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hitesh-p-shetty
Reviews
Million Dollar Arm (2014)
You could give it a miss.
You can give Million Dollar Arm a miss: I went to watch the movie expecting that the movie is the American Dream transpiring to the Indian Diaspora. Unfortunately the movie failed to live up even to my modest expectation. The movie shows India in a bad light and exaggerates poverty and bribery. Parts of the story are completely out of sync, for example, the movie never shows why the athlete Poco calls JBB again after they fall out in the beginning of the movie. It appears to be an after thought. India has much more to offer than chaos elephants and poverty. True India struggles with its issues but there should be sensitivity towards these. If the intent of the movie was to make baseball popular in India it has failed at this task miserably. It shoud've focused instead on Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel's success as baseball pitchers.
Storyville: India's Daughter (2015)
Incomplete Documentary
I had written this review on my google+ page after watching the documentary for the first time. I had just concluded watching Journalist Leslee Udwins documentary titled "India's Daughter". First of all I want to congratulate her for exceptional piece of journalism which bought issues of gender equality in India to the fore. There are not enough words that could convey the strong negative emotions I feel for the perpetrators of the heinous crimes, their motives and statements. Rape incidents should not be tolerated at all and the law should take its course. On the other hand I've also looked at this documentary comparatively. I was going through a wiki article that says annual rape rate in India is 2 per 100,000 people between 2008-2012 while the reported rape rate in United Kingdom, Ms. Leslee Udwin's own backyard, is 24.1 per 100,000. Moreover Rape laws in UK are not gender neutral. Im eagerly awaiting your next documentary about Rape Incidents in UK.
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
A premium classic
Cognizant of my manifold rich taste in movies, a dear friend had unsuccessfully tried to convince me for many years to watch "To Kill a Mocking Bird". I finally got around to watching it, now thats its available on Netflix. Here are my two cents about the movie. The only other American classic I've watched is "12 angry men" and it seems that the slow narrative cinematography was the zeitgeist But there is no doubt in my mind that this is an epic movie. The first three quarters of the movie took me back to my childhood. The mannerisms and the social setting was very similar. "Scout", "Jem" and "Dill's" artlessness was extremely charming. Don't misconstrue my review, it was not only humorous and affable but carried a very strong and pertinent message for the era
Narcos (2015)
Descenso Review.
This Review is for Netflix's most recent series addition Narcos after watching their pilot "descenso" or "descent".
1) First the crux: As you might've guessed already, it dramatizes real events following the rise of Mr. Pablo Escobar in the Medellin cartel, as a documentary. He was known for smuggling cocaine into United States through restricted routes via Miami. It stars the very famous Brazilian star Wagner Moura from the Elite Squad fame (also available on Netflix) as the main protagonist Mr. Pablo Escobar.
2) First the positive, it seems to factually document the rise of the Colombian Drug lord with close accuracy. The picture quality and acting is amazing. The cast of the characters seem to have fit very snugly in their roles within the documentary. It appears that a lot of foresight and planning have gone into creating the first episode.
3) Next the criticisms, the pilot, or the first episode, wasn't half as gripping or exciting as I had been expecting. Mr. Pablo Escobar was near atrocious and barbaric in real life but is portrayed almost inoffensive and shady. In my humble opinion the "step outline" for this episode leaves you wanting more from a pilot.
4) The sudden shift between parallel time lines often leaves the viewer confused while the story proceeds within itself. It probably assumes that the viewer is aware of the story background. I happen to disagree in that most millennial would have no re- collection or knowledge of this multi-layered cocaine-fueled drug wars of the 1980.
Overall I would give this pilot a 6/10 as is also my IMDb submission. I will revise my rating only if I have the time to watch the rest of the episodes in the series.
Creed (2015)
Been a Rocky Fan until this movie
I am from India, growing up I had no idea about the Rocky Movies. I was first introduced to Rocky Movies around 10 years ago. I have since been a great fan. The thing I like most about the movies are the comebacks. Life has a way of pushing us down but the movie has always inspired me to a higher place. So much so, that when I first came to the United States I went to see the rocky statue and rocky steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Arts. This movie has always led me to believe that the underdog had a chance. That if you are prepared to work hard and stay disciplined you can make a good living. You can have a respectable life despite your beginnings. You have a chance at life despite your neighborhood or your upbringing. So in a real sense it was more than a movie for me. This movie and "Rocky Balboa" released in 2006 carry that charm but loose the grit and determination that so inspired me the first time around. It takes strength, focus, perseverance, discipline and persistence to undo the many wrongs. That was what drew me to the movie. When I see "Creed" I see that Adonis (Michael B Jordan) was wronged, born as a child out of wedlock, had a rough upbringing but I don't see the passion in this movie. A large part of the movie is spent on focusing how he has been wronged. If equal parts of the movie were spent on how he overcame, that would've made a good story. There are certain parts where the young actor shines, but they are far and few in between. I love the last scene where they climb atop the Philly Museum and stare at the horizon and Rocky says his life turned out "not bad at all", just loved that scene.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
A very feel good movie closer to Thanksgiving
I've been watching a lot of movies on Netflix lately. I'm originally from India and was in diapers when this movie was released. I'm in the USA now and getting closer to thanksgiving this year, I sort of understand what it means to be alone during thanksgiving. For that this movie is closer to home for me. Everybody loves a road trip especially if there is an adventure in the offing. This is what I realized from the movie, that there are plenty of lonely people out there during this season. Sure we are different from each other but thats the good stuff. If we can find it in us to put up with each other we can each drive out everyone's loneliness. At the end Steve Martin realizes just that, overcomes his biggest inhibition, the fear of strangers, and invites Mr. Del Griffith back home for the holidays. Its a feel good movie with an amazing end and for that I gave it 7/10.
Spectre (2015)
A different kind of Bond Movie
I usually see Bond movies as a very different genre of its own. My personal favorites are Octopussy , The World is not Enough and Die another day. Of late though I feel the writers have high disregard to the spy'ness that made the "James Bond". For starters Mr. Bond becomes a hired assassin for M because she leaves a video asking him to kill somebody ? Does that make any sense to anybody? The serendipitous nature of the investigation is half baked, half thought and not completely executed. Filled with gadgets and locations that almost lacerate Bond fans, except the car, ohhhhhhhhh the Aston Martin DB10. The latter half of the movie was slow and routine. I found the action scenes fascinating and the overall cinematography amazing. Hence I've given it 7/10. Have fun moviegoers.