The Movie Recommendation Thread

[ashdoc]

Mutiny on the bounty ( 1962 )

This movie is based on a real life mutiny on a British ship named Bounty in 1787 . As the ship sets sail from Britain soon it is clear that the captain is an excessively harsh person who inflicts savage punishments for the slightest misdemeanours . Sailors are lashed by whips till they are half dead . This does not go down well with either the crew or second in command lieutenant Fletcher Christian ( Marlon Brando ) . but they have no choice but to keep quiet .

The ship reaches Tahiti in the pacific , where the natives are friendly and above all Tahitian women believe in free love which is taken advantage of by the ship's crew to the fullest . They all get Tahitian girlfriends and one of them falls in love with one of the women and asks the captain his permission for marriage . But the harsh captain calls her a slut and refuses , though it is the only time he ever laughs in the movie . Fletcher himself is in a relationship with a lovely Tahitian woman---Princess Maimiti ( Tarita Teriipaia ) the daughter of the Tahitian chief , but he keeps his head and says goodbye to her as the ship readies to leave .

The ship's task is to transport breadfruit plants to Jamaica , and the captain loads the ship with too many of them . Worse , they require lot of water to nurse them and the captain cuts water rations of the sailors for watering the plants . As sailors begin to die pining for water to drink , Fletcher is under increasing pressure to take command of the ship . Finally as the captain refuses water to a sailor who has begun to drink seawater and is dying , Fletcher mutinies and takes command of the ship with the aid of those who are ready to revolt . But he is a humane man who refuses to kill the captain though the captain is after his blood and would have court martialled him and sent him to the gallows if the mutiny had not succeeded .

The captain and those refusing to join the revolt are put on a lifeboat and they sail to Britain where the inquiry commission exonerates him but censure his captaincy . The Royal navy is asked to search for the mutinous crew and bring them to trial .

Fletcher and the mutineers reach Tahiti again and take help of their girlfriends and some Tahitian men to search for an inhabitable island where they can settle down far from the prying eyes of the royal navy , finally settling down on Pitcairn island which has been wrongly mapped by the British . But the conscience of Fletcher is increasingly affected by his position . As he tells the crew , they may not be locked in a jail but they are locked out of society . He wants to return to face trial in Britain . But some mutineers who are scared that he might force them to return set fire to the ship and Fletcher dies a tragic death trying to save the ship .

The music of the film is loud and over dramatic though enthralling , blaring loudly even in moments of trivial drama . Photography however is good and there are good shots of the ship silhouetted against the setting sun and of storms and heavy weather on the rough seas with huge waves rocking the ship , and also of the ship's sail billowing in the wind . Acting is decent by everyone . I was hooked on to the major portion of the film and the tragic ending filled me with pathos .

Verdict---Good .

Four stars out of five .

 

[ashdoc]

Zulu dawn ( 1979 )

This movie showcases the battle of Isandhlwana where the Zulu nation gave a big defeat to the invading British in southern africa in late nineteenth century .

The war begins with a message from the british to the Zulu king that he kills people arbitrarily while on the other hand the british queen cannot kill her lowliest subject without trial ; thus the Zulu nation which is allegedly lawless must be brought under british control . The Zulu king replies that the Zulu have their own laws and even he kills people only according to their laws . But do the british imperialists care about such replies when the intention is naked imperialism ? no they don't .

The british and Zulu camps are shown preparing for war . Before that there is the marriage ritual of Zulu women with their men . Masses of free naked Zulu women run with their breasts openly hanging out to choose their husbands in a vast tribal mating programme crying war cries from their mouths . In contrast the genteel british women are fully covered from head to toe typical of Victorian times . British men dream of romancing them from afar but don't dare approach . I wondered which culture was free ?

As war is declared the aggressor british cross the river marking the boundary between the two nations . They are armed with rifles and artillery guns and some are mounted on horses . They camp for the night . Next day their advanced units cross the mountains to stumble upon an awesome sight---thirty to forty thousand Zulu warriors have assembled to give national resistance to the invaders . They are mostly armed with spears and shields but their number is overwhelming . And their intentions are ferocious .

The advanced units double back to warn the main army of the approaching horde , but it is too late and some of the british officers are frankly unbelieving . They sit for a formal meal with drinks and fruits .

Soon the advancing Zulus make mincemeat of a separated unit of the british troops by trapping them in a shallow gorge and then surrounding them and killing them . Then they attack the main army . The british are confident that their superior firepower will prevail , but the numbers of Zulus killed by firing of rifles by the disciplined british soldiers are too piddly to matter . Nor does firing of artillery guns or mortars do much impact . The Zulus simply don't care about their losses and keep on advancing .

Overwhelmed by the Zulu attack , the british cavalry retreat leaving the infantry to fend for themselves . The infantry are cut down where they stand . All that is left now is to save the union jack by running off with the british flag . But the Zulus manage to capture even that by overrunning the horsemen desperately trying to cross the river back into british territory . A gallant british soldier kills the Zulu warrior running off with the flag and the flag drowns in the river .

The movie really shows armies of considerable size maneuver on the battlefield . The british are in red uniforms and full of spit and polish . the Zulu warriors are half naked but fierce . Colours and photography and background music is good . Burt Lancaster plays the colonel leading the british troops .

Verdict---decent .

Three stars out of five .

 

[nongaddarliberal]

Tora Tora Tora !! ( japanese signal meaing complete surprise has been achieved ) 1970

The film shows the japanese attack on pearl harbour in hawaii that began america's entry into the second world war . The harbour was anchoring the US pacific fleet and many battleships were sunk , thus sending a wave of euphoria among the invading japanese pilots . But as the chief of the japanese combined fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto says at the end of the movie , american aircraft carriers escaped damage as they were not in the harbour and therefore all the japanese did was wake up a sleeping giant and infuriate him . For the era of aircraft carriers was beginning and that of battleships was coming to an end .

However the japanese did achieve complete surprise and did a great deal of damage and killed many sailors . The movie shows how the americans were totally unready for war . The newly installed radar station on a mountain top at hawaii at first had no means to communicate to the main base if they detected anything on radar . Later they did get a phone but their warnings of an air fleet coming were dismissed . It was a sunday morning and no one wanted to be disturbed . They japanese had clearly chosen their timing of attack well .

Actually the earlier part of the movie does show the americans having broken the japanese communication code and thus being able to read any message sent . And a colonel does feel that japan is hell bent on war on reading the messages . But the americans do not realise that japan will strike so deep in the middle of the pacific and feel the attack will come in asia in places like phillipines etc .

When the attack starts , the photography of the fighter jets silhouetted against the rising run is most beautiful , the rising sun also being the flag of japan . The planes attack with torpedoes and bombs . Complete destruction or sinking is achieved of several warships and the yellow flames of the explosions take up the later part of the movie . The american warplanes are parked bunched together on their airfield and therefore make easy targets for the japanese bombers . The japanese bombers attack in two waves and if a third had been launched then the vast oil tankers of hawaii could have been hit and set afire with loss of all stored fuel . But the japanese commander refuses to allow a third strike fearing that american submarines many be searching for them . Actually the japanese fleet of aircraft carriers carrying the striking aircraft was out of detection of the americans for some time .

There is of course the conspiracy theory that american president Roosevelt knew about the impending attack but allowed it to happen so that america could enter the war to protect democracy , but the movie does not show this as it sticks to the official version that america was caught by surprise .

Acting and music and photography is excellent ; the japanese voices sound strident and martial compared to the relaxed americans , but the glaring problem of the version I saw was the lack of subtitles in english for japanese dialogues . So I could only make out what the japanese were saying , and the could see arguments where the pacifists counselling peace were outmaneuvered by the warmongers . Music is all guns booming and trumpets blaring and roll of drums . That's the way I like it , for I like to see war on the silver screen .

Verdict---Good .

Three and a half stars out of five .

This movie was a masterpiece and was surprisingly unbiased. A must watch for those who want to know both the Japanese perspective as well as the American. Infinitely better than that Pearl Harbour movie with Ben Affleck.

 

[ashdoc]

Kingdom of heaven ( 2005 )

Orlando Bloom plays Balian , a blacksmith living in France . His wife has committed suicide , and a priest beheads her before burial . Balian kills him in revenge . Meanwhile some crusaders have approached him for going to the holy land ( Jerusalem ) where a crusader kingdom has been established by defeating the muslims , and Balian agrees to accompany them in hope of getting forgiveness for his and his wife's sins . But the law has come to catch up with him and the crusaders have to fight those who have come to arrest Balian for the priest's murder . The crusaders' leader is fatally injured in the fight . On the journey to the holy land he dies , but before that he has knighted Balian .

The ship in which Balian is sailing runs aground in a storm and he is the sole survivor . Balian is attacked by a muslim cavaliar but manages to kill him in the ensuing fight . He spares the cavaliar's companion and asks him to take him to Jerusalem . In Jerusalem he has prestige due to his knighthood and he wins the heart of the king's sister Sibylla ( played by the beautiful Eva Green ) and they have passionate lovemaking scenes . The king has leprosy and he is going to die , leaving the kingdom in the hands of Sibylla's husband Guy and his ally Reynald . Both are warmongers and are recklessly baying for muslim blood even though the muslims have gathered a bigger army under their leader Salahuddin ( Saladin ) .

After the king dies , the two declare war on Saladin by killing his sister who has come as a peace emissary . They decide to march on his army inspite of warnings by Balian that if they march away from water sources they will be cut off from water in the desert by Saladin's huge army . But Reynald and Guy are eager for glory and attack . Here what has been predicted by Balian happens and they are cut off from water and their army dies of thirst . They are captured by Saladin and Reynald is beheaded by him as it he who has killed his sister . But I was disappointed as this battle of Hattin was not actually shown , maybe because the film's hero had no part in it . Of course , the full armies of the opposing forces are shown in all their glory with the muslims flying their green flags and christians brandishing a huge cross .

Now Jerusalem is vulnerable to the muslims and Balian is called upon to defend it . He rouses the common townsfolk to fight by knighting them . This siege of Jerusalem is shown in full and one gets to see the full fighting . And one must say it has been filmed well . The muslims erect siege towers after marching with their vast cavalry to the walls of the city with standards flying---a formidable sight . As one by one the siege towers are broken by the defenders , Balian is there in the thick of the fighting . Finally the muslims detect one part of the wall which is weak . They attack with firetipped arrows which again is a breathtaking sight with fire being rained all over the city . Finally they bombard with catapults and fiery shells land on the walls breaking them . Behind the defenders are waiting and a massive fight breaks out under Balian's command in which thousands of saracens ( as the muslims are called by the crusaders ) are killed .

Next day Saladin asks for a meeting as his forces are frustrated by the fight shown by the slender number of troops that Balian possesses . Even though the odds are stacked against the defenders due to the vast size of the invading saracens , Balian vows to destroy every monument sacred to every religion in the holy city if it comes to a fight to the finish . Afraid that muslim sacred places will also be destroyed , Saladin agrees to allow the christians unmolested out of the city if the city is handed over to him .

Balian is hailed as a hero by Jerusalem's population for saving it from massacre at the hands of the saracens , and queen Sibylla accompanies him to France on the return journey . They have barely settled down when king Richard the Lionheart of England comes to him asking Balian to march with him to reconquer Jerusalem . But Balian refuses . As he and Saladin both have agreed , a lot of bloodshed would be saved if nothing had been left in Jerusalem's spot to fight over . A thousand years later , peace in the holy land is still elusive....

The ending left me with emotion , as did the events in the second half of the movie . The movie is more than three hours long , and takes time to get you in it's grip . But when it does get a grip , it is well worth watching . Colours are darkish but photography is good , especially of grand armies and their fanatical soldiers---for it was the age of the religious fervour of the crusades . Background music is decent and so is the acting by everyone .

Verdict---Good .

Three and a half stars out of five .

 

[ezsasa]

@ashdoc watched VICE yet? the one on dick cheney....

 

[ashdoc]

@ashdoc watched VICE yet? the one on dick cheney....

Not heard of the movie ever...........

 

[ezsasa]

Not heard of the movie ever...........

New movie released last month I think... movie is on dick Cheney....

 

[ezsasa]

LIbtard movie, but apparently a real story...
saying libtard because of mentions of nytimes and wapo in the movie...
========
The Pentagon Wars - 1998 Full Movie

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Hamid | Official Trailor | 15th March | Aijaz Khan | Rasika Dugal | Talha | Vikas Kumar | Sumit Kaul
Lately, lot of patriotic movies have been there in last 1-2 years. What kind of movie its going to be in the opinion of DFI folks?

 

[dhananjay1]

@ashdoc watched VICE yet? the one on dick cheney....

Watched for 20 minutes, then dropped it. Too much blatant propaganda of usual liberal kind and I don't even have any sympathy for american left or right.

 

[nongaddarliberal]

Can anyone recommend a good list of horror movies ,I have watched a ton of Hollywood ,despite my huge massive hate for Bollywood I am willing to watch/try a few Bollywood horror movies too ,so recommend good Bollywood horror movies , I am surprised I couldn't find much on black magic ,Kala jadoo etc ,I think B-wood just tries to copy h wood ,add some half nude girls and make crap in name of horror .
Also is the movie pari worth watching?

I heard Tumbbad is really good. I don't like horror that much but this one got international acclaim.

 

[A chauhan]

Can anyone recommend a good list of horror movies ,I have watched a ton of Hollywood ,despite my huge massive hate for Bollywood I am willing to watch/try a few Bollywood horror movies too ,so recommend good Bollywood horror movies , I am surprised I couldn't find much on black magic ,Kala jadoo etc ,I think B-wood just tries to copy h wood ,add some half nude girls and make crap in name of horror .
Also is the movie pari worth watching?

Perhaps - Raaz...


30 characters......


You should ask @ashdoc he is a movie expert and fanatic as well.

 

[armyofhind]

I heard Tumbbad is really good. I don't like horror that much but this one got international acclaim.

Tumbadd is not really horror.. its more of a thriller movie but it is really good.

 

[Iceman30]

Thanks for sharing guys!

 

[Skyh3ck]

Tumbbad is a greatest movie of 2018 one of the best cinematography

 

[Adrian Corvus]

Who here has watched the following ( take it as a recommendation if you want( most are war/military or sci-fi)):

1. Annihilation
2. Edge of tomorrow
3. Kubo and the two strings
4. 12 strong
5. The void
6. Rememory
7. Arrival
8. Inferno
9. The 5th wave
10. The dark tower

 

[Narasimh]

Just concluded the series "Chernobyl".. A recommended must watch for those who haven't seen it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7366338/

 

[Anikastha]

Just concluded the series "Chernobyl".. A recommended must watch for those who haven't seen it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7366338/

awesome one ...shows mentality of communists who prefer strong political posture that taking international help to curb crisis...chernobyl disaster is also one reason for collapse of USSR....

 

[ashdoc]

The black prince

This movie is on the life of Maharaja Duleep Singh , the last Maharaja of the Sikhs and son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh---Lion of the Punjab .

After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh , within ten years the Sikh empire is overrun by the British and Duleep who is just a child is forcefully taken from the arms of his wailing mother Maharani Jindan ( Shabana Azmi ) and sent to Britain to be raised as a Christian . He is under care of Dr Login and his wife Lady Login . But when he grows up Duleep ( Satinder Sartaj ) inevitably wants to meet his real mother . Maharani Jindan is old when he arrives to India to meet her , but has lost none of her fire . She impresses upon Duleep his royal heritage and reminds him that he was born into the Sikh religion not Christianity . Blue turbaned Sikhs crowd to meet him and he agrees , but the watchful eyes of the british are all around to prevent any anti british activity .

The Maharani accompanies Duleep back to Britain on his request and is acerbic towards his wards---the Login couple . Even though Duleep's hair have already been cut , she asks him to follow his Sikh heritage . Duleep is converted to her thoughts and begins to live more and more like a Sikh . He meets Queen Victoria on many occasions and argues with her that her conquest of his kingdom was nothing but fraud . She is fond of him and calls him her black prince . Maharani Jindan says that he is a King not a prince on hearing this .

Later on the Maharani passes away , but not before she has instilled the fire of nationalism in Duleep . He gets married to a white Christian woman and they have children with Christian names . It was unclear to me as to why he married a western woman ; was it because he was forbidden to marry a Sikh by his british wards or he had grown up in the habits of a british gentleman and could not adjust with a Sikh ? Anyway he soon begins to wear a turban and follow Sikh customs much to the chagrin of his wife .

Soon Duleep invites fellow Sikh revolutionaries to Britain and dreams of getting back his kingdom by colluding with other Indian revolutionaries . An old european general of his father gifts a sword given by Maharaja Ranjit Singh himself back to Duleep to start the revolution against the british . Duleep forms a plan to go to Russia from France and invade Punjab from Afghanistan . He is told that Sikhs in british Indian army will revolt on his bidding . He abandons his crying wife and goes to France , where he has a relationship with another woman and children from her too ; totally he has nine children . He and his female companion take train to Russia where they are promised a meeting with the czar , but the czar refuses to meet .

Duleep has sent his men to India to collude with bengali revolutionaries , but the british infiltrate their ranks and all are caught and thrown in prison . Duleep has to return bankrupt to Britain after his attempt to go to India is stopped by the british by making the ship's captain arrest him , though he shows respect to Duleep's royal status by refusing to put him in fetters .

Duleep's last days are in sadness and put me in pathos . His son begs him to ask Queen Victoria to resume his privy purse which has been terminated due to his anti british activities . The proud Duleep refuses . Duleep is denied a Sikh cremation after death even though he wished that . He is buried according to Christian rituals . We are informed that the struggle to bring back his bones to be cremated according to Sikh rituals is on even today .

The movie has decent acting and grand settings . Photography is decent and colours are okay . Background music and songs in punjabi language are nice . But the struggle of Duleep Singh against the british has an air of futility about it as it happened in the late nineteenth century when the british grip over India was strongest . He died in 1893 and remarkably none of his nine children had heirs . The line of Maharaja Ranjit Singh died out .

Verdict---Okay .

Two and a half stars out of five .

 

[ashdoc]

film ko review mey gaali dene ko maza aayega:biggrin2: