. It uses a bit of rotoscope, I think, but it flows more like comic-book frames. In technical-sense it is a labor of love; wonderfully accomplished. But the storyline is a bit too convoluted and the dialog is dry. Then again, if you think back to the comic-book pages, the dialog is spot on. Something different, something unusual and if you pay attention, the story isn't half bad either. (I went into watching this w/o knowing that it is an animation; pretty early into the movie, I liked its originality.) My Rating: 7.0

Powwow Highway (R) 6.5

Powwow Highway (1989): Social realism regarding struggles of reservation-dwelling Native Americans in the North Central states of the US. Main character is an introspective and lovable person in a process of seeking pride and identity through tradtional and mystical means of gathering power. (6.9)

Director: Jonathan Wacks
Writers: David Seals (novel), Janet Heaney
Stars: Gary Farmer, A Martinez and Joannelle Nadine Romero

The first quarter, the set-up part, of the movie is spot-on. It depicts the plight of the Native Americans in the rural areas. (I saw it in Nevada when I took a raft trip down Colorado river from Lake Mead.) The plot gets a bit out of hand towards the end, but then again, this isn't a documentary, so the story had to be told. Visually, it could have been better with the scenery and backdrops available in Montana, New Mexico, the Dakotas, etc. My Rating: 6.5

Chungking Express (PG-13) 7.5

Chungking Express (1994) Chung Hing sam lam (original title): Wong Kar-Wai's movie about two love-struck cops is filmed in impressionistic splashes of motion and color. The first half deals with Cop 223, who has broken up with his girlfriend of five years. The second half shows Cop 663 dealing with his breakup with his flight attendant girlfriend. He talks to his apartment furnishings until he meets a new girl at a local lunch counter. (8.0)

Director: Kar Wai Wong
Stars: Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Faye Wong
Language: Cantonese (w/ English subtitles)

Two disconnected, yet quite similar stories. Apparently, this is a break-away from the traditional movies of the time (mid-90s in Hong Kong). I liked the use of Hong Kong's diverse cultures in the first part of the movie. I wish I'd understood what was said in Hindi or the Hindi songs. The second part is a little bit too much sentimental/silly, but I get the gist. Different, unique and not a generic movie. I specially liked the use of various camera-works to make the scenes look like fast or slow. The Chinese version of the The Cranberries' Dreams was a special treat. Very Nice! (Apparently, the singer, Faye Wong is famous in HK?) Highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 7.5

Under Suspicion (R) 7.0

Under Suspicion (2000): A lawyer is asked to come to the police station to clear up a few loose ends in his witness report of a foul murder. This will only take ten minutes, they say, but it turns out to be one loose end after another ... (6.5)

Director: Stephen Hopkins
Writers: John Wainwright (book: Brainwash)
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and Thomas Jane

The psychological sparring goes back and forth between the accuser and and accused; they both have dirt on each other. The circumstantial evidences pile up. The truth is plain to see; or, is it? I was suspicious about others in the the story also, specially the beautiful young wife, the police officers, the wife's sister, sister's husband, ... all of them. Yes, the ending is weird, and a bit weak, but it is a good thriller. As expected, Freeman and Hackman give very good performances. The flashback scenes are different; whose story is it anyway is the question that comes to mind. I'd rate this higher than the critics. My Rating: 7.0

Jacob's Ladder (R) 7.5

Jacob's Ladder (I) (1990): A traumatized Vietnam war veteran finds out that his post-war life isn't what he believes it to be when he's attacked by horned creatures in the subway and his dead son comes to visit him. (7.5)

Director: Adrian Lyne
Stars: Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña and Danny Aiello

A psychological thriller and a horror film with some quite gruesome scenes. It takes the viewer into various places and scenes, only to guess at what's real. In hindsight, perhaps the movies like Stay and Conspiracy Theory may have been influenced by the storyline here. The three stars listed above give commanding performances. My Rating: 7.5

Electric Shadows (PG) 6.5

Electric Shadows (2004) Meng ying tong nian (original title): For no apparent reason, a mute young woman assaults a youth who delivers water on his bicycle, injuring him and ruining his bike. Surprisingly, she asks him to feed her fish while she is in custody. Her tiny apartment, he discovers, is a shrine to his favorite escape, the movies. (7.4)

Director: Jiang Xiao
Stars: Yu Xia, Haibin Li, Yijing Zhang and Jiang Yihon
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

The movie takes us back to the time of the Cultural Revolution in China when the movie viewing was a communal event in rural villages. The engrossing quaint story depicts (I think) the daily lives and the social norms of the villagers. Acting by Haibin Li and Jiang Yihon is great, but that of others leaves a little bit to be desired. The end of story itself could have been better, IMHO, w/o the coincidences tying everyone back to the past. My Rating: 6.5

Witnesses (R) 7.5

Witnesses (2003) Svjedoci (original title): Told from a number of different viewpoints, filmmaker Vinko Bresan's political drama explores ethnic hatred and moral ambiguity against the backdrop of war. In a small Croatian town, a Serbian man has been murdered, and each character's perspective reveals new clues and interpretations of the crime. As police investigate the murder, truth proves an elusive and subjective concept in an environment of deep-seated enmity. (6.9)

Director: Vinko Bresan
Writers: Vinko Bresan, Jurica Pavičić (novel: Alabaster Sheep)
Stars: Leon Lucev, Alma Prica and Mirjana Karanovic
Language: Serbian | Croatian (w/ English subtitles)

This movie probes at your conscience. Are there absolute truths wrt a crime? Is it a crime to kill your enemy during a war? Who is your enemy? What's guilt? Whose fault is what happens during a war? Is the war at the front line the same as the conflicts in your home town? This is a very well made movie with lots of flashbacks and different points of view. Highly recommend it. My Rating: 7.5

Children of Men (R) 7.5

Children of Men (2006): In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind. (8.0)

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Writers: Alfonso Cuarón (screenplay), Timothy J. Sexton (screenplay), P.D. James (novel)
Stars: Julianne Moore, Clive Owen and Chiwetel Ejiofor

This very well made movie depicts a futuristic dystopia where the civilization is collapsing from within. Acting is superb and the sets, scenes, and the staging is well crafted. The dialog could have included a bit more about people's mindset about being the last generation on earth. The story is grim and violent but offers a ray of hope. My Rating: 7.5

Days of Being Wild (R) 7.5

Days of Being Wild (1990) A Fei jingjyuhn (original title): Set in 1960, the film centres on the young, boyishly handsome Yuddy, who learns from the drunken ex-prostitute who raised him that she is not his real mother. (7.6)

Director: Kar Wai Wong
Stars: Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung and Andy Lau
Language: Cantonese | Shanghainese | Tagalog | English | Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

The story does not have a strong plot and it doesn't go anywhere much in that department. However, it does travel light years in the emotional side. It shows how a young man hurt by his mother takes his anger out on women who love him. In turn, the grief is shared by lots of people who directly or indirectly come in contact with him. (The version of this film I watched via Netflix streaming had a couple of problems: wide-screen transfer had been done at the wrong aspect ratio and I missed out not properly seeing the beautiful faces. The colors and sound of the film to DVD transfer were pretty awful. I think, I missed Christopher Doyle's nice camera work because of that.) Done in 1990 in Hong Kong, this is said to be an "against the tide" art-house type movie. My Rating: 7.5

Special (R) 6.0

Special (I) (2006): A lonely metermaid has a psychotic reaction to his medication and becomes convinced he's a superhero. A very select group of people in life are truly gifted. Special is a movie about everyone else. (6.9)

Directors: Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore
Writers: Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore
Stars: Michael Rapaport, Paul Blackthorne and Josh Peck

This movie questions where reality ends and dreamworld begins; or more precisely, where hallucination ends and reality begins. Then again, it is movie about a set of quite ordinary people. One of them steps into an alternate reality of his own making. Funny at times, and depressing at a couple of points. The story really could have tackled the issue of drug companies and people with health issues, but the writers chose not to. The ending is missing a bit. The movie could have been something more. Michael Rapaport is good in the lead role. My Rating: 6.0

Biutiful (R) 8.0

Biutiful (2010): Uxbal, single father of two children, finds his life in chaos as he is forced to deal with his life in order to escape the heat of crime in underground Barcelona ... (7.5)

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Stars: Javier Bardem, Maricel Álvarez and Hanaa Bouchaib
Language: Spanish | Chinese (w/ English subtitles)

A wheler-dealer in the Barcelona underground tries to keep it together. The story tackles quite a few issues in the modern-day metropolitan low-income society (not just Spain, IMHO). It asks the questions of who exploits whom, what is the right thing when your businesses are marginally illegal, etc. On reflection, it has a quite a lot of issues ranging from illegal immigration, sweat shops, drug abuse, cancer, death, raising children in the middle of all of this, and it looks at them from a couple of different perspectives. Thought provoking. My Rating: 8.0

True Grit (PG-13) 7.5

True Grit (2010): A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer. (7.9)

Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Writers: Joel Coen (screenplay), Ethan Coen (screenplay)
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld

A Western for the rest of us, yet, dialog, the scenes, props, etc are quite authentic. Hailee Steinfeld's delivery of the wonderful lines carries the movie. It is a simple enough story (in the tried and true western theme) but it has tests for each of the characters' grit. I'm thankful for the subtitles as the conversation is hard to follow at times (fast and some phrases are unusual). Good acting. My Rating: 7.5

Letting Go of God (PG) 8.0

Letting Go of God (2008): Letting Go of God is a humorous monologue by Julia Sweeney chronicling her search for God. She begins in the Catholic church, the religion her family raised her in, and takes a Bible study class. (8.4)

Director: Julia Sweeney
Writer: Julia Sweeney

This is not so much a stand-up routine, but a monologue. At times it is quite humorous, personal, provocative, thoughtful, emotional, and most importantly, truthful. For a comedienne doing a "bit" about religion, this monologue shows that she is quite well-read. It does not come across as condescending or mocking. She has put lots of time into it, has researched it and actually gone through the experience, it seems. And, she has read enough science than most "computer science" majors would these days. Okay, so the believers may not like the message, but hers actually makes more sense than that of the "good book." Me being one of her kind, I'd very highly recommend it. My Rating: 8.0

The Painted Veil (PG-13) 8.0

The Painted Veil (2006): A British medical doctor fights a cholera outbreak in a small Chinese village, while also being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife. (7.5)

Director: John Curran
Writers: Ron Nyswaner (screenplay), W. Somerset Maugham (novel)
Stars: Naomi Watts, Edward Norton and Liev Schreiber

I haven't read the novel by Somerset Maugham so the story is fresh to me; yet I couldn't help but project my own life situations and values onto the characters. In the end, that may have enhanced the poignant parts of the story, for me (YMMV). The beautiful, majestic Chinese countryside, and the excellent cinematography to capture it, were added bonuses in the film. This screenplay done in 2006 could have added a bit more depth to the Chinese characters in the story. (Memorable quote: "As if a woman ever loved a man for his virtue") My Rating: 8.0

Gothika (R) 6.5

Gothika (2003): A criminal psychologist awakens to find herself a patient in the institution where she works, with no memory of the murder she's accused of committing. As she tries to regain her memory - and her freedom - a vengeful spirit manipulates her. (5.6)

Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
Writer: Sebastian Gutierrez
Stars: Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz and Robert Downey Jr.

While the story opens with a lot of emphasis on psychology, it takes a right turn towards paranormal activities pretty soon. It is a thriller, a ghost story, somewhat of a horror, and part who-done-it movie. A little bit predictable flow in the story at times, and a weak ending. Still, a good movie to be entertained by (and spooked by, a bit). My Rating: 6.5

Devils on the Doorstep (R) 7.5

Devils on the Doorstep (2000) Guizi lai le (original title): During the Japanese occupation of China, two prisoners are dumped in a peasant's home in a small town. The owner is bullied into keeping the prisoners until the next New Year, at which time they will be collected. The village leaders convene to interrogate the prisoners. The townspeople then struggle to accommodate the prisoners. (8.2)

Director: Wen Jiang
Writers: Wen Jiang (screenplay), Wen Jiang (story)
Stars: Wen Jiang, Kenya Sawada and Yihong Jiang
Language: Mandarin & Japanese (w/ English subtitles)

A tragic comedy, but it is a thinking man's movie. The moral dilemmas and ambiguities faced by the village people and the prisoners show the human psychological drama all the while showing the comedic side of the story as well. The ending of the story was a lot darker than I expected but that only goes to show various aspect of the human psyche. Superb acting. According the Wikipedia article this movie was banned in China but received largely positive reviews from the rest of the world including Japan. My Rating: 7.5