Do you want to build a snowman?

Why do I like Frozen so much? For the record, Frozen is a 2013 classic Walt Disney movie, released in both 2D and 3D, with two Academy awards and one Golden Globe. To me, it's much more.

Liking an animated movie isn't new to me. I love them all. But Frozen is different.

The starting few scenes portraying the two kid sisters are a pure delight. They depict the innocence of the sisters, their carefree world, and their adorable quality. Magic was just a playmate, an added entertainer. But then, a slip on the ice turns their lives completely around. Two sisters, two princesses, two daughters, two playmates - Elsa and Anna. One is abruptly shut out from the rest of the world as well as her best friend, her sister, but without the added burden of painful memories. Desperate longing and a feeling of unjust loneliness are what she grows up with. Never knowing why, never getting her answers, giving up her hopes of she and her sister ever returning back to how they were before, she is a restless soul, brimming with possibilities, longing to get out of her palace prison. The other sister, the elder one, on the other hand is not so blessed. She knows why she needs to be shut out and why she needs to shut out the world. She knows that she can never touch or hug a living soul without the fear of hurting it. She knows that this ought to be concealed from everyone, even if it means she never gets to be with her best friend, her sister, ever. Even if it means that she gets labelled as cold-hearted and distant. She knows that she has to conceal, to put on a show, no matter what. She knows she needs to build a prison around herself. She knows.

The film takes us through the lives of these sisters when the cat is let out of the bag. Elsa's character, especially, is heart wrenching. Her anguish on hearing her sister's accusations, her inner agitation, the weakening control over her facade, her break from the kingdom, her pent up relief at being alone, her transition from a repressed, scared girl to an excited, confident woman wanting to explore herself and her talents; could even a highly seasoned and talented actor have portrayed all that the animated character's face and expressions spoke? I don't think the soundtrack is genius. I even got impatient during a couple of songs. But 'Let it go' gives me goosebumps. Everytime. That song is worth twice the Oscar it earned. The lyrics are brilliant. And the catchy 'Do you wanna build a snowman?'? I keep humming it. Eternally.

Of course, the film is a landmark for Disney movies. This is the first time that a classic Disney has actively shown a princess making a wrong choice for her true love. This is the first time that a classic Disney has the antagonist portrayed by a presentable looking young prince. This is the first time a classic Disney has shown a princess as less than perfect when she wakes up. This is the first time a classic Disney has interpreted true love as the filial love between siblings.

 And this is the first time a classic Disney has made me empathize with both the sisters, for I can see them in me. Both of them.

'Cause for the first time in forever
There'll be music, there'll be light!
For the first time in forever
I'll be dancing through the night...
Don't know if I'm elated or gassy
But I'm somewhere in that zone!
Cause for the first time in forever
I won't be alone

Tonight, imagine me gown and all
Fetchingly draped against the wall
The picture of sophisticated grace...
For the first time in forever
There'll be magic, there'll be fun!
For the first time in forever
I could be noticed by someone...

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation
And it looks like I'm the Queen
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried

Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
I don't care what they're going to say
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway

Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
You'll never see me cry

Let it go, let it go

Neram (Tamil)

Ah! Amongst the countless films I watch, this new 'young' genre is what suits me best. Top class cinematography, fresh peppy and apt musical scores, snappy editing, fast pace and the various pieces of the jig-saw that come together to make sense in the end. And Tamil cinema is adapting itself to this genre amazingly well with rookie teams. Oram po was one, Va 1/4 cutting another, Naduvule konjam pakkatha kanum, a brilliant example and now Neram.

 After a lot of cool shots of the hourglass with a rap on Time, reminiscent of Tarantino's style, Neram starts out with our Vetri (I am no longer averse to this guy and have thankfully forgotten the soppy Thattathin Marayathu) talking about time (there are the good times and there are, of course, the crappy times). Going through a rough patch in his career, he has borrowed fifty thousand rupees from the badass moneylender, Vatti Raja for his sister's marriage. The last day for payment arrives and he must return the money with interest before five o'clock. The film traces all the bizarre incidents that occur adding to his troubles and how eventually everything settles down miraculously after a contraption of events.

There are a lot of plus points to this movie. The cute love story intertwined, the lead pair - Vetri and Veni (she is really beautiful!), the droll performances of Thambi Ramiah (as the heroine's father) and Nasser, the hilarious character of John Vijay as the inspector Katta Kunju, all the side characters and of course the main villian Vatti Raja along with his 'white villian' and 'black villian' adjutants. The romance is good, the thrills are good and the comedy is better.

To come to the music, it is nice and suits the situation perfectly. And haha!, hats off to you Rajesh Murugesan for that awesome 'Beethoven Resurrected'. Loved the chase scenes. :) Kadhal Ennulle is pleasant while Evan Avan Avan and Kaatru veesum are slightly familiar but extremely enjoyable. And Pistah suma kira is my alarm tune. Need I say more?

The film prompts me to have a look at the short films by Alphonse Putharen. 

Not bad. Not bad at all.

  

English Vinglish

Given the hype surrounding this movie, I was damn sure that I would not like it. But seriously, it’s worth every bit of praise that it has harnessed.

What a performance by Sridevi and what a role given by the director. Finally, we see a mature treatment of a traditional Indian Bahu who is sensible enough to understand what exactly is wrong with her spouse and is not so soppy as to keep forgiving him for it. Did this wow you? Wait a minute. She is the realistic mother too. She adores her kids, true dat... but not to the extent that she is blind to the atrocities they commit. 

The movie showcases the journey of Sashi, a simple homemaker with a brilliant talent for making ladoos (she was born only to make ladoos as her husband puts it). She has no knowledge of English and is constantly mocked for the fact by her family, and her life in India suddenly shifts to Manhattan where she gets her self-respect back.

I like the movie for a lot of reasons. I respect the way Sashi realizes the unconscious abuse that she is being subjected to. I like the portrayal of the actor playing the role of her husband who keeps mocking her in a way that it would be impossible for anyone to pinpoint it to him. Of course, the behavior is unintentional, but that’s exactly the point. Each and every one of us tends to take Sashi’s role as well as her husband’s in our lives, but we stay unaware of the fact.  And I totally love the fact that ignorance of the English language is not the main point but the under confidence that you develop when those near you don’t believe in you is. And all hail thee, oh director for passing on all these without preaching.

To those who think the above para is just a load of philosophical bosh, let me give one convincing reason for me to rave about this movie. The French guy. As I’m not the story writer, I wasn’t able to make Sashi divorce her husband and elope with this French dude but anyway I can live with that for now. Do such sweet guys even exist in reality? Maybe, maybe not. Oh ya and I cried during the café scene where she tries to order her lunch. Badly. But the movie made me realize a few things. Love does exist. The deep feeling when you’re completely helpless but some person who doesn’t have to help you, rescues you from the situation anyhow, that feeling of pure gratitude, and respect is what I call love.  The mutual respect and encouragement that you give to one another is what I call comradeship and it exists! I want to shout from the tallest building, ‘It exists, it exists, and it exists!!!’ And the best part is, it is by definition momentary, not permanent. So trying to make it work when you know it’s not going to is futile. 

Apart from these meta-physical outbursts of enlightenment, I did have a few disappointments. Like Sridevi’s voice! (What on earth happened to it?) Her dialogues and feeling of guilt when her son gets hurt and she blames herself. The few scenes where they try to capture the Mind Your Language magic. The fake accent of her niece. Too much stereotyping of the Tam guy.

But these are so minor that the movie is intact in my opinion and flying better than ever.

All I can say now is,

Thank you… for making me feel good about myself.

The Emperor's New Groove

I know I am a sucker for animated movies. But believe me when I say, that the Emperor's.... is one of the most amazing ones.

Being basically a hand drawn animated movie, it wows you with the amazing display of skill in the presentation. Kuzco's sovereign features true to the Eygptian pharoah is just as brilliant as Pacha's simple, honest peasant face. The voice and the face somehow blend together to give the effect that is so absent even when real people act in the films. I have been saving the best part for the last. The dialogues! One of the very few movies that is truly funny! The one-liners are amazing! Kronk deserves a special mention, as do Pacha's wife and children! I was extremely impressed to see that they avoided the traditional cliche of having a female mate for the Emperor. Of course, he was great enough on his own :?)

I somehow feel that I have messed up writing this review and people reading this might actually get prejudiced against the movie. But establishing that I really really really loved it on print is worth this risk!! :D

Emperor! I love your groove.. ;)

TLAT I suppose

Too bad. This post has been upgraded. You can catch it here if you're quick enough.

Tell England

"Tell England, ye who pass this monument, We died for her, and here we rest content."

"Eighteen by Jove! You've timed your lives wonderfully, my boys. To be eighteen in 1914 is to be the best thing in England. England's wealth used to consist in other things. Nowadays you boys are the richest thing she's got. She's solvent with you, and bankrupt without you. Eighteen confound it! It's a virtue to be your age, just as it's a crime to be mine."

Do I laugh or cry?

Cocktail

Thumi ho bandu, sakha tumhi! :D

Despite the obviously ripped off songs, this one refuses to go out of my mind.

Oh well, it started out alright. Saif playing the only thing he knows best - the chocolate lover boy / long nosed butterfly flipping from one girl to the next (it worked out great in Hum Tum, not too bad in Salaam Namaste, but seriously dude, how long? Are you even the guy who came in Parineetha?? Doesn't look like it :-/ ), Deepika showing us that she can drink and vomit (ah yes how did I miss it?) and pee and of course "party" (but to be fair, her role was the one that was most intriguing), that Meera girl (I don't know her name) doing I don't know what. I dunno why she fell in love with Saif, I dunno why she went back to her hubby after getting chucked out from Deepika's place (come on.. this was the guy who ran some shady car joint and had insulted her badly and left her on the streets!), and I certainly don't know why the movie focused on the aforementioned husband having a plaster on his nose at the end but did not even imply that she was responsible for it!! And what a stupid ending for god sakes. I would've been content even if they had shown that they work out a threesome! Imagine my frustration.

Due credit should go to Boman Irani, who made cliched parts funny, Dimple too for the same reason. Deepika was not too bad. But why did she accept this film in the first place?? I should probably thank the Fame Lido theatre group for enhancing the experience by switching off the power every half an hour and not having enough diesel for the generator.