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I finally saw a movie devoid of clichés, at least from my point of view. It is fresh, quirky and immensely entertaining. The plot, the dialogue and the soundtrack jelled together so well that it is perfect. I do not understand some of the teen speak, but it is hilarious just the same.

As suggested by one of the blogs I am following, I decided to rent the DVD Taken starring Liam Neeson. Watching the movie, I was “taken” (pun intended) to the ride of my life. The review chronicles said ride.

The premise of the movie is common enough. Dad is a retired special ops/spy with a “very particular set of skills”, daughter gets kidnapped, dad pursues kidnapper. Sprinkle explosions, gunfights, and hand-to-hand combat here and there and you have the gist. One man against a plethora of thugs. This can even be the plot of a Lito Lapid action movie in the Philippines. However, Taken overtakes (again pun intended) any action movie by over a mile.

I think the film’s secret is the visionary direction of French réalisateur, Pierre Morel. Everything is near perfect: the right amount of explosions, the right amount of car chases, and even the right amount of drama. He delivers the film in such a way that brutal revenge (though wrong) is so satisfying to watch.

The car chases are riveting, the script is smart and not at all insulting, the cinematography is excellent (Paris, need I say more). The action scenes are redolent of a 24 TV episode where you are literally at the edge of your seat. The fighting art primarily used in the movie is Nagasu Do. It is fast, brutal and deadly, and so cool to watch.

The movie also succeeds in capitalising on the emotions of the viewers. Everyone watching will definitely root for the protagonist. The Liam’s character can be brutal at times but the viewers will feel it is necessary. He really will not stop at anything.

Liam is an excellent actor. I believe congratulations are also in order for the réalisateur , the writers and the fight choreographers. I might look for more films that have French directors/writers after this. The film just blows you away.

This is definitely a must watch for everyone.

This is a heart-warming story of a journey of one Irish family from grief to redemption while adjusting to the life in the US. Told from the unique viewpoint of the incredibly talented 10-year-old Christy played by Sarah Bolger; it offers a fresh, innocent and surprisingly mature perspective in their life story.

The film takes on a whole range of emotions like grief, love, innocence, and acceptance, and it will not feel forced when you are watching the movie. You will honestly feel them through the scenes, dialogues, facial expressions, and musical score. Part reason for the story’s uniqueness is that it came from real life experiences of the director, Jim Sheridan, and her daughters.

The two children, Christy and Ariel, are the highlights of the film. Never have I seen such cute and talented actors. Ariel with her puppy eyes is so charming and unforgettable. Christy, though just ten years of age, has fire and wisdom in her eyes. They both exude first-rate talent.

The film was nominated and then accordingly won heaps of film awards as substantiation to the marvellous production this film is. This is not your average Hollywood film. This is a film of heart and soul. Watch this if you prefer an alternative to formulaic movies.

I missed the turtles. Growing up in the 80’s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (now that is a mouthful of a name) are one of my favourite cartoon characters. It seems the trend in the movie industry today is reviving the 80’s icons. They resurrected the Transformers to the big screen (with great success if I may add); and Knight Rider, 90210, etc in the TV’s.

This film is inspired by the early life of famed author Jane Austen, who has written exceptional novels like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. While much of the material is based on real events, there are plenty of assumptions made, especially on the relationship between Jane Austen and Thomas Lefroy. The film attempts to portray what Jane Austen may have gone through when she was in her 20’s; and provide probable cause and inspiration for her novels.

New Zealand is famous for creating the blockbuster movies Lord of the Rings Trilogy. There are however, more movies set and filmed in NZ that are very notable and with substance. One such noteworthy film is Her Majesty.

This is a charming fictional story based upon the actual visit of Queen Elizabeth II to New Zealand in 1953. It features a simple tale of a girl, a Maori and the Queen. The plot may be elementary but it tackles very deep issues like racial discrimination, injustice, and ignorance. It is a feel-good movie with lots of plot twists and lessons to learn along the way.

The characters are well defined but the acting is a bit stiff, except for Vicky Haughton playing as Hira Mata. Cinematography is awesome; it captures the very early New Zealand environment.
This is different from the common Hollywood films that focus on special effects, violence and dysfunctional behaviours. This is a film of characters that you can identify with, smart dialogues and imaginative plot twists.

Verdict: A must watch for all ages. If you are in NZ or planning to go to NZ, this film gives you a peek at what it is like in NZ 50 years ago.