“Arrival” Movie Review

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of “Arrival” for a while now, and the reason for that is Denis Villeneuve. Though I have only seen “Prisoners” and “Sicario” (which features one of the most suspenseful scenes I have seen in recent cinema), both movies are ample proof of Villeneuve’s mastery over his craft. And he does not disappoint with “Arrival”, which is arguably his most accomplished work yet. He manages to deliver a brilliant sci-fi movie experience, which doesn’t need mind numbing CGI and explosions to work – the movie challenges the audience’s intelligence rather than insulting it.

When alien spaceships arrive in twelve different locations around the world, one among them being Montana, the military commissions a team led by theoretical physicist Dr Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) and expert linguist Dr Louise Banks to establish communication with the aliens and find out why they are here. The movie focuses on the efforts of Dr Louise and the team to find a way to communicate with the aliens and understand if they are peaceful or dangerous, even as the world looks at the situation with suspicion and hostility and tensions are high leading to civil unrest.

Despite its unhurried pace, “Arrival” never feels boring – I was completely engrossed in the proceedings from the get go. This is primarily because Villeneuve is so good with atmospherics, something he demonstrated in both “Prisoners” and “Sicario”. He creates a moody yet tense atmosphere, which complements the script and screenplay. In fact, I was so caught up in the movie that I was on the edge of the seat for pretty much the entire duration; despite the treatment being deliberate and detailed (I wouldn’t say slow). Special mention to the background score by Johann Johannsson, which plays a large part in asserting the tense mood (I was reminded of Sicario’s background score “The Beast”, which was also composed by him). I was also particularly impressed by the details in even some of the dialogues in the movie, which make so much sense once the story reaches its conclusion. I was not fully convinced with the editing, but it makes sense by the time the credits roll.

Like “Sicario”, the movie has a female protagonist whose character is very well fleshed out and has the viewer invested in her story. And like Emily Blunt, Amy Adams does full justice to the part. She delivers a deeply affecting performance, and really brings out the emotional aspect of this movie. She pretty much carries the movie, but is ably supported by the remaining cast.

After watching the movie, I found that it shared a lot of positives with Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar”. Though hardly similar, both movies are sci-fi at its best, where the focus is not on dazzling effects but in the story and the heady themes and concepts it covers – but the visuals are also done well to give the viewer a sense of awe. Both movies also get the viewers talking and discussing the movie after watching it. But, more importantly; at the core, both are deeply emotional movies. And this works to the advantage of both movies.

For fans of intelligent cinema and/or sci-fi fans, “Arrival” is a must watch – this one may even end up becoming a sci-fi classic. Don’t miss it.

P.S. I’d love to discuss the movie and its themes (and especially the ending) with those who have seen it, so hit me up once you catch the movie. 

“Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them” Movie Review

Potheads of the world, rejoice (that is what Harry Potter fans are called, isn’t it? J). With Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, the rich mythology of the series is tapped into to deliver a movie that lets the viewers relive the magic of the Harry Potter series, yet still manages to feel original and not a lazy exercise to print money.

The plot of the movie is quite complex – Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is a wizard from London who arrives to New York City with a suitcase full of magical creatures, at a time when the wizard world is facing the threat of exposure and facing a lot of negative propaganda. Trouble ensues when the suitcase opens and the creatures are let loose into the city. Newt has to rescue these creatures with the help of a hapless No-Maj (muggle) Jacob Kowalski (a brilliant Dan Fogler), a witch FBI-ish agent Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterson) and her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol). In the middle of all of this is the mysterious Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), who seems to have a hidden agenda.

The movie touches upon themes that feel especially relevant to today’s day and age; but still manages to keep a tone that is light and breezy. It moves at breakneck speed, and there’s hardly a dull moment in its runtime. J.K. Rowling’s writing is jam packed with content, and there is honestly a lot to process here. 

This, funnily enough, is also the problem with the movie. There is so much happening with the characters in the movie that there is hardly any screen time for the titular fantastic beasts. This feeling is accentuated because the scenes with the creatures are beautifully executed – the scene where Newt and Kowalski visit the creatures for the first time in particular gives the viewer a feeling of childlike wonder and awe – it helps that it is visually stunning and the 3D is amazing. It actually made me wish there was a little less plot and more time spent on such scenes.  

The acting is really good, but none of the characters are really endearing and leave an impression – with the exception of Jacob Kowalski. You’re invested in the character from the first scene he is introduced, thanks in no small part to the portrayal by Dan Fogler. The major disappointment was the woefully underwritten character of Percival Graves.

On the whole, of course, the movie has a lot going for it – the box office numbers speak for itself. There’s lots on offer here, thanks to the strong script and excellent execution helmed by David Yates, no stranger to the Potter franchise. But, all things aside, the movie definitely entertains, and is a good movie experience for Potheads and non-fans alike. The commendable thing here is that the movie is able to stand on its own two feet and the promise of a successful new franchise is there. This is a great example of a spinoff done right. 

"Doctor Strange" Movie Review

Even the most ardent fan of DC Comics will have to admit that Marvel is doing a great job with the movie adaptation of its comics. They are able to translate their comics to the big screen in a seamless fashion, satisfying both regular movie goers and comic book enthusiasts. And their perfect casting is almost uncanny. What is even more interesting now is that they have started breaking (or atleast bending) the unwritten rules by bringing in game changers like the R-rated Deadpool and now Doctor Strange. By bringing in the occult aspect to what has essentially been a ‘grounded in reality’ world of superheroes, Marvel has opened up a world of possibilities and delivered a truly fresh (and trippy) cinematic experience. Watch out DC – I don’t think your current by-the-book approach is going to cut it.

Like every other superhero, Doctor Strange’s first movie deals with his origin story. Brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) loses the use of his hands after a car accident (never use the phone while driving – worth appreciating that Marvel even puts it in their end credits). Unable to find a cure in Western medicine, he travels to Nepal on hearing about Kamar-Taj – a mysterious enclave where he meets a group of sorcerers led by the enigmatic ‘Ancient One’ (Tilda Swinton, another perfect casting). What follows is Strange’s education of the mystic arts, and his reluctant journey to become a protector of the world.

Marvel does a by-the-numbers origin story for Doctor Strange as well, but what is exciting and refreshing is that the studio has embraced the mumbo-jumbo aspects of the source material rather than shying away from it – this results in some very ambitious and visually stunning scenes, which felt like Inception on LSD. The sheer spectacle of it makes for a truly special cinematic experience, something that has been lacking in other movies in the MCU.

The movie also benefits from Marvel’s irreverent attitude and tongue-in-cheek humour, and the movie is peppered with witty one-liners and even some laugh out loud moments. The movie continues the tradition of not taking itself too seriously, and really benefits from it. Add to that the cast who fit their roles perfectly, and you have another winner.

But the movie isn’t without its flaws – most of the characters aren’t well fleshed out, and this is most evident in the main antagonist. Barring Loki, Marvel has not been able to produce a villain who can leave an impact. Also, a lot of the movie’s highlights come from the fact that it is different in its source material, opening up new opportunities – we will have to see how they can keep it going for the sequel once the novelty is gone. In fact, given that he will be in Avengers – Infinity War, it’ll be interesting to see the character dynamics in play.

That being said, this is a definite winner for Marvel – I would go so far as to say that it is probably another defining moment in superhero movies. Definitely watch this one in the theatre (something I wouldn’t have said for any other Marvel movie). In fact, I’m waiting for the movie to come back in I‑Max to experience the brilliant action scenes.