Taare Zameen Par [2007]

Taare Zameen Par [2007]

Directed by: Amir Khan

Starring: Darsheel Safary, Amir Khan

Looking past the curiosity factor of having one of Indian cinemas finest actors debuting behind the camera, one has to judge a movie by its merits. It's earnest tale of a challenged lad deserves to win accolades of the highest degree. A fine directorial debut by Mr. Khan is overshadowed by the brilliant debut of child artiste Darsheel Safary. The lack of dialogues only heightens his performance conveyed through varied emotions. The threat of two dimensional supporting characters overpowering the real-to-life script is minimised but never truly cancelled by the fine ensemble cast. At the end its message of "every child is special" will remain etched in the hearts, minds and souls of all viewers.

The Dark Knight [2008] - International Teaser Posters & Bootleg Trailer

I've been curious about "The Dark Knight" eversince the movie went into production. Who wouldn't be? "Batman Begins" for all its worth was a respectable but flawed movie. For everything they got right the got something equally wrong.

I've been candidly devouring information on TDK - script reviews, productional still, spy shots, promotional material, viral marketing sites - nothing has escaped me. None of which really convinced me that Christopher Nolan and his team had upped the ante to deliver (finally) a truly remarkable Batman flick.

That was all in the past. Well, atleast until hours ago when I found these amazing international teaser posters.

Those lucky yanks get the official trailer for TDK infront of screens playing "I Am Legend". Not sure when Singapore audiences will get to see it (the Will Smith starrer opens X'mas week here). Thanks to the invent of camera-phones there's a bootleg trailer floating online (pssss....look no further).

The footage is equally amazing. I love these bootleg trailers. Sure they don't beat seeing the footage in spectacular Quicktime HD but watching a piss poor quality trailer and getting excited just goes to show what a good job the filmmakers have done (or the people who cut the trailer if they're not one and the same).

I was worried TDK would get overshadowed by Marvel's "Ironman", which kicks off the summer season. Deny it as most will but Tony Starks is just Bruce Wayne in another guise. With a movie that looks more fun and action-oriented than TDK I was pitting the Robert Downey Jr. vehicle to take the box-office gold but after the trailer all seems fair game.

I just hope we get two great superhero flicks next summer (actually with "The Incredible Hulk" debuting during that period I'm hoping for 3!).

Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull [2008] - Teaser Poster

I consider myself fortunate to be a child of the 80's. It was during this decade that the modern/current cinematic experience started to take shape. One may attribute the summer tentpole phenomenon to the 70's with the coming of big budget event pictures such as "Star Wars", "Jaws", "Superman: The Movie", etc but it was truly during the 80's that studios took advantage of the audiences insatiable appetite for larger than life characters who delivered big thrills.

And who delivered bigger thrills than Dr. Jones? Before "The Lord Of The Rings" made the term threequels hip, director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas delivered three extremely entertaining Indiana Jones movies.

I don't know what those movies would've been like had the producers of "Magnum P.I." given Tom Selleck time off to play the (by now) legendary archeologist but I do know for certain that this is probably the second most cherished character played by Harrison Ford (if it weren't for those annoying Star Wars geeks it would probably be numero uno).

Come May 22nd 2008 the good doctor will return to the big screen with further thrills in "Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull". So dust off your bullwhips and fedora hats for another exciting adventure!