On the Road Again

CARS 2 (2011)

Pixar has made the best animated films since 1995. Forget, animated films, this studio is responsible for some of the best films of the past decade, period. All 11 films have been box office and critical successes. But when the track record is such, there are bound to be some rotten eggs in the basket. It’s as if everyone was waiting for one. Although, I do not believe Cars 2 is the rotten egg. Not at all.

Take The Power Back

SHAITAN (2011)

Fifteen minutes into the film and I knew either I’m watching my favorite Hindi film of the year or the least favorite. I like to give every movie at least an hour for me to start judging it, so I sat watching one slow motion shot after another. Let me tell you I’m not a fan of flashy editing or slick camera movements. But I do not let that get in the way of what the movie is about and is trying to say. Halfway into the film, I was thinking, okay I still don’t know whether I like it or not, but it sure as hell is an important film, at least important as far as the niche audience is concerned. A pop cultural phenomenon like Rang De Basanti (2006). But 3/4^th into the movie I was sure I was hating it. Hating it so much I could literally feel it in my stomach. One more POV shot and I would have "accidentally murdered" someone myself.

Even Heroes Have the Right to Bleed

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)

This is the Origins film we X-Men fans wanted, not the ridiculous X-Men: Origins Wolverine (2009) that we got. This time the emphasis is on Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto. They are played by the charming James McAvoy and the uniquely talented Michael Fassbender. We always saw Ian Mckellen and Patrick Stewart sharing something more than just rivalry in the previous X-Men films. Here, we see it develop and by the end it becomes a mature back-story in the X-Men film cannon. We actually empathize with Magneto. We see how Magneto and Professor X, sadly, do not want the same end and hence must choose different means henceforth. It’s a brilliant moment. One that separates the film from being a good one from being a very good one.