Movies and Actors | pinartarhan.com

Touch of Pink starring Kris Holden-Ried, Jimi Mistry & Kyle MacLachlan

Posted on October 2, 2009 Written by ripitup

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Alim (Mistry) has a good life. He has moved in with Giles, his super-sexy boyfriend and he is very happy. Giles (Kris Holden-Ried) of course has no reservations about being gay, living in London and all. Alim,on the other hand, is from a Muslim family. His family lives far away and has no idea he is not interested in women. When his traditionalist mother comes to visit, meaning to find the perfect girl for his son, Giles has to pretend he is Alim’s straight room-mate. Giles’ sister is introduced as Alim’s loved one and even the idea of a bride from another culture is enough to drive the mother nuts.

Kyle MacLachlan plays Alim2s imaginary companion, Cary Grant’s spirit. He sort of displays the only father figure in Alim’s life. The mother develops a close friendship with Giles; having no idea that he is actually his son’s lover. Alim’s mother is not the only problem. Giles is having difficulty understanding Alim’s reservations. When the truth is revealed, all hell breaks loose for everyone.

The movie is very funny, sweet and emotional. The cultural differences are told in the most poignant way. You go between wanting to hug the mother and punch her and it goes same with Giles. Just sit back and be ready for laughs.

Watchmen starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley and Patrick Wilson

Posted on October 2, 2009 Written by ripitup

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB3AxenYAyU[/pro-player]

The movie is everything the trailer promises. I am not going to say it was perfect and that the whole 162 minutes were equally exciting. Let’s just say I prefer watching movie adaptations of comics (or in this case a graphic novel) and this movie was rather entertaining. Below are the Watchmen:

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From upper left: The Comedian, Rorschach, Silk Spectre II

Lower left: Nite Owl II, Ozymandias, Dr. Manhattan

It is the 1980s, alternate world. Everything starts with the death of The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Or let’s say everything restarts. When the former “superhero” is murdered, Rorschach develops the theory that someone might be after the whole gang. Adrian Veidt (Matthew Goode) finds the idea ridiculous- he has made his secret identity as Ozymandias public knowledge and is living his life out in the open as a well-respected, multi-billionaire businessman. His partner in most matters is Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup)- who has turned into a blue-skinned man- with some interesting powers; due to a lab accident. He also happens to be the only Watchman with superhuman powers. He is not very concerned either. The world has some other serious issues- like the possibility of Russia going into atomic war against the United States. Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman) – his girlfriend- does not share the cold-bloodedness. Also sick and tired of Manhattan’s apathy, she finds comfort in the friendship of Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson)…

Just like any other movie, I favor some characters over the others. The character I enjoyed watching the most was definitely Rorschach (played by Jackie Earle Haley). With the namesake inkblot test patterned mask, his average built (becomes obvious how much smaller he is during the prison scenes). He fights well, he keeps a diary that we hear the entries of, offers his dark points of view on life. Yet he has the best storylines and he can more than take care of himself when in trouble.

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The Comedian ( played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) plays a crucial role in the movie – we get to see a lot of him through flashbacks and notice actions that are borderline psychotic- he can kill innocent people just because they get on his nerves, for instance. You can’t really tell what this guy is doing in a team that aims to protect people…This personality adds up to the dark atmosphere. His morals and motives are very to hard to get…

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While Dr. Manhattan has the most interesting backstory and some really cool lines, his apathy and figure start stalling the movie after a while.

Although we see a lot of the Night Owl II, we don’t really get to know him. Nor we care about Silk Spectre. Somethings feel missing. Somethings are left without explanation and that part of the story doesn’t make sense. You will know what I mean when you see Ozzy’s “pet”. I for one am on the lookout for the director’s cut. Still, I wouldn’t mind a sequel. It might be flawed, but it is damned good entertainment.

The movie has many flashbacks that involve the past of the watchmen, and the “superheroes” that came before them…

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Surrogates starring Bruce Willis, Rosamund Pike & Radha Mitchell

Posted on September 29, 2009 Written by ripitup

3682866912_1fa0e8d78c — Bruce Willis in Surrogates

Directed by Jonathan Mostow, the movie stars Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell and Rosamund Pike. It is set in our world, not in an alternate reality. It is set in today. Due to a technology developed over a decade ago, people are now able to live life through surrogates. Surrogates are the perfected robot versions of humans. People don’t even have to leave their homes. All they do is to sit back, stay connected to their surrogates and control them. Surrogates go to work, fight crime, have sex. There hasn’t been a real crime-one that hurt a real person-until now. A very expensive and higly complex weapon has been developed. It does not only destroy the surrogate; but also kills its operator as well. And who better to suspect than the human rebels who are governed by their leader The Prophet and are passionately against this whole concept that they find unnatural and disgusting?

The movie involves a dramatic sub-story as well. FBI agent Greer (Bruce Willis) is not all that happy with his surrogate life. He is upset that he lives under the same roof with his wife yet she never leaves her room and only her surrogate communicates with her husband. He longs for their human selves to spend time together and when his surrogate is suspended due to “its” violation of the “only humans” territory, he decides to go out into the world and investigate the crime.

The movie has been adapted from a graphic novel and of course there is the same old debate going on about how the movie hasn’t done the novel justice. On the other hand, people who have liked the movie are usually the people who haven’t read the novel. The movie is not without its faults. Some plot twists feel rushed and the dramatic elements seem to overshadow the action at times. But overall, it is a solid movie. You do not have to be a science fiction fan to enjoy it. The world created is not that big of a stretch of imagination. There are millions of people who stay in their homes and spend most of their days playing interactive computer games and prefer to live in a fantastic world with their desired personas. The difference in the movie is that the personas live in the real world. But the result is pretty much the same.Alienation, detachment and numbness. People no longer take care of themselves. Who needs to bother when your good-looking, fit and healthy image can roam the streets? The movie is efficient in making you feel that numbness.

Bruce Willis also delivers a great performance. As the tagline of the movie suggests he is the only real thing outside in the real world- he is out there in all his vulnerability and he is brilliant as the humane FBI agent/husband.

The movie may not be perfect, but it is certainly powerful, and a lot of fun! Recommended.

3 Movies, 3 Musician Portrayals: The Crow, The Doors and Rent

Posted on September 23, 2009 Written by ripitup

I love rock n’ roll musicians. Not all of them of course. I have certain favorites, role models guys whose music I love and whose egos I hate….I have grown up with some. And it is no secret that I love movies so this post was, well, inevitable.

There have been a lot of movies based on rockstars or movies that have characters who happen to be rockstars. Below are my fav. portrayals.

1) The Crow– Eric Draven, by Brandon Lee (1994)

Eric Draven and his guitar — Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) and his guitar

What and who else could I talk about first?

The character of Eric Draven is everything that we the rock fans- and especially the female rock fans idolize : A handsome young rocker. A passionate yet compassionate lover. A guy you can laugh with. A guy you can share everything with. He is romantic and he is loyal. He is The One. Did I mention he has this amazing voice when he speaks and plays electric guitar and looks freaking good in leather?

But amazingly, this is not what Eric is all about. When he loses his fiancée Shelly, and he himself is also killed by the psychotic gang, he comes back from the dead. To avenge her. As he kills the gang members one by one, all he can think of is Shelly and when he can go back to her. Every memory haunts him. He is not just a rock star. He is a former rock star who comes back as an undead avenger. The message is that real love is more powerful than anything and it lasts forever.

He is the guy who takes his revenge in black leather clothes, white/black clownish/KISS type of make-up and plays his guitar on a rooftop. He is a lone rider. His pain and his love make the storypowerful; and Brandon Lee unforgettable.

I don’t care what movies he played in before. He is Eric Draven. And always will be.

aV1dA_vr — Brandon Lee as Eric Draven in The Crow

Guitar Solo Scene of Eric Draven:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aeFkJvgnbk[/pro-player]

2) The Doors- Jim Morrison by Val Kilmer (1991)

The movie poster — The Doors movie poster. Isn't the resemblance between Kilmer and Jim Morrison uncanny?

This movie is not exactly my cup of tea. I don’t like Oliver Stone. Although I like some of The Doors’ classics. I don’t like Morrison as a personality. I don’t get him. I don’t think many people do either. But Val Kilmer’s performance is pure brilliance. He is a fantastic actor. He can be outstanding in almost any role, in a movie of any genre. He can do shallow, he can do deep. He can do psychotic, complicated, romantic, funny… you name it. He is a good actor. But with The Doors, even I was surprised. It is hard to portray a celebrity whose voice, face and attitude are so well-known. How do you convince people that you are Jim Morrison? Well, if you genuinely look like him and sound like him and are one of the best actors of your generation- and are old enough to have existed in the era where Jimmy became a cult, well- voila-you can pull it off. Val Kilmer was so…Jim Morrison.Val even sang his vocals!

As for the appearance:

3) Rent- Roger Davis by Adam Pascal (2005)

Adam Pascal on the right — On the right: Adam Pascal

Rent is a famous, sold-out rock musical that has been staged on broadway. Of course a movie version had to be made. I am not being sarcastic here. I love rock and I love movies- combine it right and the result will rock. The concept is simple. A close-knit of friends/neighbors dealing with broken dreams, poverty, trade off between the good life and the selling of your soul, diseases, drugs and relationships.

Roger is a rocker. Let’s say he is a former leading man/guitarist. His world and faith in love have been shattered when he has lost his girlfriend to OD (and AIDS). Roger also has HIV and is barely scraping by with his best mate/roommate.

Adam Pascal as Rogerc with Rosario Dawson as Mimi — Adam Pascal and Rosario Dawson Rent

Roger has all the right ingredients of a sexy rocker: He is hot with longish blonde hair, sexy voice, handsome face. He wears jeans and shirts and leather. He also look a little like Jon Bon Jovi– which is never a bad thing in my book. He is a good actor and an awfully talented singer. He is so good, I will be disappointed if he doesn’t have his own band in real life.

His character is fictional on the surface. Truth is, Roger is not about one person. He reflects the lifestyle of a lot of 90s musicians. See Rent. But please stay away if you don’t like rock music. It’s not gonna ring well in your ears…

Videos from Rent the movie:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkScM71Pngc[/pro-player]

*For the second video, Adam’s part begins right in the middle)

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TOQxSvA_zs&feature=related[/pro-player]

P.S. You know you tube videos can be replaced and removed.So if a video doesn’t work, just let me know.

If you like revenge movies, take a look at these: Favorite Revenge Movies

Edge of Darkness

Best of Revenge Movies: Fathers Taking Justice into their own hands

Movies: Best of Lovers Taking Revenge

On Val Kilmer:

At First Sight

The Saint

And:

Movies with Awesome Soundtracks