MOVIE REVIEW

IKIRU 1952

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Writers: Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto
Stars: Takashi Shimura, Nobuo Kaneko, Shin'ichi Himori
Runtime: 143 min
Strength: Script
Weakness: Excessively long
Showbiz Rating: 4/5
 

Plot: A bureaucrat tries to find meaning in his life after he discovers he has terminal cancer.
Review: “Ikiru” means “to live”. The film is inspired by the Leo Tolstoy 1886 novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich. It is a simple story in which a middle aged man (Watanabe) tries to find joy and the meaning of life after he finds that he has terminal cancer and that his days are numbered. Ikiru didn't make me cry because the story is not about death of a cancer patient. It is about exploring the possibilities of life – about living life to the fullest. While the first act introduces us to the characters, the very first scene itself reveals the fact that the protagonist is suffering from gastric cancer. The second act is about enjoying life and exploring people with joy. The final act seemed a bit too long when Watanabe's bureaucrat colleagues try to figure out why Watanabe had a sudden change in lifestyle. One by one they drink sake and reminisces the last days of Watanabe. At the very last moment they realize that Watanabe knew about his cancer. Watanabe's last push to find the meaning of life was to build a park, where he dies. Ikiru may be too 'Japanese' for someone who's not familiar with Kurosawa films. But it definitely relates to anyone who hasn't found the meaning of life yet. It falls under the fringe of a classic movie, and is worth watching if one wants a smooth emotional ride.

Reviewed by Zia Nazmul Islam

***

REVOLVER RANI

Director: Sai Kabir
Writer: Sai Kabir
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Vir Das, Zakir Hussain
Runtime: 132 min
Strength: Script, story and Kanagana Ranaut's acting
Weakness: Music and background score
Showbiz Rating: 3/5
Plot: In a typical nod to Bollywood-meets-Quentin Tarantino style of film-making, debutante director Sai Kabir explores the dark underbelly of power and politics in the alleys of Chambal with Revolver Rani. Revolver Rani is set in this hostile world where there are no friends; only enemies and fragile alliances that aim straight for the head.
Review: In the land of Chambal, the land of rebels, politicians, bullets and blood, you either live by the gun or die by the gun. But sometimes you go straight to the heart instead of taking the lives of your enemies. Revolver Rani is a satirical film. It's about Alka Singh, played by Kangna Ranaut, the leader of a political party, and her obsessive love for Rohan Mehra played by Vir Das, a rising star of Bollywood. Revolver Rani has a very unique story ever before in Bollywood. This film will bring that story to the viewers what would happen if a political giant fell in love with a Bollywood star and then had to protect himself from her enemies. It's a very authentic film, surrounded with dead bodies, love and subtle comedy that brings an end with a different climax in Shivpuri Bird Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) before the break of the dawn. Even if she wields guns and goes for blood, Revolver Rani ends up with Love! The most powerful factor in this enterprise is of course, Kangana Ranaut, essaying the titular character with ferocious intensity. Kangana reins in her Rani avatar with full gusto. Vir Das is getting typecast with every role as a coc-snorting disillusioned wannabe. Piyush Mishra is superbly authentic as the dubious Mama. Zakir Hussain impresses as the conniving politician of the rival party and he is perfectly aided by the testosterone-charged Kumud Mishra. Overall, it's an apt star-cast which lends meaty performances, and is a fun watch for Bollywood movie lovers.

Reviewed by Broti Rahman

***

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2

Director: Marc Webb
Writers: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan
Runtime: 142 min
Strength: Acting, script, fight scenes and visual effects
Weakness: Some flaws in the story's development
Showbiz Rating: 3.5/5
Plot: In The Amazing Spiderman 2, Peter Parker finds that his greatest battle is about to begin. Being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common- Oscorp.
Review: Being a huge fan of Spider-man, and having watched the trailers, I went to the movie with high
expectations and I was mostly not let down. As opposed to its predecessor, this movie is more action-packed, humorous, and emotional. The cast is great; the story is well written; the action is truly spectacular; the villain is excellent, and the finale is heartbreaking. The movie follows Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) as he struggles to maintain his relationship with Gwen (Emma Stone) following the death of her father. His actions also inadvertently bring to the rise of Electro, a powerful villain played by Jamie Foxx. Peter also continues to investigate what happened to his father and is reunited with his old friend Harry Osborn (played by the very talented newcomer Dane DeHaan). Andrew Garfield plays a good Spider-man, portraying him as a more confident character as opposed to the Peter Parker portrayed in Raimi's trilogy, and Spider-man himself is a more humorous character. The best thing about this Peter Parker is his relationship with Gwen. Emma Stone is an excellent Gwen Stacey and the two actors share genuine chemistry. The villain, Electro, is also excellent. He is visually incredible and his fights with Spider-man are the some of the highlights of the movie. This movie is a must watch this season. It is currently running at Cineplex (Bashundhara City).

Reviewed by Mohammad Haque